After taking over the family business unexpectedly with only three years’ executive experience under his belt, Larry J. Rybka was able to help grow Valmark Financial Group into an industry leader by constantly adapting to change, and building a team, second-to-none, that maintains the high standards and values his family established from the start. Listen as Larry shares the importance of why companies must be constantly innovating, making sure they have the right team in place, and then giving ...
Nov 09, 2020•44 min•Ep. 16
Bill Mahomes grew up in a small Texas town during the Civil Rights era and was not prepared for the racial and academic adversity he would face becoming one of the first black cadets in the Texas A&M Corps. Despite the struggles he faced, Bill was not only the first black student to graduate from the Corps, he also went on to earn a Juris Doctorate, serve as a Captain in the Army Reserves as a member of the JAG Corps, and start his own law firm. Bill has served as counsel to the Federal Nati...
Oct 06, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 15
In our second podcast with Larry North, owner of a successful chain of fitness gyms, radio personality, and best-selling author, he shares with us the stories of his childhood that shaped the trajectory of his life from being broke and on-the-run to a becoming an admired and respected business owner. Listen as Larry relates to us how a desire to help others, and a strong work ethic forged by the circumstances of his youth, turned his life around so he could become a successful entrepreneur who p...
Aug 24, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 14
Larry North started his first gym in the 1980s and built an empire that includes a radio show, television appearances, speaking engagements, and best-selling books. After spending over three decades focused on helping others achieve their fitness goals, Larry has valuable insight on how little changes can add up to big positive results and how tweaking your thinking can be key to your success. Listen to the first of our two podcasts with Larry as he shares how you can boost immunity and avoid se...
Aug 06, 2020•41 min•Ep. 13
In addition to helping grow his family’s company that experienced 43 straight profitable years, Alan Petsche built his own portfolio of companies, starting when he was a junior in high school! Entrepreneurial spirit instilled in him by his father at a young age ensured that Alan would not only seek success on a business front, but it would also lead to a legacy of helping others. From comic books, to music, to real estate, Alan pursued his passions and used that success to give back to his city ...
Jun 16, 2020•44 min•Ep. 12
Listen in as Sunny speaks about what Conscious Capitalism is, what kind of mindset it takes to weather a storm like COVID-19, the key lessons he has learned that will help leadership in today’s climate, and how it all starts with one simple concept: caring. Sunny Vanderbeck is co-founder and managing partner of Satori Capital, a private equity firm in Dallas/Fort Worth that has been voted a Best Place to Work and is known for its Conscious Capitalism culture and approach to business. Prior to be...
May 08, 2020•53 min•Ep. 11
David Green had only three goals in life – to build a happy marriage, to raise healthy, well-balanced children who served God, and to succeed in business. With a $600 loan and the untiring support of his wife Barbara, they began a small arts and crafts business about the size of a ‘lobby’ that not only became a giant in the industry, it became one of the largest ‘business as ministry’ examples in the world. Hear David speak about how their family decided together to give away the company, what m...
Mar 17, 2020•41 min•Ep. 10
Mike Hernandez wanted to be an engineer, but when he graduated from Texas A&M University, the oil bust of 1983 set him on a different path that led to his eventual ownership of D&M Leasing, the nation’s premiere auto leasing company, and several other flourishing enterprises. Listen as Mike shares how running a business is similar to running a college football team, and what it takes to grow a company that earns a massive 78% of its business through satisfied, repeat customers and their ...
Nov 25, 2019•32 min•Ep. 9
Rusty Shaw was headed to dental school when his father approached him about becoming an oil jobber in his fledgling company in 1970. With little more than faith in the company’s potential, Rusty grew a fuel distribution business into a successful convenience store chain and real estate empire. Listen as Rusty explains what his “dash” is, and how important it is to succeed in life and business. Rusty Shaw credits his parents for teaching him the value of hard work and giving him a great deal of f...
Jun 24, 2019•53 min•Ep. 8
Dave Lopez is the youngest of five in a family where every single family member became a part of the McDonald’s system. After gaining experience in various positions throughout that system, Dave earned a position on the executive team at Lopez Foods, an award-winning McDonald’s supplier. Listen as Dave shares his advice on how to grow as siblings and executives as the company evolves, and how excelling at being a family is as important as excelling at business. Dave Lopez moved into his role as ...
Jun 19, 2019•47 min•Ep. 7
Dr. Mary Hudelson is a partner in a thriving medical practice, as well as a commercial real estate owner and landlord. When her husband Scott passed away, Mary was thrust into taking over their combined businesses all while balancing them with single motherhood. Listen in as Mary shares what helped change the trajectory of her grief and allowed her to focus on her mission, establish an excellent team of trusted advisers and partnerships that foster and maintain the desired business culture, and ...
Jun 19, 2019•27 min•Ep. 6
On this episode, J.P. Lopez shares the value of gaining experience outside a family business, how starting at the bottom and working every job on the way up contributes to a successful executive position, and how to maintain a healthy relationship with your brother while sharing leadership roles in the same company. John Patrick Lopez is the Chief Operating Officer of Lopez Foods, promoted in 2016 after serving various positions of responsibility in multiple facilities. Having grown up working f...
Jun 19, 2019•56 min•Ep. 5
Anthony Wonderly was only 18 years old when he made his first investment into real estate with his brother, Chandler. Today, Olympus Properties spans 10 states and has just under 500 team members—all of whom are treated by the Wonderlys as family. In fact, at Olympus, the phrase “Corporate Takeover” means the top execs come and do YOUR job for a week! Listen in as Anthony describes how he and Chandler grew their business while navigating their roles as business partners and brothers, and how the...
Jun 19, 2019•47 min•Ep. 4
On this episode, Brad & Kristy describe how they work together to keep their businesses prosperous and their family life flourishing through the daily challenges and opportunities of working side by side. Kristy also shares some valuable insight regarding how, as a single mom before meeting Brad, she managed her business and cared for her young daughters. Brad and Kristy Allen own and operate multiple McDonald’s restaurants in Arkansas. Brad and Kristy have been in this business for 23 years...
Jun 19, 2019•48 min•Ep. 3
George McMahon was working for someone else when he took an idea that would grow the company to its leadership. They were not interested. That’s when George decided to take a risk—to pursue his idea and start his own company, with nothing more than his confidence in his idea and his ability to make it work, and a strong work ethic. Listen in as George describes how in just 10 short years he turned that decision—and a $10,000 credit card advance to start the business—into a $95 million company. G...
Jun 19, 2019•44 min•Ep. 2
On this episode, John C. Lopez shares how he turned his role in a Latino community economic development program into an opportunity to become an established McDonald’s franchisee before changing tracks in his 50s to become a premiere supplier to the nation’s largest quick-service restaurant system. John C. Lopez is a successful entrepreneur who rose from modest beginnings in Glendale, Ariz., to become owner of four profitable McDonald's restaurants in Los Angeles before McDonald's approached him...
Jun 18, 2019•41 min•Ep. 1
