Kitcheneez is the Direct Sales division of Lisa Shively’s Kitchen Helpers, LLC. Kitchen Helpers is a food manufacturer geared to helping families enjoy more meals at home. Lisa started her business by writing cookbooks. Then after years of hearing, “we want it quicker and easier,” she decided that the only way to do this (other than going to their house and cook dinner herself), would be to create Quick Meal Mixes so they could have “her cooking” in their own home. Lisa now has over 100 mixes th...
Jan 30, 2017•41 min•Ep. 95
Tom grew up on a farm in central Illinois and had a rewarding career in agricultural sales and marketing. Upon retirement in 2008 one of his “chores” was to keep the birdfeeder full. This chore lend the way to his retirement avocation of the SquirrelAway Bird Café. These unique squirrel proof bird feeders are sold through several retail outlets, and also at craft shows, flea markets and online. Tom enjoys the craft shows and flea markets the most because of the direct contact with those with a s...
Jan 23, 2017•35 min•Ep. 94
Tom Corson-Knowles is a serial entrepreneur, blogger and international bestselling author. He started his first business at age 13, manufacturing SAD lamps out of his father’s garage. By the time he graduated from Indiana University Kelley School of Business at age 22, he was earning a full-time income from his first successful business which he started in his dorm room. Tom then decided to share the keys to success that he had learned along his journey to becoming a financially independent entr...
Jan 16, 2017•43 min•Ep. 93
Amy is a stay at home mom who launched an accessory business after coming up with an awesome idea. She was looking for a product that would add style to her boots and compliment any outfit. When that product couldn’t be found, she decided to create it herself. Amy didn’t have any experience in the fashion industry and had no idea how to go about getting her product made. She didn’t even know how to sew! But she borrowed her mom’s sewing machine and took it one step at a time. Two years later, he...
Jan 09, 2017•36 min•Ep. 92
Tim & Angie Burton are the owners of Burton’s Maplewood Farm located on 28 acres in the rolling hills of Southern Indiana. They have been producing 100% Pure and Barrel aged maple syrup on their farm for 8 years. Most of their bulk syrup is featured on menu’s in Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco & Nashville. Their Barrel Aged Maple Syrups are also offered online and at many Farmers Markets throughout the U.S. The Burton’s Maplewood Farm Story Identifying a potential new care...
Jan 02, 2017•39 min•Ep. 91
Abbe has been promoting Fortune 500 companies, entertainment, and nonprofit organizations for over 20 years. She has a broad background in all aspects of communications with expertise in brand strategy, social media marketing, content development, and publicity. Over the years, Abbe has successfully crafting marketing communications programs for some of the nation’s most prestigious companies including Viacom Inc, Showtime Networks Group, the National Restaurant Association and its Educational F...
Dec 26, 2016•37 min•Ep. 90
Mireya is a Certified Balloon Artist (CBA) and a Master Certified Party Decorator (MCPD). She has been working in the balloon industry for seven years and received her certification in 2014. Mireya recently started her home based business and is working full time doing balloon décor. I ran into Mireya at the America’s Baking and Sweets Show. She was selected to do the décor for the show and it caught my eye. After talking with her, I just knew we had to have her on the show to share her story. T...
Dec 19, 2016•42 min•Ep. 89
With a background in architecture and design, Bill Stank has long had an interest in product design and innovation. He has conceptualized numerous projects and products with sketches and models. After years of imagining a truly streamlined product Cookies in a Snap became the invention that really felt right to bring to full development. Cookies in a Snap was born out of an inspiring cookie making moment that led to a uniquely new way to shape and mold cookies. The first Cookies in a Snap produc...
Dec 12, 2016•42 min•Ep. 88
Since 2003 R.D. Alchemy Natural Products has been freshening the world with a wide selection of over 300 organic, natural products consisting of skincare, body care, aromatherapy, dietary supplements, makeup, and more. These products are made in house in small batches, bottled and labeled by hand and are 98-100% organic, free from synthetic fragrance, preservatives, colorings, phthalates, sulfates, and are cruelty free. Their products have been showcased at the Golden Globes and Academy Award sh...
Dec 05, 2016•41 min•Ep. 87
Dr. Ray Lauk is the owner and founder of Dr. Ray’s Toffee in LaGrange, IL. He is also the Business Manager of the Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89 and performs storytelling and stand-up comedy in Chicago and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dr. Ray holds three UIUC degrees—a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, an MBA, and a Master’s in Elementary Education. He is an adjunct professor of educational finance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Concordia University, and the ...
