How That Happened: Recent Episodes
HoganTaylor LLP
"How That Happened," is a business and innovation success podcast hosted by HoganTaylor LLP business advisors Robert Wagner and Aaron Ackerman. On each episode of the show, our hosts sit down with the business and community leaders behind thriving organizations to learn how business and innovation success actually happens.
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Cindy Moehring is the Founder and Executive Chair of the Business Integrity Leadership Initiative at Walton College. Before joining Walton College, she had 27 years of leadership experience, most recently at Walmart, Inc. where she spent the last 20 years collaborating with the Walmart Board of Directors, four of the five Walmart CEOs, C-suite executives, and other senior leaders to drive global, technology, culture, risk management and governance change across the enterprise.
Moehring spearheaded the transformation of Walmart’s global culture of integrity in the wake of Walmart’s foreign corrupt practices act investigation. She developed and implemented a global ethics program in 27 countries for over 2 million employees.
In this episode, Cindy takes us through a history lesson on how business ethics and integrity became part of the core principles of an organization. She also shares how her career in this unique field started and the impacts it had on her.
Additionally, Moehring discusses how the Walton Business Integrity Leadership Initiative came to be and takes us through how they have incorporated business integrity into Walton’s curriculum.
Schell is a marketing consultant for personal brands and businesses and a certified brand guide. Her goal is to help you turn that passion into compelling messages, giving you a voice and a plan to reach others with passion. Schell’s passion is fueled by seeing companies thrive and their business grow when their message is clear.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Schell was in pharmaceutical sales. Her experience in sales, marketing and being a brand story guide makes her the best person to enlighten us on how to create strategic marketing plans, mistakes to avoid in our marketing and how we can create better brand stories.
Rising from ashes to wealth is not just a narrative. David Stanley and his partners moved from zero to currently $1.6 billion. That sounds like a fairy tale, right? Today we hear it from David himself, who shares how, together with his partners, they grew Full Sail Capital.
David earned business and finance degrees from the University of North Texas and is also a graduate of the Trust School at Northwestern University. He is a certified trust and financial advisor with a series 65 securities license. David is also a devoted husband and a proud dad and grandfather, and an accomplished fisherman and hunter.
David shares how they have managed their partnership over the years, the secret sauce to their business, and dealing with the loss of a client, among other things.
Brandon Sebald is the CEO of Brew Crew LLC, the first franchisee for 7 Brew Coffee, which is an exciting and relatively new coffee brand and experience.
7 Brew has a license to open nearly 100 stores in Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, and Texas. Prior to his relationship with Seven Brew, Brandon was part of a Planet Fitness franchise group that had 92 locations across six states. He is also co-owner of a high-end custom home building company in Fayetteville, Arkansas. And then finally, Brandon is also a Buff City Soap franchisee with six New York stores and a territory to build up to 40 locations. Buff City Soap creates scented plant-based soaps made by hand daily in each location.
Brandon attended and played football at the University of Miami where he studied business finance and marketing, all skills that he's put to good use. He also attended Hofstra University in New York where he earned a degree in finance.
In this episode, Brandon discusses how his upbringing inspired him to become a entrepreneur. Also, he talks about extreme ownership and how that has helped him to be a successful business leader.
Trent Shores is a former United States Attorney and a shareholder at Gable Gotwals. He advises clients on complex litigation, Native American law and policy, cybersecurity, and high-stakes government and corporate investigations.
He represents clients in state, federal, and tribal courts at all stages in the litigation process, including at trial and on appeal. Recently, Trent was named a Tribal Supreme Court Justice for the Kaw Nation and a U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s Oklahoma Advisory Committee member.
In this episode, Trent shares a backstory of how he got into the world of law, his presidential nomination, and the senate’s confirmation process. Also, he will tell us of his best moments in the world of law and his engagement with cybersecurity.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Ashleigh Sutter CPA, the Director of US Accountant Sales at Intuit. With nearly 15 years of experience in the accounting industry, Sutter creates strong relationships with large accounting firms and industry partners. In this episode, learn the transformational changes happening to accounting and sales technology, particularly at Intuit, and how Ashleigh’s leadership has evolved throughout her career.
In addition, Ashleigh shines light on what it’s like to transition from a large accounting firm to a sales leadership role at Intuit, as well as her most pivotal career moment. She speaks on how Intuit is innovating their accounting technology, highlighting the role of automation, and how young accountants and leaders can begin to prepare for these transformational changes in technology.
As 2022 comes to a close, the How That Happened podcast team is on a short hiatus as we prepare for new content in 2023. We thought it would be a great time to highlight a previous episode, and that is our 2019 interview with entrepreneur and communicator, Ron Siegenthaler.
How That Happened will return with a new episode on Monday, January 9, 2023.
Ron Siegenthaler is chairman of Xeta Communications and Give.mobi LLC. He is also serves as President of Myriad Technologies and a Consultant for Rolled Alloys. Prior to these positions, Ron founded Metals Inc., a steel service center that distributes specialty metals throughout the Southern United States.
Throughout his entrepreneurial career, Ron has had a hand in many industries in the Tulsa business community, including oil and gas, steel distribution, nonprofit, and communications. In 2011, Oklahoma State University’s Riata Entrepreneurship Center named Ron its Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year.
In this episode, Ron shares advice gleaned from a long and successful career, including lessons learned from starting and selling his first business, the attributes of effective business partnerships, and how a focus on service sustains business relationships.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Dick Greenly is the Co-Founder of Water4, an organization on a mission to eradicate the world’s water crisis by bringing clean water access to every home, school, and clinic. Water4 is not your typical risk-adverse nonprofit… they want the risk because they believe in the power of pushing boundaries.
In this episode, Dick covers the formation of Water4, the inspiration behind the nonprofit, and the impact it’s making on the world’s water infrastructure. Having been to 45 different countries, Water4 created momentum by training local communities in Africa to drill wells. As a result from the training, the nonprofit is able to help more people.
Though, solving a global crisis doesn’t come without its obstacles. As the wells began breaking and more pain points began to arise, they became liabilities. Dick shares the challenges, costs, and solutions they developed to increase the efficiency and scalability of their nonprofit water infrastructure. He also sheds light on the harmful economic implications of charity and how organizations can approach charity work without compromising the communities they’re serving.
Connect with Dick & Water4:
Learn more about Water4
Connect with him on LinkedIn
Learn more about Pumps of Oklahoma
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This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Sharina Perry is the Founder of Utopia Plastix, a company that has created the plant-based alternative to plastic. Utopia Plastix is on a mission is to provide the best plant-based products while maintaining their goal to not create problems as they solve them.
In this episode, Sharina shares how she developed her intense determination to change the world. She also covers how her plant studies accidentally led her to discover the use of crops as alternatives to petroleum, cotton, and wood. As someone who’s not a scientist, Sharina highlights her creative process for inventing the plastic-free straw, and the challenges she overcame while developing her products.
Perry details her entire go-to-market journey. From making the prototype in her kitchen, to pitching it to investors, she details finding manufacturers, and getting her product third-party tested. Additionally, she speaks on what it really takes to think outside the box and turn your ideas into something greater.
Connect with Sharina:
Visit the Utopia Plastix website
Follow them on Facebook
Connect with them on LinkedIn
Follow Sharina on Twitter
Follow her on Instagram
Connect with her on LinkedIn
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Rate/Review “How That Happened” on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so we can reach more people and keep the inspiration going!
Jim Sliker is the CEO of Central States Manufacturing, a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company that produces metal building components for a variety of structures and applications. Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He serves on the Make-A-Wish Mid-South board, and the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter board of directors.
In this episode, Jim talks about Central States Manufacturing’s geographical saturation strategy for growing and scaling an American manufacturing company. He discusses the challenges the company has faced in their growth journey, and how they built and nurtured trusting relationships within their supply chain.
Sliker later shares how he educates his distributor base (the most challenging part of the business), the valuable KPIs they measure, and how his team executes their strategy of being “Right, On Time, Every Time.” Additionally, Jim shares his best advice for business leaders, highlighting the power of transparency.
Connect with Jim:
Visit Central States Manufacturing’s website
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Rate/Review “How That Happened” on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so we can reach more people and keep the inspiration going!
John Houston is an entrepreneur and Founder of JH Family of Companies. From building 6 homes in their first year of business, to building 650 homes last year (that’s growth by 10,700%), John knows about growing and scaling a business. He’s also the author of “Finding My Way Home: A Journey to Discover Hope and A Life of Purpose.”
In this episode, John discusses the impact of losing family members, losing financial security at a young age, and finding hope through faith and entrepreneurship. He also shares why he became an entrepreneur, and how he started his own homebuilding and mortgage company.
Houston speaks on the importance of connecting to your purpose (the “why”) behind your business, and how he builds love and service into his company culture. Additionally, he shares why his company, Trinity Oaks Mortgage, was dubbed the #1 Best Mortgage Company to Work For in 2021.
Connect with John:
Visit his website
Connect with him on LinkedIn
Connect with him on Facebook
Follow him on Instagram
Subscribe to his YouTube channel
Resources Mentioned:
Finding My Way Home by John Houston
Trinity Oaks Mortgage
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
David McLaughlin is the Founder of Pendulum Coaching based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is using his insight to help employers and employees work better together. With over 20 years of experience in coaching and consulting, David has also been committed to mindfulness and meditation for over 10 years.
In this episode, David discusses what mindfulness is and how it impacts leaders in business. His philosophy is based on the commitment to wholeness, investing in yourself and others, and owning the results. He speaks on how organizations and employers can integrate mindfulness into their leadership to collaborate more effectively and achieve greater outcomes.
McLaughlin also breaks down his candid thoughts on how to handle “quiet quitters” and employees who aren’t performing as well as they usually do.
Connect with David:
Connect with him on LinkedIn
Learn more about Pendulum Coaching
Resources Mentioned:
Listen to The Mindful Leader Podcast with David McLaughlin
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Ross Ledbetter & Cheryl Reeder are third-generation owners of Reeder’s Auto and Tire in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They purchased the station nearly 15 years ago and have continued to build the brand Midtown knows today. Reeder’s sets itself apart because of its customer service, fueling options, highly skilled auto repair technicians, and in-house chef.
In this episode, Ross and Cheryl discuss how Reeder’s is keeping up in a growing market, the division of labor between them, and the possibility of a second station. Additionally, Cheryl shares her experience growing up in the business, and her vision for creating a one-of-a-kind destination for Tulsa.
Ledbetter and Reeder also break down their social media presence and how that has influenced visitors to the store. They also shed light on how they partnered with local restaurants to serve gourmet food options.
Connect with Cheryl & Ross:
Connect with Ross on LinkedIn
Connect with Cheryl on LinkedIn
Resources Mentioned:
Visit Reeder’s Website
Follow them on Instagram
Like Reeder’s on Facebook
Check out their TikTok
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Ross Ledbetter & Cheryl Reeder are third-generation owners of Reeder’s Auto and Tire in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They purchased the station nearly 15 years ago and have continued to build the brand Midtown knows today. Reeder’s sets itself apart because of its customer service, fueling options, highly skilled auto repair technicians, and in-house chef.
In this episode, Ross and Cheryl discuss how Reeder’s is keeping up in a growing market, the division of labor between them, and the possibility of a second station. Additionally, Cheryl shares her experience growing up in the business, and her vision for creating a one-of-a-kind destination for Tulsa.
Ledbetter and Reeder also break down their social media presence and how that has influenced visitors to the store. They also shed light on how they partnered with local restaurants to serve gourmet food options.
Connect with Cheryl & Ross:
Connect with Ross on LinkedIn
Connect with Cheryl on LinkedIn
Resources Mentioned:
Visit Reeder’s Website
Follow them on Instagram
Like Reeder’s on Facebook
Check out their TikTok
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Kelley Scott is the Founder and Executive Director of Clarehouse, a loving home for people who are terminally ill and facing the end of life. Kelley has been a hospice nurse for over 36 years and founded Clarehouse nearly 20 years ago as a social model hospice. Nationally, she has created outcome pathways for end-of-life care in education and provides counseling and mentoring to others aspiring to provide social model hospices.
In this episode, Kelley and Robert talk about her career in end-of-life care, the process she went through to open Clarehouse, and how she tested her social hospice business model. Additionally, she shares the greatest lessons and business strategies she’s learned as a leader, and how the Clarehouse model is being adopted in other communities.
Scott also breaks down what a social model hospice is, when people are eligible for hospice care, and why it’s so important to protect the dignity of terminally ill people. She then sheds light on other innovative solutions that are being created in hospice care, such as death doulas.
Connect with Kelley:
Connect with her on LinkedIn
Resources Mentioned:
Learn more about Clarehouse
Donate to Clarehouse
Omega Home Network
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Within our over 70 episodes of How That Happened, we’ve talked to and learned from several coaches from the world of sports. We’re sharing the key takeaways from those leaders to inspire you to continue growing your leadership skills and building the next generation of leaders.
In this episode, Aaron Ackerman speaks with Randy Nail, CEO of HoganTaylor, about lessons in leadership through the lens of sports. Aaron and Randy listen to various short clips from past episodes featuring Chris Young, Dan Hays, and Sherri Coale, pulling powerful insights from each one.
Our previous guests emphasize the power of collaboration and working towards a common goal. They discuss the importance of investing in your employees by treating them fairly. The coaches also tell us how to get the best out of your team and knowing when it is appropriate to give and receive feedback. Finally, the mission, values, and culture as a company is covered.
Listen in as Aaron and Randy shed light on strategies for building an organization through leadership, how to maintain success in a rapidly changing environment, and the immense value of having mentors and being a mentor throughout your career.
Connect with Randy Nail:
Learn more about Randy
Connect with him on LinkedIn
Resources Mentioned:
Listen to the episode with Chris Young
Listen to the episode with Dan Hays
Listen to the episode with Sherri Coale
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Wendy Buxton is the Owner and Managing Director of W Squared Enterprises where she provides strategic advisory services that help businesses to modernize and grow their profits through operational performance management and digital enablement. Wendy also uses her vast private capital network to help companies unlock new sources of capital.
Prior to her current role, Wendy was the President of LynnCo Supply Chain Solutions. Over her tenure, she transformed LynnCo from a small freight billing and auditing company to a marquee supply chain specialty firm trusted by executives and private equity firms.
In this episode, Wendy discusses how she transformed LynnCo by pivoting to private equity and embracing data technology to improve logistics and supply chain management. She also emphasizes the importance of being a thought leader in your industry, focusing on solving the customer’s problem, and creating a company culture that “seeks to serve, not sell.”
Buxton offers ideas and insights on how to create value in your supply chain, how she built her private equity network, and how to succeed as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Then, she talks about the go-to-market strategy they used to successfully grow Momentum3, the role of niche development in differentiating your company from your competition, and the need for high-achievers to slow down and take breaks from their work.
Connect with Wendy:
Connect with her on LinkedIn
Email her
Resources Mentioned:
LynnCo
Momentum3
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Leigh Richardson is the Founder and Clinical Director of The Brain Performance Center in Dallas, Texas, where she utilizes her MBA, MS, Counseling, and board certifications to offer state of the art solutions for “brain problems”. She’s also an international speaker and the author of Turn Your Brain On to Get Your Game On.
Leigh has studied human behavior for over 30 years, initially focused on organizational behavior and then shifting to human behavior after one of her sons suffered a traumatic brain injury. Whether it’s anxiety, ADHD, depression, insomnia, or brain injury, Leigh’s understanding of the brain and the different methodologies that can be used to organically change the brain is spectacular. She truly is creating great social change around mental health.
In this episode, Leigh discusses the role of stress and mental health in the workplace and the business community, along with what leaders can do to improve and support the mental health of their employees.
Richardson sheds light on what leaders, and business owners, should be learning about the impacts of mental illness and how to talk to your employees about mental health. She gives insight into her best practices for prioritizing mental health in your organization, the power of creating a sense of community and “soul care” in the workplace, and the importance of preventative mental healthcare. Plus, she breaks down the concept of neural feedback and what it teaches us about the brain.
Connect with Leigh:
Visit her website
Connect with her on LinkedIn
Follow her on Instagram
Subscribe to Brain Performance Center’s YouTube channel
Buy her book, Turn Your Brain On to Get Your Game On
Resources Mentioned:
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes every two weeks, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Jess Connolly is a best-selling author, speaker, entrepreneur, podcaster, blogger, coach, and church leader. Not to mention, Jess is a wife and mother who’s passionate about empowering women to discover their place in the world and overcome the fear of pursuing their dreams.
In this episode, Jess sheds light on her struggle in high school and the dramatic shift that enabled her to blossom into a confident, driven entrepreneur. She also speaks on her journey on becoming an entrepreneur and sought-after public speaker.
Connolly also gives insight into the power of being vulnerable and sharing your goals/wins online, why leaders and entrepreneurs need to prioritize self-care, and her advice to leaders on staying focused as a mission-driven business in a world full of distraction.
Connect with Jess:
Visit her website
Follow her on Instagram
Follow her on Twitter
Connect with her on Facebook
Check out her best-selling books
Listen to The Go + Tell Gals Podcast
Resources Mentioned:
You Are The Girl For The Job by Jess Connolly
Breaking Free From Body Shame by Jess Connolly
GoodNotes app
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Stan Clark is the Founder and CEO of Eskimo Joe’s, one of Oklahoma’s most recognized tourist attractions. As an entrepreneur, Stan has created multiple businesses and loves sharing the stories and secrets behind his entrepreneurial success.
In this episode, Stan tells the story of how he created and grew Eskimo Joe’s in his early twenties to be the institution it is today. He talks about the origin of the Eskimo Joe’s name and logo, their journey in selling clothing and merchandise, and why he bought his business partner’s share of the company to become a sole proprietor.
Clark sheds light on how he pivoted his bar’s business strategy and product offerings after the legal drinking age was raised to 21, as well as how the environment of Eskimo Joe’s has evolved over the decades. He also speaks on deciding against franchising Eskimo Joe’s, his collaboration with Oklahoma State University, and his secret to building a strong, fun company culture with unbeatable customer service.
Connect with Stan:
Visit his website
Learn more about Eskimo Joe’s
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Liam Martin is the co-founder and CMO of Time Doctor and Staff.com, one of the most popular time tracking and productivity software platforms for remote teams. He’s also a co-organizer of Running Remote, the world’s largest conference on building and scaling remote teams.
