In Episode 15 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Vince Haines, principal architect at Gravity Works Architecture, for an in-depth conversation on architecture, leadership, and long-term community impact.Vince shares his journey from growing up in El Dorado to discovering architecture almost by accident, studying at KU, and eventually returning home to help lead and grow one of the region’s most respected architecture firms. He walks through what architects actually do—from early concept and schematic design to construction documents, bidding, and contract administration—and why architecture is equal parts art, science, and stewardship.The conversation explores how technology has transformed the profession over the last 30 years, from hand drafting and watercolor renderings to CAD, 3D modeling, and AI-assisted research. Vince explains where technology truly adds value, where it falls short, and why architects are still essential problem-solvers in the built environment.Beyond architecture, Vince reflects on leadership, firm succession, and why Gravity Works has intentionally stayed rooted in El Dorado while still taking on major regional projects. He also shares stories from his time as Mayor of El Dorado, his passion for economic development, classic cars, and the responsibility of giving back to the community that shaped him.This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how thoughtful design, steady leadership, and long-term vision can shape not just buildings—but entire communities.Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

In Episode 14 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Conor Adler, Capital & Investor Programs Lead at Nexus (Nextus.io), for an in-depth conversation on startups, venture capital, and why the Midwest is far more important to the innovation economy than most people realize.

Conor shares his unconventional path—from growing up outside Chicago, studying finance, working in early-stage startups, and grinding through underpaid roles—to landing in Wichita and helping founders raise capital, scale responsibly, and decide whether venture funding is even the right path for their business.

The conversation breaks down how Nexus actually works behind the scenes:

- What an entrepreneurial support organization (ESO) is

- How angel investing and SPVs function in practice

- Why customer traction matters more than pitch decks

- Common red flags founders don’t realize they’re waving

- How founders should think about growth capital before raising money

They also explore Conor’s work building next-generation investors through Future Funders, the realities of angel investing timelines, managing investor expectations, and why not every business should chase VC dollars.

Along the way, Conor opens up about creativity, vulnerability, and balance—sharing stories about bartending while working startups, building in public on Twitter, playing in a band with his brothers, and his long-term dream of opening an Irish pub with live music.

This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, investors, and anyone curious about how real startup ecosystems are built—far from Silicon Valley hype.Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

In this episode of the Killer Growth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Brad Demo, fifth-generation owner and president of Demo Distributors, Inc., to unpack one of the most misunderstood yet essential businesses in America: beverage distribution.

Brad walks through his family’s journey from early-1900s produce and ice operations to becoming an Anheuser-Busch distributor after Prohibition—and how that legacy has evolved into a modern, multi-category distribution business spanning beer, wine, liquor, energy drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages across Butler County and Southeast Kansas.

The conversation dives deep into how the three-tier alcohol system actually works, why distributors exist, how territories and franchise agreements function, and where the real margins live in beer, wine, and spirits. Brad explains inventory risk, forecasting months ahead, routing logistics, and the realities of holding millions of dollars in product that must move fast.

Samuel and Brad also explore major industry shifts:

• The decline of legacy light lagers and the rise of ready-to-drink cocktails

• The explosion of non-alcoholic beverages and functional drinks

• Why THC beverages remain a legal gray area in Kansas

• How brands like Pickle Shot, Sparkling Ice, and Form Energy scale through distribution

• The impact of grocery chains, law changes, and consolidation on independent retailers

Beyond the business mechanics, Brad shares lessons from stepping into leadership, managing people, succession planning, and balancing a 100+ year family legacy with modern growth. He also opens up about coaching high school wrestling for 15 years and why investing in people—inside and outside the business—matters most.

This episode is a masterclass in distribution, legacy entrepreneurship, and how unglamorous infrastructure businesses quietly power entire industries.

Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

In this episode of the Killer Growth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Baylor Parker, owner of Prairie Pots, to talk about what it really takes to buy, grow, and modernize a blue-collar service business—yes, even one built around portable toilets.

Baylor shares his unconventional path from college baseball to duck-hunting guide, utility shift work, and ultimately taking a leap into business ownership by purchasing Prairie Pots, a 30-year-old company started out of necessity for a local festival. The transition wasn’t smooth: key partners passed away during the handoff, inventory was tracked on scraps of paper kept in someone’s pocket, and Baylor quit his job before the deal was even finalized.

