The Skills Gap Podcast: Recent Episodes
Colin Luz
The Skills Gap Podcast is where we promote people to pursue employment or entrepreneurship in the trades, transportation, and utility industries. The goal of this podcast is to promote the youth to pursue careers in these fields by interviewing other entrepreneurs and senior level executives who have found success in these fields and can relate to the next generation by providing advice that is both strategic and tactical to help them succeed.
This episode features business owner and social media star Jeremy Littel of Kick Ass Snacks based out of Winona, MN. Learn how Jeremy and his dad have built up Kick Ass Snacks into a thriving enterprise in the food industry and how his “Little Johnny” jokes have made him famous on the popular social media app, TikTok, with over 7 million followers!
This episode features one of the final 2 candidates for Mayor of La Crosse, Vicki Markussen. Listen to Vicki’s ideas on how she will enhance the City of La Crosse if she is elected and how she believes she can help technical colleges, vocational training programs, and small businesses if she becomes the first female mayor of the city.
This episode features female entrepreneur, Kelsey Eyers of Sweat CBD out in California. Learn how she bootstrapped a side hustle business into a high-end 6 figure company on the brink of becoming a 7 figure enterprise!
This episode features the 44th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, Rebecca Kleefisch. Hear her thoughts on her experience in office from 2011-2019 and her ideas for what Wisconsin needs to do in the future to ensure success for all Wisconsinites.
On this episode, we interview Bruce “The Money Man” Zmolek who is the President of Firefighters Credit Union. Listen to Bruce’s valuable insights on student loan debt, the payroll protection program, and America’s future financial outlook, post-pandemic.
Back with our first-ever encore interview is Megan Meller of Gundersen Health System. Megan gives us an update from the perspective of an infectious disease practitioner along with tips on how to stay safe over the holidays and beyond. Learn about one person’s first-hand experience with COVID-19 towards the end of this episode as well.
The premiere of Season 3 features Dr. Steve Czys, Owner & President of Eupraxia, Physics Nutrition, Sage Realty, Dr. Czys Consulting, and the author of his new book, “The Truth About Weight Loss: Blowing the Whistle on the Corrupt Industry that Massively Profits from the Overweight, Even from Kids.” Listen to our conversation about healthy living, healthcare, and COVID.
On this special episode, we’re going to introduce to Infectious Disease Practitioner, Megan Meller of Gundersen Health System. She’s going to share with us why COVID-19 can be such a dangerous virus, what we can do to help stop the spread of it, and what we can learn from this disease to prevent another global pandemic in the future.
On this episode we introduce you to David Twite, the Owner & President of MacDonald & Owen Lumber Company. Listen to how the ongoing trade war with China has affected David’s business, why lumber is the most renewable resource to help build a better world, and how his faith has helped him grow into a phenomenal leader, both in business and in life.
On this episode, you’ll meet the mastermind entrepreneur, Kory Ballard of Perficut Site Management and Ballard Products. Kory started his lawn care business when he was only 14, and grew it to a company with 3 locations and almost 200 employees. Learn how Kory’s view on the standardized school system, social media, and building trust with his customers shaped him into the businessman he is today.
On this episode, we introduce you to one of our military elites, Justin Boardman, with the U.S. Army - Special Forces, otherwise known as Green Berets. Justin has served in the Army for 14 years which has included 4 combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Learn how Justin’s mindset leads him through the toughest times and how you can apply his principles to your own life.
Episode 13 features Andy Ferguson of Ferguson’s Orchards which is THE largest chain of apple orchards in Wisconsin and one of the largest in the Midwest! Andy will tell you how his family got its start in farming and how his law degree and original plans to become a lawyer ultimately led him back to the family business.
Episode 12 features Tyler Kuresa of Home Logistics based out of Sacramento, CA. After playing Division 1 baseball at the University of Oregon, Tyler had a dream of playing professionally. He worked hard and played well enough to be drafted in the 16th round by the Minnesota Twins, but when some adversity came up within his family, he moved back to California and got involved in real estate. Learn how his life experiences led him to co-founding Home Logistics on this episode!
This episode features the NCAA record holder for most points in a single basketball game, Jack Taylor. When Jack attended Grinnell College he scored a jaw-dropping 138 points in a game. He garnered attention from NBA greats like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant... But on this episode, you’ll learn why he doesn’t ONLY want to me remembered as Mr. 138 and how he plans on turning Jackson County, WI into a premier destination in the Midwest.
This episode features Brian Scudamore, the Founder and CEO of O2E Brands, which is the parent company for 1-800-GOT-JUNK, WOW 1 DAY Painting, You Move Me, and Shack Shine. Brian dropped out of college and started his business in 1989 with $700, and turned it into a $444million home-services empire. Learn how his motto “It’s All About People” led him to success.
On this episode our host Colin Luz introduces you to Aaron Steed, the co-founder and CEO of Meathead Movers based out of San Luis Obispo, CA. Aaron and his brother Evan have owned Meathead Movers since 1997 and have grown to become California's largest independent moving company by building a business that genuinely takes care of its customers, invests into the personal growth of their employees, and moves their community forward by providing a service to those in the most vulnerable circumstances.
Episode 8 features Kelli Korneta who is a guidance counselor along with Tim Bakeberg who is the apprenticeship coordinator at Holmen High School. Hear how they are changing the conversation for their students about choosing the best path post-graduation for each individual kid that might not require a 4-year degree...
Episode 7 features Ryan Fawver who is the owner of three Jimmy Johns locations across the greater La Crosse, WI area. Hear how Ryan went from college dropout to operating a few sandwich shops that do over $3 million combined in revenue!
On Episode 6, meet Jim & James DeBoer who own DeBoer Pest Control based out of La Crosse, WI and learn how the business went from just Jim as the only employee, to a full fledged enterprise that sends out 10-14 trucks/day now!
This episode features Bob Kellogg, Owner & President of Advanced Plumbing Systems who have been based out of La Crosse, WI since 2004. You’ll hear how Bob went from high school dropout to operating a plumbing company that generates over $1 million/year in revenue.
This episode features Jamie Hanson, owner of Ken’s Barber Shop in La Crosse, WI. Learn how Jamie went from being an insurance salesman to taking a 180 degree turn and owning a successful barber shop, here, on The Skills Gap Podcast!
This episode features Steve Weidner who represents the National Air Traffic Controllers Association out in Washington DC where we discuss his current role out in DC, his thoughts on the future of Air Traffic Controllers, and how soon he believes you’ll be able to get your pizza delivered to you by a drone...
Joining the Skills Gap Podcast today is Mitch Lown, who is the Founder of Global Groundwork, an official 501(c)3 non-profit that creates vocational training opportunities in developing countries. Our host Colin Luz will give you his takeaways from the interview, and his final thoughts that explain why self-esteem is self-defeating.
This is Episode 1 of The Skills Gap Podcast where we promote people to pursue employment or entrepreneurship in the trades, transportation, and utility industries.