Meet Ryley Austyn, Founder and CEO of Raustyn Holdings, joined by Dan Fischer, President and CEO of Citizen State Bank and Chairman of Raustyn Holdings. In this episode, they discuss the philosophy behind building successful, long-term businesses and the importance of leadership, integrity, and persistence. The conversation explores how to cultivate a high-performing team, mentor future leaders, and provide meaningful value to business owners while preserving the unique culture of their companies. They also highlight strategies for creating sustainable growth, navigating succession planning, and leveraging personal connections to open doors that others might consider closed.

Key Takeaways:

· Choose the difficult road — True growth often requires effort, persistence, and facing challenges head-on.

· Study success holistically — Learn from individuals who excel in business, family, and personal development.

· Consistency and integrity matter — Showing up reliably builds credibility and opens doors.

· Mentorship and leadership — Surround yourself with talented people and guide them to achieve their best.

· Patience is a competitive advantage — Focus on long-term success, not short-term gains.

· Plan for legacy and succession — Thoughtful planning ensures a business thrives beyond its founders.

· Work ethic and values matter — Courage, ethics, generosity, and persistence are essential for lasting success.

Episode Summary

In this inspiring conversation, Gary Torgow—Chairman of Huntington Bank—shares lessons from a career that bridges law, real estate, banking, politics, philanthropy, and faith. From his first leap into Detroit real estate with a vacant 109-unit building to leading one of America’s largest regional banks, Torgow’s story is rooted in resilience, character, and service.

He reflects on the mentors who shaped him, the role of kindness and civility in leadership, and how challenges—personal or professional—can become opportunities for growth. Torgow also discusses his vision for Michigan’s future, the importance of education, and how philanthropy and business are inseparably linked. For entrepreneurs and leaders, his message is clear: relationships, patience, and integrity are the cornerstones of lasting success.

Takeaways:

-Character opens doors — In business and banking, trust and relationships matter as much as cash and credit.

-Kindness is a strategy — Small gestures, empathy, and civility create ripple effects of opportunity and blessings.

-Invest in people, not just deals — Education, mentorship, and community support fuel long-term growth.

-Be patient in real estate and business — Success comes from the right deals, not the fastest ones.

-Philanthropy drives prosperity — The more you give, the more communities (and businesses) thrive together.

-Legacy is built on values — Success isn’t about being the smartest or richest in the room, but being among the best people in the room.

In this special fireside chat, legendary Michigan State Men’s Basketball Coach Tom Izzo shares timeless lessons on leadership, trust, culture, and adaptability—lessons that resonate far beyond the basketball court. Reflecting on 31 years of coaching, Izzo discusses the evolving challenges of recruitment, the impact of NIL and the transfer portal, and how to maintain a winning culture despite constant roster changes. He emphasizes that success—whether in sports or business—comes from trust, work ethic, chemistry, and culture. Through stories of coaching greats like Mateen Cleaves and walk-on turned business leader Matt Ishbia, Izzo illustrates how values learned in athletics can be directly applied to building thriving organizations. He also shares personal moments, including the joy of coaching his son, and offers insights on legacy-building, humility, and staying driven even after reaching the top.

Takeaways:

-Trust is the foundation—whether recruiting athletes or securing business deals, people commit when they believe in your character and consistency.

-Culture beats talent—a player-led team (or employee-led company) outperforms one that relies solely on top-down leadership.

-Humility sustains growth—celebrate achievements but stay hungry; as John Wooden reminded Izzo, there’s always more to accomplish.

-Personal connections matter—spending time with people at every level of your organization builds loyalty and performance.

Meet Ankur Rungta, Co-Founder & CEO of C3 Industries, Inc., and Chris Ostrowski, Chief Technology Officer at Dutchie. In this episode, they discuss the rapidly evolving cannabis industry, focusing on the growing role of technology, particularly AI, in optimizing business operations. The conversation dives into the shift from a focus on growth to a more sustainable approach centered on optimization. They also address the challenges of navigating complex state regulations and the importance of collaboration among operators to drive industry-wide change.

In this episode, we talk about:

*The shift from growth to optimization in the cannabis industry. “The cannabis industry is no longer emerging; it’s here to stay.”

*How technology, especially AI, is transforming business efficiency. “There’s just too much data; it’s a critical point for us.”

*The necessity of collaboration and coalition-building to push for industry progress. “We need to see progress, and it’s a long game.”

*The need for unified advocacy to drive meaningful policy reform. “We all need to participate federally.”

Meet Dan Fischer, the President and CEO of Citizens State Bank. In this episode, Dan shares insights into the bank's impressive growth since 2020, its unique culture centered on strong relationships and community involvement, and his leadership philosophy of leading by example. The conversation also touches on the role of golf in building business relationships and the bank’s future expansion plans.

In this episode, we talk about:

*Relationship building at the highest level and its importance in business success. "It's all about relationship building at the highest level."

*The bank’s commitment to community involvement and making a difference. "We take pride in being a part of our community and making a difference."

*How golf serves as a valuable tool for forging business relationships. "Golf isn't just a game; it's where business relationships are forged."

