School for Startups Radio

August 23, 2023 - The Book Spy Ryan Steck and Passion for Coatings Leland Jones

Ryan Steck – Founder and Professional Book Critic at The Real Book Spy and Author of Lethal Range 
It is so hard to find your footing as a writer coming up today becauseyou are battling to sell books and you are still competing with the Clancybooks, Vince Flynn, Robert Parker and Ludlum. These estate books make money.
Ryan Steck is a freelance editor, an author, and the founder and editor-in-chief of The Real Book Spy. Ryan has been named an “Online Influencer” by Amazon and is a regular columnist at CrimeReads. Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata) on his way to being endorsed by #1 New York Times bestsellers Mark Greaney, Brad Thor, Kyle Mills, Jack Carr, C.J. Box, and many others. His debut novel, FIELDS OF FIRE, is now available in bookstores. His second novel, LETHAL RANGE, comes out on August 8, 2023. Ryan Steck is an established authority on mysteries and thrillers, praised as one of today’s finest reviewers by Gayle Lynds. A former sports writer who transitioned into publishing word in 2014, Steck worked as a book critic and reviewer for several other websites and media outlets before launching The Real Book Spy in December of 2015. Since launching The Real Book Spy, Steck has broken relevant industry news, written hundreds of book reviews, and conducted interviews with many of the genre’s top thriller authors on his way to becoming one of the most respected voices among thriller fans. TheRealBookSpy.com is the go-to site on all things thriller and mystery. The site will let you know if a favorite author has a new book deal or has just penned a movie contract. There have already been more than two million unique impressions on the site. Besides his encyclopedic knowledge of the genre, Ryan is a book doctor extraordinaire, an editor, and a huge promoter of us pencil pushers.Leland Jones – Founder & CEO of Ceramic King Coatings of Virginia
We went to Walmart and bought $300 of car cleaning supplies, andwe went to a dog park and we started cleaning cars while people walkedtheir dogs. We are now a multi 7 figure business.
Leland Jones, is an entrepreneur who has perfected the art of turning a passion into a thriving business. What initially began as a simple side hustle with friends, Leland has since built this small side hustle into six-figure business – Ceramic King Coatings Virgina. His passion was turned into profits, and Leland continues doing what he loves. Here’s the truth – many Americans feel unhappy in their current jobs. Why? Because they’re trapped at a boring desk job to pay the bills. What happened to working at a job you were passionate about? This seemingly lost concept is, however, not lost on Leland Jones. Leland has perfected the art of taking a passion and turning it into a successful business, which included switching career paths and going off the beaten path. His passion and entrepreneurial spirit have allowed him to build a six-figure business while doing something he loves.  Growing up in a multigenerational military family, Jones had seen a wide swath of the world long before he had even seen his 18th birthday. Having moved all over the East Coast of the United States, all the way to Hawaii, and then on to Singapore for his high school years, he gained an early scope for interacting with people, cultures, and lifestyles. This intangible and rare skill would come to impact his natural entrepreneurial abilities later. Penning his first of four books on subjects of sales, self-awareness, overcoming failure, and business management just out of high school, he chose another far-flung locale, the rugged beauty of Alaska, for college. Focusing his studies on entrepreneurship and business administration, Jones already knew he wanted to take his own route in life, despite being heavily drawn to a military career in honor of his multiple family members who forged the family name in that profession. Looking to make some extra money in college and having always harbored a deep love of automotive culture, Jones began detailing cars when he was not attending class. One day, while cleaning his own car out with the aid of a close friend, he got to talking to his buddy about the ease of launching a business. Using their in-progress activity as a working example, he bought $300 worth of supplies and headed to the dog park, offering an impromptu ‘car wash while you walk your pet’ service that saw the team make their investment back in a day and quite a bit more. Shouted out by a local radio DJ whose car they had washed last on that first day, Jones and his friend more than tripled that amount the following day, and the seeds for Jones’ future business foray were officially sown. “Six years later, we are now the name brand out here in Virginia Beach and all Hampton roads surrounding cities,” he shares. “We’ll hit our goals over seven figures this year in top-line revenue.” However, the road between that first soapy afternoon and the kind of clientele that Jones now regularly services at his intensely popular Ceramic King Coatings of Virginia was long and a strugglesome one. Specializing in paint corrections and ceramic coatings that bring cars back to a level of life they have not seen since the showroom took years and even a few tears. Making the decision to move his operation from Alaska to Virginia after battling insurmountable winters that cut his work calendar short, Jones pounded the pavement the old-fashioned way for many moons to build his customer base before he began to enjoy the booked-three-months-out calendars that are now his company’s daily reality. Going from grappling with every angle of the grind to gargantuan success in a niche industry was not without its internal scuff marks either. Initially, Jones’ family reacted to his announcement that he was dropping out of school to pursue his own flagship visions the way most parents and siblings might: with worried criticism. Sticking to his guns and instead of arguing, Jones put his head down and plugged away at developing his VIP Club offerings and scaling his budding enterprise. When COVID reared its ugly head, it facilitated a need for him to take a job selling cars in order to keep making ends meet and moving forward. When it comes to car care, business ethics, and overall entrepreneurship now, the name Leland Jones has become synonymous with hard work, honesty, and commitment to company values that consistently honor both the customers and the family values that raised him. “Nothing is work if you love it like I love this,” he smiles. “My passion has always been the automotive scene, but entrepreneurship, starting something and being able to put blood, sweat, and tears into it to grow it into something that helps the community, is the biggest gift.”

