Self-Made Is A Myth - Make A Difference Together

Episode #143: Lorraine Ball - Digital Strategist

After spending too many years in Corporate America, Lorraine said goodbye to the bureaucracy, glass ceilings and bad coffee to follow her passion to help small business owners succeed
Today, this successful entrepreneur, author, and professional speaker, enjoys sharing what she knows about marketing in presentations to groups around the county, in college classrooms and in her weekly podcast More than a Few Words. She brings creative ideas, practical tips, and decades of real-world experience to every conversation. In her spare time, she loves to travel, and take photos.
 
 
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com
 

Episode #142: Sam Elsts - My Guy Services

Sam Elsts, a native of Brownsburg, Indiana, pursued his higher education at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), where he earned a degree from the Kelley School of Business with a major in Marketing and minors in Anthropology and International Studies.
While still in college, Sam embarked on his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 18, founding My Guy Services. His venture into pressure washing and exterior cleaning began with a simple Google search for "summer time hustles," quickly evolving into a thriving business that has now celebrated 12 years of success.
Throughout the past decade, Sam's entrepreneurial spirit has led him to establish multiple ventures. Notably, he achieved remarkable success with Indy Roof Rangers, which reached seven-figure revenue within its first two years and was subsequently sold.
Currently, Sam dedicates his efforts to his latest enterprise, Luna Contracting, which specializes in concrete, asphalt, and sealcoating services. Concurrently, he remains actively involved in the marketing and high-level networking endeavors of My Guy Services, while his wife, Cinthia, oversees its day-to-day operations.
Beyond his business ventures, Sam and Cinthia are proprietors of Luna Brands, a cigar company. Sam's entrepreneurial drive has been evident since childhood, when he launched his first business at the age of 8, selling ticket holders and earplugs at the race track.
With a wealth of experience and a passion for innovation, Sam continues to make significant contributions to the business landscape, embodying the essence of a serial entrepreneur.
 
 
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com
 

Episode #141: Jack Shepler - Ayokay

Jack Shepler is the founder of Ayokay, a marketing and web design agency located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Since its inception in 2011, Jack has led Ayokay with a commitment to not just building brands and boosting e-commerce sales but also supporting the vital work of public health and nonprofit organizations. His expertise in the digital arena is not only applied in his leadership but also shared with a broader audience through insightful posts on the Ayokay blog, aiming to demystify the complexities of digital marketing for businesses and organizations.
Recognized for his innovative contributions to the field, Jack was named to the Forbes Next 1000 in 2021, a testament to his and his team's dedication to excellence. Ayokay stands as a testament to Jack's vision of a marketing agency that does more than serve its clients; it also makes a positive impact on the community. With a focus on delivering practical, user-friendly, and impactful solutions, Jack has ensured that Ayokay caters to a diverse clientele, helping them navigate the challenges of the digital world successfully.
Under Jack's guidance, Ayokay has become more than a business; it's a crucial partner for organizations looking to make a significant difference through digital innovation.
Jack is married to his partner of 11 years, Benjamin Ochs, and resides in Indianapolis. He volunteers for the Damien Center board of directors, Indy Pride as its annual Festival Entertainment Director, and Entrepeneurs Organization, of which he recently joined the board as Marketing Director.
Jack has a long history in the music world, more recently DJing once a month at Greg's Our Place in downtown Indianapolis, as well as various other DJ gigs at festivals and corporate events.
In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and spending time outside playing golf or enjoying the pool.
 
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com

Episode #140: Brian Wheeler - Vertical Immersive

Brian Wheeler was born and raised in Kentucky, but has called Indiana his home since 2000. He is married to his wonderful wife Loree and have 6 kids together and 2 grandkids. Brian calls himself a Kingdom entrepreneur following his calling to steward multiple organizations in growth through Kingdom Culture and mindsets. This Kingdom ecosystem is developed around The Vertical Life brand with service companies ranging from wealth management to a cutting edge immersive learning environment called Vertical Immersive, a college alternative for aspiring Christian leaders. Brian firmly believes that we should do "everything unto the Lord" and holds that our work is truly another form of worship to joyfully serve the King of k
 
