Talking Risks

Jamie is the Vice President of Franchise Development for Resting Rainbow Pet Memorials & Cremations.

IT ALL STARTED WITH KELLY KABOB

This week we chat with Angela Cote' founder of AC, Inc. Franchise Growth Catalyst.

Angela Cote (our fearless leader) has NOT been in franchising. She has experience on the franchisor side, as a multi-unit franchisee, and as a field coach.

Her dad founded the iconic Canadian Franchise brand M&M Food Markets and she grew up in the franchise space (she even dressed up as Kelly Kabob as a kid at grand openings).

From her life in franchising, Angela learned that strategic, ethical franchising means having specific frameworks and systems in place to optimize profitability. She founded AC Inc. to bring these systems and frameworks to help more franchisors succeed.

This week we sit down with Jason James and listen to his journey through the military and now founder of a very successful health and wellness chiropractic office and much, much more.

Why Our Approach is Different?
At James Healthcare & Associates Inc. we offer an array of services not found in most healthcare settings. Our ability to offer the best in medical and alternative treatments in one location means that our patients have more options. Our team will work with you to develop a treatment plan that makes sense for you.

Make today the day that you change your life and your health. Schedule a free consultation today with our team so that we can get a better understanding of your needs. We will work with you one on one to help you overcome the pain you are experiencing.

We look forward to hearing from you! (319) 524-3339

This week we sit down with Danelle Brown founder of  Queen Bee Consulting

At Queen Bee Consulting, Danelle specializes in branded, emotive video storytelling that engages and intrigues, turning viewers into subscribers and subscribers into clients. So whether you’re answering frequently asked questions, showcasing your products, or interviewing happy customers, I can help you establish yourself as the expert you are and stand out in a crowded market.

When you partner with Queen Bee Consulting, Danelle can make video marketing simple through a full lineup of solutions, including:

-Developing a long-term marketing strategy that focuses on your goals       and the topic ideas your customers are searching for

-Storyboarding and scriptwriting that give you control of your message

-Optimizing content so your videos are easily found on YouTube and Google

-Helping you build trusting, genuine relationships with customers by  sharing your expertise

-Turning viewers into brand advocates by creating viral content they can’t wait to share with friends and colleagues.

-Embedding your YouTube content in emails, on your website, and in  other marketing platforms for maximum ROI

We sit down with Dan King founder of Heaterz Hot Chicken and owner of Alton Sports Tap

Dan has a great story from nurse to Entrepreneur.  Also, check out their Facebook and Instagram pages and watch these guys GROW!

We sit down with Damon and Melissa Bounds, Founders of Revheads this week.

Damon and Melissa decided to open this dealership because they wanted change. They were tired of seeing the bigger shops ruining the joy of buying a classic car.

Their promise is for BOTH their buyers and sellers. Their pledge includes transparency, the buying process, and most importantly the car's condition! Damon and Melissa have also tried to figure out how to make their pricing fair and enticing so people will come to join the Revheads family.

They are not just another consignment shop. They are gearheads that love this hobby just like their future customers. So give them a chance to show you how selling your car should be!

This week we sit down with Richard Ashe, CEO and Founder of Veteran Franchise Advisers.

Rich Ashe is the founder and president of VFA and has 30 years of corporate, entrepreneurial, and franchise business experience. Rich served in the Marine Corps from 1976 to 1983. After serving in the Marines, he compiled over three decades of experience in business, received his degree in marketing and business management, and worked his way up the corporate ladder to vice president of global marketing for an international software company. During his career, Ashe has helped companies such as Chase Bank, Xerox, and Compaq Computer expand or start new businesses. He also participated in four startups, two IPO and launched two entrepreneurial businesses on his own – a computer training firm, CompuTutor, and a network consulting firm, LANDeZign. Rich is a Certified Franchise Consultant, a member of the Franchise Brokers Association, and served on the International Franchise Association VetFran committee from 2011 to 2013.

This week we sit down with Dan Beck who is the owner and founder of Midwest Meals.  www.Midwestmeals.com

Dan was always active between sports and working out. He is from a small rural northern Wisconsin town but had the opportunity to live in Southern California and study the health and fitness culture on the west coast.

