In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, I sit down with the mother-daughter trio behind West Village Realty, a boutique real estate brokerage in Kansas City. Wendy Foil, Sarah Harnett, and Hannah Shireman didn’t just want to sell houses—they wanted to build a business rooted in connection, culture, and community. After years of working at large firms, they took a leap of faith, started their own brokerage, and have never looked back.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- Why they left big-name real estate firms to build something of their own

- The role of faith, trust, and intuition in their business journey

- How they created a brokerage culture that feels like family

- The challenges of scaling while maintaining authenticity

- What it’s like to run a family business—and why they wouldn’t have it any other way

Whether you’re in real estate, an entrepreneur, or simply love stories of women in business, this episode is full of inspiration and practical advice.

Links & Resources:

In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, I sit down with Jessica Best, founder of Better Ave and an expert in email marketing, data strategy, and customer engagement. After years in the agency world, Jessica made the leap to entrepreneurship, bringing her big-brand expertise to mid-sized and small businesses. We talk about what pushed her to start her own consultancy, how she helps businesses mine their data for gold, and her best advice for email marketing that actually works.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- Why first-party data is the secret weapon for smart marketing

- The real reason Jessica left her agency role to start Better Ave

- How she helps businesses turn email into a powerful revenue driver

If you’ve ever wondered if your email marketing is actually working—or if you’ve thought about going out on your own—this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Links & Resources:

- Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn

- Learn more about Better Ave

- Learn more about Monarch COO

What does it take to build and scale a business while staying true to your values? In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, I sit down with Mark Richards, President & Founder of Associated Warehouses, Inc. (AWI). With 37 years of experience, Mark shares his journey from starting at a card table with just a phone to leading a national network of logistics partners.

🎙 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- How Mark grew AWI into a trusted warehousing and logistics network

- The power of relationships in business growth and sustainability

- How he’s passing the business down to the next generation

- The challenges and pivots that shaped AWI’s success

Whether you're a business owner, leader, or someone navigating your own entrepreneurial path, this episode is packed with wisdom on growth, leadership, and staying relevant in an evolving industry.

Links & Resources:

- Learn more about AWI: AWILogistics.com

- Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: Mark Richards

- Learn more about Monarch COO

What happens when corporate burnout collides with an entrepreneurial itch? For Shaila Ortega, it meant taking a bold leap into business ownership. In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, Shaila shares how a layoff became the catalyst for launching Wave, a marketing growth agency helping businesses scale with strategic advising, implementation, and now a mastermind program.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- How Shaila transitioned from corporate marketing leader to agency founder

- The unexpected challenges of entrepreneurship (and how she overcame them)

- Why she believes flexibility, flow, and betting on yourself are the keys to success

Links & Resources:

- Connect with Shaila on LinkedIn: Shaila Ortega

- Learn more about Wave: letsmakewaves.co

- Tune into Founders Table Talk, Wave's podcast

- Learn more about Monarch COO

How do you start a bank from scratch? In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, Courtney sits down with Dave Hill, President & CEO of Mid America Bank, who shares his incredible journey from small-town banker to leading a large financial institution. Dave takes us behind the scenes of how he and his business partners bought a tiny small-town bank, scaled it into a powerhouse, and built a culture of excellence along the way.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- How Dave identified a unique opportunity to buy and grow a small rural bank

- The biggest challenges (and wins) he faced in scaling to 9 figures in assets

- Why culture, leadership, and talent development are key to long-term success

Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or simply fascinated by the financial world, this episode is packed with insights on risk-taking, resilience, and smart decision-making.

Links & Resources:

- Learn more about Mid America Bank: Mid-AmericaBank.com

- Learn more about Monarch COO

- Follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram

In this episode ofThe Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, Courtney chats with Liza Saracini, founder of Florabelle Food & Festivities, a business that brings farm-to-table culinary experiences to life. Liza shares her inspiring journey, from her first in-home cooking classes to overcoming health challenges and turning her passion for food into a thriving business.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- How Liza’s love for cooking evolved into a mission-driven business

- The challenges of balancing health, personal growth, and entrepreneurship

- How Florabelle Food is making sustainable, nourishing food accessible

Whether you’re a foodie, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone passionate about sustainability, this episode is full of inspiration and practical wisdom.

Links & Resources:

- Follow Florabelle Food on Instagram:@florabelle_food

- Learn more aboutFlorabelle Food & Festivities

- Learn more aboutMonarch COO

- Follow me onLinkedIn andInstagram

In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, Courtney sits down with Amanda Barnhart, a creative director and graphic designer who left her dream job to build a business that gives her the freedom to own her time. Amanda shares how her entrepreneurial journey began with two clients, her advice for starting simple, and the challenges she’s overcome along the way.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How Amanda transitioned from corporate life to running her own design business

2. The importance of building client relationships and using your network

3. How to balance entrepreneurship with family and find joy in the process

Whether you’re just starting out or looking for inspiration to take the leap, this episode is packed with practical advice and empowering insights.

Links & Resources:

- Explore Amanda’s work: CreativeAB.com

- Learn more about what I do with Monarch COO

In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, Courtney chats with Meredyth Fletcher, founder of Karpos Wellness, about her journey from personal healing to creating a business focused on whole-body wellness. With over a decade of experience in nutrition, mental health, and spiritual health, Meredyth shares how her faith and passion for holistic healing inspired her entrepreneurial journey.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How Meredyth discovered her calling in wellness through personal challenges

2. The connection between the mind, gut, and faith in whole-body health

3. Her insights on balancing business, family, and personal faith

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or looking to incorporate wellness into your life, this episode offers inspiring lessons in resilience, faith, and purpose-driven business.

Links & Resources:

- Visit Karpos Wellness: KarposWellness.com

- Explore Meredyth’s book, The Good Food Solution, on Amazon.

- Learn more about what I do with Monarch COO.

In this special episode of The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, I sit down with two of the most influential people in my life—my parents, Shad and Penny Sheldon. From small-town beginnings in Kansas to managing multiple businesses, my parents have always embodied resilience, hard work, and creativity in their entrepreneurial journey.

🎙 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How society and growing up in a small town instilled a strong work ethic in my parents

2. The evolution of their entrepreneurial ventures—from farming to real estate and more

3.Their reflections on the challenges, blessings, and key decisions that shaped their journey

Whether you’re just starting your entrepreneurial path or looking for inspiration from seasoned business owners, this episode offers timeless lessons in perseverance and adaptability.

Links & Resources:

Learn more about Shad and Penny's work with Hayden Outdoors

Learn more about Monarch COO: MonarchCOO.com

Sign up for my Monthly E-Commerce Insights Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram

In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint, Courtney sits down with Jacob and Christin Willis, the husband-and-wife team behind We Heart Nutrition, a mission-driven supplement company. Together, they share their journey from wedding photographers to founders of a thriving direct-to-consumer business that donates 10% of sales to pro-life pregnancy centers.

🎙 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How their entrepreneurial journey started with a photography business and evolved into We Heart Nutrition
• The heart behind their mission to create the highest-quality supplements for women and families
• How they balance their roles as business partners, parents, and change-makers

💡 Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode offers insight into building a brand with purpose, navigating challenges, and creating lasting impact.

👉 Links & Resources:

1. Visit We Heart Nutrition: WeHeartNutrition.com

2. Follow on Instagram: @WeHeartNutrition

3. Learn more about Monarch COO: MonarchCOO.com