Forged For Growth

Episode Summary

Reggie Johnson shares how he built a resilient communications career through purpose-driven work and strong relationships. Reggie walks through his early days in digital media and web standards, the shift from hands-on execution to strategy, and how earning a master’s degree helped him grow into leadership. After losing a job in 2020, he joined PRSA and reframed career security around “trusting your own wings,” not the branch. He and Brian discuss giving versus taking, why reputation compounds over time, and how AI and technology are changing human connection. Reggie closes with what he is focused on at UNT Health and how he thinks professionals can prepare for what comes next.

Key Takeaways
Early lessons in web standards and accessibility shaped Reggie’s long-term approach to managing content and communication strategy.

A professional network can be the difference between feeling stuck on one “branch” and having the confidence to move forward on your own.

Giving to others builds durable trust and learning opportunities that often create mutually beneficial relationships over time.

Small interactions and everyday respect matter because reputation travels, and the world can be smaller than it feels.

Technology can reduce awkward moments but also remove the openings that lead to new conversations, friendships, and opportunities.

Instead of obsessing over specific AI tools, Reggie emphasizes broader expertise, stronger thinking skills, and staying curious as the foundation.

Timeline
Early
00:00 Introduction and Reggie’s role at UNT Health
01:05 Early career in digital media, web standards, and accessibility
03:30 Shifting from hand-coding to content strategy, and returning for a master’s degree

Middle
04:55 Job loss in 2020 and realizing the cost of having no professional network
06:10 Joining PRSA, the “own wings” quote, and building reputation through service
08:00 Brian on selling his agency and how losing a network changes everything
09:05 Give and Take, why giving creates long-run advantages, and learning from anyone
12:05 Treating people well, not burning bridges, and how it pays back over time

Late
15:55 Phones, missed conversations, and what Reggie is seeing with high schoolers
18:10 Concerns about tech leadership, incentives, and the harms that go unaddressed
20:05 Regulation, China comparisons, and why zero-sum thinking can make outcomes worse
28:05 Three skills more foundational than AI tools: broad expertise, thinking skills, curiosity
33:25 What Reggie is excited about at UNT Health, student stories and authentic connection
35:05 Reggie’s LinkedIn AI Innovation and Ethics chat and a course recommendation
36:00 Closing

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reggiejohnson1/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/school/unthealth/

Episode Summary

Joey Seeman explains how Nova Echo uses conversational voice AI for sales and customer calls. He joins Brian on Forge for Growth to break down what “human-sounding” voice AI actually means, why latency matters, and where these agents perform best today. Joey shares his path from marketing and copywriting into voice AI, including why he left an earlier company to build a more fast-moving and more ethical platform. They dig into real-world use cases like call centers, speed-to-lead follow-up, and high-volume outbound calling, plus why human handoffs still matter for closing. Joey also shares his view on where AI is heading and what that shift could mean for work and entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways
Conversational voice AI works best when it can handle open-ended questions in real time, instead of forcing callers through preset menus.

Latency is a core product constraint in voice AI because unnatural pauses break the “sounds human” experience even if the model is capable.

Speed-to-lead can outweigh imperfect call quality because contacting a new lead within minutes can change conversion outcomes.

Outbound performance depends heavily on lead quality, and high-volume dialing can still be valuable even when per-call results are modest.

For sales, today’s agents can follow scripts, answer questions, and handle basic objections, while many teams still rely on a human handoff to close.

AI product marketing often outruns reality, so clarity about limits, support, and pricing becomes a competitive advantage.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Brian welcomes Joey Seeman and introduces Nova Echo
00:01:00 What Nova Echo does and why “press 1, press 2” systems frustrate callers
00:02:00 Joey’s background in marketing, gaming, and early interest in AI
00:03:00 Why he moved into voice AI and left earlier players in the space

Middle
00:05:00 Call center pain points and why AI can improve speed and consistency
00:06:00 Live demo of a Nova Echo agent and discussion of response latency
00:07:00 Speed-to-lead and why timing matters for closing inbound leads
00:08:00 How LLMs, prompting, and “skills” shape consistent agent behavior

Late
00:09:00 Where human handoffs still matter, especially for closing
00:10:00 Disclosure choices when someone asks if the agent is AI, plus regulation nuance
00:11:00 Why AI hype happens and how Joey positions Nova Echo’s limits honestly
00:18:00 Joey’s view on job displacement, timelines, and why the transition may be rough
00:21:00 What he is excited to build next and how to contact him