Nov 28, 2016•42 min•Ep. 86
Stephanie received her esthetics license in 2003 and since then has worked in every possible job within the field. With this extensive knowledge of all aspects of the industry, Stephanie identified that her true passion is in creating hair removal waxes and skin care products. This has led to the creation of her own wholesale/distribution company, Smooth Skin Supply. In this show Stephanie really opens up and gives us a detailed rundown of each step she took to become the leader she is today. It...
Nov 21, 2016•53 min•Ep. 85
Derek is the President and majority owner of Northwoods Cheese Co, which was started by Randy Krause, Henry Zwicky, and Derek almost 15 years ago. Their mission is twofold; to provide Superior Products, and Excellent Service and Customer Satisfaction. One way to accomplish this is by partnering with Greenco Industries in Monroe, WI. This allows them to provide meaningful employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Northwoods Cheese also offers a full range of products beyond their wi...
Nov 14, 2016•42 min•Ep. 84
Andrew and Pete run an award winning content marketing company called Andrew and Pete, where they help small businesses create share-worthy content that builds brands people love. Based in the UK, they are also authors of the book The Hippo Campus which teaches small businesses in a step by step way, how to stand out and be remembered in their industry. They are a regular contributor to Social Media Examiner, have been featured on the Entrepreneur on Fire podcast and will be speaking for the fir...
Nov 07, 2016•51 min•Ep. 83
Mindy Moore is the Director of Events and Dining Services at Ravinia, the largest outdoor music festival in North America. She has been in the hospitality business for over 40 years. Mindy worked at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), where they merged the development and marketing departments to create a new position for her. Before that she spent the 1990s working for basketball legend Michael Jordan as Director of Catering and Events at his restaurant. An undergraduate student at t...
Oct 31, 2016•38 min•Ep. 82
Diane Campbell is the CEO of Gratitude Goodies, LLC. Diane has always had a passion for food and creativity. She recognized that a core value was missing in corporations across America … that was saying “thank you.” So she focused on the concept of building stronger relationships within businesses by expressing gratitude through delicious gourmet gift baskets. What started as a homebased business, today operates out of a 1,500 square foot facility. Gratitude Goodies, LLC has been providing meani...
Oct 24, 2016•41 min•Ep. 81
Marshmallow MBA was born over a bottle of wine when a friend asked why Amy wasn’t selling her handmade holiday confections. After some kitchen burns and several more bottles of wine, Amy launched her business in February 2016 with her college roommate from Penn State. They invite you to forget everything you think you know about marshmallows. There are more than 75 flavors available for shipping nationwide. Products include traditional marshmallows in gourmet flavors, “craft”-mallows based on co...
Oct 17, 2016•42 min•Ep. 80
Celebrations Fun Food Factory is a family owned and operated business established in 1990. For the last 7 years they have been a wholesale manufacturer of JM Gourmet Popcorn. An important part of their business model is that they don’t sell directly to the general public. This way they aren’t competing with their retail partners. Dave places a high value on customer service and product quality. To ensure top quality product freshness, all popcorn is made to order in small batches. This is one fe...
Oct 10, 2016•28 min•Ep. 79
Ryan is originally from a small farming community in Northwest Missouri. He’s been in sales for over 20 years and it’s definitely his career passion; first banking and now real estate. I’m not surprised he’s so successful. He’s got a style that works; friendly, helpful, and sincere. Ryan lives on the North Shore of Chicago with his husband, Brian, who owns an upscale boutique eye lash salon in Highland Park. Currently with Berkshire Hathaway, he’s going to share tips on the industry that will be...
Oct 03, 2016•33 min•Ep. 78
Merley Greenidge is the owner of Celebrate Sweetly, a corporate and personal gifting and event company based in Thousand Oaks, California. Her passion lies in creating beautiful and thoughtful gifts that let the recipient know they are truly appreciated. She loves to create bliss one gift and one event at a time. Merley is a Certified Gift Designer and has won nine design awards over the past five years at the National Gift Basket Convention. She’s also an Ambassador in the Greater Conejo Valley...
Sep 26, 2016•35 min•Ep. 77
After 28 years of fighting the stress of corporate American business, Eric Rion joined the growing ranks of corporate expatriates and took on the challenges of running a small business. Having acquired Willa’s Shortbread from Willa herself back in 2006 along with other family members, the opportunity presented itself for Eric and wife Teresa to take over complete ownership of the company in 2010. Willa’s Shortbread is a family owned and operated bake located just north of Nashville, TN. Speciali...
