In this episode of Huntsville Biz Talk, Gary Smith talks with Ron Hicks, owner of Pool Scouts in Huntsville, about what it really takes to start and grow a seasonal service business. Ron shares how he got his first customers, why delegation became non‑negotiable as he added crews, how he’s using AI to handle overflow calls without losing the personal touch, and how he plans for the slow winter months in the pool business.

https://poolscouts.com/huntsville/

https://nectarbridge.com

Today’s episode of Huntsville Biz Talk is for anyone who’s ever worn more than one hat in their career.I’m sitting down with Air Force veteran and former military nurse, Jacqueline Cintron, to talk about how she went from joining the Air Force at 17… to retiring at 38… to now helping grow an HR consulting firm here in Huntsville—while eyeing a future in legal nurse consulting and staying deeply involved in BNI networking.We get into what small businesses actually need from HR, why handbooks and HRIS setups matter even if you’re not a big company, what legal nurse consultants really do for attorneys and insurers, and how structured networking through BNI can quietly become a serious growth engine.If you’re a business owner trying to get out of the weeds—or you’re just curious how a military and medical background can turn into a business-building role—stick around. Jackie’s story is a practical, real-world look at how careers evolve and how the right back-office and HR support can keep your business out of trouble.https://nectarbridge.com/https://alexandhr.com/

Jeremy Wade served in one of America's most intense police departments during COVID, riots, officer murders, and a crisis of faith. Today he leads Mission First Alliance — a national (and now international) movement uniting first responders, chaplains, and churches around the gospel.In this episode of Huntsville Biz Talk, Jeremy and Gary also discuss the backend of running a faith-based nonprofit — donor management, grant readiness, financial reviews, and why getting the bookkeeping right from day one isn't optional.Mission First Alliance: https://missionfirstalliance.com/Mission First Alliance Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionFirstAllianceMission Increase (nonprofit training/coaching): https://missionincrease.org/Honeycomb CPA: https://www.honeycomb.cpa/Terry Winstead CPA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-winstead-2a09372/#NonprofitAccounting #QuickBooksOnline #littlegreenlight #NonprofitLeadership #GrantReady #Bookkeeping

In this episode, Gary Smith sits down with Alan Thielbar from Vector Security to talk about networking that actually leads to business, with a focus on BNI (Business Networking International) and what makes referral networking work in real life.

https://www.bni.com/What we coverWhat BNI is and what a typical meeting is likeThe “one seat per profession” model (and why it matters)How to make your weekly intro specific and memorableWhy one-to-ones are often where the real value and referrals happenHow to choose networking groups based on ROI and real partnershipsSimple ways to break the ice at events if networking feels awkwardAbout Alan / Vector SecurityAlan is a commercial security professional with Vector Security, working with businesses ranging from local owner-operators to large accounts—including organizations in the defense contractor ecosystem. Vector provides solutions like commercial security systems, cameras, and access control.Alan has also recently been appointed as a BNI Director Consultant overseeing two chapters, providing coaching, training, and strategic support to help members grow their businesses through referrals. https://www.vectorsecurity.com/About Nectar BridgeNectar Bridge provides back-office support for growing businesses, including:Accounting supportOperations supportSoftware solutions (including QuickBooks Online and connected tools)If you’re tired of the back office pulling you into the weeds, we can help you get your numbers and systems back under control.Learn more: https://nectarbridge.com/https://www.vectorsecurity.com/https://www.bni.com/

My guests are Rebecca Walker Jones and Jason Fish with OLD Inc. Business Brokers, a firm that helps small business owners sell their companies for the right price, to the right buyer, in the shortest possible time frame.

Rebecca’s story is one of the most interesting paths into brokerage you’ll hear. She started out as a singer-songwriter and was signed with Sony BMG—then came back to business through real estate and discovered she had a skill many owners underestimate: understanding financials and valuing a company realistically.

Jason brings a different perspective—after retiring from the Army and moving to Huntsville to start fresh, he stayed in the small business world helping owners protect their money and make smart decisions. Now, he and Rebecca help sellers navigate the hardest part of a deal: getting all the way to the closing table.

In this conversation, we cover what kinds of businesses OLD Inc. works with, why clean monthly financials matter, how confidentiality protects your employees and cash flow, and what owners can do three to five years before selling to increase value and reduce risk.https://oldincsellsbusinesses.com/https://nectarbridge.com

If you're a consumer, why do service calls cost so much? If you're in the trades, why shouldn't you be the lowest cost provider? Jason Sanders with Comfort Masters gives a breakdown of why his customers pay almost $300 to get his technicians to replace a capacitor that they could buy for $50.

Jason Sanders, Comfort Masters https://comfortmastersal.com/

Nectar Bridge: https://nectarbridge.com

(Back office support for small business - accounting, operations, and software support)

We talked with Brandon Wilson with The Perfect Franchise. Brandon consults with people who are interested in exploring franchise opportunities, and helps them decide if a franchise business is a good fit for them. Best of all, his services don't cost anything to the prospective franchisee!

We discuss what a would-be franchisee needs to succeed, what kind of franchisors to look for (or avoid), and how to look at a franchise offering.

Contact Gary Smith: https://nectarbridge.com

Contact Brandon: https://theperfectfranchise.com

James Jackson, CPA is the owner of RMD Consulting & Advisory, and he's now our white label partner for tax preparation services! James and Gary talk about how looking at your business through the "rear-view mirror" of year-end tax planning is risky, real estate investing, and the risks of "DIY" tax filing.Some links and organizations we mention in the show:https://www.rmdcpa.com/https://www.ramseysolutions.com/https://www.biggerpockets.com/https://madisoncountyreia.com/

Lee describes himself as a "recovering accountant and a reluctant entrepreneur." Listen as he describes his journey: running a marketing agency, consulting to marketing agencies, and being one of the founders of Trim Tab Brewery. Then a client mentioned "Traction" by Gino Wickham and that book set Lee on his path to being an EOS implementer in Birmingham, Alabama.The EOS Traction system can help business owners get their business on track by providing a common language and an "operating system" -accountability, vision, team health, and more. Lee Handley: https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/lee-handley/March ENRG meeting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/enrg-birmingham-chapter-march-meeting-tickets-1982037280862 (for an invite to future ENRG meetings, contact Lee via his EOS page above and ask him for updates)Nectar Bridge provides back office support for small business - accounting, operations, and software support. We're located in Huntsville, Alabama. https://nectarbridge.comBumper music is royalty-free music from the Movavi video editing suite.

What are 3 problems small businesses face? They include poor management of receivables and payables, poor processes (resulting in bottlenecks), and poor technology choices. Nectar Bridge can help with all three! Listen to find out more.

https://nectarbridge.com