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-seeman/

Company: https://novaecho.ai/

Episode Summary
Soledad Gonzalo explains how she moved from big agency advertising into legal marketing at Sequor Law. She walks through her path from BU to Ogilvy and other automotive and entertainment roles, then shares what changed when she started marketing a boutique firm focused on fraud and asset recovery. The conversation breaks down why relationship building, conferences, thought leadership, and personal LinkedIn presence can outperform paid tactics in niche B2B. She also reflects on mentoring attorneys as the firm grows and what she is focused on next.

Key Takeaways
Career pivots get easier when you carry transferable skills, like branding, client management, and learning new industries fast.

In niche B2B services, staying top of mind can matter more than chasing high lead volume, because timing is unpredictable.

For professional services, relationships built through conferences, networking, and credible content often drive more results than ads or SEO.

Personal brands on LinkedIn can create meaningfully more engagement than company pages, especially when the work is trust-based.

Marketing in billable-hour businesses has a built-in constraint: every low-quality lead or distraction has a real cost.

A firm website and newsletters can function as validators and reminders, even when they are not direct lead engines.

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soledadgonzalo/

Company: https://www.sequorlaw.com/

Episode summary
How robots learn to “feel,” and why touch is the missing piece in robotics with Vadim Manoilo. Vadim Manoilo of Sensobright Industries joins Brian to explain the company’s tactile sensing approach, including gel-and-fiber optics sensors that help robots detect grip, slippage, and even identify objects by touch. They discuss why factory automation is the near-term proving ground, why home robots are still far from human-level capability, and where tactile data could matter most next, including medical tools like laparoscopes. Vadim also shares how he found the company, what guides their product focus, and what he hopes this technology enables as it matures.

Key Takeaways
Robots can often see and hear well, but lack tactile data, which limits reliable interaction in a physical world.

Tactile sensing can improve factory robotics by detecting whether an object is grasped, slipping, or needs grip repositioning.

Sensobright’s approach uses soft silicone gel with fiber optics so the sensing point can avoid common issues like liquids and electromagnetic interference.

Even “one task” robotics is hard to perfect, which helps explain why general-purpose humanoid robots for homes still have major gaps.

Technology direction is a resource allocation problem, so choosing near-term impact use cases reduces the risk of chasing expensive distractions.

Tactile sensing is positioned as a next frontier in robotics, especially as AI and robotics partnerships accelerate.

Medical applications like laparoscopy are a compelling long-term target because touch feedback can change how tools perform and how outcomes improve.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Vadim Manoilo introduces his path into tech and how he connected with Sensobright
00:02:00 Why Vadim believes technology should have a purpose and improve lives
00:05:00 A detour into sci-fi and how alternate tech timelines shape expectations

Middle
00:07:00 Why “robots that can feel” matters, and what tactile sensing solves in factories
00:11:00 Responding to skepticism about current robots and why home robotics is still far off
00:15:00 Sensobright products and the practical focus on manufacturing use cases

Late
00:18:00 How the gel-and-fiber optics sensor design works and why it differs from electronics-first sensors
00:21:00 Avoiding distraction, prioritizing impact, and the push toward med tech applications
00:25:00 Why touch is foundational for learning the world, and what tactile data unlocks next
00:29:00 What Vadim is most excited about, including medical possibilities and object and tissue identification by touch
00:31:00 How to contact Vadim and Sensobright

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingvoice/

Company: https://sensobright.com/

Episode Summary
Carter James shares how JAN-PRO scaled fast by treating culture as the operating system. He traces his path from a small-town Justin, Texas upbringing and early work in wealth management at Northwestern Mutual to relocating to Atlanta for JAN-PRO. The conversation breaks down why “working harder” stalls without systems, how acquisitions succeed only with shared values, and how the HEART framework (Honest, Empathetic, Accountable, Results Driven, Team First) becomes a real decision filter through hiring, scorecards, and day-to-day operations. They also explore bottom-up change management, failing fast, and what he is building next with technology and AI.

Key Takeaways
Hard work has a ceiling. Systems and process are what multiply effort when early momentum fades.

