In this episode of Ops Unfiltered, discover the secrets behind leading the leaders with Luminous co-founder and CEO Jared Ward. Join him as he sits down with founder coach Chad Brown, delving into the intricacies of leadership and entrepreneurship. Uncover the keys to success, from open communication to confronting difficult conversations head-on. Gain insights into fostering full transparency with both employees and customers, while also learning the importance of taking full responsibility in every aspect of leadership. With Brown's expertise, explore the significance of immediate feedback and ensuring alignment of vision within your team. Don't miss this episode of Ops Unfiltered, where you'll uncover invaluable lessons for navigating the challenges of leadership in today's fast-paced business landscape.

Meet Chad Brown

Chad Brown is a dynamic founder coach with a passion for empowering entrepreneurs and their teams to achieve their fullest potential. With years of experience in coaching and business consultancy, Chad specializes in helping founders navigate the complexities of scaling their visions and aligning their teams with core organizational goals. His expertise lies in fostering open communication, encouraging ownership, and cultivating an environment where difficult conversations are seen as opportunities for growth and alignment.

In this episode of OPS Unfiltered, discover the secrets behind scaling your business from startup to success, straight from the expert insights of Free to Grow CFO co-founder Jon Blair. Join Luminous CEO and co-founder Jared Ward as he delves into Blair's journey, from navigating the early stages of high-growth companies to sealing the deal on Shark Tank with Guardian Bikes. Gain invaluable advice on managing operations, matching costs with revenue, and optimizing inventory for exponential growth. Plus, uncover when it's the right time to integrate ERP systems and avoid the common pitfalls of premature implementation. Don't miss this episode of Ops Unfiltered, where you'll learn how to leverage technology to streamline financial operations and strategically propel your business forward. Tune in now for actionable strategies and expert insights!

Meet Jon Blair

Jon Blair previously held the roles of COO and CFO at Guardian Bikes, a company that received an investment from Mark Cuban on the ABC show Shark Tank. There, he was a pivotal member of the founding team and instrumental in driving the DTC kid's bike brand's revenue from inception to multi-million dollar status over four years while also securing over $15 million in funding. Following his tenure at Guardian Bikes, Jon established Free to Grow CFO. This venture is Jon's way of extending his financial expertise to burgeoning DTC brands, offering them the strategic benefits of CFO services on a part-time, outsourced basis. 

In this episode of Ops Unfiltered, join Luminous founder and CEO Jared Ward as he explores the intricacies of supply chain management with Shyft Global founder Alex Burdge. Discover Burdge's insights on prioritizing product sales over fulfillment complexities. Uncover key lessons on selecting 3PL partners, optimizing supply chains for efficiency and scalability, and fostering healthy relationships with suppliers and vendors to drive business success.

Meet Alex Burdge

Alex Burdge is a seasoned supply chain management expert and the visionary founder of Shyft Global, a company renowned for its innovative approach to supply chain challenges. With an educational background from Brigham Young University, where he majored in supply chain management, Alex honed his skills and passion for the field through various roles within the supply chain sector, gaining invaluable insights and experience. His entrepreneurial journey began as a response to identified market gaps, driven by a desire to offer disruptive solutions and create substantial value in supply chain management.

In this episode of Ops Unfiltered, join Luminous CEO and co-founder Jared Ward as he dives into the world of e-commerce with Fawn Design CMO Trevor Crump. Discover Crump's journey from consulting to serving as CMO, as he shares insights on scaling e-commerce businesses and overcoming common pitfalls. Learn about Crump's innovative solution, Bestie AI, designed to enhance direct customer communication and deepen brand connections, and gain valuable advice on content creation for business growth and visibility.

Meet Trevor Crump

As one of the original partners of Asher Golf, Trevor helped to launch and elevate the brand. After his tenure at Asher, Trevor transitioned to a consulting role, where his skills were sought after by burgeoning e-commerce brands looking to carve out their niche in competitive markets. Trevor's entrepreneurial spirit led him to the role of Chief Marketing Officer at Fawn Design, where he was instrumental in steering the company's marketing strategies and expanding its market presence. His success at Fawn Design showed his ability to blend creative marketing with data-driven decision-making.

In this episode of Ops Unfiltered, join Luminous CEO and founder Jared Ward as he dives into the world of logistics with Revamp Fulfillment founder Devin Barker. Discover the power of starting small, scaling up with attention to detail, and embracing customer service as a core strategy in navigating the challenges of the 3PL industry. Barker's journey showcases the advantages of being agile and selective in client partnerships, highlighting the path to building a successful business grounded in operational excellence and client satisfaction.

