Titans of Industry

In this episode I head to Lexicon HQ to sit down with their CEO, Patrick Schueck. We discuss how Lexicon grew from humble beginnings as Schueck Steel to the construction powerhouse that it is today. We get an inside look on how Lexicon operates from a business perspective as well as how Lexicon operates as a family of companies that have been crucial to the overall success of the overall organization. 

      Patrick is living proof that hard work and a great dedication to your craft can result in a very fulfilling and impactful career, considering his company is quite literally Building America.

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In this episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Victoria DeFrancesca Soto, the dean of the Clinton School of Public Service. We discuss her journey from studying political science and Latin American studies at the University of Arizona to becoming the public service figure that she is today. As an individual well versed in political strategy as well as social justice, Victoria shares her insights on the complex issues facing our society today. 

Her passion for serving her community is near unmatched as you’ll come to understand throughout this episode.

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In this episode I took the show on the road to beautiful Napa Valley California to sit down with Heidi Bridenhagen, a master winemaker at MacRostie Winery in Healdsburg California as well as the Director of Winemaking for Distinguished Vineyards. Heidi was originally a pre-med student before discovering her passion for wine and at the age of 29, she became one of the youngest head winemakers in California. 

Heidi talks about her background in science and what led her from a harvest intern to a head winemaker, and how she approaches the winemaking process. We also talk about how Heidi has made a career out of experimenting with different types of wines to figure out what works and what doesn’t while also fulfilling her personal passion.

If you are a wine lover, this episode is for you!

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In this episode, I get to geek out about fighter jets with my guest, Captain Aimee Fiedler, callsign Rebel.  Rebel was told by an air force instructor early in her training that she would never be a fighter pilot, but she quickly overcame adversity and is now the Commander of the F-16 Viper Demo Team, showcasing the ability of one of the toughest fighter jets in the world for millions of people each year.

She talks about becoming a pilot at a young age and having to overcome challenges in fighter school, her path to the Air Force, and how she ended up with, in my opinion, the coolest job on the planet getting to max perform a fighter jet every weekend. She also addresses being a female fighter pilot and what that looks like from both inside the military as well as the general public's perspective. This is a topic that you might hear a lot more about in the coming months as we are working on a big project around this topic.

Anyone that knows me personally likely knows I am a huge fighter jet fan, so this was a particularly fun interview. It’s a little longer than some of these episodes and I think its definitely worth listening to the end.

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In this episode, host Nate Disarro speaks with Dr. Bruce Murphy, Owner and CEO of Arkansas Heart Hospital and a pioneer of modern cardiology. At the time of its founding, Arkansas Heart Hospital was the nation’s second standalone cardiac hospital and there was no blueprint for success. Overcoming criticism from the medical community, Dr. Murphy went against the grain and ultimately bought the hospital with one major caveat: he had to forfeit his medical license in order to take ownership . 

This year, AHH is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary and has expanded its presence to provide care in over 30 locations in multiple states. With a thirst for knowledge and an unstoppable drive for innovation, Dr. Murphy is truly a Titan of Healthcare Leadership.

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In this episode, host Nate Disarro sits down with Jason Brown, a PR executive for the Arkansas Farm Bureau which is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization that works with families throughout the state to improve the livelihood of farmers and their families. Jason is also the host of the Arkansas AgCast, a podcast discussing the latest agriculture news in the state, and he’s the former President of PRSA’s Arkansas Chapter. He shares his insight about industry trends for the modern farmer, and the importance of honoring where our food comes from.

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In this episode, host Nate Disarro speaks with Jeston George, CEO and Founder of Apptegy, an education technology and marketing start-up. 

Jeston realized the need for Apptegy when he wanted to receive the latest news from his nephew’s school. Realizing the gap that existed in public education marketing and communications, he created Apptegy to offer app-based solutions.

Apptegy is now booming with 350 employees in multiple countries, a spectacular new office space, and a culture that values customer relationships and innovation without sacrificing quality.

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In this episode, host Nate Disarro speaks with Shayla and Scott Copas, a power couple that are creating an all-encompassing lifestyle brand. 

Shayla has built a very successful interior design business, working with people all over to create the home of their dreams. Recently, she has launched her own design books along with signature furniture product lines, and now she is pushing out an elite travel planning business. 

Scott Copas is the back end of Shayla’s endeavors, primarily working with the operations, finance, and logistics side of the business. With his background in commercial construction and business management, he completes this entrepreneurial powerhouse duo.

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In this episode, host Nate Disarro speaks with Phil Brandon, Founder, CEO and Head Distiller at Rock Town Distillery. When faced with a layoff during his corporate IT career, Phil took his passion for whiskey and transformed it into an iconic Arkansas operation and the first to ever distill Bourbon in Arkansas. Using his background in engineering along with his MBA, Phil has put his entrepreneurial talents to the test by creating the Rock Town brand, distribution process, manufacturing standards, and a whole lot more. He has been creating handcrafted, award-winning spirits that you can find in restaurants, liquor stores and winning contests around the world!

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In this episode, Nate Disarro has a long distance interview with Tres Garner, a young, but well established creative and visionary in Houston, TX! Tres is Co-Founder and Co-Director at GoodMeasure, an agency helping advocate for non-profit organizations and causes. Tres is also the Creative Director at The Bible Project, a nonprofit, crowdfunded organization that explains lessons from The Bible in a way that unifies people. He talks through his journey from an artsy kid to an agency professional and freelance creative, all while finding organization and a workflow that helps him progress in today’s competitive digital space.

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