15 Minutes Share Your Voice

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Patrick Donohue, founder of Hill Capital Corporation, about his book, Breakout Valuation, and his key lessons for entrepreneurs.

Patrick is an entrepreneur and valuation expert who got his start with a lemonade stand at age four and bought shares of Coca-Cola at age ten. As an investor, stock analyst, and advisor to numerous entrepreneurial ventures, he offers unique insights into the dynamics of money and business.

The founder of Hill Capital Corporation, a private investment fund that finances and supports emerging growth companies, Patrick holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, has served on the boards of Entrepreneurs' Organization of Minnesota and the CFA Society of Minnesota and founded 1 Million Cups Eden Prairie.

Recorded 12/07/2022.

Antonia Hays is a Partner at Hays Firm LLC, a firm that works with both individuals and businesses to solve problems related to the operation of small businesses, estate planning, asset protection, and the distribution and management of assets upon an individual's death. She is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and is admitted to practice in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Antonia received her BA from Loyola University Chicago and her JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and was named a "2011 Illinois Rising Star" by Super Lawyers magazine in the field of business litigation.

Are you seeking to showcase your values as a firm but you're not sure how? For Antonia Hays, growing her firm was about building her brand. By having conversations with clients, you can establish an authentic voice and gain momentum to grow. But what happens when mistakes are made?

Addressing mistakes and pitfalls quickly and efficiently can save you from a colossal headache. Antonia recommends an open line of communication. This can help you strategize and pivot for what comes next. By not sweating the small stuff, you can focus your attention on implementing software to keep the productivity of your firm moving strong and be prolific in other areas.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Michael Renfro sits down with Antonia Hays, Partner at Hays Firm LLC, to discuss how to compromise and foster growth. Antonia talks about the benefits of a remote workplace, marketing your brand to enhance your voice, and why it's better to let the small stuff go.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Eric Rozenberg, acquisition entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and two times Amazon bestselling author, on how he's thinking about his search to acquire his next company and how he is going to finance it.

Eric Rozenberg has helped thousands of entrepreneurs grow and manage their business better. His purpose is to inspire people with integrity and honesty, help them take action, get results, and develop their business and their Life.

For two decades in his previous life, Eric has consulted with Fortune 500 companies and produced award-winning sales meetings, incentive trips, product launches, and conferences in more than 50 countries across diverse industries. He believes organizations must create meetings and events that are not only breathtakingly memorable but which bring corporate strategies to life and amplify team motivation/performance.

His podcast "The Business of Meetings" is the first podcast in the Meetings & Events Industry dedicated to business owners. Every Tuesday, listeners learn something new they can apply in their business and/or get inspired by amazing guests.

His first book, Meeting at C-Level, is the first book on the « Why ? » of a meeting. It has been endorsed by 20 of the most influential leaders from the corporate and association worlds and helps professionals to position themselves as strategic partner.

His second book, Before It's Too Late, A Love Letter to my Daughters and America, is a story of grit, perseverance, and courage. It describes why and how he and his wife brought their daughters to America and why it is the greatest country on Earth.

Eric is a current member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and The Strategic Forum. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Demoucelle Parkinson Foundation in Belgium and was the first European to serve as Chairman of the International Board of Meetings Professional International (MPI), the largest professional association in the Meetings and Events Industry.

Recorded 12/08/2022.

DeAnn Chase is the Founder and Principal of Chase Law Group, where, for the past 15 years, she has taken a holistic approach to provide legal structures, personal liability protection, and tax benefits for business owners as well as manageable and efficient structure for day-to-day operations. Prior to founding Chase Law, DeAnn worked for the Law Offices of Kirk J. Retz, was an Associate for Ford, Walker, Haggerty and Behar, and was an Associate for Harrington, Foxx, Dubrow and Canter.

Are you marketing to the right clients for your firm? What actionable steps can you take to break away from the traditional firm structure and discover what works best for you?

DeAnn Chase knows that it's better to do what works for you and your process. By doing so, you can gain more traction with clients and show that you care about your people and community. You still need to set clear expectations, but stepping out of the traditional law firm model can give you more control of your time. DeAnn learned how to market her time and law firm to bring the most value to her clients. To hear more, listen to this episode!

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Michael Renfro is joined by DeAnn Chase, Founder and Principal of Chase Law Group, to discuss how to understand yourself and your audience for a cohesive relationship. DeAnn talks about removing an hourly rate to establish a better client relationship, controlling expectations as a business owner, and why you should delegate your tasks.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jenny Feterovich, Executive Producer at Arcadius Productions Inc. about her favorite stories and lessons learned from her TV Show, Start Up.

Partners Gary Bredow and Jenny Feterovich are responsible for producing the critically acclaimed and Emmy nominated PBS series "Start Up" and "A Craftsman's Legacy", internationally distributed documentaries "High Tech Soul", "Urban Roots", and "Bridging the Gap" as well as branded content for major corporations including American Express, Chrysler, The UPS Store, State Farm, Coca-Cola, Ford, and Microsoft.

Arcadius is responsible for over 1500 hours of national television programming. As the Executive Producers of the PBS series "Start UP," going into its 5th season in the fall of 2017, they show extraordinary people that have followed their dream of creating a small business. As one of the top 4 business shows on TV, they have helped paved the way for other popular business focused programs.

Arcadius is dedicated to telling real stories and giving viewers the unique opportunity to see life through the experiences of our characters.

Recorded 11/21/2022.

Michael Elkins is a 20-year nationally quoted labor, employment, and sports law attorney. He is the Founder of MLE Law, a full-service labor, employment, and business law firm that focuses on assisting clients with day-to-day operations. Michael is the creator and host of the Quarter Four Podcast, where he covers the intersection between business and sports by providing listeners an inside look into the psychology of what makes people successful on and off the field.

Before founding MLE Law, Michael was the Equity Shareholder and Co-chair of the Litigation Practice Group for Bryant Miller Olive P.A., an Attorney and Shareholder for Fowler White Burnett, P.A., and the Founder and Partner for Corcoran & Elkins, LLP. He has been featured on CNN and in Forbes, Newsweek, The New York Daily News, Bloomberg, and The Miami Herald, and has provided extensive commentary regarding vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When facing adversity, what can you do to become mentally resilient? How can you bring high-level value to your clients on legal issues in the public eye?

Michael Elkins knows that nobody is perfect, but embracing those imperfections is where real growth happens. By understanding and using your weaknesses to fuel your strengths, you can more easily maneuver obstacles and make decisions that best fit your company. Michael has taken to social media to help other attorneys and corporations, large and small, to explore and comment on issues publicly to bring value to their clients.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Michael Renfro sits down with Michael Elkins, Founder of MLE Law, to discuss relabeling your weaknesses as strengths. Michael talks about what prompted his interest in becoming an attorney, how to look for positives amid negativity, and how social media can help build your brand.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jeff Berkowitz, founder and CEO of Delve, on assessing political and reputational risks — and what those can do to businesses that don't take them seriously.

Jeff is the founder and CEO of Delve, Washington's preeminent competitive intelligence and risk advisory firm. Delve helps heavily regulated and highly scrutinized sectors − including energy and utilities, life sciences, financial services, and beyond − anticipate and mitigate public affairs challenges.

Founded in 2015, Delve specializes in helping companies, industry groups, and advocacy coalitions stay ahead of the curve on the political and reputational risks and opportunities at the intersection of policy and business. Today, the firm provides high-stakes counsel and insights to C-suite executives, public affairs professionals, and their teams across a range of sectors.

Recognized by POLITICO as an "opposition research and policy ace" and "one of the best-known policy and opposition researchers in D.C." by The Daily Beast, Jeff previously served as the Research Director of the Republican National Committee (RNC), where he served three tours under four chairmen across five election cycles. At the RNC, Jeff helped to craft the GOP response to current events and long-term initiatives, ranging from Supreme Court nominations to Obamacare to the Dodd-Frank financial regulations.