August 21, 2023 - Vortic Watch Co. R.T. Custer and Beating Cancer Danny Carroll

R.T. Custer – Co-Founder and CEO of Vortic Watch Co
We have a service called convert your watch. People send us familyheirloom pocket watches and we turn them into wristwatches. In Hamiltonv. Vortic, we protected the right to up cycle. The decision protects peopleupcycling, refurbishing and recycling.
R.T. Custer is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, speaker, and guide who dedicates his efforts to supporting founders through the avenues of community, connection, and mentorship. Holding the role of CEO at Vortic Watch Company, as well as the Chief Revenue Officer at Carter & Custer Agency, he brings a wealth of knowledge on how to construct a thriving enterprise and instigate meaningful change. As one of the co-hosts of Fast Foundations Mastermind, R.T. Custer’s insights resonate deeply, as he intimately understands the requisites for building a prosperous business while fostering a tangible impact. R.T. Custer’s belief in the potential to attain a life imbued with affluence and autonomy by embracing calculated risks is unwavering. Leveraging his platform, he fervently empowers founders to step into their own value, fostering a culture of confidence and initiative. His commitment extends to his work as an Angel Investor and Advisor, particularly within the realm of consumer product companies, a pursuit that he channels through his video podcast, “Products Worth Talking About.” Renowned as a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, R.T. Custer’s prominence surged after the launch of his second YouTube show titled “Custer & Wolfe, Building a Watch Company,” a collaborative effort with his business partner, Tyler Wolfe. This show impeccably documents the intricate facets of constructing an American manufacturing entity, further solidifying R.T. Custer’s reputation as a seasoned entrepreneur. The harmony he has struck between leading a life of abundance and accruing wealth has become evident, an accomplishment he’s eager to share. This aspiration stems from his belief that he can inspire others to relish comparable freedoms. Beyond his professional accomplishments, R.T. Custer’s personal life is marked by his role as a partner to Lindsay Roselle and a devoted father to his two sons, Sawyer and Wesley. Their home in Fort Collins, Colorado serves as the hub for their five combined businesses, where they harmonize work, family, and recreation pursuits. Engaging in activities such as golf, workouts, enjoying whiskey, and nurturing connections with friends and family, R.T. Custer and his family embody the essence of a well-rounded life. From an early age, R.T. Custer’s fascination with entrepreneurship has been evident. Raised on a Christmas tree farm in rural Pennsylvania, he was immersed in an environment of ambitious, business-minded individuals, including his parents and grandparents, who cultivated a thriving enterprise. Their example instilled in him the significance of forging a gratifying life while deriving income from one’s passions. Guided by their wisdom and their core belief that “you can do anything you put your mind to,” R.T. Custer embarked on a journey to build his legacy. He proudly boasts an impressive list of accolades, underscoring his contributions, including being recognized as a “40 under 40” honoree by Penn State College of Engineering, a recipient of the $250,000 Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Grant, and a featured personality on the centerfold of Entrepreneur Magazine’s April 2021 issue. Notably, he achieved a significant legal triumph against the world’s largest watch company, establishing national legal precedence through the “Hamilton v Vortic” case. His accomplishments extend to being named among the “30 under 30” in Northern Colorado, emerging as a champion in the Tech Stars Pitch Competition, securing the third spot nationally in the College Works Painting rankings, and garnering the cherished title of “Best Dad” from his young sons, Sawyer (5) and Wesley (3). R.T. Custer’s journey is characterized by unwavering determination and a steadfast commitment to guiding others toward their own legacies of success and fulfillment.Danny Carroll – Founder of Recall Publishing and the Author of Terminal Cancer Is a Misdiagnosis: Discover a Palliative Care Alternative Medicine You Can Survive
My mind has the ability to both cripple meand to give me back my health.
Danny Carroll is the Founder of Recall Publishing and the Author of “Terminal Cancer Is a Misdiagnosis: Discover a Palliative Care Alternative Medicine You Can Survive”. Danny Carroll spent the first half of his life living in London, UK, and completed his education with a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics. He moved to live and work in India in the mid-1990s. Danny has survived cancer of the lung, testicle, jaw, and skin. He has spent the last seventeen years studying alternative healing therapies in search of the Holy Grail of health and wellness. Following a cathartic healing experience in 2012, he has focused on mind-body healing protocols for the last ten years. He discovered a new body of medical knowledge called Germanic Healing Knowledge (GHk), or Germanic New Medicine (GNM), developed by a German medical doctor named Ryke Geerd Hamer. After nearly four decades of cancer research, working directly with over 50,000 patients, Dr. Hamer concluded cancer is a “survival” biological program designed to ensure your survival, not kill you. Danny has spent the last seven years using this medical science to help people with chronic and terminal health conditions to fully recover their health. “Terminal Cancer Is a Misdiagnosis” is Danny’s first book. He plans to write a 500+ series of books examining how Conventional Medicine and Germanic Healing Knowledge approach the cause, symptoms, and solutions to specific diseases. Danny is a pioneer of new medical discoveries and healing protocols that most are unwilling to explore, until they have no other alternative.