Sep 19, 2016•47 min•Ep. 76
John Lee Dumas is the founder and host of EOFire, an award winning podcast where he interviews today’s most successful Entrepreneurs 7 days a week. JLD has interviewed over 1400 Entrepreneurs and EOFire generates over 1 million monthly listens. John’s latest project is The Freedom Journal; a gorgeous leather bound journal that guides you in accomplishing your #1 goal in 100 days. Launched on Kickstarter, it raised 453K in 33 days and became the #6 most funded publishing project of all time. Do y...
Sep 12, 2016•24 min•Ep. 75
Kara started her business, Kara’s Vineyard Wedding in 2011 as a hobby, selling handmade wedding decor fashioned from wine corks. In the early days, profits from sales were used as extra fun money, to finance pedicures, champagne brunches, and eventually trips to Europe with her husband, John. It was after the birth of their daughter in 2012, that Kara g ot serious about her entrepreneurial dreams. She quit a lucrative 9-5 corporate career to focus on Kara’s Vineyard Wed ding exclusively. Today, ...
Sep 05, 2016•45 min•Ep. 74
Janet Domrase works with her husband at Alden’s Kennels. The business is a full service kennel offering boarding, training, rescue services, and other creative programs such as a children’s vet camp! Janet’s husband, Alden, ran the business for 15 years literally through word of mouth and phone book listings. Meanwhile, in 2010, after a 28 year career in the postal service and six rotator cuff surgeries, Janet needed to make a change. She joined her husband at Alden’s Kennels and approached the ...
Aug 29, 2016•40 min•Ep. 73
Marla is the owner of Marla Duran, her own clothing line of the same name. She started making clothes when her son was an infant. She was living in LA at the time and sold pieces to local children’s boutiques. In 1981 she moved back east and she started selling children’s designs to boutiques throughout Philadelphia. Based on this favorable reaction and sales success, her line evolved into women’s wear as well. She opened her own boutique and design studio in 2001. Today, Marla is producing and ...
Aug 22, 2016•37 min•Ep. 72
Viveka von Rosen is known internationally as the “LinkedIn Expert” and is author of the best selling book, “LinkedIn Marketing: An Hour a Day”. Viveka is the CEO of Linked Into Business where she takes the social media marketing knowledge she has developed and perfected over the years and transforms it into engaging and informational training. Her sessions provide not only valuable information, but actionable tips to get you and your team up and running quickly and effectively. To date she estim...
Aug 15, 2016•47 min•Ep. 71
Shirley George Frazier is recognized as the world’s authority on gift baskets and as one of the foremost experts on starting a business from scratch. In business since nineteen ninety, Shirley is head basketologist at Gift Basket Business dot com. She helps creative people and aspiring entrepreneurs to create a great life for themselves and their families by turning their passion into a fun and rewarding business at home, in a store, or other setting. Shirley’s books include How to Start a Home-...
Aug 08, 2016•41 min•Ep. 70
Jennifer Zanotti is the owner of JenZ’s Beauty Services. She opened her salon 9 years ago and has been a make-up artist and Esthetician for 15 years. Jen has a passion for helping others learn how to live a happier, healthier lifestyle. She strives to empower, inspire and motivate in her own unique way … through her love of the sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! Over the last three years, training and competing have become a major part of her life. And she’s seeing huge success. Jen is currently a blue ...
Aug 01, 2016•35 min•Ep. 69
Angela Lee opened her first Etsy shop in 2008 to sell simple jewelry that she created at her desk while working at a domestic violence hotline. Over the next few years, she developed her skills as an artisan. As her customer base grew, her hobby developed into a full-time business. Today, Brightsmith sells custom, handmade jewelry to people seeking effortlessly wearable pieces with an emphasis on craftsmanship. She still also works as a public interest attorney, serving Austin Texas’ thriving co...
Jul 25, 2016•36 min•Ep. 68
Ronda is the owner of The Cocoa Cabana Gourmet Chocolates.She makes all her own chocolates in the store, including toffee, caramel, creams, marshmallow, peanut butter cups, pudgies (which are turtles) and one of their biggest sellers – chocolate covered potato chips. The Cocoa Cabana is in its tenth year of business, 9 in their current location. Ronda is spreading the word that chocolate is not bad for you. It’s just gotten a bad rap lately. Chocolate can actually be good for you and has health ...
Jul 18, 2016•41 min•Ep. 67
David Levine and his wife, Melissa, are the proud and smiling owners of Illinois Nut & Candy, Home of Fantasia Confections. It’s been eleven years since they purchased the business. The couple can take credit for sweet success thanks to conscious, thorough and even ingenious branding efforts. David realized that to distinguish his company from other candy companies he needed branding that not only differentiated his candy business from his competition, but differentiated his clients from the...
Jul 11, 2016•45 min•Ep. 66
