Marketing Moves

Brent Zimmerman didn't take the typical path into craft beer. After years in finance on Wall Street, he walked away from an investment opportunity in 2013, and decided to build his own brewery instead.

What followed is one of Cleveland's most interesting brand-building stories: Saucy Brew Works, launched in Hingetown in 2017, has grown into a multi-location hospitality company through organic growth, crowdfunding, and strategic acquisitions. Brent has raised over $20 million through crowdfunding and has continued to expand the Saucy brand into new categories, including Saucy Seltzer, a premium hemp-derived THC beverage line navigating a rapidly evolving and highly regulated market.

In this episode, host Ashtyn Morris sits down with Brent to talk about:

— Why he passed on investing in a brewery to start his own

— How internal culture became the foundation for scaling across locations

— The brand architecture behind Saucy Brew Works, Saucy Seltzer, Saucy Coffee, Urban Meyer's Pint House & Cartridge Brewing

— What crowdfunding $20M actually taught him about community-building as a marketing strategy

— Navigating THC beverage marketing amid evolving regulations, including the recent Ohio hemp-derived THC legislation that has put brands like his in limbo

— Why he's still betting on Cleveland!

Whether you're building a brand, scaling a business, or just trying to figure out what's actually working in marketing right now, this one's worth your time.

How does a home services startup go from $0 to $170 million in just three years? In this episode of Marketing Moves, host Ashtyn Morris sits down with AJ Wadian and Vince Venditti of Premier Home Pros to break down the exact marketing and lead generation strategy behind one of the fastest-growing home services companies in the country.

📈 Year One: $15 Million

📈 Year Two: $86 Million

📈 Year Three: ~$170 Million

This isn't luck, it's a repeatable system built on disciplined demand generation, smart market timing, and aligning sales with marketing from day one.

What You'll Learn: Home Services Marketing at Scale — How to evolve your lead-gen mix as you grow from local contractor to national brand Operationalizing Growth — Why more leads without operational alignment creates chaos, not revenue The Renovation Over Relocation Trend — How to capitalize on the market shift driving homeowner spending right now Customer Education as a Conversion Tool — How smarter prospects convert at higher rates and lower cost

Whether you're a contractor, home services operator, or marketing professional trying to scale lead generation without breaking your business, this episode is your blueprint.

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Josiah Myers, Founder & CEO of Spilt Social, to explore how he’s building one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing event communities. What started as a simple idea to create more authentic networking experiences has grown into a movement, with 7,500+ email subscribers, sold-out events, and expansion into new cities. Josiah shares how mentorship, referrals, and multi-touch marketing strategies are driving sustainable growth — and why listening to the market has been critical to shaping Spilt Social’s evolution.

On this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Abbas Mandviwala, physician, entrepreneur, and managing partner behind Encore, a cocktail bar in the heart of Playhouse Square. Abbas shares the story behind building a hospitality concept designed for the 1.3 million people who visit the district each year, and how thoughtful design, branding, and experience came together to create something unique for Cleveland’s theater district. We also dive into his journey from medicine to entrepreneurship, launching a hospitality concept from scratch, and why creating spaces centered around human connection matters more than ever.

On this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Jerry Schill, President & CEO of Schill Grounds Management, to talk about scaling a service business from a 10x20 storage unit to 37 locations across multiple states and Canada. Jerry shares what it takes to grow through acquisitions, transition into commercial maintenance, and build a people-first culture that can withstand rapid change. If you’re building a business and trying to grow without losing your culture, this one’s for you.

On this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Anthony Manna Jr., President of Hello Sunray, and Vice President of M7 Ventures, to explore disciplined entrepreneurship, diversification strategy, and the rise of Hello Sunray. Anthony shares why market feedback matters more than assumptions, how M7 Ventures stabilizes growth through diversified investments, and why rising power costs are driving opportunity in commercial solar. We also discuss referral-based growth, long-term thinking, and how battery storage and microgrids will shape the future of energy.

On this special 100th episode of Marketing Moves, we’re turning the mic around and sitting down with our own host, Ashtyn Morris. From her unexpected path into marketing to building Marketing Moves into an award-winning podcast and brand growth engine for VividFront, Ashtyn reflects on the journey behind the show. We dive into her approach to authentic storytelling, guest prep, and balancing multiple roles—plus what’s next as the podcast continues to evolve beyond its first 100 episodes.

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Adam Zuccaro, longtime agency leader, to explore how marketing teams can balance data, technology, and human creativity in a rapidly evolving landscape. From the role agencies play today to the rise of AI tools reshaping workflows, Adam shares why the most effective campaigns still rely on human insight and storytelling. We also dive into what defines “good creative,” how brands should think about performance vs. brand building, and the trends shaping content, campaigns, and consumer connection in 2026 and beyond.

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we sit down with DJ Eidson, President and co-founder of Limitless Minds, to unpack how elite sports mental conditioning has been translated into a powerful framework for business performance. DJ shares the principles behind neutral thinking, why mindset is the true performance multiplier, and how focusing on the “middle” of teams can elevate overall results. We also explore how leaders can build resilient cultures, reduce burnout in hybrid work environments, and embed mindset discipline into daily routines for long-term impact.

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we sit down with Scott Hernandez, founder of Hernandez Building Corporation, to discuss his journey from bankruptcy and $50 repair jobs to leading a construction firm with a $150M bond limit. Scott shares how mentorship, trust, and integrity shaped his company’s national growth, renovating 150 projects across 25 states, while staying true to his values. We also dive into his personal transformation through guided psilocybin therapy, how it redefined his leadership style, and his next venture, Shifting Perspectives, a podcast dedicated to resilience, healing, and purpose beyond profit.