Torch Talk

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Merle Stutzman, President of Weaver Custom Homes and Fingerprint Homes, to talk about nearly four decades in the building industry, the evolution of homebuilding, and what it takes to lead a business through decades of change. Merle shares how his career took him from painting homes to supervising construction projects and eventually becoming president of Weaver Custom Homes in 2007.

Merle reflects on how technology has transformed the building process, how customer expectations have evolved, and why having the right team and processes in place matters when guiding homeowners through one of the biggest investments they will make. He also shares his perspective on working alongside his children, carrying forward the Weaver family's commitment to quality and integrity, and helping each homeowner turn their ideas into a home built around the way they live.

The conversation also takes a broader look at today's housing industry. Merle discusses rising construction costs, housing availability, regulations, development, and his involvement with the Home Builders Association to advocate for builders and homeowners at the local, state, and national levels.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Merle’s journey from painter to president

• How technology has changed homebuilding

• Leading and growing a multigenerational team

• Turning a homeowner’s vision into reality

• The challenges affecting housing affordability

• Why industry advocacy matters

• Building relationships with other local builders

• What homeowners should know before building

This episode offers a firsthand look at leadership and the homebuilding industry from someone who has spent decades growing with it, while staying focused on relationships, quality, and helping families bring their vision of home to life.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Wyatt Dickmyer, Fierce Creative Solutions’ videography intern, to discuss how he turned his interest in creative work into hands-on experience and a clearer career path.

Wyatt shares how his interests shifted from photography toward video editing while studying communication technology at York Tech. Since joining Fierce in April 2026, he has worked primarily in video editing while also joining client shoots, gaining production experience, and earning his drone certification.

The conversation also explores what makes an internship valuable for both the intern and the employer. Wyatt discusses the importance of getting hands-on experience, asking questions, trying different responsibilities, and making sure an internship gives someone opportunities that align with what they actually want to learn.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Wyatt’s path into video editing

• What he has learned as an intern at Fierce

• Gaining hands-on experience on client shoots

• Becoming a certified drone pilot

• Why internships should be learning experiences

• How employers can create better opportunities for interns

• Finding the type of creative work you want to pursue

This episode offers a look at internships from the intern’s perspective and how real-world experience can help young professionals build skills, explore career options, and discover what they want to do next.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Brian Miller, President and CEO of ProVia, to talk about leadership, company culture, and what it takes to grow an organization without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place.

Brian shares his journey to ProVia and reflects on the company's growth from roughly 300 employees to more than 3,000. Rather than treating growth as the goal, Brian explains why ProVia focuses on pursuing excellence, developing leaders, and creating an environment where employees can thrive. As he puts it, "growth is an outcome, not the intent."

The conversation also explores how ProVia protects its culture across a growing organization, prepares future leaders, plans for succession, and thinks years ahead about both people and infrastructure.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why excellence matters more than growth

• How servant leadership shapes company culture

• Why leadership development starts early

• How ProVia approaches succession planning

• What it takes to protect culture while scaling

• The importance of delegation and clear expectations

• How leaders can prepare their teams for the future

• Brian’s perspective on the role of a CEO

This episode offers a practical look at intentional leadership and sustainable growth, especially for business owners and leaders thinking about how to build an organization that can thrive well beyond their own tenure.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp takes a practical look at what service-based businesses should be thinking about as they build their 2027 marketing plans.

Marketing is changing quickly, from the growing influence of AI to the way customers search for businesses across Google, social media, and other platforms. Lindsey breaks down what these changes mean for service businesses and why a strong marketing plan needs to start with business goals, customer data, and a clear understanding of who you are trying to reach.

The conversation also explores the importance of reputation, first-party data, branding, educational content, and consistency. Rather than chasing the latest tactic, Lindsey explains how businesses can build a strategy that connects marketing investments directly to growth goals.In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How AI is changing search and visibility

• Why your marketing plan should start with business goals

• How to define and reach your ideal customer

• Why branding and lead generation work together

• The importance of building and using first-party data

• How educational content supports the sales process

• Why consistency matters more than short-term results

• How to build a marketing budget around real numbers

This episode offers a practical framework for service business owners who want to stop relying on marketing habits and start building an intentional plan for growth in 2027.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Kage Rush, CPA and Partner at Whitaker-Myers Tax Advisers, for a conversation about helping business owners make smarter financial decisions and approach taxes with a long-term perspective.

Kage shares why tax planning is about much more than filing returns. Drawing from his experience working with business owners, he explains how thoughtful financial planning, clear communication, and proactive decision-making can help businesses reduce stress, create stability, and prepare for future growth.

The conversation explores how business owners can better understand their financial position, why tax strategy should be part of year-round planning, and how trusted advisors can help businesses make confident decisions as they grow.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why tax planning should happen year-round

• How financial clarity leads to better business decisions

• Common mistakes business owners should avoid

• The value of proactive communication with your CPA

• Why long-term planning creates better outcomes

• How strong financial systems support business growth

• The importance of making decisions with confidence

• Building a business with purpose and strategy

This episode offers a practical look at financial leadership, especially for business owners who want to reduce uncertainty, strengthen their businesses, and make decisions with greater confidence.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Mike Myers, Marketing Director at EcoSeal Home Solutions, to talk about marketing strategy, video storytelling, AI, and what it takes to help service businesses stand out in a crowded market.

Drawing from his experience as a videographer, agency owner, and now in-house marketing leader, Mike shares how his perspective on marketing has evolved over the years. The conversation explores why great marketing starts with strategy, how authentic storytelling builds trust, and why businesses need to think beyond simply creating content.

Mike also offers an honest perspective on AI's growing role in marketing, discussing where it creates efficiency, where it falls short, and why human creativity and strong customer experiences will continue to matter.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why strategy should come before content creation

• How video fits into a modern marketing plan

• The opportunities and challenges of AI in marketing

• Why company culture should be part of your marketing

• How customer experience impacts business growth

• The importance of building systems that support marketing

• What service businesses can do to stand out

• Lessons from transitioning from entrepreneur to in-house marketer

This episode offers a practical look at modern marketing, especially for business owners and marketers looking to balance creativity, technology, and strategy while building brands that connect with customers

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Jeremy Miller, President of Rosedale Bible College, to talk about leadership, developing the next generation, and staying true to your mission while navigating growth.

Jeremy shares his journey from pastoring a local church to leading Rosedale Bible College, along with the lessons he's learned about organizational leadership, culture, and investing in young leaders. The conversation explores why transformation matters more than information, how organizations can grow without losing their identity, and what today's emerging generation is really searching for.

Jeremy also discusses the challenges and opportunities facing higher education, the intersection of faith and business, and why leaders must continue to grow if they want their organizations to thrive.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why the mission should guide every leadership decision

• How to grow without losing your identity

• What today's young leaders are looking for

• The importance of investing in the next generation

• How faith and business intersect in everyday leadership

• Why leaders must continue to evolve as organizations grow

• Building cultures that encourage transformation, not just information

• Practical ways leaders can invest in their teams

This episode offers a thoughtful look at leadership, organizational growth, and developing people, especially for business owners, educators, and leaders committed to building organizations that make a lasting impact.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Renee West, founder of Renee West HR Solutions, to talk about what it really takes to build strong teams, retain great employees, and create workplaces where people want to stay.

Drawing from decades of HR leadership experience, Renee shares practical advice on hiring, onboarding, compliance, leadership, and company culture. The conversation explores why HR is much more than policies and paperwork. It’s a strategic part of helping businesses grow while supporting the people who make that growth possible.

Renee also explains how businesses can improve retention, develop stronger leaders, create better onboarding experiences, and prepare for emerging challenges like AI in the workplace.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why retention starts with company culture

• How to create a better onboarding experience

• Common HR mistakes growing businesses make

• The role leadership plays in employee success

• Why compliance protects your business

• How to develop stronger managers

• The growing impact of AI on HR

• When it's time to bring in HR support

This episode offers a practical look at modern HR, especially for business owners and leaders looking to build stronger teams, reduce turnover, and create healthier workplaces.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Thomas Cooper, entrepreneur and owner of Cooper Digital and Professional Carpet Systems, to talk about building businesses, creating brand awareness, and finding opportunities in unexpected places.

Thomas shares his journey from launching a carpet cleaning business as a teenager to owning a pizza shop, growing multiple companies, and building one of the region's leading digital billboard networks. Along the way, he offers practical insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, and what it takes to scale a business over time.

The conversation explores the role branding plays in business growth, why consistency matters more than quick wins, and how digital billboards are changing the way companies connect with customers.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Thomas built multiple businesses from the ground up

• Why strong teams are critical to growth

• The role branding plays in long-term success

• How digital billboards differ from traditional advertising

• What makes billboard campaigns more effective

• Why consistency beats short-term marketing tactics

• How technology is changing the billboard industry

• Lessons learned from years of entrepreneurship

This episode offers a practical look at business growth, marketing, and leadership, especially for entrepreneurs looking to build stronger brands, develop great teams, and create lasting momentum.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Les Miller, owner of 89 Homes, to talk about building a business, leading a family company, and navigating growth in the homebuilding industry.

Les shares his journey from working in construction to launching his own business during the 2008 housing market downturn before eventually taking ownership of 89 Homes. Along the way, he reflects on the challenges of scaling a company, building the right team, and creating a customer experience centered on transparency and trust.

The conversation also explores working alongside family, handing off responsibility as a business grows, and where Les believes the future of homebuilding is headed from smaller, maintenance-free homes to smarter technology and evolving buyer expectations.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Les built a homebuilding business during a difficult market

• What it takes to grow while maintaining quality

• Lessons from working with family every day

• Why delegation is essential for business growth

• The importance of transparency with homeowners

• Where the future of homebuilding is headed

• How 89 Homes approaches the building process

• Why strong relationships matter in construction

This episode offers a practical look at entrepreneurship, leadership, and homebuilding, especially for business owners navigating growth and homeowners considering what it takes to build a custom home.