Join Scott Hollrah, founder of Venn Technology, as he takes you "In the Thick of It" with the real stories of founders who are actively navigating the challenges and triumphs of running their businesses. This podcast goes beyond the typical entrepreneurial success stories and delves into the messy, gritty, and sometimes chaotic world of building and growing a company. Get inspired, learn from the experiences of others, and gain insights into what it truly means to be in the thick of the entr ...
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Tune in to FinFactor as we dive into the evolving role of today’s CFO. Each episode features experienced finance leaders and industry experts who share practical insights on emerging technology, financial strategy, and the future of the Office of the CFO. Hosted by Blaine Bertsch, we explore the evolving responsibilities of finance leaders—from adopting automation and AI to navigating today’s complex financial environment and leading digital transformation initiatives. Guests share firsthand ...
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Scott Hollrah on Navigating Data Challenges in Finance
27:15
27:15
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27:15In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch speaks with Scott Hollrah, CEO of Venn Technology, about the often-overlooked challenges finance teams face when working with fragmented data across ERPs, CRMs, and other systems. Scott shares real-world examples of how manual processes bog down efficiency and limit CFOs from making timely, informed deci…
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Ben Taylor on Mastering Multi-Entity Accounting
23:43
23:43
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23:43In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Ben Taylor, CEO of SoftLedger, to explore the growing complexities of accounting in multi-entity organizations. Ben unpacks the operational and financial challenges that surface as businesses scale, especially when relying on outdated systems or manual processes. Together, they discuss the…
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Greg McDonough on Turning Data into Better Business Decisions
23:03
23:03
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23:03In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch welcomes Greg McDonough, Managing Partner at Blackburn Capital and seasoned financial coach, to discuss why clean, consistent financial data is the cornerstone of smart business decisions. Greg shares his experience working with entrepreneurs who often operate on instinct instead of insights, highlightin…
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Modernizing Lease Management with Greg Kautz
17:57
17:57
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17:57In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch is joined by lease accounting expert Greg Kautz to dive into the evolving landscape of lease management. They unpack the growing complexities introduced by new accounting standards, the ongoing reliance on spreadsheets, and the shortcomings of traditional ERP systems. Greg offers practical insights on ho…
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FX, AI & the Payment Revolution with Adam Katz
25:08
25:08
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25:08In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch is joined by Adam Katz for a deep dive into the world of foreign exchange and B2B payments. They explore the payment challenges that CFOs face—from hidden FX fees and inefficiencies to the importance of data and building relationships with FX providers. Adam shares expert insights on how businesses can n…
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Mike Shum on Navigating the Debt Landscape
23:42
23:42
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23:42In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch and Mike Shum dive into the evolving world of private credit and debt financing, shedding light on the challenges businesses face in securing debt and managing financial data. They explore the critical role of transparency, the increasing complexity of debt structures, and how technology—specifically Cas…
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Morgan Hines on Unlocking Cost Savings in Corporate Travel
24:09
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24:09In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine sits down with Morgan Hines to explore the significant impact of travel expenses on small and medium-sized businesses. They dive into the hidden costs of corporate travel management, from human error in booking to missed savings due to lack of access to corporate travel tools. Morgan highlights how Navan is leve…
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Navigating the ERP Journey with Sam Gupta
33:46
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33:46In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch and Sam Gupta dive deep into the intricacies of ERP implementation, a transformative journey that requires meticulous planning, stakeholder engagement, and strategic alignment. They discuss the pivotal role of CFOs in ensuring ERP projects address both financial and operational needs, emphasizing phase z…
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Don’t End up in A.I Hell with Usman Mahmood
33:25
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33:25Join Blaine Bertsch and Usman Mahmood as they dive into the essential groundwork for harnessing AI in business. This episode of FinFactor uncovers why a solid data structure and organizational data maturity are critical before adopting AI technologies. Usman and Blaine break down data maturity stages, highlight AI's transformative role in enhancing…
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The Key to Successful Fundraising with Jonathon Angell
43:59
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43:59In this engaging episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Jonathon Angell to unpack the world of innovative strategies for fundraising and financing in business. They explore diverse financing options, the impact of partnerships, and the importance of networking and relationships in securing funding. They dive into the intricacies of mer…
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The Evolving Role of IT Specialists with Keith Daser
34:20
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34:20In this conversation, Blaine Bertsch and Keith Daser discuss the complexities and challenges that mid-market businesses face when integrating technology solutions. They explore the importance of engaging IT consulting professionals at the right time, the significance of communication during technology purchases, and the lessons learned from past mi…
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Marketing Strategies for CPA Firms with Apoorv Dwivedi
25:36
25:36
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25:36In this conversation, Blaine Bertsch interviews Apoorv Dwivedi of fixer.com about marketing strategies for CPA firms. Apoorv specializes in marketing for small and mid-sized accounting firms and helps them improve their lead-generation efforts. They discuss the importance of focusing on a specific target audience and service offering, building repu…
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Get ready to dive into the entrepreneurial path of ENO8's founder, Jeff Francis. Join us as Jeff takes us from his roots in small-town Farmersville, Texas, to his emergence as a visionary tech entrepreneur. During our conversation, Jeff opens up about the transformative experiences that molded his technology career and the hurdles he's conquered. H…
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Innovative Financing Solutions for Small Businesses with Jennifer Warawa
19:50
19:50
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19:50In this conversation, Blaine Bertsch and Jennifer Warawa discuss innovative financing solutions for small businesses, particularly focusing on payment options available to clients of accounting firms. They explore the differences in market approaches between Australia and the US, the role of CPAs as trusted advisors, and the underwriting process in…
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#44: Matt Wensing, Founder & CEO | Summit
1:32:54
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1:32:54In this episode, we welcome Matt Wensing, founder and CEO of Summit, an innovative low-code/no-code automation platform. Matt shares his journey into the world of B2B tech services. From a young age, Matt has always been curious about his future career path. Initially pursuing political science in college, he soon discovered his true passion was in…
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#43: Seth Frey, Founder & President | Big Frey Branded Goods & Swag Kits
1:08:55
1:08:55
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1:08:55Starting a business is a collaborative effort, as Seth Frey, founder and president of Big Frey, discovered while navigating partnerships and industry changes in promotional products. Seth's entrepreneurial journey began with family inspiration. Post-college, he and his brother established Granny's Goodies, offering exam survival kits to students. B…
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The Benefits of Custom Automation with Wesly Hartman
39:53
39:53
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39:53Wesley Hartman, founder of Automata Practice Development, discusses the implementation of automation in CPA firms. He explains that his company builds custom automation specific to accounting firms, focusing on areas such as client onboarding, tax return processes, and document management. Wesley emphasizes that automation can help increase capacit…
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Go-to-Market Strategies for CPA Firms with Michael Haynes
37:59
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37:59In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch interviews Michael Haynes, a business growth expert, about helping CPA firms grow. They discuss the importance of understanding how clients buy accounting services and the need for a go-to-market strategy that aligns with clients' needs. Michael emphasizes the value of delivering advice, insights, and re…
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In this episode, we feature our first-ever husband and wife duo—Reagan and Elle Pugh—each with their own thriving entrepreneurial ventures. Together, they share the personal and professional experiences that not only brought them together but also fuel their mutual support in business. We explore key topics like the value of mentorship, navigating …
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Toolbox Series: Chris Hamilton on Employee Health Benefits
1:01:05
1:01:05
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1:01:05Navigating employee benefits can be a major hurdle for business owners. Selecting insurance plans—from health to dental to vision—can be daunting, with decisions affecting team members and their families. In this episode, we welcome Chris Hamilton of Hotchkiss Insurance. He shares valuable insights on choosing practical, cost-effective benefit plan…
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#41: Steffie Tomson, Founder & CEO of Getaway Sticks
1:20:20
1:20:20
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1:20:20In this episode, we welcome Steffie Tomson, the innovative mind behind Getaway Sticks. Hailing from Houston, Texas, Steffie's journey from a cognitive neuroscience researcher to footwear entrepreneur is as unique as her product line. Steffie shares her mission to revolutionize women's shoes by marrying style with comfort. She recounts the hurdles s…
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Bringing Simplicity to Financial Reporting with Ed Patton
39:26
39:26
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39:26Ed Patton from PattonTrendr discusses the five elements of financial fundamentals that businesses need to understand: cash flow, operating earnings, financial strength, value, and borrowing capacity. He emphasizes the importance of having visibility into these elements to get a holistic view of the business's financial situation. Catch every episod…
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#40: Rick Girard, Founder & CEO of Intertru
1:15:11
1:15:11
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1:15:11Gut feelings in hiring decisions are a common but flawed approach. Rick Girard's experience in recruitment revealed that many companies often lean on personal biases when selecting or rejecting candidates. This insight led him to create Intertru, a platform leveraging generative AI to promote more objective hiring practices. Rick's story demonstrat…
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4 Founders Have a Chat - In The Thick of It Podcast (LIVE Stream)
1:00:03
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1:00:03Recently we celebrated 1 year of In The Thick of It podcast with a live-streamed episode featuring past guests, including: 👤 Justin Smith, Founder of Ebenezer Consulting 👤 Roy Keely, Founder of FirmStudio 👤 Taylor Brooks, Founder of Simple We hope you enjoy our banter and discussion around business, leadership, and professional development. It was …
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Business Valuation - An Art and a Science with Jonathan Lacasse
40:13
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40:13In this Episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch, CEO of Dryrun interviews Jonathan Lacasse of Lacasse Advisory Services about the world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the current market, the importance of understanding business valuations, and the need for due diligence in buy-side and sell-side tra…
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Anniversary Throwback - #22: Jonathan Lusk, BirdDog
1:19:09
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1:19:09As we near one year since starting In The Thick of It, we're working on a celebratory episode. In the meantime, we'd love for you to catch up on some founder stories you may have missed. In this episode, we learn from Jonathan Lusk, an entrepreneur who grew up in a small town in Texas before going on to attend Texas A&M and build a career in wealth…
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Anniversary Throwback - #17: Taylor Brooks, Simple Donation
1:44:14
1:44:14
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1:44:14As we near one year since starting In The Thick of It, we're working on a celebratory episode. In the meantime, we'd love for you to catch up on some founder stories you may have missed. In this episode of In the Thick of It, host Scott interviews Taylor Brooks, founder and CEO of Simple Donation. Taylor shares his journey from growing up in Atlant…
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Anniversary Throwback - #6: Clayton Flurry, Flurry's Market
1:40:05
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1:40:05As we near one year since starting In The Thick of It, we're working on a celebratory episode. In the meantime, we'd love for you to catch up on some founder stories you may have missed. Clayton Flurry is the Founder of Flurry’s Market + Provisions, a beloved local butcher shop and grocery store in Flower Mound, Texas. After spending nearly two dec…
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Anniversary Throwback - #1: Chelsea Curtis, Seaport Consulting
40:09