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com

Episode #139: Steve Iskander - Intrepid Finance

Steve Iskander, the dynamic founder of Intrepid Finance, has redefined the landscape of nationwide financing. Leading Intrepid, a subsidiary of Masik Management Group, Steve focuses on providing seamless, non-dilutive growth capital to diverse businesses. He’s dedicated to making capital access simple and swift, fueling accelerated growth for enterprises at various stages.
Beyond Intrepid, Steve heads Masik Management Group, offering his expertise to companies navigating growth challenges.
With over 15 years in the equipment finance industry, Steve has managed a portfolio of over $500 million and contributed to a Berkshire Hathaway-owned leasing company. His entrepreneurial ventures, including DriverReach and ParcelInsights, showcase his innovative spirit, including ParcelInsights’ acquisition in 2021 by a New York-based equity firm highlights his strategic acumen.
A recognized industry voice, Steve has been featured in prominent publications like Inc Magazine, FleetOwner Magazine, and the Indiana Business Journal. He holds degrees from Indiana University Bloomington, Masters degrees from Ball State University and actively contributes to Ball State’s MBA Advisory Board.
Steve’s strength lies in driving growth, crafting long-term strategies, and enhancing operational efficiency, particularly in the supply chain and logistics sectors. He believes in the transformative power of effective leadership and strategic tools for business growth.
Outside of his professional life, Steve is a dedicated family man and an avid triathlete, having completed numerous IRONMAN races. His endurance in sports mirrors the resilience and determination he brings to his professional pursuits.
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com

Episode #138: Mike Dickerson - Engage Financial Group

Mike Dickerson was born and raised in northwest Indiana. He went to Wabash College in which he Majored in Economics, with a Minor in History. While at Wabash, he met Rebecca. They have now been married for over 17 yrs and have two children.
Mike started in financial planning in May of 2000 with a firm named Diversified Financial Concepts and then went completely independent in 2007. Mike has grown mostly through referrals during that time. While running Engage Financial Group, Mike has continued to add additional educational credentials to make sure he is constantly doing what is best for his clients and staying up on the industry changes. Mike is currently working with about 350 families and businesses on their financial goals.
With Engage Financial Group, Mike and his team help people plan for their most important goals, like making sure they have enough money for the 30-40 yr vacation of retirement, improving their children's education, and optimizing where money should be to make it work harder for you and avoid taxes. At the same time, they help businesses improve retirement offerings and thus employee satisfaction and retention.
In Mike's free time, he enjoys martial arts and helping coach soccer and basketball for his kids.
 
 
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com
 
 
 
 

Episode #137: Andrea Butcher - HRD A Leadership Development Company

Andrea is a visionary—she knows how to lead organizations from big picture to execution through the talent within the business. She is a dynamic speaker, executive coach, and facilitator.
As the CEO of HRD - A Leadership Development Company, she leads a national team of expert facilitators and coaches and drives the organization’s growth strategy. She also hosts a daily leadership podcast, Being [at Work] and is the author of The Power in the Pivot and HR Kit for Dummies. In 2020, she was recognized by the Indianapolis Women’s Journal as a Woman of Influence.
Andrea’s work spans organizations of all sizes and industries all over the world; she has experience in global HR positions, consulting, operations, and executive roles for private and public organizations.
Andrea is also the co-founder and President of Next Gen Talent, a program specifically designed to equip emerging HR leaders for success.
Andrea's greatest achievement is her daughter, Mayson, who is a senior at IU and graduating in May with honors in human biology.
 
 
 
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com

Episode #136: Jerry Vaughn - J. Galt

Jerry Vaughn has worked in the business asset protection industry for 15 years, gaining experience in FEIN Business Credit, Cash Flow Management, Business Valuations, and the understanding of what main street business owners do on a day to day basis. As a seasoned consultant, he is passionate about advancing education and relationships. In addition to being a Business Credit Expert, he is also involved in his local church and community events. Outside of the office, Jerry is a foodie, enjoys cooking, spending time with his family, being outdoors, and American Muscle Cars. Jerry offers a free consultation session to discover how our program can help your business get the access to capital and credit when you need it. Go to https://www.jgalt.io/jerry/ to schedule your free session.
 
 
 
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com

Episode #135: Ana Workman - Absolute Therapy

Ana Workman is the owner of Absolute Therapy, a company that helps school districts find speech therapists via a proprietary process. I also empower speech language pathologists to become six figure school SLPs and more! My practical strategies show speech therapists make at least $100K in a school and help them scale their way to seven figures. SLPs interested in scaling their career can go to 6figureslp.com and connect there for more information or go to anaworkman.com to book a session.
 
 
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com
 

Episode #134: Caleb White - Whites Innovative Glass

Caleb White is a native of West Virginia and moved to Indiana when he was 18. He has settled in Columbus Indiana with his beautiful wife, and three wonderful children.
He has worked in the glazing industry for 10 years and started his own business in 2019. He managed the business out of his home before moving into a renovated building in 2023 that has both shop and office space. Since that move, Whites Innovative Glass has added new employees and continues to expand.
Whites Innovative Glass offers glass products and services to residential and commercial properties. Caleb works with the customer to provide quality products with customized details that bring their projects to successful completion. The use of glass in buildings and homes adds to the value and visual beauty of our landscape. Having a skilled glazer to install glass products will add to the overall appeal of structures and homes.
The products that Whites Innovative Glass provides can be installed in new construction or in existing buildings. Caleb will be glad to talk to you about adding a glass shower, a window replacement or other glass products you have need of.
 
 
 
 
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on you becoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: https://www.BeMADTogether.com