Founders' Forum

Founders' Forum

By Marc BernsteinBusinessEntrepreneurship
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Founders' Forum episodes

  • Building a Business on Human Connection with Gabriel Luber

    Moving across the country for a few weeks sounds temporary. For Gabriel Luber, it became a new home, a new marriage-and-business partnership, and a company built on giving.

    Gabriel Luber, co-founder and Chief Generosity Officer of Lancaster Gift Box, joins Marc Bernstein to share his founder story. He and his wife, Diana, launched a local grocery delivery service in 2020, then pivoted to corporate gifting when demand took off. Gabriel also talks about working alongside your spouse and leading with purpose.

    Key Takeaways

    • Let your business evolve. Lancaster Gift Box started with groceries and found its calling in gifting.
    • Paint your 10-year vision in vivid detail. The clearer and more emotional it is, the likelier it becomes real.
    • Expect friction when you work with a partner. Shared systems and clear boundaries help.
    • Use a framework like EOS to keep a small business focused and aligned.
    • Go back to your purpose. Enriching human connection guides every decision.
    • Create memorable moments, not just good products.

    About Gabriel Luber:

    Gabriel Luber is the Co-Founder and Chief Generosity Officer of Lancaster Gift Box, a Pennsylvania-based company that helps businesses strengthen relationships through thoughtful gifting and high-touch client experience systems. Alongside his wife and business partner, Diana, he champions the idea that generosity is a powerful business strategy and that meaningful human connection remains the ultimate competitive advantage. Through Lancaster Gift Box, Gabriel helps organizations create memorable experiences that leave clients, employees, and partners feeling genuinely seen, appreciated, and valued.

    Connect:

    Website lancastergiftbox.com
    LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/gabriel-luber

    Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    28 min
  • Hilary Jay on Downsizing Without Losing Your Legacy

    What do you do with a lifetime of treasured things when your kids don’t want them? Hilary Jay has built a career helping people answer that question with heart.

    Marc Bernstein sits down with Hilary Jay, founder of Department of Better LLC, award-winning journalist, designer, and author. She built a multimillion-dollar jewelry company by age 26, wrote for top design magazines, and now helps older adults downsize, rehome, and honor their collections. Hilary shares how she learned to lean on her strengths, handled a product recall, and why she calls her current work a calling.

    Key Takeaways

    • Know your strengths. Hilary excels at production and marketing, and she hires for operations.
    • You don’t need formal training to succeed. Follow your passion and find mentors.
    • AI can speed up research, but human judgment still wins in art curation.
    • About 11 million Americans are expected to leave their homes in the next 10 years, and most ask, “What do I do with my stuff?”
    • Emotional attachment is the hardest part of downsizing. Photos can help you keep the memory of what you can’t keep.

    About Hilary Jay:

    Hilary Jay is an award-winning journalist, designer, and arts advocate. 

    She co-founded Maximal Art - an international costume jewelry and watch company - where she was chief designer alongside John Wind. Her accessories can be found in the permanent collections of London's Victoria + Albert Museum, Paris' Musée des Arts Decoratifs, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Hilary’s writing has appeared every major shelter publication including Metropolitan Home, ID magazine, Galerie, and Arts + Antiques. In addition , she wrote a weekly column on interiors, architecture, design, and gardens for the Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday Magazine. 

    She was chief curator of the Paley Design Center at Philadelphia University, now Jefferson University, where she mounted exhibitions exploring the intersection of design, art, and culture. She co-founded DesignPhiladelphia, the first American design festival, which became the business model for others across the United States. Hilary has taught professional practices and design business courses at the college level, and led international design conferences and workshops. She launched Department of Better LLC in 2020 to advise private clients, estates, and institutions on the care, curation, and transition of significant collections, and offer design expertise regarding products and spaces.

    Connect:

    Website www.departmentofbetter.co
    LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/hilaryjay
    Facebook facebook.com/2hilaryjay ; facebook.com/departmentofbetter
    Instagram @departmentofbetter ; @hilaryjay2

    Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by Two Dudes Painting Company, delivering quality painting services with zero hassle across central Pennsylvania. Visit twodudes.com to learn more.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    28 min
  • 7 Lessons on Mentorship and Legacy from Jay & Preeti Gohel

    What if your greatest success isn’t what you build, but who you help along the way?

