Spotlight Podcast

Brian Schutt, Director of Indiana's Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, joins the Spotlight Podcast to unpack the "silver tsunami" — the wave of baby boomer business owners retiring without succession plans, which threatens nearly 19% of Indiana's GDP. He shares how his office's KEEP Initiative (including a "Zillow for small businesses" marketplace) is tackling this crisis, plus his philosophy on entrepreneurship, community-driven growth, and why he believes there's never been a better time to start a business.

01:30 Meet Brian Schutt: The "Accidental Entrepreneur"

04:00 Building Refinery46 & Reviving a City Block

07:30 Sponsor Break: Community First Bank

09:00 Landing the State Director Role

12:30 Leading with Curiosity, Not Prescribed Solutions

16:00 What Surprised Him Touring Indiana's 92 Counties

20:00 Social Capital vs. Financial Capital

23:00 The Governor's Vision for Main Street Businesses

27:00 What Is the "Silver Tsunami"? 30:00 Inside the KEEP Initiative & SMB.co Marketplace

35:00 Why Indiana Is One of the Best States to Start a Business

40:00 Local Resources for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

44:00 Advice: Show Up, Sign Up, Stay Consistent

48:00 Closing Thoughts & How to Connect with the Office

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

Community First Bank's Chief Commercial Banking Officer, Jonathon Malin, breaks down how SBA loans work, why they're a game-changer for startups without proven cash flow, and how local, relationship-driven banking differs from big regional banks. He also digs into Kokomo's downtown growth, the psychology of taking on business debt, and the advice he gives entrepreneurs before they ever walk into a bank.

02:44 – Jonathan's Path: From Part-Time Teller to Bank Exec

03:48 – Why He Loves Working with Small Businesses

05:28 – Local vs. Regional Banks: What Makes Community First Different

06:23 – What a Successful Loan Application Actually Looks Like

07:10 – Sponsor Break: Fraud Prevention Tips for Business Owners

08:42 – Biggest Misconceptions About SBA Loans

10:26 – Conventional Loans vs. SBA Loans Explained

12:40 – Advice Before Walking Into the Bank

17:27 – Kokomo's Hotel & Convention Center Opportunity

19:30 – Is Taking on Business Debt a Bad Idea?

21:10 – How the Economy & SBA Lending Have Changed in 11 Years

24:00 – Behind the Scenes of the Redevelopment Commission

27:52 – "Green Flags" Jonathan Looks for in Business Owners

41:04 – Letting Go of Control & Building the Right Team

45:48 – Loan Regrets, Red Flags & Predatory Online Lenders

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

Air Force veteran and Kokomo real estate entrepreneur Paul Wyman sits down with host Tim Brandon on the Spotlight Podcast to unpack how he built The Wyman Group into a market leader against 50 competitors, and the leadership mindset ("find good, do good, feel good") that got him there. He also opens up about handling public criticism as a former county commissioner, raising his kids as a leader, and why Kokomo, Indiana has become an unexpected magnet for major investment.

01:34 Paul's Origin Story: Jersey to the Air Force

03:22 Landing in Kokomo After the Military

04:47 Sponsor Break: Fraud Prevention Tips

07:12 First Year Building The Wyman Group

11:06 Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe

14:46 Fear Is What Stops Most People

21:01 Dogs Don't Chase Parked Cars: Handling Negativity

25:27 Processing Anger the Right Way

29:49 Do We Have More Leaders or Fewer?

33:10 Vision, Culture & Beating 50 Competitors

38:00 What Makes a Great Realtor: A History of Success

43:18 Find Good, Do Good, Feel Good

48:02 Kokomo & Howard County's Big Growth Story

59:35 Why Paul Never Claps Back at Critics

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

Indiana Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Vanessa Green Sinders joins hosts Tim Brandon and Courtney Butler to break down how state and local chambers work together to fuel Hoosier business growth — covering everything from small business health insurance and succession planning to the 2027 budget session and Indiana's data center/AI boom. She also opens up about leaving a 20-year D.C. political career to lead Indiana's economic future, and shares candid advice on leadership, compartmentalizing work/family, and building an "employer of choice."

