STL Leaders Podcast: Recent Episodes
St. Louis Leaders
From growing up in a small St. Louis suburb to giving you inside access to the doers, thinkers, and leaders of St. Louis, I am Bryan Buesking. Listen as we talk to the leaders who are up-and- coming all the way to the well-known legends. This show will dive into their past, present and future and how it impacts the Gateway to the west.
Jenna is the Director of Marketing for UCP Heartland here in St. Louis, listen as we talk to Jenna about UCP Heartlands mission and vision as well as we talk to Jenna about her personal experiences and her views on leadership. We also talk about a fun upcoming event we are partnering together on in November.
Kenny Gales is a firefighter with the OFallon MO fire department, and is also a Whiskey connoisseur. Listen as we talk to Kenny on how he combined 2 passions into one and launched his own Whiskey called Fallen Brothers. Listen to the mission and meaning behind his Whiskey and what his journey was to get him here today. Fallen Brothers Whiskey release is this Wednesday, Sept 11th in honor of those who we lost on that day, years ago. Check them out at https://www.fallenbrotherscraftedspirits.com/
Recorded Live in front of a great audience, Reed Low and I sit down and talk about his journey to the NHL and his company Power Play Beverages. Listen as Reed and I discuss his passion, His love for Jesus Christ, and the passion he has for St. Louis. One of the Top 5 interviews I have ever done, this is a must listen. Reed has so much passion that it pours out of him in this episode and you don't want to miss out on it.
Matthew Porter is a Husband, Father, Friend, Entrepreneur that is running for LT Governor of Missouri. Listen as we talk to Matthew about his new company Eonova, and the reason he is running for LT Governor of Missouri. We talk to Matthew about the things going on in Missouri, how he hopes to help and how he is open to not only ideas from everyone but is focused on solutions.
Scott Schuessler is an entrepreneur and the founder of Adventure Unknown here in St. Louis. Listen as we talk to Scott about how he sold his PT practice to start Adventure Unknown. Adventure Unknown is a business / social club in Fenton that is a must see. Join me as we talk to Scott about the club, his vision for the club and how it has brought business leaders together.
Ryan Hall is the President of Beanstalk Web Solutions here in St. Louis, listen as we talk to him about his path to Beanstalk, the adversity he came over to get where he is at today. Ryan talks about changing company culture, his views on leadership and how EOS has helped the organization.
Danni Eickenhorst is the CEO of HUSTL Hospitality Group, that owns multiple restaurants including Steve's Hot Dogs, and The Fountain on Locust. Listen as we talk to Danni about her journey to being a business owner and the impact that is had allowed her to have in the City of St. Louis. Danni is a great STL Leader and this is an episode that you don't want to miss.
Todd Thomas is the Owner of Porta Party DJ's here in St. Louis as well as you may know him from seeing him at the St. Louis Cardinals game as "That One Guy"! Listen as we talk to Todd about scaling his business as well as how he got his start with the St. Louis Cardinals. You will also hear from Todd on what his most memorable Cardinal moment is that he has been apart of.
Michell Stockmann is the President & CEO of TechKnow Solutions, LLC and is the Co-Founder & CEO of Women Empowering Women National. Listen as we talk to Michell about starting her business as well as Women Empowering Women and the impact that networking has had on her career. In this episode get insight into just the way networking is done here in St. Louis.
Seth Miller is the Executive Director of VetBiz and he is the podcast host for Lions Den with Seth. In this episode we talk to Seth about his time in the AirForce, his views on leadership and VetBiz and what they do for veterans. This is a must listen episode if you are in the military or have recently transitioned to civilians life. https://www.lionspride21.com/
Ryan Shapiro is the Founder and President of PEOMG, a local PEO Consultant with years of experience in the industry. Listen as we talk to Ryan about what a PEO is, how they can help a small business and the uniqueness of PEOMG. We also talk to Ryan about Leadership and his views on the importance of a strong leader in a business.
Amy Yan is the CEO & Founder of C Three Business Consultants here in St. Louis, she is also a power networker and is very well connected here in St. Louis. Take a listen as Amy and Bryan Buesking speak about the power of networking, how Amy took a step and started her own business and what St. Louis means to her.
Scott Levine is the Founder of AEGIS Law firm here in St. Louis as well as past President of EO's St. Louis Chapter. Listen as we talk to Scott about getting into law, starting his own practice and the challenges he was able to overcome as an entrepreneur. We also speak to Scott about networking and how it has been a crucial piece of his success. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from another great STL Leader.
Debi Corrie is the CEO of Acumaxum, listen as we talk to Debi about starting her business, her views on the city of St. Louis and how networking propelled her career. Debi wrote a book called Loving Failure which talks a lot about the challenges she overcame to make her business successful. The link of the book can be found below. This was a great episode by a great STL Leader and we highly suggest you take the time to listen.
https://www.amazon.com/Loving-Failure-Debi-Corrie/dp/1735990329/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FAR4KQGCR140&keywords=debi+corrie&qid=1686597394&sprefix=debi+corrie%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1
Tyler Kelley is a passionate entrepreneur and Co-Founder of the SLAM! Agency here in St. Louis, MO. Listen as we talk to Tyler about starting the business, the challenges he overcame with his business and what he does to keep his business successful. We speak to Tyler about AI and how its changing the world and how he is staying on the leading edge of the marketplace. We also speak to Tyler about his views on leadership and how EO has played a part in his leadership views and success.
Jaylen Bledsoe is the Managing Partner at Flare Partners as well as a Top 40 under 40 in St. Louis according to the St. Louis Business Journal. Take a listen to this inspiring story of how Jaylen started his company at 11 years old and has grown his business into a nationwide consulting company. Jaylen is an inspiration to so many and a true STL Leader.
