15 Minutes Share Your Voice

For the past 12 years, Kevin Kita has led and advised clients through all aspects of litigation as a Shareholder and Partner at Sutter O'Connell Co. He has represented corporate and individual clients in matters involving insurance bad faith, breach of warranty, and product liability. In addition to growing his practice, Kevin is an adjunct professor at the University of Akron School of Law and supervises the mock trial competition program. Through his coaching and supervision, the program achieved six regional championships, two national championships, and three consecutive national runner-up finishes.

Kevin was selected as the Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2014-2021. Since 2016 he has authored multiple chapters of the New Appleman Ohio Insurance Litigation Guide.

Before entering a courtroom, you've prepared your argument for the jury. How can you stay true to your strategy and engineer great results? What can you do to manage your nerves?

While the feeling of intimidation may never go away completely, Kevin Kita refocuses his efforts on what he can control: advancing his client's case. To prepare the next generation of lawyers, mock trial cases can help attorneys handle the unexpected challenges they endure in court. Kevin has experience with mock trials settling nerves and creating confidence in the courtroom. There can be a steep learning curve to practicing law, but with practice, you are better prepared.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Chad Franzen sits down with Kevin Kita, Shareholder and Partner at Sutter O'Connell Co., to talk about preparing for opportunities. Kevin discusses practicing open communication, leadership as a tool for growth, and preparing future attorneys with mock trials.

In today's podcast, I sat down with Scott Empringham, CEO and Owner of Empringham Media. We talked about what an entrepreneur should know about embracing A.I. technology and how to explode their business in 90 days or less with his 8-step social media framework.

Much has changed in the marketing world over the past 20 years, and Scott has seen it all, including almost losing everything a couple of years ago when two of his largest clients went out of business.

He picked up the pieces quickly and started over using his own 8-step framework, and now he is busier than ever teaching his clients how to win using digital marketing.

"It was a horrible thing I went through, but the best thing I went through to help small businesses and rebuild my own business," he said. "I shifted my focus from big car companies to working with small businesses."

He explains the process he takes businesses through to build and maintain their marketing strategy.

The first question that needs to be asked is, "who is my ideal customer, and what problems can I solve for them?"

He also discusses how to use AI intelligently and shares his favorite success story, which involves a mom-and-pop restaurant that adapted and thrived during the pandemic.

Scott is a recognized digital marketing and social media expert with 20+ years of expertise helping over 1,000 entrepreneurs, small businesses, and Fortune 50 companies (Ford, HomeDepot, etc.).

His services include providing step-by-step growth strategies via an on-demand social media course, VIP mastermind coaching for CEOs and marketers, and full-service agency support.

Scott's committed to helping small businesses and offers a complimentary monthly workshop to help businesses answer three key questions: "Where do I start?", "What do I say?", "How do I get it all done in less time and less money?"

Recorded 01/24/2023.

Areg Sarkissian is the Owner and Managing Attorney of Sarkissian Law Group, where his passion and dedication go above and beyond for his clients to provide excellent legal representation and peace of mind. Throughout his legal career, Areg has handled hundreds of real estate cases, civil litigation matters, and business transactional cases. He's licensed in California, Nevada, and Hawaii.

From the University of California, Berkeley, Areg graduated with a degree in middle eastern and political science, and from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School he received his JD. He is also a licensed California Real Estate Broker and a published author of The Jerusalem of Transformation: Popular Understandings about and Attitudes toward the Armenian Quarter.

These days it seems like law firms are missing the connection between attorneys, staff, and clients. What can your law office do to combat widening gaps in communication? How can you attract new customers to build your business?

A law firm can thrive with the right team. Areg Sarkissian takes pride in the team he has created — a team that works together for a common goal. By creating an environment of mutual trust in your team, you're building a reputation with clients. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool, and Areg credits this method to his success.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Chad Franzen sits down with Areg Sarkissian, Founder and Managing Attorney at Sarkissian Law Group, to discuss creating good relationships within your firm. Areg talks about conducting cooperation and teamwork, a powerful marketing technique, and how a different perspective can be a learning experience.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Seth Barnes, Co-Founder and CMO of Raddish, on building a business with your spouse - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Seth is the Co-Founder and CMO of Raddish, a cooking club for kids! Each month tens of thousands of kids learn to cook with Raddish's thematic kits, activities, and tools discovering that the kitchen is the tastiest place to learn. In his role, he oversees marketing, product, technology, and customer service. Before Raddish Seth held senior marketing roles at Savings.com, Edmunds.com and United Online. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Raddish Founder Samantha Barnes and their two children.

Recorded 01/25/2023.

James Grant is the Co-founding Partner at Georgia Trial Attorneys, where they help personal injury lawyers make more money with less stress through litigation. He is an experienced personal injury attorney and has worked for The Law Office of Angela M. Kinley, was a Senior Associate Attorney for Atlanta Trial Lawyers Group at Jaffe Law Center, LLC, and worked as the Assistant Solicitor-General with the Gwinnett County Solicitor-General's Office and the Municipal Court of Suwanee.

James graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a BS in civil engineering and from Faulkner University with his JD in Law. He is active in his local community and has appeared on several law-centered podcasts.

When the process for litigation can be challenging, how can you grow your firm faster and with confidence? How can you bring personal and professional development to your firm?

By putting a training regimen in place, you are laying the foundation of a sturdy firm. James Grant knows the efficiency of hiring a business coach to align your employees with long-term goals for success. But success doesn't come from just training. James recommends building a business plan and continuously networking and interacting with mentors and people you know. This builds trust and strengthens your network for growth.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Chad Franzen of Rise25 sits down with James Grant, Co-founding Partner at Georgia Trial Attorneys, to discuss developing a career in litigation and networking with attorneys. James talks about their litigation model to handle the marketing system, reaching goals through a business coach, and what you should focus on to build a successful law firm.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Josh Linkner, Author & Speaker, to discuss how the pandemic grounded him as a speaker - but did it change his life forever?

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's an internationally recognized expert on innovation and is the author of four books on the subject including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming, and The Road to Reinvention.

Josh is passionate about starting and building companies. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm - and was previously the CEO and founding partner of Detroit Venture Partners. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is a recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession for greasy pizza.

Recorded 01/20/2023.

Michael Rutkowski is the Owner of TrustFunding.com and the Rutkowski Law Firm, which focuses on asset protection, estate planning, business succession planning, and elder law. He combines his passion for helping people with his law degree to deliver tailored estate planning and business coaching.

After graduating from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School with his JD, Michael was an Attorney for EvansPletkovic, P.C. before establishing his practice. He has been a featured speaker throughout Metro Detroit at numerous events, from corporate engagements to university forums.

Life can be overwhelming, especially when you're unfamiliar with estate planning. How can you help your clients better prepare for their future? What steps can you take to help your clients reach the finish line?

Michael Rutkowski knew what to do to provide peace of mind for his clients: build relationships. Estate planning doesn't need to be stressful, and when clients are educated to make the best decisions, they're satisfied. By taking a unique and personal approach to his firm, Michael gives his clients what they need without them having to leave the comfort of their couch!

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Chad Franzen sits down with Michael Rutkowski, Owner of TrustFunding.com and Rutkowski Law Firm, to discuss shattering the stereotypes surrounding estate planning. Michael talks about combining your passion with creating a business, why core values matter, and pivoting your business model for growth.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Stephan Aarstol, Founder of Tower Paddle Boards, on if he had to do it all over again, would he have gone on Shark Tank?

With over two decades of Internet experience at the executive level, Stephan is an Internet industry veteran. He has founded a number of ventures including the No Middleman Project, Tower Electric Bikes, Tower Paddle Boards, the Tower Beach Club, Sidepot Gaming, and more.

Founded in 2010 and funded by billionaire Mark Cuban, Tower Paddle Boards is one of the biggest success stories in Shark Tank history. With only $100K in lifetime sales at the time of the 2011 pitch, Cuban invested just $150K, and since then Tower has done well over $40M in sales. In 2014 with a staff of just 5 people and revenues of $5M, Tower was named the #1 fastest growing private company in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal. A year later Tower was #239 on the INC 500 list of America's fastest growing companies. Tower was the #1 brand out of over 2 million 3rd party sellers signed up for the pilot Amazon Exclusives program, and he and his company were mentioned by name in Jeff Bezos' 2015 annual letter to stockholders. Tower was named to Internet Retailer's 2016 "Hot 100" list of the world's most innovative e-retailers.

Stephan holds an MBA in New Venture Management from the University of San Diego. He is a widely published entrepreneurial thought leader and he speaks regularly at Harvard Business School on the recently published HBS case study, "Selling on Amazon at Tower Paddle Boards".

In 2015, to challenge long held delusions about unhealthy start-up work culture, Stephan moved his whole company to a 5-hour workday and would later write a book titled "The Five Hour Workday" about the experience, which would spread the idea to tens of millions of people worldwide, and get press in over 20 countries (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and more). He was subsequently hailed, "The World's Best Boss" by Hamburg Germany's #2 newspaper, MorgenPost, and "America's Best Boss" by the UK's Daily Mail.

Recorded 01/18/2023.

Eido Walny is the Founder, Managing Partner, and Estate Planning Attorney of Walny Legal Group. He is a nationally noted speaker, writer, and lawyer. Eido is named one of the best lawyers in America by US News and World Report and a "Forty Under 40" honoree by the Milwaukee Business Journal. Milwaukee Magazine recognizes him as a Wisconsin Rising Star and has named him a Five Star: Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager since 2009. He was awarded the international TEP designation from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Eido serves on the national Board of Directors of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, is a member of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the New York State Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association, as well as a member of the Milwaukee Bar Association and past president in the Milwaukee Estate Planning Forum.

What should you be doing every day to strengthen and scale your firm? How can you place yourself in a position to succeed?

If you ask Eido Walny, marketing is the answer. To avoid the cyclical nature of business highs and lows, you should engage with your audience every day through marketing — whether by email, social media, articles, or speaking at events. Eido began his firm with the understanding that you need to work diligently to achieve desirable outcomes, which is why he spends time each day marketing his firm. If you want to turn your firm into something exceptional, you do not want to miss this episode.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, join Chad Franzen as he sits down with Eido Walny, Founder, Managing Partner, and Estate Planning Attorney at Walny Legal Group, to discuss marketing as a necessity. Eido talks about steps to building a business, finding people that will hold you accountable, and avoiding mistakes that slow your growth.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Josh Nickell, VP of the American Rental Association (ARA), on the biggest challenges ahead for businesses in the equipment rental industry.

Josh is a rental industry specialist focused on helping businesses get more out of less. Businesses, like rental, face new challenges and increased complexity and have the potential to reshape our economy.

Josh grew up in the rental industry as a 3rd generation rental entrepreneur. Over the last 20+ years, Josh has had the opportunity to run one of the fastest-growing rental companies in the country (4x Inc. Magazine — Inc. 5000 winner). In addition, he's spent time at a national rental company, consulted with local rental companies, served as a board advisor for startups and rental marketplaces, and worked in rental-specific software for companies worldwide.

Recorded 01/17/2023.