Restarting America

In this episode of Restarting America, Josh Gibbs from 97 Switch interviews Eveline Bethune, the founder of Texian Books. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Bethune shares how the current health pandemic has affected her company and how she is adapting to new circumstances.

Bethune graduated from Hillsdale College with a degree in Rhetoric and Public Address.  Following that, she attained a JD from Oklahoma City University School of Law and an MSc in Chinese Studies from the University of Glasgow.  She found a way to turn her various interests into a career in retail, opening several stores including Texian Books in Victoria, TX.  Texian is the only ABA-affiliated independent bookstore serving rural South Texas.  She loves literature, particularly exploring the region's deep literary culture.

In her personal time, Bethune loves running, sports, and of course, reading.  She is a lifelong learner, currently finishing her PhD in political science from Claremont Graduate University.  She has taught at Coastal Bend College and presented work at the Western Political Science Association, Southern Political Science Association, and Cal Poly - Pomona.

In this episode of Restarting America, Josh Gibbs from 97 Switch interviews Murray Seward, the CEO of Outback Team Building and Training. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Murray shares how the current health pandemic has affected his company and how he is adapting to new circumstances.

Murray’s first entrepreneurial effort was running beach volleyball tournaments in the early 1990s, which led to meeting his wife at the beach. Shortly afterwards he was introduced to Outback where he later became the President in 2012. In 2018, Murray became Outback’s CEO.

Murray grew up on the West Coast and spent many summer days on his Grandfather’s farm. As a kid, he always had a passion for organizing events, from sock hops to ski trips.

Murray loves to ski with his wife, Susan, and their two kids, Mackenzie and Jack. He loves to have fun at his cabin in the mountains, as well as go flyfishing and off-roading in his Jeep. Murray loves the challenge of building successful businesses and empowering his team to be able to create an engaging environment.

In this episode of Restarting America, Josh Gibbs from 97 Switch interviews Andy Stein, the principal consultant and founder of Stein Sustainability LLC. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Stein shares how the current health pandemic has affected his company and how he is adapting to new circumstances.

Stein has over a decade of experience working in sustainability and green building throughout the private, public, and academic sectors.  His work has helped Kohl’s Department Stores LEED EB certify over 200 buildings and implement Northwestern University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan.

Stein earned a master’s degree from Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability and an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in Corporate Environmental Management. In 2018, he launched Stein Sustainability LLC, where he provides green building consulting services focused on energy management, green building certifications, and strategic planning.

In this episode of Restarting America, Jeremy Greenberg from 97 Switch interviews Max Greenberg, founder of ROAV eyewear, a Los Angeles startup that is re-imagining the traditional eyewear frame. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Max shares how the current health pandemic has affected ROAV and how they are adapting to new circumstances.

ROAV glasses fit in a tight pocket, are nearly indestructible and are 1/3 the weight of a standard pair—all without compromising on classic good looks. Max is a mechanical engineer and industrial designer who loves dreaming up consumer products that toe the line of aesthetic form and technical function. Over the past few months, Max and his team have been working on a new eyewear concept called Stoggles, which aims to help protect people from virus transmission in a form that they'll want to wear every day.

In this episode of Restarting America, Josh Gibbs from 97 Switch interviews Shaily Hakimian, founder of Your Social Media Sherpa, where she empowers others to use social media to grow their business. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Hakimian shares how the current health pandemic has affected her business and how she is adapting to new circumstances.

Hakimian graduated from Indiana University with a degree and certification in elementary education. She now uses her teaching skills in her business, leading workshops and working with business owners, training them on social media. She has coached 170+ B2B consultants on how to use LinkedIn to grow their businesses. She loves live streaming, participating in social media events, live tweeting and engaging with comments.

Hakimian is a Persian-Moroccan who loves cheesy icebreakers, bubble tea, poker, reality competition shows like Survivor, TEDx conferences, magic, flea markets, the Jewish community and her sequin closet.

She has spoken at Trunk Club, Fiverr, State Farm, University of Notre Dame, University of Illinois, DePaul University and the University of Chicago.

In this episode of Restarting America, Josh Gibbs from 97 Switch interviews Jessica Gartenstein, the founder of Frönen, a gluten and dairy-free ice cream company that uses clean and simple ingredients. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Gartenstein shares how the current health pandemic has affected her company and how she is adapting to new circumstances.

Frönen is sold in 600+ retailers throughout the U.S. including Whole Foods Markets in the Midwest, Wegmans, Fresh Thyme, and various health food stores. While Gartenstein was in college at the University of Chicago, she won the College New Venture Challenge at the Booth School of Business for the idea for Frönen. She has previously worked at the Booth School of Business as a Research Assistant and has held marketing roles at firms including Morgan Stanley and independent alternative asset management firm, GCM Grosvenor.

In this episode of Restarting America, Jeremy Greenberg from 97 Switch interviews Keith Kimble, the founder of Runn Chicago. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Kimble shares how the current health pandemic has affected his company and how he is adapting to new circumstances.

Kimble hails from Winston-Salem, N.C. and attended the University of Tennessee where he studied Political Science. After college he went into marketing and sales, working in the automotive industry and legal fields helping businesses build their customer bases and increase profitability.

While not an athlete by any means, Kimble has always shown an interest in fitness. As a hobby, he taught indoor cycling, mostly as a way to snag free gym memberships. Over the years, in addition to indoor cycling, he branched into most fitness disciplines, from strength to aqua aerobics with elderly populations, all while maintaining his full-time sales gig.

In 2010, Kimble gave up his sales job and moved into fitness full time. However, to maintain his income level, he taught upwards of 40 group classes per week to hundreds of gym members. In 2017, Kimble decided to open his own group fitness gym, Runn Chicago with a very simple concept, group fitness on treadmills set to banging music playlists.

In this episode of Restarting America, Jeremy Greenberg from 97 Switch interviews Yitzi Weiner, a journalist, author, and the founder of Authority Magazine. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Weiner shares how the current health pandemic has affected his company and how he is adapting to new circumstances.

At Authority Magazine, Weiner has conducted or coordinated more than twenty thousand empowering interviews with prominent people like Shaquille O’Neal, Floyd Mayweather, Kelly Rowland, Bobby Brown, and more. He is also the CEO of Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator, which guides leaders to become prolific content creators.

In 2017, Weiner created the popular, “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me” series that highlights the empowering lessons learned from the experiences of high-profile entrepreneurs and public figures. This series has inspired a mini-movement among writers, with scores of writers worldwide profiling inspiring people to share their positive, empowering, and actionable stories.

A trained Rabbi, Weiner is also a dynamic educator, teacher, and orator. He currently lives in Maryland with his wife and children.

In this episode of Restarting America, Josh Gibbs from 97 Switch interviews Russell F. Robinson, CEO of Jewish National Fund-USA. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Robinson shares how the current health pandemic has affected JNF-USA and how he is adapting to new circumstances.

In 1998, Robinson became the youngest CEO in JNF-USA’s history. He is constantly traveling around the US and Israel to meet with JNF-USA’s partners and affiliates to ensure that their vision and philanthropic investment is more relevant and meaningful today than ever before, particularly among its growing 22-40-year-old JNFuture leadership division.

Today, almost 120 years after it was founded, JNF-USA is unparalleled in the Jewish philanthropic world. JNF-USA’s strategic vision has been, and always will be, to ensure a strong, secure, and prosperous future for the land and people of Israel.

Everything JNF-USA does—every project, initiative, and campaign—is integral to the organization’s vision of building and connecting to Israel. JNF-USA plants trees, builds houses and parks, sources water solutions, buys fire trucks, and improves the lives of people with special needs. In addition, JNF-USA works to boost tourism, support Aliyah, promote Zionist education and engagement, build medical centers and trauma centers, fund agricultural and culinary research, and run a high school semester study abroad program in Israel.

Robinson has succeeded in making JNF-USA one of the top-rated charities in the United States, and the leading organization for the land and people of Israel. He has been ranked on The Jerusalem Post’s list of the World’s 50 Most Influential Jews and oversees the organization’s groundbreaking One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade. Robinson has been featured in best-selling management books and regularly appears on TV, radio, and in print media.

A sixth-generation American Jew, Robinson grew up in El Paso, Texas. His family first laid down its American roots in Petersburg, Virginia after emigrating from Alsace-Lorraine in the late 1700s.

In this episode of Restarting America, Josh Gibbs from 97 Switch interviews Jon Julio, a professional skater. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Julio shares how the current health pandemic has affected him personally and how he is adapting to new circumstances.

Julio became a professional skater in 1995 and won the National Championship in 1996. Since then, he has been involved in skating professionally, as well as in many companies encompassing skating and apparel. Additionally, he creates and produces contests. In 2018, he created his independent skate company, THEM Skates.