Business Growth Spotlight

Show Notes:

What if the single greatest skill standing between you and the career or business breakthrough you have been chasing is not strategy, not funding, not connections, but simply the ability to walk into a room and communicate with confidence, clarity, and conviction? In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Benjamin Thiele-Long, a UK trained barrister turned global communications consultant and newly published author, whose career reads like a masterclass in reinvention. From arguing cases in courtrooms to advising C-suite executives at companies like Target and Petco, Benjamin has spent over two decades studying what makes communication irresistible. And now he has put everything he knows into one remarkably practical book.

Benjamin shares the courtroom philosophy that changed the way he thinks about persuasion, why most people stumble not because they lack ideas but because they lack structure, and what a Royal Shakespeare Company director taught him about feedback that every business leader needs to hear. He also gets refreshingly honest about the challenge of selling a book in 2026, why TikTok is now part of his marketing strategy whether he likes it or not, and how he almost forgot to count writing and publishing a book as an achievement when reflecting on his year.

Bio:

As both a qualified barrister and a communications consultant, BENJAMIN has over 20 years of experience as a trusted advisor to the leaders of some of the world’s largest organizations. With a career spanning time as a courtroom advocate, PR agency leader, and Chief Communications Officer, he is a respected industry expert known for his uniquely practical yet relatable approach that can instill the confidence to turn anyone into a compelling and persuasive public speaker.

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Benjamin began his career as a barrister, completing pupillage and tenancy at 2 King’s Bench Walk and Furnival Chambers before joining the international law firm Pinsent Masons.

He later moved into PR and communications, with agency roles including Pagefield and Cognito in London and the United States. He was initially based in New York before moving to San Diego to lead Cognito’s West Coast offering, working with founders and executives in the technology, professional services and finance sectors.

He was appointed Managing Director of Financial Communications for international PR and communications consultancy Ketchum, serving as a strategic advisor and presentation trainer to C-suites and boards of multinational businesses in the retail, technology, FMCG, hospitality, and financial services sectors. He most recently served as Petco’s Chief ESG and Communications Officer based in California.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminthielelong/

Website:  https://www.benjaminthielelong.com/

Grab the book:  How To Be Utterly Brilliant at Public Speaking, Presenting and Talking to the Media

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

Show Notes
What happens when a recovering attorney with a front-row seat to the orthodontic industry decides the system needs a smarter solution? You get Clear Blue Smiles, a company quietly revolutionizing how Americans access affordable, high-quality clear aligner treatment. In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Kevin Dillard, co-founder of Clear Blue Smiles, to unpack the intersection of law, dentistry, technology, and entrepreneurship in a way that will leave you rethinking everything you thought you knew about orthodontics.

Kevin shares his unconventional path from government affairs attorney at the American Association of Orthodontists to building a company that bridges the gap between traditional orthodontics and the disruptive (and often dangerous) direct-to-consumer aligner market. He breaks down why companies like SmileDirectClub ultimately failed, what general dentists are missing when it comes to occlusal health, and how AI is slashing treatment planning time by up to 80%.

In this episode you will learn:

The three pillars of oral health and why the third one is dangerously overlooked by most general dentists

Why SmileDirectClub collapsed despite being valued at billions and what Clear Blue Smiles is doing differently

How AI is transforming 3D scanning and treatment planning in orthodontics and what used to take 25 minutes now takes under five

The legal landscape shaking up the DTC orthodontic industry and what nine states have now declared illegal

Why general dentists can and should be treating mild to moderate clear aligner cases and how Clear Blue Smiles makes that easy and profitable

How Clear Blue Smiles acquires clients including the accidental TikTok moment that generated hundreds of leads overnight

Kevin's vision for the next 12 months including a direct-to-consumer platform that connects pre-qualified patients with dentists in their network

The myth he wants every patient and clinician to stop believing about clear aligner cost and quality

Bio:

CEO, Clear Blue Smiles, Inc., former General Counsel of American Association of Orthodontists

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-dillard-985a5b8/ 

                 https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-blue-smiles/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/clearbluesmiles/ 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/clearbluesmiles  

Website:   https://clearbluesmiles.com/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

Show Notes:

What would you do if a single medical bill arrived for $1.2 million and you had absolutely no idea where to turn? That moment of helplessness is exactly what patient advocate Emily Bernstein of Wheelhouse Health Navigation Services has built her career around solving. In this eye-opening episode of Business Growth Spotlight, Emily joins host Heidi Schalk to pull back the curtain on a profession most people never knew existed until the moment they desperately needed it.

What you will learn in this episode

• What a board-certified patient advocate actually does and why the distinction from a hospital case manager matters enormously
• How Emily has eliminated over $1.3 million in medical debt for her clients and secured authorizations, transplant list placements, and essential medical equipment
• The shocking volume of errors on medical bills and why you should never pay the first bill you receive
• Where to find a qualified advocate through directories like Greater National Advocates and how Medicare and Medicaid recipients may qualify for free services through Umbra Advocacy
• Why having a third-party advocate removes the emotion from the process and dramatically speeds up resolution
• How Emily's business model shifted after a state Medicaid benefit cut and what she is building next in the patient education space
• Her core philosophy: be a squeaky wheel, lead with empathy, and never accept a denial as the final word

Bio:

Emily Bernstein is a Board Certified Patient Advocate and Community Health Worker from Rhode Island. Her background is in international education and customer service, and she pivoted to patient advocacy after her mom was diagnosed with CNS lymphoma in 2019. Her focus is on advocating for newcomers to the US healthcare system, and she has secured funding from the RI Department of Human services and RI Department of Health to create innovative strategies for supporting these communities.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/wheelhouse-health/

Instagram:  @wheelhouse-health

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

Show Notes:

In this powerful episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Doug Cornfield, co-founder of Disability Dream and Do, to unpack a journey that blends purpose, resilience, and entrepreneurial grit.

Doug shares how a life-changing moment, the birth of his son with disabilities, led him to an unexpected partnership with Dave Clark, a former professional baseball player who played on crutches. What started as curiosity turned into a mission: creating life-changing sports experiences for children with disabilities.

Together, they’ve built a movement that delivers free sports camps, powerful storytelling, and unforgettable moments for families across the country.

This conversation goes far beyond inspiration. It dives into real business lessons around revenue generation, pivoting through crisis, and building sustainable impact.

Bio:

DOUG CORNFIELD is an author, speaker, and former college athlete. He is the director of the Disability, Dream, and Do (D3Day) sports camps, created with Dave Clark. In college he was a top contender in track and field, and a scholarship athlete at the University of Georgia. His professional experience includes time spent in both the family entertainment industry and as a senior financial advisor for Merrill Lynch. 

More recently he partnered with Dave Clark to organize their company and run D3Day events, where the duo create opportunities for children and young adults with special needs to interact with professional sports players and compete with no limitations. 

Doug is the author of two books, a children’s book “A Pound of Kindness” and compilation book, “Pulling Each Other Along”.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougcornfield/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@D3Day-Dugout-Movement  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/D3Day, 

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/d3day/, 

                     https://www.instagram.com/legacy_mile/, 

                     https://www.instagram.com/daveclarky4/ 

Tiktok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@d3day_dugout_movement, 

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Coach Greg LeFever, founder of Impowered Fitness, to explore how fitness, mindset, and community intersect to create real transformation.

Coach Greg shares his journey from corporate leadership in the automotive industry to building a purpose-driven fitness business focused on coaching rather than traditional training. His approach goes beyond workouts, integrating mindset, accountability, and lifestyle habits to help clients create sustainable results.

This conversation dives into what it really means to build an anti gym environment, one that removes intimidation, fosters community, and prioritizes personal growth over performance metrics.

Coach Greg also unpacks the importance of understanding your why, especially for high-performing professionals, and how fitness directly impacts leadership, resilience, and mental clarity.

From building a business through grassroots visibility to navigating marketing challenges and scaling with intention, this episode is packed with insights for founders, operators, and anyone looking to elevate both their health and performance.

Bio:

You got it, Coach Greg! Here's your power-packed, high-energy snapshot:

Coach Greg is the unstoppable force behind IMpowered Fitness and The 50-Strong Movement — a best-selling author, dynamic keynote speaker, MBA professor, and a powerhouse motivator. He's the coach busy parents, professionals, and purpose-driven youth look to when they’re ready to level up their lives. From crushing 30-minute workouts to sparking life-changing mindset shifts, he blends discipline, faith, and fun in everything he does. Whether he's launching or leading a 50-Strong movement, teaching teens character, or brining real life concepts to an MBA class, Coach Greg lives what he teaches: purpose, passion, and power.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/IMpoweredfitnesstustin  

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/im.powered.fitness/

Website: https://impoweredfitness.com/

Books available on Amazon including Making Time for You and The Impowered Life

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Cara Thurman, founder of Vinings Massage and Wellness, to explore how mission-driven growth can transform not only a business but an entire healthcare experience.

Cara shares her deeply personal journey from navigating multiple open-heart surgeries to building a specialized oncology massage practice that now partners with major hospital systems across Georgia. What started as a solo practice has evolved into a multi-team operation delivering patient and employee wellness programs inside clinical environments.

This conversation goes beyond traditional business growth. It highlights how purpose, persistence, and strategic partnerships can open doors in highly regulated industries like healthcare.

Bio:

Cara Thurman, CMT, NCBTMB, is a nationally certified massage therapist, NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider, and founder of Vinings Massage & Wellness in Atlanta. She specializes in oncology massage therapy and is a leader in developing and integrating evidence-informed massage programs within hospital systems. Since 2012, Cara has built and overseen patient-facing and employee-facing massage services in collaboration with major healthcare organizations, including Piedmont Healthcare and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, working directly with oncology and palliative care teams in infusion centers, inpatient units, and wellness settings. She has completed advanced oncology massage training with leading educators, including Tracy Walton, and through institutions such as MD Anderson Cancer Center, and is deeply committed to education and outreach for both medical professionals and massage therapists across the cancer care continuum.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/cara-thurman77

Instagram @vinings_massage

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/viningsmassage/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Muhammad Umer Sialvee, CEO of Evocare Billing and IT Solutions, to break down one of the most overlooked challenges in healthcare: revenue loss due to inefficient billing and operations.

