Self-Made Is A Myth - Make A Difference Together

Episode #111: Carajane Moore - Hunt Big Sales

As President and Partner of Hunt Big Sales for over 13 years, Carajane Moore leads the company in strategic vision and implementation. Since joining the company, she has instituted vital operational and structural changes to the business resulting in growth of over 50 percent in less than three years.
As a serial entrepreneur, Carajane has proven her ability to develop new business and forge critical relationships. Using those skills in her current role, not only has she guided Hunt Big Sales, but she has educated key clients on how to double and triple their companies. Her firm has helped clients land over $18 billion in new business and has paved new ground using the “hunt” approach in industries such as medical devices, telecommunications, technology, real estate, aviation, and construction. You can learn more here https://www.huntbigsales.com
Her varied experiences as a fast-track person in the sales environment have included direct sales, sales training, sales management, team sales, outside and inside sales, and entrepreneurial sales at the $1 million plus level. Carajane has taught the Hunt Big Sales System to other professionals and consulted with major companies as a trusted adviser.
She is the co-author of The Secret to Big Sales: Use Executive Language to Close More Deals, How to Sell In Place: Closing Deals in the New Normal, and Life After the Death of Selling: How to Thrive in the New Era of Sales. She also served as a judge for the 2012 Stevie Awards and earned a degree in Business Administration, emphasis on Marketing, at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Carajane was recognized as a leading woman in business and was featured in “O, The Oprah Magazine”, “Entrepreneur”, “Fortune”, and “Forbes” magazines
 
 
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 #110: Adam Hoeksema - ProjectionHub

Adam Hoeksema is the Co-Founder and CEO of ProjectionHub which helps startups and small businesses create financial projections for potential investors and lenders. Adam started the business with his brother in 2012 and today the company has a team of five who help a few hundred businesses each month with their projections. You can learn more here https://www.projectionhub.com
In addition to ProjectionHub, Adam also spent a decade as the Executive Director of Bankable, an SBA lender in Indiana. Adam was employee number one for Bankable, and helped build a team that ultimately made over 1,500 small business loans to Indiana small businesses. Adam, his wife Stacy, and their 4 boys live in Middletown, IN where they enjoy living in the country, watching a beautiful sunset from their porch, and growing an ever expanding garden.
 
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 #109: Terry Ramsey - Ptero Business Solutions

Terry Ramsey is the owner and founder of Ptero Business Solutions. She is an Ohio native who first started her career in education out in Newark, New Jersey and continued in Columbus, Ohio where she resides with her family now.
Terry's bookkeeping business began when she was still in education. She picked up the trade (along with obtaining an MBA and a handful of clients) gaining at-bats for when her and her husband opened their very own ramen restaurant during the pandemic. The opening of Red Rabbit Ramen has allowed Terry to uniquely see both sides of business financial planning and tracking and is her greatest strength in supporting others.
Ptero Business Solutions leans heavily into supporting business owners with cash flow methods. Financial statements tend to speak gibberish to many business owners who rely heavily on what is (or is not) in their bank account. Ptero allows for businesses to know their profits on a monthly basis, plan for taxes, strategize for growth, and have faith in their bank account come the next payroll.
Terry happily gives any business owner her time to meet with them and ease their financial worries for their business. Visit the website https://www.pterobusinesssolutions.com to book your call.
 
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 #108: Leah Smiley -The Society for Diversity

Leah Smiley, CDE®, is the Founder and President of the Society for Diversity Inc., a global Education Technology (EdTech) firm that specializes in next generation management practices and professional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Certification. As a LinkedIn “All-Star”, Mrs. Smiley has facilitated hundreds of presentations for more than 10,000 professionals and executives around the world, as well as consulted with over 100 organizations. The Society for Diversity was recognized twice on the 2022 and 2023 Inc. 5000 listing as one of the fastest growing companies in the Midwest. https://www.societyfordiversity.org
With more than 15 years of experience in the DEI field, as well as 25+ years as a master of training and organizational development, Mrs. Smiley is considered to be a DEI industry thought-leader. Through the Society for Diversity's subsidiary, the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)®, Mrs. Smiley has helped thousands of DEI leaders achieve their dreams 50+ U.S. states and over 30+ other countries by conferring the industry-recognized Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)® and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)® credentials. IDC is a member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and is currently pursuing accreditation through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Further, the Society for Diversity has registered IDC’s extensive catalog of intellectual property with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Mrs. Smiley's work has been featured on international and national radio and television programs, as well as in Forbes, Fortune and Entrepreneur Magazines. Additionally, her work has been reported in the USA Today, Huffington Post, Business Insurance, The Indianapolis Star, The Indianapolis Business Journal, Indiana Minority Business Magazine, Associations Now, Franchising World Magazine, MEA Magazine, The Lexington Herald Leader, The Philadelphia Tribune, The Philadelphia Business Journal, Naples Daily News, The City Sentinel, Lee and Low Books, and more. She was also quoted in "The Inclusion Revolution Is Now: An Innovative Framework for Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace" by Maura G. Robinson and published by iUniverse.
Smiley has a blended family and lives in Indianapolis with her husband, whom she met while they were both political science majors at Hampton University. She also holds a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)® designation from the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)®
 
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 #107: August Zehner - Mytra Consulting

Meet August, a tech maven whose professional journey reads like a captivating tale of industry evolution. From the pulsating heart of the computer industry in the late 1980s to the dynamic realm of internet connectivity in the 1990s, August seamlessly transitioned through the winds of change, leaving an indelible mark. His narrative continued to unfold in the 2000s (dot.bomb) as he explored the intricate landscapes of software, only to make a triumphant return to the forefront of telecommunications around 2010.
After getting his MBA in 2004, August was an Adjunct Professor at Anderson University for over a decade, teaching business plan development and marketing management in the MBA program. For those in the telecom know, August is more than a seasoned professional – he's an NTCA pensioner, a testament to his enduring legacy in the industry. Post-retirement, he orchestrated a new chapter, founding Mytra Consulting after a contemplative six-month hiatus. With a team of 13 consultants, the company specializes in guiding telecom providers and rural electric cooperatives through the intricacies of business and organizational development. Their offerings span the spectrum of strategic planning, business development, change management, and other services, touching clients across the expanse of the United States. https://www.mytraconsulting.com
August's success narrative is interwoven with a keen technology literacy that has been the bedrock of his achievements. His philosophy revolves around crafting business value through the strategic application of technology. Beyond his corporate ventures, August lends his expertise to the advisory board of Purdue University Global's School of Business and Information Technology (SBIT), adding an academic dimension to his multifaceted portfolio. In essence, August embodies the fusion of professional prowess and creative innovation, leaving an indomitable imprint on the ever-evolving canvas of the tech landscape.
 
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 #106: Jarett Hagy - Lodge Design

Jarrett Hagy was born in Winchester IN and grew up near Modoc in Randolph County. He graduated from Ball State University in 1993 with a Fine Arts degree. After a few years of being a freelance designer and illustrator, in 1999 along with business partner Jason Roemer, he founded Lodge Design.
Since 1999, Lodge has continued to evolve with the changing needs of their client partners. Today, their team of designers and developers work on everything from brand strategy and traditional advertising to responsive web design and digital marketing. Lodge doesn't believe in cookie-cutter solutions to clients’ challenges, and enjoy the process of digging in and getting to know who they are and how they can develop messaging strategies that will resonate with their core audiences.
Learn more here https://lodgedesign.com
 
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 #105: Andrew Aebersold - Mediaura

Andrew Aebersold was born and raised in New Albany, IN. In 2003, he met his wife-to-be Amy, and together they started Mediaura, a full-service digital marketing agency. Andrew has previously worked extensively with ActionCOACH, along with other business coaches, and peer groups, and is a firm believer in continuous improvement.
Aebersold acknowledges that growing a business from nothing without financial backing is tough work, and the journey is never a straight line. There is always an opportunity to learn something new, be reminded of something you already know but forgot, and to reset quarterly. Learn more here https://mediaura.com/?utm_campaign=gmb
 
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 #104: TK Herman - Factor AE

