Pathways to Rural Prosperity with Don Macke

In this edition of Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast, Don Macke with e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems hosts Tom Field with the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program.  Tom and the Engler Program are hosted by the University of Nebraska’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources based in Lincoln, Nebraska.  The tag line on the front page of the program’s website is Engler – A New Type of Entrepreneurship.  Tom is a remarkable visionary and is foundational in the inspiring success of the Engler Program, which is growing a new generation of agri-entrepreneurs. The Program is supported by and named after Paul Engler, a remarkable agri-entrepreneur in his own right.

This episode of Pathways to Rural Prosperity features Patti Norris, who is the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Builder supporting all of the GRO communities. After many years working with innovative Silicon Valley ventures, for the past 10 years, Patti has been training and advising hundreds of Oregon businesses as a Business Advisor for the Small Business Development Center and inspiring the next generation of business leaders as a faculty member in the Business and Computer Science departments at Central Oregon Community College. In addition, Patti is an entrepreneur in her own right, having founded and run two businesses and two nonprofit organizations.

In this edition of Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast Don Macke with e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems hosts Luke Mahin from Courtland, Kansas population 290.  In this episode we cover a lot ground given Luke’s work a rural economic developer, entrepreneur with a relatively new brew pub and his role a community coach with E3 Energizing Entrepreneurial

Ecosystems in Nebraska.  This conversation shares insights from a remarkable journey relevant to a large swath of our audience.

This episode of Espresso with Entrepreneurs features Mr. Clifton Taulbert, noted Entrepreneur, Author and Businessman. Clifton is the man who introduced Stairmaster to the world, and is known as “One of America’s Most Outstanding Black Entrepreneurs” – Time Magazine. He is also the speaker of choice for Harvard University, US Federal Reserve, Bank of America and US Pentagon.  On top of all that….he is the President and CEO of both Freemount Corporation, and Roots Java.  Grab your cup and settle back for some incredible insight on Entrepreneurship and success from Clifton Taulbert!

In this edition of Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast, Don Macke with e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems hosts Jackson Swearer, the Entrepreneur Navigator and Director with STARTUP Hutch serving Hutchinson and Reno County, Kansas. This community in South Central Kansas is both urban and rural with a rich history of entrepreneur-focused community economic development. In this episode Don and Jackson reflect on this entrepreneurial ecosystem story with lots of lessons for other communities seeking to make entrepreneurship the foundation for all development.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Espresso with Entrepreneurs!  Today we’re joined by Dave Hill, from Mid-America Bank. Get ready for a deep dive into Dave’s extensive banking experience and his remarkable entrepreneurial journey. Dave is not only a banker, he’s a community-driven visionary who has transformed Baldwin City and Douglas County, Kansas, through his commitment to entrepreneurship and redevelopment. 

He discusses how important mentorship and a commitment to personal finance is to entrepreneurs. Grab your favorite coffee, settle in, and explore how Dave’s passion is fueling the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northeast Kansas!

In this edition of Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast, Don Macke with e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems hosts Sarah Sinnett from and Pam Abbott from Nebraska focusing on entrepreneurial community initiatives in their communities. Sarah and Pam have become leaders in ecosystem building initiatives in their respective western Nebraska communities. Their experiences provide insight into the challenges and opportunities of pivoting communities toward community-centered entrepreneurial ecosystem building and operation. Both are community leaders and ecosystem champions.

In this edition of Espresso with Entrepreneurs Podcast, Lea Ann pulls up a chair and enjoys a cup of coffee with Ellie Bowman of Prickly Pear Farm and Home in Kinsley, KS.  As the average age of small business owners in our rural communities keeps bumping upward, Ellie is bucking that trend.  Arguably one of the youngest lumberyard owners in America, Ellie purchased her lumberyard last year, at age 21, and has been working hard all year to make improvements and expand its offerings – all while being mindful to give back, and mentor other young entrepreneurs along the way. 

Join us, as we meet Ellie and find motivation and valuable insights from  her journey.

In this edition of Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast Don Macke with e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems hosts Rachael Barry from St. Helens, Oregon and Alisha Juelfs from Sidney, Nebraska focusing on Entrepreneur Navigators. 

Both Rachael and Alisha were part of e2’s Spring 2023 Entrepreneur Navigators Professional Training.  Rachael is a community leader working with an eNavigator in this part of Oregon and Alisha is the eNavigator for Sidney and Cheyenne County, Nebraska.  We will talk about the professional training and their perspective of eNavigation within their emerging community-centered entrepreneurial ecosystems.

In this edition of Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast Don Macke with e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems hosts Caleb Pollard of Ord, Nebraska. 

Caleb has been an economic developer, is an entrepreneur and is also a business coach.  Caleb and his wife and partners created Scratchtown Brewing in Ord, Nebraska.  Previously, he held a number of state and local economic developer jobs.  In his spare time Caleb is also a first in class business coach.  Learn more about not only Caleb, but discover the power of entrepreneur navigation.