Welcome to Service First, a Proclaim Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Wiggins sits down with Andrew Kazlow, Founder and CEO of PitchFact, for an insightful conversation about entrepreneurship, angel investing, and the critical importance of customer discovery. Andrew shares a frustrating service failure that made him reconsider how founders should be treated, and opens up about the harsh feedback that nearly derailed his business idea—and why he's now grateful for it.

From his transition out of engineering to building a service provider for early-stage investment communities, Andrew discusses the biggest pain points in angel investing, the difference between vitamins and painkillers in business, and why disagreement about your idea might actually be a positive signal. He reveals his most triumphant moment as a founder, the dedication of his business partner Keaton, and current trends reshaping the venture capital landscape.

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Host: Ben Wiggins, Founder of Proclaim

Guest: Andrew Kazlow, Founder and CEO of PitchFact

Time Stamps:

(00:00 - 00:53) Intro

(00:54 - 2:45) Andrews worst service failure

(2:46 - 5:22) Andrews journey creating his own business

(5:23 - 8:26) What is PitchFact and what do they do

(8:27 - 11:13) Hardest things to hear as a business owner

(11:14 - 14:06) The emotional strength of an investor on their investees

(14:07 - 15:57) Feedback from investors

(15:58 - 17:05) Proclaims experience in the early days

(17:06 - 19:17) How to determine if your business is a good idea

(19:18 - 21:38) Most ridiculous reaction to success for Andrew

(21:39 - 22:58) Best service moment from a coworker

(22:59 - 28:11) The early stage ecosystem of businesses and how it’s changing

(28:12 - 29:56) Difference between an angel syndicate and a VC firm

(29:57 - 32:01) Things that Andrew does not like to see currently

(32:02 - 34:34) What should be happening in service

(34:35 - 35:21) Outro

Welcome to episode five of Service First, a Proclaim Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Wiggins sits down with Ariel Fry, Owner of Outland Design Co., for a candid conversation about leadership, resilience, and what it really means to deliver outstanding service. Ariel shares a raw story of one of the worst service failures she’s witnessed, and how it fueled her calling to entrepreneurship. She opens up about the toughest moments in her career, a surprising career detour that led her to where she is today, and the values that guide how she approaches client service.

From early lessons in customer interaction to her philosophy on building connection over making a sale, Ariel emphasizes the importance of authenticity and community in today’s digital world. The conversation also covers business practices she avoids, service habits she swears by, and what makes a brand truly memorable. If you’re passionate about better service experiences and building something meaningful, this episode is for you.

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Host: Ben Wiggins, Founder of Proclaim

Guest: Ariel Fry, Owner of Outland Design Co.

Time Stamps:

(00:00 - 00:26) Introduction

(00:27 - 02:24) The Worst Service Failure Story

(02:25 - 05:32) The Calling to Business Ownership

(05:33 - 12:45) The Toughest Experiences in Ariel’s Career

(12:46 - 19:36) Unexpected Career Turn

(19:37 - 25:59) Outstanding Service in Action

(26:00 - 29:11) Leading a Team that Goes the Extra Step

(29:12 - 34:59) Unfavorable Business Tactics

(35:00 - 35:32) Service Do’s and Don'ts

(35:33 - 35:56) Get in Touch with Ariel

(35:57 - 36:17) Closing

Welcome to another episode of Service First, a Proclaim Podcast! Host Ben Wiggins chats with Jay Maxwell, CEO of The Arena Group, about the power of great service and hospitality.

Jay shares his journey from a college entrepreneur to a successful business leader, explaining what makes service truly stand out. He tells stories about a year-long credit card issue and a moving day experience that changed his perspective. His company believes, "Service is black and white, but hospitality is colored," and they always think about customers before they arrive.

This episode is full of useful tips on communication, business challenges, and creating great customer experiences. Whether you own a business, work in service, or just enjoy learning about people, you’ll get something valuable from this conversation.

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Host: Ben Wiggin

Guest: Jay Maxwell

Time Stamps:

(00:00 - 00:33) Introduction

(00:33 - 02:38) The Credit Card Cancellation Story: A Service Failure 

(02:38 - 05:31) The Power of Customer Communication 

(05:31 - 08:17) Journey from Corporate to Entrepreneurship 

(08:17 - 10:31) Early Business Ventures and Strategic Pivots 

(10:31 - 13:54) Entrepreneurial Challenges and Late Night Struggles 

(13:54 - 17:03) Celebrating Business Victories and Growth 

(17:03 - 19:10) Move-in Day Success Story: Service in Action 

(19:10 - 22:18) Service Industry Trends and Founder Mentality 

(22:18 - 24:31) Adding Color to Customer Service 

(24:31 - 27:52) Closing Discussion

Welcome to the third episode of Service First, a Proclaim Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Wiggins is joined by Jay Raines, an entrepreneur and owner of LeadersQ. In this episode, they share stories about the struggles and successes of owning their own businesses, and the best ways to keep their employees motivated, and their clients happy. 

Jay shares some insights into how he believes a business should run, and how success should be determined. He dives into some of the service issues he has experienced, and how some of those moments helped him shape the way that he wants to succeed with his own clients. You don’t want to miss this exciting discussion!