TK Herman is a 52-year old husband, father and entrepreneur. He founded Aptera, a software development company, with his business partner in 2003 and sold it in 2021. Before the sale, he and his business partner took a product they created for architects & engineers and spun it into a new company -- now that business (Factor) is used by 167 companies across the US and is growing at a rate of 25%+ per quarter. In 2021 TK also sold three Sky Zone indoor trampoline parks which he co-owned for 8 years. His latest venture is opening 10 indoor pickleball clubs across the Midwest under the Ace Pickleball Club brand.
What many people don’t know is that TK has been a pilot for 26 years (both instrument and multi-engine rated) and became a helicopter pilot three years ago. Obsessed with aviation is an understatement according to his wife.
TK discovered personal development and inner transformation work in 2014 and has invested in his own growth heavily while investing in the personal transformation of his employees and children. He’s currently working 1:1 with one of the top life coaches in the world and has been for two years.
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: www.BeMADTogether.com

Episode #103: Adrian Jagow - Talevation

Adrian Jagow, the Managing Partner at Talevation, is a visionary leader who intertwines the principles of faith and business strategies. Known for a unique approach that involves prayer and reflection, Adrian embraces a philosophy that integrates spirituality into the realm of business.
Embracing the core values of Talevation - Happy, Helpful, and Harmonious - Adrian leads by example, fostering a company culture centered around joy, support, and unity. Through his commitment to these values, he creates an environment that encourages positivity, assistance, and a cooperative spirit among team members and clients.
Adrian's practice of seeking divine guidance for business strategies highlights a deep belief in the power of intuition and spiritual alignment. By combining these principles with his business acumen, he brings forth innovative solutions that are not only effective but also resonate with the ethos of happiness, helpfulness, and harmony.
His unique approach reflects a belief that success is not only measured by financial gain but also by the well-being and satisfaction of those involved, fostering an environment where employees, clients, and stakeholders thrive in a culture rooted in positivity and mutual support. Adrian Jagow stands as an example of a leader who harmonizes spiritual values with the dynamic world of business, fostering both success and a fulfilling work environment.
Talevation LLC is a cutting-edge, innovative company specializing in talent assessment and human resource solutions. Founded on the principles of leveraging technology to optimize workforce potential, Talevation provides a comprehensive suite of assessment tools and HR software designed to assist organizations in making smarter, data-driven decisions about their people.
Through a combination of advanced psychometrics, behavioral science, and technology, Talevation offers a range of assessment products that empower businesses to identify, evaluate, and develop talent across various stages of the employee lifecycle. From pre-employment assessments that aid in the selection of the right candidates to ongoing development tools that nurture existing talent, Talevation's solutions are tailored to meet the unique needs of diverse industries and organizational structures.
The company's commitment to innovation is reflected in its user-friendly platforms and customizable solutions, which enable seamless integration with existing HR processes. Talevation's mission is to help companies enhance their human capital strategies by providing actionable insights that drive informed decision-making, fostering a more efficient and productive workforce. With a focus on accuracy, reliability, and efficiency, Talevation stands as a trusted partner for businesses seeking to streamline their talent management processes, reduce turnover, and ultimately, maximize the potential of their most valuable asset—their people.
In honor of the fellow business owners in your life that had an impact on youbecoming the person you are today, let’s celebrate them. Click this link to apply to be on our podcast to recognize those people: www.BeMADTogether.com

Episode #102: Ali Cudby - Alignmint Growth

Ali Cudby is the founder and CEO of Alignmint Growth Strategies - it’s alignMINT (M-I-N-T) because once a mint plant is established, it grows like crazy - much like the results for clients at Alignmint, a leading consulting and training firm specializing in post-sales strategies for customer retention and growth.
Ali's journey in customer experience began after graduating from Wharton Business School, and whether it’s The New York Times Company or a start-up, her work is guided by a singular idea: when people feel seen, heard and valued they are more inclined to stay customers longer, buy more and tell their friends and colleagues.
That lofty idea gets put into action via playbooks, which codify clear and consistent processes for aligned engagement internally and with clients. You can learn more by reading Ali’s #1 bestselling book, Keep Your Customers. You can find Ali at https://alignmintforgrowth.com