August 18, 2023 - 3D Printer Builder Dan Shapiro and Everyone Wants to Work There Maura Nevel Thomas

Dan Shapiro – CEO of Glowforge
We are totally different from traditional 3D printing. Which builds plastic layerby layer. With Glowforge, you put in material and we cut or engrave the materialto produce the final result. Subtractive instead of additive.
Dan Shapiro is the CEO and cofounder of Glowforge, the iconic 3D laser printer. Starting with the biggest 30-day crowdfunding campaign on record, hundreds of thousands of designers have now used their Glowforge printers to create millions of products like wallets, lamps, and furniture. Dan is also the author of Hot Seat: The Startup CEO Guidebook, published by O’Reilly. Before founding Glowforge, Dan launched the bestselling boardgame in Kickstarter history, Robot Turtles, a game that teaches programming fundamentals to preschoolers. Before his detour as a boardgame designer, Dan served as CEO of Google Comparison, Inc, a Google subsidiary. Shapiro landed at Google when they bought his previous company, comparison shopping website Sparkbuy. Before Sparkbuy, Shapiro was founder and CEO of Photobucket Inc. (formerly Ontela). Dan’s been featured on NPR, the Wall Street Journal, and on the front page of the New York Times. His game, Robot Turtles, as been sold everywhere from Target to MoMA. He has been awarded a dozen US patents, and received his B.S. in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College. Dan is no stranger to innovation; he’s worked for a variety of startups, sold a company to Google, previously was the head of Photobucket, and also launched the bestselling board game in Kickstarter history when he crowdfunded Robot Turtles. Starting with the biggest 30-day crowdfunding campaign on record, Dan Shapiro’s Glowforge now powers creations from hundreds of thousands of designers worldwide. He’s been featured on NPR, the Wall Street Journal, and on the front page of the New York Times – now he’d love to share his insights with your audience.Maura Nevel Thomas – Speaker at Vistage Worldwide and the Author of the Book Everyone Wants to Work Here: Attract the Best Talent, Energize Your Team, and Be the Leader in Your Market (Empowered Productivity)
Be intentional. The most underrated challenge facing business professionalsand organizations is the challenge of distraction. We have decided that this isjust the way the world is and we have to figure out how to get by with thisconstant distraction. I reject that.
Maura Nevel Thomas is a Speaker at Vistage Worldwide and the Author of the Book Everyone Wants to Work Here: Attract the Best Talent, Energize Your Team, and Be the Leader in Your Market (Empowered Productivity). Maura Nevel Thomas is an award-winning international speaker, trainer, and author on individual and corporate productivity and work-life balance, and the most widely-cited authority on attention management. She helps driven, motivated knowledge workers control their attention and regain control over the details of their life and work. Maura has trained tens of thousands of individuals at thousands of organizations on her proprietary Empowered Productivity™ System, a process for achieving significant results and living a life of choice. Maura’s clients include the likes of Google, Old Navy, L’Oréal, and NASA, although businesses in the $50mm-$200mm range are a specialty. She is a TEDx speaker, successful entrepreneur, and author of six books on the topics of attention management and personal and organizational productivity. She is a media favorite, featured in hundreds of national business outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, US News and World Report, and the Huffington Post. She also is a regular columnist for both Forbes and the Harvard Business Review. Maura earned an MBA from the University of Massachusetts and has studied the field of productivity all over the world for more than two decades. Maura believes that every person has unique gifts to offer the world, and her purpose is to support them in offering those gifts in a way that is joyful and inspiring. She strives to have an impact that is relevant and unique, presenting new ideas and ways of thinking that are applicable to changing times. Maura believes that her work should have a social impact on the world, so she is very active in her local community of Austin, Texas, where she has held volunteer leadership positions in a variety of different community organizations and charities. This belief also leads Maura to offer quarterly pro-bono presentations to nonprofits, to donate a percentage of all her revenues to charity, and to have volunteered as a Climate Project speaker (personally trained on the subject by former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore and his team of leading climate scientists).

August 17, 2023 - Cheddar Up Nichole Montoya and 10 Lawsuits Barry Cohen

Nichole Montoya – CEO of Cheddar Up 
I am a non-technical founder, so one of the bigger challenges in theearly stages was finding tech talent that was a good fit. We hadsome trial and error. I remember stalking people on LinkedIn tryingto find some engineers that could help me bring this to life.
Nichole Montoya is the CEO of Cheddar Up. Nichole has more than 20 years of experience helping to grow and build businesses. She is the co-founder and CEO of Cheddar Up, the leading software platform that helps groups and organizations easily collect payments and information so they can save time and support and grow their communities. Cheddar Up was founded in 2013 and serves over 100,000 groups and organizations across North America helping them to collect millions of payments each year. Nichole was part of the 500 Startups accelerator in San Francisco and has presented at SXSW Interactive, Women 2.0, and sat on numerous fintech and female entrepreneur panels. Prior to founding Cheddar Up, Nichole served as a marketing strategist for the past eight years, helping firms grow their brands and reinvent themselves. Her most recent clients include KPMG, where she was a consultant on special marketing projects. She was also retained as the head of Marketing for WealthTouch, a global provider of financial data aggregation services, where she led its complete brand overhaul. Nichole also co-founded and operated a high-end children’s apparel company where she helped design the product, managed production, and built distribution in 50 stores. Nichole began her career at Andersen Consulting where she was a member of the company’s founding New Media team and helped rebrand the company from Andersen Consulting to Accenture. Nichole is currently participating in the 500 Startups accelerator in San Francisco and enjoys speaking on women entrepreneurship. Nichole lives in Denver and has two daughters, Sevilla and Julia, husband, Anthony, and standard poodle, TeddyBarry H. Cohen – Owner of AdLab Media and the Co-Author of the Book 10 Ways To Get Sued By Anyone & Everyone
The place not to go is the latest shiny object! Every time a new platformopens online, everyone rushes to it, but it’s not necessarily the right onefor your audience. It’s about narrow casting, laser focused targetingof your audience.
Barry H. Cohen is the Owner of AdLab Media and the Co-Author of the Book 10 Ways To Get Sued By Anyone & Everyone. For over thirty years, Barry has plied his trade in the advertising industry and the broadcast community. For the past twelve years, Barry has served as principal of AdLab. Prior to that, he held positions with New York radio stations WPAT and WOR, and served as General Manager of WKCW, a Virginia radio station. Barry is the author of a widely reviewed advertising guide book for smaller companies, entitled 10 WAYS TO SCREW UP AN AD CAMPAIGN.  He is co-author of the book Startup Smarts.  Barry has also authored guest columns for Floorcovering Weekly, Radio & Records and Performance magazines, as well as Tiempo de Mercadeo. A familiar speaker on advertising, Barry has addressed national and regional organizations, including the Radio Advertising Bureau, Interep, the Concert Industry Consortium, the Mid-Year Radio Symposium, the Natural Products Expo East, the US Small Business Administration, The NJ Innovates Conference, the NJ Florists Association, the Financial Institutions Marketing Association, the Mid-Jersey Business Expo and the Gateway Small Business Expo, in addition to the American Marketing Association and TD Bank. He is the recipient of several creative awards: from the NJ Ad Club, the Dynamic Graphics Foundation, the Association of Graphic Communicators, and the Silver Microphone Awards. Barry H. Cohen is the author of the acclaimed book 10 Ways to Screw Up an Ad Campaign (Simon & Schuster/Adams Media) and co-author of Startup Smarts (Simon & Schuster/Adams Media). He is also the co-author of the novel Comin’Home, and author of the Soul Switchers series of novels. Barry specializes in Strategic Planning and Media Liaison, leveraging his expertise in radio, television, magazines, and public relations. He graduated Cum Laude from Kean University with a B.A. in English/Speech-Theater-Media. Barry’s accomplishments extend beyond his education as he was admitted to the Roundtable Group expert consultancy and actively served on the boards of notable organizations including Kean University Alumni Association, NJ Ad Club, Allgood Entertainment, Network Plus, and Amwell Security. His impressive profile includes features and profiles in prominent publications such as NJ Business, NJ Biz, Entrepreneur, StartupJournal.com, AdLaw.com, Whole Foods, Pollstar, Radio Ink, Radio Business Report, Radio & Records, “The (Bergen) Record,” and “The Miami Herald.”

August 16, 2023 - Web.com Ken Gavranovic and School.Joy Ian Zhu

Ken Gavranovic – CEO of Blameless and the Co-Author of Business Breakthrough 3.0: Building a Truly Dynamic and Resilient Organization that Fuels Engagement, Boosts agility and Drives Lasting Change
My goal is to be the best me; to bring out what my capabilities are and tomaximize them. Oftentimes, we don’t live up to our potential because we donot challenge ourselves. I am going to push my employees and it’s not to bedifficult, it’s to challenge them to go as far as they can, so they canunderstand what their full potential is.
Ken Gavranovic is the CEO of Blameless and the Co-Author of Business Breakthrough 3.0: Building a Truly Dynamic and Resilient Organization that Fuels Engagement, Boosts agility and Drives Lasting Change. While still in his 20s, Ken started Interland, now web.com, growing the company to $200M and leading its IPO. Since then, he has been responsible for hyper-growth at unicorn businesses, gaining experience across multiple industry verticals and leadership positions. At New Relic, he helped grow revenues to $500M. At Cox Automotive, he oversaw a $5B+ portfolio of brands, including AutoTrader and Kelly Blue Book. Recently he has been responsible for several IPO and private equity exits that generated up to ninety times ROI. These experiences have equipped him to guide businesses to scale in growth, transformation, and results. Ken’s work has been recognized for organizational effectiveness across multiple verticals and technologies in Fortune 500 companies, startups, and turnaround situations. He has a reputation for quick thinking, an entrepreneurial mindset, and rapid execution.Ian Zhu – Co_Founder & CEO of SchoolJoy
I want to be an entrepreneur because that’s the only path I can take to gofor the life I want, but also to have the impact I want to make.
Ian Zhu is the co-founder and CEO of SchoolJoy, an AI-powered education management platform. His professional journey began in consulting and later transitioned to the tech industry. As Ian continued in his career, he expanded his involvement in the education sector as a volunteer and strategic advisor, recognizing the opportunities to improve how data is managed for administrators, teachers, and students. This, paired with his own journey as a student, inspired Ian to co-found SchoolJoy. The platform supports schools by reducing busy work while improving student outcomes and bringing much-needed relief to teachers and administrators across the country.

August 14, 2023 - AI Negotiations Raja Singh and $370 Million in RE Assets Dan Brisse and NLP Meets AI Joe Meyer

Raja Singh – Founder & CEO of Revolear
We are building Revolear to help the salesperson do the work, not just track the work.
Raja Singh is the Founder & CEO of Revolear. Raja Singh has designed CRM products for nearly 25 years, beginning as the head of the financial services product line at CRM pioneer Siebel Systems, and later as the senior vice president of products at Vlocity, which was acquired by Salesforce for $1.5 billion. He left his role as a senior vice president and general manager at Salesforce to found his latest venture Revolear, seeing new opportunities to leverage AI in B2B selling. As business solutions become increasingly complex and multi-functional, the number of approvers in B2B decision-making has grown. Buyers and sellers alike are challenged to align the stakeholders around a solution, often resulting in indecision and lost opportunities. Raja recognized the need to empower deal teams with new ways to optimize, communicate and collaborate, and ultimately bring more deals to closure.Dan Brisse – Co-Founder at Granite Towers Equity Group 
There is an opportunity right now in multi-family housing. If you can be a buyer in this market, you have the opportunity to get property at a 10 to 20% discount from where it was in October 2021.
Dan Brisse is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Granite Towers Equity Group and oversees operations, acquisitions, investor relations, and asset management. Dan is a resident of Southern WA. Granite Towers Equity Group, a multifamily private equity firm with over 2500 doors valued at about $370M. Dan is also the co-author of the book, “4 Steps To Successful Passive Investing,” and co-host of the podcast the “Keeping It Real Estate” show. Before building a multi-family portfolio, Dan was a professional snowboarder of 15 years, winning two gold medals and two silver medals at the X Games, and was voted “Number 3 Rider In The World” by Snowboarder Magazine in 2012. As Dan’s career as a professional athlete began to transition, he saw firsthand the challenges of athletes’ careers coming to an end. This led Dan to focus on building passive income, allowing him to retire from his professional snowboarding career successfully. Dan now focuses all of his efforts on buying large multifamily assets and helping others build passive income.Joe Meyer – Senior Natural Language Processing Researcher and Engineer at Erudit
We are using AI to automatically analyze organizational culture andprovide insight to the managers and leaders and even employees.
Joe Meyer is the Senior Natural Language Processing Researcher and Engineer at Erudit, focusing on data science and natural language processing. Previously, he was a Research Scientist at Meta. There, he performed internal research and focused on supervised and unsupervised natural language processing. Additionally, he worked in research and development for Modern Hire, a company that works with around 50 of the Fortune 100 and several Fortune 10 companies. Joe also has experience in organizational consulting and teaching applied statistical methods and psychology. Joe has his Bachelor’s in Psychology, Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and is currently finishing his dissertation on Natural Language Processing in the same. Joe also teaches NLP at University of California, Santa Cruz and was on first place team in the society for industrial organizational psychology machine learning competition. Joe Meyer completed his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Allegheny College from 2013 to 2017. Following this, he pursued further education at Louisiana Tech University from 2018 to 2023, obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

August 11, 2023 - Accountability Rahul Sharma and 10 Ways to Get Sued Mitchell C Beinhaker

Rahul Sharma – Vice President – Learning & Development of Collabera and the Author of “Habits 4 MIRACLES: Design Your Life Your Way” 
Who are the people you are talking to on a regular basis? Are they injecting positivity in you or are they extracting positivity from you? Talk to people that will make you believe in your own strengths.
Transformational Speaker, Author, and Leadership Coach with over 20 years of experience in Corporate America. With a passion for inspiring others, he empowers individuals and teams to strive for excellence and achieve high-performance results. As a specialist in leadership and mindset coaching, he engages audiences by helping them understand that leadership and mindset are two interconnected aspects that play a crucial role in achieving success and making a positive impact. Leadership is not merely about holding a position of authority; it’s about guiding and inspiring others toward a shared vision. Effective leaders understand the importance of cultivating the right mindset within themselves and their teams. Rahul is well-versed in a range of topics that are crucial for personal and professional development. As a busy entrepreneur, he can deliver insights on “Developing Habits of Happiness,” shedding light on how individuals can cultivate a sense of contentment amidst their busy schedules. His expertise extends to the realm of leadership, where he can elaborate on “The Power of Positive Leadership,” delving into how a positive mindset can profoundly influence effective leadership, fostering motivation and collaboration. Rahul’s knowledge also encompasses “Growth Mindset in Leadership,” where he can elucidate how embracing a growth-oriented perspective can not only enhance leadership skills but also drive personal and professional advancement. Additionally, he is equipped to speak about “Ethical Leadership,” offering a comprehensive exploration of ethical decision-making and integrity’s pivotal role in leadership positions. Lastly, Rahul can provide valuable insights into “Leading through Change,” equipping his audience with strategies to navigate uncertainty and guide others adeptly during times of change, highlighting his well-rounded understanding of leadership dynamics.Mitchell C. Beinhaker – Business Law Attorney, Advisor to Family-Owned Businesses, Entrepreneurs & Start-Ups, Estate & Business Planning, Host of The Accidental Entrepreneur Podcast and Author of “10 Ways To Get Sued By Anyone & Everyone“
Let’s say you meet someone through Upwork and they are in the US, and now they are really working for you full time, they should be converted to a W2.
Mitchell C. Beinhaker, Esq. is a business lawyer and estates attorney who runs a solo legal & consulting practice representing business owners, entrepreneurs, executives and professionals. Through his 29+ years of experience, Mitchell has handled business development, marketing, firm management, along with business transactional work for clients of the firm. He has extensive experience with corporate governance, commercial transactions, real estate and risk analysis. Using his years of practical experience, he drafts contracts, negotiates purchases and can manage outside counsel for any corporate situation. For business owners and executives, he creates and implements estate plans, along with succession plans to help companies continue for future generations.

