Seeing the Forrest

What would you do if your childhood meant dodging gunfire in government housing projects, fleeing a brutal communist dictatorship, and crying over your very first banana at seven years old?   

On this episode of Seeing the Forrest, host Forrest Jackson sits down with Samuel Bistrian, CEO and founder of Roma Boots, to talk about his incredible journey from a remote Romanian village without running water to becoming a successful American entrepreneur driving a global philanthropic movement.


Samuel’s story begins in 1989, when he escaped the violence of the Romanian revolution and immigrated to the United States with his 11 siblings. Arriving in Chicago before settling in a dangerous housing project in Knoxville, Tennessee, Samuel learned profound lessons in resilience, experiencing both violent bullying and extraordinary acts of charity.   

Speaking with Forrest Jackson, Samuel reveals how those early experiences—particularly receiving a pair of bright rain boots as a child—inspired him to walk away from a lucrative career selling luxury furs at Neiman Marcus. During the height of the 2008 recession, he sold his car and pawned his belongings, then flew to China to launch Roma Boots, built on the simple but powerful "buy one, give one" model.

Today, Roma Boots has donated hundreds of thousands of pairs of boots to children across 35 countries. Forrest Jackson and Samuel explore the brutal realities of modern philanthropy, why some charities get it entirely wrong, and how immigrant grit can be the ultimate competitive advantage.   Tune in to this episode of Seeing the Forrest to hear how choosing love over greed can transform a crazy business idea into an international force for good.


Guest Website: https://romaboots.com/   

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What would you do if the industry you worked in was constantly blamed for crashing the power grid and draining the water supply—all while quietly keeping the modern world alive?   On this episode of Seeing the Forrest, host Forrest Jackson sits down with Chris Sutton, founder of Sutton Engineering, to rip the veil off "the cloud" and reveal the raw, physical reality behind the massive data centers powering the AI revolution.


After starting his MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) engineering firm in 2017 out of sheer necessity to put food on the table for his family, Chris transitioned from standard commercial builds to the high-stakes world of mission-critical data centers. 

Speaking with Forrest Jackson, Chris breaks down the staggering scale of these projects—where a single campus can demand a gigawatt of power, dwarfing the energy consumption of a mid-sized American city.   Tackling intense public backlash head-on on Seeing the Forrest, Chris debunks the myths surrounding water consumption by explaining closed-loop cooling systems and addresses the harsh realities of America's aging power grid. He also sounds the alarm on the geopolitical race for AI dominance, warning Forrest Jackson that halting domestic data center construction hands the keys of our digital infrastructure directly to global adversaries.   

What began as a desperate scramble to survive has evolved into a forward-thinking engineering firm built on the concept of "unreasonable hospitality". Today, Sutton Engineering continues to shape the physical backbone of the internet, proving that true innovation requires facing hard conversations, continuous learning, and an unwavering commitment to the people doing the work.

Tune in to this episode of Seeing the Forrest to hear Forrest Jackson and Chris explore why the physical infrastructure of the internet is more critical—and controversial—than ever.   

https://sutton.engineering/   


#datacenter #entrepreneurmindset #datacenterindustry 

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What kind of business makes 70% of its revenue in just 90 days—leaving you fighting through brutal off-season cash crunches, mounting payables, and the fear of bleeding out before spring arrives?   

That would be called an independent garden center.

Forrest sits down with Jared Calvert, operator of Shades of Green Nursery + Landscape, to talk about second-generation business succession, navigating extreme seasonal cash flow swings, and the gut-wrenching decision to shut down a flagship 25-year location for better opportunity. 

The story of Shades of Green began in 1979 when founder Rob McCauley bought a lawn mower on his mother’s Sears credit card after graduating from Texas A&M. Built on grit, hard labor, and horticultural expertise, the small lawn maintenance route expanded into commercial landscape design and installation. 

By the early 1990s, the company pioneered destination garden centers in North Texas, eventually opening a retail location on an unpaved rock road in Frisco that served the community for over two decades.   

As the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex expanded, Shades of Green established a reputation for native, drought-tolerant landscaping and opened a dedicated Collinsville tree farm to harvest ball-and-burlap trees grown specifically for North Texas clay soil. Yet behind the scenes of running a seasonal retail operation is a challenging balancing act—navigating post-COVID demand swings, deep freeze supply shocks, and the emotional roller coaster of carrying lines of credit through dead winter and summer months.

In 2026, faced with soaring suburban land values, extended vendor payables, and operational strain across two locations, Jared and his family made the difficult decision to close their historic Frisco location and consolidate all operations into their Celina property. By voluntarily shrinking the company’s footprint by nearly half, they eliminated unsustainable overhead, streamlined cash flow forecasting, and restructured the business for long-term health.   