1:49 Meet Vanessa Green Sanders, Indiana Chamber CEO

2:42 From Capitol Hill to Indiana: Her Career Path

4:09 Sponsor Break: Community First Bank Fraud Prevention

5:35 State Chamber vs. Local Chamber, Explained

6:20 Indiana Chamber's Mission & Advocacy Work

11:09 Chamber Care: Small Business Health Insurance Expansion

13:30 Vanessa's Growth & Vision as State Chamber CEO

15:47 Top Resources Every Indiana Entrepreneur Should Know

20:10 Succession Planning & Buying an Existing Business

21:30 What's Coming in the 2027 Statehouse Budget Session

23:42 How to Become an "Employer of Choice" in Indiana

28:48 Data Centers, AI & Educating Local Government

35:22 Rapid Fire Questions & Closing Thoughts

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

In this episode of the Spotlight Podcast, hosts Courtney Butler and Caitlin Sheets sit down with Bob Hickman, Chief Banking and Credit Officer at Community First Bank of Indiana, to break down everything small business owners need to know about securing funding — from writing a bulletproof business plan to understanding why a bank's "no" might actually save you. Bob shares candid insights from 24 years of community banking, including real success stories and the critical mistakes that hold entrepreneurs back.

02:15 — Meet Bob Hickman: 24 Years at Community First Bank

05:30 — How the Bank Grew from 16 to 150 Employees

09:00 — What Happens When a Small Business Walks Through the Door

13:45 — Business Plans Explained: Who They're Actually For

18:20 — The Drive Competition: Kokomo's Shark Tank

23:00 — How to Write a Business Plan That Works (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How)

28:30 — Financial Projections: Why "It's Just a Hobby" Without Them

34:15 — The #1 Expert Every Small Business Needs to Hire First

39:40 — How to Leverage Small Funding Into Big Growth

44:20 — Grants & Hidden Resources: The Revolving Loan Fund Most People Don't Know About

48:50 — Overcoming the Fear of Pitching Your Business

53:30 — When a Bank Says No — and Why That Can Be a Good Thing

58:00 — Bob's Proudest Moments: The 17-Year-Old Real Estate Investor & More

1:02:15 — Kokomo's Future: Diversification, AI, and Quality of Place

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

Adrienne Akers , owner of the Radish Market and Cafe, shares her unlikely journey from kindergarten teacher to farmers market manager to restaurant owner, explaining how a health department ruling forced her tiny local-food store to accidentally become a full-fledged cafe. She digs into her "real food for all" philosophy, the true cost and red tape of running a local food business, and her dream of eventually bringing affordable fresh food to underserved neighborhoods via a mobile market or food truck.

00:00 Intro & Meet Adrienne Akers

01:53 From Kindergarten Teacher to Farmers Market Board

04:41Why Radish Filled a Need in Kokomo

08:52 Sponsor: Community First Bank

10:17 Becoming a Restaurant: Health Dept Forces a Pivot

13:13 The Cafe Becomes the Real Engine

15:50 Learning to Cook Later in Life

19:00 Building a Monthly Menu From Scratch

21:47 Real Food for All: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free

23:13 Defining "Local": Sourcing Within 100 Miles

27:05 Becoming an Accidental Entrepreneur

30:17 The Kindergarten Fruit Grant That Changed Everything

34:15 Barriers: The Real Cost of Starting a Food Business

40:36 Future Dreams: Food Trucks, Bloomington & Staying Focused

45:10 Why Fresh & Local Is Worth the Extra 50 Cents

48:12 Where to Find Radish & Wrap-Up

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Visit:

https://www.radishmarketcafe.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theradishmarket/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

Marine Corps veteran Kevin Jewell shares how he went from CrossFit Kokomo member to co-owner, and how the gym evolved from a fitness competition space into a true community hub serving grandparents, first responders, and manufacturing shift workers alike. He also opens up about the gym's 24-hour fundraiser for Jackson Street Commons, a local homeless veteran shelter, which has raised over $126,000 in seven years by giving veterans not just what they need, but what they want.

00:00 – What CrossFit Really Looks Like

00:43 – Welcome to Season 3 of the Spotlight Podcast

01:16 – Meet Kevin Jewell: Marine to Gym Owner

03:39 – Discovering CrossFit in the Marine Corps & Afghanistan

04:56 – The Unexpected Offer to Buy the Gym

08:29 – Sponsor Spotlight: Community First Bank of Indiana

09:53 – How Kevin's View of CrossFit Has Changed

13:31 – Why Community Matters More Than the Workout (Covid Story)

18:11 – Why Giving Back to Veterans Became Personal

20:56 – The First 24-Hour Fundraiser for Jackson Street Commons

22:52 – Needs vs. Wants: Rethinking How to Help Veterans

28:36 – Building a Coaching Staff With the Right Values

39:25 – The Senior Class: Keeping Members Independent for Life

47:23 – Scheduling Around Shift Workers & First Responders

50:21 – Childcare, Community Support & the Biggest CrossFit Myth

Stay Connected:

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Visit: https://crossfit-kokomo.com/

https://www.instagram.com/crossfitkokomo

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

Brenda "Blondie" Kaufman shares how she turned a college dorm-room cookie business into Blondies Cookies, a 41-year family empire that survived 9/11, the housing crash, and Covid before landing a career-changing appearance on Shark Tank. She opens up about the leadership lessons from her late father, her marriage of 44 years, and the "master of one thing" philosophy that's kept her company thriving through every economic cycle.

0:00 Cold Open: "God Did Not Put Us In This Position to Fail"

00:45 Welcome to Season 3 + Meet Blondie Kaufman

01:30 What Is Blondies Cookies? 41 Years, Mail Order & Charity

04:00 Sponsor Break: Community First Bank

05:15 From College Naivety to Building a Business

07:00 Losing Her Father & Baking to Survive College

09:30 The Florida Expansion Disaster & Near-Bankruptcy

12:00 The Shark Tank Call (In the Middle of Kroger!)

14:30 Behind the Scenes: Auditions, Pitches & 30,000 Applicants

18:00 Life After the Tank: 11 Million Viewers & the Hometown Package

21:00 9/11, Covid & Surviving Multiple Economic Cycles

25:00 "It's All About the Cookie" — The Core Business Philosophy

29:00 Lessons in Leadership From Her Late Father

34:00 Marriage, Partnership & Letting Go of Control

40:00 Pricing, Profit Margins & Why They Pulled Brownies Off the Menu

45:00 Final Advice for Entrepreneurs: "Get Off Your Fannies"

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https://www.instagram.com/blondiescookiesinc

Visit https://blondiescookies.com/

Follow & Subscribe to Community First Bank of Indiana: @CFBindiana

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

#countryclub #networkingtips #golfclub #businessgrowth

Jay Biggs, GM and President of Kokomo Country Club, shares his remarkable journey from a young golf pro at Firestone Country Club to a turnaround specialist who has revived struggling private clubs across the country — including stints at Pinehurst Resort and caddying at Pebble Beach. In this episode, Jay breaks down exactly how he's transforming Kokomo Country Club from a struggling 140-member club into a thriving community hub with nearly 300 members, upgraded amenities, a world-class culinary team, and a culture that's busting the "snobby country club" stereotype wide open.

02:15 — Meet Jay Biggs: From New Albany to the Golf World

06:30 — Breaking Into Big-Time Golf at Firestone Country Club

11:00 — ClubCorp's Turnaround Model & Jay's 14 Moves Across the Country

16:45 — From Pinehurst to Pebble Beach: Caddying in "Retirement"

21:00 — How Ken Lucas & a Golf Outing Led Jay to Kokomo

25:30 — First Impressions of Kokomo Country Club & the Vision

30:00 — Rebuilding the Dining Room, Kitchen & Food Culture

35:15 — The Billing Nightmare (And How They Fixed It)

39:45 — Building the Dream Team: Chef George, Chad Allen & Rick Witt

44:00 — Pickleball Courts, Pool Renovations & the Kid Zone

48:30 — Busting Country Club Myths & Who the Club Is Really For

52:00 — Networking at the Club: Why Entrepreneurs Belong Here

56:15 — What's Coming Next: Simulators, Outdoor Dining & Full Membership

59:30 — How to Try Kokomo Country Club (2-Month Trial Membership Details)

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Disclaimer:The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

This episode is about Heather Duncan’s transition from healthcare into owning Blythe’s Bridal, and how she’s growing the business through community-building, social media, and a standout high school girls program. We cover the challenges of retail trends, online competition, and how local businesses can create memorable in-person experiences that keep customers coming back.

2:10 — Meet Heather Duncan and Blythe’s Bridal

5:05 — From healthcare to bridal ownership

8:40 — Learning the bridal business

11:30 — The Blythe Beauty program

15:20 — Confidence, community, and mentorship

19:10 — Growing the program across schools

23:05 — The scholarship and student expectations

26:10 — Winning Small Business of the Year

29:05 — Early doubts and business slow seasons

32:20 — Trends, seasonality, and retail challenges

36:10 — Competing with online shopping

40:05 — The value of in-person bridal experience

43:10 — The new location and store experience

46:20 — Biggest turning points in ownership

50:10 — Advice for new business owners

53:40 — Small Business Development Center support

56:30 — Closing thoughts and congratulations

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https://www.instagram.com/blyesbridalloft/

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Visit: https://www.blyesbridal.com/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.