In this Episode we sit down with Josh Nimmo, owner of Crossfit MetroEast and discuss: 

- How he transitioned from college sports to running his own business 

- How important physical health is and how they are different than your normal gyms 

- How physical health helps with mental health 

- How he ended up in the Metro East area 

- How he has utilized the help of a mentor to help him focus ON his business 

- and much more

In this episode we sit down with Mila Curtis, Elizabeth Bouse and Katherine Lippert. All three are High School students who are currently in the Belleville CEO program and we discuss:

- How they got involved with the program

- The mission of the program

- The structure of the class that requires them do 3 business each year including a Class Business and a personal business.

- Their Class Business this year is a Networking Event at Bid Daddys on Jan 28 (get tickets here- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ceo-glow-tickets-453859344517) and will include a band, food and cocktails. 

-How they worked as a class to meet with business owners to help with the donations and funding for this event.

-How they are learning a valuable skill set that will set them apart from others

-What they have gotten the most out of the program and why they enjoy it so much. 

In this episode we sit down with Scott Schmelzel and Sean Martin of Big Daddys 618 and discuss:

- How Big Daddy's 618 helped start the transformation of restaurants and bars to downtown Belleville

- How the Belleville Main Street Committee is working to continue the success of all the business on main street

- How all the bars, restaurants and retail establishments downtown Belleville work together to promote each other 

- How downtown Belleville has become a hot spot for class reunions including to 20 year class reunion of the 2002 Althoff class this weekend at Big Daddys

- and much more

- How her retirement lasted just a little longer than Tom Brady's

- What the Medical Reserve Corps is

- How to get involved with the MRC

- The importance that the MRC plays in the community

- How the MRC was deployed during Covid

- and much more

In this episode we sit down with Rolanda Finch of Its Your Birthday Inc. and discuss:

- How she started having birthday parties for kids in shelters 

- How that transpired into starting the organization

- The joy people get from the parties

- Where the currently host the parties

- The corporate partners they have

-  How people can get involved

and more

In this episode we sit down the Honorable Judge Annette Eckert and discuss the positive effects that the Teen Court has provided including:

- the concept and development of it

- the incredible % of people who don't have a second offense

- the impact it is having on the volunteers

- the impact and outreach it is having on the student peer jury

- and more 

In this episode we discuss:

-Andria's boutique shop Circa

- Her newest venture in downtown Belleville: Belle city Fitness Collaboration

- Why she believes in Belleville 

- and what makes downtown so special compared to other towns

In this episode we sit down with Tom Sipula and Kelly Norman from St Clair Country Club and chat about:

- Everything going on at the club right now

- The effect Covid had on the club

- The legacy of Bob Goalby and his relationship with the club

- The benefits of the Club compared to other Clubs

- and much more.

In this episode we sit down with Jo Ann Di Maggio, Executive Director of the Small Business Development Center, to discuss an incredible asset to the business community in the metro east. We talk about

- What exactly the SBDC does

- How they can help small businesses in areas they might need assistance with.

- The programs they offer such as Workshops, Advising, Referral Partners for certain resources (ie- Accounting, Layers, lenders, etc) 

- How they run this at little to no cost to the business

- Their relationship with SIUE

- How they can help with Grants

- Their annual Metro East Start-Up Challenge Business Plan Competition for a $25,000 prize. 

In this episode we catch up with Heather Freed and discuss: