In The Thick of It

Gut feelings in hiring decisions are a common but flawed approach. Rick Girard's experience in recruitment revealed that many companies often lean on personal biases when selecting or rejecting candidates. This insight led him to create Intertru, a platform leveraging generative AI to promote more objective hiring practices.

Rick's story demonstrates that while technological expertise isn't a prerequisite for developing a stellar product, assembling an exceptional team is crucial—good thing he's nailed down an interviewing methodology for hiring the best of the best.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Rick's journey underscores the importance of full commitment to your venture and maintaining an open mind to feedback and diverse viewpoints throughout the process.

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About Rick
Rick Girard is the Founder & CEO of Intertru, an AI-powered platform designed to help hiring managers with method-driven interviewing analytics & insights. He is also the host of Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast—a weekly series on LinkedIn Live. Rick enjoys helping business leaders hire accurately for core value alignment and transferable skills. Over the past 9 years, he’s developed a proven methodology for interviewing that backs decision-making with data & facts over personal biases & opinions. When he’s not helping other founders and business leaders, you can find Rick competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, surfing, snowboarding, rock climbing, and running with scissors (so dangerous!).

About Intertru
Intertru is a method-driven interviewing accuracy platform that uses AI and HireOS® methodology to ensure that your company hires the strongest people, every time. Their mission: eliminate bad hiring from planet Earth! 

To learn more, visit https://intertru.ai/

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📧 If you or a founder you know would like to be a guest on In The Thick of It, email us at [email protected]

Recently we celebrated 1 year of In The Thick of It podcast with a live-streamed episode featuring past guests, including:

👤 Justin Smith, Founder of Ebenezer Consulting
👤 Roy Keely, Founder of FirmStudio
👤 Taylor Brooks, Founder of Simple

We hope you enjoy our banter and discussion around business, leadership, and professional development. It was a great time sharing the space with fellow founders—stay tuned for more panel episodes like this one!

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🎧 Listen to the show & view featured guests: https://founderstory.transistor.fm/

📧 If you or a founder you know would like to be a guest on In The Thick of It, email us at [email protected]

📱 Connect with us on socials
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As we near one year since starting In The Thick of It, we're working on a celebratory episode. In the meantime, we'd love for you to catch up on some founder stories you may have missed.

In this episode, we learn from Jonathan Lusk, an entrepreneur who grew up in a small town in Texas before going on to attend Texas A&M and build a career in wealth management. Jonathan started out at AT&T and Goldman Sachs, but eventually left to launch his own independent investment firm. More recently, Jonathan co-founded BirdDog, an online marketplace that connects landowners with hunters looking for places to hunt. We’ll hear about Jonathan’s journey from small town kid to successful entrepreneur, the lessons he learned along the way, and how he’s bringing technology and innovation to the hunting industry. Jonathan is all about living life to the fullest, taking risks, and constantly learning and growing, so I think listeners will find his outlook inspiring regardless of their background or industry.

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About Jonathan:
Jonathan grew up in North Texas on a fish farm where he developed a love for the outdoors. Upon graduation from Texas A&M, he joined the workforce, married his college sweetheart, and started a family. After completing his MBA at Rice, he worked on Wall Street at Goldman Sachs and then launched his own finance company. Jonathan loves relationships and finds great joy in making sure BirdDog hunters are changed through the friendships they make in the outdoors. Jonathan now resides in Washington, TX where he lives on a little piece of land with his wife, Kat, and kids, Jackson, Sam, and Charlotte. They enjoy fishing, hunting, and being outdoors.

To learn more about his latest venture, BirdDog, visit birddogit.com.

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If you or a founder you know would like to be a guest on In The Thick of It, email us at [email protected]

As we near one year since starting In The Thick of It, we're working on a celebratory episode. In the meantime, we'd love for you to catch up on some founder stories you may have missed.

In this episode of In the Thick of It, host Scott interviews Taylor Brooks, founder and CEO of Simple Donation. Taylor shares his journey from growing up in Atlanta to attending Auburn University and working various jobs before starting Simple Donation, a software company that builds online donation platforms for nonprofits and churches. He discusses the challenges of balancing a full-time corporate job while also running his startup on the side for many years. Taylor provides insights into building company culture, hiring the right people, learning from mistakes, and focusing on solving customer problems rather than just selling features. He emphasizes creating long-term value and building relationships. Throughout the interview, Taylor stresses the importance of persistence and consistency in business. He aims to continue leading Simple Donation for 30-40 more years with a stewardship mindset.

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About Taylor:
Taylor Brooks is the Founder and CEO of Simple - a company that provides financial tools for churches such as online giving, event registration payments, donor analytics, and corporate card programs.

He was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, graduated from Auburn University, and moved to Texas in 2010. #texasforever

Taylor has been married to Rachel for 14 years and has three children: Wyatt, Lyle, and June. For fun he likes to hunt, fly-fish, read old books, listen to old music, and play tennis.

About Simple:
An easy-to-use giving platform for churches that use Rock RMS, with personal consultation tailored to your congregation's needs. All in service of helping you grow the generosity of your people. We're here to support your mission so you can focus on your ministry. With expert guidance, analytics, and custom giving software designed for your Rock RMS church, we're your partner for community impact and giving that's cheerful, meaningful, and … simple.

To learn more, visit simpledonation.com.

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If you or a founder you know would like to be a guest on In The Thick of It, email us at [email protected]

As we near one year since starting In The Thick of It, we're working on a celebratory episode. In the meantime, we'd love for you to catch up on some founder stories you may have missed.

Clayton Flurry is the Founder of Flurry’s Market + Provisions, a beloved local butcher shop and grocery store in Flower Mound, Texas. After spending nearly two decades in the oil and gas industry, Clayton decided in 2020 to leave his career and pursue his entrepreneurial passion. Despite having no prior experience running a retail business, he bootstrapped Flurry's Market from idea to launch in just 9 months.

Opening amidst a pandemic came with plenty of challenges from supply chain disruptions to cash flow problems, but Clayton’s commitment to hiring knowledgeable staff, providing quality products, and serving the community with care has allowed the business to thrive. He's learned first-hand how perseverance, adaptability, and faith are key to overcoming the trials of entrepreneurship. Clayton shares his thoughts on surrounding yourself with the right people, treating employees well, and the importance of getting up every day to make a positive difference in people's lives.

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About Clayton:

Clayton Flurry is the founder of Flurry’s Market, a beloved local butcher shop and grocery store in Flower Mound, Texas. Prior to launching Flurry’s Market in 2020, Clayton spent nearly two decades working in the oil and gas industry, first as a landman in the field and later taking on leadership roles for energy companies. His experience in the corporate world gave him the courage to leave his career to follow his entrepreneurial passion. Despite no prior retail experience, Clayton’s commitment to service and community has made Flurry’s Market a thriving local business.

About Flurry's Market + Provisions:

Voted best Meat Market in Denton County, Flurry's Market is a specialty meat market, bistro & butcher shop located in the heart of Flower Mound, TX.  Our Mission is centered around quality, service, and value.

To learn more, visit flurrysmarket.com.

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If you or a founder you know would like to be a guest on In The Thick of It, email us at [email protected]

As we near one year since starting In The Thick of It, we're working on a celebratory episode. In the meantime, we'd love for you to catch up on some founder stories you may have missed.

Last year, we kicked off the podcast with our first guest: Chelsea Curtis, Founder & Managing Partner of Seaport Consulting, a successful Salesforce consulting firm in Boston, MA. Chelsea shares her path to entrepreneurship, discussing the challenges and triumphs she encountered along the way. She highlights the importance of taking risks, building strong client relationships, and sticking to her values. Chelsea also provides valuable insights into the hiring process and the significance of investing in technology for business growth. Whether you're a founder or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers valuable lessons and inspiration for building a thriving company.

