From beat producer to beverage boss. 🎶➡️🥤

Deondrikk “Deon” McFadden launched Carolina Made Beverages from scratch—no big investors, no corporate help. Just hustle, rebranding, and serious social media game.

In this episode of Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz talks with Deon about how he transformed his music audience into loyal customers, self-distributed his first cases, and scored his first sports sponsorship.

If you’re a product-based founder or want to grow your brand on a budget, this one’s a playbook.

🔥 What You’ll Learn: ✅ Starting a beverage brand with zero funding ✅ Why rebranding changed the game ✅ What self-distribution really looks like ✅ Using social media + music to drive traction ✅ Where Carolina Made is going next

🔗 Connect with Deondrikk “Deon” McFadden 🌐 Website: https://carolinamadebev.biz/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinamadebev/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerkerzEnergyDrink/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deondrikk-mcfadden-16b0b2124/

📞 Need capital or support growing your distribution business?

👉 Book a strategy call with Irv Cruz: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🚚 What happens when a corporate career meets a Cubano Loco? You get Saucy Chops—a food truck packed with flavor and built with grit, creativity, and one hell of a sauce lineup.

In this episode of Credit Banc’s Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz talks with Brittney Iten, founder of Saucy Chops, about how she went from corporate grind to culinary trailblazer—launching her brand in the middle of the pandemic and building it into one of Denver’s tastiest success stories.

Whether you’re starting a food business, building a personal brand, or scaling a small business—you’ll walk away with fire ideas, real strategy, and a whole lot of inspiration.

🍽️ What You’ll Learn: ✅ Turning a pandemic pivot into a powerful business ✅ Why sauce is the brand in a crowded food space ✅ The marketing moves that built local buzz ✅ Real talk on permits, festivals & food truck logistics ✅ How Saucy Chops is gearing up for online sales & pop-ups

 

🔗 Connect with Brittney Iten & Saucy Chops: 🌐 Website: https://www.saucychops5280.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittney-iten-3b77521a/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saucychops5280/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saucychops5280

 

📞 Need capital or support growing your distribution business?

 👉 Book a strategy call with Irv Cruz: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

What if your marketing didn’t just look good… but actually worked?

In this episode of Credit Banc’s Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Amber Gaige, founder of Far Beyond Marketing, to talk about how bad marketing is costing business owners time and money—and what it really takes to build a brand that drives results.

As a third-generation entrepreneur, Amber gets real about the mindset shifts that fueled her growth, how she overcame imposter syndrome, and how she built a company that doesn’t rely on her day-to-day involvement. If you're tired of cookie-cutter campaigns and ready to scale the smart way, this episode is for you.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ What "bad marketing" really means—and how to avoid it ✔️ How to make your business less dependent on you ✔️ Why mindset & imposter syndrome hold back great entrepreneurs ✔️ How a solid team and smart systems fuel sustainable growth ✔️ The role of AI and tech in scaling a lean, profitable agency ✔️ Amber's no-BS take on leadership, delegation, and what works

 

🔗 Connect with Amber Gaige & Far Beyond Marketing:

🌐 Website: Far Beyond Marketing 🔗 LinkedIn: Amber Gaige

 

📞 Need capital or support growing your distribution business?

👉 Book a strategy call with Irv Cruz: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

What happens when a former Silicon Valley exec leaves the tech world behind to redefine what a barbershop can be?

In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Don Yurick, owner of Hammer & Nails Grooming Shops for Men, to unpack how he's transforming the men’s grooming experience—one subscription at a time.

From building recurring revenue with a subscription-based model, to leading a team that thrives on purpose and personal growth, Don shares what it takes to succeed in the booming men’s personal care industry. Whether you’re thinking about franchising, leveling up your team culture, or launching a service-based brand—this episode is packed with insights and actionable strategies.

 

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✅ Why Don left corporate life to pursue entrepreneurship ✅ How Hammer & Nails built a high-margin, subscription-driven business ✅ What makes grooming a smart industry for recurring revenue ✅ How genuine leadership creates loyalty and reduces turnover ✅ Why success isn't just about numbers—but transforming lives ✅ Key funding and franchising strategies that fuel growth

  🔗 Connect with Don Yurick & Hammer & Nails:

🌐 Website: https://hammerandnailsgrooming.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-yurick

 

📞 Need capital or support growing your distribution business?

👉 Book a strategy call with Irv Cruz: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🔧 From trading floors to torque specs—Andy Bizub’s entrepreneurial journey is anything but ordinary.

In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Will Hyder sits down with Andy Bizub, owner of Midwest Performance Cars, a top-tier European auto repair and performance shop based in Chicago.

Andy shares how he pivoted from being a commodity trader to running a multi-location automotive business built on trust, culture, and customer-first service. From hiring challenges to building strong banking relationships, this episode offers a roadmap for any business owner looking to grow with purpose and resilience.

Whether you're in the trades, automotive industry, or simply love a great business transformation story, this episode delivers insight, strategy, and inspiration.

🚗 What You’ll Learn:

✅ How Andy transitioned from finance to automotive entrepreneurship ✅ What makes Midwest Performance Cars stand out from dealerships ✅ Why company culture is key to employee retention and growth ✅ The toughest challenge: hiring and training skilled labor ✅ Why strong banking relationships matter more than ever ✅ How Andy mentors co-owners to take over leadership roles ✅ The mindset shifts that drive sustainable business success

🔗 Connect with Andy Bizub & Midwest Performance Cars:

• Website: https://www.midwestperformancecars.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybizub/

📞 Need capital or support growing your distribution business?

👉 Book a strategy call with Irv Cruz: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🚀 What happens when a tech-savvy founder applies startup grit to food and beverage distribution?

In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with David Banisakher, founder of Paradine Services LLC, to explore how he bridged the world of tech, sales, and food retail by creating a third-party marketplace distribution powerhouse.

From early cash flow struggles to building a powerful sales team and investing in brands he believes in, David opens up about the strategic pivots, mindset shifts, and leadership lessons that helped him scale — without losing startup speed.

Whether you're launching a new business or trying to scale an existing one, this episode is packed with insights on sales strategy, product-market fit, and building the right team.

 

💡 What You’ll Learn:

 ✅ How David used his tech background to grow a product-driven service business ✅ Why relationship-building and smart networking are essential to growth ✅ The biggest time, team, and cash flow hurdles he faced (and how he overcame them) ✅ Why Paradine Services invests in brands by purchasing inventory upfront ✅ What mindset shifts fueled David’s evolution from founder to leader ✅ His future plans—including a powerful software solution for brand scaling

 

 

🔗 Connect with David Banisakher & Paradine Services:

• 🌐 Website

• 🔗 David’s LinkedIn:

• 🔗 Company LinkedIn

 

 

📞 Need capital or support growing your distribution business?

👉 Book a strategy call with Irv Cruz: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🚛 What happens when a former compliance officer trades his badge for a business plan?

In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Matt Freeman, founder of DOT Training Solutions LLC, to explore how he transformed his background in government enforcement into a hands-on hazmat training company helping trucking professionals stay safe—and stay compliant.

Matt shares the early startup struggles, the underestimated power of word-of-mouth marketing, and how on-site, real-world training is saving lives across the transportation industry.

Whether you're in logistics, compliance, or just looking to build a business in a regulated space, this episode delivers high-impact insights and relatable entrepreneurial grit.

🚀 What You'll Learn:

✅ Why hazmat training is mission-critical in the trucking world ✅ How Matt bootstrapped DOT Training from experience—not investment ✅ Why B2B word-of-mouth is still the most underrated growth tool ✅ How on-site training outperforms traditional online courses ✅ What customer feedback taught him about scaling smart ✅ How to navigate growth in a heavily regulated industry

🔗 Connect with Matt Freeman:

• Website: https://dottrainingsolutions.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-freeman-37a13a3

• DOT Training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dot-training-solutions-llc

📞 Book a Call with Irv Cruz:

Need capital, funding strategy, or a growth plan for your service-based business? 👉 Book a free strategy call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🎯 What if finding the right coach was as easy as booking a stay on Airbnb?

In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz chats with Francie Jain, founder of Terawatt, a coaching marketplace revolutionizing how professionals find support during career transitions.

Born out of a mission to help displaced manufacturing workers, Terawatt now serves a broad range of professionals in high-turnover industries like healthcare and HR—offering accessible, affordable coaching that meets people where they are.

Francie shares her journey of bootstrapping a tech platform, navigating startup challenges without VC funding, and how community and trust have been key to her growth. Whether you're pivoting careers, building a business, or simply seeking clarity, this episode is packed with insight.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why coaching is essential—not a luxury—in a changing job market ✔️ How Francie built a marketplace without outside investors ✔️ Why the “Airbnb-style” model works for career coaching ✔️ How group coaching is reducing burnout in healthcare ✔️ The challenge of entering sectors like HR with trust and transparency ✔️ Why building community is as important as scaling tech

🔗 Connect with Francie Jain & Terawatt:

• Francie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciejain/

• Terawatt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/terawattgroups/

• Website: https://terawatt.co

📞 Need capital or support growing your service business?

Book a strategy call with Irv Cruz: 👉 https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🎠 What happens when grit, purpose, and play collide? You get Playground Pro.

In this inspiring episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Jennifer Winchester, founder of Playground Pro, a company that designs inclusive, custom playgrounds across the U.S.

Jennifer shares her powerful journey—from raising kids as a single mom to scaling a national playground business that puts community, inclusivity, and safety at the heart of every design. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, parent, or purpose-driven professional, this episode will leave you fired up to make your own impact.

🛠️ What You’ll Learn:

✅ How Jennifer bootstrapped her company while raising a family✅ The power of word-of-mouth and relationship-based marketing ✅ Why inclusivity is non-negotiable in modern playground design ✅ How she overcame year-one financial challenges ✅ What scaling looked like in year two (hint: warehouse expansion!) ✅ Why community impact drives every decision at Playground Pro ✅ Her advice for aspiring female founders and solo entrepreneurs

🔗 Connect with Jennifer Winchester & Playground Pro:

• Website: https://www.theplaygroundpro.net

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplaygroundpro/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePlaygroundPro

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-playground-pro/

📞 Need funding or growth support for your business?

Book a call with Irv Cruz at Credit Banc: 👉 https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

 

💥 From a Frustrating Internship to a Purpose-Driven Brand: Rob Tracz on Building TAPS Training

Ever feel like a rough start means you’re doomed to fail? Rob Tracz, founder and CEO of TAPS Training, is living proof that your biggest challenges can become the foundation for your biggest wins.

In this episode of Credit Banc’s Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz talks with Rob about his journey from strength and conditioning intern to entrepreneur, coach, and supplement brand builder. With zero shortcuts and a lot of persistence, Rob bootstrapped TAPS Training into a multi-faceted business that helps others live with clarity, discipline, and intention.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

✅ Why a tough internship ignited Rob’s entrepreneurial fire ✅ How TAPS Training evolved from fitness into coaching and supplements ✅ What bootstrapping really looks like behind the scenes ✅ How patience became Rob’s hardest (and most important) lesson ✅ Why self-awareness is a business superpower ✅ The tools Rob uses to create impact: clarity, communication & consistency ✅ What’s next: workshops, seminars, and deeper personal growth work ✅ Why mentors, friends, and community matter more than you think

🔗 Connect with Rob Tracz:

• Website: https://www.robtracz.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robtracz/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robtracz/

📞 Need funding or a business strategy?

Book a free call with Irv Cruz at Credit Banc: 👉 https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt