Proof Point

Benjamin (BJ) Lippert is a Managing Partner at Donovan CPAs, a full-service accounting firm dedicated to small businesses and their owners. Since joining the firm in 2015, he has been instrumental in revamping the firm's assurance practice, fostering a culture of accountability and growth. His leadership emphasizes structure, consistency, and a people-first approach to client service. BJ's vision focuses on sustainable growth and empowering clients and team members.

Jeffrey (Jeff) Donovan, CPA, CVA, and MAFF, is a Managing Partner at Donovan CPAs, where he focuses on long-term strategy and innovation. He began his accounting career with KPMG Peat Marwick in Guam and Saipan before returning to Indiana to join the family firm in 1994. Jeff brings expertise in investments, business strategy, and forensic accounting, and has successfully transitioned the firm's leadership while maintaining a strong focus on entrepreneurial consulting and strategic growth.

Many business leaders struggle to balance day-to-day operations with long-term vision, leading to burnout, stalled growth, and unclear succession plans. As companies expand, it becomes harder to maintain a people-first culture while scaling leadership responsibilities. How can organizations ensure sustainable growth while empowering their teams and preparing the next generation of leaders?

BJ Lippert, an expert in leadership transition and team development, and Jeff Donovan, a strategic visionary with a background in business growth and succession, share their journey navigating these challenges. BJ emphasizes the power of consistent communication, reinforcing core values, and creating intentional systems to keep the team aligned and engaged. Jeff highlights the importance of letting go, trusting others to lead, and using structured frameworks like EOS to provide clarity, accountability, and long-term focus while fostering a culture where people come first.

In this episode of Proof Point, Stacie Porter Bilger interviews BJ Lippert and Jeff Donovan, Managing Partners at Donovan CPAs, about leadership succession and scaling a people-first culture. BJ and Jeff also discuss the value of adopting the EOS system, balancing vision with operations, and building a firm where innovation and mentorship thrive.

Vicki Hall is a Senior Financial Advisor at C.H. Douglas & Gray Wealth Management (CHDG), a firm that specializes in asset management and financial planning. With a background in asset management and financial planning, she helps clients navigate wealth accumulation. She holds series 7 (General Securities) and 66 (Investment Advisor Representative) licenses, alongside certifications in life, health, and long-term care insurance. Prior to finance, Vicki had a 16-year pro basketball career in the ABL and WNBA and is honored in both the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and UT's Hall of Honor.

Leaving behind a career in professional sports can be both liberating and daunting, especially when it comes to managing long-term financial stability. Many athletes transition from structured training and clear goals to a world of unfamiliar decisions about money, investments, and planning for the future. How can former athletes redefine success off the court and secure their financial future with confidence?

Vicki Hall, a former pro basketball player and now a seasoned wealth management advisor, shares how she repurposed the same discipline that made her an elite athlete to build financial strength. Vicki explains how losing her father led her to understand the risks of financial dependence and inspired her to master the world of investments, compounding, and strategic planning. She demonstrates how understanding retirement accounts and inflation can help athletes — especially those who may have handed off financial decisions — to take the lead with clarity and confidence.

In this episode of the Proof Point podcast, Stacie Porter Bilger interviews Vicki Hall, Senior Financial Advisor at C.H. Douglas & Gray Wealth Management, on life after professional sports and building financial futures. Vicki shares her personal story of financial awakening, how athletic principles apply to wealth management, and why knowledge is key. She also dives into empowering women, creating personalized game plans, and educating the next generation of leaders.

Rachel Daeger, CAE, IOM, is the Communications Director at Raybourn Group International (RGI), a company specializing in association management and marketing services. Since joining RGI in 2010, Rachel has leveraged her communication and organizational skills to help clients achieve their strategic goals across diverse industries. With over 40 years of experience in membership organizations, her career spans roles like managing the member magazine at the Columbia Club in Indianapolis. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and business from Indiana University and earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2015.

Many associations and nonprofits face the same frustrating challenge: limited resources stretched across too many priorities. With limited staff and tight budgets, it can feel nearly impossible to keep up with communication demands, plan impactful events, and grow membership. How can organizations stay efficient without sacrificing quality?

Rachel Daeger, an association management and communications expert, shares how fractional staffing, streamlined systems, and strategic collaboration help solve these challenges. She outlines how organizations can benefit from shared talent pools and proven tools to manage websites, events, and digital outreach without overextending internal teams. By embracing knowledge sharing, professional development, and technologies like AI and retargeting to amplify results, associations can thrive — no matter their size.

In this episode of Proof Point, Stacie Porter Bilger interviews Rachel Daeger, Communications Director at Raybourn Group International, about building operational excellence within associations. Rachel shares how her team structure supports resource-limited clients, along with insights into digital marketing, creative member engagement, and leveraging AI to stay ahead of the curve.

Meghan Lund is the Content Marketing Manager at Proof Digital, where she is instrumental in orchestrating SEO efforts and crafting bespoke strategies that propel clients toward resounding success. Meghan brings expertise in content marketing, digital marketing, and SEO, analyzing trends in organic traffic and conversion rates to optimize existing pages across websites. Before Joining Proof Digital, Meghan began her marketing career at a start-up company, boosting web page views by 72% and increasing sales by 26%.

Is your website ready for the future of search? With AI rapidly transforming how users interact with search engines, traditional SEO tactics alone may no longer be enough to stay competitive. As search engines prioritize AI-generated responses, how can businesses adapt their digital strategies to remain visible and relevant?

Meghan Lund, a content marketing expert with a focus on SEO, shares practical insights for navigating this shift. Meghan emphasizes the growing importance of Generative Search Optimization (GEO) and offers three clear strategies: adding FAQs across multiple pages to answer user questions directly, targeting long-tail keywords to match specific search intents, and regularly updating and pruning website content to maintain accuracy and relevance. These actionable tips help businesses keep pace with evolving search algorithms and user behavior.

In this episode of the Proof Point podcast, Stacie Porter Bilger interviews Meghan Lund, Content Marketing Manager at Proof Digital, about how AI is reshaping SEO. Meghan discusses the shift from traditional SEO to GEO, why FAQs and long-tail keywords matter more than ever, and how content pruning can boost site performance.

Trishia Hamilton, CPA, is a Partner at Donovan CPAs, a complete financial-needs resource provider for 50 years. With over two decades of experience in tax preparation and accounting services, she has developed a comprehensive skill set across various accounting disciplines. Known for fostering a culture of growth and collaboration, Trishia has been instrumental in modernizing various processes at Donovan, such as revamping the firm's 1099 workflow.

What happens when you realize your workplace doesn't value you? Many professionals find themselves stuck in roles with no clear path for growth, surrounded by leaders who dismiss their ideas and overlook their contributions. The fear of leaving a secure job can be paralyzing — but what if staying is the greater risk?

Trishia Hamilton, a seasoned accountant, shares how she broke free from a stagnant work environment. Her turning point came when she embraced an opportunity at Donovan CPAs, where her leadership skills were recognized, and her ideas were not only welcomed but celebrated. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing your worth, trusting the support of those around you, and seeking out companies that foster innovation and mentorship. Trishia highlights the transformative power of joining a workplace where leadership listens, welcomes ideas, and encourages growth — which helped her rebuild her confidence and transform into a confident leader who now mentors and empowers others.

In this episode of Proof Point, Stacie Porter Bilger interviews Trishia Hamilton, CPA, Partner at Donovan CPAs, about breaking free from career stagnation and embracing leadership. Trishia shares her journey from feeling undervalued to mentoring young professionals, discusses the impact of workplace culture on personal growth, and offers advice for women in accounting striving for leadership roles. Tune in to learn how fostering a culture of empowerment can lead to individual and organizational success.