    Jay Gohel (CEO) and Preeti Gohel (CFO) of Aesthetic Dental Associates return to Founders’ Forum to share the story behind Thrive 360, their new venture to mentor dentists and entrepreneurs. They talk about how COVID gave them a deeper purpose, why they involve their kids in the mission, and how they want to leave a lasting legacy.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Progression over perfection: Growth should feel natural. Plan where you want to be in 1, 3, and 10 years.
    • Lead with service: COVID showed the Gohels they were supporting their team and their families, not just themselves.
    • Know if you’re coachable: Mentorship works best for people who see themselves as lifelong learners.
    • Ownership isn’t for everyone: Being a great dentist doesn’t mean you should buy a practice. Define what success means to you.
    • Pair a visionary with an implementer: Entrepreneurship starts as chaos, and the right partner brings structure.
    • Build a whole-person path: Thrive 360 covers clinical mentorship, financial clarity, teen health, and becoming an adult.
    • Practice gratitude: Choose which thoughts you keep, and start each day with thanks.

    About Jay Gohel DMD BDS:

    Dr. Jay Gohel, DMD, BDS, is the CEO and Clinical Director of Aesthetic Dental Associates, a five-location dental group and one of the largest privately owned practices in the Delaware Valley. His journey began in his father's makeshift home dental lab, where he learned the craft long before he ever intended to pursue it professionally.

    Forced into practice ownership during the 2008 financial crisis with no mentor to guide him, Jay built his business through hard-won experience. Today, he focuses on the clinical work he's most passionate about, full mouth rehabilitation and implant dentistry, while mentoring the doctors across his organization.

    For Jay, success isn't measured by financial reward. It's about being fully present, doing meaningful work, and leaving behind knowledge that helps others thrive.

    About Preeti Gohel:

    As the CFO of a multi-location dental group, Preeti Gohel leads financial operations for a growing dental organization with multiple practice locations.

    She is known for her ability to streamline financial chaos and create clear pathways to profitability.

    Her mastery lies in showing entrepreneurs how to increase profitability while expanding their net worth with intention, simplicity, and purpose.

    Preeti's work empowers leaders to build a legacy that endures long after the numbers are calculated. She brings a unique blend of operational expertise, strategic thinking, and values-driven leadership to help entrepreneurs achieve sustainable financial growth.

    Connect:

    Website theaestheticdental.com
    Instagram @thegainsgurl

    Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by Aesthetic Dental Associates, a Pennsylvania-based dental group dedicated to changing lives through exceptional dentistry, compassion, and community service. Go to theaestheticdental.com or call 610-701-0102 to schedule your appointment.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    29 min
  • Joseph Trave's Hardest Deal: Letting Go of His Own Business

    What does it take to turn a 400-square-foot backyard wood shop into a 125-employee, nationally recognized cabinetry powerhouse, and then walk away from it? Joe Trave has an answer, and it's not what you'd expect.

    In this episode of Founders' Forum, Marc Bernstein sits down with Joe Trave, founder and CEO of Village Handcrafted Cabinetry in Lansdale, PA. Joe shares how he built his business from the ground up after losing his father to cancer, survived the brutal 2008 to 2010 recession, and rode the COVID-era boom, all while learning to let go of control and build a leadership team he could trust. Now, 27 years in, Joe is weighing an acquisition strategy that could set the stage for his eventual exit.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Growing up around entrepreneurial parents shaped Joe's drive to build something of his own
    • The 2008 to 2010 recession left lasting scars, deeper than anything COVID brought
    • Buying an existing business (and inheriting a mentor) accelerated Joe's growth in the kitchen cabinet industry
    • Building a strong executive leadership team is key to stepping back without losing momentum
    • Company culture and hands-on leadership matter even at 125+ employees
    • Joe is exploring acquisitions and an eventual exit, while learning to trade time for freedom, not just money

    About Joseph Trave:

    Joe started as a small 400 sq. ft. wood shop in his parents' backyard, growing into a world-class, highly custom cabinet manufacturer employing over 125 skilled craftspeople.

    Connect:

    Website villagehandcrafted.com
    LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/joe-trave
    Instagram instagram.com/village_handcrafted

    Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by CamaPlan, A Different Way to Invest. Go to camaplan.com/foundersforum to learn more.

