PROCO360 | Best Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

 “We don’t actually have a sales team, we have a relationship team… those who decide to use us, they will ask us to be customers.”

Josh Freed, CEO and co-Owner, Proximity

When I got a call from Leah Carlson at Proximity suggesting that I might want to interview Josh Freed, I didn’t know anything about Proximity, and I was skeptical.  She talked with me and as we talked, I was really intrigued about this little Montrose, Colorado based startup.  Then I researched and got excited – but not as excited as I got DURING the interview when the light bulb flashed “ON!”  This little company won’t be little for long – Proximity has created a software and hardware package that enables anyone to open and run a co-working space – anywhere.  And the coolest part is that customers don’t need to be sold.  Check out this interview.

 “I love to go to businesses that aren’t ours… that are new… I want to walk through new hotels, new restaurants… that’s exciting for me.”  

-Walter Isenberg, CEO of Sage Hospitality 

Sage owns and operates over 50 hotels, plus many notable restaurants. Walter Isenberg is well known and well respected in the industry – and in Colorado business and philanthropic communities. What a great conversation – Walter really did start as a dishwasher. The industry has evolved and so has Walter’s vision for what makes a great hotel experience. If you are fascinated by the huge investments in art displayed in Sage hotels like The Crawford, The Maven, and The Curtis, and curious about what drives the decisions to create these amazing hotel experiences, you’ll enjoy this interview.

“It’s not a better mousetrap – it’s a different mousetrap.”

Shawn Neville, CEO, Boa Technology

Interviewing Shawn Neville in front of a live audience of PROCO360 listeners was fantastic!  We explored Boa’s rapid growth and the company’s strategy for managing its brand while partnering with the likes of Burton, Under Armour, Adidas, New Balance and many more to create innovations in performance fit.  You’ll be fascinated to learn Shawn’s take on competition relative to a slice of the pie vs. growing the pie.

 

I'm kicking-off 2019 by interviewing two Colorado entrepreneurs who are not YET on the cover of Colorado business publications, and whom I predict will by by the end of the year!  Dr. Arthur Kanowitz, Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of Securisyn Medical, and Kyle Kociemba Benson are at opposite ends of the speed-to-market continuum so their interviews make for a great contrast.

ER Dr. Kanowitz founded his company to address his frustration with the frequency and extreme complications caused by “unplanned extubation” – when a patient’s breathing tube comes out when it’s not supposed to. Starting as a one-man crusade, this is a story you’ll appreciate.

Kyle Benson, co-founded Bivouac Coffee with his wife, Rachel to create great tasting coffee that's environmentally friendly. Bivouac won the 2018 "Trout Tank" competition, and has recently been approached by some national retail brands about collaborating.

Both guests are poised to cross the chasm from startup to “ON THEIR WAY!”

Let’s celebrate a great year with excerpts from 17 interviews in one podcast!

 

“How do you get all those great guests?”

 That's a question I recently was flattered to be asked. I am fortunate that Colorado has amazing and generous entrepreneurs.  I think you’ll enjoy this fast-paced highlights reel from 2018.  I’d selected excerpts from 1-3 minutes long from 17 interviews.  Thanks to my engineer and editor, Mike Sandoval at Third & James studios for putting it all together.

 

I decided depart from the pattern of 30 minute interviews and instead share 5 blog posts that I really enjoyed writing, thinking about, then re-writing.  And for those too busy to find and read them on the website, I’ve read and recorded them – please let me know what you think!  For all my posts, go to https://proco360.com/blog.

 

 

“Colorado is just a fabulous environment for entrepreneurs in general, and for the restaurant space in particular.”

Dave Boennighausen, CEO, Noodles & Company

I had no idea of how much fun I’d have interviewing Dave Boennighausen, CEO of Noodles & Company.  This is an iconic Colorado-based fast-casual concept that was suffering a downward trend when Dave took over.  In this interview, Dave shares what they’ve done to turn things around, and it left me with a ton of optimism for the brand!  Valuable business takeaways delivered with upbeat candor.

“Despite what I originally thought, the Bean Project is not a particularly good business model. There is constant tension between the business and the mission.”

Tamra Ryan, CEO, Women’s Bean Project – quote from her book, The Third Law

I’m a huge admirer of the Women’s Bean Project – a non-profit with the mission to change women’s lives by providing stepping stones to self-sufficiency through social enterprise.  Tamra Ryan, CEO, is nationally recognized, an author, and a speaker – her interview will inspire you.

 

Elements Massage CEO explains a business that I’ve always been curious about – I think you’ll find it fascinating too.

“We spend most of our time end energy focused on us – I don’t spend much time worried about what the competition is doing.” Jeremy Morgan, CEO, Elements Massage

I’ve always wondered about how the massage business works, and as you’ll hear in this interview, I just couldn’t fathom how with such a proliferation of massage studios, therapists and studios can still earn a living.  Jeremy Morgan helped me see that the business isn’t what I thought.

Grower’s Organic Customers Refuse to Let the Business Fail – Supporting the CEO, they bring the business back from bankruptcy.

 

“Five farms from all over the country reached out and said we cannot let you fail.”

Brian Freeman, CEO and Founder, Grower’s Organic

We all know that the organic produce industry is huge, and getting bigger.  Brian Freeman is a pioneer who built Grower’s Organic too fast – he “got too far over his skis” and went bankrupt.  With the commitment of supporters and customers, Grower’s Organic has come back and is thriving in a tough market space.  Those curious about the industry will love this interview!