Cold starts in the medical field are intimidating and challenging.  Dr. Greyson Barger did just that with Opticology Eyecare, and he shares with Don and Ebony how he went from doing everything himself to recently moving into a new building to handle the growth.   On this episode we discuss:

• Moving into a new building
• The path to becoming an optometrist
• Delegating and micro-managing
• Starting a business from the ground up
• Having a desire to create something new
• Doing everything yourself in the beginning
• How early should babies get their first eye exam?
• Eye strain and damage from screen time
• Cataracts appearing early for some
• The value in networking with others, even those outside your industry

Learn more about Opticology Eyecare:

http://www.opticologyeyecare.com

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Dr. Greyson Barger grew up in Sedgwick, KS, and graduated from Sedgwick High School. He received his  Bachelors of Science from Bethel College and earned his Doctorate of Optometry from the Illinois  College of Optometry located in Chicago, Illinois. 

Dr. Barger has trained in a variety of clinical settings including Jamaica Plain VA in Boston, MA,  Commonwealth Eye Surgery in Lexington, KY, and at several university-affiliated clinics in the Chicago, IL  area. These varied experiences have given him a well rounded clinical background and excellent  experience with the management of eye changes caused by diseases such as diabetes, high blood  pressure, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Dr. Barger has also had extensive experience with pre  and post-operative care of cataract and refractive surgery (LASIK) patients. Dr. Barger has also had  extensive training in pediatrics and vision therapy. He recommends infants receive their first exam at six  months of age. 

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What do you do when you don’t think someone else will hire you out of college?  You start our own business and grow from there.  Dave Wells shares with Don and Ebony the journey he went on with Key Construction.   On this episode we discuss:

• Deciding to start his own business with his brother
• Making mistakes and looking for solutions
• Getting kicked out of college but persisting
• Never quitting
• Failure leading to success
• The value of Wichita
• The investments and risks taken by businesses

Learn more about Key Construction:

https://www.keyconstruction.com/

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Dave co-founded Key Construction, Inc. in 1978 with his brother Ken. The  brothers started by purchasing and refurbishing homes and rental properties. After acquiring over 30  residential properties, they founded Century Property Management and branched into property  management and commercial and residential remodeling work. They eventually sold Century Property  Management and began to focus exclusively on commercial construction. Today Key Construction is one of  the largest contractors in the state with annual sales exceeding $200 million. 

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What are you willing to give your 100% to?  Renaire Palmer found this out on his journey to becoming a small business owner with Fundamental Fitness and he shares some excellent fitness tips with Don and Ebony.   On this episode we discuss:

• Getting kicked out to start his business in a basement
• The connections and getting started
• The role of diet in fitness
• Portion is in the palm of your hand
• Helping kids with the right technique
• The key is in your personal goals and understanding those
• Should you weigh yourself
• The recent ribbon cutting excitement

Learn more about Fundamental Fitness:

https://www.funfitwichita.com/ 

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Fundamental Fitness has been changing lives all over Wichita since it was established in 2010 . We believe  that fitness is not a hobby, but a way of life. We founded our gym to be the second home for all our  customers. Whether you exercise every day or you’ve never stepped into a gym before, Fundamental Fitness  can help shape the new you. We want to be your next workout partner. 

Renaire received his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University and his graduate degree from Wichita  State University. He served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Newman University and opened Fundamental Fitness 12 years ago in the basement of an insurance agency after Gayle Paige made the  connection for him. 

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This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

For four generations, Johnson’s Garden Center has been bringing beauty to Wichita through horticulture.  Hear from Marty and Jeremy Johnson as they share their past and exciting future with Don and Ebony.   On this episode we discuss:

• Starting over 90 years ago
• Loving spending time in the dirt
• The impact that the garden center brings to the community
• The value of supporting local
• Big announcement about some growth plans at Johnson’s Garden Center

Learn more about Johnson’s Garden Center:

https://www.johnsonsgarden.com/

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Wichita's 4th Generation garden center started as a small fruit and vegetable stand in the 1920s on the  outskirts of town at the corner of Douglas and West street in Wichita, KS. As the business grew, Harold  Johnson, with his father Orie, bought 5 acres of land on west 13th street, and opened Johnson's Garden  

Center. This location is still operating today! With the ever changing demands of the customers, and the  surrounding neighborhood growing by leaps and bounds, Harold and Orie decided they needed to  renovate and expand the current location, and finally had to add another location in the 1970s to  accommodate customers on both sides of Wichita. 

This second location was opened at Central and Edgemoore, and was later relocated to the current east  location, near the corner of 21st and Woodlawn in the spring of 1983. In 1995, Johnson's added 2 more  locations, a seasonal/flower shop in Derby (which closed in 1996), and the 802 N. Ridge Rd location that  closed in 2014. Today, Johnson's continues to operate out of two locations, online, and also operate a landscape distribution center, serving landscape companies not only locally, but around the state as well.

