Celebrating Small Family Businesses

In this episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses, we sit down with Mike and Roggen Frick, the father-and-son team behind Bear Iron Works, a fast-growing manufacturing company serving the civil construction industry nationwide.

What started as a few handmade rock screens turned into a full-scale operation—launched during COVID—built on trust, clear roles, strong culture, and smart systems. Mike and Roggen share how they’ve grown Bear Iron Works while working remotely, applying corporate principles without losing the heart of a family business.

This conversation is full of practical insights for family business owners, contractors, and anyone navigating growth without sacrificing relationships.

1. How Bear Iron Works got started—almost by accident
2. Turning a side hustle into a scalable manufacturing business
3. Launching and growing during COVID
4. Separating family roles from business roles
5. Running operations remotely without losing quality or culture
6. Cash flow challenges and the shift to e-commerce
7. Applying corporate principles in a small family business
8. Building trust across generations
9. What’s next for Bear Iron Works

Bear Iron Works designs and manufactures heavy-duty equipment for the civil construction industry, including grizzly rock screens, bedding boxes, concrete washout tubs, tracking pads, and more. Their products are built in the U.S. and shipped nationwide.

🌐 Website: https://bearironworks.net

💸 Listener Discount

Use code CELEBRATE for 5% off your entire order.

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bearironworks/
2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearIronWorks
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearironworks/
4. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bearironworks

00:00:00 – Introduction to Bear Iron Works and the Frick family

00:01:00 – How Bear Iron Works first got started

00:02:00 – Building grizzly rock screens during college

00:04:00 – Restarting the business during COVID

00:05:00 – Early growth and first major customers

00:07:00 – Running the business remotely

00:09:00 – Separating family and business roles

00:12:00 – Growing up in construction and learning in the field

00:15:00 – Standing out in the construction management world

00:16:00 – Being offered buyouts—and saying no

00:18:00 – Cash flow challenges during rapid growth

00:20:00 – Moving to e-commerce to stabilize cash flow

00:23:00 – What Mike and Roggen have learned about each other

00:25:00 – Trust, leadership, and letting the next generation lead

00:27:00 – Applying corporate principles in a family business

00:30:00 – Company culture and the four-day work week

00:32:00 – What’s next for Bear Iron Works

00:35:00 – Final advice for small and family business owners

If you enjoyed this episode:

1. 👍 Like and subscribe on YouTube
2. 🎧 Follow the podcast on your favorite listening platform
3. ⭐ Leave a review to help more people find the show
4. 🔁 Share this episode with a fellow small or family business owner

In this episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses, we are joined by the dynamic husband-and-wife duo, Andrea and Ray Bryant. Their story is the perfect example of how one closed door can lead to a much better open one.

Andrea shares her journey from a burned-out second-grade teacher to a real estate flipper, and finally, to the owner of Staged Right LLC. You’ll hear the incredible story of how they almost bought an existing staging business, only to discover red flags (and a "mean" owner) that made them run in the opposite direction. Instead of buying a legacy of bad vibes, they bought a U-Haul and started from scratch!

Ray joins the conversation to talk about his role as the supportive spouse with a W2 job, the "Sanford and Son" days of their early inventory, and why he knew Andrea could succeed before she believed it herself.

We also dive into the nitty-gritty of scaling a family business, including how Andrea built a team so trustworthy that she was able to take a one-month vacation while the business kept humming.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Career Pivot: Moving from the pressure of standardized testing in schools to the creativity of home staging.
• Due Diligence: The story of shadowing a business owner for two months and realizing you shouldn't buy their company.
• The "Ray" Factor: How to balance a full-time job while supporting your spouse’s new entrepreneurial venture (and doing the heavy lifting!).
• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Why "I don't know how to do that" shouldn't stop you.
• The "Clockwork" Moment: How Andrea successfully stepped away for a month-long vacation without the business falling apart.
• Giving Back: How Staged Right uses their inventory to support The Joshua House, a local shelter for abused and neglected children.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Book Recommendation: Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz (John’s pick for business systems!)
• Charity Spotlight: The Joshua House

Connect with Staged Right:

• Website: https://stagedrightllc.com/
• Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/stagedrightllc

A Note from John & Connie:

We loved Andrea’s advice at the end: "You can do more than you think you can do." Sometimes, it just takes a supportive partner and a little push to realize your own potential. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review!

00:00 Introduction to Staged Right LLC

00:38 Andrea's Journey from Teaching to House Flipping

01:13 The Unexpected Opportunity

02:10 Starting Staged Right LLC

03:43 Challenges and Early Successes

05:31 The Importance of Staging in Real Estate

07:53 Personal Stories and Lessons Learned

13:34 Balancing Business and Personal Life

16:53 Reflecting on Career Choices

17:36 Learning About Each Other

19:19 Advice for Couples in Business

20:00 Balancing Business and Personal Life

21:04 The Joy of Staging

22:43 Charity Work and Giving Back

23:56 Building a Self-Sustaining Business

31:05 Encouragement for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

We had such a blast sitting down with Hank and Sharyn Yuloff of Yuloff Creative Marketing Solutions! This husband-and-wife team has been coaching small businesses for over 30 years, and their energy is absolutely infectious.

What we loved most about this conversation was how real they kept it. From Hank's origin story (involving his mom, a fax machine, and a fateful Thanksgiving dinner) to Sharyn's journey from HR management to becoming a powerhouse business coach, these two prove that the best business partnerships start with genuine friendship and mutual respect.

They share relatable insights about why small businesses struggle, the real difference between working IN your business versus ON your business, and why you absolutely do NOT need a logo, website, or fancy social media presence to land your first client. (Yes, really!)

We also dug into the challenges of working with your spouse, the importance of getting coaching (even when you think you can do it all yourself), and how to actually take a vacation when you ARE the business.

Hank and Sharyn Yuloff bring a unique perspective to small business marketing. Hank is a targeted marketing tactician with over 35 years of experience helping small businesses grow bigger. Sharyn's expertise spans business affairs, HR, and online marketing. Together, they've created Yuloff Creative Marketing Solutions, offering complete traditional and technological marketing plans for small companies who never thought they could afford a Chief Marketing Officer.

They teach Small Business Breakthrough Bootcamp intensives and run a coaching program where they work two-on-one with business owners on sales, marketing, HR, and systems. Their clients call them their "Business Easy Button." They're also authors of eight best-selling business books with two more on the way!

CONNECT WITH HANK AND SHARYN:

🔗 Free 30-minute consultation: HowToGetThereFaster.com

📚 Check out their eight best-selling business books on Amazon

www.YuloffCreative.com

Facebook Page @YuloffCreative

Instagram @YuloffCreative

YouTube Channel www.YouTube.com/YuloffCreative

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

Their motto says it all: "If everything happens for a reason, be the reason things happen."

We absolutely loved this conversation and know you will too. If you're a small business owner feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just ready to take things to the next level, Hank and Sharyn's wisdom is exactly what you need to hear.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Welcome and introductions - Meeting Hank and Sharyn Yuloff

04:00 The fax machine, Mom's advice, and starting a business on Thanksgiving

08:00 Why HR is just internal marketing

16:00 What they've learned about each other working together daily

19:00 Founder syndrome and why nonprofits ARE businesses

24:00 You don't need a logo or website to get your first client - Just start!

26:00 The reality check - You'll work harder but it's more rewarding

32:00 Serving your life, not serving your business - Taking real vacations

38:00 What's next and how to connect with Hank and Sharyn

#FamilyBusiness #BusinessCoaching #MarketingTips #CouplesInBusiness #MarketingStrategy #HRForSmallBusiness #WorkingWithYourSpouse #YuloffCreative

We had such a blast sitting down with the dynamic duo behind Real Estate Corral Investors Network - Clifford and Brandy Walker from Dallas, Texas! This episode is packed with genuine wisdom, humor, and real-world advice from a couple who transformed their lives from a truck driver and teacher into successful real estate investors and educators.

What We Discovered: ✅ How a podcast changed everything for this trucking family ✅ The "secret sauce" to ethical real estate investing ✅ Why serving others beats low-balling every time ✅ How to handle the ups and downs of entrepreneurship as a couple ✅ The ice cream strategy for difficult conversations (seriously!) ✅ Building wealth through wholesaling, fix & flips, and rentals

Clifford and Brandy shared their journey of discovery with refreshing honesty - from cutting coupons and stretching dollars to building a thriving real estate education business. Their approach focuses on serving sellers in tough situations rather than taking advantage, proving that you can do well by doing good in real estate.

Key Takeaways We Loved: 

• Focus on serving rather than just selling

• "It'll all work itself out" - faith-based business approach

• Embrace different working styles in partnerships

• Make business fun, even during stressful seasons

• Match real estate strategies to current financial needs

• Ice cream makes every difficult conversation better!

The Walkers prove that with the right mindset, strong partnership, and genuine desire to help others, you can build both wealth and impact. Their story will inspire anyone looking to start a family business or break into real estate investing.

Connect with Real Estate Corral: 

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/cliffordthecowboycloser

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/cliffordthecowboycloser/

YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@CliffordTheCowboyCloser

Clifford's book on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Roadmap-Success-Driver-Estate-Investor/dp/B0BCZTFKSD/

🕐 TIMESTAMPS:

[00:00] Welcome & Introductions - We meet the Walkers

[01:00] From Truck Driver to Real Estate - The Origin Story

[03:00] The Secret Sauce - Why Service Beats Sales

[06:00] Creating Win-Win Situations in Real Estate

[08:30] Brandy's Transition from Teaching to Real Estate

[09:30] Discovering Each Other's "Cowboy" Tendencies

[12:00] The Challenge of Delegation in Family Business

[13:30] Making Business Fun During Volatile Times

[16:00] Personal Growth Through Entrepreneurship

[18:00] Why Most Business is About Solving Problems

[20:00] Staying Present During Difficult Seasons

[22:00] Business as Personal Development Vehicle

[25:00] Learning from Community Members

[27:00] Managing Revenue Volatility in Real Estate

[30:00] Division of Roles & Playing to Strengths

[31:00] The Ice Cream Strategy for Difficult Conversations

[33:00] What's Next - Publishing & Scaling Impact

[35:00] Nationwide Community Building

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses! Today we're featuring Sugar and Spice in Las Vegas - a family business with a powerful mission that creates gourmet chocolate-coated peanut butter balls.

We had the pleasure of chatting with the Long family: Sheri and John Long, along with their children Aston, Keilani, and Alexis. What started as a teacher's side hustle in Southern California has grown into an award-winning Las Vegas chocolatier that provides meaningful employment opportunities for foster youth who have aged out of the system and individuals with developmental disabilities.

• 
  
• 🏆 Gold Winner - Best of Las Vegas 2024 Chocolatier (3 years running!)
• 
  
• 
  
• 🎯 Mission-Driven Business - Employing foster youth and individuals with autism
• 
  
• 
  
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 True Family Teamwork - Each family member has found their unique role
• 
  
• 
  
• 🏈 Surprise Ending - How they won Super Bowl tickets!
• 
  
• 
  
• ☕ Big Dreams - Their goal to get into Starbucks nationwide

This episode showcases the power of family teamwork, the importance of having a mission beyond profit, and how a small business can make a big impact in their community. Whether you're a family business owner or just love inspiring entrepreneurship stories, this episode has something for everyone!

• 
  
• [00:00:00] Introduction and welcome
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:01:00] The origin story - from teacher side hustle to full-time business
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:02:00] Starting in Nevada right before COVID
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:04:00] Awards and recognition, including Best of Las Vegas
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:05:00] What they love about working as a family
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:09:00] How each family member discovered their strengths
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:13:00] The importance of making participation a choice
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:18:00] How Sheri's teaching background helped
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:21:00] Overcoming their biggest challenge - COVID
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:28:00] Corporate gifts and cross-promotion strategies
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:33:00] Super Bowl and F1 opportunities in Las Vegas
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:35:00] The viral Super Bowl ticket surprise video
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:36:00] Future plans and expansion goals
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:42:00] Celebrating small wins on the path to big dreams
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:44:00] Advice for other family businesses
• 
  
• 
  
• [00:45:00] Where to find Sugar and Spice
• 
  

• Instagram: @sugarandspicelasvegas (their biggest platform)
• 
  
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sugarandspicesales/#
• 
  
• TikTok: @sugarandspicelasvegas
• 
  
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sugarandspicesaleslasvegas/
• 
  
• Website: https://sugarandspicelasvegas.com
• 
  

Gourmet chocolate peanut butter balls available in 4-count and 12-count boxes, featuring smooth chocolate coating with a "surprise crunch" inside. Available at various locations throughout Las Vegas, Reno, Mesquite, and expanding to Texas and Manhattan!

Hey everyone! In this episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses, Connie and I sit down with our friends Ron and Lori Genna from Hudson Duct Cleaning in Hudson, Florida to showcase their passion in action!

We've known Ron and Lori through networking groups for some time and are happy customers of their business. They share the fascinating story of how they started their duct sanitizing business about four and a half years ago, right around the time COVID hit.

Ron explains how his networking connection with Dan Chapman led him from Uber driving to owning a limited partnership in this innovative business that focuses on sanitizing rather than traditional duct cleaning.

What makes their approach special is they don't use the typical brushes and vacuum systems - instead they use a sanitizing method that kills mold, bacteria, fungus, and viruses. Ron and Lori share some amazing success stories from customers who've experienced significant health improvements after getting their ducts sanitized.

Learn about their entrepreneurial background in real estate investing, how they've identified their complementary business roles, and their expansion into commercial properties.

They also discuss the serious health impacts of mold exposure and why proper duct sanitization is so important for your health.

Check out Hudson Duct Cleaning at hudsonductcleaning.com or call them at (727) 755-8060.

0:00 Introduction to Ron and Lori Genna

3:40 From Uber to Duct Sanitizing Business

6:50 Starting the Business During COVID

7:40 Their Unique Sanitizing Approach

11:50 Customer Success Stories

20:30 Background in Real Estate Investing

23:35 Complementary Business Roles

33:20 Health Impacts of Mold Exposure

37:10 Expansion into Commercial Properties

#SmallBusinessPodcast #FamilyBusiness #DuctCleaning #MoldPrevention #HealthyHome #FloridaBusiness #EntrepreneurStories #AirQuality #COVID19Business

In this episode of 'Celebrating Small Family Businesses,' hosts John and Connie Kuder interview Kimeyo Daniels and his two sons, Chunky and George, who form the backbone of Kimeyo Records, a hip-hop music label based in Los Angeles.

Kimeyo shares his journey of becoming a recording artist and producer, starting from his early interests in hip-hop to establishing Kimeyo Records. Both sons discuss their roles in the business: Chunky as a music creator and George as a producer. They elaborate on the mentor-student dynamic with their father and the evolution of their music production skills.

The episode explores the balance of family and business, touching on the old-school versus new-school methods of music production, their creative processes, and future aspirations. The family's collaborative spirit and individual visions illustrate a shared commitment to their craft.

Together, they highlight the importance of passion, persistence, and mutual respect in achieving success.

The episode concludes with insights into their upcoming projects and distribution plans via CD Baby.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:18 Meet Kimeyo Daniels and Family

00:36 The Start of Kimeyo Records

01:45 Chunk's Musical Journey

03:07 George's Role in the Business

05:23 Kimeyo's Early Career and Inspirations

06:54 The Move to Miami and Production Evolution

08:48 Return to Cali and Continued Growth

15:54 Navigating the Music Business

20:59 Old School vs. New School: Family Dynamics

27:37 Exploring Personal Work Preferences

28:48 Family Dynamics in Business

30:02 Creative Differences and Collaboration

32:27 Respecting Individual Creative Processes

42:22 Future Plans and Aspirations

47:43 Life Lessons and Reflections

51:27 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Releases

In this episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses, we sat down with Jim Jessup and his partner to learn about their business, Ready Roofing. They are in our home state of Florida, in Jacksonville.

Jim is a 3rd generation of his family in construction, having worked for both his grandfather and his uncle. However, Jim started his roofing business from scratch. What attracted him to roofing was the short duration of the projects.

His partner has built her own business in the past with a strong customer service focus. She has real estate sales and marketing experience, has done flipping, and has recruited for real estate agencies. This experience makes her perfect for Ready Roofing’s outreach to local real estate agents.

Together, they make a very strong team. As they talked about how they run the business, it was obvious that they care a lot about their team and about serving their customers. The importance of listening and clear communication in both areas was emphasized.

A highlight for us was learning about the solar shingles that Ready Roofing offers. The surprising part was that because the shingles are part of the roof, the tax credit extends to the whole roof, even though the solar shingles only cover part of the total roof area.

Listeners will find this couple to be very genuine and relatable, with lots of helpful tips for building a solid business with a healthy balance between family and business.

Contact Ready Roofing at https://readyroofingjax.com/

00:00 Introduction to Ready Roofing

00:25 Jim's Journey into Construction

03:32 Impact of Hurricanes on Business

04:45 Michele's Role and Marketing Strategies

10:58 Exploring Solar Shingles

15:49 Working Together as a Couple

22:12 The Rise of Metal Roofs

22:55 Lessons Learned in Business

23:51 Navigating Commercial Roofing Challenges

24:50 Building a Strong Brand and Customer Relationships

36:39 The Importance of Communication

38:33 Final Thoughts and Advice

🎙️ Join us for an inspiring conversation with Alex and Jessica Fortis, owners of Exclusive Cleaning Services in Orlando! This dynamic husband-and-wife team shares their journey from corporate careers to building a thriving commercial cleaning business that truly puts people first.

Alex and Jessica's story is a masterclass in how to transition thoughtfully from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. Starting as a side hustle in 2018, they've grown to a team of 31 employees, all while maintaining their commitment to excellence and genuine care for their people.

What we love most about their approach is how they've created a culture of growth and development. From their robust six-step training program to Alex's heartfelt commitment to providing opportunities for others, you'll hear how they're redefining what it means to be not just business owners, but true leaders who lift others up.

Highlights include:

- How they made the leap from corporate careers (Alex in construction, Jessica in banking)

- Their unique approach to dividing responsibilities as a couple in business

- The power of understanding your role as a visionary or integrator

- Their faith-based approach to business growth

- How they've built systematic processes while keeping heart at the center

- Their exciting new venture: the "Married to the Hustle" podcast

Whether you're running a family business, thinking of starting one, or just love seeing how great leadership can transform lives, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. Don't miss Alex and Jessica's powerful message about building a business that serves both its clients and its team members with excellence!

Visit them at: ExclusiveCleaningSvcs.com

Check out Jessica's coaching at: jessrosario.com

Listen to their podcast: Married to the Hustle

00:00 Welcome to Celebrating Small Family Businesses

00:23 From New York to Florida: The Journey Begins

01:41 Starting Exclusive Cleaning Services

02:07 Jessica's Banking Background and Transition

03:55 Navigating the Janitorial Industry

05:52 Roles and Responsibilities in the Business

07:51 Vision and Strategy: Working Together

17:27 Challenges and Growth

21:51 Vision and Execution: Who Holds the Vision?

24:25 Training and SOPs: Building a Skilled Team

28:10 Hiring Process: Finding the Right Fit

29:32 Lessons Learned: Working Together

34:12 Challenges of Building a Business

35:43 Future Plans: Vision for Growth

38:03 Podcast and Mentorship: Married to the Hustle

39:31 Conclusion and Farewell

#FamilyBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #CouplesInBusiness

We had an amazing conversation with Dr. Carl and Terri Paige of the Medical Transformation Center in Louisville, Kentucky! This power couple shares their incredible journey from running a traditional medical practice to pioneering a cutting-edge cellular medicine approach.

They tell the story of how Terri's health challenges led them to completely transform their approach to medicine, transitioning from a 10,000-patient traditional practice to their current innovative model. We loved hearing how they've worked together since their junior high days (yes, really!) and how they've maintained both their marriage and business partnership through major transitions.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- How they built their first practice from scratch in 1992

- Why they made the bold decision to leave traditional insurance-based medicine

- Their secrets to successfully working together as spouses

- How they're revolutionizing patient care through cellular medicine

- Their valuable insights for other family business owners

Dr. Carl explains complex medical concepts in an accessible way, while Terri shares how she teaches these principles to their patients. Their passion for helping people achieve optimal health really shines through!

Whether you're in healthcare, running a family business, or just interested in innovative approaches to medicine, you won't want to miss this inspiring conversation about transformation and perseverance.

Visit them at: MedicalTransformationCenter.com

00:00 Introduction to Celebrating Small Family Businesses

00:04 Meet Terri and Dr. Carl Paige

00:24 Carl's Medical Journey

00:55 The Shift to Cellular Medicine

03:14 Terri's Health Crisis and New Approach

04:47 Integrating New Practices

05:57 Challenges with Traditional Medical Models

06:46 Starting Medical Transformation Center

07:51 Working Together as a Family

15:28 Teaching and Educating Patients

26:22 Future Plans and Expansion

29:54 Advice for Small Family Businesses