AmiSights: Financing the Future For Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Drew Geisler, president of Mainline Metals, about how he is managing supply chain issues and the challenges of managing a commodities business through and after the pandemic.

Andrew started his career in the steel industry at the age of 19, when he was hired by Mainline Metals as a co-op student. Under Bob Dubin's tutelage, Andrew learned the art of cold-calling and how to find and sell surplus and excess steel. Once graduated from Drexel University with a degree in materials engineering, Andrew was hired by Mainline Metals.

Andrew's rigor and ambition have been integral to his personal success and to Mainline Metals' growth as a company. Andrew cultivated his entrepreneurial skills from a young age, having started multiple businesses while in high school and college. Then, after making Mainline Metals his home for the last 30 years, Andrew became the President of Mainline Metals at 40 years old.

In addition to his role at Mainline Metals, Andrew is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization of Philadelphia. Within the organization, Andrew is a member of the executive board of the steel and metals network, in which he continues to grow professionally, personally and with his family. For Andrew, personal growth is an important aspect of leadership. Having a community that cultivates growth and continuous learning helps him keep his head focused and enforces his mission of bringing his best self to the office every day.

Recorded 07/25/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Mo Fathelbab, Founder and president of Forum Resources Network, and co-founder of Harvard Business School Alumni Forums, to discuss what makes forums great - and what to avoid.

Mo is the author of two best-selling books, Forum: The Secret Advantage of Successful Leaders and The Friendship Advantage - 7 Keys to Building Relationships that Transform Culture and Drive Productivity.

Prior to that Mo served as executive director of Entrepreneurs' Organization (1991-1997) where he created the peer to peer Forum program content and initiated 100s of CEO Forums. Mo has worked with over 20,000 CEOs and Entrepreneurs over the course of nearly 3 decades in 33 countries.

Forum Resources Network's clients include Google, Young Presidents' Organization, HBS Alumni, Pathstone Federal Street, and the Atlantic Council Millennium Fellows. Mo has delivered Keynote addresses to large audiences including TEDx, Conscious Capitalism, Scale Up, SOS, and Global Leaders Organization.

Personally, Mo is dedicated to health and fitness. He loves skiing, sailing, yoga, and stand-up paddle boarding. He has completed 3 marathons, an Ironman and in 2018 placed first in USA Yoga's Midwest regional championships for men over 50. Mo serves on the board of Young Presidents' Organization Gold Washington & Baltimore and on the advisory board of Beyond CEO Coaching. Mo lives in Alexandria VA with his much better half Sally and their son Eli.

Recorded 07/18/2022.

Today on AmiSights, the podcast, we have the CEO & Owner of B-Unlimited, Ben Clark! In 1994, B-Unlimited began as a screen printing company in the hills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Ben purchased the business in 2006 with big dreams of elevated artwork, thoughtful print, and impeccable service.

In this episode, Ben shares what it was like growing up with learning differences. He discusses his struggles and frustrations through college when trying to find his path. Ben explains that his learning differences were a good thing because that pushed him into entrepreneurship. When faced with failure, Ben tells us that he relies heavily on faith and family. He walks us through how he kept going through those challenging times to find his niche.

In his late thirties, Ben got into the apparel business and fell in love with the creative environment. He loves bringing people together and enjoyed building his organization and culture. Now, with over 250 employees, Ben dives into his current challenges, like trying to keep that culture the same after 10 years. Ben didn't start with a mission statement, but explains an ethos - on the wall said "Be Yourself, Be Unique, Be Unlimited".

B-Unlimited sells licensed custom apparel for universities, and got started in the fraternal and sorority arena. Although their main focus is custom collegiate apparel, they specialize in many other products in all different markets. "Yeah, we make great t-shirts. But our true end-goal is to celebrate and love all people."

Recorded 07/12/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Ryan Surace, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of Surace & Stanton, on how to know if you have the right accounting department.

With over 15 years of experience, Ryan is especially skilled in providing high quality accounting and taxation services across a range of industry sectors. His experience in the financial arena gives him particular strength in auditing and assurance, taxation, analytics, business planning and budgeting, SEC compliance and filing, succession planning, and internal accounting functions. His clients are small and mid-sized companies across a range of sectors including manufacturing, wholesalers, construction contractors, and real estate.

Ryan is passionate about developing successful strategies with closely held business owners and individuals who are looking for security in their financial future. He provides best in class advisory and strategic planning on all areas related to tax and financial concerns and consults on the full range of back office services. Ryan is skilled at helping ensure strategies are based on timely and reliable financial information, which in turn helps ensure success. In addition, he has particular interest and competence in advising entrepreneurs and start ups and serves on the Board of the Philadelphia Chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization, a global thought leader on entrepreneurship. Whether you are acquiring an existing business or starting your own, Ryan provides trustworthy and sound financial, accounting, and tax advice that will position you for success.

Ryan received a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Scranton. He started his accounting career at EY (Ernst & Young) and prior to co-founding Surace & Stanton, Ryan was a partner at a prestigious regional accounting firm.

Ryan is excited to work with his wife! Ryan & Colleen live in Springfield, Pennsylvania with their three daughters. When out of the office, Ryan enjoys barbecuing, running, and tinkering with his fantasy football team.

Recorded 07/06/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Tamara Loehr, Co-Founder of Beusail Academy, a serial entrepreneur very much focused on impact - all about giving back and helping bridge the gap in female entrepreneurship.

Tamara is a globally recognized entrepreneur, mum of two young girls, wife and artist (former songwriter and forever painting).

Tamara started her first business at the age of 19 years old after graduating from university with a Bachelor of Visual Arts. This marketing agency is still in operation and services national and international clients, as well as the businesses she owns under her investment company.

Tamara and her agency specialized in online sales which lead her to become a sort after expert on the topic. Tamara travels internationally speaking on the topic of how to grow businesses online, as well as sharing her experience in growing wellness brands from under $1M to over $10M without capital.

Her 'sweat equity' model saw swift success, leading to her winning a range of global awards including a Gold Stevie® Awards for Women in Business for 'Fast Growing Company of the in 2016.

Tamara's focus is now on ethical brands in the Beauty and Wellness space. All her brands follow a strict mandate; Vegan, Cruelty-free, clean, female founded, sustainable and impactful. All products have giving embedded as a cost of goods, generating impacts to United Nations Sustainability Goals.

Tamara has since delved into the world of Community Channel Marketing (CCM) which aims to disrupt the Multi-level Marketing (MLM)/direct selling industry. Her online channel 'Beusail' is designed to promote ethical brands, whilst developing the next wave of female entrepreneurs.

Beusail is a new breed of online marketplace whereby anyone can 'co-sell' products with 2 clicks of a button and earn up to 30% commission on every sale. Consumers can leverage their power of influence on their social media channels to gain additional source of income.

Tamara's legacy is to contribute 10M Buy1Give1 impacts per annum. As a subscriber to the 'profit and purpose' philosophy, Tamara passionately believes business will change the world's problems, not government. She also acknowledges that this is no longer isolated to billionaire entrepreneurs but businesses of any size.

Originally a member of The Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), Tamara was the first president in Queensland to take the role in under three years as a member. With her business interests now being in America, along with her focus on impact, Tamara is a founding member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Impacts Chapter, as well as a YPO Hollywood chapter.

Balance is BS. How to have a Work. Life. Blend: Tamara Loehr's book is a focused on the 42% of women in America who are now the breadwinners and know balance doesn't work. Tamara has figured out a new solution after 20+ years as a global entrepreneur. How to ditch expectations, uphold your values and embrace a work-life blend.

Tamara's book calls bullshit on 'balance' and presents a better way: it gives women permission to blend their work and personal lives together without getting burnt out. Every chapter is supported by practical exercises readers can complete to identify their values, align their energies with what matters to them most, set expectations with key people in their lives and map out the life they actually want.

Recorded 04/04/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Wendy Pease, owner and president of Rapport International, to discuss why words matter.

Wendy Pease is the owner and president of Rapport International, a language services company that provides high-quality translation and interpretation services with a specialty in global marketing, legal, and medical services. Throughout her career, she has worked with hundreds of companies to help them communicate across more than 200 languages and cultures.

Wendy is a frequent speaker, writer, blogger, trainer, advisor, and master networker. She's the author of the book "The Language of Global Marketing", and the host of the Global Marketing Show podcast, which features experts on opportunities and challenges in increasing multilingual lead gen and revenue. She also leads a global speed networking group and moderates the Boston chapter of Soft Land Partners.

Wendy's passionate about connecting people across languages and cultures. She lived in Mexico, Taiwan, and the Philippines where she fell in love with differing cultures and came to understand that we are all human, no matter the language we speak.

Recorded 04/07/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Russell Hunter, owner and CEO of Colorado Mountain School, an entrepreneur who bought a business during the pandemic - we'll discover what he's learned and how it's going.

After graduating with an accounting degree, Russell spent a very short nine months working as a Public Accountant. He chose to step off the tracks and become an outdoor educator and mountain guide. After two decades of leading others in the mountains, Russell saw an opportunity to become an owner of a mountain guide service and an avalanche education school.

As an owner/CEO, Russell brings together all of his experiences as an accountant, leader, adventure seeker, and risk manager to lead his two companies. Russell strives to advance a growing industry into a more professional industry that provides opportunities for guides and instructors to make a real livelihood doing what they love to do, teaching others to play in the mountains, and igniting passionate living!

Recorded 06/03/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jim Schleckser, CEO of Inc. CEO Project, to discuss the most important lessons learned by his clients during the pandemic.

Jim helps leaders grow their companies by helping them open their point of constraint, the kink in the hose through curated CEO Peer Groups. He has extensive leadership experience with organizations in both public and private environments and across multiple industries. Jim has built, acquired, and led several companies, including international businesses with multiple operating business units. Prior to founding the Inc. CEO Project, Jim was the president of Spirent Communications PLC, a global publicly traded telecommunications business valued at $1.6 Billion.

Jim is active with many non-profit organizations, including National Association of Corporate Directors, Boy Scouts of America and Youth With A Mission. He was previously Chair of Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area. He is currently on the boards of Defenders, Daniel Defense, and AltoVista.

Jim is an engineer, an avid soccer player, a Certified sommelier, and recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. He has done business in 40 countries and is the author of two best-selling books "Great CEOs are Lazy" and "Professional Drinking".

Recorded 04/11/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Smriti Sinha, owner of Natural Healing House, on what it was like to buy a business during the pandemic and how it's going.

Smriti Sinha (Sims) is an entrepreneurial leader, who is passionate about building innovative products by marrying consumer-centered creativity with analytical business strategy.

Smriti recently transitioned from leading innovation and product development at Fortune 100 companies, to the exciting world of e-commerce.

She runs a small business in the health and wellness niche, called Natural Healing House. Natural Healing House offers physician grade vitamins and supplements as well as homeopathy products to customers in the US and Canada.

Natural Healing House is a mission driven business, committed to providing wellness products curated by experts, that offer customers the highest quality ingredients at affordable prices.

Prior to running this business, Sims was the Vice President of Digital Product & Strategy at Prudential Financial, where she launched a digital life insurance product targeted at new parents. This product makes life insurance accessible and affordable for customers at a time in their life when they need additional financial protection. Smriti's financial services experience also includes running the global pricing portfolio for Business Travel at American Express.

With a proven track record in launching digital products across financial services, life insurance, travel, and technology, Smriti has developed a unique perspective on innovating in highly regulated industries. She now brings her brand of fun and energy to the e-commerce space, with a focus on health and wellness.

A self-proclaimed foodie and travel enthusiast, Smriti has traveled extensively and lived and worked in Europe and Asia, before settling down in New Jersey. Smriti is a native of India, where she earned a B.A. degree in economics and an M.B.A. and lives in New Jersey with her husband and 8-year-old son.

Here is a special offer just for the AmiSights audience, 10% off Natural Healing House - use code: SPECIAL10. This can be applied at checkout and is valid on all products.

Recorded 06/02/2022.

On this interview, Ami Kassar interviews Justin Donald, Lifestyle Investor® and Entrepreneur, on what lifestyle investing mean and why is it important in an inflationary world.

Entrepreneur Magazine calls Justin Donald the "Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing." He's a master of low-risk cash flow investing, specializing in simplifying complex financial strategies, structuring deals, and disciplined investment systems that consistently produce profitable results. His ethos is to "create wealth without creating a job."

In the span of 21 months, and before his 37th birthday, Justin's investments drove enough passive income for both he and his wife Jennifer to leave their jobs. Following his simple investment system and 10 Commandments of Lifestyle Investing, Justin negotiated deals with over 100 companies, multiplied his net worth to over eight figures, and maintained a family-centric lifestyle in less than 2 years. Just 2 years later, he doubled his net worth again.

He now consults and advises entrepreneurs, executives, and successful media personalities on lifestyle investing. Justin has also appeared on nearly 100 podcasts, including Entrepreneurs on Fire, The Mike Dillard Show, Making Bank, Achieve Your Goals, Capability Amplifier, Tractionville, Inside Personal Growth, Conscious Millionaire, Franchise Secrets, the Accelerated Investor, and Unbecoming.

Justin distilled his lessons and proven investment system that reliably generates repeatable returns into The Lifestyle Investor podcast and the best-selling book The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cash Flow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom, released in January 2021. The Lifestyle Investor was an instant hit, making the USA Today best seller list, breaking #8 on all of Amazon.com, and #1 on the Wall Street Journal's best seller list. All proceeds from copies of The Lifestyle Investor go to Love Justice International, a nonprofit fighting human trafficking in 17 countries.

Justin is a lifelong leader and trainer with a track record of achievement. In his 20s, he worked with Cutco/Vector and quickly became one of the top managers in the company, and one of the youngest to achieve Hall of Fame status. His personal playbook of best practices was deployed nationwide as a training program to onboard sales representatives.

While in this role, Justin began investing heavily in real estate and owns several profitable real estate related businesses, a large portfolio of multifamily rentals, OrangeTheory Fitness franchises, and several other successful operating companies. His entrepreneurial ventures include IFM Restoration, a residential maintenance and rehab company founded in 2016. IFM recently funded its Series A with S3 Ventures, the largest venture capital firm in Texas, leading the round.

Justin is a member of Tiger 21 and a board member of Front Row Foundation International. He and Jennifer contribute to various causes privately and through their church, fighting cancer, building clean water wells in third-world countries and other humanitarian efforts. Additionally, they sponsor multiple children through Compassion International. The Donalds are based in Austin, Texas, and love adventure-based international travel with their beloved daughter.

Recorded 04/14/2022.