Talking Business Now

By Kelly Scanlon & C-Suite RadioBusiness Entrepreneurship

Talking Business Now episodes

July 13, 2018 Advice From the Longest Serving CEO of a Publicly Traded Silicon Valley Company
Ray Zinn was a Silicon Valley pioneer. He co-founded microchip company Micrel in 1978 and bootstrapped it to profitability. Best-known as the longest-serving CEO of a publicly traded Silicon Valley company, he delivered a total equity value of more than $800 million when Microchip acquired the company in 2015. During his 37 years with Micrel, he served as president, CEO and chairman of the board.
Today, Ray is a speaker, author and leader of a Silicon Valley accelerator called ZinnStarter, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build profitable and lasting companies.
A podcaster and author of Tough Things First and Zen of Zinn, Ray dishes out practical advice for running a profitable company in this episode of Talking Business Now. Find out:
Why he bucked the traditional Silicon Valley mindset and bootstrapped the company rather than starting it with venture capital.His formula for building a profitable, sustainable company. Ray led Micrel through eight downturns in the global chip markets, including the dot-com bust and the Great Recession.His perspective on why so many startups fail—and how to avoid it.How to handle mistakes.His philosophy on decision-making.How he earned 20 patents for semiconductor design by challenging his team to be innovative.How he created a corporate culture at Micrel built on dignity of the individual.

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29 min
May 25, 2018 What Cryptocurrency Can Mean for Businesses, with Joshua Dewitt of CoinLion
Cryptocurrency is a rapidly evolving industry. To most business people, cryptocurrency still seems like some mysterious system of money. Joshua Dewitt, the co-founder of CoinLion joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to explain what cryptocurrency is and what it can mean for business.
CoinLion, a new cryptocurrency exchange and portfolio platform, aims to do change the emerging cryptocurrency market as E*Trade and others changed the day trading game.
CoinLion users join a community of cryptocurrency experts, which empowers its members to create and share portfolios, offer trade strategies, and share research they need to make highly-informed decisions. This ensures the sustained health and strength of the community as it continues to grow. A native token, LION, can be earned and spent within the platform, based on member contributions and needs within the community. LION will be used as the currency that rewards and incentivizes member contributions to the community, and also serves as payment to access these valuable assets.
Specifically, Josh discusses:
How he got interested enough in cryptocurrency to quit his job and found CoinLion.The disconnect between the modern financial world and the emerging cryptocurrency exchangesHow cryptocurrency works.Some of the industry challenges such as transparency, the need for standards and other issues.Ways businesses can learn more about cryptocurrency and begin using it.Banks and major financial institutions adapting to the emergence of cryptocurrency.The biggest challenges investors and crypto traders face to make cryptocurrency mainstream.

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22 min
March 23, 2018 Six Generations Strong: How Pioneer Music Has Evolved Through Nearly 150 Years
Alec Haight, of Pioneer Music Company, joins Smart Companies Thinking Bigger host Kelly Scanlon to discuss what it takes to navigate a company through six generations of leadership.
As the company approaches its 150th anniversary, Haight discusses how the company has evolved to stay relevant and shares the importance of creating a strong company culture.
Today Pioneer Music Company is a custom integration distributor that targets businesses that specialize in residential and commercial audio/video installation, surveillance, automation and networking.
The company got its start in 1869 as a retailer operating under the name Pioneer Hardware and Implement Store. By the 1970s, the company had evolved into a wholesale distributor located in Chanute, Kansas, and took its current name Pioneer Music Company. Over the next 40 years, the company distributed various consumer electronics products throughout the Midwest.
In 2005, PMC realigned its focus on custom integration distribution, which is the company's current business model. Recognizing the opportunity for this business model in Kansas City, the comapny moved its distribution headquarters to Lenexa, Kansas, and committed to becoming a “one-stop-shop” distributor.
Tune in to learn how Alec and his father—the fifth and sixth generations—are expanding the “one-stop-shop” business model to other markets and expanding the company's footprint.

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26 min
March 23, 2018 AMG Is Changing the Property Management Game, with Zach Batson
Zach Batson’s fascination with real estate started when he was a kid. He cut his teeth in the industry when he was in high school, working at one of Kansas City’s oldest commercial real estate firms. That experience only deepened his interest in the profession.
After earning degrees in economics and finance, he launched his professional real estate career, absorbing everything he could about the industry: accounting, property management, construction management, investment analysis and even deal syndication.
Then the Great Recession hit, and Batson saw an opportunity as the real estate market crashed.
“At the time,” he said, “there really were a lot of opportunities for good management, because as investments were getting dicey, as the market was getting more negative, people were looking for a solution.”
His solution was to launch Asset Management Group in 2008. The company syndicates and manages commercial real estate investments.
Now 10 years old, Asset Management Group provides full-service management to retail centers, office buildings, warehouses and multifamily apartment complexes. It has 4 million square feet of commercial real estate under management and 2,250 family units. The company is consistently named as one of the top commercial property management firms in Kansas City.
Tune in to discover how Batson's approach to business has fueled Asset Management Group's growth, including:
Emphasizing relationships over transactionsOpen communicationTransparencyHiring for people skills and teaching real estate skills

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14 min
March 16, 2018 Tips for Achieving Managed Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth, with Carol Espinosa
Carol Espinosa founded Freedom Interiors in 2010. She joins Smart Companies host Kelly Scanlon to share her strategies for building the commercial interior design and furnishings company, which serves corporations, educational institutions and government facilities.
The company has seen continual annual revenue growth and plans to add more employees this year. But Espinosa housed the company for several years at the Blue Hills Contractor Incubator to manage its startup and growth. She recently purchased a 7,000 square foot building—the original post office building in Kansas City's historic Westport district—which features a large showroom.
Espinosa credits several factors for the growth of Freedom Interiors:
A customer focus that treats each project as different and unique. A passion and enthusiastic team that cares about making customer projects successful. A commitment to offering exceptional products—aligning only with best-in-class manufacturers.An interactive Live Design process that quickly conceptualizes workplaces for customers.3D scanning that allows the Freedom Interiors' team to capture existing customer space and transfer it to a virtual reality design engine. This allows team members to make changes in virtual space, which reduced costly on-site modifications.Relying on core values of empowerment, integrity, adaptability, innovation and fun and a company mindset of Solve, Communicate, Grow.
Espinosa believes in supporting the business community as well as educational initiatives in Kansas City's urban core.

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22 min
March 16, 2018 Why Mobile Technology Is Important to Every Business, with Ryan Wyse
Did you know that more than 50 percent of Google searches are from mobile devices? Or that your lack of a mobile-friendly website can impact your search rankings?
Code Koalas founder Ryan Wyse joins Smart Companies host Kelly Scanlon to share tips on how business owners can avoid letting their technology become stagnant, use mobile applications to enhance their business and project a fresh web presence.
The company develops websites, content management systems, apps and other custom integrations that offer a business full functionality on the web.
Wyse was born and raised on a dairy farm northwest of Chicago. He's a self-taught technologist turned entrepreneur who got his start using complicated Excel spreadsheets to program an account balancing solution at a local bank. Accomplishing that, he taught myself to program using PHP/MySQL and started building websites.

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18 min
March 02, 2018 Loading Money to Make Money: How ATM Operator Prineta Is Defining the Industry
G Jason Schnellbacher, the managing partner at Prineta, joins Smart Companies Thinking Bigger host Kelly Scanlon to discuss how he and his partners have taken Prineta from the startup stage to the fastest growing independent ATM service provider in the United States.
When Schnellbacher founded Prineta in 2009, it offered merchant service processing, Schnellbacher soon discovered that margins in the industry didn't allow the profitability he sought, so he started investigating ATM services. Today, Prineta operates in every major U.S. city and has more than 1,000 ATM machines.
Tune in to find out:
How Jason got into the ATM business.How he pivoted from offering only payment processing services to ATM services (which now makes up 90% of their business)What Jason considers to be his greatest entrepreneurial achievement - and whyHis advice for other entrepreneurs who are just starting out
Before founding Prineta, Jason worked in the corporate world and pursued other entrepreneurial ventures. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Baker University in Baldwin City with Bachelor of Science degree in Business and dual concentration in Marketing and Management and a minor in Economics.
Visit the archives to listen to all the shows in the Smart Companies Thinking Bigger lineup.

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26 min
March 02, 2018 Leveraging Technology for Business Communications, with Brian Gregory
Brian Gregory, owner of Network Innovations, joins Smart Companies Thinking Bigger host Kelly Scanlon to discuss how businesses can leverage technology to improve their communication and productivity.
In 1991, at the age of 19, Gregory took over the fledgling IT company while it was still just getting off the ground. His only business experience had been working at a grocery store when he was in high school. He says he learned how to run a business by allowing his clients to mentor him, soaking up all the advice they would give him. He calls it "the best MBA I could get."
In 1997, the company was one of the first to embrace computer telephony, better known as VoIP, and he and his wife Amy have been pioneers in shaping the industry ever since.
Listen in as Gregory discusses:
What it's like to take over a business at the age of 19 with no prior experience.Why it's critical to seek out mentors.The importance of putting employees first.How to use technology to leverage your business's communication and productivity.
Visit the archives to listen to all the shows in the Smart Companies Thinking Bigger lineup.

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18 min
February 23, 2018 Piloting Your Business to Success, with Michael Hendricks of SureHosting
Michael Hendricks, founder and CEO of SureHosting Internet Solutions, joins Smart Companies Thinking Bigger host Kelly Scanlon to discuss how he turned a childhood passion for computers into a thriving business.
As Michael puts it, he was always “that kid” growing up. At the age of 7, he gained infamy when he tore the family computer apart and successfully put it back together. His parents gave him a PC, but with one caveat: He had to sign an agreement to never touch the family PC again. Little did his parents know, they were giving him the gift of a career.
Before starting SureHosting at age 24, Hendricks worked for Silicon Valley companies and in IT in the healthcare industry.
Tune in to capitalize on the wisdom of Michael's experience as a business owner:
Michael's business partner and best friend from high school was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Learn how Michael dealt with the partner's separation from the business and eventual death. "It taught me that business was for real," he said. "If we didn’t deal with the painful situation and save the business, it would cost all of our employees their jobs. It was a hard lesson, but when I hear about companies who work with spouses or family members, I think about this and realize it can work, but it takes a commitment from all parties that the business comes first."How his love for flying helicopters taught him important lessons about hiring and training employees.How business owners can learn to view technology as a return to the bottom line rather than as a cost. As Michael puts it, "You should not be 'spending money' on technology."
Visit the archives to listen to all the shows in the Smart Companies Thinking Bigger lineup.

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31 min
February 23, 2018 From Entry-Level to Company President, with MTI Events owner Melissa DeLeon
Melissa DeLeon, president and owner of MTI Events, joins Smart Companies Radio host Kelly Scanlon to discuss her entrepreneurial journey through more than 30 years in the meetings and incentives industry.
MTI Events is a family-held, full-service events company that Melissa's mother founded in 1986. Melissa started with the company from its beginning, working her way from the ground up with data entry for performance reports, mailing promotional marketing items and working on site as professional travel staff.
After graduating from college in 1994, Melissa started full time as an account executive in sales at MTI. In 2006, she took over as president of the company.
Listen in as Melissa shares:
How she transitioned from an entry-level employee to company president.The secret to MTI Event's success over the years.How they've grown the business, including expanding beyond events as incentives and adding corporate meeting and team-building events; special events such as trade shows, golf tournaments and customer appreciation programs; and sales meetings.Some of the most memorable events Melissa has planned over the years. You won't want to miss the story about the zebras leading the guests to the buffet table!
Visit the archives to listen to all the events in the Smart Companies Thinking Bigger lineup.

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23 min

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Get the inside scoop on how America’s most successful entrepreneurs are transforming their industries. On each episode of Talking Business Now, you'll meet one of your fellow business owners, founders…