Meet Charles Gleeson II, president and CEO of C.E. Gleeson Constructors, and his son, Charles Gleeson III, as they celebrate the 100 year anniversary of their company. Founded in 1924 by Charles Gleeson, II's grandfather, C.E. Gleeson Constructors has a rich history of family values, hard work, and building relationships that have allowed it to thrive and adapt over the years.

Charles and his son share insights into their current projects, discuss the booming construction markets in Texas, the Carolinas, and Florida, and emphasize the importance of mentoring and developing the next generation of leaders.

In this episode we talk about:

*The foundation of success at C.E. Gleeson Constructors: family values and hard work. "Family and God come first."

*The importance of building relationships and treating everyone with respect. "Treat everybody right from the ditch digger to the CEO."

*Adapting to market conditions and staying relevant for long-term success.

*Mentoring and developing the next generation of leaders. "Sometimes you're going to meet someone and you have to be willing to lend a hand to do something for them."

*Opportunities in the construction industry for young people, including trade schools and well-paying jobs.

Mayor Mike Duggan discusses the revitalization of Detroit and the opportunities for investment in the city. He highlights the progress made in terms of population growth, investment, and job creation. The mayor emphasizes the importance of every neighborhood having a future and the potential for development in various areas of the city. He also addresses concerns about safety and the steps taken to reduce crime rates. Additionally, the city's efforts to streamline the permitting process and support entrepreneurs and startups in the mobility and technology sectors.

Takeaways:

*Detroit has experienced a resurgence in population growth, investment, and job creation under Mayor Mike Duggan's administration.

*Every Neighborhood in Detroit has a Future, and there are opportunities for development and investment in various areas of the city.

*Crime rates in Detroit have significantly decreased, with the city experiencing the fewest homicides since 1966.

*The city has made efforts to streamline the permitting process and provide support for entrepreneurs and startups in the mobility and technology sectors.

Meet Andrew Stein, president & CEO of Children’s Foundation, an organization focused on improving children's physical and mental health through innovative programs and research. Andrew joined The Foundation in January 2023, inspired by the mission to create equitable opportunities for all children in Michigan.

Andrew’s career has always been centered around children. Before joining The Foundation, he spent 14 years with City Year, where he held various leadership roles, including Executive Director of City Year Detroit, significantly expanding the organization’s reach.

In this special episode, filmed at the Michigan Central Campus at the Book Depository, next to the iconic Michigan Central Train Station, we discuss:

*The Transformation of Michigan Central Campus: “This incredible renovation represents the future of Detroit, a symbol of progress and innovation.”

*Connecting The Children’s Foundation with Michigan Central: “The Michigan Central Children’s Endowment Initiative is a testament to our commitment, aiming to exceed our $10 million goal to support organizations serving kids.”

*Creating Networks and Leading a Nonprofit: “You never know what opportunities will reveal themselves when you put yourself in the right rooms. Leading a nonprofit means selling impact, value, and a different kind of return—one that goes beyond business ROI. It takes authenticity and trust to build these connections.”

Meet Sam Beznos, the dynamic CEO behind Beztak Properties, which is a commercial real estate company that has been in business more than 60 years. Today, Beztak employs more than 1,300 people across 14 states with more than 35,000 apartment units within its portfolio.

Sam is responsible for overseeing all aspects of asset management, development, construction, and rehabilitation of existing apartment and retail portfolios throughout the country as well as new acquisitions and development opportunities.

Sam's expertise lies in land development, property rezoning, and finance. He is known for his strategic planning abilities and skill in evaluating risks. With a background in financial modeling and valuation analysis, Sam brings a comprehensive understanding of the real estate industry into his role.

Sam holds a Master of Science in Real Estate with Distinction from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from the University of Michigan. His commitment to excellence and ongoing education underscores his dedication to the field.

As part of Beztak Properties, a family-owned and operated business, Sam continues to drive success and growth.

I’ve known Sam for more than 30 years and in this episode we talk about:

* The importance of a good network:

“A pretty good secret tool you need is to have a good network around you to rely on because when you're running a company it's difficult to maneuver at times and there's certainly headwinds.”

* Taking time to visit properties:

“I walk the properties for many reasons but understanding what’s going on with the properties, what's going on with the markets we use for market data and what type of improvements we need to make.”

* How to implement growth opportunities for your business:

“We always went against the grain - a big part of our culture is to be innovative. And we've always gone against the grain, and we took (successful) aspects from other industries and incorporated them into our business.”

Meet Dr. Ammar Alkhafaji, Principal at W Investors Group and an Internal Medicine Resident. W Investors Group is a fully integrated real estate group specializing in development, property management, and realty services. Dr. Ammar shares his journey growing up in an entrepreneurial family, balancing his career in medicine with real estate, and overcoming rejection to find alternative paths to success.

Alkhafaji, who was named principal of W Investors Group in 2018, grew up fascinated by real estate as his father built his company and portfolio to more than 1 million square feet. With the mission of building the best quality projects, moving quickly and decisively to close deals and move projects forward to completion, W Investors Group assures delivery of exceptional results time and time again.

In this episode we talk about:

* Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, “ Growing up with his influence and him being my role model was a true blessing for me.”

* Balancing medicine and real estate, “It's not about being the smartest person in the room. It's just about putting in the time and the effort.”

* Overcoming rejection and finding alternative paths, “don't be put down by rejection. There's always another way. The struggle helped me grow as a person.”