August 9, 2023 - Patriot Award Winner & Watch Entrepreneur Ilan Srulovicz and The Chateau Jaclyn Goldis

Ilan Srulovicz – The Walking Dead Actor, CEO & Founder for Egard Watch Company
Before people were using Indiegogo as pre-selling platform, I saw thatit was a great platform to pre-sell my watches. The nice thing is youget market feedback right away.
Ilan Srulovicz is the CEO, designer & Founder of Egard Watch Company since 2012. The watch brand has been worn by celebrities and public figures, such as millionaire businessman and “Shark” Robert Herjavec, and actors Anthony Anderson and Jeff Daniels. Ilan is also an American actor featured on the hit TV series “The Walking Dead,” with recurring roles as Marvel’s Loki, in The Big Short, Deepwater Horizon and more. He is an award-winning director and documentarian having interviewed speakers, musicians, and actors such as Jordan Peterson, Alex Jones, Tom McDonald, Dee Snyder, Jimmy Dore, Anomaly, and more. He is a multiple-time expert guest speaker and interviewee on numerous news stations including Fox News, Fox & Friends, Fox Business OANN, Just News, Daily Wire, Western Journal, and Epoch Times. Ilan has been interviewed by hosts such as Sebastian Gorka, Rudy Giuliani, Tucker Carlson, and more.Jaclyn Goldis – The  Author of “The Chateau: A Novel“
I love writing. I love doing this. I’m going to do it forever and if I have to go back and get another job I will, but I am never giving up. After saying that I got my first agent two weeks later.
Jaclyn Goldis holds a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a JD from NYU School of Law. Having spent seven years practicing estate planning law at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, she eventually departed from her legal career to embark on a global travel journey and nurture her passion for writing novels. Whittling down her possessions to essentials that could fit within a backpack, she roamed various corners of the world for over a year, ultimately establishing herself in a tranquil coastal vicinity. Her usual haunts include seaside cafés where she dedicates herself to the craft of writing. In 2021, her debut literary creation, titled “WHEN WE WERE YOUNG,” graced the shelves as a work of historical women’s fiction, published by Hachette/Grand Central. Building on this accomplishment, Jaclyn’s next literary venture, “THE CHATEAU,” an enthralling mystery/thriller, is poised to make its entrance into the literary scene under the banner of Simon & Schuster/Atria/Emily Bestler Books on May 23, 2023. Steering her career, Jaclyn Goldis is under the professional guidance of Rachel Ekstrom Courage from Courage Literary Management, who represents her literary endeavors.

August 7, 2023 - 20 Companies Started and Sold Jay D. Rodgers and Power Mood Sam DeMase

Jay D. Rodgers – Founder of Biz Owners Ed and the Author of “The Bet: An Entrepreneur’s All-In Strategy to Win in Business“
One of the 20 companies that I’ve started had $60 revenue in the first month with one customer. Today, that company is the world’s largest ignition interlock company. It has 1,800,000 customers in 18 countries, worth over $1 billion.
Jay D. Rodgers has seen and done it all: from gritty start-ups to worldwide businesses that generate millions in revenue. He’s founded and sold numerous ventures including Smart Start—now the world’s largest breath-alcAfter graduating in 1960 from the University of Iowa, Jay spent eight years with Eastman Kodak before venturing out on his own. In 1993, he completed the three-year Owner/President Management (OPM) Program at Harvard. He has served as a guest lecturer at SMU on “Managing the Entrepreneurial Business” and taught the “Starting Your Own Business” course at the University of North Texas. Jay gives back a great deal of his time to mentoring committed entrepreneurs with the program he developed with his wife and a few friends, Biz Owners Ed. Biz Owners Ed is a non-profit, tax-exempt (under Section 501(c)(3)) entrepreneurial program and community for business owners seeking a burst of knowledge, advice and tools to take the next exponential leap forward in their businesses. This program provides entrepreneurs with priceless, high-level guidance and assistance from experienced and proven business mentors. Biz Owners Ed also offers an effective platform to form long-lasting business relationships with your fellow entrepreneurs, mentors and other key industry leaders.In The Bet: An Entrepreneur’s All-In Strategy to Win in Business (Brown Books Publishing Group; on sale: June 27, 2023) Rodgers shares his tricks of the trade that will help both new and seasoned entrepreneurs achieve their best results. Often referred to as “the entrepreneur’s mentor,” Jay D. Rodgers cofounded Biz Owner’s Ed, a nonprofit organization with the mission of helping to perpetuate and expand this country’s entrepreneurs. Rodgers intends for The Bet to help mentor readers and show how to successfully deal with the challenges of entrepreneurship faced across the country today. The Bet includes topical highlights, such as: • You can’t create a market. You must identify and serve unserved and underserved markets. • Knowing when it’s more profitable to change the players than to change the game. • Defining your markets on the front end so you don’t lose money trying to be all things to all people. • Choosing when to follow the facts, and when to follow your gut feelings. In most transactions, you are relying primarily on people; you don’t always need all the facts or eyes on the investment to make the right decisions. • Maintaining the mentality that, as an entrepreneur, you will always find a way. It’s inevitable that you’ll eventually be the only one who believes in a decision you’ve got to make. Go aginst the grain. Take risks. Bet on yourself.Sam DeMase – Founder & Ceo of Power Mood and the Author of “Power Mood: Unlock Your Confidence, Transform Your Life & Command Your Value“
The cornerstone of my book is that negotiation is a collaboration, not a confrontation.
Sam DeMase is an internationally recognized Career Coach, Self-Advocacy Expert, author, and speaker with a community of 600,000+ followers on social media (@apowermood). She specializes in teaching women (and everybody!) how to navigate and hack the corporate system, cultivate their careers, and command their value. Her best-selling digital career tools have been purchased in 30+ countries worldwide. Her expertise has been featured in print (The Washington Post, Fortune, NBC, Business Insider & more), on podcasts, and speaking engagements at companies and universities globally. She has 13+ years of professional experience in People Operations and holds a BA in Business from NYU. Sam has built global training teams for multi-million-dollar corporations, created world-class training programs from the ground up, coached and developed dozens of inspiring leaders, interviewed hundreds of candidates, and advocated her way up the corporate ladder. She faced many challenges in her career and learned to advocate for herself every step of the way. She is proud to teach other women how to do the same.