A business can look like a service company on the outside, yet run as a people business when the mission is enabling ownership and opportunity.

Growth through acquisition requires alignment. Culture becomes the integration plan when multiple teams bring different norms and expectations.

Core values only matter when they are measurable. Scoring and coaching against values makes “what good looks like” visible.

Change sticks when the why is clear at the front lines. People buy in faster when they can see personal impact and operational benefit.

Failing fast is a strategy. Testing, learning, and iterating becomes the mechanism for scaling without stagnation.

Character over competence reduces hiring risk. Skills can be trained, but values fit determines long-term performance and trust.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Carter joins as winter weather hits, quick intro and context
00:01:00 Background in small-town Texas, blue-collar work, and college football in West Texas
00:02:05 Starting a wealth management practice at 22 and learning that effort alone does not scale
00:03:10 Building systems and processes to regain momentum and transform results

Middle
00:03:55 A client relationship leads to a move to Atlanta and joining JAN-PRO in 2022
00:04:25 Seeing JAN-PRO as a people business, enabling franchise owners with support and structure
00:05:00 Rapid growth discussion, expanding markets and leadership role progression
00:09:10 Defining core values through the HEART framework to drive alignment during scale
00:11:05 Making acquisitions work through standards, communication, and careful people investment
00:14:15 Adapting quickly, failing fast, and treating constant change as the price of growth

Late
00:16:05 Bottom-up buy-in, communicating the why, and reducing pushback during change
00:20:20 Moving values from wall art to practice with scorecards and hiring for character
00:24:10 Applying core values and goals beyond work, including family alignment
00:27:15 Looking ahead to new systems, technology, and AI, plus personal excitement about a second child
00:29:30 Where to connect, plus franchise, vendor, and service-network opportunities

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carterejames/

Company: https://rbjkmarketing.com/

Episode Summary
How Krista White builds scalable B2B marketing through tracking, prioritization, and automation. Krista White, VP of Marketing at Crow Canyon Software, shares how she moved from broad marketing experience into a role focused on business automation, and why measurement is the first step before adding more channels. She and Brian dig into analytics setup, scorecards, stakeholder-aware messaging in B2B, and why meeting users where they already work drives adoption. Krista also previews an upcoming Nitro Help Desk 3.6 release centered on practical AI features. The conversation ends with a grounded take on when AI helps and where teams get stuck.

Key Takeaways
Tracking comes first. Without analytics, pixels, and clear metrics, marketing decisions stay stuck in opinions and gut feel.

Scaling is as much about saying no as it is doing more. Prioritization keeps teams focused on what is already proving impact.

Automation becomes a growth lever when it fits existing workflows. User adoption rises when tools stay inside the platforms employees already use.

B2B marketing needs more than the budget holder. Influencers and day-to-day stakeholders can accelerate or block decisions, so their pain points matter.

There is no single channel that wins forever. A durable approach mixes platforms and shows up where conversations already happen, including places like Reddit.

AI creates business value when it removes repetitive work and speeds resolution. Teams lose traction when they deploy AI without a concrete job to replace.

Timeline
Opening
00:00:00 Meet Krista White and her role at Crow Canyon Software
00:01:00 How she got into marketing, and what college actually helped with
00:03:00 The fundamentals that stay true even as platforms change

Building the marketing engine
00:04:00 Why automation became the common thread across her career
00:06:10 Joining Crow Canyon and formalizing marketing for scale
00:08:00 The first moves: GA4, pixels, and making everything trackable
00:10:00 Using a scorecard mindset to avoid distractions and find what works

Automation, adoption, and B2B decision dynamics
00:11:40 Why staying inside Microsoft 365 improves adoption
00:12:30 Competing in a crowded software space by focusing on pain points
00:13:30 Selling internally means addressing influencers and decision makers

Channel mix and practical AI
00:15:00 Meeting buyers where they are, including Reddit and LinkedIn
00:18:00 Preview of Nitro Help Desk 3.6 and AI features aimed at faster resolution
00:20:10 A realistic view of Copilot, Gemini, and using AI where it saves time
00:23:20 Where to learn more and how to reach Crow Canyon

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knwhite27/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crow-canyon-software/

Episode Summary

A sports marketer breaks down how brand and experience drive ticket sales. Miller Yoho shares how the Charlotte Sports Foundation brings major events to the city and what his “CMO under the sun” role really covers, from PR and sponsorship alignment to stadium look and feel. He and Brian dig into why cohesive brand details matter, how to build a creative sandbox that speeds execution, and when it is smarter to skip a platform like TikTok. The conversation closes on leadership lessons around accountability with empathy and creating moments fans remember.

Key Takeaways
Brand is an end-to-end experience, not a logo. The goal is for everything to feel cohesive from the first ad to walking out of the venue.

A clear brand story doubles as a rallying cry. A strong line or theme can connect ads, in-arena elements, merch, and messaging into one idea people can join.

Marketing supports the whole operation. Ticket sales, sponsor activation, PR, broadcast coordination, and fan environment all need to ladder up to the same message.

Capacity matters more than “being everywhere.” If a channel cannot be done consistently at a high standard, it can drag down stronger platforms that already reach the core audience.

Perfection can be expensive and misaligned. The last 10 percent can consume the same effort as the first 90, even when the work only needs to be good enough to do its job.

Accountability works best with empathy and context. Clear expectations, direct feedback, and support conversations make it easier for people to do their best work.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Miller Yoho joins, talking Southern “snow apocalypse” reality
00:01:15 Miller’s path from education plans to sports marketing and content work
00:03:25 What Charlotte Sports Foundation does and the events it operates

Middle
00:05:00 Mission in practice, economic impact and quality-of-life moments for a city
00:07:10 What marketing covers in his role, ticket sales, PR, sponsors, broadcast partners
00:09:05 Why cohesive branding matters, and how “feel” becomes the measuring stick
00:11:35 Building a creative sandbox, giving teams constraints that unlock better work

Late
00:14:50 Choosing where not to play, the TikTok example and protecting standards
00:19:10 The creative “last 10 percent” trap, shipping work that matches the need
00:23:10 Leadership focus, delegation and accountability with empathy
00:28:10 What he is excited about next, creating memorable moments that cut through noise
00:29:15 Best way to connect, reaching out on LinkedIn

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miller-yoho/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/charlotte-sports-foundation/

Episode Summary
How Shae Biron builds community-led marketing in Web3 and beyond. Shae traces her path from traditional marketing roles into Web3 after a 2022 layoff, including a crash-course stretch at Palm NFT Studio that later became part of Candy Digital. She breaks down NFTs in plain language, then explains what made the DC digital collectibles and Bat Cowl drop different, including utility, access, and community voting that shaped an official Batman comic storyline. The conversation closes on how she segments audiences, designs participation-first systems, and applies the same thinking today across Polaris Labs and a location-based storytelling game. What does “momentum” look like when a community keeps going after the project ends?

Key Takeaways
The through line in Shae’s career is building stories and systems people want to participate in, more than any specific job title.

Web3 changes the ownership model, which shifts the marketer’s job from broadcasting messages to designing participation and trust.

NFT value comes from utility and access design, not from the asset alone, and community experiences can be the product.

Audience segmentation is foundational, because power users, occasional participants, and dormant users need different messages to act.

Education works best when it turns complex ideas into small, consumable pieces, and it starts from what the audience cares about.

Marketing durability comes from studying behavior and psychology, because tools and platforms change faster than why people decide.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Shae’s background in marketing and the “stories and systems” through line
00:01:20 The 2022 layoff that pushed her into Web3, plus MIT blockchain courses
00:02:10 Web3 explained through ownership, identity, and decentralization

Middle
00:03:10 Joining Palm NFT Studio and becoming the sole marketing resource after layoffs
00:04:10 Palm’s acquisition by Candy Digital, and deepening work with DC digital collectibles
00:05:00 Candy’s acquisition by Futureverse, then receivership in October 2025 and the project ending
00:06:00 NFTs in simple terms, and why utility matters
00:07:10 Bat Cowl utility, access, and community voting that shaped an official Batman comic series

Late
00:11:00 What she’s doing now with Polaris Labs and as fractional marketing director for Story City
00:14:00 Translating complex tech into clear messaging through listening, education, and psychology
00:18:00 Segmenting audiences and tailoring comms by participation level
00:21:00 What excites her: momentum, unexpected community behavior, and data feedback loops
00:23:10 Why studying behavior outlasts chasing trends, plus a Batman podcast recommendation
00:26:00 Where to find Shae online

Links and Resources
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaebiron/
Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/candydigital/

Episode Summary
Andy Crawford shares how he scaled from rentals to apartment syndications. Andy talks about building a career in pharmaceutical distribution while investing in real estate on the side, starting with single-family homes and then shifting to small multifamily when scaling became clearer. He explains why operations and systems decide whether a deal succeeds after the purchase, how he approached partnerships slowly and deliberately, and what Prosper Capital is focused on as it grows. He also gets into resilience, leadership, and what experience really teaches over time.