When he returned to Wisconsin in 2015, Dan had the realization that there were no meal prep services in a multi-state radius. As he finished his degree, he decided to launch Midwest Meals out of a shared commercial kitchen and operated as lean as possible. Week after week, their clients kept telling friends and family about Midwest Meals

They quickly outgrew the shared commercial kitchen and began construction of a brand new, state-of-the-art facility in Eau Claire, WI the spring of 2017. After a long period of construction, they finally opened a brand new storefront and commercial kitchen at the beginning of 2018 - where they currently produce all of the meals.

Midwest Meals are based on a rounded macronutrient intake, aiming for approximately 30% protein, 30% fats, and 40% carbs. However, we try to keep our meals as versatile as possible to accommodate specific dietary guidelines or goals.

They are a very science-first company and actively look at the new and existing research around nutrition and what works!

This week we sit down with Doug Stritzel the Founder/ CEO of Pickelman's Gourmet Cafe.

“Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe” is a QSR company specializing in “Hirer Quality Food, Freshly Prepared.”
Our menu provides the best options of quality food that appeals to all age groups and ethnicities.
Our signature products include Award-winning many times over simply one of the best Toasted sandwiches, Gourmet Fresh Chopped Salads, proprietary soups, and thin-crust specialty pizzas. With more than thirty proprietary products, which include our own white and wheat bread, all the soups, all salad dressings, and a made from scratch Chocolate Chip cookies to name a few.
The first Picklemans restaurant opened in October of 2005. The first franchised unit opened in 2009, and in 2010 Pickleman's has grown from 3 locations to 24 locations in five midwestern states.
In 2022, our first system-wide Average Unit sales disclosure contained in our FDD reports system-wide sales just shy of thirty million dollars with 24 units for a system-wide Average Unit Volume of $1,271,500 per unit.
Throughput in assembly-line fashion our original design is capable of industry-leading sales volumes. In addition, our first Drive-thru exceeded 2.1 million in sales in its first full calendar year of operations in an end cap location with a modest traffic count.
2022 will mark the first year we will invest in Marketing Our Franchising Opportunity.
Our team is scaling up expecting to be prepared to open an average of two to three stores per month by the first quarter of 2023.
In 2022, we have six locations under development with four potential new locations under lease/purchase negotiations and 14 outstanding units under Area Development Agreements.
We are a people and their Family's first company, our metrics and brand loyalty afford our Brand the ability to pay above scale.

There are no Gimmicks, no burgers, no fried chicken, just good food, freshly prepared.
Big Dill our mascot, DillVille, USA is coming to a town near you!

This week we sit down with Randy Madison,  founder of Madison Rug Cleaning.

https://youtu.be/z4Q3rQb0OtQ

Madison provides powerful carpet, rug and upholstery cleaning that leaves your home and your workplace feeling clean, healthy, and fresh. Their powerful machinery is what makes us unique and allows deep cleaning of your rugs and carpets!

There’s nothing quite like a clean, deodorized, disinfected, and sanitized home and workspace. Here in Madison County and southern Illinois, Madison Cleaning Services is a company that prides itself on delivering exactly that. Homeowners and business owners alike rely on us to provide a completely clean and we are proud to say, we do not disappoint. Give us a call today to book our services.

This week we sit down with Adam Kruse,  founder of Hermann London Real Estate. 

Hermann London is the most trusted name in St. Louis real estate.  For more than a decade, they’ve been helping people to buy and sell residential and commercial properties in St. Louis while delivering exceptional services.  Driven by their experienced REALTORS®, Hermann London approaches every transaction with cutting-edge technology and unparalleled insight into the St. Louis market. In everything they do, they strive to put the interests of their clients first and are motivated by your success — not commission. They are not just real estate agents; their personal advocates, business advisors, and neighbors, committed to helping grow vibrant and thriving communities in St. Louis for you and your family.

This week we sit down with Jason Durnett to discuss Cannabis, CBD & Hemp products.  Jason has crafted multiple cannabis & hemp products to meet your unique needs of personal wellness.

Below are the links to Jason's products and resources to learn more.

This week we sit down with Brad Pfitzner and Steve Oravec founders of ApexNetwork Physical Therapy.

At ApexNetwork Physical Therapy, we provide relief from the aches and pains that keep you from enjoying life. Our therapists are experts in the field. We listen, understand and develop customized treatment plans based on combined goals you set with us. From your first appointment until your last treatment, we remain focused on your health and ensure your progress one visit at a time.

In this episode, we sit down with Bernie is the founder and President of Axel Transportation.

AXEL is the trusted transportation provider for the logistics needs of healthcare and education institutions. AXEL delivers transportation solutions specifically tailored to each client’s needs and focused on the customer experience.

