To The Point: Recent Episodes
Crux KC
To The Point is a monthly podcast produced by Crux, the un-agency that fuels business growth. Our podcast features exclusive interviews with successful business leaders across the country to highlight the entrepreneurial spirit and share how marketing can transform an organization. Through thought-provoking conversations that get to crux of it, we’re helping businesses elevate their brand and amplify their mission.
In marketing, you can have the right people and still get the wrong results. On this episode of To the Point, Ethan Whitehill, President & CSO of Crux, talks with Becky Schieber, VP of Marketing and fractional CMO at Crux, to break down why the best marketing starts with clarity. Drawing on her background in journalism, donor development, and brand strategy, Becky explains how authentic storytelling, strong relationships and integrated strategies help organizations move beyond reactive marketing to create a cohesive vision that actually provides real results.
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How can a technology company change to meet the rapidly evolving needs of its customers? On the latest episode of To the Point, Ethan Whitehill, President & CSO of Crux, speaks with Martha Salinas, the Chief Commercial Officer at TreviPay, about market segmentation, adjusting services, and thoughtfully utilizing AI to deliver improved customer experiences. With a background in economics and international development, Martha initially joined TreviPay to gain private industry experience but has provided an essential perspective in the global B2B fintech company for over 30 years.
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What is a museum’s civic role in a city? On the latest episode of To the Point, Ethan Whitehill, President & CSO of Crux, speaks with Dr. Matthew Naylor, The National World War I Museum and Memorial’s President & CEO, about managing the experiential expectations and messaging needs of museum guests and stakeholders. With more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Dr. Naylor has directed the Museum and Memorial since 2013, overseeing an unprecedented increase in attendance, philanthropic engagement, and community engagement.
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Does your brands perception of itself align with what your customers think? On the latest episode of To the Point, Ehtan Whitehill, President & CSO of Crux, speaks with Brook Barrier, Crux’s VP of Strategy & Creative, about brand perception and how to find out what your clients and customers think of your business. Brooke is a brand strategist and content expert with experience crafting bold, insightful marketing for major brands.
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In Episode 37 of To the Point, Ethan Whitehill sits down with psychologist, researcher, and author Dr. Melanie Dean about the science behind emotional energy, the story of building and selling her successful publishing company, and how anyone can cultivate intuitive guidance to attract opportunities and make better decisions in work and life.
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In Episode 36 of To the Point, Ethan Whitehill sits down with Dr. Peggy Shannon, president of the Kansas City Art Institute, to explore how KCAI equips students for success in a changing world, and why art education fuels cultural and economic growth in Kansas City and beyond.
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For our 35th episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill sits down with Daniel Fox, Crux’s new VP of Digital Marketing, for a deep dive into the evolution of digital strategy. From his early days navigating banner ads and the dot-com bust to leading modern, data-driven campaigns, Daniel shares how his journey shaped the marketer he is today. In this episode we dive into prepping for 2026, AI’s role in marketing and why email still reigns supreme.
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For our 34th episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Julie Davis and Carol Schmidt of Morgan Hunter about building lasting partnerships, listening to understand, and recruiting in the age of automation.
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For our 33rd episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Tracy McFerrin and Maurice Watson of Credo Philanthropy Advisors about relational philanthropy, measuring impact, and why authenticity is the foundation of effective giving.
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For our 32nd episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Kathy Nelson of Visit KC and the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation about her TV station start, building a sports legacy in Kansas City, and what 600,000 World Cup 2026 visitors will mean for the region.
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For our 31st episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Michele Hammann of SSC CPAs + Advisors about rejoining a family business, focusing on financial independence v. retirement, and what business leaders can learn from The Walt Disney Company.
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For our 30th episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Nilson Goes, President at Infinite Energy, about establishing a mission-critical company culture, employing veterans, and why engineering is in his blood.
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For our 29th episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Keith Harrington of Novel Capital about lightning bolt moments, taking smart risks over a flying leap, and why equity is the most expensive form of capital.
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For our 28th episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Sly James and Joni Wickham of Wickam James who make the case for sponsorship over mentorship, the importance of active listening, and why there are no limitations to doing good.
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For our 27th episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Dr. Sandra Cassady— President & CEO of Rockhurst University—about the advantage of a Jesuit education, cultivating double- and triple-Hawks, and why liberal arts education is often misunderstood.
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For our 26th episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Dave VanderWaal— senior marketing consultant at VW Marketing Consultants and former US marketing head at LG and Hisense—about mapping the customer journey, the power of the last three feet, and being Grace VanderWaal’s #1 fan.
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For our 25th episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Melissa Beltrame, Marketing Director at nbkc bank, about the future of fintech, the value of inside-out branding and why all brands should be fanatical about the customer experience.
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For our 24th episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Kelly Magee, CEO & Founding Partner of Q39, about cultivating and evolving a challenger brand, plans to scale 2x in 2025, and how entrepreneurs must balance progress with perfection.
