This podcast episode features Shelby Fiegel, Director of the Community Development Institute (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas.  The Jesup Group focuses on entrepreneurship, community development, and growing digital economies in rural southwest Missouri. While most of our podcasts feature entrepreneurs, this episode is focused on how CDI is creating stronger, more vibrant communities through an intentional program that brings people who love their communities together to share ideas, plan, and network.  Learn more about the mission of CDI, who can participate (anyone who loves their community), and how communities have been transformed by those who participate in CDI.  Resource Links Grumpy Rabbit University of Central Arkansas CDI Ted Abernathy and Economic Leadership John Carroll and City Leadership Strong Towns City and Town Magazine

This podcast episode features Megan Escalante. Megan owns Pineapple Bliss, a growing specialty desert shop in Joplin, Missouri and a new location in Springdale, Arkansas. On this podcast episode, Megan discusses her journey as a serial entrepreneur. She discusses her entrepreneurial journey where she learned and became more resilient at each stop. The journey began with a degree in bio chemistry and transformed to two successful businesses in cosmetology and a growing restaurant chain. Listen as Megan discusses the mindset she developed to move past adversity, grow, and continually learn. If you are looking for a local contact who lives a growth mindset, this is your episode.   Links Pineapple Bliss SCORE Business Mentoring The Podcast I Couldn’t Think of on the Podcast (Smart Passive Income) The E Myth Revisited Startup Junkies  

This month’s podcast features Chris Forsythe from Precision Coffee in Nevada, Missouri. Chris could be described as a serial entrepreneur. In 2017 he left his steady, hourly wage job (that he worked at for 17 years) and since that time he has begun three businesses. We’re going to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur, the challenges of limiting beliefs for aspiring entrepreneurs, and the opportunities he feels are available for people who recognize they already have the skills it takes to start their own business. Links Precision Coffee in Nevada, Missouri Go Giver book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People book The Compound Effect book Social Capital book  

This month's episode features John Newby, who writes a weekly syndicated column titled "Building Main Street, Not Wall Street" and community development approach he calls "Truly Local" as well as Sarah James, a repeat guest who is a local entrepreneur and community activist in Granby, Missouri.  These two guests are passionate about the possibilities in rural areas and have some great advice for rural areas, no matter your size.  Check out this episode and the resources below mentioned on this podcast. Websites Truly Local Website https://www.truly-localllc.com/truly-local-board Building Main Street, Not Wall Street Columns https://www.truly-localllc.com/past-building-main-street-columns  John Newby’s email address [email protected] Grow Granby Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/growgranby Hello Sunshine Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/hellosunshinemarket Hello Sunshine Webpage https://hellosunshinemarket.com/    Book 13 Ways to Kill Your Community https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Kill-Your-Community-2nd/dp/146029758X  Podcasts 13 Ways Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/community-revival-by-13-ways/id1498624674 Community Development Institute (CDI) at University of Central Arkansas https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/community-development-institute/id1511819432  Develop This Community and Economic Development http://developthispodcast.com/ Strong Towns https://www.strongtowns.org/podcast The Bottom Up Revolution  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bottom-up-revolution/id1435989066  Go Cultivate https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/go-cultivate/id1429015716  

Indian Springs Brewing Company and Briar & Thistle are located in downtown Neosho on the historic Neosho square. These two women owned businesses have formed a strategic partnership to serve great beer, fantastic food, and create a unique "third place" that creates a sense community.  Listen to this podcast to hear how both of these women overcame early challenges and intentionally designed their businesses to serve their community by leveraging one another's strengths. If you have a historic downtown area in your community, give this episode a listen as these two share great insights about creating something special for the community. Not surprising, when entrepreneurs design their businesses for the community, the community shows up to support the businesses.

Bart Paden is a Jasper County native and co-founder of Midwestern Interactive, a rapidly growing software development firm located in Joplin, Missouri.  Bart discusses how he developed an entrepreneurial mindset that's allowed him to try, fail, and try again- eventually building one of the most robust digital services firms in the four-state region. To most people, growing a software development company in Joplin, Missouri is an unlikely proposition. Bart shares how he is growing digital talent in the region with a servant leader culture and the incredible potential of the digital economy in southwest Missouri. Listen and learn more about this improbable journey and the steps and mindset that is propelling Midwestern Interactive forward.

Mark Hudson is a Barry County native created one of the first premium poultry and livestock feed companies in the region along with a small group of Barry County entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs created Majestic Milling Company near Wheaton, Missouri.  Listen to this podcast to learn how Mark and his partners developed a rapidly growing business based on insights, curiosity, and willingness to develop products for an underserved growing market. We’ll also discuss long-term plans to grow an entrepreneurial farming ecosystem among local farmers to supply conscious consumers of organic and non-GMO food products.

This month's podcast features Tiffany Jordan. Tiffany is a homeschool mom from Goodman, Missouri. She started a blog as an easy way to share her children's homeschool education experiences with family. Over the past few years, Tiffany learned how to turn her blog into a successful business. Tiffany recently shared her passion for education, experience, and entrepreneurship to create a youth entrepreneurship event in her home community.  In this episode, learn how Tiffany created her first blog, developed insights about the ability to earn an income from a blog, overcame early obstacles and self-doubts, and how she is giving back to her community by inspiring and developing young entrepreneurs.  Resilient rural communities are developed over time. Listen to this month's episode to learn how Tiffany has created her own business online and is now helping to inspire other young people in her area to create their own businesses. Links https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/   https://homeschoolhideout.com/  https://eliteblogacademy.com/   ​​https://wordpress.com/ 

This month's podcast features Ben McNelly of Full Bore Studios and Pennington Station. Ben is a software developer/ entrepreneur from Joplin Missouri. Ben's story is a great example of how curiosity, determination, and resourcefulness can develop marketable skills and a successful business.  Ben has built a successful software development group focused on VR, automation, gaming, and the internet of things. He also recently opened Pennington Station, a gaming and VR experience destination in downtown Joplin, Missouri. If you are into gaming, have kids who game and are interested in how they are created, or just want to hear about how one of the top game developers in the area got his start, give this episode a listen.    Links: Full Bore Studios Facebook Page  Full Bore Studios Webpage Pennington Station Webpage

This month's podcast features Kelly Anderson, CEO of the Kelly Anderson Group. Kelly shares his journey from an over-the-road truck driver to one of Neosho's fastest growing companies. Kelly is the first consultant that we've interviewed and he shares a wealth of information that can help those looking to begin a consulting business or grow a business beyond trading time for dollars.  You'll want to have a notebook handy and jot down some suggestions Kelly shares. Don't worry about writing down the names of books. We have them in the show notes below.  The Kelly Anderson Group Company Page Books In Search of Excellence The Science of Personal Achievement The Psychology of Success The E Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It 1000 True Fans The Innovation Stack Nudge Four Disciplines of Execution