Martin and his team enable companies to manage remote workers just as if they were in the same office, maintaining a high level of productivity. His thought leadership on remote work has been printed by top publications, including Forbes, The Huffington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
In this episode, Liam breaks down the benefits of transitioning to a remote workforce, why charismatic leaders are not required within remote-first companies, and why you should be working asynchronously in 2022 and beyond.
He also shares his expert insights on how to achieve deep work to solve difficult problems as a remote team and why remote work is the most important thing you can do to make employees happy.
Additionally, Martin describes what an asynchronous team meeting should look like and why they’re more efficient and productive than traditional, in-house team meetings. He then shares a sneak peek into his new book, Running Remote: Master the Lessons from the World’s Most Successful Remote-Work Pioneers.
Connect with Liam:
Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liamremote
Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liammcivormartin
Buy his book, Running Remote: https://amzn.to/3xsXF7W
Resources Mentioned:
Try Time Doctor: https://www.timedoctor.com
Join the Running Remote community: https://runningremote.com
Subscribe to the Running Remote YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/runningremote
Loom: https://www.loom.com
Deep Work by Cal Newport: https://www.calnewport.com/books/deep-work
Asana: https://www.asana.com
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Sherri Coale is a retired Hall of Fame basketball coach, writer, speaker, believer, and master motivator. For the past 25 years, Coale has served as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma where she is the winningest coach in OU history.
She’s a true inspiration to women, athletes, coaches, and entrepreneurs across the country and she’s here to discuss it all on How That Happened.
In this episode, Sherri sheds light on how she rebuilt and reinvigorated OU’s women’s basketball program from the ground up, strategies for developing a team culture, and the challenges she faced when recruiting new team members. In addition, Sherri speaks on what it was like to learn from and play against the legendary Geno Auriemma.
Coale shares her candid thoughts on dealing with pressure in a high-stakes career, how to maintain a cohesive, efficient organization despite high player turnover, and the power of mentorship for both the mentor and mentee. She also offers valuable insights on leaving a beloved career to transition into a new leadership position as well as the creative endeavors that are currently keeping her busy.
Connect with Sherri:
Visit her website: https://www.sherricoale.com
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherricoale
Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherri-coale-582770213
Stay tuned for her upcoming book release!
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Bart Milligan is the operator of two Chick-fil-A restaurants in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. He holds a degree in accounting from Georgia State University and spent the early part of his career at Chick-fil-A’s corporate office located in Atlanta, Ga.
In this episode, Bart speaks about the growth of the Chick-fil-A brand spanning his 20-year career with the restaurant chain as well as the motivation behind becoming a restaurant operator. Milligan shares the biggest lesson he took away was becoming a faithful steward of the business.
Additionally, he discusses the decisions made by the Cathy family to turn Chick-fil-A into a powerhouse brand, one of the most powerful being their non-negotiable choice to stay closed on Sundays with no exceptions.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to subscribe to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Mike Dillard is the CEO of Century Martial Arts (Century), which was founded in 1976. Since then, Century has grown to be a worldwide leader of martial arts equipment and today conducts business in all 50 states and also 35 countries.
Century conducts its own research and development (D&I), and is responsible for a number of important innovations in the martial arts industry. One of those innovations includes the first freestanding punching bag, Wavemaster, and the first Body Opponent Bag (BOB).
Mike is an avid martial artist and has fought at a championship level facing some of the best fighters from around the world. He holds the honor of training with Hollywood legend Chuck Norris, for whom he has performed stunt work.
Finally, Mike discusses how he was able to prepare for the impact of the pandemic months before lockdowns took place, and how he and his team were able to thrive for over two years of economic uncertainty.
Listen in as Mike shares stories from his days as a young accountant, his journey into martial arts, and what led him to establish the Martial Arts Industry Association.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Keith Glover is President and CEO of the farmer-owned cooperative Producers Rice Mill in Stuttgart, Arkansas, a position he has held for over 30 years. He is a CPA who earned his accounting degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Glover previously served as a board member of the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Foundation from 2013 to 2018. His daughter Kristen, was named Miss Arkansas in 2011. Additionally, he served as Director on the board of the Little Rock branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis from 2014 to 2020.
In this episode, Keith gives a look at the journey of rice from farm to table, the evolution of the co-op model since the earliest days of the rice industry, and how Producers Rice Mill uniquely adds value to their cooperative farmer members.
He also shares his company’s decision, in collaboration with Scenic Hill Solar, to invest in a 26-megawatt solar plant. The $55 million project is aimed at providing millions of dollars in economic development for Stuttgart.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
Make sure to subscribe to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
Chris Young is the Director of Tennis and the Head Coach of Women's Tennis at Oklahoma State University. He has been at the helm of the OSU tennis program for more than 12 years compiling a record of 204 wins against only 97 losses. Young has been credited with turning OSU tennis into an international program.
Listen in as Chris deep dives into his leadership philosophy, covering his love of taking on challenges, his passion for bringing talented individuals together, and orchestrating wins that set a new precedent for everybody involved.
In addition, he shares his belief that tennis is both an individual and a team sport and emphasizes that coaches need to focus on cultivating a mentality of focus, and a culture of collaboration in their athletes.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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John Hickey is a shareholder at Hall Estill, an Oklahoma-based law firm. He handles a wide variety of litigation matters such as commercial and construction law, bankruptcy, employment, and real estate. He has experience in both federal and state courts, as well as complex and multi-state cases.
With over 30 years of experience, John is Hall Estill’s lead shareholder for the Cannabis Law Group. He graduated from the University of Indiana and went on to earn his law degree from the University of Tulsa.
In this episode, John talks about how Oklahoma’s lenient cannabis regulations have led to a large number of dispensaries and an exploding population of growers.
With so many new businesses being established, dispensaries need to account for the lower prices that come with increased supply. He believes that it will take time for the market to normalize and for long-term focused entrepreneurs to gain a solid foothold on the market.
Finally, John offers his predictions on what the future holds for federal law with regards to the legalization of cannabis.
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Jeff Wilkie is a Principal at HoganTaylor and leads the Firm’s Human Capital Strategies (HCS) services—a role he’s held for seven years.
This week we revisit highlights from previous episodes centered around particularly relevant issues, including remote and hybrid work, managing remote teams, and The Great Resignation.
We begin with two clips featuring Jennifer Wilson of ConvergenceCoaching, who has been working remotely since 1995. Following the clips, Jeff gives his take on maximizing one’s leadership potential and moving the needle forward in the business when the team is not always in the same physical space.
The next clip features George McGehrin, Founder and President of The McGehrin Group, an executive search and personal branding firm based in New York. He speaks on the potential for work-from-anywhere opportunities for C-suite professionals, and how office spaces in general will change moving forward.
The last clip features Tiffany Hatcher, the President of CrossFirst Bank Tulsa, who discusses The Great Resignation and considerations around talent acquisition in the new normal.
Jeff closes out the conversation by offering his thoughts on strengthening professional workplace relationships and ensuring success in a remote or hybrid work environment.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Errin Stanger is Director of Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Arkansans by inspiring innovation and expanding opportunities.
The Hub’s state-of-the-art facilities have provided tools and training to entrepreneurs, students and other makers, preparing them to join and grow Arkansas’s economic ecosystem.
In today’s conversation, Errin discusses the ins-and-outs of Arkansas’ first makerspace and why there is no other venue like it. She speaks in particular about the infusion of art around the building alongside technology, as she believes in being “intentional about those creative collisions that can happen between individuals.”
Stanger also touches on the nonprofit’s after-school classes, which are conducted to help Arkansas’ youth explore art and technology with the aim of giving them an edge in the job market of the near future.
Finally, Errin reflects on her experience of leading the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub from the very beginning in 2014 and shares how she feels about being one of three women paving the way in Arkansas through this initiative. She says that the secret to maintaining her creative, forward-thinking mindset is to make sure to stay focused on the bigger picture instead of getting caught up in the minutiae of it all—”the weeds”, as she refers to it.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Nathaniel Harding is a Managing Partner at Cortado Ventures, which launched in May of 2020 and is an Oklahoma-based venture fund focusing on early-stage technology B2B companies.
In today’s conversation, Nathaniel discusses the spark that led to Cortado’s founding, his long-term goals, and lessons he learned after almost two years in business. Currently, Cortado has looked into over 900 companies and has partnered with 21 of them.
Harding speaks to how Cortado was established during an opportune time when states such as Texas, Florida, and even Oklahoma are seeing an influx of new residents who have moved out of the coastal states in search of opportunity.
Cortado has ridden this wave with the aim of creating even greater momentum in Oklahoma’s job market as more and more people have flocked to the state for its low-cost yet high standard of living, as well as its friendly business environment.
A third-generation oil man, one of Nathaniel’s personal goals is to provide opportunity to family-owned businesses in similar verticals, such as manufacturing and construction.
“Having a robust and diversified economy is going to make any business environment and the businesses within it more successful. We have a lot of capabilities and institutional knowledge in Oklahoma, and we have this pioneering spirit” says Harding.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Howard Tiersky is a serial entrepreneur and author of the Wall Street bestseller Winning Digital Customers: The Antidote to Irrelevance. Since 2007, he has served as CEO of the management consulting firm FROM, The Digital Transformation Agency.