    Marc maintains a personal account relationship with CamaPlan. The advisor does not solicit, recommend, or endorse CamaPlan’s products or services in his capacity as an investment advisor, and receives no compensation or other benefit in connection with this relationship. Diversify Advisory Services and DFPG Investments has no affiliation with CamaPlan.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    29 min
  • The Magic of Focus in Business with Tyler Jensen

    Ever wondered why a magic trick can hold your attention more than your own to-do list? Business strategist and keynote speaker Tyler Jensen joins Founders' Forum to explain what magic, focus, and top performance have in common, and why distraction might be costing you more than you think.

    In this episode, Marc Bernstein and co-host Steve Berardi sit down with Tyler, KSL's 2025 Business Coach of the Year, to unpack his journey from corporate IT trainer to insurance agency owner to founder of Top Performance Group. Tyler shares how a near financial disaster in his own agency pushed him to study what separates top performers from everyone else, and how that research became a repeatable framework for business owners.

    Key takeaways:

    • Why "optimism" originally meant best, not just positive thinking
    • The four pillars of top performance: optimism, systems, power, and focus
    • How Tyler helped agents hit 90%+ client retention by selling on education, not price
    • The three complacency traps that quietly derail business owners
    • Why Tyler and his wife built FocusGate, a classroom app tackling phone-driven distraction in schools
    • The "silly, sour, sweet" family habit that keeps Tyler focused on everyday magic

    About Tyler Jensen:

    Tyler Jensen is a nationally recognized business strategist and speaker who helps individuals and teams achieve top performance through systems, focus, and optimism. He was named KSL 5's Business Coach of the year in 2025. He combines real-world experience with practical frameworks to help people grow their business and lead with confidence.

    Connect:

    Website tylerjjensen.com
    LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/tyler-jensen/
    Facebook facebook.com/TylerJJensen
    Instagram instagram.com/tyler_j_jensen/
    YouTube youtube.com/@TylerJJensen

    Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    29 min
  • Gary Pudles Lost His Job and Built a 1,200-Person Company

    A signed term sheet, a fax machine mix-up, and a lost job. That was the day Gary Pudles' entrepreneurial journey really began.

    Gary Pudles, president and CEO of AnswerNet, joins Marc Bernstein on Founders' Forum to share how he went from a young lawyer to the founder of a company with 1,200+ employees across 42 states and five Canadian provinces. He talks about buying a small Allentown answering service, growing through acquisitions, and leading his team through major technology shifts. He also shares how he built a people-first culture and how he sees AI and humans working together.

    Key Takeaways:

    • How to turn a career setback into a business opportunity
    • Why he wrote down what he loved and hated in a business before buying one
    • How he helped his managers embrace change with "Welcome to the Evolution"
    • How core values and a mascot named Pat the Fat Duck shape his culture
    • Why "human in the loop" is the future of customer communication and AI
    • How a disciplined morning routine keeps him centered

    About Gary Pudles:

    Gary Pudles founded AnswerNet in 1998 with a straightforward mission: helping businesses communicate in ways that directly drive client profitability. Over the last 25+ years, he has scaled the company from a small startup into an agile organization that employs over 1200 people across 42 states and five Canadian provinces. Under his leadership, AnswerNet’s rapid growth earned the 21st spot on the Inc. 5000 list, and Gary was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

    A graduate of Syracuse University and American University (JD), Gary also spent years teaching entrepreneurship at Wharton, sharing real-world operational mechanics with the next generation of business leaders. 

    Connect with Gary:

    Website www.answernet.com
    LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/answernet; www.linkedin.com/in/garypudles
    Facebook www.facebook.com/AnswerNet/

    Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    28 min
  • Phillip Gonzales on Systems, Faith & Staying the Course

    Phillip Gonzales didn't set out to become a growth strategist. He started out running a mall cart selling personalized kids' music CDs. That first job taught him a lesson that would shape his entire career: the power of systems.