In this episode, we talk to Gary Wood, Co Founder & COO of Stryker Construction about the challenges of starting a business and the grind that an entrepreneur goes through to get a business off the ground. We also discuss with Gary the state of commercial construction here in St. Louis and the changes that COVID brought to the landscape. Listen to another great episode of the STL Leaders Podcast.
Carson Heady is a Best Selling Author a master of social selling and a valuable networker. In this episode, we talk to Carson about his career, writing his books, managing his time and his views on social selling. Carson gives us inside access to the ways to be successful and his views on leadership and networking.
I welcome Aaron Perlut to the show to mark our 100th episode! Aaron is a Founder and Partner at Elasticity here in St. Louis MO. We talk to Aaron about his business, the challenges, and the successes. We also talk to Aaron about how he had to change some things in his life, to become the leader he wanted to be. Take a listen to a great episode with a great STL Leader.
Cindy Blake is the Vice President of the Wiegand Foundation here in St. Louis and is the Business Development Manager for YouthBridge Community Foundation. Listen as we talk to Cindy about the Wiegand Foundation and the impact it has had not only here in St. Louis but across the world. We also speak to Cindy about her role at YouthBridge and how it impacts the community we live in.
Muriel Smith is the Executive Director of the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, Listen as we talk to Muriel about her path to Executive Director, the role she plays now in our community and the organizations future. This is a great organization here in St. Louis that gives back to the community and a great story about pursing desires to lead.
Gabe Angieri is the Executive Director at Arch Grants here in St. Louis, Take a listen as we talk to Gabe about his journey to Arch Grants, the mission of Arch Grants and the economy here in St. Louis. We also discuss with Gabe his leadership style and where he learned to be an influential leader.
Katy Walter is the CEO of a non-profit called Kids in the Middle here in St. Louis, MO. Listen to Katy talk to us about her path to CEO of this great organization, the mission of the organization and how she is leading her team and the organization here in St. Louis. This is a great episode that will show you hard work and determination pays off.
Jon Franko is the Founder and Partner at Gorilla 76 here in St. Louis, MO. Listen as we talk to Jon about starting Gorilla 76 and his passion behind making his organization one of the best places to work in all of St. Louis. We also discuss Jon being diagnosed with MS and his passion for running for the MS community.
Jacob Turner is a former MLB pitcher and now partner at JL strategic wealth, where he helps athletes and entrepreneurs on their journey of wealth management. Listen as we talk to Jacob about his time in the MLB and his transition to entrepreneurship. Jacob gives some great advice in this episode that you won’t want to miss.
JP Revel is a local STL Leader, and the Pricinpal at Lelander. Listen as we talk to JP about growing up in Indiana and then moving to St. Louis. Hear how he started his business and his passion behind it. We also discuss his leadership views and how to manage a work, life, balance.
Brian Lunt is a Business strategist, facilitator, connector and the President of St. Louis Business Club. Brian is a great STL Leader who’s focus is on helping small businesses thrive. Listen as we talk to Brian about his career path and his mission for St. Louis.
Doug Meyer is a Partner at Covenant Technology Partners and a great STL Leader. Listen as we talk to Doug about how he became an entrepreneur, the lessons he has learned along the way of leading his current organization and his advice on someone striving to become a leader. Doug talks to us about what it means to have your own board of directors and how important that can be to your success.
Jason Hicks is a formerly served in the military before starting his business OsteoStrong in Clayton. Listen as we talk to Jason about OsteoStrong, the impact it is having in lives in St. Louis, along with his views on leadership. We also talk to Jason about starting a business, the challenges that came with it and how he was able to overcome those challenges and push through to create a successful small business here in St. Louis.
Vance Crowe is a communications consultant that has worked for corporations and international organizations around the world. He has spoken before more than 150,000 people, answering questions about some of the most sophisticated and controversial technologies in the modern age. Vance helps organizations realize why the general public doesn’t agree with their perspective and offers new ways to communicate effectively, resolve disagreements, and build rapport with critics and stakeholders.
Vance is the former Director of Millennial Engagement for Monsanto. He previously worked as a Communications Strategist for the World Bank Group, as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer stationed in Kenya, as a Communications Coordinator at a National Public Radio affiliate in Northern California, and as a deckhand on an eco-tourism ship that traveled the Western Hemisphere. His stories and lessons illuminate aspects of communications that remain hidden to most people.
Vance holds a degree in communications from Marquette University and a master’s degree in cross-cultural negotiations from the Seton Hall School of Diplomacy.
Vance is the CEO of Articulate Ventures LLC. a boutique public relations and marketing firm in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Jennifer Hopper is a leader in the Tech space here in St. Louis and currently serves as the CIO of Save A Lot. Listen as we talk to Jennifer about the transformation at Save A Lot and what’s happening in the Tech Space. We also talk to Jennifer about her views on leadership and how to separate yourself from others.
Stephanie Jones is the Owner of Jones Family Law Group, her and her team specialize in family law in the St. Louis community. Listen as we talk to Stephanie about starting a law firm, how to choose a lawyer and what makes her firm unique. We also speak to Stephanie about leadership and how she leads her organization. Stephanie is a great STL Leader and it was great having her on the show.
Roberta Moore is the President and CEO of Conscious Choices Corporation: The EQ-i Coach, where she works with individuals and organization’s on their EQ. Listen as we discuss with Roberta what EQ is and how it affects you. This is a great episode that dives into the world of EQ with a great STL Leader.
Jason Carter is the Founder and President of UNCOMN. Listen as we talk to Jason about his military past and how it has helped shape his leadership views. We discuss his current organization and how he has taken his past experience to propel his company into success. Jason is a great STL Leader and we were excited to have him on our show.