What began as a college lawn care route has grown into one of the region’s premier independent plant destinations. Decades later, Shades of Green remains committed to cultivating joy through plants, prioritizing family and stewardship, and proving that lasting business survival often means having the discipline to say no and start fresh.

Watch the video on Youtube:

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https://shadesofgreeninc.com/

@shadesofgreenTX

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What would you do if you liquidated your entire life savings to start a business, only for a mentor to look you in the eye and tell you to GET A JOB?

Forrest sits down with serial entrepreneur David Bruce to talk high-stakes business risk, leading with faith, and what it takes to bridge the massive staffing gap for some of the most critical healthcare facilities in the country.

The story of Alliance Recruiting Resources began more than two decades ago on a dining room table. Armed with just $200,000—scraped together by downsizing his home, selling his vehicles, and draining his kids' college funds—David launched into the competitive healthcare staffing industry despite being warned he needed at least $2 million to survive.

Driven by a combination of faith and sheer intestinal fortitude, Alliance operated with a lean, visionary model long before it was the industry standard. By utilizing early internet technology to build a fully remote workforce, David drastically cut overhead while building a nationwide network capable of placing highly sought-after doctors and advanced practitioners.

The early years were marked by strict financial sacrifice, with David going four years before taking a salary. As the nationwide physician shortage escalated, however, so did the demand for Alliance’s services. What began as a gritty startup surviving on narrow margins evolved into a major force in locum tenens and permanent medical placements.

As the company expanded, Alliance consistently adapted to unprecedented market challenges. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down elective surgeries overnight and threatened the entire business model, the team swiftly pivoted to essential primary care placements, ultimately securing their most profitable growth period in history.

Today, operating with a nationwide remote team, Alliance and its sister company, Enterprise Medical Recruiting, continue to serve as a critical lifeline for hospitals and practices across the country. Built on five unwavering core principles, the company remains dedicated to solving complex staffing problems, doing the right thing, and bridging the gap between patients and the doctors who care for them.

https://www.alliancerr.com/

Watch you YT: https://youtu.be/C2fLtdVHvrQ

#entrepreneur #getajob #risk #startabusiness #cashflow #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurmindset #entrepreneurjourney 

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What would you do if you suddenly realized your booming business was a black hole about to steal your marriage, your kids, and your sanity?

Forrest sits down with Dacia Coffey, founder of The Marketing Blender and author of *Corporate Caffeine*, to talk about escaping entrepreneurial burnout, curing sales and marketing misalignment, and the dirty little lies of the B2B marketing industry.

Before becoming a marketing expert, Dacia spent a decade as the controller for her family's highly successful oil and gas trucking company. Despite looking perfect on paper, the 24/7 chaos meant her husband went weeks without seeing their children awake—leading to a radical, split-second decision to auction off their entire company in just 30 days to save their family.

Emerging from that crucible, Dacia pivoted to B2B marketing, bringing a gritty, financially-driven sales perspective to an industry historically obsessed with vanity metrics and "spots and dots". Today, The Marketing Blender helps small and mid-market companies stop wasting money by ruthlessly narrowing their buyer personas, establishing strict decision-making criteria, and turning marketing into an accountable revenue engine.

Whether you are a founder trying to untangle where your leads actually come from, or a CEO wrestling with the digital noise of AI and social media, Dacia breaks down why you must stop selling what you want to sell and start selling what people actually want to buy.

https://themarketingblender.com

Watch on YouTube: 

https://youtu.be/bWusssX_iVw

#marketingstrategy #B2Bmarketing #businessstory #Entrepreneur

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What would you do if an agency executive looked you in the eye and refused to take your money because spending it would be practically stealing from you?   

Forrest sits down with veteran adman and entrepreneur Wayne Walker, partner at Branding Plus Marketing Group, to talk about corporate vulnerability, the lost art of true brand strategy, and why the modern rush for instant digital clicks is quietly bankrupting businesses.   

Wayne’s journey in commercial media began in 1976, quickly rising through the broadcast ranks to become the youngest general manager of a top-ten market radio station in the United States and launching Dallas's legendary rock station, 97.1 The Eagle. 

After three decades leading major broadcast groups and networks for Westwood One and CBS, a sudden corporate restructuring eliminated over 200 management positions overnight—pushing Wayne out of the corporate world and into entrepreneurship at age 50.   Founded on unvarnished honesty, deep relationships, and strict strategic focus, Branding Plus Marketing Group was created to guide business owners through the deceptive traps of the advertising industry. While modern Madison Avenue shifted toward chasing tactical "spots and dots" and short-term digital noise, the agency built its track record on timeless fundamentals: establishing genuine strategy, mastering the five points of marketing execution, and harnessing the immense staying power of frequency and echoic memory.   