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40:09As we near one year since starting In The Thick of It, we're working on a celebratory episode. In the meantime, we'd love for you to catch up on some founder stories you may have missed. Last year, we kicked off the podcast with our first guest: Chelsea Curtis, Founder & Managing Partner of Seaport Consulting, a successful Salesforce consulting fir…
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#39: Robert (Bob) Bowdon, Founder & CEO | VerityPay and Verity Advisors
1:26:08
1:26:08
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1:26:08Entrepreneurial journeys often take unexpected turns, sometimes leading to extraordinary success. In this episode, we explore Robert (Bob) Bowden's transition from landman to thriving business owner. Bob shares his experience founding two distinct companies: Verity Advisors, which assists in unclaimed property recovery, and VerityPay, offering text…
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#38: Joni Girardi, Founder & CEO | DataSelf
1:37:46
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1:37:46This episode features Joni Girardi, founder and CEO of DataSelf, a business helping mid-sized organizations use data and analytics to gain a competitive edge. Joni's fascination with technology began in his youth, sparked by learning about the unidirectional flow of electrons in diodes. Initially pursuing electrical engineering, he later switched t…
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Toolbox Series: Candace Sandifer on Estate Planning for Business Owners
1:03:46
1:03:46
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1:03:46Estate planning may not be the first thing on your mind when launching a business, but it's a crucial step that shouldn't be overlooked. In this episode, we dive into the world of asset protection with estate planning attorney, Candace Sandifer. She outlines key measures entrepreneurs should implement to safeguard their business interests. Candace …
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#37: Kasey Sisson, Founder | Kasey S Consulting
1:24:58
1:24:58
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1:24:58In this episode of "In The Thick of It," Kasey Sisson discusses her journey from recent graduate to successful entrepreneur. After completing her Masters in Organizational Communication in 2019, Kasey leveraged her creative abilities and passion for teaching to establish her own marketing agency, Kasey S Consulting. Kasey shares both the highs and …
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FP&A: From the Basics to Strategic Influence with Christian Wittig
35:27
35:27
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35:27In this episode of FinFactor, host Blaine Bertsch sits down with FP&A expert Christian Wattig to explore the evolution from basic Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) to a strategic role that influences corporate strategy. They dive into the crucial steps businesses must take for this transition, emphasizing the importance of establishing dedicat…
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Toolbox Series: Yobany Mayen on Banking Partnerships
1:03:11
1:03:11
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1:03:11In this In The Thick of It Toolbox episode, Yobany Mayen, Senior Vice President at Encore Bank, talks about the importance of entrepreneurs and businesses having a solid banking relationship. Scott and Yobany discuss the impact of interest rates, the role of personal guarantees, cash management, fraud prevention, and lending processes for small to …
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Toolbox Series: Laura Neathery on Marketing & Branding
53:10
53:10
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53:10Unlock the power of strategic marketing for your startup or small business. In this insightful episode, Laura Neathery, founder of LJ Consulting & Marketing, shares her expertise on the invaluable role of partnering with a marketing agency. Discover the ideal timing to engage an agency and the key qualities to prioritize for a successful collaborat…
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#36: Sam Bluntzer, Owner | Blue Ribbon Rain Gutter
1:38:49
1:38:49
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1:38:49On this episode of In The Thick of It, Scott sits down with Sam Bluntzer, owner of Blue Ribbon Rain Gutter in Fort Worth, Texas. Sam shares his unique path to entrepreneurship, from growing up in the small town of New Braunfels, Texas to becoming a Marine Corps fighter pilot and eventually taking over a gutter business just two weeks before the COV…
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Bonus Episode: Happy Memorial Day with Scott Hollrah
2:40
2:40
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2:40This week, we're taking a pause to celebrate Memorial Day and honor those who have served. Many people often think of Memorial Day as the start of summer, but I encourage everyone to take a moment to remember those who've sacrificed themselves for our freedom in the United States. While Veterans Day honors both living and deceased veterans, Memoria…
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#35: Randy Steinle, Co-Founder & CEO | Cyber Trust Alliance, Inc.