Brian Handrigan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Advocado here in St. Louis. Listen as we talk to Brian about starting Advocado, how they raised money for their startup, and the growth they have had. We also talk to Brian about his views on leadership and his philosophy on being a leader and how to empower employees. Brian is a great STL Leader and his views and vision define what it means to be a leader.
Dr. Michaela Henke- Cilenti is a Professor here in St. Louis at Webster University. She is also the Principal Consultant at StarCoach and the Author of Ready for Anything: The Making of a Change Leader. Take a listen as we talk to her about her views on leadership and some valuable principals on leadership.
Scott Scully is the CEO of Abstrakt Marketing here in St. Louis, and is a well-respected entrepreneur in our area. Listen as we talk to Scott about starting Abstrakt, the challenges they have face but continue to overcome and the success they have had. We talk to Scott about the acquisition of Sapper Consulting and what the future holds for the 2 companies.
Stephen Schultz is the Founder of Schultz & Myers Law Firm here in St. Louis, where him and his partner Josh Myers practice Injury Law. Listen as we talk to Stephen about starting his practice, the challenges they had, the success that has come over the years and how he believes its best to balance work and life.
David & Dafna run one of the largest CBD Kratom stores in the area. They join us to talk about starting CBD Kratom and the success and challenges that they have faced with their growth. Learn about their story, and the value these products can bring in this episode.
Justin Kraudel is the President of MONTA Watch. Listen as we talk to Justin about the challenges of running a Swiss Watch company right here in St. Louis. He explains how he became co-owner of the company, how the pandemic affected him and his partner, and how they continue to use social media to grow their brand.
Keith Turner is the Founder and President of TurnGroup Technologies. Listen as we talk to Keith about starting his company, the things he has learned along the way and his advice to anyone thinking about starting their business. Keith is a inspiration to anyone out there who is thinking about becoming a entrepreneur and you won’t want to miss this episode.
Jack Mueller is on the rise here in St. Louis and is in position to take over the helm of Cissell Mueller. Jack has a very interesting background and a lot of knowledge, listen as we talk to him about his past, his career path and the lessons he has learned along the way. Dive in as Jack talks to us about his plans for the future here in St. Louis.
Dan Wies is Vice President at Wies Drywall and President of Wies Offsite. Listen as we talk to Dan about growing up in the family business, carrying on the organization and starting a new company. We also discuss his views on leadership, company culture and how they have impacted his organizations.
Jay Delsing is a member of the PGA Tour and was born right here in St. Louis, Missouri. Listen as we talk to Jay about growing up here in St. Louis, his path to the PGA, his time broadcasting for the PGA on Fox with Joe Buck and what he is doing now. You won’t want to miss this episode as we dive into his career and his new business here in St. Louis.
Joe & Robyn Rosenberger started Tiny Superheroes to help out a kids in need, listen as we talk to Joe about how him and his wife Robyn started Tiny Superheroes, How they have grown over the years and the impact these capes have not only on kids, but the families who support these Tiny Superheroes.
John Knicely is the Found of VITA LUX Agency here in St. Louis, where he is the Chief Storyteller. John and his team tell the stories, the visions and the missions of some of the greatest companies we have right here in St. Louis. Before starting his agency, he was a News Anchor here in St. Louis with KMOV Channel 4. Listen as we talk to John about his career and the switch from TV to Entrepreneur.
Katie Silversmith is the Founder of ThriveCo in St Louis, one of the Top Co-Working spaces in our area. She recently sold ThriveCo and is now consulting businesses on her success in the space. Listen as we talk to Katie about starting ThriveCo. the challenges she faced and the success they had. We talk to Katie about her views on leadership and how her background has helped shape her success.
Tony Bryan is Nonprofit nerd, Army veteran, apprenticeship advocate, and lover of all things St. Louis. He is the Executive Director of CyberUp where it is their mission to cultivate the Cyber Security pipeline of talent for today and tomorrow. Listen as we talk to Tony about this mission, his views on leadership and how his military training has impacted his role today.
Kimberly Liebert is the CEO of Leigh Consulting. Her organization helps in the IT space and is doing great work here in St. Louis. Listen as we talk to Kimberly about her views on company culture, leadership and how they are giving back here in our community. We discuss ways that technology has changed since Covid and how Leigh Consulting was able to help their clients transition.
Meredith Wealth Planning operates as a fee only firm. The intention of this business model was to remove conflicts of interest that commonly exist between financial advisors and their clients. To take it a step further, a flat fee structure was implemented. This removes the incentive of becoming an “asset-gatherer”. Listen as we talk to Mark Meredith & Zach Joiner about starting the firm, the growth plans for the firm and thier views on leadership.
Mike Kitko is a speaker, a coach and a insperation. He had every material thing that he ever dreamed of, but he was suicidal. He wouldn't seek support because he was scared to let anyone know he didn't have it all figured out. He was a Marine veteran, a Fortune 500 executive, and he was supposed to be a powerful leader, right?
The truth was that he had a toxic relationship with alcohol, he was 300 pounds of undisciplined chaos, and he was an abusive husband and father. He was in so much pain inside and he didn't want anyone to know, so he punished those around me to try to feel powerful. Listen as we talk to Mike about changing his life and how he overcam adversity.
Jim Adolphson is the CEO of Adonis here in St. Louis. Listen as we talk to Jim about overcoming some major challenges as a small business here in St. Louis, his views on leadership and how faith plays a part in this leadership of the business. Jim has a great story to share and I am excited to be able to share that with you today.
Tom Swip is the CEO & Founder of Swip Systems, where they build custom software and help implement software for organizations. Tom is a true leader of our community in many ways. Listen as we talk to Tom about starting his business, overcoming the challenges in the beginning and even some still to this day, and his views on leadership & networking.