Today, Branding Plus Marketing Group ranks as the largest buyer of commercial radio in Dallas–Fort Worth while engineering targeted digital and connected TV campaigns for high-performing entrepreneurs and regional brands. Spanning more than two decades with virtually zero client churn, the firm continues to protect founders from wasted spend and help businesses achieve dominant market recall.   

What began with the hard-won realization that true security lives only in your head, your heart, and your ability to perform has grown into a premier marketing consultancy trusted across generations. More than 20 years later, Branding Plus Marketing Group remains committed to telling clients what they need to hear, prioritizing concentration of force, and proving that being known before you are needed is the ultimate business advantage.  

https://brandingplusmarketing.com/   

Watch the video here:
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What would you do if your company was bleeding half a million dollars every month and you had your business, your house, and your entire family ON THE LINE?

Forrest sits down with Burt Copeland, founder of New Life CFO, to talk high-stakes business turnarounds, overcoming financial blind spots, and the critical difference between basic bookkeeping and true executive financial insight.

New Life CFO was established with a singular mission: to help entrepreneurs and business owners see their operations clearly through the eyes of an experienced CEO. Built on transparency, strategic accountability, and operational clarity, the firm was created to rip off the band-aids and guide leadership teams through complex financial roadblocks and growth barriers.

Recognizing that most growing businesses rely on backward-looking data rather than forward-looking strategy, New Life CFO developed a flexible model pairing fractional CFO leadership with outsourced controller solutions. By helping founders understand the real story behind their financials rather than settling for mere data entry and title inflation, they bridge the gap between routine compliance and high-impact decision-making.

Today, New Life CFO operates with a team of 17 professionals managing approximately $1.1 billion in aggregate client revenues. Supporting organizations ranging from $1 million emerging businesses to established mid-market companies scaling past $80 million, the firm serves as an embedded partner navigating cash crunches, structural transitions, and ambitious scale.

What began as an answer to founder frustration and financial blind spots has grown into a premier fractional advisory practice trusted by leaders across industries. More than a decade later, New Life CFO remains dedicated to insight, integrity, and equipping business owners to take full command of their numbers.

https://newlifecfo.com

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Most people think the wizards behind the curtain have it all figured out.  But is that really true?

Forrest sits down with popular CEO coach Dennis Howard to talk about the nature of leadership and exactly who these entrepreneurs really are.

Dennis Howard is a seasoned executive and business leader who’s made a significant impact in the world of CEO coaching. As a Vistage Chair, Dennis helps CEO’s and Executives to solve their most challenging problems, grow their companies more rapidly & tackle their greatest opportunities.

Dennis' journey in the world of Performance Coaching began early in his career when he discovered a natural talent for helping others succeed. He started his own Sales Consulting firm, which quickly grew into a thriving business, and he soon realized he wanted to make a bigger impact by helping CEO’s, Executives and business owners on a more personal level.

This led him to become a Vistage Chair, where he’s been helping business leaders to overcome their challenges and reach their goals. He has been recognized for his contributions to the field of executive coaching, and he has received numerous national awards and accolades for his work.

Dennis began his career working for the world-renown speaker Zig Ziglar and is still a firm believer in his principals. Dennis retired after officiating NCAA basketball for over 20 years (12 years at the Division 1 Level). He is a devoted father, and when he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his three daughters, Olivia, Eliza and Lorelei.

Contact Dennis and his team here: www.intrepidceo.com

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What would your business look like if the main innovators were the people who are actually trying to PUT YOU OUT OF BUSINESS.

Forrest sits down with 3rd generation business owner, Rick Roland to talk family business evolution and what it is like to safeguard assets for some of the most reputable companies in the market.

The history of Rolland began in 1905 in New Orleans, Louisiana, when the company was founded as a small lock and key business. Built on craftsmanship, precision, and trust, Rolland quickly became a respected name in locksmithing and safe services throughout the region.

As demand grew, Rolland expanded into the manufacturing and sales of high-security safes, establishing a nationwide reputation for quality and reliability. By the late 20th century, Rolland had evolved far beyond its locksmith roots—becoming a pioneer in integrated security solutions.

In 2003, Rolland expanded internationally with the opening of its first branch in Mexico, marking a significant milestone in the company’s global reach. Today, Rolland Solutions continues to lead as a full-service security integrator, designing, installing, and monitoring advanced alarm systems, video surveillance, and access control technologies.

What began as a humble family business has grown into an international security provider trusted by clients across industries. More than a century later, Rolland remains committed to innovation, integrity, and protecting what matters most.

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Forrest sits down with Michael Randall of Sunshine Ceramica to talk business, family, and the challenges of running a pottery business in 2026.

No one understands what family business is like unless you are IN a family business.  The pottery business is no different.

Sleepless nights, constant email and text interruptions, obsessions about new styles and designs - pottery people have it all.

A candid, authentic discussion about what it takes to run a small business today.

Is there such a thing as work/life balance?  Promising entrepreneurs beware!

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