PROCO360 | Best Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

“The top three questions I get are: 1) Which were my favorite episodes?  2) Have you had any really difficult guests? and 3) How do you get such great guests on the podcast?”

Dave Tabor, Host, PROCO360 podcast

This episode of PROCO360 was a lot of fun for me.  It reminded me of all the great guests I had during 2020 – guests I’d almost forgotten about in my eagerness to find and interview the next great one!  Mike did a great job editing together this show, weaving in excerpts from each guest, along with my answers to the most frequent listener questions.

 

“Because of the opioid epidemic I expect we can develop that market to $1 Billion a year because our products provide great pain relief without side effects.”

Thomas Sandgaard, Chairman and CEO, Zynex Medical

Zynex’s main product line treats pain with FDA-approved electric stimulation that reduces the need for opioids in the marketplace.  Direct and understated, Thomas Sandgaard doesn’t seem at all impressed with his success.  His story of starting with $2,000 twenty-four years ago, and building that into a public company valued at half a billion is pretty impressive.  We discuss that, as well as Thomas’s transition from full-time CEO to a life that includes philanthropy, a UK football club, and a return to his rock-and-roll guitar roots.

“You will have your physician’s cell phone number… we’re creating nice alignment with those providers… they are being incented to provide better clinical outcomes and better patient satisfaction scores.”

Chris Miller, CEO, Paladina Health

Kudos to Chris Miller on two fronts:  1) he’s delivering on the holy grail of health care – providing high patient satisfaction AND better clinical outcomes AND at lower cost, and 2) he’s a great guest – candid, personable, and really good at explaining how Paladina Health is making inroads in what is arguably the country’s least cost-efficient industry. 

“The problem with organic social media is there is so much noise – everybody is producing content… you gotta PAY TO PLAY.”

Benjamin Kepner, Global Social Media Marketing

I struggle with what I perceive to be endless NOISE on social media and I was eager to understand from Benjamin how to cut through that noise for effective social media execution.  His answer:  “You gotta PAY TO PLAY – you need a paid social media strategy.”  OK, well that clears it right up.  Listen in.

“It always seemed disingenuous to me for companies to talk about how well the animals for the food source are treated when their employees have to work two or three jobs.” 

Pete Turner, Founder and President, Illegal Pete’s

I used to think that Illegal Pete’s competed with Chipotle and Qdoba.  The more I explored Illegal Pete’s, the more it’s clear that Illegal Pete’s is in its own category – great food, sure.  Full bar where people really want to hang out?  That’s unusual.  Voluntarily paying a living wage at a quick serve restaurant – wow, that’s almost unheard of.  Pete talks about how and why he made these decisions.  You’ll leave the episode a fan of Illegal Pete’s!

“It dawns on the guest that it’s done by design – that the sincere friendliness of the staff is something that rings true.” 

Jack Damioli, President & CEO, The Broadmoor

I feel terrible for all our state’s hospitality businesses that are suffering through the COVID pandemic – none more than the Broadmoor, a Colorado icon.  Here’s what I really wondered going into this interview: while many properties can trim and cut back on various expenses when business is slow, the Broadmoor is the longest running 5 Star resort in the world – can you “cut back” on expenses that could jeopardize guest expectations and the resorts reputation?  We talk about that, about the Broadmoor’s “Colorado luxury” service culture, and why Jack Damioli, the current CEO, spent over a YEAR in transition to his role.  If you’ve ever wanted to know more about a world-class resort with over 1200 employees operates and has MAINTAINED unsurpassed quality year over year for over 100 years, you’ll love this episode.

“Yes, things change – we want to bring the people in the community along as we develop.” 

Haroun Cowans, Partner & Chief Real Estate Development Officer, Five Points Development Corporation

I’ve always been curious about real estate development and cognizant of the impact of “gentrification” on a community.  After a walking tour of Five Points by Haroun, I was really impressed at how he’s approaching the redevelopment.  This interview features some great highlights of the area’s music history and iconic buildings.  You’ll also better understand how Haroun, who grew up in the area and is an Associate Pastor of a nearby church, thinks about “bringing the community along with redevelopment.” 

“There is the fallacy that you can outgrow any problem.  (You think) I’ll just sell more – that will solve the problem.  Well, that’s not true.” 

Matt Cutter, Co-founder & President, Upslope Brewing Company

Many of us are familiar with the stories of our favorite small microbreweries and of the huge Colorado successes like New Belgium Brewing which was acquired by Kirin.  Regional beer makers (starting at 15,000 barrels a year) have their own niche – big enough that we know their brand and big enough to be in stores, and small enough to still feel like the term “craft beer” still fits.  I love Matt’s comment that “Good brewers dump beer!“ referring to the need to throw out beer that doesn’t meet their standards.  About a year ago, I interviewed Dave Thibodeau, Founder and CEO of Ska Brewing in Durango (episode) – it’s fun for me to contrast the style and the story of this week’s featured guest, Matt Cutter of Upslope Brewing. 

Every job I've had before this I'd get bored after 4-5 years... fixing the home services business, fixing the experience for home owners, is an intractable problem that will probably outlast me.

Brandon Ridenour, CEO, ANGI Homeservices

Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor have always fascinated me – and until recently I didn’t know that the company that holds those brands and 10 others, ANGI Homeservices, is a Colorado-based public company.  We discussed what makes me curious about these businesses: how they compete with Google and Yelp, and particularly how ANGI can serve BOTH the consumer and the advertising service providers with integrity.  Brandon explains!

“We think about the consumer first and foremost and not about a business opportunity.  That authentically resonates.  What do you do after that – who the heck knows?”

Ian MacGregor, CEO, Skratch Labs

Ian at Skratch Labs was recommended as a guest by Dan Konigsberg of CampMinder (listen to that episode!)  This is an episode you’ll enjoy if you still believe there is such a thing as “build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.”  In today’s world, that RARELY happens – it CAN – if you develop just the right product for just the right customer – and have a team working its ass off doing whatever needs to be done.  It also takes discipline to stay focused on the customer, and a lot of humility, particularly by a CEO who got the job by default.