Give'r and Fortress have built a strong relationship over the past year or mutual motivation.  With countless hours of strategy and execution, all tailored toward the goal of solidifying their brand identity and increasing their sales, it has proven to be a perfect match of personality and drive. Joel sat down with Bubba Albrecht, the founder of Give'r, to talk about his journey, the company's journey, and what the future holds for him and for the brand. 

Jill Cotton is the President of IROL, a software company specializing in Fire Prevention and Risk Reduction Services. We sat down with Jill to ask her a few questions about building her business and then making a name for it, something that's a lot harder than it sounds, especially as a woman in technology. Talking to Jill, you can instantly detect her strength as a leader, as well as her sense of humor, which makes Episode 6 of Making the Brand both fun and inspiring.

Marlene McCallum is a skilled executive coach who works with Fortress CEO Joel Mathew. The two sat down together to discuss life’s most important lessons; among these are that humans are not fixed and can evolve and change to become better leaders, better business owners, and better people. Listen to this episode in full to hear what advice Marlene would give people who are interested in the work that she does. The moral of the story is to do the hard work, get uncomfortable, and take responsibility. 

In episode four of Making the Brand, Joel sat down with Aleksandar Zafirovski of Northwestern Medicine. He is an entrepreneurial mind within the healthcare industry, making him the perfect Fortress partner. Over the past several years, Fortress has worked with Aleksandar to create Breast Cancer Patient Connect, an online space where patients and survivors of breast cancer can go to feel supported, informed, and empowered. Listen to this episode for some insightful storytelling and positive lessons to take from hard times.

The marketing journey is never a straight line. David Adam, friend and client of Fortress and leader at MidAmerica Orthopaedics, sat down with Joel to talk about their philosophies on marketing after having worked together for multiple years. They agree on one main core principle: that in marketing, you have to play the long game if you want to see real growth. And MidAmerica Orthopaedics knows transformative growth, having seen 800% increase in patient visits and clientele during David Adam's tenure. See what other compelling insights they had by listening to the full episode. 

Jon Walner is an energetic and passionate lawyer who channels this spirit into achieving justice for his clients. Fortress has developed a strong relationship with his firm, Walner Law, having worked on their website, branding, and many many other projects. Hear Jon and Joel talk about what gets them out of bed every day, and the importance of bringing good people together to reach a common goal. 

Summary:

Guest Ryan Weldon is all about community and culture. In other words, he’s the kind of guy to wear sneakers to his own wedding. In this first episode of Making the Brand, Joel Mathew sits down with his good friend and business partner to talk about motivations, shared influences, and what sets 13th Bridge Games Studio and Fortress apart. 

Timestamps:

0:00 - 14:02 → Introductions & Origins of 13th Bridge Games Studio

14:02 - 28:03 → Ryan and Joel’s Biggest Influences & Best Stories

28:03 - 43:20 → Differentiators of 13th Bridge & Run the Court 

43:20 - 1:00:31 → Quick hits & Final Thoughts