Service Academy Business Mastermind

Michael Sipe (USNA '92) is an independent business consultant and coach with Sipe Consulting. Mike's coaching program is based on energy leadership and he considers himself a Business Vitality Catalyst working with leaders to create a strategy and framework for a responsive and productive workforce.

In this episode, Mike and I discuss:

• What the Energy Leadership Index Assessment is, how it works, and how he uses it as a tool with his clients
• Why he moved away from working in corporate America and the advice he has for others hoping to start their own business
• An opportunity for listeners to take an energy level assessment and talk through the results with him

Connect with Michael:

• Michael Sipe
• Michael Sipe Consulting

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Ray Garfield (USNA '66) is the Chairman of Garfield Public Private (GPP), a national real estate development firm that focuses on developing essential buildings for public entities. Ray founded GPP in 1997 in Dallas, Texas after an extensive career in commercial real estate, real estate development, and investment banking. Ray's projects include the Durham Performing Arts Center, University of Akron Football Stadium, Westin at the Oregon Convention Center, and many more.

In this episode, Ray and I discuss:

• How GPP thinks creatively about structuring the financing on their projects
• Why GPP decided to focus on building in the public sector
• The key experiences Ray had as a midshipman and a Naval officer that helped him as an entrepreneur
• Two job opportunities for the SABM Community

Connect with Ray:

• Raymond Garfield
• Garfield Public Private

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Ray for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Jerry Pilewski (USNA '97) is a business coach and trainer with FocalPoint Coaching. FocalPoint Coaches work with entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives to help them grow and realize their potential. Jerry believes that small to mid-sized businesses are the engine room of a sustainable society and he joined FocalPoint to be of service to business owners and their surrounding communities.

In this episode, Jerry and I discuss:

• The strength of the FocalPoint coaches' network and it's content library
• How he has helped other Academy grads start their own Focal Point franchises
• How the Naval Academy and his time in the Navy equipped Jerry to succeed in business and prepared him to serve others

Connect with Jerry:

• Jerry Pilewski
• FocalPoint

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Jerry for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

David Garza (USMA '87) is the managing director and CEO of Compass Human Capital Advisors, a consulting practice that assists growing businesses scale and optimize their workforce. David started Compass Human Capital Advisors after 25 years as an HR executive and honed his practice after he noticed that small business owners often struggle with hiring and developing their employees' talents.

In this episode, David and I discuss:

• The four things businesses must address to successfully scale their workforce
• How he helps business owners define and nurture their companies' cultures
• His best tips for hiring
• How a "just step forward" mentality garnered from West Point helped him grow his business

Connect with David:

• David Garza
• Compass Human Capital Advisors

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to David for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Charlie Felker (USMA '06) is the co-founder of Free-2-Grow which provides back-office support to service-based companies, allowing the owners and operators to focus on their customers and growing their businesses. Free-2-Grow offers its customers the services of a full-time office manager at half of what it would cost to hire someone full-time and provides team support with its cross-trained staff.

In this episode, Charlie and I discuss:

• How he built a product and a company around a pain point from his last business
• The creative ways he finds new clients
• The skills that he learned in the Army and at West Point that have helped him succeed as an entrepreneur
• His best tips for creating a successful business partnership

Connect with Charlie:

• Charlie Felker
• Free-2-Grow

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Charlie for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Mike Nemeth (USMA '04) is best known across the Service Academy community for his hilarious pranks that capture the spirit of the Army/Navy rivalry. In addition to his role as the community prankster, he's also a very successful entrepreneur who has built a 7-figure apparel business from the ground up.

In this episode, Mike and I discuss:

• His apparel company that has grown to over 7-figures in sales in the last three years
• His marketing pivot during COVID that helped him target the clients he loves serving
• His latest pranks which include the Navy Tears of Sadness Candle and one surprise

Connect with Mike:

• Mike on LinkedIn
• Emblem Athletic
• Mike's book: Discipline the Annapolis Way

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Christian White (USMA '09) is the managing director and co-founder of risk3sixty, an information security advisory firm that helps companies build, manage, and certify their information security, privacy, and compliance programs. Christian always knew that he wanted to start a business and, although he had no background in information security, he was able to grow risk3sixty through successful team building and his willingness to learn the business from the ground up.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The five core values that frame every aspect of risk3sixty's business
• How risk3sixty's success came from Christian and his partner's willingness to fail and get back up
• The importance of having big, audacious goals
• The three lessons Christian learned from the Army and West Point that helped him grow his business

Connect with Christian and the team at risk3sixty:

• Christian White
• risk3sixty
• risk3sixty on YouTube
• The Virtual CISO - risk3sixty's podcast

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Christian for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Tom Connally (USNA '83) is the founder of Connally Consulting where he helps leaders and organizations improve their performance and success professionally, personally, spiritually, and physically. He is also a graduate of Real Estate Accelerator class 2019-2.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Tom decided to join the Real Estate Accelerator after 5+ years into retirement
• Tom's path to purchasing five properties in less than a year
• The tax savings strategy that Tom used to save over $20,000 in taxes

Connect with Tom Connally:

• Tom on LinkedIn
• Connally Consulting

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Tom Connally and Buddy Rushing for the amazing interview. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Jim Mulford (USAFA '70) is the President and CEO at acQyr eXchange, the first public exchange to track and manage the digital assets you acquire online so you can redeem them for money. Their initial market will be mobile and online gaming where gamers will be able to monitor, manage, and redeem their gaming rewards on the exchange with a mobile app.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How their product supports the $2.7B gaming industry
• Their value proposition for gamers and game publishers
• How they can acquire users from the game publishers to grow their network

Connect with Jim Mulford:

• Jim on LinkedIn
• acQyr eXchange

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Jim for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

On today's podcast, I am excited to launch the Traffic Circle at 10X Vets. The 10X Vets program at SABM is for military veterans who want to grow their business to a 10X level through new learning, collaboration, and connections. The Traffic Circle is led by Jimmy Weeks, Air Force Veteran and founder of Internet Strategy Labs and Veteran Stats. The Traffic Circle is for 10X Vets members who want to increase website traffic, improve website performance, and generate more leads.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The vision for the Traffic Circle and how it helps members grow their businesses
• Jimmy's internet marketing experience and how he uses website analytics as a starting point for helping his clients optimize their marketing
• The Veteran Stats analytics platform which helps military veteran business owners understand their website analytics so they can make strategic marketing decisions

Connect with Jimmy Weeks:

• Jimmy on LinkedIn
• Veteran Stats

Join about 10X Vets: https://sabmgroup.com/10x/

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Jimmy Weeks for joining me on the podcast this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01