OUTdrive

Can you imagine mastering a skill set that's 852 hours in the making? That's the reality for students in the graphic design program at the Career Technology Center (CTC) at State Fair Community College, where instructor Linda Harris molds the creative minds of tomorrow. With an emphasis on industry-standard software, and the chance to earn college credits, these students are set on a path to success.

Join us to hear how Linda's roots influenced her creative journey and the values she's passing on to the next generation. Her story is one of dedication and love for the simplicity and authenticity of rural America.

Aaron Warbritton's journey from a small-town upbringing to a trailblazer in the hunting video industry is a tale of passion and perseverance. Raised in a close-knit farming community in Missouri, Aaron's childhood was steeped in the traditions of hunting and fishing. These early experiences fostered a profound respect for nature and a dream to one day create hunting videos.

Aaron's unwavering dedication to his dream led him to pursue a digital media and video production education and eventually create his YouTube channel, The Hunting Public. Despite financial challenges and a modest start, Aaron and his partner's YouTube channel grew organically into a platform that now includes merchandise and consulting services.

Tune in to learn more about how Aaron is shaping a positive hunting culture for generations to come.

Did you know that local charm can be your ticket to global markets? In part two of this two-episode series, I sat down again with Paul Ruppert, an international strategy consultant, to discuss how rural American companies can craft compelling stories around their unique products. These narratives resonate not only domestically but internationally. It's fascinating how a local advantage can become a global phenomenon!

Listen in to hear how Paul leveraged demographic insights and shed a light on the role of artificial intelligence in streamlining operations from customer care to conversational commerce.

Sometimes, you really never know what you're getting into when you jump into a business opportunity, or where it might take you. For our guest today, opportunities have taken him all over the world, and then some.

Paul Ruppert is an international strategy consultant with a specialty in mobile telecommunications, working primarily with private equity firms and enterprise level organizations. With a background in product development, strategic partnerships, and global operations, Paul has been on the leading edge of marketing and technology throughout his career. He also has a unique connection to rural America and advises our audience to be bold as they move through life and work. Listen in for a really interesting conversation about business, technology, politics and life in the first of a two-part series.

Effective marketing isn't just about the message, it's about the medium and the people, too. In this episode, Gunther Hartman, head of marketing and human resources at Zimmerman Manufacturing, gives us a peek into their high-quality content creation—from drones to testimonials. It's about crafting stories that resonate and visuals that captivate.

Zimmerman Manufacturing is dedicated to crafting cutting-edge farm equipment and while the Midwest is their core market, they've expanded their horizons to serve farmers as far away as Australia. Gunther discusses their marketing playbook, which includes leveraging social media, sprucing up their website, and making a splash at trade shows—all with a laser focus on creating top-notch content and ensuring customers have a great experience.

Tune into this episode to hear all the smart ways they promote their products and how sales and marketing join forces to really connect with the heartland of America.

It was the most wonderful night of the year, right? When else are you surrounded by your family and friends, cheering on your favorite football team, watching entertaining commercials, and eating chicken wings? It's none other than the SUPER BOWL! In this episode, a few members of our Callis team join Cliff to talk about their favorite ads during the big game…and maybe the ones that didn't quite cut it. Get your game face ready for an episode full of NFL chat, all things marketing and, of course, some laughter.

The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show is an annual event that brings together retailers, distributors, media, marketers, and other industry professionals to explore the latest innovations and strategies in the outdoor industry. Callis account executives Darren Grove and Seth Brunkhorst joined Cliff at this year's event, then joined him on the podcast to discuss their takeaways from the show. Learn more about industry research findings, the significance of storytelling in marketing, the relentless pursuit of innovation and more.

Tune in to hear about the industry's dynamic nature, where innovation, consumer trends, and strategic relationship-building are key to thriving in the competitive landscape of the shooting, hunting, and outdoor trade.

Innovation is everywhere and in rural America, it shows up in everyday places. In small towns, from coast to coast, entrepreneurs are using new ideas, new technologies, and out of the box ingenuity to start and grow successful businesses and energize communities. Sometimes, it takes an outside perspective to see all the possibilities. Other times, folks back home know what they want to accomplish. They just don't know how to make it happen. They need guidance or coaching and our guest in this week's podcast does just that.

Deb Brown is one of the co-founders of saveyour.town, a business that helps make small communities more relevant and vibrant. Along with her business partner, Becky McCray, Deb coaches small towns to make them better, promotes collaboration over committees, and provides ideas and expertise that make rural communities join together for the common good.

Listen in to hear about some of the strategies and exercises they use to accomplish their goals, many of which can be done by everyone in the community without hefty budgets or corporate involvement. With a background in social media and Chamber of Commerce management, and with a love for the people of rural America, Deb is helping communities' own citizens save their town with their own resources.

There are endless opportunities in rural America for entrepreneurs to start and grow successful businesses. However, not everyone is going to have all the skills and experience necessary to sustain it. Most of us need support in areas where we might be weak. Many times, entrepreneurs may have a great idea and the drive and determination to see it through but they may not have the resources or expertise to do what it takes to be successful. They have the passion but they may need help to fill in the gap in their experience, and that brings us to our guests today.

Darline Mabins and Duan Gavel are leaders of the Multicultural Business Association (MBA) of Springfield, Missouri. MBA's mission is to promote economic development and business opportunities through advocacy, networking, and capacity building for women, minority-owned businesses, and entrepreneurs. Darline is the Executive Director of the organization and Duan is the Second Vice President, in line to one day be President. Both have a real passion for helping people and MBA does just that. Listen in and learn about MBA and how they are working with over 100 small businesses and entrepreneurs in southwest Missouri to help them succeed in business and in life, and how they're using a variety of marketing techniques to do it.

Savvy marketers know that digital is driving brand awareness and sales in today's world. But there are so many forms and variations for digital, how do you decide which ones to use? In today's episode, you'll hear from a young marketing professional who understands her markets and knows what's working. For most consumers, you're probably never going to think about needing body work for your vehicle, unless of course you do. For an auto body specialist, this makes brand building and search engine optimization very important, so a potential customer either has your brand name top of mind or they find you easily with an online search.

At Collision Leaders, a regional auto body repair specialist that serves a rural America market in several locations in Missouri and Kansas, Gabriella Ellis is using a mix of digital strategies to reach their targets. From TikTok videos to text bots to social media, Collision Leaders is standing out in the digital marketing landscape. Listen in as Gabby, a digital media production graduate from the University of Central Missouri, shares her approach to digital marketing.