Fast Break

In the fast-paced world of small businesses, staying ahead of the competition means mastering efficiency and productivity. Leveraging cutting-edge IT services is no longer a luxury but a necessity for businesses aiming to streamline operations, enhance collaboration, and drive growth.

Imagine a seamless digital infrastructure where every task, from mundane to mission-critical, is optimized and automated, freeing up your team to focus on innovation and customer satisfaction.

In this episode of FastBreak, Matt sits down with Patrick Hanifin, a Sales Manager at Elevity, a managed IT services firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. They’ll discuss how, with the right Managed Service Provider, your business can transform into a powerhouse of productivity, setting new benchmarks in your industry.

In a single minute, more than 230 million emails are sent around the world. For businesses, this massive volume of information highlights how important it is to manage data appropriately. Handling data efficiently helps keep things running smoothly, protects sensitive information, and allows for better decision-making. Good data management boosts productivity, ensures data security, and helps businesses stay competitive. 

In this episode of Fast Break, Matt and his guests, Erik Vandermause (Vice President of Applied Intelligence), and Paul Krause (Data and Analytics Manger) explore how data-driven insights can drive strategic choices, enhance operational efficiency, and uncover new opportunities for growth. Tune in as they reveal the power of data in shaping the future of business success. 

In this episode of Fast Break, Matt and his guests, Beth Ridley (Founder & CEO of Ridley Consulting Group) and Alicia Kiser (Vice President of Human Resources at M3), discuss supporting employee authenticity and well-being, and building a work environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Tune to learn how to access language and resources you can use to help your work force feel accepted and appreciated.

Link to resources mentioned by Beth in this episode: ridleyconsultants.com/resources  

A strong brand can evoke emotion, and build trust, familiarity, and loyalty. But as a growing business with finite resources, figuring out how to create a recognizable name for your business on a tight budget is enough to keep you up at night. You need the confidence to build and articulate your brand, and to show up in a distinctly differentiated way in the market.

In this episode of Fast Break, Matt connects with Matt Sabljak (President, Partner at SRH) and Julie Redders (Vice President of Marketing at M3) as they share their secrets on how to craft a powerful brand identity, even on a shoestring budget. Tune for practical ways to make your brand stand out from the crowd without breaking the bank.

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“Brand is what anybody thinks of [you], it's not just a name and a logo… Here's who we are. Here's why we're valuable. Here's what we can do for you. Here's why you want to remember us and work with us.”  

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“A brand is the ultimate defense because while products can change rapidly, technology can change rapidly - what doesn't change rapidly is what people have in their brains, in their minds.”

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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

In building a successful business, it's essential to create sustainable HR processes that comply with regulations and best practices. But this can be overwhelming, and staying current is challenging. You don't have to do it alone, though. By getting the right people and partners on board for HR tasks, you can get back to focusing on growing your business.

In this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Jessica Subach (Client Solutions Manager) and Mike Beringer (HR Manager) from The Employer Group to discuss proactive strategies and practical tips for navigating the ever-changing HR landscape and building a secure foundation for your company's future. Whether you're a lean startup or part of a well-established larger company, tune in for valuable HR insight!

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“Don't forget the small things that make a big difference in HR: find ways to inspire across the organization, be present within the organization, create an open door policy to establish or develop trust within the organization, and think strategically to align HR to the organization's goals”  

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“When you find an opportunity. Whether it's policies or anything else, be willing to adapt.”

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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

As you navigate the ups and downs of running a small business, hitting those moments where things seem to stand still is totally normal. That's where having the right coaches becomes a game-changer for your success. These coaches can give you fresh perspectives, help you dodge common pitfalls, and make the journey to business growth a whole lot smoother. 

On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Brent & Kate Halfwassen, owners of Halfwassen & Associates, LLC and MKEbusinesscoach.com to discuss the importance of having coaches in your corner to help you navigate the path of growing your business. 

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“Seeing the whole picture is difficult. You're in the trenches. You're doing the thing. You're working hard...  we can see the whole field a little bit better for [you]. And… highlight aspects that maybe [you've} downplayed…  We are not just teaching the how to's and the tactical pieces, we are helping to deconstruct some things that are going on in the head that are wrong… So then [you] can see clearly and really understand [your] worth and value.”  

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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

It’s clear gener8tor – a nationally ranked venture capital firm and accelerator that brings together startup founders, investors, corporations, job seekers, universities, musicians, and artists – is on the move and deeply connected to the world of small and growing businesses. They envision communities achieving measurable and transformational growth through programming that enables equitable access and opportunity. 

On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Joe Kirgues, co-founder and managing director of gener8tor. They discuss ways the community can catalyze investments in local talent, the importance of mutual support among business owners, and strategic investment approaches for new and growing businesses to ensure future growth.  

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“We have this belief that opportunity is everywhere. It's born proportionately equally in every community and yet the opportunity to connect with capital with investment, with customers, isn't distributed everywhere. So how can we use our platform to bridge that gap? Across race, place and gender, we've tried to be as diverse as the communities we serve.”  

–   –  Joe Kirgues, Co-Founder & Managing Director of gener8tor 

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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Working collaboratively with local non-profits, businesses, community leaders, donors, and volunteers can solve big picture issues that no one person or organization can address alone. 

On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Renee Moe, CEO of United Way of Dane County to talk about why, as a small and growing business owner, you should be  thoughtful about your philanthropic strategy and the impact that your organization's giving can have on the community. Your involvement in building a stronger, healthier, and more connected community creates an environment where your business can thrive.  

"When people have the experience, and exposure, and leadership courage to help partner and lead change,

–  Renee Moe, CEO of United Way of Dane County 

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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

As rising claim costs result in increasing volatility throughout the market, personal insurance lines such as home, auto, and umbrella coverage are impacted as well. 

On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Jennifer Vanderlip, Amy Schroeder, and Kim Nichols from the M3 Elevate team for a personal insurance conversation. They discuss factors impacting the market today, including severe weather events, increasing car repair costs, and the rising cost of medical care. Tune in to learn what all this means for the future of the personal insurance market. 

"Insurers will likely start adding mitigation requirements on a consistent basis...

- Jennifer Vanderlip, Personal Lines Lead with M3 Elevate

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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

It’s open enrollment time for Individual Health plans. As a small business owner, you may have employees who need to shop the marketplace for a variety of reasons. However, the Individual Health Marketplace can be confusing to navigate. With all the different plan options out there, how can your employees know that they are choosing the best plan to fit their needs?   

On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Natalie Damro, an account executive on the M3 Elevate team who specializes in individual health. Matt and Natalie cover guidance for individuals across the employment spectrum whether someone's retiring early, a 1099 employee, or experiencing a gap in employment. Tune in to learn how Natalie works to simplify the complicated marketplace so you and your employees can feel confident in choices regarding individual health plans. 

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“Most individuals out there are scared of health insurance and kind of everything that it brings to the table. Most people don't have that resource and to ask the hard questions to or don't feel comfortable doing so. And that's what I'm here for.”   

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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.