We’re living in uncertain economic times, but where are we headed, and how can small businesses protect themselves? The media doesn't always provide accurate information or sound counsel. That’s why we’ve invited Corey Chambas, President & CEO at First Business Financial Services, Inc., to give us the facts.

Corey breaks down everything from what’s happening with the banking crisis, why it’s happened, if we should be worried about our own banks, and what to do moving forward to ensure we’re safe and secure. Corey provides practical advice on how to be consistent, calm, and ready amidst the economic crisis.

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“This recession has been forecasted for a long time, everyone's seen it coming... but that doesn’t mean things have to get worse for a given business. It depends on how you react to the situation. Did you prepare and plan? And can you play offense when others are playing defense?” 

- Corey Chambas, First Business Financial Services, Inc.

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

As a small business owner, tax season can be daunting; but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode of The Fast Break, we break down what can sometimes seem like an overwhelming topic into actionable steps toward a more profitable tax season this year and for years to come.

Chase Inda, Tax Partner at Baker Tilly, has worked at Baker Tilly since 2006 and while you may have never heard the words “passion” and “taxes” strung together in a sentence before, it surely reigns true with Chase. His passion is clear as he shares the wisdom he’s learned over the years and supplies tactics for small businesses during tax season. Throughout the episode, Chase discusses actionable items such as minimizing payroll taxes and maximizing deductions, and he touches on some of those confusing acronyms like “ERC” and “PPP” and how they affect your business. So, tune in “now, for tomorrow.”

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“Now, make sure your foundation is set in the current and be ready to change. We are in a world that–even in the tax code world and even more so for business owners–change is immediate. Tomorrow is really the right narrative.” 

- Chase Inda, Tax Partner at Baker TIlly

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

In today’s episode, we’re joined by M3 Elevate team members James VanBuskirk, Starie Thompson, Jennifer Vanderlip, and Virginia Van Haren. The team shares their insights and experiences on a variety of topics from business insurance, employee benefits, personal lines, and Medicare.

The team provides real stories from real businesses employing effective offensive and defensive tactics, and discuss the strategies your business should implement in 2023 to optimize growth and protection.

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Timestamps:

• Setting up the defense you actually need–not what you thought you needed

• 03:44 The importance of disability insurance

• 09:40 The importance of benefits in regard to retention

• 16:58 Using employee benefits to set your business apart 

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“What we’ll typically do for playing defense is incorporate that offense as well. We’ll talk through your company... the setup, what your ownership structure looks like... what does your typical year–or month or day or week– look like, and then build a program... to address everything, it’s going to address all of the risks, not just what you currently have or not just what your contracts say."

- James VanBuskirk, Account Executive & M3 Elevate Business Insurance Lead

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Fast Break is hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate

Today’s episode is a special one. Not only are we featuring a giveaway, but get some great advice about being a responsible business leader from Matt Neumann, Chief Executive Officer at Neumann Companies, Inc. If you’re a business owner or manager looking to make an impact, this episode is for you.

As a second-generation family business owner, Matt is committed and recognizes the long-term approach to business growth and investment. Matt was awarded 40 under 40 by the Business Journal, Professional Builder, and Midwest Renewable Energy News, and was recently awarded the Wisconsin Way Future Leader of the Year.

Throughout the episode, Matt shares insight on what has made him a successful leader, from the top attribute a leader needs to have to the steps business leaders need to take in their businesses to stay relevant.

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“A sustainable business is also one that’s giving back from the profit it earns."

- Matt Neumann, CEO - Neumann Companies, Inc.

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Fast Break is hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate

Jason Ilstrup, President at Downtown Madison Inc., joins us to share the benefits of a thriving downtown–both for businesses and individuals alike.

Members of a downtown community (whether as a business or as an individual) can stand to gain a lot from this episode. Jason shares two real-life examples of businesses that effectively use his two favorite offensive strategies: creating a unique experience and using omnichannel techniques. And he discusses powerful questions business owners need to ask themselves as they prepare their defensive strategy such as, “How do we survive now to thrive in the future?”

Jason will also cover the four pillars of a prosperous downtown, the benefits of a thriving downtown, and how members of the community can contribute and benefit from their own downtown.

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“Successful downtowns are all about people. They’re about people living here, working here, playing here, visiting here from other cities. Downtowns are a place where people connect, where they socialize, where they do work and that is the network effect.” 

- Jason Ilstrup, Downtown Madison, Inc.

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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate

Laura Gallagher, Founder and President of The Creative Company and the author of #180in120 - How to Recharge Your Business in 120 Days, leads one of Madison's most respected PR and digital agencies. Having launched the Creative Company in 1989, Laura has a ton of experience marketing for businesses and was recently awarded IB Madison's Dane County Small Business of the Year in 2022.

In this episode, Laura shares her wisdom by telling us the offensive and defensive strategies her business uses to stay relevant. She'll teach you how to deliver a compelling story to your audience, how marketing has evolved, and what you need to do to be effective with your marketing strategies in 2023.

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“You have to think about it from their perspective, not from your own perspective. What would you want to know? If you didn't know anything about your brand, what would you need to know? What would be most important? What would be compelling? What would make you want to step into that story and make a call or find out more?” 

- Laura Gallagher, The Creative Company

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

Keegan Meuer, owner and manager of the iconic State Street Brats in Madison, joins us to discuss the rollercoaster that is owning a business. Though difficult and frustrating at times, ultimately, it can be extremely rewarding.

Throughout Fast Break, we’ve heard some really great insights into the offensive and defensive strategies of owning a business, but we have to say that Keegan shares some of our favorite defensive tactics. Managing a restaurant comes with unique twists and turns on its own, but adding a pandemic to the mix certainly can throw a wrench into things if you let it. In this episode, Keegan joins us to share his three keys to staying successful amidst adversity.

1. Starting from the bottom and building up (2:24)

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- Keegan Meuer, State Street Brats

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

Zach Brandon, President of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, and Matt Cranney, sit down to discuss the importance of supporting small and growing businesses. The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce aims to help companies to play both offense and defense by providing the resources they wouldn't otherwise have.

Throughout the episode, Zach provides real-life examples of businesses that have played offense and defense effectively; and how others can too. One of these critical insights is at the core of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce: BEAM (brand, economy, advocacy, and members), an acronym Zach explains in the episode to help you unlock a greater growth mindset.

“If you think of soccer as sort of a metaphor for life or business. You’re watching the ball move sideways or backwards. It always isn’t just a press. You’re not always just pushing the ball forward you’re moving the ball in different directions because you’re trying to create space you looking for openings are looking for opportunity I think that to me that’s the growth mindset, it’s a movement mindset, less of a straightforward mindset.”

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

Now more than ever, it's critical to find and retain quality talent. But it's more than that; you must also sustain demands, be efficient, engage, and meet goals. But as many of us know, this is easier said than done. That's why we've invited Business Psychologist and Co-founder of Ascend Talent Strategies, Julie Unite, to discuss finding and retaining talent.

Ascend Talent Strategies is an organization that helps businesses "harness the power of people," And in this episode, Julie shares just how to do that. Julie and Matt dive into what it means to find quality talent, including the changes to finding and retaining talent post-covid, the importance of culture, and ultimately how to find a good culture fit for your company.

“Move away from having a transactional relationship with your talent… You really need to tap into ‘what are the needs of the individual?’ and then ‘what are the needs of the company?’ and ‘how can you find the happy medium there?’”  - Julie Unite, PhD, Ascend Talent Strategies

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

Joe Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer at Vortex Optics, joins us for part two of our conversation with him. In this episode, Joe covers the importance of the core values behind Vortex Optics, and how customer satisfaction is everything when it comes to managing a successful business. So tune in to learn how to make your customer the hero.

Vortex Optics is a family-owned and operated business determined to change the status quo by putting customers at the center of everything they do. If you haven’t heard part one, check it out to learn about the origin story of Vortex®, advice for those working for a family business, and the calculated risks businesses should take to stay relevant.

“Don't hire people & train your core values into them. Hire people who already have them. You will be better for it, your people will be better for it, they'll thank you - and your organization will run a lot smoother.” – Joe Hamilton, Vortex Optics

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