PROCO360 | Best Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

“I’m a realist about the convergence of technology, culture and the outdoors.”

Robin Thurston, Chairman and CEO, Outside, Inc.

Do I seem a bit star-struck in this episode?  If so, it’s because I was.  I’ve been a fan of Outside Magazine since I moved to Colorado decades ago – and its many niche brands including Warren Miller Films, Ski Magazine and Backpacker.  I was eager to explore how Outside, Inc. develops and manages all its niches for different kinds of outdoor enthusiasts – we did that, and we also dug into how Outside, Inc. considers the influence of technology on getting people outside! 

“This episode is even richer in content than I’d hoped.”

Dave Tabor, host, ProCO360

Putting four leaders of companies know for corporate culture together for a conversation about “Deliberate Culture” turned out to be better than I’d even hoped.  With so much talk out there about how in today’s war for talent, it’s more and more about culture, the question I wanted to explore was “What specifically do you do to deliberately establish, maintain, and manage culture?” Listen for tremendous insights! 

 

“Your zip code is a better determinant of your health than your genetic code.”

Dan Greenleaf, President & CEO, Modivcare

I’m embarrassed to say that Modivcare is the largest Colorado-based public company I’d never heard of. It has over 30,000 employees and $2 billion in revenue.  My conversation with CEO Dan Greenleaf is a revealing look a company that is there “to bring equity, hope and healing to those who need it most.” Modivcare is growing quickly by providing cost-effective health care to the underserved in a more creative and wholistic way. 

"It’s incredible how much we understand the subsurface a mile underground...”

Brent Lewis, CEO, Carbon America

 

I’ve always wondered, with some skepticism, about the idea of addressing global warming by capturing carbon emissions and putting them underground… and how on earth (under Earth?) we could keep it there.  Exploring this topic with Brent Lewis, CEO of Colorado-based Carbon America was fascinating!  I think at the end of this episode you’ll have a new appreciation for the technology. 

"We’re largely making a bet that they have the vision to build something great and special...”

Chris Erickson, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Range Ventures

 

This is a very entertaining and instructive podcast episode!  It was a blast to hear the CEOs of two initially bootstrapped companies that recently received millions of dollars of VC funding talking with their VC about business.

"We score people based on attitude, effort and performance, and if attitude and effort are good, we’ll give a very long leash on performance.” 

JB Kellogg, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Madwire 

Madwire has been amazingly successful.  It now has 600 team members helping small businesses grow.  What intrigued me most about interviewing co-founder and co-CEO JB Kellogg is how one could possible scale to 600 employees and still deliver the great service-oriented results that built the company.  What I learned surprised and impressed me!   

"It’s that moment that you say, if this thing matters that much to me, if I’m that passionate about it – that’s what gets me through...”

Brian Egan, Co-founder & CEO, Evolve

It took me a while during prep to understand the difference between Evolve and VRBO, AirBnB, Booking.com.  Then I didn’t understand that they aren’t competitors, usually.  Evolve sits on TOP of those and other platforms, serving both the property owner and the renter.  More important than my took-too-long struggle to figure that out, is how Brian Egan uses CULTURE, what he calls “the heaviest lever” in leading a company, to create satisfied customer experiences.  A great listen.

"I had this realization that these people have an abundance of (sewing) skills and we’re teaching them to do janitorial work, or work in slaughterhouses.”

Jeremy Priest, Co-founder, President & CEO, Knotty Tie Co.

So many companies are aligning with causes with which they share an audience, often supporting those non-profits with a percentage of sales.  Colorado-based Knotty Tie is different – it’s almost operating AS a non-profit.  It’s not though – it’s FOR profit.  It’s mission, even its outside investors seem to care as much about Knotty Tie’s focus on employing refuges as the company’s ROI. And the company is growing.

HE SAID HE WOULD NOT LEAVE HIS CITY – HE WOULD FIGHT BACK.

Yulia, resident of Kharkiv, Ukraine

I’ve gotten to know a freelancer in the Ukraine who sent me heart wrenching messages about his and his wife’s life.

His home is in Kharkiv, just 20 miles from the Russian border and under heavy attack.  I went “off topic” and did an interview with his English-speaking wife last night.  Their story is compelling and they want it shared as their way of combating propaganda.

"It was rough… 3 months we were closed - $15M in earned revenue – GONE."

Bert Vescolani, President & CEO, Denver Zoo

Since I was a young boy I’ve loved the Zoo.  In 5^th grade after school I’d sneak into the Buffalo Zoo by hopping a hidden fence, and I’d just watch the monkeys.  Interviewing Bert Vescolani was a thrill for me – so many questions… about managing the financial challenges during a 3-month Covid total CLOSURE, about keeping animals, about the business model.