Jeff also served on staff or advised on five major presidential campaigns and has shepherded research and messaging operations at The White House, the U.S. Department of State, and several prominent private sector and non-profit organizations.

As a member of the Forbes Business Council and a leader in the Entrepreneurs' Organization, Jeff provides both commentary and guidance to businesses and industries of all sizes. He also sits on the board of the America's Future Foundation, a nationwide network fostering the next generation of liberty-minded leaders.

Recorded 11/18/2022.

Li-Chung Daniel (Dan) Ho is a Partner at Resolute Legal PLLC. Dan devotes his practice to technology law, with an emphasis on patent and trademark prosecution, patent and trademark litigation, technology licenses, and service agreements. With 23 years of legal experience, he is knowledgeable in all aspects of patent and trademark litigation in federal court and arbitration settings.

Before joining Resolute, Dan's experience includes working as an in-house attorney at two large global companies, as the intellectual property lead of five operating groups, as an attorney at an international general practice law firm and several intellectual property boutique law firms, and has also served as an arbitrator on several arbitrations. Before his law career, he was a Product Planning Analyst and Product Engineer at Ford Motor Company.

The most accomplished leaders are focused on building lasting relationships. Dan Ho's background from engineer to lawyer helped him bring value and innovations from various environments as he navigated the world of litigation and patents. How did he do it, and what steps can you take to find the same success?

Before getting into patent and trademark prosecution, Dan Ho began his career as an engineer for a major motor company. Bringing his knowledge of designing and patenting vehicle parts, Dan entered a career in litigation and trademark preparations. Now, Dan is here to share strategies for how he became a successful attorney.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Michael Renfro sits down with Dan Ho, Partner at Resolute Legal PLLC, to discuss developing leadership skills in patent and trademark prosecution. Dan talks about healthy habits for juggling work and life, writing patent applications to help others, and establishing credible and lasting relationships with clients.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Josh Sweeney, President of FounderScale, on bleeding-edge strategies and tactics for scaling a B2B business.

Josh Sweeney is a seasoned entrepreneur, whose relentless drive has given him the platform to build big ideas and even bigger companies. One of his successes, Atcore Systems, was acquired in 2016 by a leading partner in the CRM industry.

Experiencing the impact of various sales and marketing challenges over the years, Josh founded FounderScale. He has made it his mission to help founder-led organizations increase sales. Because of his passion for growth and forward-thinking, he donates his time to the Entrepreneur Organization of Atlanta, guiding and promoting other entrepreneurs through experience sharing and camaraderie.

Recorded 11/18/2022.

Brocton Skeen is the Principal and Attorney at The Skeen Firm, a law firm that advises clients in the areas of bankruptcy, estate planning, business, oil and gas, family law, and criminal defense across Pennsylvania. He is experienced in business, oil and gas, and estate planning and sits as the President of Omega Oilfield Solutions. Before starting his practice, Brocton worked at one of the nation's largest natural gas production companies, EQT Production Company, using and honing his negotiation skills.

Brocton graduated from the West Virginia University Institute of Technology with a BA in history and government. He attended the Appalachian School of Law for his JD and Penn State University for his MBA.

As an attorney, how can you create value for your clients? What steps can you take to create an enduring enterprise? How can you turn yourself into a leader that people can trust?

When you begin practicing law, you work in your business to grow and establish clients. But Brocton Skeen recommends you work on your business to achieve accelerated growth. Your approach should always be how to add value to the situation, not how to add value to yourself. Brocton stops and listens to truly understand the pain points of his clients, so he is better equipped to find a resolution. By being open and honest, you can transform yourself into a leader and connect with your clients to improve your success.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Michael Renfro sits down with Brocton Skeen, Principal and Attorney at The Skeen Firm, to discuss cultivating value and leadership in your firm. Brocton talks about the evolution of technology in the courtroom, how simplification is the best method to connect with clients, and why active listening and effective communication can help with reaching resolutions.