The Matt Balaker Podcast

The Matt Balaker Podcast

By The Matt Balaker PodcastBusiness
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The Matt Balaker Podcast episodes

  • Dave Hoeffel - Selling Your Business

    Dave Hoeffel is an entrepreneur from Minnesota. Dave graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1992 with a degree in Chemistry. He is the former owner of Endurance Technologies, which owned several brand names including Custom Polymer Design, MAS Epoxies and Bristol Finish. Endurance Technologies was sold to a private equity firm in 2020.

    42 min
  • Sugey Piedra on Tax Planning and Passive Income

    For more than 20 years, Sugey Piedra has been working in the tax preparation and wealth management industry. She and her two sisters co-founded Prominence Business & Wealth Management, and together they have helped hundreds of high-earning service-based business owners to grow and scale their businesses with holistic financial planning.

    Her signature program Business Elite is a 12 month Tax Prep, Planning, and Strategy Program for Service-Based Business Owners. And she also is the host of the Tax Talk with HeyHey where she shares her knowledge and expertise around removing the mystery surrounding taxes, financial planning, and wealth accumulation techniques and strategies. When she’s not helping others with their business finances and talking shop on her podcast, Sugey is also spending time with her other Shmillie’s in Rachel Rodgers’ Hello7 Mastermind.
    https://www.prominencebusiness.com/https://www.instagram.com/prominence....https://www.linkedin.com/in/sugey-pie...

    43 min
  • Zander Abrams on Cannabis Rescheduling

    Hear policy expert Zander Abram's take on cannabis rescheduling and Minnesota sports.

    Zander Abrams is the Founder of the Cannabis Policy Forum where he analyzes cannabis politics, policy and regulation.
    Zander is focused on macro trends affecting the cannabis industry and draws on his experience in political campaigns, lobby organizations, and his background as an attorney. Through his company, CPF Ventures, Zander works with cannabis operators, ancillary technology companies, and investors to build expansion strategies, manage public affairs, and to facilitate foreign entry into the U.S. market. Zander is active in private equity and debt markets, often interfacing to navigate challenging regulatory environments.
    Prior to founding CPF in 2019, Zander served for 5 years as an Area Director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), where he oversaw a number of state operations in the Midwest. Before joining AIPAC’s professional staff, Zander was the Political Director and spokesman for a governor’s campaign in Minnesota. Zander began his legal career working with tech trade associations to achieve state funding for angel stage investments and has experience in criminal law, real estate transactions, and employment litigation. In college, Zander interned at the Minnesota House of Representatives, focusing on tax and fiscal policy.
    Zander received his J.D. from the University of Iowa: College of Law, and graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota.

    49 min
  • Jon Tomashefsky on So Cal Real Estate and Comedy

    Jon Tomashefsky (AKA Jon Shefsky) is a comedian turned realtor in Southern California. Hear his take on tattoos, comedy, real estate, and the apocalypse.

    Apple Podcasts
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gods-of-real-estate-fancy-boy-edition/id1452740499 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gods-of-real-estate-fancy-boy-edition/id1452740499)
    Spotify 
    https://open.spotify.com/show/39Iyck1BbosmfdCOIXSYOb?si=uU80zaPmSC60tF09um17wQ (https://open.spotify.com/show/39Iyck1BbosmfdCOIXSYOb?si=uU80zaPmSC60tF09um17wQ)

    1 hr 14 min
  • LA to Georgia with Ro DelleGrazie

    Ro DelleGrazie has been a stand-up comedian for >20 years. Originally from New York, at the start of her stand up career she was coached by Lisa Lampanelli. Ro moved to L.A. in 2004 and started studying at the I.O West where she graduated and was part of an improv group called Tentatively Marty. Ro has performed at the top comedy clubs across the country including Comic Strip Live, Caroline’s on Broadway, The Comedy Store and The Improvs throughout California, Laugh Factory and Flappers Comedy Club. Ro stars in several webisodes on YouTube. Ro's latest adventure is being documented through her vlog "Mamma Moody". You can also see Ro on TruTv and FX and her comedy is currently streaming on Tidal, Amazon and Pandora.

    www.rodellegrazie.com
    Tiktok:
    https://www.tiktok.com/@mammamoody?_t=8lcFP8kKDb0&_r=1
    IG
    https://www.instagram.com/rodellegrazie?igsh=MXpmbDVpZDhiY3Nx
    YouTube
    https://youtube.com/@RoDelleGrazie?si=Y396IwwDhZR9YR-S
    FB
    www.facebook.com/rodellegrazie

    49 min
  • Ryan Austin - Military School and Family Offices

    In this episode, we dive into the journey of Ryan Austin, Founder and CEO of Arondight Advisors, who shares not only his professional triumphs but also the personal milestones that have shaped his path. Raised on Long Island, NY, Ryan faced challenges early on that led him to the disciplined halls of Valley Forge Military Academy at 15, a pivotal moment that set the course for his future endeavors. Ryan’s story is one of perseverance, insight, and success.

    MORE ABOUT RYAN AUSTIN
    Today, as the leader of Arondight Advisors, Ryan connects best-in-class companies with his proprietary network of over 5,000 Family Offices, UHNW, and institutional investors.