August 4, 2023 - Radio Station Owner Dennis Klautzer and Growing Overseas Larry Harding

Dennis Klautzer – Co-Owner of Viper Communications
Running a radio station, we don’t have to buy anything to resell itlike a restaurant. Our only expenses are our electric bill and personnel.And you want to invest heavily in personnel because they create your product.
Dennis Klautzer is the co-owner of 6 radio stations in the Lake Ozark region of Central Missouri. These stations offer a diverse range of formats, including talk, country, soft rock, and classic rock. Prior to station ownership, Dennis had an impressive career with CBS/KMOX, where he dedicated 21 years of service to corporate radio. Under Dennis’s leadership, his radio stations have achieved remarkable success in the local market. Specifically, the stations have secured the top two spots in the highly competitive 3-county area, encompassing Miller, Camden, and Pulaski counties. When the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting the industry, Dennis and his team demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Despite the challenges, they managed to keep their stations on the air with minimal disruption. This required implementing innovative solutions, such as enabling many of their contributors and guests on the talk station to broadcast from home. Throughout his career and as a station owner, Dennis Klautzer has proven himself to be a dedicated and forward-thinking individual, ensuring the continued success of his radio stations and maintaining their importance in the local community.Larry Harding – Founder and CEO of HSP Group
Around the world, culture issues are less important. Even though culturaldifferences are huge, there is such a westernization that exists even inmarkets like India and China.
Larry Harding, Founder & CEO of HSP Group, has been a pioneer in the global expansion software and services space for more than 20 years. Larry developed a keen sense of the challenges inherent in overseas expansion and saw the need of better solutions. In 2003 he founded High Street Partners, one of the first providers offering solutions for HQ based Finance, Accounting, Tax, HR, Payroll, and Compliance personnel, helping them manage a global footprint. A high-profile success, the business was sold in a PE-backed merger transaction to create what is now Vistra. Itching to return to his entrepreneurial roots, Larry and a group of his current and former colleagues launched HSP Group. For over 20 years, Larry Harding’s customer-oriented vision for the global expansion solutions market has helped drive the industry forward. This is because, unlike most of his peers at the legacy providers in the market today, he has himself been a customer desperately in need of the right kind and full breadth of technology and services needed to manage a global footprint. After graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Larry began his career on the audit staff of EY’s Boston office, and later provided due diligence assistance to leading Venture Capital, Private Equity and Corporate investors who were clients of EY, as an M&A Consultant. This led to a series of CFO positions with VC-backed hardware technology companies in the Boston area. One of these was acquired by Ciena, a leading provider of optical networking equipment, whose customer list included most of the larger telecommunications carriers around the world. As Ciena’s VP of International Finance, Larry led the Finance, HR and Legal initiatives related to their expansion into 30 different countries outside the US. During this time, Larry gained significant expertise in the best ways to handle the global expansion requirements driven by the opening of these offices in overseas locations. Armed with this expertise and a customer-oriented vision for how to deliver these solutions more effectively, Larry founded High Street Partners in 2003. This venture became an entrepreneurial success, culminating in a successful sale of the business in 2014, transacted as part of a private equity-backed merger with a competitor firm that is now a part of Vistra. Larry next joined Amsterdam-based TMF Group, the largest provider in the global expansion services market. Initially focused on launching their consulting and advisory business, he later served as Head of TMF’s North America region. Now, with the launch of HSP Group, Larry and the founding team are focused on building the next great provider of tech-enabled global expansion software and services.