In this episode, Eric interviews Ricky on the journey that built NutritionHQ.

Ricky was approved to start franchising NutritionHQ in 2020 and franchised his first store on October 20, 2020, to a former Complete Nutrition manager.  He has over 20 years of franchise experience as an owner and operator. He is also a veteran of the Air Force and has over 30 years of coaching, leading, and guiding individuals to success.

NutritionHQ. is “Solution Focused” and we will do everything in our power to help you reach your goals. If we don’t have the products or tools, we will refer you to the expert that does. We love to see our customers nine-ten times per year; if you are visiting our store nine-plus times per year we are both successful.

This week we sit down with Mr. BBQ, Kiwan Guyton. Founder of Mr. BBQ at Mystic Oak

In this episode, we sit down with Bob Spurlock founder of The Spurlock Group and Cerveza Bros.

The Spurlock Group specializes in helping clients understand the process of selling and buying a business.  They combine the experience of a large firm with the personal attention that only a small firm can combine.  Our clients have told us that there is a distinct difference in the level of service they experience with our company. We believe we really can and do make a difference.

Cerveza Bros is a Lifestyle clothing line.  The Cerveza Bros are a couple of guy's that like to live life to the fullest, challenge themselves and push their own internal and personal limits. Respectful of others but always letting everyone know they can come along for the ride.

In this episode, we sit down with Shawn Kober, founder of Big Planet Media.

Big Planet Media is a video production company providing high-end production services based out of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. We are proud to create compelling and high-quality video content for corporate, commercial, entertainment, and non-profit.

Specializing in Video Production / Aerial Photography and Video Editing Big Planet Media is a production company based out of Camdenton Missouri

In this episode, we sit down with Ron McCormick, founder of Heartland Supported Living.

Heartland Supported Living, Inc. was established in 1997. At that time, the company provided Individualized Supported Living (ISL) services to individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities.  There were two administrative staff and one secretary whose desk was a card table and she used a princess phone. Many of you probably don’t know what a princess phone is…. it was a very basic phone.

Today, Heartland has 10 administrative staff, hundreds of support staff and provides Individualized Supported Living (ISL), Personal Assistance and in-home respite services through a contract with the Department of Mental Health (DMH), as well as Personal Care, Nurse visits and In-Home Respite to individuals with health and mobility concerns through a contract with the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). Our sister company Heartland Resource Council is a not-for-profit that offers Consumer Directed Services to individuals with health and mobility concerns through a DHSS contract.

In this episode, we sit down with Jillian Tedesco, founder of Fit-Flavors.

Jillian began producing healthy, all-natural, pre-cooked/packaged meals that are portion controlled and ready to heat and eat. It started with cooking for a handful of clients that I was personal training…mostly as a favor to them because they did not have the time, knowledge, or care to cook. What I quickly found was that these clients were losing weight, gaining muscle, training harder and just felt better overall while eating the food I was preparing.

The rest is history. It’s now our goal here at fit-flavors to make the world healthier…one person, one meal at a time. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, gain muscle, improve your health, or you’re just crunched for time and looking to keep a few healthy meals in your fridge… fit-flavors has a solution for you!”

This is the fifth Lake of The Ozarks episode.

In this episode, we sit down with Alli Carrol, founder of Nauti Girl Fitness.

AlliZen is a choreographer, dancer, burlesque performer/producer, published model, and certified pole fitness and dance instructor!  She has been teaching and performing for the last 8 years in Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis.

Check out her Facebook and Instagram page in the below link.

This is the fourth episode of our Lake of The Ozarks onsite shows.

In this episode, we sit down with Valerie Donnelson, founder of Prescription To Charter

Valorie is a military veteran, entrepreneur, and hustler.  Listen to Valerie discuss her journey from childhood challenges, to a military career, to entrepreneurship.  If you're needing a boat charter for Lake of the Ozarks, Valerie is your Captain.  Enjoy!

Check out her Facebook page in the below link.

This is the third episode of our Lake of The Ozarks onsite shows.

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Harmison and Sharon Wheeler founders of Harmy's.

Michael and Sharon opened Harmy's Cheese Store and More, LLC in May 2015 as an extension of their already successful Fundraising business that centers around Wisconsin cheeses and other complementary products. Michael and Sharon chose the Lake of the Ozarks as their new home both for themselves and the new business after many years of visiting the area for conventions.