Oren Berkovich is the Co-Founder of Projectory, a Toronto-based team transforming traditional events into interactive, engaging experiences. As a serial entrepreneur and event designer, Oren focuses on integrating physical and visual elements to enhance participant interaction and idea generation. In addition to managing the client experience at Projectory, he is the Founder and CEO of Bepossible and the Co-founder and Board Chair of Wavemakers. Previously, Oren served as the CEO and President of Singularity University, Canada. His unique approach to hospitality and experience design has revolutionized corporate meetings, offsites, retreats, and large-scale conferences over the past decade.

Traditional event formats often overwhelm attendees with information without fostering meaningful engagement. How do you transform information-heavy gatherings into interactive sessions that create genuine connections and meaningful outcomes?

Initially inspired by his transformative experiences at Singularity University, Oren Berkovich saw the potential for events to be more than just information sessions. Through Projectory, he provides event organizers with products and strategies to turn attendees into active participants, emphasizing tactile experiences over digital distractions. His approach shifts focus from passive content absorption to dynamic interaction, using innovative tools like the Learning Action Matrix. Oren highlights AI's role in distilling insights from participant contributions and eliminating information overload while highlighting key themes and actionable outcomes. By viewing events as catalysts for ongoing change rather than standalone experiences, he demonstrates how you can maximize their long-term impact and ensure that the knowledge gained translates into real-world results.

In this episode of Proof Point, Stacie Porter Bilger hosts Oren Berkovich, Co-founder of Projectory, to discuss the power of physical engagement in event participation. Oren delves into Projectory's approach to reshaping event dynamics, leveraging AI to synthesize and distribute event-generated insights, finding a balance between entertainment and education, and the importance of interactive design. Tune in for insights on elevating your event strategies to foster more profound participant engagement.

Stacie Porter Bilger is the Founder and President of Proof Digital, a business growth-marketing agency that blends modern marketing tools with traditional sales funnel processes. She spent the first 20 years of her career working with businesses to strategize development and connect them to investors. Before founding Proof Digital, Stacie worked for several Chambers of Commerce and startups like the Indiana Venture Center. Her commitment to leveraging cutting-edge digital tactics has revolutionized business growth strategies, cementing her status as a digital marketing thought leader.

As the business environment evolves, staying at the forefront of disruptive technologies and market shifts has become imperative. How can leaders drive growth while maintaining meaningful connections with partners and clients?

In this curated selection of insights from past episodes, Stacie Porter Bilger reflects on key strategies for thriving in the digital age. Brian Baker emphasizes the importance of building genuine partnerships rooted in mutual understanding and adaptability. Krista Schindler illustrates how modernizing her marketing approach revitalized a legacy brand. Seed of Hope's Patricia Vandervort highlights the transformative power of peer support and shared experiences in supporting women recovering from addiction. With case studies of successful multimillion-dollar construction projects, Michael Key explains how his team's hands-on executive leadership sets them apart by prioritizing local expertise and a work-life balance. To wrap up the show, Stacie underscores the necessity of pivoting in response to market disruptions, including the rise of AI, which she believes will completely redefine business operations in the coming decade.

In this special episode of Proof Point, Stacie Porter Bilger, Founder and President of Proof Digital, revisits powerful insights from past episodes, highlighting the shifting paradigms of B2C and B2C e-commerce. From humanizing operations to leveraging partnerships for mutual growth and leveraging digital marketing tools in business transformation, these leaders underscore the necessity of adapting to consumer behavior and staying abreast of technological disruptions like AI.

Stacie Porter Bilger is the Founder and President of Proof Digital, a business growth-marketing agency that blends modern marketing tools with traditional sales funnel processes. She spent the first 20 years of her career working with businesses to strategize development and connect them to investors. Before founding Proof Digital, Stacie worked for several Chambers of Commerce and startups like the Indiana Venture Center. Her commitment to leveraging cutting-edge digital tactics has revolutionized business growth strategies, cementing her status as a digital marketing thought leader.

Is your business ready to embrace the full potential of AI in 2025? Artificial Intelligence is transforming digital marketing, offering unprecedented levels of efficiency. From personalization to the rise of new search platforms, how can you navigate the blend of human creativity and machine intelligence to stay ahead of the curve?

Digital marketing expert Stacie Porter Bilger delves into integrating AI within current marketing strategies, specifically focusing on short-form video and generative engine optimization. Stacie underscores the significance of viewing data as an ally and outlines effective strategies for utilizing AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to harvest data-driven insights and enhance scalability. For business owners eager to incorporate AI into their marketing workflows, grasping the role of AI in content creation and its future implications for personalization is essential for maintaining a competitive edge.

In this episode of Proof Point, Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews Stacie Porter Bilger, the Founder and President of Proof Digital, about utilizing AI in digital marketing strategies. Stacie discusses the role of AI in digital marketing, highlighting the need for quality content to optimize AI algorithms. She also discusses essential tools like schema markup for better search rankings and shares her top AI tool recommendations, along with practical tips for businesses navigating their options.

Stacie Porter Bilger is the Founder and President of Proof Digital, a business growth-marketing agency that blends modern marketing tools with traditional sales funnel processes. She spent the first 20 years of her career working with businesses to strategize development and connect them to investors. Before founding Proof Digital, Stacie worked for several Chambers of Commerce and startups like the Indiana Venture Center. Her commitment to leveraging cutting-edge digital tactics has revolutionized business growth strategies, cementing her status as a digital marketing thought leader.

How did a passion for public finance and economics lead to founding a digital marketing powerhouse? What pivotal moments and strategic insights shaped a leader's path in the ever-evolving marketing world?

Performance marketer Stacie Porter Bilger exemplifies the power of strategic pivots in today's digital landscape. With a background in public finance and political lobbying, Stacie transitioned into digital marketing by leveraging her passion for connecting people and communities. Her approach, grounded in uplifting clients and communities through innovation, connection, and a commitment to positive impact, has fueled Proof Digital's growth into a digital marketing powerhouse driven by cutting-edge tools like AI and competitive intelligence. Stacie's journey underscores the importance of adaptability, strategic networking, and staying ahead of market shifts.

Tune in to this episode of the Proof Point podcast as guest host Paul Miller interviews host Stacie Porter Bilger, the Founder and President of Proof Digital, about her digital marketing journey and the founding of Proof Digital. Stacie explores marketing concepts that have stayed constant amid technological shifts, reflects on the role of community engagement in her career trajectory, the integral role of trust in client relationships, and how staying nimble can promote success.

Brian Baker is the Vice President of Highmark TechSystems, a company specializing in modular multilevel decks, architecture, and wall systems for the trade show and events industry. With 25 years of experience, he has served in various creative roles, including designer, strategist, and innovator. Brian's expertise extends to working with major brands such as Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and FedEx. As a creative thought leader, he leverages his multifaceted background in user-centered design, strategic planning, and music to build targeted brand experiences.

What does it take to turn creative chaos into a harmonious campaign and an unforgettable experience for your target audience? Can a blend of creativity, strategy, and collaboration drive innovation in the marketing space?

Brian Baker, an expert in user-centered design and strategic thinking, underscores the pivotal role partnerships play in creating standout event experiences. Drawing from his diverse career, from playing in a band to designing trade show exhibits, Brian reflects on how teamwork and collaboration elevate brand activations. His journey, which began with a degree in industrial design and early work in boat design, led him to the exhibit industry, where he honed his creative leadership and strategic thinking skills. He emphasizes how face-to-face interactions, positive brand touchpoints, and partnerships can help you create impactful marketing experiences. With case studies of innovative booth designs at the Experiential Marketing Summit, Brian illustrates how ethical practices, collaborative efforts, and continuous learning drive exceptional projects, enabling you to deliver memorable brand experiences that resonate with your audience.

In this episode of Proof Point, Stacie Porter Bilger hosts Brian Baker, Vice President at Highmark TechSystems, to discuss leveraging creativity and strategic partnerships. Brian shares how his eclectic experiences, from aspiring rockstar to industrial design leader, have shaped his approach to marketing and leadership. He dives into the significance of brand experiences, the irreplaceable element of creativity, and the power of well-crafted brand touchpoints in memorable marketing campaigns.