Banking On Business: Recent Episodes
Grace Bruins
Welcome to the Banking on Business podcast presented by Horicon Bank! Banking on Business is aimed at helping entrepreneurs grow their business with practical strategies you can start using today!
Each episode will feature an expert guest and explore ways you can innovate the way you do business. We are all about engaging our local business community and connecting with other small businesses to raise each other up.
Hosted by yours truly, Grace Bruins, Marketing Officer at Horicon Bank turned Podcaster – at least for the next 20 minutes.
To stay in the loop on all things Banking on Business related visit horiconbank.com/bankingonbusiness and subscribe where ever you get your podcasts.
Welcome to Banking On Business Podcast where we provide practical strategies to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. In today’s episode, we are diving deep into the world of employee training and onboarding with our special guests, Kerry Murphy and Kailey Bauer from Horicon Bank.
Kerry and Kailey bring a wealth of experience, having transitioned from informal training roles to formal ones, driven by their passion for teaching and commitment to helping others succeed. We'll explore the evolution of training programs and how adapting methods to individual needs, soliciting feedback, and maintaining flexibility are vital for employee retention and satisfaction.
Join us as we discuss the innovative "Take Flight Day" and "Greater Heights Day" programs, which offer comprehensive onboarding experiences for new employees, and hear insightful stories about staying calm in challenging situations, the unexpected success of referral programs, and even some light-hearted moments about manatees and first CDs.
Whether you’re a small business owner looking to improve your training processes or just interested in employee development, this episode has something for everyone. Let’s get started!
Episode Highlights
09:23 - I can step in and be this person for you, because it also creates consistency. So, if you can come to me for that kind of a question, I know that if I say it to you and have you go out and do it that way, perhaps somebody else will catch on who might not quite be doing it that way, and it can kinda create that trickle effect of consistency, which is so important not only as an organization, but certainly for our customers, too.
17:47 - Every person has a unique reason why they're coming into the bank. So, you can open a perfect checking account for a joint couple or whatever it is, and then they come in and they just have this one off situation because they've got something unique and special going on in their life.
23:18 - One of the biggest takeaways that we brought back from this conference was that people were taking a day, sometimes more than a day, during somebody's initial onboarding experience, and they were teaching them about culture. They were completely submersing them into this is the company that you're coming to work for. Let us tell you about it.
32:26 - I'm not going to sugarcoat that, but it's what we did. But especially with so many people who have never been in banking are coming in now. It became very apparent. It was too much at once. So, we had to adjust, pivot, and start to change our our training programs to reflect the skills level that is coming in.
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Elzie shares his personal story of inadvertently stepping into the world of podcasting—transitioning from seeking knowledge to facilitating a platform for entrepreneurs to voice their stories. What begins as a tale of accidental discovery, unfolds into a masterclass on using podcasting as a lever for business growth and relationship-building.
Episode Highlights:
11:45 - Realizing the untapped potential of podcasting, I didn't set out to be a podcaster—it was a happy accident that turned into a path for empowering entrepreneurs.
17:30 - Entrepreneurs often overlook the importance of self-mastery. Know who you are to master your business. As I always say, self-awareness is your silent partner in success.
29:50 - Having a banker is like having a co-pilot in your business journey. They're not just number crunchers; they're dream enablers, providing the financial insights to fuel your business engine.
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Connect with Elzie Flenard
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Grace talks with Laurie Winters, the innovative leader at the helm of the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA). Laurie shares her unique journey from the Molecular Art Museum to directing the flourishing MOWA, painting a picture of dedication and strategic thinking.
Grace and Laurie discuss MOWA's commitment to inclusivity and its impactful role in the local community, highlighting the museum's transformative role in West Bend's economic development. Laurie's leadership tactics reveal a fearless approach to staying true to one's mission in the nonprofit arts world.
They also delve into the upcoming exciting exhibitions, including a politically charged comic show and a display of Ho Chunk baskets, asserting MOWA's efforts to educate and inspire through art.
Laurie and Grace reflect on the power of thinking differently, staying mission-focused, and the practical considerations of running an arts institution as a business magnate.
Episode Highlights:
12:21 - MOWA could be a catalyst. It could be like the great museum in Bilbao, Spain, which is a catalyst for economic development. And in fact, that's what has happened.
21:16 - No single parent should ever have to reach in their wallet more than once a year to come to the museum. No one should ever have to wonder, can my kids afford to have an art and culture experience?
23:53 - People going to museum means art and culture and a creative community and a really kind of creative industry people who go into the fields like computer technology and graphic design, fashion design, photography, you know, other things than just working on a canvas.
32:57 - Find your own way and think for yourself... What would it look like if we did just the opposite? No one says that to me anymore, which is actually really good.
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Connect with Laurie Winters
In this vibrant and insightful episode, Grace chats with Julia Taylor about the innovative B-Line Park. Dive in to understand the vision behind the project and the potential impact on the community.
Discover the various activities planned for the park, from cornhole tournaments to live music. Julia also provides some beneficial advice for entrepreneurs – a gem you won't want to miss.
Don't miss out on this conversation that's full of inspiration, entrepreneurship, and community development. Tune in to learn more about the fascinating blend of community, business, and outdoor fun.
Episode Highlights:
08:32 - I would think it's even more important when you have a small team of people. I think when you're going to get work done, if you can do it as a team and you have a highly functioning team is what it's called, where you do have such a high level of trust that people are willing to overlook maybe their own budget to help support somebody else's budget if it gets the agency or the business to reach the goal that it wants to get. That's kind of the level of trust that you want.
11:23 - Three levels of change in a community are, the first level is the people in the community will say, "That will never work here. Culture's not right for it." The second level of change is they'll say, "We tried that 15 years ago, didn't work then, it's not going to work now." The third level is when they say, "That's the best idea we ever had." And you just really have to stay the course till you get to where it's the best idea that everybody ever had.
21:02 - Some of the businesses that are already on the trail and where the trail is going to come up to are very excited because it really helps them, I think, even with recruitment purposes. People like to ride to work. People like to have green space around and knowing that you're going to have parking right behind your business or a trail, it's going to be readily accessible.
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Connect Julia Taylor
Banks, Brands, and BrownBoots
In this episode, Alan Hathaway, president of BrownBoots Interactive, shares his journey of helping businesses thrive in the digital space. He dives deep into the significant shift in the banking industry towards building a strong online presence and the unique challenges it presents.
Hear how BrownBoots navigates these challenges and uses AI for creative solutions, while maintaining human oversight. Alan also reveals an exciting upcoming project aimed at supporting local communities.
Join Grace and Alan for this insightful conversation and explore how creativity and technology are reshaping the banking industry. Tune in now!
Episode Highlights:
09:54 - One of the things, just as I was thinking about the company and the culture of the company, is let's be the nice experts, roll up our sleeves and get down to business. And I also knew that just from a culture standpoint, we also needed to be very family friendly, and supportive of families of employees and so on.
18:48 - If they create that content, they put that content out on their social platforms, we always see a spike in traffic back to the site and then just being able to share those ideas of, "Hey, we know every time you do this, you have traffic on this page. So, now that we have traffic on this page, what can we do with that?"
28:55 - So, you're a community bank in a smaller town and it's your community bank versus some large national banks. So, we realized we have a client base that loves to serve their community. We like serving our community. What might be an opportunity there? So, that's how we dreamed up this community collaboration program and we're just starting to roll this out.
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Connect with Alan Hathaway
Website
Join Terri Herrmann, the driving force behind Charisma Q, and Grace as they unravel the art of teaching charisma, a crucial skill for trust-building leaders. Discover Terri's background, holiday traditions, and a captivating discussion on Calvin Klein's Twitter strategy.
Terri emphasizes the teachability of charisma and the awareness of one's baseline across its six components. Learn how Charisma Q, born during COVID, helps sales pros adapt to the digital landscape while maintaining genuine connections. Explore email finesse and personalized coaching for growth.
Terri envisions a redefined executive presence, empowering introverts, and shares insights on OMRON's integration of Charisma Q for global women's leadership. So, tune in now to gain valuable advice on seeking allies, mentors, and embracing authenticity in all endeavors. Don't miss this enlightening conversation!
Episode Highlights:
10:44 - It's really about the individual, and it's about what's happening in their lives at that moment. And we have our curriculum, and we use our curriculum. We call it like a GPS. So, meaning we will talk about this. We will talk about personal branding in our fourth session with you if you don't come to the table with something that you want to work through.
17:57 - I think in business, we need to understand what we need to do to play the game. But especially as women, we need to figure out how do we change the game. So, how can we get people to look at executive presence differently? How can an introvert really come in and own the room and still be true to their brand and still be seen as an incredible leader?
34:28 - The thing I would like them to know is don't try to do it all on your own. If you're feeling like maybe you're stuck, think about how can you get an ally? How can you get someone to be able to help you? How can you get a mentor or even getting a coach? And it's the whole concept of surrounding yourself with your own personal board of directors.
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Connect with Terri Herrmann
Website
From home brewer to the owner of Lion's Tail Brewing Company, Alex Wenzel shares his remarkable journey. With a passion for collaboration, Alex dreams of teaming up with Russian River Brewing Company and drawing inspiration from Germany. He believes in pushing boundaries, embracing failure, and nurturing success.
Alex's transition from a chemical engineer to a thriving business manager unveils the power of perseverance and learning from books and podcasts. Lion's Tail's taproom venture was no small feat, but with guidance from business consultants, they turned challenges into triumphs. Alex's actionable advice? Keep learning from others, no matter the industry.
Tune in to the episode and explore membership perks for exclusive access. As Alex reminds us, it takes more than just a roar to leave a lasting impression. It takes exceptional experiences and a constant thirst for knowledge.
Episode Highlights:
10:08 - I guess my approach has been to fail small, and we've been around nine years and we're still a small to medium sized brewery. So, we're certainly not taking the Midwest by storm with meteoric growth or anything like that. And that's because we've taken measured small increments of growth, and we've been able to take on that risk and that's worked.
17:11 - When we first opened, I think my experience as a home brewer brought some more kind of fun, wacky flavor combinations, and that was how we were a little different to start out.
18:16 - We've challenged ourselves to constantly be changing things, making something new and interesting so that when you come in one time and have an experience, the next time you might notice something new that we did, or maybe something new is on the wall, maybe it's a different couple of beers that we made. And so, last year we did 100 different beers and so now that's kind of the new thing that's setting us apart.
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Dive into the remarkable journey of Christine Gunderson, Founder and CEO of Dreambuilt Books, who was recognized in Insight Publications' 40 Under 40. Christine's work in talent retention is awe-inspiring. From her early days balancing full-time work with studies to her impactful role in youth outreach programs, Christine's mantra "not making it harder to be a human being" shapes her mission to create opportunities.
Discover the pivotal moment when a letter from her past ignited Dreambuilt Books, now home to 9 books with a powerful message: childhood dreams are attainable. Christine shares invaluable advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the power of a supportive team.
Tune in to explore Christine's return to Green Bay, witnessing its vibrant transformation. Uncover the shift in talent retention, where employers view their team as whole individuals. Learn about the critical issue of affordable childcare, especially for millennials. Listen to an eye-opening discussion on investing in quality childcare and understanding childhood trauma's impact.
Episode Highlights:
19:25 - You step out of your zone as a child and the world finds you, and it comes at you from every direction. And while you're just trying to figure out how to navigate that, it starts to teach you how far those dreams are from reach, and they're not. And there's a very big challenge that we each face to challenge back against our own thoughts that we've developed to say like, "Is it actually as far out of reach as the world has told me it is or can I actually do that?"
26:07 - I think a lot of entrepreneurs, whether it's the same $270 was breaking the bank or not, I think anyone who ventures into their own business, there is a lot of emotion tied to every hit you take, whether there's a financial or not implications. It's just you build it. I built it. It's a version of a baby.
36:38 - At a certain point, we were told to go get these college degrees. We took on student debt, and then we didn't necessarily have the jobs available that would have commanded the degree that we needed or we were told we need it. And so, we took the job you could get. And you set your career back a little bit because you didn't necessarily take the job that aligned with your qualifications.
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Grace Bruins interviews Tom Stanton, the founder of Mel's Charities, a non-profit organization that aims to impact lives by providing financial support for individuals with disabilities, memorials, and community impact initiatives. Stanton shares his journey of how Mel's Charities was born and how it has continuously evolved over the years. Stanton discusses the four puzzle pieces of Mel's Charities, which are doers, donors, door openers, and dreamers. He emphasizes how every person can fit into one of these categories to give time, talent, and treasure to support the organization's mission. Stanton also tells a heartwarming story of a million-dollar donation from a friend's family, who believed in the charity's work and its impact on lives and the inspiring work of former basketball player and motivational speaker Chris Heron. He notes the importance of real marketing and building strong relationships in the charity's success.
Tom Also talks about the founders' board, a group of individuals who have been involved with Mel's Charities since its inception. Tom notes that the original group is still involved, and their passion for the organization has not diminished over time. Mel's Charities' impact on Ozaukee County continues to grow, and Tom and his team are grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in their community.
Listen to this episode to learn more about the inspiring story of Mel's Charities and the power of community involvement and discover how you can get involved with Mel's Charities and contribute your time, talent, and treasure to their mission.
Episode Highlights
08:44 - If we can positively impact one person's life, it's a really good day. It doesn't have to be as fancy as this, but by doing that and just continuing that and not ever leaving that mission, we have now given away over $1.9 million. And the beauty of it is we're just getting started.
35:46 - If you stay true to what you believe in, I say this all the time, it's amazing what you can accomplish by having fun, not taking yourself too seriously in a huge dose of God's grace and just be grateful for whatever you get. I don't care if it's personal life, business, non-profit, whatever. We're only here a short time.
37:56 - I've said this and it said in the documentary, the biggest life that's been impacted by this whole thing is me. Because I can still be a rudderless ship, I can still veer off, but this has grounded me, giving me purpose, giving me a reason to strengthen my relationships. Not personally, professionally. It's been the greatest thing that's ever happened to me.
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Grace is joined by Tricia Rathermel, the president and CEO at Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation (Go EDC). Go EDC was established in 2015 and exists to preserve the health of existing companies, foster a positive entrepreneurial environment, connect companies to workforce and talent development resources, enhance the business climate and promote the quality of life in the greater Oshkosh area. Ultimately, Go EDC's goal is to help businesses thrive and grow, which in turn benefits the entire community.
Tricia talks about the challenges facing local business owners, especially the challenges around transportation, childcare, housing, and recruitment. She emphasizes the importance of seeking advice and finding good consultants to help young business owners avoid pitfalls and succeed in their ventures. Tricia highlights the importance of infrastructure, affordable housing, transportation, childcare, good schools, and interesting places and activities in attracting and retaining quality people in the community.
Tune in to this episode to gain insights into the various challenges faced by local business owners and how Go EDC is supporting them through customized resources and collaboration with local organizations and government entities to create a more supportive business environment.
Episode Highlights
05:39 - We want to make sure that businesses that we have are able to succeed and that they can stay here in the Oshkosh area. We do have a lot of focus on entrepreneurship as well because a lot of times new startup businesses bring fun and exciting elements into your community.
17:05 - The Department of Children and Family Services are about to launch their second round of partner up funding where a business can apply for grant funding that they match to help support childcare fees. It's a continuation of ARPA funding from the state level. But it has that business component. The business can access public funds by committing their private funds and the idea is that they're paying full price then for someone who might be getting otherwise, a subsidized rate which puts more funds into the hands of the business owner.
22:16 - You can't recruit people until you have the infrastructure in place, right? So as much as I would love to throw some major advertisements out there and do recruitment grants to get people to move to our area, I can't have people move here and then still not have childcare or not have housing, appropriate housing.