1:29:54
1:29:54
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1:29:54In this episode of “In The Thick of It,” Scott welcomes Randy Steinle, CEO and co-founder of Cybertrust Alliance based in Austin, Texas. Randy shares his journey from growing up in New Jersey to studying business and economics at Wheaton College in Chicago, and how his early career experiences in sales and leadership roles at various technology com…
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#34: Ray Blakney, Founder & CEO | Rayvensoft Ventures
1:40:46
1:40:46
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1:40:46In this episode of “In The Thick of It,” we're joined by Ray Blakney, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Rayvensoft Ventures, a holding company for multiple successful online businesses. Ray recounts his diverse upbringing, from his birth in the Philippines to his childhood in Turkey and eventual move to the United States. He shares his experi…
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#33: Ahmed Qureshi, Co-Founder, President & COO | BILT
1:38:22
1:38:22
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1:38:22On this episode of In The Thick of It, Scott meets with Ahmed Qureshi, Co-Founder President & COO of BILT, a revolutionary app utilizing 3D technology to deliver interactive and immersive environments to users. BILT's goal is to help companies put their products in the hands of customers through a digital format. Ahmed shares life before launching …
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Unlocking ERP Potential with Gene Hammons
51:32
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51:32In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch and Gene Hammons discuss selecting and implementing the right ERP system. They cover the crucial roles of training, change management, and internal team engagement for successful implementation. They also touch on managing costs, avoiding implementation fatigue, and the limitations of traditional RFPs. G…
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#32: George Baker, Operating Partner | Rujo Boots
1:11:12
1:11:12
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1:11:12This episode of In The Thick of It features George Baker, Operating Partner at RUJO Boots. George has an extensive career that all started with helping people find the perfect parking spot. After years of using traditional management methods, George founded ParkHub to optimize parking operations with innovative technology and subscription-based mod…
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#31: Marcus Jeffrey, Co-Founder & VP | Expansion, FreeFuse
1:35:09
1:35:09
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1:35:09On this episode of In The Thick of It, we're joined by Marcus Jeffrey, co-founder of FreeFuse, an interactive video platform focused on creating immersive content experiences online. Marcus shares stories of his upbringing and recounts early ventures into his entrepreneurial journey, including starting a catering business and a vending management c…
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#30: Roy Keely, Founder | Firm Studio
1:23:30
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1:23:30Today’s episode features Roy Keeley, founder of Firm Studio. Roy is a life-long entrepreneur who started his career selling baseball cards as a kid. Not much has changed since then, only now he’s selling technology and helping businesses bring products to life. Roy shares stories about his upbringing and life post-college, taking a job in circuit b…
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Toolbox Series: Adam Curran on Commercial Real Estate
1:00:38
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1:00:38In this bonus episode of In the Thick of It, a longtime friend of Scott’s, Adam Curran, gives his advice on how business owners should go about leasing or buying their first property. Adam Curran, Managing Principal at Holt Lunsford Commercial, shares the importance of working with an experienced broker and the qualifying questions you should be as…
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Toolbox Series: Chris Goheen on HR & Payroll Solutions for SMBs
36:20
36:20
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36:20In this bonus episode of In the Thick of It, Scott is joined by Chris Goheen, President of Workforce Go!, a leading HR and payroll solutions provider. Handling payroll and HR functions in-house can be complex and time-consuming, especially for growing SMBs. Chris covers the common challenges business owners face, such as keeping up with changes in …
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#29: Scott Hollrah, Founder & CEO | Venn Technology
1:34:52
1:34:52
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1:34:52On this episode of In The Thick of It, the tables are turned and Scott sits in the hot seat to tell his own founder story. Melissa Bell, Director of Sales and Marketing at Venn Technology, asks Scott all his favorite questions about his own entrepreneurial experiences. He shares memories of life growing up, his college days at Texas A&M, and the jo…
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Toolbox Series: Patrick Tam on Outsourced Accounting
43:14
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43:14In this bonus episode of In the Thick of It, outsourced accounting expert Patrick Tam joins Scott to discuss the advantages of third-party financial support for any business. Running the financial and accounting aspects of a business is complex, time consuming, and often outside of the wheelhouse for most entrepreneurs and business owners. That’s w…
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In this episode of FinFactor, Blaine Bertsch and Mike Milan discuss the concept of “the financial gap” and its impact on businesses. They explore the challenges of managing inventory, the importance of optimizing inventory levels, the financial gap in service businesses and the need to maximize revenue by avoiding idle time. The conversation highli…
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