Wade Covington #1 Ranked Century 21 Real Estate Professional in Missouri

Awarded President’s Award and the #1 Century 21 Real Estate Professional in Missouri during 2019 & 2020.

I am not your average professional – and you shouldn’t settle for average.

After retiring from the Marine Corps in 2012, it was important to me in finding an industry that allowed me to continue serving people and providing a service that also helped them.  I have been honored to help single mothers, newly wedded couples, newly retired couples, and so many others reach their dream of home ownership.

I would love to serve you and your family and provide you with the level of service you should expect from a Real Estate Professional.

This is the first of six episodes that we did from The Lake of the Ozarks.  We sit down with Jeff Super and Mary Jung the founders of Jeffrey's Prime Rib and Lobster in Osage Beach, MO 65065.  Jeff and Mary talk about the start of their restaurant and the impact of COVID.  

About the Restaurant

Jeffrey's is located in what many remember as Mitch & Duff's restaurant which was part of the Dogwood Hills golf course before it closed to make way for the massive Arrowhead Centre development. The restaurant has been completely remodeled and upgraded to reflect the restaurant success Jeff and Mary have enjoyed for more than thirty years at the lake.

We sit down with Season Elliott, CEO of Wise Choice Foods.  Season dared to enter the frozen pizza market with her Wise Pies brand when any grocer already had 100 feet of coolers stacked full of pizzas.  900 grocery stores later, Season shows us how it's possible to enter ANY market so long as you have a true, superior value proposition.

Kristen Pechacek, CFE is wicked smart and is in charge of the growth of a premium spa called "MassageLuXe".  Follow her journey from branding and promotions for the Vikings Football Organization to some of the largest health and fitness chains in the country to MassageLuXe.

Brian Bowe (The Guy's Place Founder) joins us and tells us how he built a large retail chain of hair-cutting salons while still keeping his toes in corporate America.  Brian teaches us a ton about the transition that can be achieved from a regular day job to a successful, national, entrepreneurial venture, all while balancing family life.  Brian also explains how the development of extensive systems, procedures, and efficiencies is critical in maintaining his chain.  Our time with Brian and The Guy's Place was fun and extremely informative.

We sit down with Kassaundra Schario  of St. Louis Marketing Consultants and discuss how to effectively use Instagram, Facebook and Linked-In to get your message out there and drive traffic to your business.

We sit down with serial entrepreneur Munsok So, founder of So Hospitality Group, who shares with us his creative rise from college party organizer to the creator of iconic brands like The Drunken Fish and Kimchi Guys.  From humble beginnings to the creation of brands and systems and operational protocols permits Munsok and So Hospitality to continue to grow to great heights.  We had a blast chatting with Munsok and learning the lessons from his drive, patience, and creativity.

Join us for a fantastic discussion with a true renascence man.  From humble beginnings to a legacy unmatched by 99% of Americans.  A great conversation about core values, roots, family, humility, giving back, and entrepreneurialism with Bret Rasch.  From small-town America to an estate in Las Cabos, Bret has down so much; with so much to come!  Be inspired!

Tim spent 25 years in the corporate broadcasting world, the last 16 years were with CBS Radio in St. Louis. There, he worked with countless clients, having to write commercials for everything from multi-million dollar homes, to ice cream, tires, etc. Virtually anything you can think of!

Jill owns and has owned and sold millions of dollars of VRBOs and AirBNBs at the Lake of the Ozarks.

She is an expert on identifying properties that will rent, negotiating the acquisition of those properties, preparing those properties for rental, pricing those properties, managing those properties and operating those properties for maximum results.

She also is the owner of LOZ Vacations through which she manages other peoples’ VRBO properties at the Lake of the Ozarks.

She will share with us how she got started, her successes, her surprises, lessons learned, strategies, and a number of hilarious rental, maid, vendor, and Lake of the Ozarks stories along the way.

Listeners should have a much better grasp, by the end of the show, of what’s involved in and how to maximize the benefits of a VRBO / AirBNB business.

Prior to our discussion with Jill, Eric and Ricky will discuss the impact of runaway college tuition and entrepreneurialism.

Eric Riess & Ricky Hall

Ricky Hall: Air Force Veteran, GNC Franchisee, Complete Nutrition Franchisee and Founder of NutritionHQ.

Eric Riess: Greensfelder Law, Lathrop GPM Law, Franchise Broker’s Association, Founder of Aspen Law.