From The Ground Up: Recent Episodes
University of Sioux Falls Entrepreneurial Studies
Welcome to our podcast From the Ground Up! Our team here is a group of USF students creating a podcast to educate entrepreneurs on how to start a business. What we want to do is to inspire potential entrepreneurs to take the first step towards starting a business. And we want to do that in an accessible yet private environment. Our guests are current business owners who have their stories, first-hand experience, connections, and passion to help guide you, the listeners, through your startup journey. You can visit the University of Sioux Falls website at https://www.usiouxfalls.edu/ and you can visit our website at http://thegroundupusf.wixsite.com/website.
Today, we got to wrap up season 2 by talking with AshLeigh Cook of Ignite Fitness and Yoga Studio. AshLeigh comes from a very entrepreneurial-driven family. But even being around entrepreneurs all her life, there were still things that surprised her and kept her on her toes. Especially from directly seeing what it takes to be an entrepreneur, AshLeigh knew what aspects of her business needed outside help and who she had to hire to help her better run her business. Tune into the full episode to hear just exactly what hiring out has helped AshLeigh accomplish and what she instilled within the Ignite culture and environment. The sponsors for today’s episode are Think 3D Solutions and Breadsmith.
Today, we got to talk with Dr. Joe Moen of Origin Health Chiropractic office. Dr. Moen doesn’t have a ton of experience with entrepreneurship. But what he does have experience in is making connections with people and disconnecting those people from their physical pain. Dr. Moen had so many great things to say about the importance of connecting with his clients. Tune in to the full episode to hear how Dr. Moen finds the perfect team members to spread even more of this positive energy and happiness.
Today, we got to talk with Teresa Truog about her long career and now ownership with her partner Sarah of Twetten’s Interior Design. Teresa started working with Twetten’s when she was in college as a part of an internship. But after working as a designer for almost a decade and opening a Twetten’s location in Sioux Falls, SD, Teresa and Sarah were asked to buy and carry on the business. Teresa’s story and dedication to Twetten’s are full of passion for the hard work she can do for each of her clients. Tune in to the whole episode to hear just exactly how Teresa and Sarah’s partnership has helped Twetten’s continue to reach 100 years in business! This episode was sponsored by True House Offer and by Bagel Boy.
Today, we got to talk with Jeremy Brown, the founder and CEO of Throne Publishing Group. Jeremy started his entrepreneurial journey when he was 19, and he even tried to write a book about what he learned when he was 23. That’s when the spark for Throne Publishing Group started. Throne Publishing helps writers in every step along their book’s journey, from idea conception to releasing the book to the public. Jeremy may not be the biggest fan of sitting down and writing, but he is the biggest fan of making sure that any client he works with knows that they can trust him and his team to make your goals and vision the center of their process. Tune in the whole episode to hear just exactly what goals mean to Throne Publishing and the best way to keep hitting those goals. This episode is sponsored by THGrey and by Sunny’s Pizzeria.
On today’s episode of From The Ground Up, we got to speak with a University of Sioux Falls Alumni and the founder of The Playground, Emmie Uitts! The Playground is an indoor softball facility dedicated to providing kids an amazing environment to enhance their skills in the sport and also learn about leadership. Emmie has been in our shoes with USF’s entrepreneurial program and has been able to apply much of what she has learned, and didn’t learn, to thrive and navigate her entrepreneurial journey. Tune in to the full episode to hear what Emmie learned about taxes and her current transition to her very own facility. This episode is sponsored by MarketBeat and by Chipotle.
In today’s episode of From The Ground Up, we talked with Dawn Bures, a former owner of THGrey Boutique! Dawn has and does own many businesses, and though her time with THGrey wasn’t long, she built it into a friendly, nurturing environment for getting to know one another. For Dawn and anyone who was gotten to know THGrey, it’s about way more than the clothes. Tune in to the full episode to hear Dawn talk about the buying and selling process and how she knew it was time to change her role in this environment. This episode is sponsored by Scheels and by Crumbl.
Today, we got to talk with Corey Vasquez of Coast 2 Coast Sports and Fitness. Having much experience in the entrepreneurial world, Corey knew exactly how he wanted to make his impact. By surrounding himself with an amazing team every day, Corey teaches everyone that you too can make an impact simply by being a genuine person. Tune in to the full episode to learn why Corey and Coast 2 Coast have such an amazing mission. This episode is sponsored by Kinnect Marketing and by Chili’s.
Welcome to season 2 of From The Ground Up! To kick off the season, we had a very special guest with us, the Mayor of Sioux Falls himself, Mayor Paul TenHaken! As a founder and former CEO of the marketing agency Click Rain, Mayor TenHaken provided great insight and invaluable knowledge about workspace environments and workplace culture, making early financing easier, and the most important parts about experiencing failure. Listen to the full episode to hear what exactly Mayor TenHaken learned about partnerships and his entrepreneurial journey! This episode is sponsored by Wade Hanson and Associates and by Sweet Cheeks.
This week on From the Ground Up features a special bonus episode to end the season! Jodi Schwan, founder of Align Content Studio and Pigeon605, informs business leaders through online articles that range from many topics. You might know her as the sole contributor to SiouxFalls.Business, but she also does marketing for a lot of local companies here in Sioux Falls, SD. Jodi started her online news sources as a way to provide news for businesses owners and to get younger audiences interested in news and connected to their community. Tune in to hear how Jodi learned to manage and promote all of her stories as the sole brain behind both operations.
On this episode of From The Ground Up, we talked with Melissa Johnson of Oh My Cupcakes!. Melissa started Oh My Cupcakes! back in 2009 and has only grown since, though it hasn’t come without its downfalls. Before the pandemic, Oh My Cupcakes! made some big renovations to the point where they had to cut back and minimize spending. This setback helped Oh My Cupcakes! to better handle the pandemic when it did hit to come out in a better place. Melissa loves the community she created and loves her customers. She has a lot of heartwarming stories, so tune in to hear how big changes can start with a cupcake.
This week we had the pleasure of talking with Jon Oppold from Sunny’s Pizzeria. Sunny’s has been open for about 2 years and is so excited to have expanded to another location! Jon himself has quite a bit of experience in the field of marketing, so when it came to marketing for Sunny’s, the process came naturally. Even when creating Sunny’s, it was easy for Jon to find a place in the market where Sunny’s could be unique from the other pizzerias. Not everything has been smooth sailing for Sunny’s. Tune in to find out how a popular small business with limited staff navigates big changes!
On today’s episode of From the Ground Up, we got to talk with Tyler Blake and Monalisa Perez of Wake. Wake is an amazing clothing brand based in Sioux Falls with the mission of self-love and mental health support. With Tyler’s background in fashion and Monalisa’s passion for connection, the two of them are a fantastic team with big ideas. Wake recently released a new brand under the Wake name called Theyself by Wake. Theyself is a women-centered brand to inspire even more self-love but also women empowerment. Nothing drives Tyler and Monalisa more than each other and their creativity. Tune in to hear how Tyler and Monalisa got a start to their brand and where they dream to take their powerhouse team.
Our episode interviews Katie Murphy from Jane Rae Events. Katie has had this passion for creating parties ever since she was a little kid. She really loves what she does, even when she was a kid, creating her own birthday party. Katie has always had this fiery passion for creating wedding events and giving people a consistent service to one of the most stressful days of their lives. Katie is described to be a very energetic person when she is facilitating her wedding events. She supervises with a smile! Katie can be seen running the whole event from sun up to sun down with a grin. She has her rough days, but she really loves what she does. Come check out the episode with Katie Murphy from Jane Rae Events to get more insight about her business and how she stays so motivated.
We had the pleasure of talking to Lauren Lavin from Bakeologie. Her passion is to create delicious goods that look good not a lot of places can say that. We agree that Lauren’s desserts taste good and look good. Lauren started the love of baking when she was younger, Lauren bakes out of her house with help of her family. She owns one of many local small businesses around town. Lauren started her business from the ground up, after college she had a passion for starting her business. Lauren thinks of food as an experience that brings back those good memories and people. Stick to the end to hear what Lauren had to say about baking as a business. Go check out her Instagram for updates on new products she creates and new promotions.
Today, we talked with Nate Boscoljon of Boscoljon design. Nates passion for woodworking stemmed from his childhood, but his business came from his own need for furniture. At first under a different name, Nate started his business, though he quickly learned how much effort and time it took to getting the business’ name changed. Boscoljon Design creates specialty, hand crafted pieces, and the clients are recommended that they approve of a 3D model before Nate gets too far into the process. Listen in to truly know what helps Nate create and be apart of such a caring community.
On this episode of From The Ground Up Podcast, we had an amazing chat with Shania Rozeboom from Rainy Day Coffee. Based just outside of Sioux Falls, Rainy Day provides coffee for tons of local shops in and around town. Shania went to school for business, but she couldn’t learn her experience, she had to do it. Even while running her roasting business, Shania works a full-time job. But even with all she’s got going on, Shania knows that she has the capability to do everything she wants to do. All she needs is a great mindset and a spark of passion. Tune in to hear how Shania keeps her head high and her uniqueness her own in an ever-expanding industry.
Today we interview an exciting new business owner. Her name is Allyson who owns her own business called The Shop. A yoga studio downtown with classes tailored to make your work and crafted for everybody. She rents an infrared yoga studio downtown that is open to all ages of the public. Allyson’s call to service was a spiritual call to serve the community. Allyson’s call to serve was also influenced by her friends wanting a space to practice and stretch. Allyson is a normal person like we are she meditates, teaches classes, and learns new techniques for her business and yoga techniques. Allyson had some words of wisdom for us pertaining to our view on ourselves and our lives. What was the last Netflix show you watched? How did you build The Shop from the ground up? How would you describe The Shop? How did you get into yoga and fitness? Who or what, other than your passion for fitness and yoga, gave you the idea to start your business? What sets the shop apart from the rest of your competition in this area? What effect does the business have on your friends and family’s influence as you go foreward? How have the changes in the business mentally changed you? What does your daily routine look like? Do you think the things like taking the middle of the day for meditation and prioritizing sleep are things that other business owners are lacking in? Are things like meditation and prioritizing sleep things you did from the start? What are some problems that you had starting your business and how have you learned from those problems? How far do you want to go? What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned? On the official business side of things, what do you do on a daily basis? Is it just a lot of little things? Have you learned what your balance is? Do you try to teach more or fewer classes? Are there any amazing or inspirational stories that you have that you want to share? What did you want to be as you grew up? How were the 5 years before you started your business? Would you have any advice for someone right now in the same place you were 5 years ago? Do you have any other comments that you want to put out into the world?