BizTech Superhero

Host Joshua McNary welcomes Joel Bennett, owner of Veel Hoeden Consulting, who develops frontline leadership in blue-collar organizations by focusing on measurable impact rather than box-checking training. 

Joel explains why the transition from top performer to supervisor is difficult, highlighting mindset shifts, fear of failure, and the challenge of holding effective coaching conversations. He describes his approach of “structured discomfort,” emphasizing real-world application between sessions and measuring success through behavior change and metrics like turnover and engagement. 

The conversation also connects leadership development to technology adoption, noting that tools only work when processes and culture support them. Joel discusses using AI to prepare for coaching conversations while keeping people accountable for solving people problems, and advises businesses to start small with new technology, fail fast, and build value incrementally.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:44 Joel’s Leadership Mission

02:49 From Doer to Supervisor

05:10 Mindset Shift and Coaching

09:18 Who Invests in Training

13:42 Training vs Tech Parallels

18:18 AI for Tough Conversations

22:43 Keep Humans in Charge

27:02 Start Small with Tech

30:02 Connect and Wrap Up

Host Joshua McNary interviews Geoff Wood, founder of Gravitate Coworking headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, about building coworking spaces as intentional communities for entrepreneurs, freelancers, startups, and remote employees. Wood shares how Gravitate began after grant-funded space ended and a need emerged for affordable high-density offices, an entrepreneurship “front door,” and community programming, then explains how remote-work tech and the pandemic fueled major growth.

They discuss the importance of “sense of place,” shifting work environments for focus, and the infrastructure changes required for modern work, including higher bandwidth for concurrent Zoom calls. Wood outlines Gravitate’s tech stack, centered on Optix for billing, booking, and door access, plus lessons from changing software vendors, consolidation in the market, documentation challenges, and cautious but practical uses of AI. He closes with advice to evaluate technology through the customer’s experience.

Host Joshua McNary welcomes Jen Speers, founder of Moonwake Collaborative in Des Moines, Iowa, a virtual assistant and digital marketing agency supporting small businesses with admin help, branding, websites, and social media through a team of 17 specialists. 

They discuss the value of supporting local businesses, how Moonwake coordinates work across time zones using Asana for task management and Slack for culture and communication, and how client assets and meetings are managed through Google Workspace, Google Meet, and Gemini for transcripts and action items. 

Jen explains using AI for efficiency, SOP creation, and idea springboards without replacing human creativity, noting limitations like AI-generated logos requiring recreation for printing and trademarking. Her actionable tip: define where AI fits while staying authentic, citing consumer trust and purchase behavior tied to authenticity.

Host Joshua McNary welcomes Charley “Sparkle” Lapamardo, a San Diego-based speaker, singer, emcee, and facilitator, to discuss communication, meaningful experiences, and using technology to empower connection.

Charley describes Sparkle Works “front stage” work hosting and facilitating team-building experiences as well as  “backstage” coaching that helps speakers unlock confidence and reduce blocks so audiences can receive their message. They explore common entrepreneurial themes like doubt, iterative growth, and reframing “imposter syndrome” through evidence. 

The conversation examines how technology—especially AI—can push people toward efficiency without intention, raising questions about mission alignment, human community, and unintended costs. Charley emphasizes boundaries, reviewing AI outputs, using tools as scaffolding rather than replacing human-to-human interaction, and designing tech systems around clear goals and a “why.”

Host Joshua McNary welcomes executive coach and keynote speaker Cory Dunham of Cory Dunham Advisory (Ann Arbor, Michigan), who helps founder-led service businesses close the gap between the value they deliver and the growth they experience. 

Cory shares his background co-owning a family marketing business that evolved from pre-internet, handshake-based relationships to modern digital operations, and explains how he uses aviation metaphors to emphasize continual course correction. They discuss how abundant low-cost tools and fast-changing AI create distraction and “C+” execution, shrinking attention spans, and over-reliance that can reduce depth in decision-making. 

Cory stresses intentional, values-based leadership, ethical growth, and combining tech with community and trust, including narrowing tools to a few core platforms. His actionable tip: step away from screens to reflect, clarify the ideal client and problem, and then use technology deliberately.

Steve Shriver on Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship, Automation, and Tech at EcoLips & More

Host Joshua McNary interviews Steve Shriver, CEO of EcoLips and Bug Soother in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a serial entrepreneur who owns five businesses and advises startups. Shriver describes EcoLips as a certified B Corp guided by the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit, and shares how mountaineering experiences shape his approach to goal-setting, resilience, and perspective. 