    Ryan's work has appeared on major publications including Nasdaq.com, Business Insider, and Seeking Alpha. His expertise spans the fintech, tech, AI, biotech, and emerging sectors, where he has been instrumental in securing investments from UHNW investors and institutions.
    Ryan is also the author of Family Office Growth News, a monthly newsletter that covers Family Office intelligence and the Series A ecosystem. Recognized as a top voice in strategic communications, public relations, and venture capital on LinkedIn, his insights have been featured in Nasdaq.com, Business Insider, Benzinga, and Seeking Alpha.

    Join us as Ryan Austin shares his journey, strategies, and the vision behind Arondight Advisors.

    47 min
  • Lea Marlene on Acting, Cancer, and Purpose

    Lea Marlene is the founder of the Lea Marlene Actors Studio and the Namastage Theatre. After a battle with melanoma cancer, she pivoted from being a professional stand-up comedian and actress to business owner. Hear her story about leaving LA to find her calling.

    In her own healing journey she had developed a deep desire to pay forward the powerful tools
    that have saved her life. That has become her life mission.
    Lea opened up what was originally called ACTASANA Acting Studio and Theatre in 2012 and it grew into what is Lea Marlene Actors Studio and The Namastage Theatre today, home of the revolutionary Actasana Technique whereby yoga is integrated into the acting curriculum to get the actor out of their head and into their heart.
    A native Coloradan, Lea earned a degree in Journalism; Broadcast News & Television with a minor in Theatre from Colorado State University. There she hosted a campus television show and interviewed several famous bands such as Outkast , Tribe Called Quest and The Black Eyed Peas. While in college she also wrote, directed, produced and acted in her first short film.
    After college Lea moved to Hollywood where she landed roles on stage and screen while also studying the Meisner Technique. While in LA, Lea developed a stand up comedy act; producing, hosting and performing in numerous comedy venues in The US including the world famous Improv and The Comedy Store.

    42 min
  • Dennis O’Malley on Career Building

    Dennis O’Malley is CEO & President of Caliva, the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in California. Dennis has over a 20 year track record of leadership roles in fast growing companies in emerging markets as well as successfully raising capital from institutional investors and in addition holds multiple technology patents. Dennis also co-founded and lead a venture backed software company that enabled brands like Red Bull, Nike, Adidas, The North Face, and Reebok to scale their revenue through ambassador marketing programs.

    38 min
  • Business Resiliency with Hermin Thind

    Hermin Thind moved from India to the Pacific Northwest as a child. He endured countless business setbacks and challenges. His entrepreneurial battle scars helped make him a successful business leader. Hear his story.

    MORE ABOUT HERMIN THIND
    In 2013, amidst the challenges, Hermin, alongside his brother-in-law Gurmeet, ventured into the vaping world by opening "Vapor World" inside a hotel room. This bold step, fueled by passion and free rent, allowed them to rapidly expand their footprint, eventually branching out across Kansas City and beyond. However, as their venture flourished, family dynamics started to strain under the pressure of success. In a strategic move to prioritize family harmony and mutual growth, Hermin and Gurmeet decided to amicably divide the business, with each taking ownership of half the stores. Hermin's share of the enterprise was rebranded as "Vapor Maven," marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
    Critical to Vapor Maven's expansion was Hermin's creation of numerous brands within the hemp and vapor industry, including "Cannablast CBD," "Gametime Vapes," and dozens more, spanning hundreds of unique SKUs. Not only did these brands diversify Vapor Maven's product offerings and significantly boost the company's margins, but Hermin also strategically wholesaled these products to smoke and vape shops across the nation, ingeniously making money from his own competitors and fueling rapid expansion.
    Under Hermin's leadership, Vapor Maven has seen explosive growth, with 50 new stores opening in Texas during 2020 and 2021 alone, and 57 more in 2023, alongside the inception of "Smoke Stop," a premium tobacco venture. As of today, Hermin's empire boasts 200 Vapor Maven stores and 3 Smoke Stop outlets, with ambitious plans for expansion on the horizon.
    Tune in to hear Hermin Thind share his inspiring journey of turning challenges into opportunities, his insights into the vaping and hemp industries, his innovative approach to brand creation and wholesale strategies, and his vision for the future. It's a story of family, resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and ingenious market tactics that you won't want to miss.

    44 min
  • Nate Wasson on Business Transitions

    Nate Watson, of Ailia Family Office Club and Halbar Partners, shares his perspective on purpose-driven entrepreneurship, the "silver tsunami," and prioritizing stakeholder value over profit.

    MORE ABOUT NATE WASSON
    Nate Wasson is the co-founder of HalBar Partners and a principal member of Alvearia, and a founding member of the angel/VC group Keiretsu Forum Chicago.
    Nate has over 20 years of expertise advising investors and family offices. Nate spent his early career in investment management, business banking, and as a JPMorgan consultant. Nate later served as a Principal and Managing Director for Bank of Montreal’s US Private Bank. After leaving BMO, Nate developed the Midwest family office practice for Capital Group; there, he developed investment strategy for pre-institutional family offices focused on both public and private opportunities.
    Nate holds an BA from Valparaiso University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management, with a concentration in asset management.
    https://halbar.io/

    37 min

About The Matt Balaker Podcast

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We interview experts in business, comedy, and literature in hopes of free riding off their knowledge.