AI is changing the workforce, but what if the careers least threatened by AI are the ones we were told weren’t “good enough” growing up?

📺 YouTube (Full Episode): https://lnkd.in/gbQaJSfi
🎙️ Spotify: Link to Spotify

For years, careers in electrical, plumbing, roofing, HVAC, and automotive have been viewed as a lesser path, pushed aside in favor of college degrees. But here's the truth: we’re losing skilled contractors at an alarming rate.
 
Matt Allison and Brad Metzger sat down with Joseph P. Cipriano, of CONSTRUCTEAM to talk about how he started his business, but where he sees the world of trades in the near future. Together with Patrick Montgomery, they have something new with CT1 (myct1.com), "Business in a Box", a platform to help the contractors and better operate.

We discussed:
✅ Why the skilled trades were pushed aside for decades and why that perception needs to change.
✅ "Business in a Box" - The growing shortage of skilled tradespeople and why getting more people into the industry is only part of the solution.
✅ Being great at your trade doesn't necessarily mean you know how to run a successful business.
✅ How AI is being used to help contractors with estimating, pricing, customer management, and back-office processes.
✅ Can one bad quote really hurt a business? And how better systems and processes can help contractors avoid costly mistakes.

Connect with Joe Cipriano : Joseph P. Cipriano
Connect with Patrick Montgomery: Patrick Montgomery
Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum

#SkilledTrades #FutureOfWork #AI #CareerDevelopment #WorkforceDevelopment #TradeJobs #CareerAdvice #CashflowChronicles #BusinessPodcast #Detroit #TradesMatter #SkilledTrades #Craftsmanship #CareerPaths #Construction

Christina Fair, is the Co-Founder and COO @ Hum, Founder/CEO @ Vela Advisory, as well as a key contributor to Rocket Fiber in Detroit, Michigan. Matt Allison and Brad Metzger sat down with Christina Fair, who has been at has been at the center of Detroit's innovation movement. From helping build the fiber infrastructure that powers Downtown Detroit to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs

YouTube 📺 (Full Episode): Christina Fair Episode
Spotify 🎙️: Link to Spotify

We discuss:
✅ How Rocket Fiber helped transform Detroit into a growing technology hub.
✅ The biggest mistakes founders make and how to avoid them before investing time and money.
✅ Why AI is changing the startup game and making it easier than ever to validate new business ideas.
✅ The importance of focus, customer discovery, and building before seeking investment.
✅ Why great founders surround themselves with the right people and never stop learning.

Connect with Christina Fair: Christina Fair LinkedIn
Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum

#Entrepreneurship #Startups #DetroitTech #Innovation #Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessDevelopment #MichiganBusiness #Founder #VentureCapital #CashflowChronicles #BusinessPodcast #Detroit

John Kassa, President of Detroit Executives Association and Business Director at Bravo Payment Systems, joins us to discuss what separates great business relationships from transactional ones, and why integrity still wins.

We discussed with John:
✅ Why exceptional customer service is a competitive advantage.
✅ The hidden fees and misconceptions surrounding merchant processing.
✅ How trust, transparency, and relationships drive long-term business success.
✅ Why networking, making introductions, and giving first always pays off.


#MerchantServices #Leadership #Networking #BusinessDevelopment #CustomerService #Entrepreneurship #DetroitBusiness #MichiganBusiness #Sales #BusinessRelationships #CashflowChronicles #BusinessPodcast #Integrity

Youtube: Full Episode with John Kassa
Spotify: Full Episode with John Kassa

Connect with John Kassa: John Kassa LinkedIn
Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum

Being a founder of a business can be difficult when your looking to grow and scale. You have to have a good vision and build a team that can execute!

We’re joined by Ronia Kruse, Founder and CEO of OpTech, who shares her entrepreneurial journey, leadership lessons, and insights on how AI is reshaping the future of business.

We sat down with Ronia to discuss:
✅ How she built OpTech from a one-person startup into a nationally recognized technology and talent solutions company.
✅ The balance between being a visionary CEO and maintaining strong financial discipline as a business leader.
✅ How AI is transforming recruiting, business operations, and the workforce.
✅ Leadership lessons on empowering teams and building strong cultures.

Youtube (Full Video): https://youtu.be/usrUXeSA5Hw
Spotify: Spotify Episode with Ronia Kruse of OpTech

Connect with Ronia Kruse: linkedin.com/in/roniakruse/
Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum

This week on Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum, we sit down with Sarah Greifenberger, Founder of Arbor Valuation and Consulting, to discuss one of the most important questions every business owner should be able to answer:

👉 What is your business actually worth?

Connect with Sarah Greifenberger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahgreifenberger-5045aa125/ Website: https://arborvaluation.com/

Youtube (Full Video): https://youtu.be/MX0GHojfohc
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5S3aqHyEpwTPl9XhEf0wd4?si=c05b61f2162143a8


Youtube (Full Video): https://youtu.be/usrUXeSA5Hw
Spotify: Spotify Episode with Ronia Kruse of OpTech

Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum

Why do some people build massive networks while others leave events with nothing?

In this episode of Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum, John Long shares how authentic networking, follow-up, and relationship building create real business opportunities.

If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, sales professional, or leader looking to grow through relationships and referrals, this episode is for you. 

We discuss:
✅ Why most networking fails
✅ Warm introductions vs cold outreach
✅ How to get in front of decision makers
✅ Follow-up habits that create results
✅ Why relationships matter even more in an AI world

Connect with John Long

Learn more about Southeast Michigan Chamber

YouTube Video: hhttps://youtu.be/ds1XL4BKzWc

Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum

 #Networking #BusinessGrowth #Sales #Leadership #Entrepreneur #CashflowChronicles

In this episode, Kimberly Blair of Rebel Nell shares real, unfiltered insights on:
• What leadership actually looks like behind the scenes — learning to delegate, trust your team, and avoid burnout
• How to scale a mission-driven business without losing sight of performance and profitability
• The true driver of culture — getting the right people aligned and empowered
• The spirit of Detroit — where resilience, collaboration, and innovation fuel growth
• Why connection is becoming a competitive advantage — through experiences, partnerships, and storytelling
• Hard-earned leadership lessons — embracing failure, staying grounded, and leading with authenticity

Youtube: https://youtu.be/7eiI7tqLBto

Connect with Kimberly Blair: linkedin.com/in/kimberly-blair-757b3239
Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum

This week, we’re joined by Matt Elliott, former President of Bank of America Michigan and Founder of Blue Lake Ideas, bringing 35+ years of leadership experience across commercial banking and capital markets.

We sat down with Matt to discuss:
• Why leadership today isn’t about strategy alone, it’s about building the capacity to execute in an increasingly complex, fast-moving world.
• The “Power of AND” — moving beyond binary thinking to unlock better decisions, stronger teams, and sustainable growth.
• How great leaders create space, not just direction, it's empowering teams through trust, clarity, and shared ownership.
• Why culture truly does eat strategy for lunch and how misalignment shows up when organizations are under pressure.
• Communication as the ultimate differentiator from the boardroom to early-career professionals entering the workforce.
• Practical leadership tools like pausing with intention, running small experiments, and embracing uncertainty instead of avoiding it.

📺 Youtube (Full Video): https://youtu.be/1L6vvgRlZmU

Connect with Matt Elliott: linkedin.com/in/matt-elliott-4866b58
Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum

This week, we’re joined by Andy Neary, Founder of Complete Game Consulting, and a leading voice in modern sales strategy and personal branding.

We sat down with Andy to discuss:
• The biggest shift in sales since 2020 — why business is no longer about who you know, but who knows you!
• Why traditional outreach is losing effectiveness and how attention, not activity, is now the name of the game.
• Building a personal brand that attracts opportunities.
• The power of consistency — why the most successful sales professionals block time every week to prospect, nurture relationships, and grow their visibility.
• AI vs. authenticity — how to use AI to support your strategy without losing the human connection buyers are craving.

📺 Youtube (Full Video): https://lnkd.in/eycdXgDi

Connect with Andy Neary: linkedin.com/in/andyneary
Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum

We sat down with Laurie Harbour with Wipfli to discuss:
• The real state of manufacturing — mixed signals in the market, uncertainty around tariffs, and pockets of strong growth across the industry.
• Margin compression and post-COVID cost pressures — why many manufacturers are seeing higher costs, softer revenues, and the importance of controlling what you can.
• Diversification strategies for suppliers — expanding into adjacent markets, rethinking sales strategies, and actively hunting for new opportunities.
• Cash flow as the lifeblood of manufacturing — why tracking and managing cash is more critical than ever for small and mid-sized suppliers.

Full YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/ZqTYimWK0Gg

Connect with Laurie Harbour: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-harbour-264a253/
Connect with Matt Allison: linkedin.com/in/allisonmatt
Connect with Brad Metzger: linkedin.com/in/bradlmetzger
Cashflow Chronicles Open Forum: linkedin.com/company/cashflow-chronicles-open-forum