    In this episode of Founders Forum, Marc Bernstein and co-host Susan Egan sit down with Phillip Gonzales, founder and CEO of Adriel Partners Growth Agency, to talk about his path from Texas transplant to Babcock Ranch entrepreneur. Phillip shares how early mentorship, a season as a pastor, and years of building websites and coaching business owners all fed into the same mission: helping leaders grow their business, family, and faith. He opens up about imposter syndrome, the discipline of saying no, and why a clear vision is the only real defense against distraction.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Learning systems early from a mentor taught Phillip how to scale and repeat success
    • Imposter syndrome doesn't disappear, but you can learn to act despite it
    • Saying no isn't about the good versus the bad, it's about protecting the best
    • A strong team culture starts with trust, respect, and valuing people beyond their output
    • Staying the course requires daily choices, not a single big decision
    • True success is becoming the best version of who you were made to be

    Phillip's story is a reminder that consistency and clarity of vision matter more than chasing every new opportunity. Whether you're building a team, weighing a pivot, or wrestling with self-doubt, his approach offers a grounded, faith-driven perspective on sustainable growth.

    About Phillip Gonzales:

    Phillip Gonzales is a professional communicator whose passion is to help people unlock their next level of success in their business, family, and faith. He’s the founder of Adriel Partners Growth Agency, helping leaders grow their business, faster, healthier, and more profitably through coaching, consulting, and creative services. He is an ordained minister, musician, and author, and lives with his wife and 3 children in Babcock Ranch, Florida, the first solar-powered town in America.

    Connect with Phillip:

    Website adrielpartners.com
    LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/phillipadrielgonzales
    Facebook facebook.com/phillipgonzales
    Instagram instagram.com/phillipgonzales
    X x.com/phillipgonzales
    TikTok tiktok.com/@phillipgonzales
    YouTube youtube.com/@phillipgonzales

    Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    28 min
  • Turning a Golf Passion Into a $300M Career with Larry Hirsh

    What happens when a love of golf turns into a niche nobody else was serving? For Larry Hirsh, it built a business that's touched over 3,500 golf properties across the globe.

    In this episode of Founders' Forum, Marc Bernstein sits down with Larry Hirsh, CRE, MAI, SGA, president of Golf Property Analysts and founder of the Society of Golf Appraisers. Larry shares how a childhood spent on golf courses with his father turned into a decades-long career as one of the most respected names in golf course valuation, consulting, and brokerage. He opens up about writing the definitive textbook on golf property valuation, brokering nearly $300 million in golf transactions, and the moment that inspired his latest book, The Culture of Golf.

    Larry also gets candid about golf's exclusivity problem, the underrepresentation of millennials, minorities, and moms in the sport, and why the game's future depends on making it more accessible.

    Key Takeaways:

    • How Larry built a specialized appraisal niche by identifying an underserved market
    • Why founding the Society of Golf Appraisers helped legitimize the industry
    • The real story behind his award-winning book on golf property valuation
    • Golf's biggest barriers to entry: cost, time, and exclusivity
    • Why "unreasonable hospitality" is the secret to lasting client relationships
    • The legacy Larry hopes to leave behind

    About Larry Hirsh, CRE, MAI, SGA:

    Laurence A. Hirsh, CRE, MAI, SGA is the president of Golf Property Analysts, a leading golf and club property consulting, appraisal and brokerage firm based in Philadelphia. He and the firm have performed consulting, appraisal, and brokerage assignments on more than 3,500 golf & club properties in 47 US states, Canada, and the Caribbean.

    Hirsh is an award-winning author, having written the Appraisal Institute’s text on golf property valuation (Golf Property Analysis and Valuation – A Modern Approach), which received the Appraisal Institute’s award for best text in 2016. A second edition was being published in 2022. Hirsh has written 3 articles on golf & club property valuation in The Appraisal Journal, co-authored The Urban Land Institute’s Residential Golf Community Development and authored many articles for a variety of industry publications. 

    His most recent publication is titled The Culture of Golf – Isn’t it just a Game? Hirsh has also lectured at seminars, meetings and universities and is on the education faculty for the PGA of America. A founder and first president of the Society of Golf Appraisers (SGA), Hirsh has also developed a golf course and brokered nearly $300 million in golf course & club properties. 
    He is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University. He is married (Judy) and the father of 3. Hirsh is also a licensed commercial pilot, certified flight instructor and an active competitive golfer.

    Connect with Larry:

    Website golfprop.com
    LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/larry-hirsh-cre-mai-sga
    Facebook facebook.com/larry.hirsh

    Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    29 min
  • How Dr. Kryn McClain Turned a Layoff Into a Bold Exit

    Dr. Kryn McClain never planned to become an entrepreneur. She was working in mental health when she returned from maternity leave to find her position had been eliminated. That setback pushed her to launch Paragon Behavioral Health Services, a company she built around one core belief: take care of your employees, and they'll take care of your clients.

    In this episode, Marc Bernstein sits down with Dr. McClain, a trauma therapist turned founder, to talk about growing Paragon to 80 employees, navigating a two-year exit process, and walking away from the sale with her legacy intact. She also opens up about launching her second company, CatapalloVR, a women-owned business building immersive virtual reality safety training for industries like manufacturing, mining, and healthcare, and what it's been like starting over in an industry she knew nothing about.

    Dr. McClain shares candid insights on leadership, accountability, and the mental shift required to go from therapist to CEO, plus how she balances motherhood and entrepreneurship using her own "glass balls versus rubber balls" philosophy.

    Key Takeaways:

    • How a layoff during maternity leave became the catalyst for a successful business exit
    • Why transparency and structure matter more than "everyone needs to know everything"
    • What it takes to grow, sell, and walk away from a company you built from scratch
    • How CatapalloVR uses immersive VR training to drive real behavior change in high-risk workplaces
    • Practical advice for balancing entrepreneurship with parenting: knowing which "balls" are glass and which are rubber

    About Kryn McClain, DHA, LPC, MSEd:

    Dr. Kryn McClain is a trauma therapist and founder of CatapalloVR, where she combines clinical expertise with creativity to build immersive, real-world training experiences. As a boy mom who loves traveling with her family and unwinding with a good book, she’s passionate about solving meaningful problems—whether that’s helping someone practice social skills or training teams in high-stakes environments.

    Connect with Kryn:

    Website catapallovr.com
    LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kryn-mcclain
    Instagram @catapallovr
    Facebook facebook.com/CatapalloVR


    Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by CatapalloVR; a women-owned company building custom virtual reality safety training that lets teams practice real-world scenarios without the real-world risk. Go to catapallovr.com to learn more.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    29 min
  • How Shelly Castle Turned Land Development into Art

    From potato fields in Wisconsin to nature art that shapes Florida's development plans, Shelly Castle's story proves that vision and grit can turn any beginning into a legacy.

    On this episode of Founders' Forum, Marc sits down with nature artist Shelly Castle, MFA, alongside co-host Dr. Jennifer Languell of Trifecta Construction Solutions. A fourth-generation entrepreneur who grew up helping her family build a golf course from a potato field, Shelly shares how that early hands-in-the-dirt work ethic shaped her path into art, conservation, and business. Now working from her Southwest Florida studio, she creates nature-inspired pieces that have become tools for education, land-use planning, and wildlife preservation across the state.

    Key takeaways:

    • Shelly's entrepreneurial roots trace back to her family building a golf course from scratch, teaching her that vision paired with follow-through gets things done
    • Her art evolved from organic sketches into detailed ecological illustrations used by Lee County Parks and Rec for trail markers and education
    • Visual storytelling builds empathy: Shelly's work helps people connect with wildlife and support conservation efforts they might otherwise overlook
    • Her art now plays a role in sustainable development planning, including projects like Babcock Ranch, helping teams visualize and commit to mitigation goals
    • Running an art business means embracing isolation while still building the right connections and collaborations
    • Shelly's children have followed her lead, with her daughter running a mural business and her son working as a glass artist

    About Shelly Castle, MFA, Nature Artist:

    Creating art in her SW Florida home studio for over forty years, local artist Shelly Castle celebrates nature as an invitation to pause, observe, and reconnect with the wild. Rooted in a lifelong passion for wildlife and conservation, her work blends visual imagery with a commitment to protecting the pristine environment that we love. Living and working within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, Shelly uses colored pencil, acrylic, and thickened dye mediums to layer texture and light, capturing the beauty and grace of wildlife within their beautiful living landscapes.

    Connect with Shelly:

    Website www.shellycastleartist.com
    Facebook Shelly Castle Artist
    Instagram @shellycastleartist


    Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by
    March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

    📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

    💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!

    📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
    ➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

    🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
    We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.

    📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.

    28 min

About Founders' Forum

From the publisher's feed

Great business stories and great people come together on Marc Bernstein’s Founders’ Forum!  Marc Bernstein sits down with business founders across the country to discuss their lives,…