Since then, he’s scaled the business from roughly 100 units to over 250, hired employees, learned digital marketing from scratch, leaned into Google Ads and referrals, and recently acquired his only local competitor, effectively doubling the business overnight.

Samuel and Baylor dig into the realities of the portable restroom industry—routing, servicing, vandalism, events vs. job sites, pricing, margins, customer retention, and why reliability and cleanliness beat being the cheapest option. They also explore bigger themes: escaping income ceilings, building legacy, partnering with family, managing burnout, and finding pride in doing unglamorous work exceptionally well.

This episode is an honest, surprisingly fascinating look at entrepreneurship in a business most people never think twice about—but absolutely can’t live without.

Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

In this episode of the Killer Growth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Phil Anderson, Co-Founder of KillerGrowth, to break down how local service businesses should really think about digital marketing—without hype, guarantees, or gimmicks.
Phil shares his 10+ year journey in digital marketing, from teaching himself Facebook ads to helping scale a Boston agency from $50K/month to nearly $900K/month, and eventually co-founding Killer Growth. From there, the conversation turns practical and tactical.
Together, Samuel and Phil unpack the core marketing framework Killer Growth uses with service businesses:

• Google Ads for capturing existing demand
• Meta (Facebook & Instagram) Ads for creating demand
• SEO for owning demand long-term

Phil explains common mistakes businesses make with each channel, why most Google Ads fail, why Facebook leads go cold so fast, how follow-up systems matter more than ad spend, and why SEO is often misunderstood—but still the strongest long-term growth lever when done correctly.
They also dive into attribution, landing pages, content strategy, AI’s role in SEO, and why most “cheap SEO” offers don’t work. The episode closes with clear advice for business owners about to spend their first marketing dollar—what to start with, what to avoid, and how to build confidence without gambling their business.
This episode is a must-listen for HVAC, plumbing, roofing, cleaning, and other local service business owners who want clarity, not confusion, when it comes to digital marketing.
https://killergrowth.com

In this episode of the Killer Growth Podcast, Sam McVay sits down with David Dillner, City Manager of El Dorado, Kansas, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how a city actually operates—and why running a city isn’t all that different from running a business.

David breaks down the structure of city government, explaining the role of a city manager as the CEO of a municipal organization, the responsibilities of mayors and commissioners, and how decisions are really made. From budgeting and long-term planning to infrastructure, tax policy, and economic development, this conversation offers clarity on a system most people interact with daily but rarely understand.

This episode explores:

• How cities are structured and governed

• Where city revenue actually comes from (property taxes, sales tax, utilities, and franchise fees)

• How municipal budgets are built 18 months in advance amid economic uncertainty

• The balance between maintaining aging infrastructure and investing in transformational projects

• Why growing the tax base is harder—and slower—than most people realize

• How cities think about reserves, debt, and financial sustainability

• The role of technology and AI in improving city efficiency

• How cities balance being business-friendly while protecting community interests

• Why collaboration—not confrontation—is the best way for business owners to work with local government

David also shares one of his proudest accomplishments during his nine years in El Dorado: renegotiating the city’s lake water debt to save future taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars—a reminder that thoughtful leadership can quietly create massive long-term value.

This episode is essential listening for business owners, developers, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to better understand how local government decisions shape the communities where businesses grow and people live.

Learn more at killergrowth.com

In this episode of the Killer Growth Podcast, Sam McVay sits down with Logan Shrag, founder of Diamond Spring Ranch and the Cowboy Experience, for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, risk, faith, and building something truly unique in the middle of Kansas.Logan shares how a lifelong entrepreneurial mindset, early business failures, and a deep love for horses led him to create what he jokingly calls a “fast-food ranch experience”—a place where people can slow down, disconnect, and experience a taste of the cowboy way of life without traveling across the country. From trail rides and horseback lessons to a two-story luxury treehouse, covered wagon stays, and curated dinner experiences, Logan breaks down how each part of the ranch came to life step by step.This episode explores:- Turning passion into a sustainable business- Building experiential destinations in non-traditional markets- Taking calculated risks without having everything figured out- Creating community, not just transactions- Faith, obedience, and trusting the process when challenges arise- Why people are craving slower, more grounded experiences- Lessons learned from scaling, reinvesting, and refining the offering over timeLogan also opens up about leadership, responsibility, and why respecting people—and animals—sits at the core of everything they do at the ranch. From buying mustangs through prison rehabilitation programs to hosting families, corporate groups, and couples looking for a memorable escape, this conversation is a powerful reminder that meaningful growth often comes from doing things differently.Whether you’re building a business, dreaming up a destination concept, or simply looking for inspiration to take the next step, this episode offers a grounded, thoughtful look at what it means to build with purpose.Learn more at killergrowth.com

In Episode 8 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Sam McVay sits down with Jeff Baker, owner of The Grounds Guys of Wichita, for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, risk, people, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts.Jeff shares his unconventional path into entrepreneurship—walking away from a 13-year career in law enforcement to start a landscaping franchise with no prior business background. What began as mowing yards on days off turned into a long-term journey of discipline, hard decisions, and personal growth. Along the way, Jeff opens up about the realities of scaling too fast, learning to make difficult people decisions, and why indecision is often more dangerous than making the wrong call.This conversation goes far beyond landscaping. Jeff talks candidly about servant leadership, retaining great employees in a demanding, seasonal industry, and why he believes employees don’t work for business owners—business owners work for their employees. He also shares one of the most personal moments of his life: a health crisis that forced him to step away from work, confront his own limits, and redefine how he carries fear, control, and responsibility.Listeners will hear insights on:- Leaving a stable career to bet on yourself- Why the franchise model accelerated Jeff’s business maturity- Hiring for attitude and training for skill- Retaining employees through care, consistency, and trust- The danger of growing too fast without infrastructure- Leadership under pressure and learning to release control- Balancing ambition, family, faith, and personal healthThis episode is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t just about strategy or success—it’s about endurance, humility, and learning how to lead people well when the stakes are high.https://killergrowth.com

In Episode 7 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Sam McVay sits down with economic developer Sarah Hoefgen to discuss what it really takes to drive economic growth by attracting major businesses and investment into a region.
Sarah shares practical insight from the front lines of economic development—covering how communities position themselves to win large employers, the strategy behind business attraction, and the long-term planning required to create sustainable economic momentum. This conversation goes beyond theory, offering a real look at how economic developers compete for jobs, capital, and growth in today’s market.
This episode explores:
- How regions attract large businesses and outside investment
- The infrastructure, workforce, and policy factors companies evaluate before choosing a location
- The role of economic developers in shaping long-term regional growth
- Balancing speed, incentives, and sustainability when landing major projects
- What communities must get right to stay competitive for future development
Learn more about El Dorado, Inc. at https://www.eldorado-inc.com/
killergrowth.com

In Episode 6 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Sam McVay sits down with Ryan Locke, a multi-generation Kansas cattleman whose life revolves around faith, family, land, and the relentless realities of the ranching business. From calving seasons to droughts, from volatile markets to generational transition, Ryan gives a raw and deeply grounded look into what it takes to build—and sustain—a ranching legacy.

Ryan shares the Locke family story going back decades, including how his father rebuilt the operation from leased grass and custom grazing, and how the family recently made a bold move to sell their long-time ranch and expand into a new era together. He breaks down the entire cattle lifecycle in a way anyone can understand—calving, weaning, grass season, wheat pasture, feed yards, markets, risk, and the day-to-day realities most people never see.

This episode dives into:

• How the Locke family rebuilt their ranching legacy from nearly nothing

• The economics of cattle: markets, margins, volatility, drought, and risk

• Why Kansas is one of the best places on earth for raising cattle

• The emotional and financial weight of generational transition

• The harsh realities of calving storms and drought years

• What "sustainable ranching" really means for land and water

• How Ryan balances cowboy tradition with modern efficiency

• The challenges of leadership, growth, and raising the next generation

• His investment group and how outsiders can (carefully) invest in cattle

Ryan also opens up about fatherhood, community, accountability, and the quiet, spiritual beauty he finds in gathering cattle at sunrise with his boys—a reminder that ranching is more than business; it’s a way of life worth preserving.

If you’ve ever wanted to understand the cattle industry, Kansas ranch culture, or the heart of a true cattleman, this is one of the most insightful episodes yet.

killergrowth.com