From Marty:

I grew up in the gardening business since I was little and got Jeremy involved at a young age as well. My  grandfather Orie started Johnson's as a truck farm. My father Harold joined with Orie after a career at  the Post Office. I grew up in Wichita and went to Wichita North High School. I also went to Friends  University and K-State and studied Horticulture and Business. Jeremy attended K-State and Wichita State  and got his Masters in Business Administration at Friends University.

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This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

We spend much of our daily time in the workplace.  Often, that is where it’s easiest to see that our friends and colleagues need support and help.  Empac CEO Stacey Winter shares with Don and Ebony how her EAP brings that help directly to businesses.   On this episode we discuss:

• Loving your life and loving your work
• How an Employee Assistance Program works
• The origin of EAPs in Wichita
• Pivoting support services during the pandemic
• How culture allows Empac to stay healthy
• Helping supervisors and managers deal with mental health issues
• Starting an EAP in your business

Learn more about Empac:

https://empac-eap.com/

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Stacey Winter received her Master of Science in Family Therapy from Friends University in 1996. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Stacey spent much of her career in the child welfare system.

As a clinician and as CEO of empac, Stacey assists individuals, couples, families and groups through counseling, training, coaching, and consulting. Throughout her work, Stacey has focused on organizational health, building and maintaining effective teams and the impact of trauma.

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This podcast is brought to you by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and is powered by Evergy.  To send feedback on this show and/or send suggestions for future guests or topics please e-mail [email protected].

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

No one was hit harder during the pandemic than music venues, but when faced with this challenge Jessie and Adam Hartke persevered and found new opportunities that have positioned them for success now.  They show Don and Ebony how the music community in Wichita is primed for growth.   On this episode we discuss:

• How their personal and business relationships are very intertwined
• First surviving, then thriving
• Finding ways to showcase local talent when their weren’t many opportunities
• Becoming partners with other independent venues
• Their own music backgrounds
• How the music community has been overlooked
• Getting support from all our state representatives during the pandemic
• How the music industry is better positioned now by identifying weak spots
• Providing artists have a viable path to a career

Learn more about Hartke Presents and the Wave:

https://www.hartkepresents.com/

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WAVE is a concert venue and community space in Downtown Wichita. The perfect hybrid of a major event space and your favorite neighborhood bar, WAVE welcomes eclectic crowds of 500-3,500 people for concerts and events in our indoor-outdoor space. Surrender to the backyard vibes with live music, lounge areas and a fine selection of craft beers. Whether you’re kicking back under a sunny sky or a full moon, WAVE’s atmosphere is unforgettable. 

Since our opening, we have had the pleasure of bringing Wichita performances by: Wu-Tang Clan, The Flaming Lips, Rancid, The Dropkick Murphys, The Bronx, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Toadies, Nappy Roots, Cursive, The Toasters, The Wailers, Blockhead, Flatland Cavalry, William Clark Green, Jamey Johnson, Whiskey Myers, Jelly Roll, Snoop Dogg, Black Joe Lewis, Ginuwine, Mya, Dru Hill, Yonder Mountain String Band, Billy Strings, Lake Street Dive, Robert Randolph, Ani DiFranco, LANCO, Kip Moore, The Claypool – Lennon Delirium, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Blueface, Gov’t Mule, Phaseone, Highly Suspect, Blue October, Sebastian Bach, Sugarhill Gang, In Flames, BONNIE X CLYDE, Kansas, Justin Townes Earle, The Steel Woods, Hawthorne Heights, Lucii, Cody Jinks, LOCASH, Bobby Bones, Coheed and Cambria, The Used, Shakey Graves, Kevin Gates, Incubus, and more!

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This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

From humble beginnings getting paid in cinnamon rolls, Stu Lungwitz has always been growing as an entrepreneur.  Listen as he gives Don and Ebony a behind-the-scenes look at how The Print Source has had to adapt and innovate over the years.  On this episode we discuss:

• A family history of entrepreneurs
• Getting paid in cinnamon rolls
• A business legacy that dates back to 1947
• Moving beyond bumper stickers
• The unique impact of adhesives
• How the PC and desktop publishing changed the print industry
• Adding value for your clients
• Trying to stay balanced in a family business

Learn more about The Print Source:

https://www.theprintsourceinc.com/

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The Print Source, Inc. is a family-owned, full-service printing and graphics company in Wichita, KS. Since our founding in 1947, we have grown from three employees to more than 100. At The Print Source, Inc., we work diligently to exceed our customer’s expectations and maintain a great atmosphere for our employees. As a company, we are committed to investing in state-of-the-art technology and providing increased opportunities for personal and career growth for our employees. We serve customers in a variety of industries, including schools and organizations, global manufacturers, aerospace companies, breweries, refineries, construction companies and more.

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This podcast is brought to you by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and is powered by Evergy.  To send feedback on this show and/or send suggestions for future guests or topics please e-mail [email protected].

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

Sometimes you just have to take your passion and run with it.  Hear from Scott Huynh as he talks with Don and Ebony about how his passion to create led him away from the path he always thought he would follow.  On this episode we discuss:

• Starting down the path to a medical degree
• A chance opportunity in a photography class
• Listening to others about what you are good at
• Selling drawings for Hot Cheetos
• The passion for the arts leading to his side hustle
• Focusing on social media videos to allow others to tell their story
• Helping creatives connect with the business community
• Local leaders who inspire him

Learn more about Scott Huynh Design:

https://scotthuynhdesign.com/

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​Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Scott got his degree in Biology at Wichita State University before deciding to leave healthcare behind and start a creative business. He now owns a business doing social media videos for small business in Wichita, and is active in the community and enjoys being a W volunteer and leadership team member for NAAAP.

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This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

After a career in the aerospace industry, Michael Gomm and his wife, Valerie, were looking for something different.  They share with Don and Ebony how they spotted a great opportunity to start a Glass Guru franchise in the Wichita area.  On this episode we discuss:

• Beginning in aerospace and coming to Wichita
• Changing priorities and goals
• Revenue is secondary to a great customer experience
• The different types of glass work
• How Michael and Valerie spotted their business opportunity
• Looking for an opportunity to do what makes you happy
• The science of foggy windows
• The booming business of glass pet doors
• The culture of Wichita

Learn more about Glass Guru:

https://www.theglassguru.com/wichita

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Valarie & Michael Gomm are the owner operators of The Glass Guru of Wichita. As the majority owner, Valarie is excited to be a part of Wichita's thriving Woman-Owned Business (WBE) community. Prior to opening The Glass Guru of Wichita, Valarie spent the early part of her professional life in retail and banking before she chose to focus her organizational skills on being the full time CFO & COO of Gomm Enterprises. 

Michael spent 20+ years in Wichita's aerospace segment prior to opening The Glass Guru of Wichita with his wife Valarie. He is an accomplished sales & customer service professional and is passionate about providing an enhanced service experience to The Glass Guru of Wichita customers. Michael is an active member of Wichita's craft beer community, volunteering and judging at local events, as well as serving on the beer advisory board for a popular local brewery. Michael has been a board member on the Wichita City Council District IV Advisory Board for 8 years and is a strong voice for helping make Wichita more small business friendly. When he's not out making new friends and satisfying customers with his value driven approach to customer needs, Michael is a commercial rated pilot and enjoys flying, biking the local trails, participating in shooting sports with his sons, and of course sharing time with friends at Wichita's great local breweries.

Valarie & Michael have been married 30 years, and have 3 sons: Joshua, Daniel, & Elijah, and a grandson Stetson. All their sons help in the business in some way: installations, shop work, trade shows, etc., The Glass Guru of Wichita is truly a local family enterprise that looks forward to serving you.

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This podcast is brought to you by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and is powered by Evergy.  To send feedback on this show and/or send suggestions for future guests or topics please e-mail [email protected].

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

Mental health and wellness continues to come more infocus for businesses, leaders and their employees.  Dr. Larry Mitnaul of the Ascension Medical Group talks with Don and Ebony about what this looks like and practical ways to engage mental health and wellness in our homes and workplaces.  On this episode we discuss:

• Having a passion to help kids and families with mental health
• Always being available to help others
• What wellness is and how it fits with mental health
• How employers can approach mental health in the workplace
• Mindfulness techniques anyone can use
• The key of self-observation and what it teaches us
• Creating a personal inventory
• How it becomes so easy for us to focus on the negative.

Learn more about Ascension Medical Group and Dr. Larry Mitnaul:

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Larry D Mitnaul, MD, MPH, MS, is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Psychiatry), and the American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He joined Ascension Medical Group Via Christi in 2017. Dr. Mitnaul's areas of interest within spec ialty include ADHD and anxiety disorders. He also offers treatment for depressive disorders, trauma-related disorders and impulse control/disruptive disorders. Dr. Mitnaul chose this specialty because of his experience with a child psychiatry clinic in high school. This experience made him rethink his pursuit of pediatric surgery. Dr. Mitnaul's best piece of advice for patients is to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Outside of work, Dr. Mitnaul enjoys percussion, writing music, playing with his kids and spending time with his family. Just once, he would like to play a live show in front of a massive crowd. Dr. Mitnaul is originally from Killeen, Texas but thoroughly enjoys Wichita because of the people and their kindness.

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Join the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce!

This podcast is brought to you by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and is powered by Evergy.  To send feedback on this show and/or send suggestions for future guests or topics please e-mail [email protected].

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net