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In this episode of Chasing the Margin, Troy sits down with Marcel Brunel, co-founder of Dignity Inc., to explore the powerful intersection of business, leadership, and emotional intelligence. Marcel breaks down how his work with police, fire, and EMS shows that emotions drive performance, culture, and decision-making in every organization, not just public safety. He explains why understanding dignity, emotional regulation, and the human response system can transform communication, strengthen leadership, and prevent burnout at every level of a business.

Marcel takes these lessons beyond first responders and shows how emotional competency is one of the most overlooked competitive advantages in entrepreneurship. He shares practical frameworks that help leaders navigate stress, build resilient teams, and create environments where people feel seen and valued. Whether you run a business, manage people, or want to better understand yourself, this conversation delivers actionable insights that expand the way you think about work, relationships, and the emotional foundations behind success.

In this episode, Troy sits down with Shaun, a master franchiser who has built and scaled a thriving cleaning franchise from the ground up. Shaun breaks down what most people think franchising is versus what it actually takes to build a profitable, sustainable system. He shares the realities behind supporting franchise owners, maintaining quality across locations, and building a service based business that clients trust over and over again.

From operational discipline to customer experience, Shaun pulls back the curtain on how to scale a service model without losing your standards. Whether you’re considering franchising, looking to grow a service business, or simply want a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to manage dozens of owners and thousands of clients, this episode gives you actionable insight you can use right away.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brian Nwannunu, a private-practice orthopedic surgeon who built his career on equal parts passion, discipline, and vision. He walks us through his path into medicine, the defining moments that shaped him as a surgeon, and the mindset that kept him grounded through the intensity of training and the realities of patient care. Brian opens up about the parts of medicine that lit him up from day one, and the moments that forced him to evolve.

But this conversation goes far beyond the operating room. Brian shares how his love for entrepreneurship emerged alongside his medical career, the opportunities he created by thinking like a business owner, and the calculated risks that led him to where he is today. Whether you’re in business, healthcare, or just hungry for stories of grit and growth, this episode delivers actionable insights on building a career, and a life, that aligns with your passions and your purpose.

This week on Chasing the Margin, we sit down with Paul Dietzler, an entrepreneur whose path weaves through hospitality, home improvement, and a whole lot of community impact. As the owner of Expo Home Improvement, Paul brings a people-first leadership style shaped by his early days in hospitality, and it shows in the way he builds teams, serves customers, and grows with intention.

Outside of Expo, Paul created Cerulean Blue Coffee House in Flower Mound, a cozy community hub built around great coffee and making an impact in the lives of farmers who source their coffee. He’s also a driving force behind Collective Way, a nonprofit bringing together business leaders and local organizations to make a real difference in the community. In this episode, Paul opens up about what motivates him, how he balances business with purpose, and why leading with heart can change everything. Tune in for a warm, insightful conversation that just might shift how you think about entrepreneurship.

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dawn Clarke, a seasoned entrepreneur who built and sold a thriving franchise business and launched multiple successful ventures along the way. Her career is rooted in knowing how to grow, systemize, and scale companies from the inside out, and she’s carried those lessons into every business she’s touched. Dawn’s journey is a masterclass in smart leadership, intentional growth, and building businesses that can truly run on their own.

Today, Dawn channels that expertise as a certified EOS Implementer, guiding leadership teams through the Entrepreneurial Operating System to create clarity, accountability, and measurable traction. In this conversation, she breaks down how EOS transforms organizations by aligning vision, strengthening teams, and building processes that actually stick. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how EOS works and what it can do for the future of your business.

Most entrepreneurs spend their lives building wealth, but few take the time to protect it. In this episode of Chasing the Margin, estate planning attorney Mark Auten breaks down what really happens to your business, assets, and family when you don’t have a plan in place. He explains how simple legal strategies can prevent future financial chaos, protect your legacy, and ensure that what you’ve built actually lasts.

Mark shares what every business owner should know about wills, trusts, and succession planning, plus the common mistakes that cost families millions. Whether you’re scaling a company or just starting to build wealth, this conversation will change how you think about ownership, protection, and the future of your success.

In this episode of Chasing the Margin, we sit down with Lindsay Polyak, founder of Tax Credit Collective, to break down one of the most overlooked profit opportunities for small businesses — tax credits. Lindsay shares how entrepreneurs can tap into federal and state programs that often go unused, from R&D credits to energy incentives to the crazy Wild West known as the employee retention credit.

We talk through how these credits directly impact your bottom line, why so many business owners miss out, and what simple steps you can take to claim what’s already available to you. Whether you’re a startup or a growing company, this conversation will help you uncover hidden cash flow and put more margin back where it belongs — in your business.

From military service to business ownership, Sean Turner has turned discipline and purpose into a thriving entrepreneurial mission. He went from protecting people via the military to protecting them in the healthcare and insurance space. As the founder of Buffer Insurance, he’s built a company that challenges the traditional model, bringing clarity, transparency, and real strategy to how businesses protect their teams. His approach goes beyond policies and premiums. It's about helping business owners use benefits as a true tool.

In this episode of Chasing the Margin, Sean breaks down what most people get wrong about health insurance and how employers can use better plan design to attract talent. It’s an honest look at the realities of modern healthcare and how business leaders can take back control.

Your success starts with your body. Jace Rhoden, a registered dietitian and performance trainer, breaks down how high performers can build stronger routines around food, movement, and mindset.

From working with pro athletes to everyday clients, Jace reveals what separates short-term diets from long-term results and how small shifts in nutrition can transform energy and output. It’s a practical roadmap for anyone looking to optimize health, performance, and profit. Whether you’re chasing personal records or chasing margins, this conversation will help you rethink how you fuel your performance.

Marty Carney built his companies around one idea, data drives everything. From consulting to cutting-edge tech, he’s evolved alongside every major shift in the digital world. In this episode, Marty shares how staying adaptable and data-focused became the foundation for lasting success.

We dive into how AI is changing business, the difference between innovation and noise, and why understanding your data is the real competitive edge. Marty dives into how data can make an impact even in complicated areas such as mergers and acquisitions. He discusses how his company made a huge impact for one of its clients just by providing accurate data models when they were looking to acquire.