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Guests:

Ben Wiggins

Jay Raines

Time Stamps:

(0:00-0:21) Introductions

(0:21-1:45) Coffee Talk

(1:46-3:24) Jay’s worst service failure

(3:35-5:45) Handling a hard situation in a foreign country

(5:46-7:32) Why Jay shifted from traditional jobs

(7:33-9:09) The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

(9:10-14:20) Jay’s creative process

(14:21-16:25) Hardships for a business owner

(16:25-17:13) Diving into the “no”

(17:13-19:29) Jays biggest triumphant moment

(19:30-21:41) Best service action from LeadersQ team

(21:42-23:39) Unauthenticity on LinkedIn

(23:40-24:53) Personal experience drifting away from authenticity

(24:54-26:38) A glimpse of why things succeed on LinkedIn

(26:39-27:42) What do people need to start doing in service or business?

(27:43-31:04) Making client success a KPI

(31:05-32:04) Measuring success

(32:05-33:19) Priorities for 2025

(33:20-33:51) Conclusion

Welcome to episode two of Service First, a Proclaim Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Wiggins is joined by Matthew Rother, Managing Partner and Vice President of Sales and Operations at Oakmont Group, for an engaging conversation on leadership, service, and the realities of business ownership. Matthew shares a compelling story of a service failure his family experienced, emphasizing the impact that a lack of professionalism and accountability can have on customer relationships. He also discusses his transition into entrepreneurship, the challenges of running a business, and how he approaches handling customer complaints with humility and integrity.

Beyond customer service, Matthew dives into employee motivation, industry trends, and the power of LinkedIn for business growth. He offers valuable insights into building a strong service-first culture, rewarding employees effectively, and eliminating assumptions to better serve customers. Whether you're a business owner, leader, or service professional, this episode is packed with practical takeaways.

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Host: Ben Wiggins, Founder of Proclaim

Guest: Matthew Rother, Managing Partner / Vice President – Sales and Operations at Oakmont Group

Time Stamps:

(00:00 - 00:27) Introduction

(00:28 - 02:30) The Worst Service Failure Story

(02:31 - 04:39) Transition to Entrepreneurship

(04:40 - 08:12) Challenges as a Business Owner

(08:13 - 10:44) Handling Customer Complaints

(10:45 - 12:54 Moments of Personal Triumph

(12:55 - 14:48) Employee Motivation and Rewards

(14:49 - 18:18) Trends in Business and LinkedIn

(18:19 - 20:01) Advice for Service and Business

(20:02 - 20:55) Closing

Welcome to the first episode of Service First, a Proclaim Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Wiggins is joined by Jacob Robinson, an inspiring entrepreneur and the founder of Dig World, the first-ever construction-themed amusement park in Katy, Texas. Together, they discuss Jacob's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of leading through adversity, and how a deep commitment to service can transform not only businesses but also lives.

Jacob shares heartfelt stories, including the profound impact of his son’s health journey on his approach to life and leadership. He also reveals the lessons learned from service failures and the pivotal role of empathy and love in building meaningful connections with customers. Don't miss this insightful and moving conversation about leadership, resilience, and the power of service.

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Guest(s):

Ben Wiggin

Jacob Robinson

Time Stamps:

(00:00 - 01:07) Introduction

(01:08 - 08:00) The Worst Service Failure: Lessons from a Dealership

(08:01 - 09:10) Breaking Down Customer Segmentation: Dollars vs. Humanity

(09:11 - 12:38) Jacob’s Entrepreneurial Journey: From Zero to One

(12:39 - 17:15)  Impact of Personal Adversity on Leadership

(17:16 - 18:07) Founding Dig World: A Vision for Fun and Inclusion

(18:08 - 20:43) Founding Dig World: A Vision for Fun and Inclusion

(20:44 - 23:25)  Apologizing the Right Way: No Excuses, Just Empathy 

(23:26 - 30:06) Outstanding Acts of Service: Loving Customers Creatively 

(20:07 - 33:02) Personal Triumphs: Celebrating Big Wins

(33:03 - 33:15) Outro

#CustomerService #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #DigWorld #ServiceFirstPodcast #EmpathyInBusiness #AdversityToTriumph

Welcome to the kickoff episode of Service First, a Proclaim Podcast! In this episode, our host Cullen Martin, Vice President of Operations at Proclaim, is joined by our Founder and storytelling expert, Ben Wiggins.

In today’s business landscape, where content is essential, audiences crave authenticity—genuine and meaningful stories that cut through the noise of countless competitors. Cullen and Ben dive deep into the power of authentic content, how to get started, and how storytelling can elevate your message, making it resonate with your audience and stand out in a sea of swipes. Don’t miss this insightful conversation that could transform your approach to content and help your business grow for the long haul.

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Host(s): Cullen Martin, Director of Operations at Proclaim

Guest: Ben Wiggins, Founder of Proclaim

Time Stamps & Show Notes: 

(00:00 - 00:21) Introduction

(00:22 - 01:39) Get to Know Ben Wiggins

(01:40 - 03:31) Making Customers the Hero

(03:32 - 07:32) Translating through Story

(07:33 - 09:06) Starting the Conversation

(09:07 - 12:22) Owning Your Platform

(12:23 - 14:33) Stop Selling, Start Helping

(14:34 - 18:01) Where Should You Post?

(18:02 - 19:05) Closing