He outlines his other ventures—Bug Soother, Brewhemia cafe, Soko Outfitters, and The Olympic event venue—plus a new patented product, Secure Outlet, and recounts making and distributing hand sanitizer during COVID through a partnership with Cedar Ridge Distillery. On technology, he discusses manufacturing automation, the Red Zone production monitoring system, challenges of equipment uptime and power needs, and the complexity of disparate tools driving a move to the DCOM ERP. 

They also discuss early experimentation with ChatGPT, organizational change management, and Shriver’s advice to “try something new” with technology.

Doug Wagner on Modern Radio, Local News Immediacy, and Technology in a Shifting Media Landscape

Host Joshua McNary interviews Doug Wagner, morning show host on News Radio 600 WMT and News Talk 1420 WOC (iHeart Media), about radio’s evolution and technology’s impact on media, public service, and community information. 

Doug describes AM radio’s historic reach, today’s distribution through the iHeartRadio app and podcasts, and the ongoing value of live, local news, weather, traffic, and sports. He explains how modern radio segments content across wide geographic audiences while staying local, recounts handling breaking news through rapid studio coordination, and outlines a tech environment shaped by proprietary systems, reliability needs, and security-driven limitations. Then Doug shares his workflow for curating dozens of daily stories, listener engagement via texts and app “talkback,” and advice to not fear technology and to delegate specialized digital tasks to skilled staff.

Get ready to meet the next BizTech superhero on this episode! Host Joshua McNary talks with Alex Beaumier, founder of Beau Laundry Co., to dig into the entrepreneurial journey behind crafting the best-smelling, eco-friendly laundry balls in Iowa—and beyond. Alex shares how his background in data science fueled his experimentation in the world of consumer products, his motivations for working in and parallel to corporate America, and the lessons he's learned from building a grassroots business from the ground up.

In this energetic conversation, you’ll hear how Alex leverages platforms like Shopify and Faire to streamline everything from wholesale relationships to in-person sales, and why taking action and embracing everyday technology is key for any business owner. Whether you’re an aspiring founder, a side-hustler, or a seasoned entrepreneur, you’ll walk away inspired to bundle your challenges, choose the right tech tools, and focus on progress over perfection. 

Host Joshua McNary talks with Greg Edwards, founder of Watchpoint IT—a Cedar Rapids-based company dedicated to saving businesses time, keeping them secure, and cutting through IT complexity. Greg shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur in the tech and risk management space, highlighting his early ventures in offsite backup, disaster recovery, and his innovative work around ransomware and AI-based cybersecurity.

Joshua and Greg dive into real-world stories about helping businesses navigate tech challenges, the nuts and bolts of running a remote IT company, and the importance of building standardized, forward-thinking processes. They explore the evolving threat landscape—from Microsoft outages to ransomware attacks—and emphasize how staying proactive, resilient, and informed is more important than ever.

You’ll also hear practical advice for small and mid-sized business owners—including the critical need for standardization, robust backup strategies, and keeping up with the rapid advancements in AI technology. Whether you’re a tech leader, business owner, or just curious about how the intersection of technology and risk impacts the modern enterprise, this conversation is packed with insights and actionable tips to help you unleash your inner BizTech superhero.

In this next episode of BizTech Superhero, Joshua McNary converses with local business champion Cherie Edilson, founder and CEO of Member Marketplace. Based in Marion, Iowa, Cherie has taken what she first started learning selling handmade goods at farmers' markets and turned it into a nationwide SaaS platform supporting over 8,000 small businesses across 55 marketplaces in 30 states.

In the episode, Joshua and Cherie dive into the real-world tech journey behind Member Marketplace—from hustling with WordPress plugins and family collaborations to developing a proprietary, scalable platform that empowers chambers and local organizations to serve entrepreneurs in their communities. You’ll hear firsthand how Cherie willingness to take action, embrace feedback, and build scrappy solutions has led to innovative tools that make selling, connecting, and thriving online accessible to even the busiest small business owners.

Plus, stick around for insights on evolving tech stacks, harnessing AI for local commerce, and strategies to help business owners overcome the barriers to digital growth. Whether you’re a tech founder, a small business owner, or just someone curious about the future of local marketplaces, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable advice to help you unlock your own technology superpowers.