Meet Devin Barker

Devin Barker is a seasoned entrepreneur and logistics expert who has carved a niche in the third-party logistics (3PL) industry. He founded a successful 3PL company, Revamp Fulfillment, that stands out for its commitment to transparency, customer service, and operational efficiency. An advocate for continuous learning and adaptation, Devin is passionate about sharing his insights with others in the industry, helping them navigate the challenges and opportunities of 3PL.

In this episode of Ops Unfiltered, join Luminous co-founder and CEO Jared Ward as he addresses the fallout from the unexpected shutdown of Jane.com, offering resources for affected sellers and discussing the future of e-commerce operations with upcoming enhancements and a focus on community and customer engagement.

Meet Jared Ward

Jared Ward is the founder and CEO of Luminous, providing innovative software solutions for businesses. His entrepreneurial journey is marked by a series of successful direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. The inception of Luminous was born out of necessity during the onset of the pandemic when Jared identified a crucial gap in the market for efficient and comprehensive back-end operational solutions. Motivated by the challenges he encountered while managing his DTC brands, Jared embarked on the journey to create Luminous, aiming to revolutionize the way businesses manage their operations.

In this episode of Ops Unfiltered, discover the strategic decisions behind Renova Worldwide's technological journey as President James Andrus shares insights with Luminous co-founder and CEO Jared Ward. Uncover how the nutritional supplement company navigated the balance between scalability and flexibility, ultimately finding the perfect fit with Luminous's one-stop-shop solution.

Meet James Andrus

James Andrus, president of Renova Worldwide, has steered his business toward innovative solutions that address nutritional deficiencies through advanced supplementation. Under James's leadership, Renova Worldwide has distinguished itself with its flagship product, a meticulously formulated supplement of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and plant extracts. This product, backed by 25 years of research and featured in numerous medical journal publications, showcases science-based wellness solutions.

In this episode of Ops Unfiltered, join Luminous CEO and co-founder Jared Ward as he uncovers the secrets to solving business challenges with operations guru Steve Clark, founder of Odyssey Snacks, offering invaluable insights drawn from his extensive experience at Kodiak Cakes and Koch Industries. Clark talks about the common pitfalls of transitioning from basic accounting systems to advanced ERP systems, emphasizing the need for operations professionals to advocate for streamlined processes to enhance efficiency and avoid unnecessary overhead costs.

Meet Steve Clark

Steve Clark co-founded Odyssey Snacks, a startup producing prebiotic protein bars. He continues to apply his operational acumen to drive the company's success. Beyond leading his venture, Steve is passionate about sharing his knowledge and offering consultancy services to clients seeking to refine their demand planning and operational strategies. His past experience includes Koch Industries and Kodiak Cakes. 

In this episode of Ops Unfiltered, LedgerGurus’ operations manager John Bottoms shares his thoughts on e-commerce essentials and the secrets to smooth operations. Learn why mapping your current processes is RULE #1 before diving into tech. Avoid integration nightmares with John's tips for smooth software connections. Plus, find out how a chat with a software pro can land you the perfect solutions for YOUR business. Watch now and learn valuable lessons from his experience.

Meet the Luminous Sales Team

Logan Holgate 

Logan Holgate is a seasoned sales professional with a robust background in door-to-door solar sales, where he honed his skills over seven years. His expertise in building relationships and driving sales growth has been demonstrated through his leadership, where he successfully managed sales teams of up to 50 people, showcasing his ability to inspire and motivate teams towards achieving their goals. Logan now embarks on a new challenge as the first Sales Development Representative (SDR) at Luminous and is determined to achieve an impressive milestone of $3 million in sales over the next 12 months. 

Jared Ward

Jared Ward is the founder and CEO of Luminous, providing innovative software solutions for businesses. His entrepreneurial journey is marked by a series of successful direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. The inception of Luminous was born out of necessity during the onset of the pandemic when Jared identified a crucial gap in the market for efficient and comprehensive back-end operational solutions. Motivated by the challenges he encountered while managing his DTC brands, Jared embarked on the journey to create Luminous, aiming to revolutionize the way businesses manage their operations.

In this episode of Ops Unfiltered, LedgerGurus’ operations manager John Bottoms shares his thoughts on e-commerce essentials and the secrets to smooth operations. Learn why mapping your current processes is RULE #1 before diving into tech. Avoid integration nightmares with John's tips for smooth software connections. Plus, find out how a chat with a software pro can land you the perfect solutions for YOUR business. Watch now and learn valuable lessons from his experience.

Meet John Bottoms

With 22 years of professional experience, John Bottoms is a seasoned expert with multifaceted expertise in marketing, sales, client relations, and digital marketing. He lives in Virginia Beach and has taken on numerous pivotal roles at organizations like Strike Force Beverage, Arbor Pharmaceuticals, and GSS GEAR.