With a background in pharmacy and quality assurance, Muhammad shares how he identified critical gaps in medical billing and built Evocare to help clinics and hospitals streamline operations, reduce errors, and increase revenue through a hybrid model of AI and human expertise.

This conversation dives into the real operational bottlenecks healthcare providers face today, from missed calls and incomplete patient data to claim denials and compliance challenges, and how AI is transforming the entire revenue cycle.

Bio

“I began my career as a Pharmacist and Quality Assurance professional, where I learned the weight of maintaining perfect standards while caring for patients’ well-being. Balancing, precision, and compassion showed me how demanding healthcare can be. However, in the medical billing world, I witnessed the hidden struggles providers face: endless paperwork, denials, compliance headaches, and financial stress. Their passion was being pulled away from what truly matters, patient care.

Ten years ago, I founded Evocare Billings to make a difference. Our mission is simple: lift the administrative burden, restore clarity, and give providers the freedom to focus on their patients. Over the past decade, we’ve helped countless practices grow, stabilize revenue, and reclaim peace of mind. Evocare isn’t just a billing company; we’re a partner, advocate, and problem-solver, committed to building a healthcare system where providers can thrive.

We continue to innovate, refine, and push the boundaries of what medical billing can be. Because when providers succeed, patients win, and that is the future we are building.“

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/evocare-billing/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/evocare.mb/

Instagram:  https://instagram.com/evocare.it/

https://www.evocarebillings.com/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Dr. Arlen Meyers, President and CEO of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs, to explore the evolving intersection of medicine, business, and innovation.

Dr. Meyers shares his journey from academic surgeon to medtech entrepreneur and explains why traditional medical training leaves a critical gap in business and entrepreneurial education.

The conversation dives into the fundamental mindset shifts physicians must make to succeed in entrepreneurship, the realities of failure and iteration, and why innovation in healthcare requires more than just great ideas.

They also unpack how marketing, sales, and community-building play a crucial role in scaling both businesses and missions, and why AI, while powerful, is not the silver bullet for fixing healthcare.

Bio:

President and CEO, Society of Physician Entrepreneurs

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameyers/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SoPEVideo/featured

Website:  https://www.sopenet.org

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Tyler Higgins from ClickTrain to unpack what it really takes to build high-performing marketing teams in today’s fast-moving, AI-driven landscape.

Tyler shares how ClickTrain is redefining recruitment by combining performance marketing expertise, data-driven insights, and AI-powered matching to connect businesses with top-tier global talent.

The conversation dives deep into why hiring based on mindset and culture fit often outperforms hiring based on experience alone, and how companies can rethink training, team structure, and visibility strategies to scale effectively.

They also explore how AI is transforming recruitment, from intelligent talent matching to predictive salary benchmarking, and what businesses should be doing now to stay competitive.

Bio

At ClickTrain, I’m all about connecting top-tier Paid Media talent with businesses and agencies ready to scale. We meticulously vet paid media professionals, ensuring brands get the best in the industry to drive real growth. My passion lies in building powerful connections, helping companies find the right talent, and helping professionals land opportunities where they can truly thrive.

From sourcing standout candidates to staying ahead of evolving recruitment strategies, I focus on making the hiring process seamless and practical. As a Talent Director, I’m always sharpening my expertise in talent management, HR operations, and business strategy, ensuring I positively impact the teams I work with.

Let’s connect and build high-performing teams that fuel success! 🔥

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clicktrainplatform/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTbBJxZQwnzJ1f7syOFV9og?reload=9 

Tyler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-higgins-52857415a/ 

Andrew LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blochify/

Tyler Instagram: @tyhiggins96

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Shashi Subbarao, Founder and CEO of Activity Bees, a platform designed to help people connect locally through shared interests and activities.

Shashi shares how a simple, real-life moment with a neighbor sparked the idea for Activity Bees and evolved into a tech-driven solution to combat isolation, increase activity, and build meaningful community connections.

They dive into:

👉How Activity Bees connects people based on location and shared interests

👉The importance of solving a real problem before building a product

👉Lessons learned from early-stage growth, including churn and scattered user acquisition

👉Why hyper-local growth beats mass marketing for community platforms


👉How instructors and coaches can leverage the platform for visibility and revenue

👉The role of trust, safety, and verification in building a scalable platform

👉Upcoming features including marketplace functionality, scheduling tools, and gamification

👉The power of validation, feedback loops, and incremental progress in startups


Shashi also shares candid insights on what didn’t work, including broad Google Ads campaigns, and how shifting to localized partnerships is unlocking more sustainable growth.

Bio:

Founder & CEO at Activity Bees with more than 20 years experience in technology development, technical and strategic leadership in social networking, large scale systems including biometrics and AI.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashi-s-43473a4/
Website: www.activitybees.com

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/
🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint