ConversActions

Brandon and Erin Clare, owners of JM Watkins Meats in Plum City, Wisconsin, unpack what it really means to run a family-owned, USDA-certified meat processing facility – commonly called a ‘meat locker’ - serving farmers, families, and communities across the Midwest.

From a veterinary career and managing construction sites to processing 30 head of beef a week in a brand-new 10,300-square-foot facility, the Clare's share how grit, grant funding, and genuine community connection built something worth passing down to the next generation.

In this episode, we explore:

(02:09) From small-town roots to owning a meat locker

(05:48) Navigating grant funding to fuel major expansion

(10:10) How local processors compete against industry giants

(13:45) What USDA certification means for quality and trust

(16:33) Consumer trends shaping the future of local meat

(21:49) Lessons for family business owners on growth and operations

(26:46) Building a legacy with the next generation

Resources Mentioned:

JM Watkins Meats: https://www.jmwatkinsmeats.com/

Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors: https://wi-amp.com/

What if the secret to a better choir wasn't just more rehearsals, but smarter practice at home? In this episode, Matt Curtis, founder of Choral Tracks and former tenor and assistant music director for the world-renowned ensemble Chanticleer, reveals how a choir kid from La Crosse, Wisconsin, turned a summer experiment into one of the most influential tools in choral music today.

From recording Gregorian chant tracks as a college junior to navigating explosive growth during COVID, Matt shares how Choral Tracks is empowering singers of every level to practice with confidence, artistry, and joy, and where the platform is headed next.

In this episode, we explore:

(02:56) From choir kid to professional singer and entrepreneur

(06:41) Recording Gregorian chant tracks as a college side hustle

(09:39) How Choral Tracks helps singers practice outside of rehearsal

(12:30) What artistry really means in choral music

(17:35) Why healthy singing matters for amateur choir members

(24:52) How COVID sparked 150% year-over-year growth for Choral Tracks

(27:28) Using AI tools to manage over one million MP3s in the catalog

Resources Mentioned:

Choral Tracks: https://choraltracks.com/

Chanticleer: https://www.chanticleer.org/

What does it take to turn a historic 1886 church into a thriving wedding and events business? In this episode, Matt Curtis, founder of Capella Weddings and Events, sits down with Bill Mitchell to share how a background in music, an interest in real estate, and a willingness to take on a new challenge led him into the hospitality industry.

Matt shares what he’s learned about creating a seamless customer experience, building a team culture around hands-on leadership, and financing an ambitious renovation project. He also explains why patience and persistence matter when building a reputation, and how Capella’s new Sweet Beats Jazz and Dessert Lounge is helping turn the venue into a year-round destination for the La Crosse community.

In this episode, we explore:

(02:18) From professional singer to weddings and events entrepreneur

(03:45) Transforming an 1886 church into a thriving venue

(06:21) How changing trends are reshaping modern weddings

(07:28) Serving Millennial and Gen Z couples and families

(09:47) Turning history and location into competitive advantages

(10:46) Creating seamless events through detail and great staff

(13:13) Building culture through hands-on, lead-by-example leadership

(15:08) Financing a major project and planning for uncertainty

(17:45) Becoming a gathering place for the local community

(20:51) Creating year-round revenue with a jazz lounge

(23:32) Turning today’s guests into tomorrow’s wedding customers

(25:50) Courage, persistence, patience, and embracing entrepreneurial risk

Resources Mentioned:

Capella Weddings and Events: https://www.cappellaweddings.com/

What if one of the most important parts of our food system worked almost entirely while the rest of us were asleep? In this episode, James Hillmeyer, co-owner of LB Werks and a second-generation commercial beekeeper, takes us inside the demanding world of commercial pollination. He shares how healthy partnerships with growers, year-round hive nurturing, and a relentless commitment to customer service keep bees, farms, and America's food supply thriving despite rising environmental challenges.

In this episode, we explore:

(02:45) Growing up allergic in a beekeeping family

(03:37) How commercial pollination really works behind the scenes

(09:15) Following bees across America throughout the year

(12:21) Why grower relationships matter as much as hives

(17:23) The biggest threats facing honeybee populations today

(22:36) Why young people should still consider beekeeping

(27:23) Customer service lessons every business owner can apply

(31:23) Building a rewarding life through agriculture and family

Resources Mentioned

Wisconsin Honey Producers: https://wihoney.org/

WI Honey Producers Resources: https://wihoney.org/resources/

Youth Scholarship: https://wihoney.org/inside-whpa/youth-beekeeper-scholarship-program/

American Honey Producers Association: https://ahpanet.com/

What does it take to build a business people can count on when their plans fall apart? Kohl and Jessie Adamson of Cordell's Automotive have turned car trouble into community trust, expanding from one inherited shop to seven locations across Wisconsin and Minnesota.

In this episode, they share how they've built a business on "old school excellence" while navigating industry technology changes, creating a culture where team members work "in the trenches with the wrenches," and investing deeply in small-town communities through hands-on philanthropy that goes far beyond writing checks. Their motto? Be Quick, be clear and be kind.

In this episode, we explore:

(02:13) From one location to seven automotive shops

(04:33) Being there when customers need you most

(05:21) Working on the business versus in it

(08:30) Technology changes that customers don't realize exist

(13:31) Community investment philosophy and approach

(18:00) Communication across multiple locations

(20:12) Hard lessons from expansion and COVID challenges

Resources Mentioned

Cordell's Automotive: https://www.cordellsauto.net/

Onalaska YMCA Child Watch Center: https://www.laxymca.org/locations/houser-branch

What happens when passion meets practicality in the content creation world? In this episode, Steve Ray, Head of Brand Marketing at Foodist Films, takes us on an unexpected journey from driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to building a successful food videography business – and ultimately pivoting back to what truly matters.

From humble beginnings filming farmers markets in Austin, Texas, to creating content for household names like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and Siete Foods, Steve and his wife Alexandra built Foodist Films into a thriving visual content agency. But as the industry shifted toward six-second ads and algorithm-driven content, they found themselves further from the authentic food storytelling that originally inspired them. Now, they're using their video expertise to help people connect with something entirely different – the meditative world of tongue drums – rediscovering the joy of creating content that genuinely helps people.

In this episode, we explore:

(01:57) Meeting on the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and "Hot Dog High" training

(03:16) Building a food video business from a roommate's kitchen

(08:43) Standing out from visual clutter: why authenticity matters more than trends

(11:32) What food brands misunderstand about video content and the importance of trust

(14:18) The evolution from recipe videos to six-second ads and losing the creative spark

(18:50) Finding optimism through authentic connection

(23:45) Lessons on intuition, technology adoption, and knowing when to say no to opportunities

Resources Mentioned

Foodist Films: https://foodistfilms.com/team/

Root Rhythm: https://rootrhythm.com/

Root Rhythm sample YouTube video, Tongue Drum Tips for Beginners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vksWCdXUncM&t=156s

Information on Oscar Meyer Wienermobile drivers (Hotdoggers): https://omwienermobile.com/meatthehotdoggers.html

What does it take to compete with billion-dollar companies when you're a small business owner? In this episode, Nick Netley, founder of Sota Shine Car Wash, reveals how he's disrupting the booming car wash industry through bold innovation and calculated risks.

From selling the #1 Camp Bow Wow franchise in the United States to building what will be the world's longest car wash at 305 feet, Nick shares his journey of creating unique customer experiences that set his business apart from corporate giants. Broadcasting from his million-dollar self-service dog wash called Sota Pup, Nick discusses how he combines sustainability, customer experience, and creative thinking to build a competitive moat against private equity-backed competitors.

In this episode, we explore:

(02:15) From exercise science degree to dog daycare empire in Minnesota

(05:29) The million-dollar dog wash gamble and the power of animals

(07:51) Engineering complexity behind modern express car washes

(09:41) Building environmentally responsible washes with solar and water reclamation

(13:49) Finding diamond-in-the-rough employees/leadership lessons learned the hard way

(18:06) Creating customer experiences that build loyalty when things go wrong

(23:22) Success lessons on traffic counts, site selection, and taking calculated risks

(26:18) The fun of brainstorming and building something no one has seen before

Resources Mentioned

Sota Shine Car Wash

Sota Pup self-service dog wash

Camp Bow Wow franchise

WBD SBA Lending

SBA 504 loan program

How do you transform a 50-year-old metal foundry into a cutting-edge digital technology company? In this episode, Mike Klonsinski, President of Berntsen International, reveals how his company made the dramatic leap from forging metal survey markers to developing RFID-enabled smart infrastructure that connects the physical world to digital twin systems.

From providing Lewis and Clark Trail markers to enabling election security through digital tracking, Berntsen International has quietly evolved from a Wisconsin foundry into a technology innovator serving over 6,000 surveyors nationwide. Mike shares insights on managing dual businesses, fostering innovation in traditional industries, and why the future belongs to companies that can bridge the gap between physical assets and digital data systems.

In this episode, we explore:

(02:15) Berntsen International's origin story

(04:17) Shifting from shaping metal to communicating digital data

(06:09) How RFID gives physical infrastructure a digital signature

(08:53) Customer stories: Lewis and Clark Trail to 200-year mountain surveys

(11:47) Leadership: clear visions, small wins, and passionate consistency

(16:25) Connected survey markers in an AI-driven world

(18:22) Real-world uses: ballot bag tracking and chain of custody

(21:22) CEO lessons: aim 5-10 years ahead and look outside your industry

Resources Mentioned

Berntsen International

Geo Week

Esri GIS software platform

Dinosaur bone tracking video

What's the difference between surviving and thriving as a small business owner? In this episode, Tina Lockwood, co-founder of Lockwood Enterprises, reveals how proper financial structure and strategic thinking can transform a new or struggling business into a profitable, scalable enterprise.

From starting in their home office to establishing a brick-and-mortar presence after 15 years, Tina and her husband Doug have built a comprehensive accounting and business advisory firm that serves Wisconsin and Arizona. Their three-part approach – stabilize, strategize, and scale – has helped countless entrepreneurs move from "receipts in a paperclip" chaos to predictable profitability and compliance readiness.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Opening thoughts on peace of mind versus profit in business

(02:10) Tina's journey from home office to brick-and-mortar success

(03:25) The three-part structure of Lockwood Enterprises

(04:53) Scale Up Milwaukee program experience and networking benefits

(06:11) The power of mentorship through SCORE

(08:19) What business owners commonly overlook about their finances

(09:39) The stabilize, strategize, and scale process

(15:27) Success story: moving a client from crisis to profitability

(18:13) What drives their passion for client empowerment

(19:32) Leveraging AI in accounting and business advisory services

(21:54) Key lessons learned: structure, compliance, and mindset shifts

(25:27) Building a business for generational impact and legacy

Resources Mentioned

Scale Up Milwaukee: 10-week entrepreneurial development program

SCORE: Mentorship program for small business owners

SBA 504 loan program

Lockwood Enterprises

A great meal is about more than just the food – it’s about connection, seasonality, and a dash of storytelling. In this episode, Chef John Bogan, founder of the Lake Geneva School of Cooking, invites us behind the scenes of his high-energy kitchen and reveals how he’s reimagining culinary education by making it as welcoming as a gathering at home.

From humble roots on an upstate New York "farmette" to opening acclaimed restaurants and teaching classes that feel like family reunions, Chef John Bogan has built a culinary community that celebrates local farms, changing seasons, and the joy of cooking together.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Culinary evolution with Chef John Bogan

(05:03) Elevating your home cooking and culinary skills

(11:47) Why seasonal ingredients matter

(16:09) Food holidays and dining trends

(17:41) Restaurant dreams and hard lessons

(21:22) A chef’s emotional connection to food

(28:51) Reflecting on John’s journey and community support

Links mentioned in this episode:

Lake Geneva School of Cooking

Chef John Bogan’s Instagram

Recipes from the Seasons of My Life – Cookbook