The Small Nation Podcast

Welcome to episode 69 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. On this episode we talk with the CEO of Quest Federal Credit Union, Matthew Jennings, about how credit unions support their communities and how leaders can get involved. Listen as Matt shares his experience with serving on boards and supporting the community by using your time, treasure, and talent. Title Sponsor

This is episode 68 of the Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. We love connecting with individuals who are driving positive change in their community. The work that Tracie Sanchez and her team has done in Lima, Ohio with The Central District is truly incredible. Listen in as she speaks on how she was able to double down on her network to turn some of the most troubled areas of her community into an entertainment district.

Title Sponsor

Welcome to episode 67 of the Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. Have you ever wished that someone would take more action and invest into the building stock of the your community? Well that is exactly what The Van Wert County Foundation has done. Listen as Seth Baker, CEO of the foundation, talks about how they innovated by moving their traditional investments on Wall Street to investing the money back into the community by purchasing 56 buildings and the impact it has on the community!

Title Sponsor

This is episode 66 of the Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. We have found that many entrepreneurs open more than one business somewhere along their entrepreneurial journey. Andrea is a Bellefontaine, Ohio champion and has seen success by doubling down on her T Shirt side business and growing it into something truly impressive. Listen as she shares this journey, and how it has opened doors for her expand into her second, third, and fourth businesses and make a significant impact on her community.

Title Sponsor

Welcome to episode 65 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. Sometimes, as entrepreneurs, we need to check to see if the work we are putting in aligns with our goals, values, and where we want to go in life. We have found that some of the most successful entrepreneurs have had moments in their lives where they've made major changes and became very intentional about thinking about how they think. Listen as Michael Simmons share's his story and how he made the changes necessary for his life with some practical pieces of advise for those going through a similar stage in their journey.

Title Sponsor

This is episode 64 of the Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. Tax season is upon us, and it can be a very stressful time for many business owners. However, the right accountant can make all the difference. Listen as Jacob Badenhop talks about some best practices for entrepreneurs when working with their financial professionals as well as his own entrepreneurial journey.

Title Sponsor

Welcome to episode 63 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. If you are curious about how state policy is made or how to get involved in your state's legislation, this episode is for you. State Representative Susan Manchester shares her story, how she works to represent her district, and a few lesson's she's learned from her time in leadership.

Title Sponsor

This is episode 62 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. This episode is packed with great ideas to make your community a destination. Our guests are two of the best that has to offer and are vital pieces of the success we have seen in Logan County.

Title Sponsor

This is episode 61 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. The Crooked Can Brewing Company in Hilliard, Ohio has truly become a destination and an attraction for the area. On this episode, we dive into how Megan and Rob Fry along with their other partners, used a licensing agreement to bring a thriving business to central Ohio. We believe that their success can be used as a case study for many of our listeners to see a big vision come to life. Title Sponsor

Welcome to episode 60 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. We know that insurance can be difficult to understand and even frustrating at times. This is why we are are thrilled to share this conversation we had with the Matt Simon, the president of Coverlink Insurance. Listen as he explains the insurance landscape and challenges our listeners to think about the importance of having the right coverage. Title Sponsor

This is episode 59 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. You have heard us talk about the need for housing on previous episodes, but on this episode we were hosting two guests that are tackling this problem head on. The President and Owner, Doug Fosnaugh, and Sales Manager, Lauren Newsom, of Monticello Homes share the landscape of the home building industry and some of the challenges that are playing into the current situation. They also share some valuable insight into how communities might attract builders like them to combat this housing crisis.

Welcome to episode 56 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. One of the trends that we have noticed when interviewing podcast guests is just how many start down the path of entrepreneurship and find themselves developing real estate. Many times, it is more than one project. Listen in as we hear how Jamon Sellman began his entrepreneurial journey that led him to not only open his own insurance agency and brewery, but also to make intentional real estate plays that are positively impacting his community.

This is episode 55 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. Local markets such as farmer's markets and similar concepts have a huge economic impact on a community. Listen as Brad and Christina tell the story of why their business is so important to them and how they are helping entrepreneurs in their area get in front of customers.

Welcome to episode 52 of The Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. This week are excited to share the conversation we had with Shary Duff, Jason Duff's mother. Listen as she shares her experience coming back to entrepreneurship in a new season of life to open not one, but two stores in Downtown Bellefontaine.

Title Sponsor

Welcome to episode 51 of The Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small town success. Listen as the Executive Director of the Springfield Small Business Development Center, Rob Alexander, shares some of the resources that are available to aspiring entrepreneurs all around the country. From business plan formation to special financing, SBDCs have several free programs that may surprise you. In this episode, we talk through a few success stories of the program and how to strategically take advantage of these programs to see your community win.