In this episode, Howard dissects that all-too-common buzzword, “digital transformation”, explaining it via the evolution of nearly every aspect of our lives since 2010, from commerce, banking, and transportation, all the way to dating, fitness, and career.
“It’s hard to find any domain in our lives that hasn’t been significantly shifted because of these smartphones in our pockets and other digital touchpoints.” says Howard. Therefore, businesses who don’t adapt fast enough to these ever-shifting domains will be left behind.
Listen in as Howard dives into the antidote to irrelevance describing it as the right way to go about digital transformation within your business by identifying your customers’ pain points in order to craft the appropriate modern solutions for them.
He goes on to speak about best practices for linking digital strategy to customer experience. At the same time, he provides the caveat that companies should be careful not to prioritize all things digital at the expense of every other facet of doing business with human beings.
Finally, Howard goes into the principles he writes about in his previous book, Impactful Online Meetings.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Tara Lynn Thompson is the author of the three-volume romantic action-adventure Another series. She also does a wide variety of work around marketing and content strategy. Tara speaks and teaches on writing for various audiences.
She says that she has been confounding people with her descriptive writing since she was a 19-year-old beat reporter and states that she gets a “sharp, devious zing” when she keeps people guessing.
Listen in as Tara explains why she opted to be a writing generalist and a people specialist. She also talks about how the idea of being omnipresent on social media as a brand is being set aside for a more efficient and focused approach to content creation.
She then explains why “powerful, well-placed words spur action” and how companies can best express their message to stand above the noise.
Tara reflects on the spark that led her down her journey as a writer, and describes her approach to her craft as focusing on the spirit of the words written rather than the letter of those words.
Finally, Tara speaks on the process of writing her three-volume series, Another, and the single most powerful business lesson she learned from her experience selling her books.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Tiffany Hatcher is the President of CrossFirst Bank Tulsa. Her banking career spans over 30 years and includes roles in private client services, wealth management, and commercial banking.
In her current role as Market President, Tiffany oversees all operations of CrossFirst Bank Tulsa, which includes lending, investing, marketing, and the development of new banking services.
In this episode, Tiffany shares her professional journey from entry-level teller to running a bank almost three decades later.
She then dives deep into CrossFirst Bank’s unique strengths-based culture (based on the StrengthsFinder assessment) and unpacks her own particular strengths—Futuristic, Strategic, Activator, Relator, and Achiever—and how they have served her as a leader.
She explains how this strengths-based approach has been a huge help with regard to retention amid today’s so-called “Great Resignation”, where the three most important factors that people are looking for in an organization today are culture, the ability to win business, and community.
Finally, Tiffany speaks on the value that private banks bring to business owners, as well as the opportunities “to touch more people” that have emerged as a result of the pandemic.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Brendan Quirk is the CEO of Allied Cycle Works in Bentonville, Arkansas. Allied’s stated mission is “to make the best bicycles and components in the world, right here in America.” Brendan is also the Cycling Program Director for Runway Group, a Bentonville-based investment firm whose focus is the “cultivation of entrepreneurship and other business activity specific to the cycling industry.” Most recently, Brendan has served as the Non-Executive Director for North America for London’s Brompton Bicycle.
In 1999, Brendan co-founded Competitive Cyclist, a retail bike shop, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He recounts the much smaller, pre-Armstrong market at the time, and how he drove his business forward using the limited capabilities of the early Internet.
The timing could not have been better. As Lance Armstrong rose to fame and eCommerce began to take off in the 2000s, Competitive Cyclist closed its brick-and-mortar office and did business exclusively online. The two-man operation never looked back, and in 2011, Competitive Cyclist was sold to Backcountry.com, propelling Brendan’s career in the cycling industry.
In this episode, Brendan shares his experience serving in varied leadership positions throughout his career in the industry, how he came to decide on Allied’s lofty mission, what makes a bike “world-class”, and the ongoing evolution of cycling culture.
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For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-40.
Copyright 2021 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Susan Lindberg is an attorney and shareholder in the Tulsa office of GableGotwals. She has more than 25 years of experience as an attorney working in the energy sector working in a wide variety of issues, including oil and gas upstream, midstream, interstate natural gas pipeline, and tanking & terminalling businesses.
Susan specializes in company-transforming transactions, corporate governance, and compliance matters.
She has served as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SemGroup Corporation. She was also General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Eni US Operating Co. Inc., and part of the U.S. executive team for Italy’s Eni SpA.
Listen in as Susan shares how she gained an interest in the cyber security space, why many companies continue to have gaps in their systems around cyber-related legal issues.
She offers a number of resources that small-to-medium sized businesses can use to analyze and categorize risk and, therefore, determine the framework they may need to implement.
She also breaks down “ransomware-as-a-service” and what to do if your company falls victim to an attack, and how to plan for insurance and other cyber security investments.
Finally, she gives her thoughts on the future of business and identity verification should the time come when all personal information becomes public.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Aaron is joined by his co-host Robert Wagner, who leads the Advisory practice at HoganTaylor. Robert published the book 55 Questions to Ask Before You Sell Your Business on March 23, 2021.
Robert shares the inspiration behind the book and the lessons he hopes readers will take away based on the opening statement he establishes at the very beginning of the first chapter: One day, your business will be owned by someone else.
“Too many owners,” says Robert, “don’t plan for that process.” He makes the case that business owners need to be thinking—perhaps up to three years in advance—about how to position their company for that inevitable sale or transfer of ownership.
Listen in as Aaron and Robert discuss several of the 55 questions, which Robert grouped into five separate categories in the book: general financial questions; revenue and profitability questions; financial condition and capital structure questions; strategic organizational and human resource questions; and contracts, tax, and regulatory.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Ande Burchfield is an attorney with a focus on Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and blockchain technology. She has a particular interest in the tokenization of real estate securities and the development of infrastructure businesses supporting the efficacy and adoptability of the technology.
Ande represents privately-owned businesses, real estate investors, registered transfer agents, and those involved in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.
She began her legal career working as FINRA and SEC counsel to public and private companies, including real estate investment trusts (REITs) and oil and gas exploration and production companies. In 2015, she founded Burchfield Law, PLLC.
Ande maintains her law practice while managing and growing her real estate portfolio which consists of assets in Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Fairview, Oklahoma. She serves on the Board of Trustees for a local 501(c)3 public charity called Prairie Dance Theater that teaches free dance lessons to children in public schools of Oklahoma City.
In this episode, Ande explains the ins-and-outs of cryptocurrency and the potential uses for blockchain technology in different industries, particularly the security token market.
She touches on the various considerations that small business owners need to keep in mind should they decide to accept cryptocurrency as payment.
Finally, Ande gives her thoughts on how securitization can benefit from blockchain technology and potential regulations to expect in the crypto world in the near future.
Resources Mentioned:
The Security Token Show
Gilded
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Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Preston Ackerman is a Supervisory Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was assigned to FBI Headquarters on two separate occasions, supporting IT projects now in use throughout the FBI. Ackerman is currently assigned to the FBI's Oklahoma City Division Cyber Squad and is the program coordinator for computer intrusion matters covering Oklahoma's state. Prior to joining the FBI, he worked as a computer networking consultant.
Preston’s background in cybercrime and IT projects has helped with his investigative career. Now, Preston has a special appreciation for the business world and small businesses. He loves working with small business owners because they are under immense pressure, and they happen to be a crucial part of our economy.
In this episode, Preston reveals the inspiration behind his career with the FBI, the most significant cyber threats to your business, and the importance of awareness programs in a corporate setting.
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Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Tim O'Toole is the current President and CEO of Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. and a long-standing fixture in Oklahoma City's entertainment landscape.
Prior to joining the State Fair, Tim served as President and CEO of Oklahoma City's Triple-A baseball team. He has also played a role in many pivotal moments in Oklahoma City's history, including the 1989 US Olympic Festival, the opening of the Bricktown Ballpark, and multiple sales tax funded city initiatives.
In this episode, Tim shares how his team manages to bring 10,000 - 50,000 people through the Oklahoma City fairgrounds gates each weekend. He also discusses how Oklahoma's geographical location helps drive traffic to the venue and an economic impact of more than $300 million annually.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-8
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Dan Hays is the former head men’s basketball coach for Oklahoma Christian University (OC) in Edmond, Oklahoma. He spent 33 seasons as head coach at OC and recorded more wins than any coach in school history. While 2016 was his last season as head coach at OC, he returned to the program in April of 2019 and currently serves as special assistant to the head coach.
With more than 720 career wins, Dan has been inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame–the highest athletic recognition in the state. He is also the recipient of the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Guardians of The Game Award, which recognizes coaches who serve off the court as community leaders.
In this episode, Dan reflects over his long career at OC, what sparked his passion for basketball, the importance of mentorship, and how his dedication to building relationships on and off the court has been instrumental to his success.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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For additional show notes, visit: blog.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened/dan-hays.
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Jill Wagar is currently the Deputy Director of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. The museum, a nonprofit public charity founded by Alice Walton, opened its doors in November of 2011. Jill has been a staff member since Crystal Bridges’ inception. Her initial role at the museum was Director of Development, followed by Chief Strategy Officer.
In this episode, Jill discusses the three main principles Crystal Bridges has implemented to usher in a new era of community: inclusion, diversity, and anti-racism. These principles strongly support the museum’s mission to build a community centered around acceptance and belonging.
Additionally, Jill shares her strategies on fundraising and gives insight on how to engage with potential donors. The museum is currently undergoing an expansion of their building by 50 percent that includes additional art galleries and educational spaces for visitors to enjoy.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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For additional show notes, visit blog.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened/jill-wagar.
Copyright 2021 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com/terms-conditions.
Heather Nelson is Co-founder and President at Seal Solar, a solar energy construction company which designs and installs solar energy systems for both residential and commercial applications. Seal was founded in 2012 and has grown quickly into one of the leading solar energy system providers in Arkansas.
Heather started her career in the banking industry and served many years as a commercial lending officer until she co-founded Seal Solar with Josh Davenport.
Heather was named the 2021 Business Executive of the Year. She holds an MBA at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Marketing degree at the University of Arkansas.
Her community involvement is extensive. Currently, she sits on the board of Junior Achievement of Arkansas; she is a Commissioner at the Arkansas History Commission; and she serves at The Excel Center at Goodwill School Advisory Council.
In this episode, Heather discusses her foray into the solar industry after nearly two decades of working in the banking and corporate lending space, and how she and co-founder Josh found success in spite of a lack of knowledge in energy efficiency at the beginning.
She says that the tipping point for solar—when virtually every built environment will factor in solar energy systems—depends on “how good we educate the public” alongside how soon an accessible spread of financing options becomes available.
Heather speaks on how she runs the ship, from how Seal has managed to stay afloat during the turbulent circumstances of the last year-and-a-half to a description of the company’s supply chain.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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For additional show notes, visit blog.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened/heather-nelson.
Copyright 2021 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com/terms-conditions.
Misti Staley is an artist by education and training and is also an inventor, having provided health industry aid and at-home medical equipment through the FreeArm Tube Feeding Assistant and the FreeArm Muscle. She is the founder and CEO of Staley House, LLC, and Director of the nonprofit Freeman Foundation.
Misti was recently featured in the Success Stories section of Arkansas Business, the weekly business newspaper for the state of Arkansas. In 2019, she was named an Arkansas Business’s 40 Under 40 honoree.
In this episode, Misti reflects on how heart and lung complications suffered by her son Freeman in 2015 inspired her to develop what would become the FreeArm and the feeding tube’s advantages over the traditional IV pole. She speaks frequently on the road, discussing perfecting the design through customer discovery with a current goal to get the FreeArm covered by insurance.
Additionally, Misti discusses how her art background informed the design process behind the FreeArm, what she has learned about entrepreneurship and business throughout the journey so far, and her global expansion plans for the company.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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For additional show notes, visit blog.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened/misti-staley.
Copyright 2021 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com/terms-conditions.
Dr. Terry Neese is a serial entrepreneur who has founded numerous for-profit and nonprofit organizations, two of the most successful today being Terry Neese Personnel Services (which is now being run by her daughter, Kim) and the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW)—the latter of which discuss in-depth in today’s conversation.
Dr. Neese made history in 1990 when she became the first woman nominated by a major political party for the seat of Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. She was named an Outstanding Business Leader by the Northwood University Board of Trustees in 2006 and received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the university in 2008.
In 2013, she received the Enterprising Women Legacy Award from the National Women Business Owners Corporation, and was among those featured at The Journal Record's Fourth Annual Oklahoma's Most Admired CEOs. In 2014, Dr. Neese was only the second woman to be honored with the Sister Cities' Global Vision Award.
In this episode, Dr. Neese shares how she made her foray into entrepreneurship, why she believes that business owners ought to “Get Involved In Politics Or Go Out Of Business” (GIIPOGOOB), the impetus behind and the ongoing initiatives around her work at the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, and why creating businesses is a big step toward creating peace and economic stability.
This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above.
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For additional show notes, visit blog.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened/terry-neese.
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Rick Lazio and Tyler Noesser sit down for an in-depth discussion of alliantgroup, a leading tax specialty services provider working with CPA firms and their clients to ensure American companies receive the full benefit of federal and state tax credits, incentives, and deductions available to them.
Alliantgroup is partnered with around 5000 CPA firms across the U.S. and is staffed by a wide variety of specialists from multiple sectors including technology, finance, and the public sphere.
Alliantgroup’s decision to partner with professionals in these different fields is in line with their three-pronged approach to helping clients pinpoint the tax incentives that are applicable to them. That is, from the financial, political, and legal angles.
In this episode, Rick and Tyler share how alliantgroup effectively serves as an “in-house tax advisor” to small businesses, helping them take advantage of the same tax strategies used by some of the largest businesses in America. This allows these organizations to reduce their tax liability, freeing up more capital that they can then reinvest into the company.
Rick also offers his thoughts on what to expect from President Biden’s CARES Act and American Jobs Plan. He and Tyler then list specific types of businesses that easily qualify for tax deductions or credits (such as the federal R&D tax credit), as well as actionable steps that any business can take to increase their likelihood of availing tax incentives.
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For additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-51/.
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Tim Thornton is the founder and owner of Tactical Electronics, which provides EOD tools, CIED Training, and Tactical Inspection Cameras for military and law enforcement agencies. Not only is he a founder, he is also an inventor, international spy, and subject matter expert in terrorism.
Tim started in this industry 20 years ago as an Instructor at Independent Intelligence Agency, where he taught special forces techniques, and noticed a lack of tools needed to achieve intelligence and military objectives. He then started making black boxes in his garage to meet those diagnostic needs, with the intent to help responders and government agencies stay safe. These products help pick locks, bypass security systems, disarming explosives, hotwire cars, and more.
In this episode, Tim shares how he got his start and learned to quickly adapt to this unique Industry, some of the amazing product categories that they focus on and how they source them to government agencies, and what it means to be an international spy.
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For additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-50/.
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John Vuong is the founder of Local SEO Search, a full-service Search Engine Optimization company based in Toronto.
The fourth child of Vietnamese immigrants to Canada, John began his work life at the age of ten with a paper route. Early in life, he realized that he had a passion for people and relationships. After graduating from Western University in Ontario, John held sales-related positions at RedToronto.com, Yellow Pages Group, and Jatheon Technologies.
In 2013, after ten years as an employee, John took the leap into business ownership, launching Local SEO Search.
In this episode, John shares an upbringing influenced by Vietnamese parents who had only recently immigrated to Canada in the wake of the Vietnam War. He then does a deep dive into the basics of SEO, why even the smallest or newest business needs to prioritize their SEO from the start, and the steps they can take to establish themselves as thought leaders in their space. Finally, John touches on how to outsource your SEO, the pitfalls of perfectionism, and actionable steps that every business owner can take today.
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For additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-49/.
Copyright 2021 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit
George McGehrin is the Founder and President of The McGehrin Group, an executive search and personal branding firm based in the New York City metropolitan area.
The McGehrin Group works with a wide variety of businesses from small firms to Fortune 1000 companies, placing C-suite executives and other top-level professionals. They also offer the most comprehensive and customized CEO professional branding and writing services, producing targeted LinkedIn profiles, resumes, and biographies that maximize their clients' potential.
To say that George is well-connected and well-networked would be a drastic understatement: He is the 125th most connected person on LinkedIn and ranked in the top 30 most connected recruiter in the United States.
In this episode, George shares what sets his organization apart in the talent acquisition industry, questions to ask when considering a new hire, whether remote working is the future for C-suite executives, how introverts can be great candidates, and whether AI will inevitably replace human recruiters.
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For additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-48/.
Copyright 2021 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Carmen Portillo is the founder of Cocoa Belle Chocolates, an ethically sourced chocolate store in Little Rock, Arkansas. She initially pursued a career in finance before opening up Cocoa Belle and is now working with cannabis companies like CBDolce and Native Green Wellness.
At the age of 19, Carmen set out to live in London. During her time there, she found herself feeling disheartened and solus with only chocolate to provide a sense of comfort. Here is where she fell in love with chocolate, wanting to dig into a passion; chocolate seemed like the only logical next step.
In this episode, Carmen dives into the three parts it takes to run a good business: technician, manager, and entrepreneur. She shares where her weakness lies within the three, as well as her strong suits. From this, Carmen goes into how she markets and brands her small business, including the creative avenues she came up with during the pandemic.
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For additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-47/.
Copyright 2021 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Steve Harrison is the CEO of Natural State Laboratories, which was founded in 2018 to be a state-of-the-art molecular genetics and toxicology reference laboratory serving the needs of physicians and patients in Arkansas and throughout the United States.
Having been in the laboratory space in and around Arkansas for the past several years, Steve came to realize throughout his journey that the customer service element was severely lacking in the industry as a whole.
Because of this, the focus and purpose of both Steve and his business partner Jeff Weeks was “to redefine the lab industry and, by doing so, we wanted to make sure that there was a true obsession with our clients and customers.”
In this episode, Steve shares where he acquired his passion for entrepreneurship, how Natural State Labs was able to become the preferred vendor of the Arkansas Department of Health for distributing COVID tests, the key factors in reducing COVID testing times from days down to hours, and what he learned about leadership in the past couple of years.
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For additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-46/.
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Jeff Moore is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, or OKPOP, a forthcoming museum that that will honor the state’s greatest creative talents. When OKPOP opens its doors in late 2022, it will be the culmination of 15 years of planning and Jeff has been there since the beginning.
OKPOP has been developed in partnership with the Oklahoma Historical Society, the institution where Jeff began his career as a curator. In 1995, Jeff had the opportunity to work on the Historical Society’s first new museum in decades, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Okla. The vibrant and contemporary project was transformational for Jeff, who knew from that moment that he wanted to be a part of these types of endeavors.
In this episode, Jeff talks about the origin for his love of history, the relatively recent challenge of looking at pop culture from an intellectual standpoint, and the process of collaborating with Oklahoma creatives to capture their lasting legacy for future generations.
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For additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-45/.
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Michael Blundetto has been a competitor in the United States Dragon Boat Team since 2001 and, since 2018, has served as a coach. He has been involved in dragon boat racing since its entrance into the North American sporting world in the early 1980s.
In this episode, Michael talks all about the 2000-year-old Chinese heritage sport of dragon boat racing. He shares how he found himself at the forefront of a movement to take the sport out of obscurity and onto the world stage, earning him the moniker “Coach Mike” by his fellow dragon boat athletes around the world. He also talks about the impact the sport had on his family and the legacy he wants to leave, as well as the parallels between sport and business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-ep-44/.
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Randy Hopper is the CEO of Vexus Boats, which manufactures premium fiberglass and aluminum bass boats in Flippin, Arkansas. Vexus opened the doors to its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in August 2017. Less than a year later, they were already shipping aluminum boats to a newly-created network of Vexus bass boat dealers.
Prior to his current role with Vexus, Randy served a number of leadership positions at Ranger Boats. He joined the company during its startup days in 1968 and went on to serve as plant manager, VP Manufacturing, VP Engineering, and, finally, CEO.
In this episode, Randy explains the innovations that Vexus has brought to the bass boat industry, how the company entered the space as a startup with a 50-year history, and potential disruptions to the industry in the near future.
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For bonus content and additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-43/.
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Gordon Deal is a radio personality who hosts the nationally syndicated radio program This Morning, America’s First News, previously called The Wall Street Journal This Morning. He has also worked as a writer and reporter at both WINS and WCBS in New York City.
Gordon is a public service announcer for the New York Giants, and has been a voiceover artist since 1999. His clients for voice work have included AT&T, Stamps.com, Harry's, Go To Meeting, and The Great Courses.
In this episode, Gordon shares his storied experience in “the business of selling air” and how he, as a host, contributes to This Morning’s revenue growth. He then goes through a day in his life—starting at 2:30 A.M.—and how he writes content for the program. He also explains how Compass Media was able to acquire the program following its shutdown by Wall Street Journal. Finally, Gordon reflects on the opportunity to work with the New York Giants.
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For bonus content and additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-42/.
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Toby Rowland is a two-time, Emmy-winning sportscaster, the author of a best-selling children's book Unhitch the Wagon, and currently the Sooners' voice. In addition, Toby hosts a morning sports talk show in Oklahoma City and coaching shows.
Rowland started out as an accounting major in college before he realized it was not what he wanted to do long-term. Toby met with his college, where they put together a sports broadcasting degree. He later had an internship at Channel 9, and he started calling games his senior year at the university. He stayed on as Sports Director, calling sports games for his alma mater for the next five years.
In 2009, he received the opportunity to join the radio crew at OU as a sideline reporter, and when Bob announced his retirement, the president of the team decided that Toby would fill his shoes.
In this episode, Toby talks about the influence of mentors on his career, turning points in his career, and how Toby handles the negative press.
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For bonus content and additional show notes, visit https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-41/.
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Brendan Quirk is the CEO of Allied Cycle Works in Bentonville, Arkansas. Allied’s stated mission is “to make the best bicycles and components in the world, right here in America.” Brendan is also the Cycling Program Director for Runway Group, a Bentonville-based investment firm whose focus is the “cultivation of entrepreneurship and other business activity specific to the cycling industry.” Most recently, Brendan has served as the Non-Executive Director for North America for London’s Brompton Bicycle.
In 1999, Brendan co-founded Competitive Cyclist, a retail bike shop, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He recounts the much smaller, pre-Armstrong market at the time, and how he drove his business forward using the limited capabilities of the early Internet.
The timing could not have been better. As Lance Armstrong rose to fame and eCommerce began to take off in the 2000s, Competitive Cyclist closed its brick-and-mortar office and did business exclusively online. The two-man operation never looked back, and in 2011, Competitive Cyclist was sold to Backcountry.com, propelling Brendan’s career in the cycling industry.
In this episode, Brendan shares his experience serving in varied leadership positions throughout his career in the industry, how he came to decide on Allied’s lofty mission, what makes a bike “world-class”, and the ongoing evolution of cycling culture.
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For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-40.
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David Griffin is the President of Griffin Communications, a broad media company with assets in TV, radio, internet, and outdoor advertising. Griffin Communications is a family business that has been in existence since 1953.
In this episode, David discusses the company’s history and how it has evolved to be among the leading media companies in Oklahoma, gives us an understanding of how the media world works, and explains how his family overcame tough measures to build a community-driven local business.
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For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-39.
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Jeff Williams is the CEO of America’s Car-Mart, a publicly-held company based in Bentonville, Arkansas. Car-Mart is focused exclusively on the integrated auto-sales and finance segment of the used car market. He started his career in the accounting field with initial stints at Arthur Andersen in Tulsa and Coopers & Lybrand in Dallas.
Previous to joining America’s Car-Mart, Jeff was the CFO at WinCo, LLC, a distributor of animal health products. Jeff joined Car-Mart in 2005 as their CFO. He became President in 2016 and has been CEO since January of 2018.
In this episode, Jeff shares how America’s Car-Mart caters to the credit-challenged customer, why employees with working experience in a traditional dealership tend to struggle when working at Car-Mart, how certain trends and disruptions over the years have affected Car-Mart’s “small-town” approach to business, and his experience as CEO thus far.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-38.
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David Woods is the CEO of Magellan Executive Partners, a management consulting firm based in Edmond, Oklahoma. Previously, David served as CEO of Ditch Witch, Founder and CEO of EXIM Group, and Co-Founder and Partner at Cortado Ventures. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management at Oklahoma State University.
In this episode, David reflects on how his entrepreneurial spirit led him to found his own company, why you should look at expanding your network as farming as opposed to hunting, and why, if all else fails, you can always count on being your authentic self.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-37.
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Tom Gordon is the founder and CEO of Slim Chickens, a fast-casual chicken restaurant chain based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The chain has over 100 locations in 19 states, plus restaurants in Kuwait and the U.K. Slim Chickens was founded in 2003 and began franchising 10 years later in 2013.
Tom and his co-founder Greg Smart have the ambitious goal of having 600 locations and annual revenues of over $1 billion in the next ten years.
In this episode, Tom reflects on the decisions he made alongside co-founder Greg that led to the success of Slim Chicken. He shares the process of bootstrapping a restaurant business and eventually franchising it, and discusses important components of the business from supply chain to real estate to technology.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-36.
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Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. Over the span of ten years, Lee and a team of over 40,000 cast members were responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations tied to Walt Disney World® Resort. Lee also opened Disneyland Paris. Prior to Disney, Lee held leadership positions at Hilton and Marriott, as well as served in the U.S. Army.
Since retiring, Lee has been busy helping organizations and individuals all over the world become better leaders. In addition to his full schedule of speaking and consulting, Lee has also authored three bestselling books and hosts a highly-rated leadership podcast and blog. Recently, Lee launched Cockrell Academy, an online platform that provides training on leadership, customer service, and time management.
In this episode, Lee shares best practices in using customer feedback to improve your business, how to always be steps ahead of your competition, and keys to leading amid crises.
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For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-35.
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Philip Huff is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has spent nearly 20 years in the cybersecurity sector, working in IT security and critical infrastructure security. His areas of expertise include cybersecurity, internet of things, machine learning, and digital forensics.
In this episode, Philip tackles important topics in the cybersecurity space that affect your business. He discusses the necessity that is cybersecurity, data privacy and the advancements that came with GDPR, and how to budget for and measure the effectiveness of cybersecurity.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-34.
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Tina Parkhill is a graduate of Oklahoma State University (OSU) and started her career in 1994, working for Ernest & Julio Gallo winery. After spending several years working in sales and management roles for solutions based companies, Tina decided to return to the liquor business and open Parkhill’s Liquors & Wine South on April 4, 2011.
In addition to juggling the balance of family and work, Tina is also committed to giving back to the community. She is heavily involved in the Tulsa County Oklahoma State University Alumni Chapter and Family & Children’s Services.
In this episode, Tina reveals what it was like to build her business from the ground up, how the changing liquor laws have forced them to adapt, and how important experience is for her employees.
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For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-33.
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Preston Ackerman is a Supervisory Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was assigned to FBI Headquarters on two separate occasions, supporting IT projects now in use throughout the FBI. Ackerman is currently assigned to the FBI's Oklahoma City Division Cyber Squad and is the program coordinator for computer intrusion matters covering Oklahoma's state. Prior to joining the FBI, he worked as a computer networking consultant.
Preston’s background in cybercrime and IT projects has helped with his investigative career. Now, Preston has a special appreciation for the business world and small businesses. He loves working with small business owners because they are under immense pressure, and they happen to be a crucial part of our economy.
In this episode, Preston reveals the inspiration behind his career with the FBI, the most significant cyber threats to your business, and the importance of awareness programs in a corporate setting.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-32.
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Daniel Burrus is a strategic advisor to Fortune 500 companies, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author, keynote speaker, and is widely considered one of the World’s Leading Futurist Speakers on Global Trends and Disruptive Innovation.
Daniel has developed a great reputation for accurately predicting future technological changes and advancements over a career that has expanded more than three decades. This reputation has been bolstered by appearances on several news networks and publications, including PBS, CNN, Fox Business, Bloomberg, and more.
In this episode, Daniel discusses how he anticipates changes in technology, how to base business strategies on hard trends, and the importance of failing fast so you can learn faster.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-31.
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Amy Stipe is a Director and President of GableGotwals, a full-service, nationwide law firm with more than 100 attorneys. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and has held leadership duties with a number of prestigious groups, including Oklahoma County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Task Force, Oklahoma Bar Association’s Mineral Law Section, and the Mineral Lawyers Society of Oklahoma City.
Amy has spoken to a wide variety of groups, including the University of Oklahoma College of Law, the Mineral Lawyers Society of Oklahoma City, among others. She is committed to serving the community by volunteering her legal services to various local groups.
In this episode, Amy discusses the importance of being adaptable as a business, how mentorship can help propel a career, and how time management skills are a vital tool.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-30.
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Dean Wegner is the Founder & CEO of Authentically American, a Veteran owned and American made premium apparel brand. He has a diverse background starting with being a West Point graduate, then a helicopter pilot and Army Ranger, as well as his tenure with Mars Inc. and Proctor & Gamble in business development roles.
Wegner and his company celebrate patriotism and honor American heroes by donating a portion of their profits to Veteran and First Responder charities.
In this episode, Dean discusses how he got started in the apparel industry, his process and the dedication behind creating an iconic brand, and the importance of developing a work ethic and training regimen for your employees.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-29.
Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Sam Allred is founder and director of Upstream Academy, a consultancy of passionate advisors who design processes, tools, and programs to help firms achieve greater success. He has spent many years in the accounting industry, including as an equity partner with Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C. in Montana.
Allred has been regularly recognized as one of the major influencers in the accounting profession including being listed as one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and also as one of IPA’s “Most Recommended Consultants.” He is one of the most sought-after speakers in the accounting profession and is viewed as one of their top strategic thinkers.
In this episode, Sam discusses how he came to create Upstream Academy, and how he developed leadership qualities to overcome his fear of public speaking. He also reveals some complacencies that can stagger personal growth.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-28.
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Richard Zahn is the owner of RLZ Consulting, an agency that works to develop, implement, and fund growth strategies for small to medium-sized businesses. He previously worked as an executive coach and is a board member for several businesses in Oklahoma and Texas.
While growing up, Richard’s family started Anthony Stores, a retail staple in Oklahoma. He went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Yale University and master’s degree from Stanford University.
In this episode, Richard discusses the lessons he learned from his entrepreneurial family, the importance of listening to your customers, and the steps to building successful leaders.
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For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-27.
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Jody Maberry has many roles including marketing consultant, copywriter, customer experience strategist, and podcast host and producer. He is the owner of Maberica, Inc. Jody found another passion, helping businesses deliver their message to their customers, after pivoting from former roles such as being a financial analyst and a park ranger.
Jody works with a variety of corporations, including Disney, and hosts “Creating Disney Magic” with Lee Cockerell, former VP of Walt Disney World.
In this episode, Jody discusses how vital customer experience is in business, how to be extremely thorough in creating a consistent, clear message for your customers, and the importance of creating a healthy environment for both internal and external feedback.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-26.
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Dr. Richard Kopke is CEO of Hough Ear Institute, Director of the INTEGRIS Cochlear Implant Clinic, and a Legion of Merit award-winning Army veteran. After spending 26 years in the Army, Dr. Kopke started at Hough Ear Institute in 2004, and has since embodied their mission and dream, that all who have ears will hear.
Dr. Kopke has been a mainstay in the medical community, assisting or leading numerous research projects and trainings to help surgeons throughout the world sharpen their skills.
In this episode, Dr. Kopke discusses how the Army prepared him for leadership in business, how he manages his plethora of roles in the medical community, and how he prepares for the unexpected during surgical procedures.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-25.
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Scott Lambert is the founder and owner of Travertine Elevator Interiors, a company that designs, manufactures, and installs elevator interiors. Along with his wife, Scott is a serial entrepreneur, having started a number of companies including window washing, auto detailing, siding and astro turf companies. He is currently building a 92-room hotel in Norman, Oklahoma.
Scott founded Travertine Elevator Interiors with his wife in 1998. Since then, he has produced over $200 million worth of business across the United States.
In this episode, Scott discusses how he became immersed in the elevator industry, despite receiving a degree in psychology, his focus on relationships and building trust with customers, and how he continues to learn and grow within his executive role.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-24
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Ken Miller is an educator and former Oklahoma senator and treasurer. Before his political career, Ken was an economics professor at Oklahoma Christian University for several years. He has since become Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for OG&E.
Ken started his academic career not knowing the course but was quick to find his passion for economics. After receiving a master’s degree in economics and a PhD from the University of Oklahoma, Miller started a career in banking before becoming a professor and chairman of the Oklahoma Legislative Compensation Board in 1988.
In this episode, Ken reflects on his career in economics, how he became interested in politics, and how relationship building has helped manage his career and made a difference for his community.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-23
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Tim Wackel is the Founder and CEO of Tim Wackel, Inc., an on-demand or in-person tailored sales training platform for businesses. Prior to creating his business, Tim spent many years at Hewlett Packard (HP) and other technology companies in sales and sales management roles.
Tim started his career as an electrical engineer, with no inclination to move into sales. However, after receiving a job offer in sales from HP, he gladly accepted. He soon ascended to a leadership role within the company and became enamored with the process of perfecting a sale.
In this episode, Tim shares how when he saw a need for sales training, how he started his own company, and offers his advice to business leaders on how to set up their salespeople for success.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-22
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Bryan Clifton is the Founder and CEO of Myriad Insight, an advisory and strategic services company focused on assisting companies through transitional phases. Outside of Myriad Insight, Bryan is the Founder of Council of Entrepreneurs, an entrepreneurial peer advisory group, and a Partner at Clevyr, Inc., a custom software and applications solutions company.
Bryan started his entrepreneurial journey from a young age, running a family business with his father. His lessons in business led him to start Myriad Insight six years ago.
In this episode, Bryan discusses his early beginnings in helping run companies, how he learned how to lead workers and identify good talent, and the psychological impact of being a serial entrepreneur.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-21
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Shelley Brander is the Founder and CEO of Loops Productions, a luxury yarn boutique that offers a brick and mortar storefront and produces online, instructional classes that are consumed around the world. Loops Productions is a Tulsa-based company that has rapidly grown their online and global presence.
Fifteen years ago, Shelley launched Loops Productions, with plans to establish a franchise model. She saw a need for classes that connect people, not only locally, but all around the world, so Shelley launched LoopsClub, a membership to a virtual community with celebrity yarn professionals.
In this episode, Shelley discusses creating an empathetic brand, creating a genuinely impactful business, and how she continues to evolve as a leader amid all of her responsibilities.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-20
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The novel Coronavirus has affected everyone’s day-to-day lives. Businesses and people alike are having to adapt to the new normal and have shifted how they go about working. Companies, some for the first time, have adjusted to a remote working model while supporting their employees from home.
Working remotely is nothing new for Jennifer Wilson, this weeks’ guest on the “How That Happened” Podcast. Jennifer Wilson is the founder and CEO of ConvergenceCoaching, LLC., a fully remote Leadership Development Consultancy focused on the accounting profession. Prior to starting ConvergenceCoaching, Jennifer served as a Partner for BDO, a firm offering audit, assurance, and tax services to their clients, among other offerings. She has also held numerous leadership positions in consultancy and sales with multiple software service companies.
In this episode, Jennifer discusses how she keeps her employees connected while being a fully-remote company, how to remain a great leader while being apart from your employees, and how to remain intentional in your day-to-day activities when distractions can come into play.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-19
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Whitney and Ryan Huffman are the co-owners and founders of the full-service advertising and consultancy agency, Beyond Theory. After gaining years of experience in their respective industries, they launched the agency with a heavy focus on building relationships.
In 2015, Ryan presented the idea to his wife, after realizing that he was already serving as a media and advertising consultant in his current role.
In this episode, Whitney and Ryan discuss the moment they decided to start their own business, how each of their selling experiences have helped them form relationships, and how asking vulnerable questions has helped them better understand their client’s needs.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-18
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Merritt Dake is the CEO of Rock Dental Brands, a dental partnership company striving to provide affordable and quality dental care in the northwest Arkansas and southern Missouri regions. Prior to joining the dental industry, Merritt was in the accounting industry, specializing in tax.
Merritt joined Rock Dental Brands in 2012 and has seen significant growth in the company, starting from just 2 locations to now over 70 locations.
In this episode, Merritt divulges some of the technology disruptors in the marketplace, how student loans are affecting the dental practice, and how they are striving to make dental offices more efficient for patients.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-17
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Sam Walker is the owner of Green Tree Project, an eco-friendly, direct to you Christmas tree delivery company. Apart from working on her company, Sam runs the front office of Project 3810, a small business incubator.
Sam started Green Tree Project in December 2016 after realizing that their traditions did not align with the nurturing, sustainable values their family implemented.
In this episode, Sam discusses the path leading to her family starting this business, how she plans to scale it, and the struggle of leaving a steady corporate job to start a business.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-16
Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Bob East is the co-founder and former owner of East Harding, Inc. and former CEO and owner of Advanced Cabling Systems. He founded East Harding, Inc. in 1974 and quickly grew it to primarily encompass commercial projects, including the convention center and baseball park in Little Rock, Ark. In 1998, Bob purchased Advanced Cabling Systems, a technology integration company specializing in structured cabling, fire alarm systems, intercom, and protection systems.
Bob has been a community staple in Little Rock, serving as President of the Little Rock Downtown Partnership and working with the Little Rock Airport Commission, Arkansas Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Cancer Research Center, and Bank OZK.
In this episode, Bob discusses how he overcame barriers in business and built multiple successful companies based on trust and culture.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-15.
Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Tom Morgan is a Consulting Executive at HoganTaylor Technology, a newly formed subsidiary of HoganTaylor LLP. He has more than 30 years of diverse IT experience in small, medium, and large companies, including more than 25 years of management experience encompassing all IT disciplines.
For more than 10 years, Tom served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Dobson Communications Corporation before they were acquired by AT&T in 2007. He stayed on as Senior Vice President of Information Technology at AT&T until 2008, when Tom, founded RainRock IT which offered outsourced CIO services, hosting services, and cybersecurity, among other offerings.
In this episode, Tom discusses the hurdles of assisting a company through a large acquisition, and some of the challenges and obstacles of starting and growing his own business.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-14.
Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Cody Brumley is the newly appointed Pastor of Ministries and Missions at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Prior to his current position, Cody served as Executive Pastor and second chair to the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Jenks, Oklahoma. He has served his local church for more than 11 years, perfecting the art of public speaking.
The ability to communicate in public is an increasingly vital tool for church leaders. In this episode, Cody discusses how to overcome and utilize the fear of public speaking, how to present a speech directly with a focused idea, and the necessity for preparation.
Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-13.
Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Phil Lancaster is Vice President of Corporate Development for Mammoth Energy Services. He also serves as interim President of Cobra Energy Co. Prior to these positions, Phil started, grew, and sold REDBACK Energy Services, LLC. and Great White Energy Services.
For more than 14 years, Phil has partnered with Wexford Capital to help assist dozens of new companies serving those startups in various roles from board member to CEO.
In this episode, Phil discusses the most challenging obstacle in building new business relationships, his advice on how to build a high-performing team, and his philosophy on time management and balance.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-12
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Ron Siegenthaler is chairman of Xeta Communications and Give.mobi LLC. He also serves as President of Myriad Technologies and a Consultant for Rolled Alloys. Prior to these positions, Ron founded Metals Inc., a steel service center that distributes specialty metals throughout the Southern United States.
Throughout his entrepreneurial career, Ron has had a hand in many industries in the Tulsa business community, including oil and gas, steel distribution, nonprofit, and communications. In 2011, Oklahoma State University’s Riata Entrepreneurship Center named Ron its Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year.
In this episode, Ron shares advice gleaned from a long and successful career, including lessons learned from starting and selling his first business, the attributes of effective business partnerships, and how a focus on service sustains business relationships.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-11
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Dr. Valerie Thompson is the current President and CEO of Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City and a professor of Strategic Planning & Program Development for Nonprofits at Oklahoma City University.
For more than 25 years, Valerie has served the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City, a mainstay in the Oklahoma nonprofit community. The Urban League’s mission is to assist African Americans, other minorities and the poor to achieve social and economic equality.
In this episode, Dr. Thompson discusses the benefits of running nonprofits like businesses, the challenges nonprofit organizations face in a crowded nonprofit sector and the technological advances that have changed the face of charitable giving.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-10
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Gina Wilson is the current President and CEO of Oklahoma Central Credit Union, and has been a longstanding fixture in Tulsa’s financial industry.
Prior to becoming President and CEO in 2002, Gina served Oklahoma Central Credit Union as a Collector, Teller, Loan Officer, Accountant, Marketer and Business Developer.
In this episode, Gina discusses the challenges of staying service-focused in a mobile-centric industry, the importance of cybersecurity, and her organization’s mission to teach the community healthy practices in personal finance.
Make sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-9
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Tim O'Toole is the current President and CEO of Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. and a long-standing fixture in Oklahoma City's entertainment landscape.
Prior to joining the State Fair, Tim served as President and CEO of Oklahoma City's Triple-A baseball team. He has also played a role in many pivotal moments in Oklahoma City's history, including the 1989 US Olympic Festival, the opening of the Bricktown Ballpark, and multiple sales tax funded city initiatives.
In this episode, Tim shares how his team manages to bring 10,000 - 50,000 people through the Oklahoma City fairgrounds gates each weekend. He also discusses how Oklahoma's geographical location helps drive traffic to the venue and an economic impact of more than $300 million annually.
For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-8
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Matthew Swaggart is a photographer, designer, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HoldFast Gear. HoldFast Gear is a high-quality leather goods outfitter originally tailored to the photography industry.
Matthew fell in love with photography at an early age and started his career as a professional wedding photographer. It was during this time that he saw a need for a camera strap that offered the ability to hold multiple cameras while providing a polished, professional look. Thus, the Money Maker was created.
In this episode, Matthew tells the HoldFast Gear story and discusses the power of passion and work ethic in business, and his emphasis on quality in developing new, timeless pieces.
For additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-7
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Kenneth Knoll is an investor, serial entrepreneur, Partner and Board Member of WeGoLook, and the CEO and Co-Founder of Goose & Gander, a consultancy focused on enabling adoption of emerging technologies and businesses. Prior to founding Goose & Gander, Kenneth served as the Chief Operating Officer at WeGoLook, an information validation company, until its acquisition in 2017.
In this episode, Kenneth discusses his journey from venture investments to WeGoLook and Goose & Gander. He also examines the strategy behind the technology that drives the gig economy.
For additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-6
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Matt Crafton is a retired Air Force engineer and current President and Chief Executive Officer of Crafton Tull, a professional design firm with offices throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Crafton Tull provides quality planning, architecture, engineering, and survey services to customers across the nation in the architecture, energy, infrastructure, planning, and transportation sectors.
In this episode, Matt explores his engineering beginnings with the Air Force, the early days of Crafton Tull, and the adversities he’s faced as CEO.
For additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-5
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Erika and Chris Lucas are the founders and owners of StitchCrew, a business accelerator that links entrepreneurs and new companies to capital, resources, and social networks to assist in the development of Oklahoma’s innovation economy.
StitchCrew is a founder-first organization that was born out of an understanding that nobody builds a company alone. They believe that the fastest way to close wealth gaps and achieve economic mobility is by increasing the participation of traditionally overlooked entrepreneurs.
In this episode, Erika and Chris discuss what it takes to build a strong entrepreneurial community, StitchCrew’s partnership with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the struggles founders often face as they work to turn their vision into a reality.
For additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-4
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Dixie Agostino is the owner and founder of the award-winning, Tulsa-based staffing agency, SwitchGear Search and Recruiting.
Dixie started SwitchGear in 2010 with a unique focus on individuals and relationships. In the years since its founding, SwitchGear has become a powerhouse staffing agency that has helped put countless people into positions where their skills and strengths are maximized. For her leadership, Dixie has been named a Journal Record Most Admired CEOs honoree and the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
In this episode, Dixie discusses the struggles and near-death experiences of her business, the process of finding the best possible talent for a company, and her take on work/life balance.
For additional show notes, visit www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-3
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
John Allgood is the Academic Director, Executive Master of Science Sport Business and Assistant Professor of Sport Business at Temple University.
John began working in sport management in 1995 and quickly became an integral part of the Oklahoma sports landscape. He worked for Oklahoma City’s Triple-A baseball team, helped develop the OKC Energy FC soccer team, and taught Sport Management at the University of Oklahoma.
Listen to this episode to hear stories about the business side of sports, the technology and innovations that are changing the profession, and the opportunities that led to the creation of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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For additional show notes, visit www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-2
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
Geoff Hager is CEO of Big Elk Energy Systems, a manufacturing company he founded with the goal of bringing the best possible talent and service to the energy industry.
Join Geoff as he sits down with the “How That Happened” podcast to explore his career path and his emphasis on workplace culture and relationships. The show’s host, Robert Wagner, also speaks to Geoff about Big Elk’s resilience during past economic downturns, as well as the evolution and future of the energy industry.
Listen to this episode to hear inspiring stories of leadership that will help you face uncertainty in your business.
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Be sure to visit www.howthathappened.com for more episodes and additional information about “How That Happened.”
Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com
“How That Happened,” is a business and innovation success podcast hosted by HoganTaylor business advisors Robert Wagner and Aaron Ackerman.
In this introductory episode, Robert and Aaron discuss the show's format and what they hope listeners will gain from their interviews with business and community leaders behind thriving organizations. They also share their answers to the five questions they ask each guest.
Be sure to visit www.howthathappened.com for more episodes and additional materials.