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For our 23rd episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with George Guastello, President and CEO of Union Station Kansas City, about maintaining the visual voice of our town, playing host to Princess Diana and Walt Disney, and why all roads (and tracks) lead back to Union Station.
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For our 22nd episode, President & Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Whitehill chats with Tammy Buckner, Co-Founder and CEO of WeCode KC, about AI, STEM education and bridging the tech gap in underrepresented communities. Don't miss the story behind Jerome, a robot constructed by students to throw the first pitch at Kauffman Stadium.
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For our 21st episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Matt Sharples, Co-Founder and CEO of TriCom Technical Services, about EQ, AI, Bora Bora and 8-bit nostalgia.
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For our 20th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Tim Cowden, President & CEO at Kansas City Area Development Council, about attracting businesses to the two-state metro, the future of our regional workforce, and the inspiration for his personal collection of KC icons in neon.
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For our 19th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Aviva Ajmera, Founder & CEO of SoLVE KC, about how trust and transparency topple team challenges, and why leaders must get comfortable with crucial conversations.
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For our 18th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Jim Carr, President and CEO of NAIA, about the business of college athletics, the rise of emerging sports, and a new resource designed to maximize a schools’ Return on Athletics.
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For our 17th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Kelli Alldredge, President at Chicken N Pickle, about the rise of pickleball, the power of human connection through sports, and the key to localizing at scale.
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For our 16th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Dr. Patrick Handley, creator of INSIGHT Inventory and founder of Insight Institute, a resource that helps organizations transform teams and develop talent. Dr. Handley discusses the origins of his strengths-based personality assessment tool, how strong communicators impact company culture, and which Johnny Cash song would be his go-to for karaoke.
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For our 15th episode President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Kerri Reisdorff, Shareholder at Ogletree Deakins, who explains how companies can leverage compliance for a competitive edge, and how Law and Order and a Midwest upbringing inspired her tenacious work ethic.
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For our 14th episode President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Rick Kahle, Senior Vice President at Alliant Insurance Services, who shares all on standing up a KC office, inspiring company loyalty through employee benefits, and the secret behind why so many deals are done on the golf course.
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For our 13th episode President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Joe Reardon, President/CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, who shares his family’s legacy in local government, the importance of supporting extraordinary entrepreneurs, and why KC’s recent momentum is anything but an accident.
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For our 12th episode, Crux Founder & CEO Melea McRae turns the tables and interviews our host, Ethan Whitehill, President & CCO at Crux. Ethan shares his entrepreneurial journey, the un-agency's plans to “communitize” marketing, and why fast-growing companies should take a cue from seafarers.
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For our eleventh episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with John Hall—VP of Marketing at ZoomGrants, CSO at Crux-Xcelerate, and Founder & CEO of GetRecruited24/7—who shares how a strong EQ, collaborative communication and taking inventory can transform sales teams.
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For our tenth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Tom Butch, Consulting Strategist and Senior Editorial Contributor at Crux, and Founder & President of Strategy:Solutions, Inc. Tom discusses the value of fractional CMOs and why delegation is key to strong leadership.
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For our ninth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Skuli Gudmundsson, President & CEO at OCCU-TEC. Skuli shares his career pivot into entrepreneurship and the importance of safety & health in the workplace.
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For our eighth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with André Davis, Corporate and Community Engagement Executive at Built Interior Construction. André explains the importance of relationships, community, and an integrated personal/professional brand.
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For our seventh episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Jon Copaken, Principal at Copaken Brooks. Jon discusses the impact of urban growth in Kansas City, the elements of quality development, and the legacy of Copaken Brooks.
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For our sixth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill sits down with Kim Randolph President and CEO of the Heartland Black Chamber. Kim shares her keys to growing an impactful non-profit and building a better community.
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For our fifth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Grant Burcham, the Former CEO at MoBank and Chairman at CyTek Corp. Grant breaks down his lifelong banking journey, discussing the power of relationships and the significance of small businesses. He also explains his involvement with CyTek Corp and what makes them unique in IT.
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For our fourth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Grant Gooding, Founder & CEO at PROOF Positioning. Grant shares his take on market research and why there’s no such thing as a rational decision. He also breaks down how the PROOF method leverages emotional resonance for better insights.
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For our third episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Tim Webster Founder, CEO & Chairman of Heirloom Brands & Farmer Direct Foods. Tim shares his journey of developing successful brands and selecting the perfect investment for growth. We also get his top picks for consumer trends in 2023.
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President & CCO Ethan Whitehill sits down with Brian Bresee, HubSpot’s Director of Sales for its North America Solutions Partner Program. Brian shares insights on utilizing HubSpot to grow your business, marketing and sales automation, 2023 technology trends and more!
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For our debut episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill introduces Crux Founder & CEO Melea McRae. We’ll cover Melea’s entrepreneurial journey, the story behind Crux, our mission to fuel business growth, and why we’re launching a podcast.
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