Title Sponsor

This is episode 50 of the Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. This is the final episode of season one of the show. Listen as Jason Duff and Ethan DeLeon reflect on previous episodes and share more information on what is to come for the podcast and for Small Nation as a company.

The Small Nation podcast will return.

Welcome to episode 49 of the Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. One of the first things we look for in communities that we work with is a unique food and beverage scene. Are they facilitating live music? We have found that these types of efforts to be the catalyst for development, health, and growth in small town economies. Brad Winner comes from a family business that works with both local grocery stores and restaurants. Listen as he talks about the impact it can have on a community and why it's so important to see these areas thrive.

Welcome to episode 46 of The Small Nation Podcast!

The journey into entrepreneurship looks different for many people, and we love sharing those stories with our audience. In this episode, we cover Joel Holland's journey after a successful 9 figure sale of the business that he built from the ground up. His perspective of unlocking new levels in different seasons of life is consistent with what we see in the lives of many entrepreneurs we interact with. Does a sale like that provide happiness for the long term, and how does one move into the next stage of life after that? These are questions Joel had to face and shared his lessons with us!

Guest Links:

Welcome to episode 45 of The Small Nation Podcast! We are honored to have the President and CEO of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, Karen Kerrigan, as guest on the show. In this episode we dive into conversations around why it is important to build relationships with national leaders and how small businesses can have a voice in federal legislation. We also dive into a few trending topics such as the current credit crunch and even how the Metaverse may impact small business at a national level. Guest Links:

Welcome to episode 44 of The Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. If you love hearing from business owners and entrepreneurs about what drives them, you will love this episode. Listen as Chestly Lunday and Jeremy Candelaria talk about their friendship and journey into entrepreneurship. They talk about their differences and how they are able to work together. We also enjoyed hearing about what matters most to them and how they are able to build businesses around those priorities. Guest Links:

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Many times entrepreneurs can get discouraged with the endless setbacks that face them. Listen as Sarah Kelsey shares her story and how she went from pawning off a wedding ring to building a business that is selling in over 20 different countries. Her business, Rhinestone Lipgloss, is located in Wapakoneta, Ohio and is not only creating widely respected product, but also innovating the wedding, pageant, and horse show industries. We also touch on how she was able to purchase a commercial property and create her dream storefront with short term rentals for an amazing client experience without any previous loans. This a great listen for any entrepreneur needing to hear how someone can make it happen!

Guest Links:

Rhinestone Lipgloss: https://rhinestonelipgloss.com

Rhinestone Lipgloss Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RhinestoneLipgloss

Rhinestone Lipgloss Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhinestonelipgloss/?hl=en

Sarah Kelsey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=12438472

Small Nation:

This is episode 42 of the Small Nation Podcast!This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Have you ever wondered where new technologies for vehicles are tested? Transportation Research Center Inc. is North America’s most advanced, independent mobility testing service provider, fulfilling the complex engineering, research, evaluation and testing needs of the world’s leading transportation companies, and the headquarters are located in East Liberty, Ohio. Listen as Brett Roubinek, the president and CEO, shares how this facility is innovating the world of transportation and what economic impact it has on the local area!

Guest Links:

Welcome to episode 40 of the Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. This episodes highlights an entrepreneur who has lived on both coasts and ultimately made the decision to move his business to the Midwest. Listen as Anderson Schoenrock shares his story of optimizing his business for cashflow and why he decided to make that move. Engaging community leaders to cultivate and entrepreneurial culture is another point of discussion of this episode and how it can benefit you in practical ways.

Guest Links:

Welcome to episode 35 of the Small Nation Podcast! This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Conversations around boutiques in the downtown is a common occurrence for us. Why not hear from someone who is doing a great job in not just one store front, but two? Nikki Winner opened unboxed Boutique in Tipp City, Ohio and expanded into Bellefontaine, Ohio. Listen to her story and discover how boutiques can be a powerful tool to drive economic development in the downtown.

Guest Links: 

Welcome to episode 34 of the Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. If you are from a small town, you know just important the role of the local churches are to the culture of our communities. On today's episode, Pastor Bryan Meadows shares his perspective of the church's role in our communities. How does the church teach leadership, service, and ultimately provide hope to the people in our community? These are all questions that we tackle in this episode.

Guest Links: 

This is episode 33 of The Small Nation Podcast!  This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. We usually like to highlight the high points of being and entrepreneur on this show, but we feel that it would be irresponsible to not acknowledge the true cost and weight that it can have on an individual. Today's guest, Matt Brown, is a former Small Nation employee and went on his own entrepreneurial journey. Listen as he sheds some light on what business ownership cost him along the way of pursuing his dreams.   

Guest Links: 

Welcome to episode 32 of The Small Nation Podcast!  

