PROCO360 | Best Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

“We wanted to change the company from a closure system to a high-performance fit system to change the way athletes perform – and prove it scientifically.”

Shawn Neville, CEO, BOA

Most guests on ProCO360 cut me some slack.  Not Shawn Neville of BOA, and not even in front of a live audience at BOA’s world headquarters.  From the start Shawn showed how determined he is that the world recognize that BOA technology is NOT to replace shoelaces, or even to be a better closure system.  It’s a “PERFORMANCE FIT SYSTEM,” period. 

If you really want to be intrigued, listen to why BOA is choosing to not maximize profits. Several in attendance at this LIVE event were discussing BOA’s strategy around this afterwards – add your comments about this!

Jamie Repenning, CEO, R&R Head Labs

Kristin Langenfeld, Co-founder and CEO, GoodBuy Gear

My expectations were completely wrong entering this episode with Kristin Langenfeld.  I’d expected she would tell me the story of a woman who started selling her own used baby gear, then slowly expanded the activity into a basement enterprise, and so on until it was a real company.  Nope.  And she’s out to dominate a market sector with those whom I’d have expected were unlikely partners. 

Karson Humiston, Founder and CEO, Vangst 

Tom Luersen, President, CoralTree Hospitality 

This episode came together because a longtime friend, Dani Stern, now an executive at CoralTree told me over beers recently that he quit his last job to come to CoralTree.  In fact, that he’d told his prior employer, before taking that job, that if Tom Luersen called, he (Dani) would quit to go work for Tom.  Dani was EMPHATIC that the culture at CoralTree is THAT different, that special.  Of course, I wanted to do this episode!  And during it, I told Tom, “YOU CAN’T SAY IT’S YOUR PEOPLE.”  I thought he’d argue – he didn’t.  Have a listen! 

Charlie Chupp, Founder and CEO, Fading West

This is the second recent episode about a Colorado company building alternatives to traditional single-family homes (see also Studio Shed – Still Leading the ADU Industry).  It’s because the lack of attainable housing is such an important issue and Colorado companies are addressing it with innovation and value.  This episode with Charlie Chupp of Fading West describes the problems and challenges, and how applying Charlie’s LEAN manufacturing background is effectively driving a fast-evolving industry.  I was fascinated by some surprises about workforce in this episode!

Fernando Ledezma, Ledezma Concrete

This episode is out of my comfort zone – and refreshingly so.  Generally, I’m with high-flying entrepreneurs leading business that have raised tens of millions of dollars and are pursuing hockey stick growth.  Tia and Fernando Ledezma charmed me when they replaced a sidewalk at my house.  They reminded me of my great grandparents who came to the United States with a trade (tailors) and having to learn the language, assimilate, and make their own way.  Ledezma Concrete is a wonderful story of initiative, risk taking and hard work.

Rob Cohen, Chairman and CEO, IMA Financial

Jeremy Nova, co-Founder, Studio Shed 

Jeremy was my guest via Zoom during the pandemic.  Sometimes it’s fun to circle back with a prior guest to see how they’ve evolved – either the leader (see this focus in the episode “Starting from Skratch, Maturing as CEO” with Ian MacGregor of Skratch Labs), or the business and market as is the case this time.  I was eager to explore this because after Studio Shed was an early innovator in its space, it was followed by large and notable companies like Tuff Shed and Home Depot that evolved their product lines to compete with Studio Shed.    

Jane Barden, co-Founder, Farm to Summit