The Small Business Spotlight

🚛 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.

✅ 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

• 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

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.

✔️ 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

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

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

• Website: https://terawatt.co

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.

✅ 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

• 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/

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.

✅ 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

• Website: https://www.robtracz.com

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

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

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

🎧 What if the biggest obstacle in your business… is you?

In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz chats with Anthony Franco, founder of HowToFounder.com, to get brutally honest about what it really takes to grow a business.

From battling "commission breath" in sales to launching a podcast that became his playbook, Anthony shares the emotional, tactical, and strategic sides of being a founder in today's fast-paced world.

Whether you're in your first startup or scaling your tenth, this conversation hits hard with insights that matter.

✅ Why most sales tactics fail—and how to actually connect ✅ The emotional toll of entrepreneurship (and how to cope) ✅ What "commission breath" is and how to kill it ✅ How to turn a podcast into your business blueprint ✅ Anthony's future plans (👀 possibly a book on the horizon!) ✅ What not to do when you're stuck or scaling

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

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

Need funding, strategic clarity, or a business growth plan? 👉 Schedule a free discovery call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🚀 No Investors. No Shortcuts. Just Grit.

What does it take to launch and grow a profitable business with no outside funding, no safety net, and no shortcuts? In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Alex Thoric, co-founder of Building Income On Demand, to unpack exactly that.

From humble beginnings in network marketing to launching a full-service digital agency, Alex shares how credibility, content, and consistency became the foundation for long-term success.

Whether you're in the trenches building your own brand or still figuring out where to start, this episode is packed with real talk and actionable strategies.

✅ How Alex turned free services into high-value lead generation ✅ The client system that helped a gym survive and grow during COVID ✅ How he bootstrapped his agency with no funding ✅ What it takes to scale a service business sustainably ✅ Why reputation and results matter more than ad spend ✅ Future plans to land major clients in real estate and insurance

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-thoric/

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

Need capital, funding strategy, or help growing your business? 👉 Schedule a strategy session: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🏠 Building Homes. Rebuilding Hope. Travis Fox on Making Housing Attainable for Those Who Serve.

In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Travis Fox, executive chairman of Build Your Fortress, to discuss how he's changing the game in housing—specifically for veterans, first responders, and underserved communities.

From the mindset behind his mission to the grind of fundraising, Travis shares what it takes to grow a purpose-driven business in the construction industry, all while keeping people—not profits—at the center.

✔️ Why housing should be "attainable," not just "affordable" ✔️ How partnerships fuel scalable, impactful business growth ✔️ The real housing crisis—and who it's hitting hardest ✔️ Why mindset and mission matter in the construction space ✔️ What Travis has learned about capital, failure, and entrepreneurship ✔️ How Build Your Fortress is empowering veterans and first responders ✔️ Why community is key to long-term business success

• Website: https://buildyourfortress.com

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

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travisfox360/?hl=en

Need capital or strategic help to fund your next mission-driven project? 👉 Book a free strategy call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🌀 From Garage to Growth: The Story Behind Hurricane IT Solutions

Welcome back to Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, where we feature real business owners making real moves. In this episode, host Irv Cruz sits down with Hunter Giambra, founder of Hurricane IT Solutions, to talk about building one of the fastest-growing IT and telecom providers in the country—starting from his own garage.

Hunter shares how he navigated early-stage chaos, pivoted during the COVID-19 crisis, and scaled a team that now provides cybersecurity and telecom solutions to businesses nationwide.

✅ How Hunter grew Hurricane IT Solutions from garage to nationwide ✅ Smart cybersecurity tools every business should know about ✅ The impact of COVID-19 on IT services & remote infrastructure ✅ Why telecom is key to the company's future growth ✅ How to build a team that balances skill and culture ✅ What marketing strategies helped them scale coast-to-coast ✅ Hunter's advice to aspiring entrepreneurs in tech and services

• Website: https://www.hurricane-it.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-giambra-865b7675/

Need capital, business credit, or a scale-up strategy for your tech or service business? 👉 Book a free strategy call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

• Newsletter: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com

• The Liquid Lunch Project Podcast: https://theliquidlunchproject.com/

🧠 From Solo Practice to Mental Health Powerhouse: Leigh-Ann Larson's Journey with Elevate

In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz interviews Leigh-Ann Larson, founder of Elevate Counseling Services, a growing mental health group practice with 50+ team members and multiple locations.

Leigh-Ann reveals what it really takes to grow a service-based business in a regulated, emotionally demanding space like mental health. From financial obstacles and COVID-era pivots to staffing strategies and mission-driven growth, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for health professionals, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders alike.

✅ Why Leigh-Ann launched Elevate to combat isolation in therapy ✅ How hiring helped Elevate specialize in pediatric mental health ✅ What marketing tactics actually fueled their expansion ✅ How COVID-19 reshaped their model (and how they adapted fast) ✅ The financial strategies that keep Elevate profitable and sustainable ✅ What's next: grief education, intensive outpatient programs, and more ✅ Leigh-Ann's advice for purpose-driven entrepreneurs in healthcare

• Company Website: https://www.elevate-counseling.com

• Personal Website: https://www.leigh-ann-larson.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigh-ann-larson-86174040/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leigh.ann.larson/

Need capital, business credit, or strategic help growing your healthcare or service business? 👉 Book a free strategy call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt

🐾 From Startup to Pet Care Franchise: Shaina Denny's Journey with Dogdrop

In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Shaina Denny, co-founder and CEO of Dogdrop — a tech-enabled dog daycare franchise reimagining what pet care should look like for modern pet parents.

Shaina shares her experience launching Dogdrop after living abroad, the hurdles of raising venture capital, and why execution > everything when growing a brand.

If you're an entrepreneur in the pet industry, service-based business, or exploring franchising, this episode is full of real-world insights.

✅ Why traditional dog daycares are outdated ✅ How Dogdrop offers flexibility & convenience for pet owners ✅ The truth about raising venture capital as a female founder ✅ Why proof of concept matters more than big ideas ✅ How Shaina scaled Dogdrop through smart operations ✅ The biggest challenge: managing people, not pets ✅ What's next for Dogdrop and their national expansion ✅ How customer reviews helped shape the business ✅ Shaina's top advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

• Website: https://www.join.dogdrop.co

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

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

• X (Twitter): https://x.com/shainadenny

Need capital, business credit, or help scaling your service-based brand? 👉 Schedule a free strategy session: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt