PROCO360 | Best Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

Ska Brewing – the CEO’s big dishwashing job

“The beer business is not glamour, it’s not all beer drinking.  It’s a giant dishwashing job!” 

Dave Thibodeau, Founder and CEO, Ska Brewing 

I had a great time with Dave Thibodeau, founder of Ska Brewing.  We laughed a lot while we talked about the business of building a Top 100 brewery.  Spoiler Alert:  Ska is named for their favorite beer-making music!   

Craig Hospital CEO’s job: STEWARD that mission

“I’m not there to run my own agenda.  This is about the mission of the organization.  I’m there to STEWARD that mission.”

Jandel Allen-Davis, CEO, Craig Hospital

You, like I, have probably heard stories of Craig Hospital’s tremendous successes, sometimes with stories of celebrities who have been treated at Craig.  Planning for my interview with its CEO, Jandel Allen-Davis, I really wanted to explore how the leader of such a well-established and successful organization steps into that role, and what we can apply from how Craig operates to our businesses. 

How Pride of Originality Drives Alpacka Raft

“When we started, there was nobody commercially making these… we turned it into a new sport and that feels really exciting.”

Thor Tingey with Sheri Tingey, Alpacka Raft

Continuing my tour of SW Colorado, I met with Sheri and Thor Tingey, the mother and son team that started Alpacka Raft of Mancos, Colorado.  Sheri tells the story of Thor’s first packrafting trip using an early product that fell far short of Thor’s needs on a long backcountry trip.  Upon Thor’s return, he asked Sheri, a ski wear designer and maker, to “please make me a raft!”  From those early designs, Alpacka Raft was born, launching the new sport of “packrafting.”  The photo on the right is me trying out an amazing 2-person Alpacka Raft!

Gargoyles, angels and patience create award-winning whiskey

Passionate entrepreneurs are inspiring.

They are even more inspiring when they share their #1 barrel of whiskey, aged 8 years – and they do it during the interview in front of a live audience.

“It’s important to me to be connected to every barrel – and more to be connected to everybody who works here.”

Al Laws, Laws Whiskey House

Al Laws ended a successful career on Wall Street to move to Colorado and start Laws Whiskey House – imagine, studying and learning all you can, investing millions of dollars, and then waiting YEARS as it ages to find out if you could achieve all you’d dreamed you could.  Hear why Al has a tatoo of a gargoyle sitting over a whiskey barrel.  This was a LIVE audience podcast held in the private barrel room of Laws Whiskey for subscribers of the PROCO360 newsletter. 

Durango company proves niche superiority wins

I love a great niche.

MUNIRevs is growing 50% a year, and is earning big-name clients, by developing a product for its niche customers and delivering exactly what they need.

 

“(as CEO) you can tend to want to do it all... knowing that it was OK to make that next hire… propelled us to 50% growth the last two years.”

Erin Neer, Founder and CEO, MUNIRevs

Does providing software to government sound boring?  It did to me even as I entered the interview with Erin Neer, CEO of MUNIRevs. 

I am amazed at how successful the company has become, recently signing the city of Dallas as a client, offering a solution to help municipalities track short-term rental revenue, and launching a product that online businesses can use to navigate the incredibly complex obligation of collecting sales tax.  I left the interview blown-away at what I think is a tremendous illustration of the power that exists at the intersection of niche mastery and continuous innovation to meet market opportunity.  Have a listen!

 

World’s Best Fly-Fishing Reel Maker Lives the WHY

CEO of Mayfly Outdoors (world-renowned Ross Reels and Abel Reels) on building a specialty brand in the outdoor industry.

“Being an entrepreneur in Colorado is like being on a team you didn’t even know you were on!”  - David Dragoo, CEO, Mayfly Outdoors

I took PROCO360 on the road to Montrose, Colorado to visit Mayfly Brands. You’ll enjoy learning how supporting its western slope community and environment is an integral part of his growth strategy.

$850K to $6M in One Year with Balls of Steel

“Yup.” 2018 sales: $850,000.  2019 forecast: $6 million. Joyful, candid entrepreneur shares a quintessential story of inventing and marketing a consumer product – Matt Hyder, Founder & CEO of Recoup Fitness.   

“My teacher failed me – she didn’t believe I really had a check from the San Francisco 49ers.”  Matt Hyder, Founder & CEO, Recoup Fitness 

I PROMISE: YOU WILL LOVE THIS INTERVIEW.  It contains a truly a “quintessential” entrepreneurial story, told candidly.  Quitting college with one semester to go, sleeping under his 3-D printer so he could reload it all night, bootstrapping by learning how to do everything from mold-making to digital marketing… Matt’s is a story of really hard work, passion, enthusiasm, humility... and being single.   

Growing into CEO, then Hired as CEO - Cherwell's Sam Gilliland

Sam Gilliland on how he brought the “Traveling Gnome” to Travelocity, and on becoming CEO of Cherwell.

 “If you add value with a human touch, great, let’s keep that human touch. If you’re not adding value there, let’s automate it.”

Sam Gilliland, CEO, Cherwell

Cherwell, with 500 employees and based in Colorado Springs, provides IT Services Management to clients around the world.  I wanted to interview its new CEO, Sam Gilliland, to learn about “the man who brought us the Gnome” (Travelocity), and the difference between growing into a substantial CEO role, and stepping into the role of CEO another business, which he recently has done.  You’ll enjoy our conversation about balancing “human touch” vs. automated service. 

Can you learn CULTURE from an electrical contractor?

How relentless focus on a CULTURE of SAFETY grew Encore Electric from startup to 900 team members. 

 “Our people know: If you don’t feel safe, then say so.  Stop the work and ask the right questions… the idea is stop and think.”

Willis Wiedel, President, Encore Electric

I became aware that Encore Electric was recognized as the TOP company nationally for safety.  That’s a big deal, and not a reason I’d want to interview its CEO. 

I asked for an interview because I was (and remain) impressed at how a relentless focus on culture, in this case a culture of safety, achieved great organizational results.  Regardless of your business or industry, you’ll find this interview interesting and instructive. 

 

Blockchain "Decrypted" (REALLY!) Part 2 (wrap-up), BXE Capital

Following this interview, I finally think I’m beginning to understand the relevance and importance of BLOCKCHAIN technology.  Even though I DID the interview, I listened to it again.  I hope you enjoy the conclusion of this interview!  

Dave Tabor, Host, PROCO360