Tara Kinney is the Founder and CEO of Atomic Revenue, a organization that launches growth in your lead generation, sales conversion and customer advocacy. Tara is well connected in the St. Louis area and we talk to her about the challenges that came starting a business and getting connected in St. Louis. We discuss her views on leadership and how she challenges her team to push themselves on their growth.
This is a special 9/11 Anniversary Episode to remember the last 20 years. Listen as Bo Matthews and Bryan Buesking discuss the anniversary of 9/11 and what has transpired over the last 20 years. #neverforget
Marc Braun is the past President at Cambridge Air Solutions. Listen as we talk to Marc about his career, his leadership at Cambridge and the value of encouraging others. Dive into his philosophy on leadership, company culture and the importance of leadership.
Ben Terrill is the Owner of FranNet. Ben and his team coach individuals when it comes to investing into a franchise and taking on business ownership. Bens organization represents over 300 of the best franchises across the nation. Listen as we talk to Ben about purchasing a franchise, the in's and the outs of ownership and his views on leadership.
Bob Alvarez is the President and COO of Shapiro Metals. Bob had an interesting path to Shapiro Metals and in this episode we will discuss that path, the challenges he overcame and the lessons he has learned along the way. We talk to Bob about how Shapiro Metals has handled the COVID pandemic and how their vision for leadership and company culture has shaped them into the company that they are today.
While serving as the Director of Mental Training for the St Louis Cardinals, Dr. Jason Selk helped the team win their first World Series in over 20 years, and in 2011 he assisted the Cardinals in the historic feat of winning their second World Championship in a six year period. Dr. Selk is a regular contributor to Forbes, INC, Success, Shape, and Self Magazine; ABC, CBS, ESPN, and NBC radio and television; and has been featured in USA Today, CNBC, and Men’s Health. Selk is the best-selling author of 10- Minute Toughness, Executive Toughness, Organize Tomorrow Today, Lead Any Team to Win, and most recently Relentless Solution Focus.
Jennifer Warmann Bloss is the founder, CEO & President of Elemental Esthetics, where her and her team help individuals with medical spa treatments. Jennifer started the company 11 years ago as a sole employee and has grown the organization immensely since then. Listen as we talk to her about the challenges of growth and the success she has had.
Mark Brimer is the Owner of Office Supply Solutions here in St. Louis, MO. He is also a very avid networker who is extremely connected here in the area. Listen as we dive into why Mark started Office Supply Solutions and how he has utilized networking to grow his business.
As CEO, Ryan’s role at HOLT is running the day-to-day operations, creating and reinforcing the company mission and vision, community outreach, and charitable efforts, to name a few! Ryan doesn’t hesitate to lend support to his team when they are facing challenges. He believes that there isn’t a problem that can’t be solved when a committed team goes all in! In his time away from work, Ryan enjoys playing golf, listening to hip hop and spending time with his family.
Jennifer McDonnell Bardot is a Senior Vice President of Business Banking at Enterprise Bank & Trust, she is also an Author of the book, Owning your G.R.I.T. which is a #1 Best Selling book, she has also been named as one of the Top 100 people to know in St. Louis. I am lucky to call her a friend as we network St. Louis together. She is a inspiration to many and one great person to know.
Bret Heinrich is the CEO of Wings of Hope in St. Louis, MO. Wings of Hope is a Nonprofit that focuses on helping and changing lives through the power of aviation. Listen as we talk to Bret about the organization and how it is helping people around the world, as well as his views on leadership and running a nonprofit organization.
Teresa Katubig is the Owner & CEO of HireLevel, a workforce solutions organization with office's around the country. Listen as we talk to Teresa about starting HireLevel as a single mom and the transition to the company they are today.
Tim Murch is the Chairman of The Buddy Fund here in St. Louis, which gives back to youth sports around the area. He is also the CEO of 4M Building Solutions here in St. Louis. We talk to Tim about the landscape of St. Louis and his views on leadership. To learn more about the Buddy Fund, visit thier website at https://www.buddyfund.org/
Jerry Broadway, is the host of the Bud and Broadway show. Listen to this episode as we discuss his time here in St. Louis, his book, Amazing Grayson and what is next for the show.
One of St. Louis’ most sought-after strategic thinkers, Andrea Arco is the founder and CEO of Arco + Associates, an award-winning full-service marketing communication firm. Her passion for helping organizations increase revenue to fuel local economies is matched by her enthusiasm for creating opportunity for the women who come after her. With an all-female leadership team and majority-women staff, Andrea is paving the way for the success of future generations.
To help us celebrate 50 Episode's, we welcomed Don Imholz to the show. On this episode we talk to Don about his time at Boeing, his path to becoming CIO of Boeing Defense, his path to CIO of Centene Corp, and the lessons he learned along the way.
Jay began his career in the IT industry more than 20 years ago. Since then, he has worked for local and global corporations and held various positions in sales and account management, but his real passion has always been networking.
As an owner of Concero, Jay created the culture and work environment that he has always wanted — lots of camaraderie, competition, and opportunity for financial and career success. And while success has many facets, Jay measures his through his team. From coaching each employee to achieve their best to finding the right candidates for Concero’s clients, it takes a team that is engaged, excited and people focused.
Jay earned a business degree in management from the University of Missouri, where he was a two-sport letterman (football and track). He was a four-year starter for the Mizzou Tigers football program.
Michael Reid is one of the top DUI attorneys in the St. Louis Metro area. Listen as we talk to Michael about the Do's and Dont's when it comes to DUI's.
Ben Newman is a highly regarded Performance Coach, International Speaker and Best-Selling Author, whose clients include Fortune 500 companies around the world, business executives, sales organizations and professional athletes in the NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, UFC and NCAA.
