Mike Smith is anything but the traditional startup entrepreneur. He's the founder of The Bay, an indoor skate park and creative haven for teenagers in Lincoln, Nebraska. He's also a must-see speaker, consultant, ambassador, author, and founder of Leadership Live, Find Your Grind, and Rabble Mill.  In this interview, we talk about the risks he took to start his first business, the reason why most people don't focus on their strengths, and how to balance the demands on your time as a leader.

The construction business is the 3rd most stressful business industry, behind mining and air traffic control. But that didn't stop Chris Brester, owner of Brester Construction. A second generation, family-owned company, Brester Construction is a general contracting and construction management firm. In this interview, Chris talks about the challenges of a family business, managing a reputation based on quality, and how they're building this company for the next generation.

Spencer Munson's short stint working in a record store ignited his love of music that led to his full-time career as a music festival organizer and promoter of the arts. He's responsible for bringing 100 bands to Lincoln each year through Lincoln Calling, as well as filling the downtown with the sounds of Jazz each summer at the Sheldon Art Gallery. Learn about the challenges of building a non-profit organization, costly mistakes every festival organizer must learn, why music festivals are essential to attracting young talent, and how he makes money and manages artists inside his operation.  Lincoln Calling is a week filled with amazing music and local artisans surrounded by community and professional development. Over the course of one week in the fall Lincoln Calling draws thousands of concertgoers from around the country to catch over 100 bands in Downtown Lincoln. About Lincoln Calling: Lincoln Calling is the city’s premier, non-sports cultural event that specifically targets millennials and young professionals. In 2018 and beyond, this music festival that highlights some of the country’s and state’s most exciting emerging artists, is only growing bigger and better. With YP Week, Startup Week and more non-musical programming joining the fold, and killer headliners already confirmed, Lincoln Calling is on the cusp of securing a spot in the national music festival conversation. By supporting artists, venues and local promoters, it makes Lincoln’s music and arts scene even stronger. By drawing regional crowds to businesses in the heart of Lincoln, it helps stimulate our economy. And by injecting an influx of undeniably cool people and youth culture into the city, it makes Lincoln a more appealing place to live, work and play — valuable evidence for businesses aiming to attract and retain top talent. It is our vision is to make the state a globally recognized cultural destination. lincolncalling.com www.instagram.com/lincolncalling_ https://www.facebook.com/LincolnCalling/ https://twitter.com/LincolnCalling_ About Jazz in June: Jazz in June invigorates Lincoln’s cultural landscape and provides distinctive character as the community’s “signature free event.” It sparks community engagement among all demographics in the city and supports positive urban culture in downtown Lincoln. This community-centric program traditionally serves 25,000 people over the course of four Tuesdays in June. In 2017, Jazz in June enjoyed success not only with well-attended performances, but also within the community and classroom. Artists spent hours leading youth workshops in cultural and education centers. The musicians also discussed career paths and theory while engaging students in the University’s music department. With the overwhelming success of 2017’s performance by 5-time GRAMMY Award-winner Terence Blanchard, Jazz in June is striving to book more world renown artists and educators in the future. The majority of Jazz in June planning is undertaken by a part-time dedicated staff member and a board of volunteers. These individuals plan and execute fundraising, research, community partner development, educational programs, and new marketing strategies. It is the organization’s objective to create a diverse volunteer staff and stable funding base for the community series. The comprehensive funding plan includes support from local foundations, corporations, and individuals. With ample and diverse sources of funding the organization can stay financially viable through any economic climate. The audience of Jazz in June is a reflection of the Lincoln community. People of all ages, economic backgrounds, and diverse heritage regularly attend the program, achieving several key missions of the program. Jazz in June will strive to benefit the community through strong partnerships with other local organizations, elected officials, advocacy groups, businesses, and faith communities. The development of more education before and during the event through culturally sensitive workshops, youth interaction, and interdisciplinary collaboration will continue. The series will also feature artists of color and further support diversity on stage and in the audience. jazzinjune.com https://www.instagram.com/jazzinjuneunl https://www.facebook.com/jazzinjuneunl/ https://twitter.com/JazzInJuneunl

Christopher Aumueller first came up with the idea for FanWord while playing tennis in college. Using his design skills, he mocked up an early prototype. With a small loan from his family, he paid a developer to bring that prototype to life. He's quick to acknowledge that the early "product" is not even close to what the platform is today! In this interview, we dig into his business, the mistakes he’s made along the way, and how he keeps an open mind to pivot toward what the customer wants in the end.

In this episode, we interview the co-founder of Fourstarzz Media, Dennis Doerfl to learn why influencer marketing works, the hottest platforms to get results, the role of micro-influencers, how to measure it, and how to compensate influencers. Fourstarzz helps marketers find influencers faster by leveraging extensive data analysis to not only find advertising campaign-relevant influencers but also provide the necessary information to connect marketers with the appropriate influencer agents or networks.

As the owner of the Carolina Improv Company, Gina Trimarco believes improv training can be beneficial for executives, sales professionals, and anyone who has to communicate to do their job!  In this episode we talk about:  -How to build a product that people want vs what they need -Running tests to identify how to position your product -How Gina leveraged free tools like TripAdvisor -Why you have to use the customer’s words in your marketing -The hidden benefits of hosting a weekly podcast

source. eat fit was founded in 2014 to remedy the frustration of being able to eat clean and fit on the go. But with this comes many unique challenges. In this episode we talk with Dawn, the founder, about: -The biggest surprise she found in running her business -The importance of partnerships and securing the right vendors -How she used custom software to streamline her operation -Why you have to “live it” to grow your business -How they went from 1 to 3 stores in 3 years

Matt Motsick is the CEO of SWIVEL Software, and the founder of Catapult (which he has since sold and exited the company).  In this interview you'll learn: - Why having a client fire you can help you shape your product - Getting friends and family on board for starting capital to fund your idea - Tips for negotiating with venture capitalists - The importance of hiring the right people to achieve your vision - What it’s like to lead a company in the US that’s based in Hong Kong

Levrack triples your storage space by combining the best of pallet racking and mobile-aisle shelving.  In this interview, we talk with one of the co-founders about the challenges of manufacturing a product, how to manage operations and logistics (and what could go wrong), and the power of influencers and reality TV to generate interest and drive sales. Get an inside look at how the founders filed for a patent, licensed their product, and built a following online.

The newest idea on the street is blockchain technology. While it's not new by any stretch, it's rapidly gaining popularity as the go-to technology to build and develop. Edward Weniger and Kyle Tautenhan are the founders of the Blockchain Development Group, and brains behind the Midwest Block-a-thon, the largest blockchain event in the region, Edward and Kyle talk about why blockchain is so intriguing, how it applies to companies, what to expect at the event, and how you can get involved.