Key Takeaways
Scaling got easier when the focus moved from single-family homes to small apartment buildings, where the economics and efficiency looked different.

In real estate, buying the property is the starting gun. The real work begins with executing the business plan through operations.

Partnerships work best when roles are clear, expectations are explicit, and the relationship starts deal-by-deal before going all-in.

A partner should bring proven success, complementary skills, and alignment with the long-term vision, not just help with day-to-day tasks.

Most people hit the same limits when growing alone: time and capital. Systems and the right team extend both.

Leadership is partly about building resilient people. Growth becomes visible when others learn to make decisions with autonomy.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Introduction and Andy’s roles in pharma and real estate
00:01:00 Career background, family life, and Prosper Capital overview
00:02:00 Why Andy and his wife started with single-family rentals
00:03:00 The six-unit “light bulb” moment on scaling multifamily

Middle
00:05:00 Why real estate success depends on systems and operations
00:07:00 How Andy approached partnerships, due diligence, and “dating” first
00:09:00 Adding a third partner and what complementary skills changed
00:11:00 Partner versus employee, and why track record matters

Late
00:13:00 The unseen weight of leadership and the role of resilience
00:16:00 Experience, problem-solving, and how technology changes learning
00:20:00 Delegation, letting teams test ideas, and developing leaders
00:22:00 Prosper Capital’s growth trajectory and focus on operational execution
00:24:00 How to reach Andy and what their “investor circle” includes

Links and Resources
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-crawford-ab372616/
Company: https://store.keysource.com/

Episode Summary

How Guardian Vault was built from a bank wait list problem, and what it takes to earn trust in physical security. Sandeep Thomas shares how he and his partner Brandon Sylveta spotted rising demand for safe deposit boxes while working at Wells Fargo, then built an independent vault service in Redmond, Washington. He walks through early skepticism, the role of word of mouth, how accreditation enabled insured contents coverage, and why expanding services only works when they reinforce privacy and security. They also dig into capacity planning, partnerships with gold and silver dealers, and what expansion across Washington could look like.

Key Takeaways

Start with a real, observable shortage. A growing wait list and fixed bank vault capacity created a clear signal of unmet demand.

Trust compounds slower than product demand. In security businesses, credibility has to be earned over years through consistency, community presence, and customer experience.

Education can be a growth lever. Explaining what is and is not covered at banks helped customers understand the difference between bank boxes and a private facility.

Expand by strengthening the core, not by wandering into a new business. Add-on services work best when they reinforce the same promise of privacy, security, and controlled access.

Design for scalable capacity. Building the vault to add boxes over time enabled growth without overbuilding on day one.

Partnerships can shorten the trust cycle. When gold and silver transactions happen in a secure private room, storage becomes the natural next step.

Timeline

Early
00:00:00 Meeting Sandeep and the Guardian Vault overview
00:01:00 From Wells Fargo roles to spotting the safe deposit box shortage
00:02:15 Why demand exists and why banks cannot simply add more capacity
00:04:00 Researching the market for independent vault facilities

Middle
00:05:00 Launch realities, early hurdles, and building trust through word of mouth
00:07:00 Insurance and accreditation, plus how that changes customer perception
00:12:00 Vault capacity, adding box sizes, and planning for eventual expansion
00:14:00 AI era concerns, privacy awareness, and why physical protection still matters

Late
00:16:00 Adding services that fit the model: mailboxes, notary, private rooms
00:19:10 Partnering with gold and silver shops and creating a secure transaction flow
00:21:00 Expansion strategy across Washington and building a trusted brand
00:22:10 Privacy, access controls, KYC basics, and rules on what not to store
00:25:00 What Sandeep is focused on next and why demand is growing
00:27:00 How to visit, learn more, and connect

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomassandeep/

www.guardianvault.biz