Ben serves as a Mental Conditioning Coach for the 18-time National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide football team and has worked with players from the last 3 Super Bowl Champion teams. He was recently selected by Influencive.com as one of the TOP 10 Motivators in Sports and Real Leaders Magazine selected him as one of their 2019 and 2020 TOP 50 Speakers in the World.
Landon Hobson grew up in North Carolina before eventually finding his way to St. Louis MO. Before making it to St. Louis Landon went to Seminary School as well as Columbia University in NYC. After years of working in NY he had an opportunity to move to St. Louis to help run his wifes family business. Now as CEO of Cosmos Corporation, Landon is using his background to strengthen the culture in their organization.
In 2015 Jimmy Sansone and his 2 brothers started a clothing brand named The Normal Brand. Since then his company has grown nationwide with much success. Jimmy and his 2 brothers continue to run The Normal Brand today and in 2020 helped raise 125K for the Barstool Fund with the help of Luke Combs. To learn more about them visit www.thenormalbrand.com
With a drive to give a voice to people with rare and orphan conditions, Donovan Quill challenges health care industry to live up to its patient-first potential. His drive to do this is personal. A rare genetic disorder runs in Quill’s family. He has had an intimate knowledge of navigating health care from all sides. That front-row seat of dealing with doctors, support groups, insurance, and pharmacy created in him a mission to align the health care industry’s innovators who, like him, are seeking to serve patients as people. Today, Quill lives out his mission through his leadership as CEO and cofounder of Optime Care, a nationally recognized pharmacy that creates a trusted path to improved lives for patients with rare and orphan disorders. He is the host of a Rare Voices, a syndicated podcast that has featured some of the leading thinkers from all parts of the health care industry. Quill’s vision is a world in which compassion and deep understanding of people with rare disorders is understood as the foundation for innovation and growth. To learn more about Donovan Quill, Optime Care, and the Rare Voices, go to www.optimecare.com/rare-voices.
Leo H. MacDonald, Jr. is a Principal at Carmody MacDonald PC here in St. Louis. He concentrates his practice in taxation, estate planning and business law, typically serving closely held businesses, not-for-profits and wealthy individuals. Leo has won multiple awards for his practice with Best Lawyers in Amercia. Leo is also very involved in his community and has served on a variety of boards and associations over the years.
Chad Opel is the Founder and Board Treasurer of Edwardsville Neighbors, he is also the Founder of Front Office Wealth Strategies. He is a life-long Edwardsville, IL resident. He graduated from EHS in 1998, where he was a part of the undefeated State Championship baseball team. He then joined the Cougar baseball team and graduated from SIUE in 2002. Chad is also had the privilege of playing for the Baltimore Orioles for years before retiring from baseball. He is passionate about helping families plan their financial futures as well as giving back to his community. Additionally, Chad serves on the SIUE Foundation board. Chad and his wife, Kathie, feel very lucky to be raising their daughters, Samantha (2014) and Ellie (2016), in the Edwardsville community.
Ron Ameln is a partner at SBM, publisher of St. Louis SBM Magazine (a how-to magazine for owners of small- and mid-sized businesses) and the host of the St. Louis Business Expo & Business Growth Conference (Missouri's largest business-to-business Expo and workshop). Over the past 10 years, SBM's event division has produced over 600 educational events for businesses, ranging from large trade shows to small board meetings.
Kelly Boehmer is one half of the leading team in the nation with Berkshire Hatheway. Out of 50,000 realtors in the nation, her and her team were ranked #1 in 2020. The Boehmer Team specialize in residential real estate, relocation and new construction in St. Louis & St. Charles County. Listen as we talk to Kelly about the market and some great tips for buying and selling a home.
David Singer is the President / Owner for Warehouse of Fixtures in St. Louis MO. David is a passionate leader creating a company where employees feel valued, customers are delighted, while diverting thousands of tons of furniture from the land fill each year. He believes that great relationships with their vendors, staff, customers and community are the basis for their success.
Kyle McClellan was born in Florissant, MO and grew up in the St. Louis metro area. He graduated from suburban Hazelwood West High School in 2002. While there he was a three-sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. McClellan was a two-time All-State selection at both pitcher and first base. McClellan's older brother Matt served as his high school pitching coach. McClellan signed with the Cardinals after being drafted by the club in 2002 and made his professional debut with St. Louis' rookie franchise in Johnson City. He started out as a relief pitcher but in 2003 and 2004 pitched exclusively as a starting pitcher. Kyle made the Major League roster with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008, and won a World Series with the Cardinals in 2011.
Mitch Meyers was Co-Founder and President of an award-winning marketing and communications agency, which employed 350 people, with offices in 5 states, and revenue exceeding $42 MM annually. She was the AdWoman of the Year, CEO and Pilot of the famed Zipatoni, and the mother of Bud Light, her 25+ years in the marketing and communications space was spent building, launching, and consulting for brands of major Fortune 100 companies, startup businesses, various advisory boards, and non-profit organizations.
After retiring for a short period she became the Co-Owner and Partner at The BeLeaf Company in St. Louis Missouri. Her organization has proudly been producing high-quality CBD oils to treat epilepsy patients, as well as developing brands for the general consumer market.
Jeff Koziatek is the CEO of Core Authenticity. Jeff is a speaker, a author, and a coach. Jeff works with top performers to help them gain more personal freedom and professional success by equipping them with the super power ability to say NO.
Josh Turner is a Wallstreet Journal Bestselling Author, and is the Founder and CEO of LinkedSelling. He is also the founder and CEO of Connect 365. Listen as we talk to Josh about starting his business, growing his business and how LinkedIn can and should be a part of your business strategy.
Ben Lawler is the Regional Vice President for The Tom James Company, the world’s largest manufacturer and retailer of custom clothing, and the engine behind some of the world’s most established tailored clothing brand. Ben is also the President of The St. Louis Suit project where his nonprofit gives back to the community through suits and business clothing in areas of need. Ben Lawler is a inspiration with his positive attitude and vision for success. He is also the host of the Podcast Level 10 Mastery where he speaks to individuals about what it takes to have the right mindset that leads to success.
Sylvester Williams is a defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Broncos in the first round of the 2013 NFL Drafter. He played college football at North Carolina, where he earned All-American honors.
Williams was born here in St. Louis, MO, into a family with three older sisters and one younger brother. He attended Jefferson City High School, and played football for only one season in high school, and started only one game. Not being recruited by college programs, he assembled radiator parts for large combines before deciding to walk-on at Coffeyville Community College. He had 52 tackles and two sacks in 2010.
Williams transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2011, and played for the North Carolina Tar Heels Football team in 2011 and 2012. As a junior in 2011, he had 43 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The following season, Williams was named to the All-ACC first team. He was also named an All-American by Pro Football Weekly.
In 2013 the Denver Broncos selected Williams in the First Round. Since then, Sylvester has won 2 AFC Championships & was Super Bowl Champion with the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
John Launius is the President of Vidzu Media and the Author of The Life & Times of Missouris Charles Parsons, Between Art & War. John has a long background ranging from Radio, to Tacticl Training with Government Contracts to now running Vidzu Media. John is a firm believer in the power of relationships, networking and giving back to the commnunity of St. Louis. John is on the board for several non profits and gives back to the St. Louis community in many ways.
Jason Simontacchi is a former Major League Baseball player and former St. Louis Cardinal. Today Jason is an assistant pitching coordinator in the Kansas City Royals organization. He was the pitching coach for the Springfield Cardinals, an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, from 2014–2018. He was a starting pitcher for four years in Major League Baseball, from 2002-2004, and 2007. He made is MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in May of 2002 and was a part of the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals team who won the NLCS and made it to the world series for the first time in St. Louis since 1987.
Today we will talk to Jason about his career in MLB, his time now as a coach and how COVID impacted the game of baseball over the last year. We will also discuss where technology has started to play a role in baseball and our youth.
Greg Holder is the Pastor at The Crossing, in Chesterfield, MO. In 1997, Greg accepted the position of lead pastor at The Crossing, a small startup church in the St. Louis area with less than 100 people. Over 20 years later, The Crossing reaches nearly 10,000 people in person and online. Greg is author/co-creator of the Advent Conspiracy movement. Through the movement and free resources, thousands of churches and families around the globe have decided to celebrate Christmas in a counter-cultural way. As a contributing writer for The Voice, a new translation of scripture, Greg had the privilege of translating the book of Jeremiah. The Genius of One, is about developing healthy culture—why it matters and how to get there. Greg has taught these principles to churches, pastors, and business leaders around the world. His follow-up book, Never Settle, is a practical roadmap for anyone who feels that their faith is lukewarm and bland. In all of his writing, Greg’s passion for scripture combines with his unique brand of humor and storytelling.
Over the last two decades, the impact of Greg’s ministry has spread outside of St. Louis. He speaks at a variety of conferences and churches around the world about leadership, culture, unity, and calling.
Kwinton Scarbrough is the CEO & Founder of PawConX. PawConX is an app that is avaliable on the Apple App store that allows dog owners to connect at the dog park. Kwinton had an idea on how to break down the social anxiety for dog owners and connect them and their pups while enjoying time at the dog park. Listen in as we talk about the idea, the development and the marketing behind PawConX. www.pawconx.com
Charles is a hands-on acquisition entrepreneur and current President & CEO at Ethos Preparedness. Ethos Preparedness was founded through Charles’ entrepreneurial pursuit to acquire a small business to operate. With experience in management consulting, investing, and military leadership, he launched an initiative to create value in a space where he could provide visionary direction.
Charles is a seasoned leader with a track record of attacking complex problems and guiding cross-functional teams in diverse business and military environments. He is a former Captain in the U.S. Army, West Point graduate, and Chicago Booth MBA. https://www.ethospreparedness.com/
Todd Sivia, Attorney and Owner of Sivia Law, graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Business from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and later graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law. Sivia is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Missouri.
In 2006, Todd Sivia started Sivia Business & Legal Services, P.C. Today, Sivia represents over three hundred small to medium size companies through the corporate life cycle of business. He also provides assistance in areas of estate planning, special needs and real estate. Since its formation, Sivia Law has grown to house nine attorneys, three paralegals and a marketing department. Sivia Law also has four locations throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. The Sivia Law team strives to be clients’ trusted legal advisors.
Daryel Buesking, is a Father, Husband, Barber & Entrepreneur. Daryel grew up in Maryville, IL before moving to Edwardsville, IL where he started Daryel's Hair Care. Daryel is a graduate from Collinsville High School & Belleville Barber College. Listen as we talk to Daryel about what 50 years in business as a barber has meant to him and the life lessons he has learned along the way.
Born at Misawa AFB in Japan, Bo Matthews is a proud Air Force brat. The desire to live close to His father who was stationed at Scott AFB is what brought Bo Matthews to St. Louis in 1988. His roots quickly grew and St Louis became his home. You may know him from his many years playing Country Music on WIL. Early on Bo found out what it was like to really be a part of the community. Perhaps you rode along side him on one of his charitable motorcycle rides, filled sandbags with him during floods, or helped him feed families and provide children with gifts for the holidays. All of which are Bo’s passion. Bo and his wife Erica have been together since 2000 and live in an earth home, yes Bo mows his roof! You can now find Bo on KMOX Radio.
Matthew Porter is a husband, father, geek, ultramarathoner, entrepreneur, and Multiple Sclerosis warrior. He is former CEO of Contegix, a cloud computing company he founded and is now Vice Chairman. He is also currently CEO of Invisibly, where the team is working to restore privacy and consent online for people. When not with his family, he can be found getting lost on some trail or running 100 mile races through mountains.
Frank Hannan is the CEO of Laser Light Technologies, a fortune 500 resource company headquartered in small town Herman, MO. Frank is a long time resident of St. Louis, MO and a University of Missouri graduate.
Suzie Andrews, President/CEO, brings over 30 years of sales, sales management and leadership experience to her clients at St. Louis based Sandler Training® licensee, Stark and Associates, Inc. Suzie spent 11 years as an associate with Stark and in May of 2014 she realized her dream to own the business. She works with Presidents, CEOs, and business owners assisting them with the overall development and improvement of their sales organizations utilizing her personal experience and the “best practice” tools and Sandler processes.
Cheryl Lauer is a dynamic leader with a track record of implementing systems and processes that produce quantifiable and sustainable results. She gained experience at Price Waterhouse, before buying her first company in 1991. Cherly transformed a failing business and grew it six-fold by cultivating a smart and healthy team that has consistently produced results for 27 years. She devoted ten years as a servant leader with the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), serving in a variety of roles at the local and regional level for this international, non-profit organization. She is currently the CEO of L10 Performance Solutions where she consults businesses on performance.
Kenny Wallace is an American race car driver and former reporter for Fox NASCAR. He retired from NASCAR in 2015 after driving in the national series since 1988. In a career spanning twenty-five years in NASCAR, Wallace had nine wins, all occurring in the Xfinity Series. Kenny was the 1989 Rookie of the year for NASCAR Busch Series and was NASCARs Most Popular Driver for the Busch Series in 1991, 1994, and 2006. Now retired from NASCAR competition, he continues to race on local dirt tracks across the country as a hobby and lives here in St. Louis MO.
Kalin Boodman is the Chief Logistics Officer & Co- Founder of Baseballism. Baseballism is the official off the field brand of baseball. Baseballism has 11 retail stores and a E-Commerce site www.baseballism.com
Christy Maxfield is the President & CEO of Purpose First Advisors. After a lengthy professional fundraising career, Christy started her entrepreneurial journey in the spring of 2010 when she co-founded The Mission Center, an administrative services company for nonprofits. Today, she is President and CEO of Purpose First Advisors and co-hosts the Entrepreneurially Thinking podcast. Christy was on the inaugural board of Forward Through Ferguson and has taught entrepreneurship at Washington University in St. Louis and University of Missouri - St. Louis.
Kesha Kent is a wife, mother, a High Energy Speaker, Best Selling Author, Podcast Host and Diversity & Inclusion Leader with Ascension Healthcare. She is also the CEO & Founder of MrsKeshSpeaks. She has over 17 years of Human Resources, Recruitment/agency staffing and Training and Development experience in healthcare, IT, and sales industry! Mrs. Kent holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Leadership and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership both from Judson University, in Elgin Illinois. She’s the new author of Amazon #1 new release Networking it’s your Superpower, released Juneteenth 2020 and new podcast Networking it’s your Superpower! Her board experience includes Judson University Alumni Board, St. Louis Organization Development, St. Louis Classical Guitar and Girls Scouts Empowerment Project.
Erin Joy— an award-winning business consultant, coach and community leader who has been voted one of St. Louis' top people to know—is Founder & CEO of Black Dress Circle, a peer advisory program for women business owners. Erin's always been fascinated in the "why" behind what propels people -- leaders and employees alike -- to excel, so it's no wonder she's currently working on her PhD in Business Psychology. She has great insight into what makes people tick, what makes people tune out, and where the future of leadership is headed. Knowing the secrets to leading effectively helps people succeed on every level...and in every context...from multinational corporations...to universities...to small mom-and-pop businesses.
Kent Skornia is the President & CEO of Krilogy. The brand he established, Krilogy®, stands for “The Art of Accomplishment”. Through steady energy, hard work, and getting ordinary and extraordinary things done for clients, it’s a brand the team lives and rallies around each day.
As the President and CEO of the firm, Kent chairs Krilogy Advisory Board and actively participates in the Krilogy Investment Committee. In addition to helping clients and serving his team at Krilogy, Kent also values serving the St. Louis community. He currently serves on the board for Junior Achievement, is a member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Young Professionals Organization, and is a board member of the Krilogy Cares Foundation. Kent also supports through his generous donations Special Education Foundation of St. Louis and VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions).
Krister Ungerbock is a leadership language expert, former global tech CEO and author. His work has appeared in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc and Chief Executive. Prior to exiting corporate life at age 42, Krister was CEO of one of the largest family-owned software companies in the world. While leading the company to over 3,000% growth, his team created 100 million dollars in shareholder value, won five Top Workplace Awards, achieved remarkable employee engagement levels of 99.3%, and became a dominant player in its market niche — event management software. Krister is the author of the upcoming book, 22 Talk SHIFTs: TOOLS TO TRANSFORM LEADERSHIP in Business, in Partnership and in Life.
Get the book on Amazon or www.TalkSHIFT.com
Eryn Bassett is the President of Environmental Operations, Inc. Erin started her career with EOI in 2005 as a project manager and has quickly moved her way up in the organization. Erin became the COO of EOI in July of 2018. In less than 2 years, Erin was promoted to President of EOI on October of 2019. Erin is a resident of St. Louis and a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University.
Jim Lally is President and CEO of Enterprise Financial Services Corp (NASDAQ: EFSC). He is a passionate advocate for the company’s mission to ensure a lifetime of financial success through unmatched client attention, education and philanthropy.
Jim serves on the Wallis Companies Board, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation Board of Governors, St. Joseph’s Academy Board, St. Louis Archdiocesan Finance Council, St Louis Archdiocesan Property and Finance Committee, and is Trustee of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Fund. Currently, Jim is a member of the Regional Business Council of St. Louis and his past civic involvements include Friends of Scouting Campaign Chairman for the New Horizons District of the Boy Scouts of Greater St. Louis, Executive Leadership Team of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Heart Association and Algonquin Golf Club.
A native of St. Louis, Jim received his MBA from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Saint Louis University. In June of 2016, Jim completed The Executive Program at the Darden School of Business University of Virginia.
Kurt Hunzeker is the former Team President of the St. Louis BattleHawks at XFL. Kurt led all fan engagement and team business operations for St. Louis’ first homegrown professional football franchise, including talent acquisition, ticket sales, corporate partnerships, marketing, content creation, communications, community initiatives, social media channels, and the gameday/venue experience.
Kurt also established the overall business strategy for the startup XFL team, from building the brand foundation – core values, vision and purpose – to developing the initial marketing plan authentically engaging would-be consumers directly and embracing the St. Louis community’s orphaned love of pro football.
Adrian E. Bracy has served since 2009 as the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Metro St. Louis. Bracy transitioned to the non-profit sector after 18 years in senior financial management with the National Football League to serve a calling “to inspire and make a difference in the lives of women and girls.” Prior to YWCA, Bracy was Chief Financial Officer for the Arizona Cardinals. Her time in Phoenix followed more than ten years with the St. Louis Rams. Bracy began her NFL career with the Miami Dolphins in her home town Miami, Florida.
Bracy has received numerous awards throughout her career including: Black Enterprise 50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports Award; St. Louis Business Journal Most Influential Business Women Award and the Small Business Monthly Top 100 St. Louisans to Know to Succeed in Business Award.
James Goebel is the President and CEO of Sotel Systems in St. Louis, MO. James is also the Chairman of the Board for NUSO, which is also headquartered in St. Louis, MO. Sotel Systems is an industry leading distributor of business class communication and networking equipment throughout the United States and Latin America for over 39 years.
Brett Gilliland is the CEO of Visionary Wealth Advisors and the Host of the Top Podcast, The Circuit of Success. Brett is one of the great leaders we have here in the St. Louis community and gives us the unique insight to his leadership style and vision.
Jeff Winters is the Founder and CEO of Sapper Consulting. Sapper helps it's 600+ clients get more sales meetings. From his kitchen table, Jeff has led Sapper to be the 170th fastest growing private company in the US and he employs over 125 people. Jeff is also an expert on sales and sales engagement. He’s been named one of the “20 speakers you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see" by Forbes.
Lisa Nichols is the CEO and co-founder of Technology Partners, a Women-Business Enterprise and provider of premier IT staffing, solutions and software. Lisa and her husband Greg founded Technology Partners in 1994 driven by their passion to revolutionize the staffing industry with their transparent business model. They co-lead the business today. Lisa is also the host of "Something Extra" Podcast which can be found on Spotify & ITunes.
Jeff Smith is the CFO of Icon Mechanical, Jeff joined icon Mechanical in Granite City IL in January 2007 and lives in Nashville TN with his wife, dog and has three grown children and two grandchildren who he loves to spoil. He is a part of the executive team at icon Mechanical and is responsible for the company’s overall growth and financial health. He provides leadership for the company’s financial activities, corporate strategic planning, risk management, and is responsible for the finance team. Jeff is responsible for the development and execution of the financial strategy supporting the company’s growth and business plans and maintaining a strong financial position. Jeff has been in the construction industry for many years and has also worked in leadership positions in the steel distributorship industry as well as owned his own accounting, consulting and income tax practice for several years. Jeff enjoys working with others and seeing them succeed personally and professionally.
Jeff is currently the Co-Founder, President and COO for Advocado. Jeff is an experienced entrepreneur and inspirational leader with an emphasis on strategy, fundraising and operations. Jeff has 14+ years of entrepreneurial experience, predominantly focused on the advertising and marketing space. In fact, it was the shared time with his co-founder Brian in the agency space that seeded the idea for Advocado. Jeff has successfully founded/co-founded multiple companies, including 2 in the AdTech space.
Travis Liebig is the CEO at Saint Louis Bank. Travis has served as a community banker in the Midwest for nearly two decades, learning banking from the bottom up. He has held executive-level roles in retail banking, private banking, small business and commercial lending, and trust and investments.
In the summer of 2018, Travis led a group of investors in the purchase of Saint Louis Bank, a community bank specializing in small business lending. His focus today is on positioning the young bank headquartered in the leafy St. Louis suburbs for long-term growth and success
Brandon Dempsey is a Husband, Father, Adventurer, Entrepreneur, Teacher, Author, Global Non-Profit Leader and Owner of goBRANDgo. Brandon and I have known each other for years and always considered him a friend, mentor and leader.
Robert Teschner, callsign “Cujo”, is a retired Air Force fighter pilot. He was the top F-15 “Eagle” graduate in his class at the USAF Weapons Instructor Course—the Air Force version of “TOP GUN”. Cujo was asked to return as a Weapons School Instructor and subsequently became the Air Force’s subject matter expert on team accountability, something high-performance teams refer to as a “Debrief”. Cujo eventually commanded one of America’s very few operational F-22 “Raptor” squadrons. During his Air Force career, Cujo flew combat missions over Iraq, homeland defense missions in the United States, and deployed with his F-22 squadron across the Pacific. Cujo now teaches leaders how to embrace the tenets of high-performance teamwork in their businesses to achieve better performance, drive engagement and accomplish their missions. He has simplified and adapted the tactics, techniques and procedures high performance teams use to help any organization win bigger and build teams that work. Cujo is the author of the national bestselling book Debrief to Win and is an increasingly in-demand keynote speaker.