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In this episode, host Grace Bruins interviews Andy Nelson, the Founder of Natural Resource Innovations about how he combines consulting experience with natural resource management to help businesses grow and succeed. Natural Resource Innovations provides comprehensive natural resource innovation and environmental consulting services for land and infrastructure owners and operators. Nelson shares how he got into environmental and ecology consulting and his emphasis on sustainability, which he views as not wasting resources and being efficient. The discussion revolves around his work in private land management, regulatory support and compliance, and native landscaping. Nelson highlights the importance of native species in landscaping, as they are well adapted to the local environment, require less maintenance, and provide a functional component for birds, butterflies, and people.
Andy emphasizes the value of innovation and why companies must differentiate themselves and stand out in a crowded market in order to succeed. Businesses become more sustainable by understanding their business's nature, identifying their touch points, understanding the customer's needs and looking at things from a customer-centric perspective. This episode is packed with actionable advice for business owners. Entrepreneurs with passion for the environment and sustainability will find the episode inspirational.
Highlights:
07:32- Sustainability to me means trying to look at the big chunks of the business first because that's where you're going to get your biggest impact. And if you can take your biggest expense item and reduce it by 20% that's probably a huge impact to your bottom line. You probably throw most of that straight to the profit line.
13:38 - I figured out that I do have a passion for strategy and sharing that strategy with others. And that has led me, I'm an adjunct instructor at Marine Park Technical College in the business program. Been doing that for a number of years and that's a lot of fun. I really enjoy it. And that has also kind of blossomed into helping the companies that I work with, helping myself and helping others to build strategy that helps their business grow and succeed. And so I spend a fair amount of time thinking about strategies and like to help others do the same.
19:51 - Yes, business can be a really tough thing. I've had great moments and not so great moments along the way. But I think for any business that's been around a little bit, you come to understand that when you provide value to your customers, they will come back to you again and again. And that is the secret sauce of any business, is providing that value and just staying with it and serving your customers.
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Chris Berens, Trust Officer-Vice President at Horicon Bank, speaks about success
stories and strategies that small businesses can use for financial planning. He explains
how he believes in working with third parties to help administer assets correctly when
there are no family members available to turn to. He mentions the "holiday clause,"
which helps preserve relationships among family members by allowing them to back
out of an investment if it doesn't have a sufficient business plan.
Chris emphasizes communication between family members as well as revising
documents such as buy-sell agreements every three years or so. Lastly, he encourages
families not to open joint accounts with anyone other than spouses due to potential
complications and suggests discussing expectations for trusts prior to documentation
choices being made relating to sentimental gifts given while still alive.
If you are a business owner looking for guidance on how to properly plan for the
transition of your business, then you don't want to miss this episode. Tune in to learn
more about how to make sure your wishes are carried out even after you are gone.
Episode Highlights
03:35 - At Horicon Bank, we are doing trust administration. So, when family members
leave money in trust for other family members, someone needs to administer that and
that's what we do. We're looking to carry out that father's or mother's wishes on how to
care for their child or how to distribute funds to their child over time.
12:22 - If it's a joint account and it's anyone other than the spouse, it can be problematic
because they could name a child on a joint account and that can override all the good
work they've done on their estate plan because that account is going to that joint
account owner and completely ignores anything in their trust or will.
14:27 - It doesn't hurt to have a family conversation. Sit down and speak to everyone.
Let them know what your wishes are ahead of time so there aren't any surprises. It's
difficult when you see after death, that there's a lot of hurt because things weren't
discussed.
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Connect with Chris
In today's episode, Grace talks to Aaron Kuhls, the CEO and Co-founder of AL-INS Enterprises, a separation equipment company. Aaron and his business partner Eric Heiling started the company with a vision to pass it on to their kids. Their primary clientele are dairy farmers; however, they also provide services in the food waste industry by separating solids from water after process completion.
They now specialize in industrial automation such as welding, sheet metal fabrication machining, etc. In order to gain trust among customers prior to launching, they did extensive testing. To protect the industry's reputation, they focused on quality products and great service. Aaron highlights the biggest challenge was making sure that the product was reliable enough so farmers would not be hesitant about using it, which required building relationships with potential buyers with handshakes, trustworthiness, and confidence without ego.
Ready to learn more about how AL-INS Enterprises grew grown into a successful industry-leading farm equipment company? Tune in to hear how they've expanded their dealer network and extended their product offerings all around the country. Listen to Aaron share his story of transitioning from part-time to full-time with his prototype product and how he got his kids involved in taking care of their website and social media, which is invaluable as customers look online for products or services they need.
Episode Highlights
08:03 - Far more important than the actual, we have to have a good quality piece of equipment, but taking care of the customer afterwards is one of those top things that is lacking in some of our competitors.
11:47 - We've gotten to the point where the person who was doing the testing was happier with our prototype than their existing machine. So, that's where we said, "Okay, I think we might have something here."
16:56 - I think the biggest challenge was to make sure that the product was as good as we had hoped, to the point where it's making a different sort of thought. A farmer is not looking at it as a piece of equipment that's not going to work. We're still working on improving that. I think that's important to make it something that doesn't need to be tended to.
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Grace talks with Kari Simcakowski, who is a Senior Business Consultant at Heartland Payroll, which is a human-centered technology company that specializes in providing business solutions to small businesses. Kari works on the Human Capital Management side, helping with payroll, hiring, and tax credits.
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is an underutilized tax credit available to employers who hire individuals from certain demographics such as veterans or those receiving state assistance. Heartland makes it easy for clients by automatically applying for WOTC within 28 days of employment if the employee qualifies and can offer up to $15,000 in savings per quarter depending on how many employees qualify. Heartland typically works with small-to-medium-sized businesses ranging from 2 to 500 employees but are able to work outside of this range as well.
Tune in to hear why business owners should explore the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) to take advantage of potential tax savings. Businesses that have taken out PPP loans can still qualify for the ERTC if they have used their loan money on other items besides payroll wages. Listen to find out why business owners should consult with a CPA or partner with Heartland, which specializes in this area, for more information and assistance with filing returns or amendments related to this credit.
Episode Highlights
05:52 - Another piece of what Heartland does as well that I have partners that I work with is on the payment side, so credit card processing, and accepting payments really, and making that very easy and secure for them.
09:42 - It's all part of onboarding. We can actually help to identify people that qualify even just in their applications. So, we actually have an applicant tracking system, too, where we can help business owners put out their job postings, all managed in one centralized location.
17:30 - What Heartland will actually do is we will amend returns from a previous provider, whether your CPA did those returns or a different payroll provider. We're actually offering that as a service as well. So, when they move over to Heartland as a new client, we will actually do those amendments, and it's a very nominal fee.
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In this episode, Grace talks to Corrie Kovacs, Client Engagement and Communications Director at First American Capital Corporation, although she describes herself as more of a relationship builder and business coach. Originally, Corrie's background was in theatre but during the pandemic she pivoted and landed a role in Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation, which led her to working at FACC.
Corrie emphasizes the need for business owners to know their income statement and cash flow. She mentions that a lot of entrepreneurs' mistake is thinking they know their business solely because they know their craft. But there's this whole other side of it that they've got to know if they want to run a successful business. They have to understand the flow of money in a business because it is different than personal budgeting. Listen to the show to learn what you need to jump start your business financial statement.
Episode Highlights
08:41 - The gaps I see between an entrepreneur who has an idea and an entrepreneur who turns that idea into a business are planning, the ability to execute a plan, and understanding who your resources are.
09:53 - The one category of gap that I see in entrepreneurs that I work with on the daily is in bookkeeping and accounting. Understanding that when you know your numbers, you know your business.
14:06 - There's often a fear of carrying debt, which speaks to that culture about not talking about finance. I understand it. I totally get it, but it's like when you're a little kid and you're afraid of the Boogeyman. If you don't define the boogeyman, it makes it worse. Once you define it, it's easier to say, "Oh, well, maybe this is manageable".
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FACC
In this episode, Grace interviews Linda Chipman who started Chippy's Popcorn Creations with her husband Scott 20 years ago. They founded the business because they were ready for something different from their 70-hour work weeks in the restaurant industry. They borrowed money from Linda's dad to buy equipment and booked shows, but quickly realized they were losing money at every show. Despite this, they persisted and eventually found success in Wisconsin, where people loved their kettle corn.
They discuss the emotional roller coaster of starting a business and how they learned to be persistent from past failures. They also touch on the goal of their business being something more than just making money. Scott is in charge of production, while Linda focuses on creative aspects and customer relations, and the couple has created many successful flavors through trial and error.
Linda shares her advice to be self-aware of boundaries and take time to reflect on why you feel frustrated or angry when in a difficult situation. Listen to know more about the process of creating new popcorn flavors and learn the importance of taking breaks and setting limitations to avoid decision fatigue and burnout.
Episode Highlights
9:42 - I guess we just had this overarching thought that how could we not succeed. It might not work as we want to in the beginning, but if we continue to go forward, and if we persist, and I think that's the overall message for 20 years in business, is persistence.
20:52 - I think it's important for consumers to understand as well that we're not playing the same operation because it truly is not something that I can do and hire somebody out to help me with payroll, because that really would take care of my margins in a quick minute, and those are important. ButI think it's also important for the consumers to know that, because maybe it takes us a little bit. We have ebbs and flows in that, because we're doing so many functions. It's easy for us to have decision fatigue. It's easy for us to become burnt out, because you're wearing maybe eight hats in a day.
25:30 - There's such a demand in today's world for businesses to be responsive to every whim that you as a consumer might want, and that's really detrimental to small businesses and micro businesses, because it really is an unrealistic expectation that a business could respond to every person that talks to them on social media, but we sometimes are putting that upon ourselves that we need to.
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In this episode, Grace interviews Allison Gossman, co-owner of The Sweet and Salty Pig in Fond du Lac and The Tipsy Pig in North Fond du Lac. Allison shares that her favorite part about owning a restaurant is being her own boss and being able to employ other people. They discuss customer service for restaurants, which can be improved by making sure employees are happy so they can treat customers like family.
They talk about the challenges that businesses faced during COVID and how The Sweet and Salty Pig responded by keeping some staff on to work the drive-thru window and collect unemployment, then reopened with fewer tables. Also, in response to COVID, they created an outdoor seating area called the Pig Pen. Their menu is based on bacon and other pork products, with a twist of modern comfort food.
Listen to learn how important it is to have a supportive network when starting a business and tune in to discover how crucial it is to be true to yourself to avoid disappointments.
Episode Highlights
10:04 - You have to do what you have to do. So, we finally have it down now. We've got a system. We have trucks coming basically everyday, but Wednesday, and with our added space, we've gotten into work.
19:07 - We have achieved a lot of what we've wanted to do, for sure, but at the same time, it's nice to strive for more. There's always something new to create. We like to just keep ourselves on our toes and also, as soon as you think, "Okay, we've done what we've wanted to do," then you think about what more you could do.
27:08 - Sometimes things come from what you don't expect, and that's another thing that we had talked about earlier, was just how you get your start with something. People make life choices.
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In this episode, Grace is joined by co-host, Steve Leaman, Senior Vice President for Business Banking at Horicon Bank. They talk to Brad Saunders, Director of Strategy and Coaching at Huberty in Fond Du Lac, about owner exit strategy. Brad's role entails bringing forward some of the advice and understanding in the advisory section of what they can do for business owners. Brad is one of those guys who grew up in a small business family and started working with a meat producer out of his college job. Through several different opportunities, he grew that business and sold that business before buying and selling a couple other businesses.
Brad advises business owners should take the time to set an appointment with an advisor to discuss their exit strategy options, which can include selling the business to family, recapitalizing, partnering, or liquidating. The first step is actually to take inventory of what you have in place and where you are at because this will help determine if you are ready and what your next steps should be. Listen to the show and discover what you can do to improve your business readiness.
Episode Highlights
03:27 - The referral partnership that we have with the bank is great, but having clients that have used our services that are able to at least give a broad stroke understanding of how we work and how we operate, at least I get the better chance of dragging them into it a little bit deeper right off the bat.
07:08 - I found that we're probably most effective with businesses with revenue over $2 million, but under $10 million. I have several customers that are well over $20 million, right? But I have also have a few that are under a million. It's the affordability, right? It's still an investment. You have to get to a certain stage in your business, too.
17:09 - I think the key to using good advisors like Steve and myself, for example, is that you should be able to look at all the options to sell your business, whether it's a recapitalization, whether it's a partnership or it's a direct sale. Sometimes it's liquidation. That it's the best solution to it. But all of those are options to business owners. And I think too many business owners without advice get narrow-minded in regards to how this thing is going to work.
Connect with Grace
Connect with Steve
Connect with Brad Saunders
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With over two decades running Nunatak Coffee in Beaver Dam, businessman Josiah Vilman joins Grace and they talk about how he began roasting coffee to provide better quality coffee. Josiah continues to grow his business by expanding into new markets and developing new taste profiles. He describes how the company started with no prior knowledge of coffee roasting and learned through trial and error. They now supply coffee to industrial customers, license their products through distributors, and have two cafes – one of which will be opening soon as a store with a cafe.
Josiah describes how COVID-19 had a big impact on the retail business and they had to adjust their operations on already slim margins. Staffing became challenging, although some good employees were retained. Listen to find out the lessons he has learned, including the importance of being agile and adjusting as needed, as well as his plans to expand manufacturing, online sales, and wholesaling.
Episode Highlights
05:44 - We started developing marketing campaigns and procuring coffee, and developing taste profiles for customers. That led to roasting a few years later. We had always been involved in the roasting through testing and things. Developing the actual and roasting and handling that production didn't start until a few years later.
06:41 - It's not like I came from or we came from a history of roasting coffee, where we just took that knowledge and reused it. So, we developed it that way. I think we've gotten better at it. I think I was pretty good but we've certainly gotten better, and now we've learned because we're involved.
14:49 - As long as you're moving two steps forward, maybe one step back is not a bad thing. So, I think being content with that and understanding, that's part of the game, that's been helpful for me.
Connect with Grace
Connect with Josiah Vilman
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As a successful entrepreneur, Kyle Rowe knows a thing or two about business growth. In this episode of Banking On Business Podcast, Grace is joined by Kyle Rowe, owner of five Jersey Mike's Stores. Kyle shares his business growth journey and what it takes to run a business in multiple locations. He also shares tips on hiring and retaining employees.
Kyle's advice is essential for any entrepreneurs looking to take their business to the next level. His insights on business growth are invaluable, and his tips on hiring and retaining employees will help you keep your business running smoothly. Whether you're just starting out or you've been in business for years, this episode is a must-listen.
Episode Highlights
06:23 - I think the initial learning curve of just being in business and not an educated guy. I've got a high school diploma. So everything that I did I had to figure out the hard way and I think it was a great experience.
16:24 - When we picked our first location it didn`t end up working out the way we wanted, but you learn a lot about those towns and how people travel and what people are willing to do and not willing to do.
25:23 - If you don`t strike something with them that they feel like they can get behind they are just going for whatever place would pay them the most.
32:50 - Seems weird because Im not in stores as much as I was when I started and I have people doing those things and its like what`s my role? My role is keeping 80 people plus employed.
Connect with Grace
Connect with Kyle Rowe
Website
As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to protect your business from fraud and scams. In this episode, Grace is joined by Melissa, who shares some tips about how we can protect ourselves from fraud. Melissa explains that business owners need to be aware of the different types of fraud and how to prevent it. She also describes the importance of having a good security system in place to protect your business. Finally, she offers some advice for business owners who have been the victim of fraud. Tune into this episode and hear these tips, it can help keep your business safe from fraud and scams.
Episode Highlights
06:07 - Especially with holidays coming up, charity scams, thats the big one, people calling and saying donate to a charity but you have to donate using gift cards. If you want to donate to a charity, contact them directly.
10:51 - Knowing your vendor and who you are doing business with really helps in preventing clicking on that link and giving out your information.
14:04 - Having a culture in general in a workplace is so important because it keeps employees engaged and less likely to commit internal fraud.
16:59 - So my biggest tip is to know your employees and your vendors, thats going to be the number one, have a good relationships with them.
Connect with Grace
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn)
In this episode, Grace is joined by Sarah Ninmer, marketing and social media management instructor at Moraine Park Technical College. They talk about how social media works and the importance of using it for your business. They also talk on how to leverage your brand by using social media. Highlights: 7:19 - Social media is a struggle. It can be hard to kind of tackle or just even start. 8:37 - If you don't want to create content and you just want to start using social media, I would say spend your money on ads. But they need to be targeted ads. 14:09 - What you really want to do is build relationships and have people think of you when they want to do business with you, right? So in order to do that, people have to know about you. They have to trust you. You're building these relationships. 18:56 - They wouldn't have responded if they didn't have an interest in it right? Don't respond with a canned response. That's the worst. 21:39 - We need to think like a marketer and not like ourselves when we're marketing for a business. Connect with Grace https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Sarah https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-ninmer-marketingandsocialmediamanagement?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B1UwpVIAhS4u%2B1WkglLYx9g%3D%3D (LinkedIn)
Security and anti-fraud measures are some of the most important aspects of running a business. Not only do they protect your investments and help you to avoid costly mistakes, but they can also save you a lot of time in the long run. Grace Bruins is joined by security expert Jason Scherer. Jason shares his top tips for protecting your business from fraud, as well as some time-saving hacks that will help you to run your business more efficiently. Whether you're just starting out or you've been in business for years, this episode is packed with valuable information that will help you to keep your business safe and running smoothly.
Jason Scherer is the VP of Treasury and Commercial Payment Solutions at Horicon Bank. Jason ensured that growth-oriented companies across a variety of industries, including Manufacturing, Healthcare, Professional Services, Non-Profit access sophisticated Treasury and Payment Solutions to meet their diverse needs, from the dispersion and collection of funds to provision of security and investments.
Episode Highlights:
04:01 - I help organizations and businesses manage their cash, money in, money out and I protect them from the bad guys, from people trying to defraud organizations.
08:33 - The only other big hurdle that I get is when its the owner who is doing the task.
11:39 - We have a few different layers of security we can put in. Online banking is something most people have personally, businesses have it as well.
16:43 - If something does not feel right and you have someone at your bank that you can call thats the comfort.
20:52 - I would tell a business owner, make sure that you try to get another perspective, try to ask questions and if you are talking to an employee or a vendor or a customer, ask their opinion on how they think something should be because the way they normally do it may not be the right choice.
Connect with Grace
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn)
Connect with Jason
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwscherer/ (LinkedIn)
In this episode, Grace is joined by Rick and Beth, business owners who have turned their ideas into successful enterprises. They talk about how they got their start, the importance of trial and error, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Rick and Beth offer insights on a range of topics, including the importance of a business plan, the value of customer feedback, and the challenges of scaling a business. They also share their thoughts on the role of failure in business, and how to use it as a learning opportunity. This is an episode that any budding entrepreneur will find inspirational. Episode Highlights: 01:00 - The Great Plate solves a problem that every family and often is in every event. It’s able to manage your food and beverage all in one plate. 04:07 - There is no way of getting that done, it's more or less about learning from your mistakes that you have in the process. 06:19 - How do we manage all of that and solve that problem about being able to manage that cup and plate together and when we showed the initial product to others they went “wow this is great” 20:33 - We've overcome a lot and if you are an entrepreneur and you bring a new product to market, you have to have the strength and the agility to keep seeing it through. 21:03 - Have a desire for the information. My mother will tell you the first word that I learned growing up was “why”. Connect with Grace https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Rick https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-kellow-717b316/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Beth https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-kuehl-1037493/ (LinkedIn)
Grace Bruins and Joe Venhuizen are joined by Tom Kulczewski, owner of Real Sportscards. Tom fell in love with baseball cards in 1986 and his love has grown from there. Tom’s Collection features Ryne Sandberg, Yasiel Puig, Joc Peterson, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Jay Cutler. His favorite card is a 2018 Allen & Ginter Champ Peterson Autograph. Tune in and hear Tom's story of success in his business and what you can do when you set your your business on the right track. Highlight 03:00 – With our growth, we started in 2016, between our online business or our in-person store, we are the largest seller of Topps baseball cards in the country. 09:15 – So he took me down to Chicago to this big sports card convention and I was like “Oh this is awesome”. So that was kind of the hook for me to collect more. 22:10 – When I started this business and when went full time, we had a lot of people like that and I don’t even care what they say anymore. I used to really care and I feel like I have to convince people. 23:55 – I always tell kids, when an adult asks you what do you want when you grow up, turn the table and ask them. 45:20 – So I never look at myself as a successful entrepreneur. I always look at myself as a 12-year-old who plays baseball cards. Connect with Grace https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Joe https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-venhuizen-12268073/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Tom https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-kulczewski-5101bb1a2/ (LinkedIn)
Small business owners are the backbone of the American economy. By opening and running a small business, they create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and bring new innovation to their communities. In order to support these important enterprises, state and local governments offer a range of incentives and programs to promote economic development. In this episode Grace Bruins and Joe Venhuizen will take a closer look at what these initiatives involve, and how small business owners can benefit from them. Tune in and hear more. Highlight 01:30 – Envision Greater Fond du Lac is a regional economic development and chamber of commerce organization. So what that means is it’s a result of a merged organization. 03:17 – The more that we know about current or upcoming business happenings the better we can position ourselves to help and assist. 17:31 – They get a certain commitment from their lender and the project costs X, the lender is willing to come in with Y and there’s this gap and that's where envision can come in and fill that gap. 29:55 – If you`re someone at any level in the business community, your network is so critically important and a lot of folks know this intrinsically but don’t put it into action. You get stuck in your way. Connect with Grace https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Joe https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-venhuizen-12268073/ (LinkedIn)