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. We love the opportunity to sit down with other developers that are making an impact their own community. Luke Henry is taking Marion, Ohio by storm! Listen as he unpacks his journey from pharmacy into real estate and where his journey took him from there. Can you identify some of the parallels between his story and Small Nation's story in Bellefontaine? Could these practices be viable solutions to your communities?   

Guest Links: 

This is episode 31 of The Small Nation Podcast!  

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. If you have ever been confused about the financial world that supports business, you are in good company. Today's guest, Jacob Schroeder, is the founder and CEO of Ascend Consulting, where they believe there is a better approach to traditional accounting. Listen as he not only explains the basics of the financial world, but also dives into the theory behind the way they do business.  

Guest Links: 

This is episode 30 of The Small Nation Podcast!  

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Today's guest is a very special one. Scott Duff, Jason Duff's father, is President and CEO of Ohio Ready Mix and Vice President of Duff Quarry. This episode is not only great episode because it shares some of the background of Ohio Ready Mix and Duff Quarry, but also because it brings a spotlight to family business. We also briefly touch on the impact of Intel and the housing market on the concrete and cement industry.

Guest Links:

Welcome to episode 29 of The Small Nation Podcast!  

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Success in entrepreneurial ventures can largely be dependent on who you decided to work with as you grow and scale your business. Every business has to make decisions that will have legal ramifications. Who you solicit council from on legal matters is a big decision. For several years, Small Nation has worked closely with today's guest, Conner W. Kinsey at Thompson, Dunlap & Heydinger to fill this role of trusted advisors. Listen as we share the impact and significance of having a partner like Conner.  

Guest Links:

Welcome to episode 28 of The Small Nation Podcast!  This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Today's guest, Andrew Hursh shares his experience as a licensed Real Estate Agent in the rapidly growing Columbus, Ohio Market. Becoming a real estate agent can be a very fulfilling career for many people, but it is not always easy. Listen as Andrew shares his journey and the growing and stretching experiences that came with it.  

Guest Links: 

This is episode 27 of The Small Nation Podcast!  

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Curt Wisecup is a facility Sales Rep with Cintas and shares his role in supporting the development in Downtown Bellefontaine. Many episodes on this podcast highlight small business entrepreneurs and what they bring to small town development, but we also wanted to highlight someone like Curt who takes pride in the work that he does within a bigger business model. Keeping the big vision of the positive change that is happening in front of all people makes the small and often "mundane" tasks meaningful.  

Guest Links: 

Welcome to episode 26 of The Small Nation Podcast!  

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. The current economic climate has created an employee shortage that has impacted countless businesses across the country. Small Nation has witnessed the impact of this on our own local businesses. Mindi Wells, founder and managing Attorney at Wells Law, shares some of her recommendations for recruiting talent and where to find them.  

Guest Links: 

This is episode 25 of The Small Nation Podcast!  

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Regardless of where you are in your career, there is always something you can learn. Tarry Summers shares his background and how he got into real estate in the Columbus, Ohio Market. Sometimes failure can be the best teacher, but it is often easier to learn to be coachable and avoid learning lessons the hard way.   

Guest Links: 

We hope you episode 24 of The Small Nation Podcast!  

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Often, an entrepreneur's journey is very unique, and success does not usually happen overnight. Listen as we highlight a local entrepreneur and how one opportunity led him to the next. Jeremey LeVan shares how getting fired from a position was one of the biggest blessings in disguise he has ever experienced.   

Guest Links: 

This is episode 23 of The Small Nation Podcast!  

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Educating youth about entrepreneurship is vital to maintaining a vibrant community. On this week's episode, Liz Nusken talks about her work with the Ohio After School Network and how they partner with the Young Entrepreneur Institute to do just that. This episode is a great resource for anyone looking for programs to engage youth in your area!  

Guest Links: 

Welcome to episode 22 of The Small Nation Podcast!

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. Benji Rabhan, our guest for this week's episode is an experienced entrepreneur with a perspective to share about how the mind of an entrepreneur shifts and changes along their journey. We also learn how much the psychological side of leaders bleed into their organizations and teams. How does the way we see the world affect our relationships? Do you ever feel misunderstood? These are just a few of the promptings that led Benji to the work he does today. 

Guest Links: 

Aboutly: https://about.ly  

This is episode 21 of The Small Nation Podcast!    

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. On this week's podcast, Garrett Gatton and Seth Ciminillo share their experience as real estate agents and investors in the greater Lima area with Hartstock Realty.

Guest Links: 

Welcome to episode 20 of The Small Nation Podcast!    

This podcast is created for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, and economic development. For today's show, we are honored to have the Mayor of Bellefontaine, Ohio, Ben Stahler as our guest. Redevelopment and small-town success require collaboration. Often times, public-private relationships can be hard to navigate or even frustrating. Listen as both sides share their experience of working together to Bellefontaine back on the map.

Guest Links: