The Mobile Alabama Business Podcast

Jordan Gerheim of Outside Chief Legal went to the University of Georgia and law school at University of Alabama. He gained litigation experience here in Mobile before launching his own firm about five years ago. He discusses early jobs like shoe shining and running a yard-work business that taught him lessons about hard work, saving, and management styles. Gerheim explains how his practice evolved from reactive "break-fix" litigation to a proactive, business-focused general counsel with a team covering litigation, M&A, real estate, estate planning, and succession planning. He highlights "partner plans" that help businesses budget for ongoing legal support and emphasizes that if you have to take risks, make sure they are calculated risks.

Mike Tabb, founder and owner/operator of Integrity Energy Group, shares his background growing up in Mobile, leaving high school for the Army in 2002, and finding his way into solar in 2013. He launched his company in 2020 during the pandemic. He discusses why most residential solar decisions are financial rather than "going green". He also addresses misconceptions about solar fields and panels "leaking," differentiates utility-scale projects from residential systems, and explain why Alabama's lack of favorable net metering keeps many from making the jump.

Hank Parker, owner of Bay Landscaping, shares his Mobile roots before leaving college to pursue business ownership. After framing houses, he earned a real estate license in 2007. When the 2008–09 Hank bought used landscaping equipment to start Bay Landscaping. Hank shares lessons learned about seeking advice, using contracts, and niching down. He outlines plans to expand into Florida and Mississippi with a five-branch Gulf Coast footprint. Listen in as we learn more about Hank Parker

Stuart Clark, owner of Paul Davis Restoration of Mobile and North Baldwin County, shares his background growing up in West Mobile, moving to New York, dropping out of high school to earn a GED, and briefly studying at Key West Community College before fighting forest fires in Oregon and joining the Marines. He discusses his approach to succeeding across industries by focusing on systems, financials, and process. Clark explains how a traumatic house fire and a poor restoration experience led him to start a restoration business built on technology-driven contents tracking, transparency, and proactive problem-solving. He also highlights adopting Traction/EOS, engaging in local industry groups and community networking.

Blake Martin, director of coaching and performance for Telomere (parent company of Connexus Clinic), shares his Mobile, Alabama roots and explains why he started Connexus Clinic nearly four years ago after leaving a stable career. He describes the clinic's mission as helping people feel good and enjoy the time they have left by focusing on "health span," not just extending life with pills. Blake emphasizes taking time to talk with patients and prioritizing human-to-human connection, especially as more people come in with questions or concerns about peptides they've ordered online. He also critiques one-size-fits-all wellness advice popular on Instagram and TikTok, noting that approaches like intermittent fasting vary by individual and what works for one person may not work for another.

Chris McNeil, owner of Metro Bonding, Outlaw Bail Bonds, and Mobile Bonding, shares his Mobile, Alabama background, early jobs at a restaurant and Skate World, and how he entered bail bonds in high school. He explains a bail bondsman's core role, posting bonds and guaranteeing defendants' court appearances, along with the realities of tracking fugitives across states and working with law enforcement. McNeil discusses how the industry has evolved in Alabama with new licensing and education requirements, his leadership as president of the state association. He recounts his involvement with Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Reagan Farr, co-founder and CEO of Silicon Ranch, shares his background from Louisiana to Nashville, early lessons working at a Baton Rouge drugstore, and how his tenure in Tennessee state government led to founding Silicon Ranch in 2011. He explains what shaped the company's strategy as they started during the 2008–2010 downturn. Farr addresses community concerns and pushback around the Stockton, Alabama project, citing a similar experience in Bacon County, Georgia and emphasizing safety, wetlands avoidance, tax benefits, local jobs, and agrivoltaics with sheep and cattle. ** Show note: Apologies about the sound. We had an issue that meant the audio was not as good towards the end but we felt strongly enough about putting the episode out that we are releasing it.

In this podcast episode, Joe Carlisle, founder of Vision Handyman and Window Tinting, shares his life story and entrepreneurial journey. Born in Oxford, Mississippi and raised partly in Dallas, Joe worked in his dad's restaurants, then spent years with Best Buy in retail and home theater installation, learning hands-on skills that later shaped his career. After his younger brother died, he moved to Mobile to be near family, later bouncing between Hattiesburg, New Orleans, Dallas, and even New Zealand. He pursued standup comedy seriously in Austin before returning to Mississippi later relocating to Mobile and facing major challenges rebuilding Vision Handyman. 00:00 Meet Joe Carlisle 00:35 Growing Up Dallas Mississippi 01:22 Best Buy Years And Loss 02:28 New Zealand Reset 03:23 Austin Standup Grind 04:37 Starting Handyman Business 05:20 Moving Markets And Google 07:12 Window Tinting Listing Fight 08:17 Life As An Expat 12:11 First Jobs In Food 14:24 From AV To Trades 20:07 Advice For New Owners 20:51 Passion vs Career Cars 22:27 Elite Pressure F1 Jobs 23:22 E-Myth Systems Mindset 26:15 Take Care of People 28:58 Mobile Comedy Scene 33:36 Rapid Fire Favorites 35:16 Family Gratitude Outro

Thomas Irving, owner of Pool and Spa Superstore, joins the podcast to share his background and how he entered the pool industry, helped grow a distribution/retail business, bought the retail business, and built a customer-focused company centered on education and stress-free pool ownership. He discusses treating "sales" as educating customers, and emphasizes building relationships because Mobile runs on word-of-mouth. He also highlights the importance of a strong team, consistency, and shares personal interests like cooking and travel.

Trey Oliver, co-owner with his wife Laura Kennedy of the Lupercalia Art Society, shares his background growing up in Jackson and Mobile, serving four years in the Coast Guard in North Carolina during marijuana-smuggling days, and completing a 47-year public safety career culminating as warden of the Mobile Metro Jail before retiring three years ago. He recounts early jobs, joining the junior volunteer fire department, and working nights as a dispatcher and jailer in high school. Oliver explains how walking the beach Dauphin Island and seeing the driftwood inspired him to create driftwood assemblage art. He describes Lupercalia as an art society with a gallery that is focused on providing top notch customer service.