Employee engagement is critical to the success of any company. It is the level of commitment and enthusiasm that employees have towards their work and their employer. Engaged employees are more productive, more profitable, and more likely to stay with their company. They also provide better customer service and are more likely to promote their company to others. Tune in to this episode and hear more about the importance of having managers that are engaged. This is a great episode for anyone who is looking to learn more about employee engagement or for companies who are struggling with how to improve it. Highlights: 03:59 – I think that employee engagement looks like a lot of different things to different employees. It could be staying in the organization for a long time, it could be feeling comfortable giving your opinion, it could be promoting change within the organization. 05:22 – We tried to do many different things. One of the first things that we do that is so important is getting a pulse on what the actual feelings of our employees are. 11:49 – Having an awareness of always what's going on, and spend time with your employees and ask questions. 15:18 – One thing that I think is really unique about us is that we are partially employee owned. Connect with Grace https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Renee https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-peterson-shrm-cp-57835753/ (LinkedIn)
Finding the right employees is one of the most important tasks that a business owner or manager has. The process of hiring can be time-consuming and expensive, so it's important to get it right the first time. Grace Bruins interviews Renee Peterson in this episode. Renee is based out of Horicon, Wisconsin and works at Horicon Bank as AVP, Talent Acquisition and Development Officer/Security Officer.
They talk about how she finds the right employees and how she prepares to interview. Tune in to this episode and hear more information on the hiring process.
Highlights:
02:37 – I feel like I’m in the position where Im growing skills and knowledge.
06:18 – No situation is exactly the same, so the 1st thing that I do once we have a qualified candidate, is we always include the manager in those conversations.
08:55 – In the interview questions, sometimes theres questions that we cannot ask our candidates and I feel like that is really my job as the talent acquisition manager of this whole process. So, I provide the manager with interview questions.
11:29 – Sometimes it happens really quickly, sometimes it happens within their first three months of their employment and it really depends on the position.
21:28 – I think with interviewing, just to remember that it's so easy to get into that rut and to recognize that they are interviewing you as much as you`re interviewing them.
Connect with Grace
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn)
Connect with Renee
https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-peterson-shrm-cp-57835753/ (LinkedIn)
Training employees is a critical part of any business, but it can be especially challenging in the banking industry. Kerry Murphy, a Retail Training Officer at Horicon Bank, understands this challenge firsthand. In this episode Kerry shares her background and how she trains bank employees. During the conversation, they touch on various topics related to employee training, including the importance of creating a program that is tailored to each individual employee. Kerry shares insights on how to engage employees in the training process and how to create an environment that is conducive to learning. By the end of this episode, you will have a better understanding of how to train your bank employees and why it is so important to do so. Highlights: 05:44 – A personality is the combination of characteristics or qualities that form and individuals’ distinctive character, so it is what makes you, you. 06:48 – Anyone who would know me, I do not enjoy conflict. I avoid that as much as possible. I just want everyone to get along and have a good time, and that’s really fun most of the time. 09:53 – Getting to know the person you`re training as much as you can on a professional level before you get started, just find out a little bit about them and what they are expecting from your training. 13:05 – I really struggle with the lack of confidence. I feel bad that people don’t believe in themselves and that's really hard for me to see people struggle on that. 19:20 – Just accept people as they are and understand that we are all different. Connect with Grace https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Kerry https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-murphy-08276aa1/ (LinkedIn)
Training your bank employees can sometimes feel like a never-ending task. When it comes to growing your training program, you want them to be knowledgeable and able to handle any customer situation, but you also don't want to overwhelm them with too much information at once.
In this 1st episode of Banking on Business, Grace Bruins is joined by Kerry Murphy, a Retail Training Officer at Horicon Bank. Tune in to this episode and hear about Kerrys interesting background and how she trains an employee.
Highlights:
04:04 – My favorite thing is getting to know everyone that works here. Not only do I train for every location, I work with every department so even people that I don’t train, we touch in some ways.
05:51 – The model I used is called VARK, so there are 4 different types of learning styles: Visual, Audio, Reading, Kinesthetics.
06:43 – I am a solid mix of Visual and Kinesthetics and that makes perfect sense to me because I like to watch something and then do it.
14:10 – Learning styles vary with your team, your family, with the people in your life, so just be aware of that and the awareness that were not all looking at something the same way and keep that in mind.
Connect with Grace
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/ (LinkedIn)
Connect with Kerry
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-murphy-08276aa1/ (LinkedIn)
Welcome to the Banking on Business podcast presented by Horicon Bank! Banking on Business is aimed at helping entrepreneurs grow their business with practical strategies you can start using today! Each episode will feature an expert guest and explore ways you can innovate the way you do business. We are all about engaging our local business community and connecting with other small businesses to raise each other up.
Hosted by yours truly, Grace Bruins, Marketing Officer at Horicon Bank turned Podcaster – at least for the next 20 minutes. To stay in t he loop on all things Banking on Business related visit horiconbank.com/bankingonbusiness and subscribe where ever you get your podcasts.