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About Chelsea:
Chelsea is a four-time certified Salesforce professional with over 10 years of experience consulting, implementing, and supporting the Salesforce platform. As Managing Partner, Chelsea oversees all aspects of the business and directly manages the consulting team. Prior to founding Seaport Consulting, Chelsea worked as a technical project manager who successfully led a company-wide Salesforce implementation, and played golf professionally on the LPGA Futures Tour. In addition to leading Seaport, Chelsea sits on the board of Mass Golf, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to advancing golf in Massachusetts, and serves as the chair for their diversity, equity, and inclusion committee.

About Seaport Consulting:
Seaport Consulting is a Boston-based consulting firm who helps companies implement, integrate, and enhance Salesforce. Seaport's approach marries your goals, your people, and your processes with a customized Salesforce solution that's right for you.

To learn more, visit seaportconsulting.com.

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If you or a founder you know would like to be a guest on In The Thick of It, email us at [email protected]

Entrepreneurial journeys often take unexpected turns, sometimes leading to extraordinary success.

In this episode, we explore Robert (Bob) Bowden's transition from landman to thriving business owner. Bob shares his experience founding two distinct companies: Verity Advisors, which assists in unclaimed property recovery, and VerityPay, offering text-based payment solutions for B2C businesses. He discusses the hurdles and victories encountered along the way, including managing market fluctuations and investigating cross-state expansion opportunities.

This conversation offers valuable lessons in resilience and flexibility, relevant to both established entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners.

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About Bob
Robert Bowdon is the President and Founder of Verity Advisors, LLC. His passion is the timely and complete return of all outstanding assets to clients of the business. After more than a decade working in the oil and gas industry as a petroleum landman, Robert founded Verity Advisors to address the growing issue of returning dormant assets to their rightful owners – and it starts with a deep-seated understanding of estate entitlement and corporate ownership. Through a dedication to simplifying this complex process, Robert has successfully facilitated thousands of recoveries totaling tens of millions of dollars and spanning across a wide array of asset types and ownership complexities. Robert has implemented a team of professionals who are experts in their respective fields to grow the business and provide the absolute best experience possible for Verity clients.

Outside of the office, Robert enjoys spending time outdoors and raising his two boys and daughter with his wife, Dee. Robert and his family are active members of Bethel Church of Houston and enjoy volunteering and supporting various organizations including Patriots for Veterans, the Archibald Project, KSBJ, Food for the Hungry, and the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

Robert holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of West Florida. He made Houston his home in the early 2000s and has grown a deep appreciation for the city and Texas as a whole.

About VerityPay
VerityPay is a web-based SaaS platform which quickly and easily delivers payments from your business operating system to consumers via their mobile device, with instant reconciliation.

About Verity Advisors
Verity Advisors is a Class A Investigations company focused on the recovery and return of various assets to our clients. The firm creates a collaborative recovery strategy where our mission is single-minded: we are focused on timely, safe return of what is rightfully yours. Our clients rely upon us to successfully navigate the complex process of proving ownership on their behalf.

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If you or a founder you know would like to be a guest on In The Thick of It, email us at [email protected]

This episode features Joni Girardi, founder and CEO of DataSelf, a business helping mid-sized organizations use data and analytics to gain a competitive edge.

Joni's fascination with technology began in his youth, sparked by learning about the unidirectional flow of electrons in diodes. Initially pursuing electrical engineering, he later switched to programming, joining a web development firm in the late 90s.

His time working in Silicon Valley during the dot-com era revealed a critical issue: many businesses lacked proper insight into their data.

Recognizing this gap, Joni launched DataSelf to offer affordable business intelligence resources for growing small to medium-sized businesses.

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About Joni
I'm a geek at heart and an experienced businessman. I'm passionate about technology and how our brains handle modern business. I’m on a mission to improve how growing mid-sized organizations make decisions. I work at the point where analytics, cognitive science, human behavior, and business all come together. I figured out that I was a geek at heart when I was in 7th grade. I went crazy when I learned that a diode is a one-way street for electrons. I started out as an electrical engineer but quickly focused on hard-core programming. After a few years of brushing bits and bytes, I moved to business and got an MBA. I moved to the US from my native country, Brazil. Since then, I've been involved in upper management positions in five technology start-ups, including being a founder and the CEO of the last two. 

About DataSelf
DataSelf helps mid-sized organizations use big data and analytics to gain and sustain a competitive edge. DataSelf leverages data warehousing, ETL+, Tableau, Power BI and its own secret sauce including 8,000+ KPI templates. They deliver great value from day one.

To learn more, visit dataself.com.

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If you or a founder you know would like to be a guest on In The Thick of It, email us at [email protected]

Estate planning may not be the first thing on your mind when launching a business, but it's a crucial step that shouldn't be overlooked. 

In this episode, we dive into the world of asset protection with estate planning attorney, Candace Sandifer. She outlines key measures entrepreneurs should implement to safeguard their business interests.

Candace stresses the importance of enlisting the help of attorneys who specialize in your industry and encourages open, honest discussions during the planning process. Whether you're a business owner or not, this episode offers essential insights into why it's critical to start estate planning sooner rather than later.

Tune in for practical advice that could prove invaluable in protecting your legacy and ensuring your wishes are carried out, no matter what the future holds.

About Candace:
Candace Sandifer is a Partner at the Houser Law Firm and manages the Southlake office.  Candace has practiced law since 2008 and began her career in Washington DC, as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General, and represented DC Public Schools in their General Counsel's office.  After moving back to Texas in 2011, Candace's practice shifted to a focus on estate planning, probate and business law.  She has been at the Houser Firm since 2019, and enjoys working with families across the state of Texas.  Candace is an avid reader of historical fiction and cookbooks and truly loves podcasts about economics.  She also loves to cook, garden, pretend she is Martha Stewart, and travel to the mountains of Colorado with her husband Collin, and her three children.   She has a dog named Sophie who is the most beautiful rescue Rhodesian Ridgeback who ever lived and a cutie black cat named Jack.

About Houser Firm:
The Houser Law Firm is a boutique estate planning firm with a commitment to innovative and sophisticated legal solutions to protect our clients' legacies of wealth. At the Houser Firm, “protecting legacies of wealth” is more than just a tagline to us. We recognize that our clients work incredibly hard to achieve their successes. We also understand how difficult it can be to place that hard-earned success in the hands of someone else. You deserve legal advocates who care about you and your family’s future as much as they do their own. With our experienced attorneys at your side, you can rest easy knowing that your legacy will endure.

To learn more, visit www.houserfirm.com

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If you or a founder you know would like to be a guest on In The Thick of It, email us at [email protected]

In this episode of "In The Thick of It," Kasey Sisson discusses her journey from recent graduate to successful entrepreneur. After completing her Masters in Organizational Communication in 2019, Kasey leveraged her creative abilities and passion for teaching to establish her own marketing agency, Kasey S Consulting.

Kasey shares both the highs and lows of running her business. She recounts the exciting moments of unexpected growth and landing her first international client. However, she also addresses the challenges faced along the way, including cash flow management, talent acquisition, establishing core processes & values, and navigating client misalignments.

Throughout the conversation, Kasey emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and kindness towards others in the entrepreneurial journey. This episode offers valuable insights for both seasoned and aspiring business owners, highlighting how fostering a fun and collaborative work environment can contribute significantly to business success.

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About Kasey & Kasey S Consulting
"Hi, I'm Kasey! Connection is my passion, storytelling is the conduit.

I graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Masters in Organizational Communication in 2019, however, I have always considered myself a creative way before my official title...even while working full time in Corporate America. After years of creating for myself, it was a natural fit to use my social media knowledge to help other businesses succeed. After a nudge from my mentor, I decided to take the leap and start a marketing agency in May of 2021. My passion for helping small/medium size businesses with their marketing without the hefty price tag honestly is how Kasey S Consulting began. Because after all, every business is so uniquely different with various marketing needs. After launching my business, then came my first hire, Erin, one of my best friends from middle school. She now leads our team as the account manager, supporting all things client relations. Fast forward to today, we are about to celebrate our second birthday! I could not be more thankful of how far KSC has come and all the team members who have played a part in its success thus far."

To learn more, visit www.kaseysconsulting.co