PROCO360 | Best Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

ProCO360 – Maria Empanada Explodes to Success - Live | Work | Love Colorado

“When I started the business I was washer, cook, manager… then… NO!  I need to grow with the business.”  

Lorena Cantarovici, Maria Empanada   

Lorena Cantarovici, like most food entrepreneurs, started baking her now famous empanadas at home.  But Lorena isn’t most food entrepreneurs – from the start, Lorena set out to create a successful business.  Lorena tells a true story about how “exploding empanadas” became a metaphor for sticking with it when things get tough, how she’s built the business to 3 stores and 14 outlets, and what Guy Fieri thought when he featured her on Drive-ins, Diners and Dives!  It’s a great story – and she’s an inspiring entrepreneur. 

ProCO360 – Jackson’s Honest – Home Kitchen to “Shark Tank,” Live | Work | Love Colorado

“The tension in that room was palpable…”  

Megan Reamer, describing their experience on “Shark Tank.”   

Megan and Scott Reamer developed their initial potato chip at home, trying to create a product that could be enjoyed by their son Jackson, who struggled with a very challenging illness.  This interview was a blast, because we talked about going from a product to a business, Megan and Scott’s experience on CNBC’s Shark Tank, and the explosive growth of their company.  Both are dynamic, fun and candid.   

Bobo's Oat Bars: from "I needed a Job" to 1 million units per month

"I kind of had to reinvent myself.  I was newly single with two teenaged daughters.  I needed to get a job..."  “Salespeople are a great resource – they’ll tell you what you need…”

    Beryl Stafford, Founder, Bobo’s Oat Bars 

A humble leader can be challenging for a podcast host.

As I was interviewing Beryl Stafford, Founder of Bobo’s Oat Bars, I wanted to know how Beryl became one of the very few who “made it.”  Instead, Beryl talked about how she’s still making Bobo’s by hand – her kitchen is just bigger now.  “REALLY?” I thought.  At over 1 MILLION bars a month, 100 employees, and national distribution?  I kept digging, and we kept talking, peeling back the layers.  Listen to this podcast and you’ll hear a story of perseverance (mine as an interviewer, but more importantly, Beryl’s as an entrepreneur!), about cold calling retailers and “taking a lot of no’s” until Whole Foods agreed to give Bobo’s a try.

PIN Business Network - Data Drives Remarkable Sales

“If our partner doesn’t eat, we don’t eat… we see success through the client’s eyes." 

"I run from people who haven't failed.”

Joe Oltmann, CEO, PIN Business Network

Collecting and using data for business intelligence that yields sales – today’s “holy grail” of marketing.  Listen to my interview with Joe Oltmann for two reasons.  First, to hear examples of how companies are using data to reach customers likely to have strong interest, even INTENT, to purchase, and second, we explore why now when it is in vogue to lead with a company’s WHY message, PIN is successfully differentiating by leading with its HOW message.  PIN goes so far as to educate EVERYONE in the company in the technical aspects of what it does. Very thought-provoking, and something you’ll want to consider.

Inside AEG Presents’ Live Music Business, Part 2 of 2

“Big Head Todd & The Monsters is a perfect example of how a band can make it… get a fan base and become a great, live band.” 

Part 2 of my interview with Chuck Morris…

Curious about how the live music business works?  Like to know about the early days of acts like The Eagles and Jimmy Buffett in Colorado?  You’ll love my interview with Chuck Morris, President & CEO of AEG Presents Rocky Mountains.  As always, I dig into the business side of things and Chuck answered all the things I’ve always been curious about!  If you missed Part 1, make you sure listen!

“Do the 70’s bands still touring today make much money?”

 “What’s the business model of a live promoter?”

Inside AEG Presents' Live Music Business, Part 1 of 2

Curious about how the live music business works?  Like to know about the early days of acts like The Eagles and Jimmy Buffett in Colorado?  You’ll love my interview with Chuck Morris, President & CEO of AEG Presents Rocky Mountains.  As always, I dig into the business side of things and Chuck answered all the things I’ve always been curious about like,

“Do the 70’s bands still touring today make much money?”

“What’s the business model of a live promoter?”

Awesome interview – so awesome that I extended our time and this is Part 1!

Techtonic - a Better Version of "The Apprentice!"

“20 years ago my life revolved around billable hours… now it’s around changing the course of people’s lives. 

Heather Terenzio used her generous spirit to solve her biggest problem: getting enough skilled technical talent.  Techtonic Group created internal apprenticeships to develop coders for the projects it takes on for clients.  Amazingly, Techtonic then allows the talent it has developed to be hired by its clients.  Extending that mission, Heather founded the Techtonic Academy to help those with coding ambition learn the skills needed to change their lives… the story about a guy working in a pizza joint becoming a successful software coder is just one of many!

SmashBurger - Smashing Success Comes from "Wise-Guy Skill Set"

“My mantra is being perpetually 32… as our product ages this keeps us relevant.” 

I enjoyed my interview with Tom Ryan, CEO of SmashBurger.  He’s done the franchise thing before, and each time he builds in more of what he learned from before.  In the interview, Tom shares some of those lessons – about “building-in scalability,” staying relevant, and from his background with very large brands including Pizza Hut, things the big guys do that he wants to replicate, or avoid.

 

StickerGiant – Stuck on Open Book Management

“One of the bigger challenges for founder entrepreneurs is letting go of the levers, handing the levers over…” 

Speaking with John Fischer, CEO of StickerGiant was a contrast with many other interviews I’ve had with successful entrepreneurs who are, perhaps, less deliberate. John manages StickerGiant with “Open Book Management,” and it’s not a “phase” for StickerGiant.  It’s the way the company operates, generating 20% growth year over year and a dominant and growing position in their very competitive niche.  In this interview, John and I discuss how he manages the business driven by metrics, goals and reports, while keeping the culture fun and dynamic.

Andrew Hudson's Job List Slays the Monster

“The biggest mistake I made was that I let FEAR dictate my decision about when to turn this into a business.” 

I enjoyed speaking with Andrew Hudson, of Andrew Hudson’s Job List.  A humble guy who just wanted to help job seekers, Andrew turned his part-time “Andrew’s List” into a full-time endeavor which helps Colorado employers and job seekers come together.  I was eager to learn how Andrew could possibly compete against Monster.com, Indeed.com and others.  After our conversation, I’m still amazed at what he’s done, the extremely profitable business he built based on the organic demand he innocently created, and what we can learn from his experience.