Business Over Beer

This episode was recorded live from The Ripple Space in Downtown Vancouver, WA at the Passages to Success Fall Conference. Our guest is Chris Hays, President and COO of ZoomInfo. It's not often that you get to talk to an executive leader of this caliber. Chris shared his experience in growing ZoomInfo into a multibillion dollar public company and provide very relatable ideas for small business owners around sales, growth, scaling, failure, exit strategy, and ways to weather an economic downturn. Prost!Episode Highlights:0:37 Introductions2:45 ZoomInfo's commitment to Vancouver, WA5:30 The Beer portion of the program7:57 How to manage growth & executing on opportunities10:56 Learning from failure14:20 Best ways to focus on your Total Addressable Market (TAM) - fit and intent17:33 How company size impacts your ability to pivot19:56 Ripcord moments21:21 Cofounding a small business26:32 Always have a contract28:11 Tips for scaling your business32:15 The natural tension between Sales and Operations34:57 The hardest thing Chris had to sell35:50 Keys to weathering an economic downturn39:30 Ways to look bigger as a small business42:15 The Final Action43:45 Wrap upGuest Beer:Victor 23 Craft Brewery - Vancouver, WABriefcase Full of Hops, Fresh Hop Hazy IPA, 7% ABVThanks to all our Sponsors of the Passages to Success Fall Conference:Comcast BusinessThe Port of VancouverGravitateGreenhaven LandscapesRational UnicornIn Light HyperbaricsTwin Star Credit UnionChaseVictor 23 Craft BreweryValo CellarsHeathen BrewingK Water StoreThe Barbers

This episode was recorded live from our Passages to Success monthly member event at IV Tea Company in downtown Vancouver, WA. Our guest is Natalie Fairchild, Founder and Chief Inspirational Office with Pacific Perks, a mobile cafe that creates personalized experiences for families and organizations in the Pacific Northwest.Small Business Owners are experiencing a wide variety of hiring challenges in today's market. In this episode, we do a deep dive into some of those challenges. We discuss the notion of The Great Resignation, and Natalie shares with us some creative solutions for a more effective hiring process. In addition, Natalie shares with us her 5 Rules for Business Basics and shares some big news about the future of her company. Prost!Episode Highlights:0:08 Intro1:11 Thanks to our Sponsors3:35 Top Hiring Challenges5:00 Welcome Natalie Fairchild Founder of Pacific Perks6:36 The Great Resignation9:44 Creative Problem Solving in the hiring process12:52 How many spaces after a period?16:35 Changing the old school mentality17:58 The role of storytelling in the hiring process20:47 Constantly recruiting for great candidates23:54 The beer portion of the program26:45 How pivoting can help you make the best of a bad situation32:30 5 Rules for Business Basics37:48 Franchising at Pacific Perks43:05 Balance your work and maintain your flexibility47:47 The Final Action50:15 Contact Natalie50:42 Wrap Up51:20 Meet Jason Huggins with our Sponsor Twin Star Credit UnionGuest Beer:Blue Moon Brewing Company - Denver, COBlue Moon Belgian Style Wheat Ale, 5.4% ABV, 9 IBUEpisode Links:Passages to SuccessNatalie Fairchild Pacific PerksTop Hiring Challenges from BMA GroupThanks to our Sponsors!Twin Star Credit UnionChucks ProduceIV TeaLoowit Brewing

Coming to you live from The Clark County Historical Museum in Vancouver Washington, this was recorded at our April 2022 Passages to Success member Event. We are excited to have Owners Jon Dyer and Kara Bowman of CheckRight NW, a Bookkeeping and Payroll company based in Vancouver, WA. Her journey from 10 hours a week to 10 hours a day Jon started offering bookkeeping services while getting his accounting degree and by the time he graduated, he had an established business. The question was whether or not to change to a CPA business or stay the course. He stayed the course, growing from just bookkeeping, in an office barely big enough for two people, to multiple offices all over Portland, OR Metro and expanding in to Payroll Services as well. Kara started as a part time employee in 2012 as Jon's first hire, and has now become a Partner in the business. Episode Highlights:00:42 Introductions3:53 High level overview of CheckRight NW 5:10 The beer portion of the program6:30 Our first ever live TikTok11:25 How John and Kara came together17:55 Should have quit my jobs sooner ("18:50 I wish I would've just let go of some of things that were holding me back")19:40 Work life balance 24:40 Building their company culture 30:05 How Kara went from employee to partner 36:25 Curiosity as a cornerstone of growth41:03 Don't bake for clients45:11 How their Customer Service culture will drive future growth decisions49:15 Advice for small business owners about growth53:30 The Final Question55:55 Contact information 57:20 Wrap upEpisode Links:Passages to SuccessCheckRight NWKara BowmanJohn DyerJon's Mom's Google ReviewVon Ebert BrewingSector 7 Hazy IPA

Business Over Beer episode 110 with Gus Farah | Executive VP of Operations for the Ridgefield Raptors "Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack"... because we're going out to the ball park with Gus Farah, Executive VP of Operations for the Ridgefield Raptors baseball team.  In this episode, Gus shares with us that he was born in Cuba and his family relocated to Portland, OR when he was a young child. Professionally, he spent 17 years running the revenue generation side for five CBS Radio Stations in Portland. Also, he ran sponsorship sales for the Portland Trail Blazers before joining the ownership group of the Raptors.  The West Coast League that the Raptors play in, along with the the Cowlitz Bears that Gus and his partners also own, has expanded by five teams for the 2022 season including several teams in Canada, showing that this is a great way to build community around baseball and to give a professional level development for college players.  The Raptors are committed to affordable family friendly entertainment for all of Southwest Washington and bringing the joy of baseball to new generations of players and fans.   Prost! Episode Highlights: 0:48 Introductions 3:57 50,000 foot view of the Ridgefield Raptors 6:28 The beer portion of the program 8:26 What makes baseball a great sport 10:25 Why players come to the West Coast League 14:15 Gus' Background 17:30 The business side of things 20:53 Appealing to the younger generation  24:50 Angie's Mystery Beer 30:00 Baseball in the Pacific Northwest 34:33 Commitment to the game of baseball 39:40 Advice for other small business owners 44:27 The Final Question 46:08 Contact Info 47:27 Wrap Up   Guest Beer: Belching Beaver Brewery - Oceanside, CA Peanut Butter Milk Stout, 5.3% ABV, 30 IBU "Don't let the dark color fool you, this beer is delightfully easy to drink with cascading aromas of roasted peanuts, dark chocolate and coffee. Good times to you my friend, and welcome to the beaver family!"   Angie's Mystery Beer: Wild Ride Brewing - Redmond, OR Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter, 6% ABV, 18 IBU "We love beer. And we love peanut butter. And Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter is here to bring the best of these two worlds together! With notes of chocolate and caramel, this porter is complemented by the addition of creamy peanut butter flavor. It's a true liquid peanut butter cup, and it's here for you to enjoy."   Episode Links: Ridgefield Raptors Gun Farah Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex West Coast League Northwest Star Academy Pink Lemonade Project Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we have Passages To Success member and owner of Escape Zone 360, Ben Bevard.   Ben originally had the idea for his escape room while taking a marketing class in college, and when the pandemic hit, he found himself in a position to start his own business. Not only was he able to get it up and running, he has expanded, adding a second escape room in 2021.  Escape Zone 360 provides immersive - device free - entertainment, that is family friendly, perfect for birthdays, youth groups, and celebrations of all kinds. In addition, Escape Zone 360 is great for businesses for a fun day out of the office, or through team building with a professional business coach.  Starting and growing your own business is never easy, but as Ben has shown, if you have the courage to take some risks, it can pay off by turning your dream into reality.  Prost!   Episode Highlights: 0:43 Introductions 1:15 50,000 foot view of Escape Zone 360 2:00 Inspired by the love of travel 3:21 Types of escape rooms? 7:21 The consumer that never leaves 9:00 The escape room community - co-petitors not competitors 11:00 Good for your mental health 12:52: Team building 17:07 Why an escape room 18:54 Business growth lessons 20:39 Ideal clients of Escape Zone 360 23:02 The Final Question 24:55 Wrap Up   Episode Links: Escape Zone 360 Ben Bevard Escape Room movie Audrey Clark Co. Business Over Beer

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we have Passages To Success member and local realty expert, Diana Rutherford.   A former Collegiate Athlete, Diana's experience playing softball has helped her develop more of a teammate approach to her real estate business as a way to best serve her clients. She first got into Real Estate though her dad's business, and is now taking a fresh approach to the real estate industry centered around service. Diana believes that we are all better together and through more human connection we can build a better community.    Prost!   Episode Highlights: 0:43 Intros 1:17 50k foot view 2:15 What's with the softball uniform 3:24 Iowa State 4:10 Service is number 1 6:35 How got Diana into real estate 10:40 Importance of adjustment 12:43 Navigating areas she's not good at 15:50 Rewriting the realty playbook 20:36 Push Back to the new playbook 23:45 The Final Question 27:42 Wrap Up   Episode Links: At Home With Diana Realty By Rutherford PNW Real Estate Realty One Group Cascadia Iowa State Cyclones Business Over Beer

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we recorded live from Victor 23 Brewing with Head Brewer, Todd Britt. Victor 23 is a great local brewpub, complete with all the regulars saddled up at the bar, there to support the brewery. In this episode, we learn about  where the name "Victor 23" originated from. Also, Todd talks about his journey from the Midwest to The Pacific Northwest, brewing for institutions like Goose Island and Rock Bottom, before landing the head brewer job for Victor 23.  Todd talks about the art of brewing and his passion for barrel aged beer, but understanding that this is a business, and he needs to brew beer that his customers want. "Somebody's gotta buy it," Todd told us. "It Doesn't matter if its the best beer in the world, if I can't get you guys to drink it, it doesn't matter what I think of the beer" Prost! Episode Highlights: 0:48 Intros 4:05 50k foot view of Victor 23 Brewing 5:00 The beer portion of the program 7:35 What's new with the beer industry 9:21 Todd's passion for barrel aging beer 15:50 Changes to hop technology 19:55 Todd's brewing background 22:22 Goose Island 24:10 Rock Bottom 25:45 Adjusting to the PNW beer culture 27:51 Does the PNW love for hops hinder our beer culture 33:47 Angie's Mystery Beer 39:35 Where the name Victor 23 comes from  41:37 Getting the Victor 23 brewer job 43:54 Let demand lead supply 49:37 The Final Question 52:40 Wrap up   Guest Beer: Victor 23 Brewing - Vancouver, WA Business Class, Hazy Pale Ale, 5% ABV, 10 IBU "Upgrade your ticket and experience the comfort beyond the curtain. Brewed with the guys of Biz Over Beer, this Hazy Pale Ale features layers of hop character, including citrus, papaya, mango, blueberry, and orange blossom."   Episode Links: Business Over Beer Victor 23 Brewing Todd Britt Rose City Distilling Goose Island Brewing Rock Bottom What's our vector Victor? DB Cooper 5440 Brewing

Welcome to the first episode in our Passages To Success series, recorded live at our recent Sales and Marketing Seminar in January 2022, featuring Charles Swatzell, Formos CEO and Dave Barcos, Formos Director of Business Development.   Formos, the self proclaimed "Best Kept Secret in Vancouver", is an enterprise software development company headquartered in Vancouver, WA with global offices in Vietnam and Ecuador, and a newly opened a new US office in Nashville, TN.   In this episode, Charles shares with us lessons he learned from his acting days and how doing a character study on those you want to do business with will help you understand their motivation and help you earn the right to sell to them. People buy things for their reasons, not yours.  You will also get a real explanation of what Business Development is versus Sales along with some tangible takeaways on hustle, tenacity and telling your story, which will help you be a better business owner.   In the end, running a successful business means showing up day after day, putting in the work and practicing with intention to get better at the different aspects of your business.   Prost!   Episode Highlights: 0:43 Intro 4:00 50K foot view of Formos 6:33 The beer portion of the program 11:15 Signs you've made it 14:31 The difference between Start Up and Starting Up 16:00 The Hustle 20:10 How being an actor helped in business 27:58 Business Development Defined 32:02 Start Up Development Phases 35:54 Walking a lonely path and self motivation 42:23 Tenacity 44:30 Navigating sales as an introvert 47:19 Telling your story 53:59 Projects they're proud of 1:03:46 The Final Question 1:06:34 Wrap Up   Guest Beer: Victor 23 Brewing - Vancouver, WA Business Class, Hazy Pale Ale, 5% ABV, 10 IBU "Upgrade your ticket and experience the comfort beyond the curtain. Brewed with the guys of Biz Over Beer, this Hazy Pale Ale features layers of hop character, including citrus, papaya, mango, blueberry, and orange blossom." Episode Links: Formos North Bank Innovations Charles Swatzell Dave Barcos Aria Gin The Swatzells Perform One More Day Parody Sidekick Pan's Mushroom Jerky Mushroom Jerky Beer Pairings VanTechy

Business Over Beer welcomes back Vancouver, WA City Councilor, Kim Harless, for part 2 of her interview.  A lifelong resident of Vancouver, Kim has spent her entire adult life in service, working with non-profits and government agencies. Elected to the first ever Clark County Charter Commission as the only person of color, she has become the first Indigenous person elected to Vancouver City Council.  In this episode, Kim shared with us that she is not viewing her City Council seat as a stepping stone to further her political career or to do what's in the best interest of a political party. Rather, she is committed to making the community a better place for everybody and on policies that make it easier to promote mutual aid projects and allow for community members to support each other.  Now is a time for Vancouver to "grow up", literally and figuratively. We need to be more effective in how we grow our urban centers and protect our rural farmland. We need to have a resilient community that can take on these challenges and still thrive, but at the same time recognize that we cannot simply rely on the resiliency of our people. We need to provide opportunities to all our citizens. We won't thrive if our people are constantly having to overcome huge setbacks.  Prost!   Angie's Mystery Beer: Worthy Brewing - Bend, OR Lights Out Stout, 7.7% ABV, 30 IBU "This hybridized American Stout accentuates the subtle nuances of non-traditional ingredients, such as Bob's Red Mill Oats and milk sugar, which lend a smooth body with some residual sweetness. The whole Madagascar vanilla beans show mostly in the aroma."   Episode Links: Kim Harless Paint Care Vancouver Free Fridge Project Proper Mystery Beer Opening Procedure with Keith Sconiers

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we welcome Vancouver, WA City Councilor, Kim Harless.  A lifelong resident of Vancouver, Kim has spent her entire adult life in service, working with non-profits and government agencies. Elected to the first ever Clark County Charter Commission as the only person of color, she has become the first Indigenous person elected to Vancouver City Council.  As a natural introvert, Kim never really saw herself in the spotlight, but she has a greater desire for the world to be a great place for everybody and won't want to stand on the sidelines when she sees injustice or an opportunity for life to be better for her community. Prost!   Guest Beer: Black Raven Brewing - Redmond, WA Trickster IPA, 6.9% ABV, 68 IBU In mythology, the raven can play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules, hence the name Trickster. This well-balanced IPA has a light fruit, citrus and piney hop aroma with a full hop flavor. With delicately balanced malt and hops and a 6.9% ABV, this beer has truly earned its name.    Episode Links: Kim Harless Paint Care More Black Raven Brewing Co. 

Episode #103 | Lacey Faught, Part 2 | Humanize Social Media Through Digital Literacy On this episode of Business Over Beer, we welcome back Lacey Faught for part 2 of her interview. Lacey is the owner of Spry, a Social Media Marketing Agency in Vancouver, WA.  Not just another Social Media Marketing Agency, Spry is working from their Social Media For Good ethos by serving clients who have a cause and working to bring good into the world.  Spry believes that the true ROI is not measured in dollars and cents, but in building a strong community and injecting humanity back into Social Media.  Prost!   Angie's Mystery Beer: Campanology Brewing - Waunakee, WI Coffee Peanut Butter Cup Porter, 9% ABV   Episode Links: Part 1 with Lacey Faught on Business Over Beer Think Spry Connect with Lacey J. Faught Deep Work by Cal Newport The Four Disciplines of Execution How to pronounce GIF How to really pronounce GIF

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we welcome Lacey Faught, owner of Spry, a Social Media Marketing Agency in Vancouver, WA. As a young Entrepreneur in her early 20s, Lacey started Spry about 10 years ago after working for a digital marketing agency and seeing that clients were being underserved. She launched her business as an SEO and Web Development company and only got into Social Media because it was part of the SEO process. Over time, Spry has niched down, focusing their business on social media, working specifically with clients on community building and making human connection through social media.  Prost!   Guest Beer Headless Mumby Brewing Company - Olymipia, WA Oktoberfest, Marzen, 6% abv "Autumn in a glass. Dark copper/amber in color with a distinctive bready/toasty maltiness."    

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we spotlight John McKibbin and why there is a golf tournament in his honor. When James Oneil called us this past spring to podcast from the McKibbin Legacy Classic, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, but it seemed like a fun event and a good excuse to talk to some local business owners and drink beer. But, as we learned more about the tournament and specifically who John McKibbin was and what he meant to our community, it turned into so much more. What we learned was John McKibbin was someone we wish we had known, someone who believed in this community as much as we do, and through our interviews with James Oneil, John McKibbin's daughters, Jennifer and Megan, and other's who knew John McKibbin, we found out how strongly this man felt about Community, Family and being of Service. Prost!   Check out these links for more info: Business Over Beer McKibbin Legacy Classic InternationalGraphics and Nameplate Vesta Hospitality Catworks Construction Dig Deep Child Abuse Assessment Team (CAAT) Pearson Field Education Center Leadership Clark County McKibbin Memorial Service McKibbin Vigil   Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing 

In this episode of Business Over Beer, we learn more about James Oneil, the founder and coordinator of The Columbia Credit Union McKibbin Legacy Classic golf tournament, and what John McKibbin, and really, what the whole McKibbin family meant to him.   This golf tournament was a way for James to honor John's legacy, and really be there for the family after his passing. John McKibbin lived and died as a man of service and it's important we continue to build our community the way John showed us.     Prost!     Check out these links for more info: Business Over Beer McKibbin Legacy Classic International Graphics and Nameplate Vesta Hospitality Catworks Construction Dig Deep Child Abuse Assessment Team (CAAT) Pearson Field Education Center Leadership Clark County Identity Clark County CDM Services   Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing 

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we speak with Kate Sacamano and Heather Martin of Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, one of the beneficiaries of the McKibbin Legacy Classic Golf Tournament, that we were part of.    John McKibbin was a longtime Board Member at Legacy Salmon Creek, so it makes sense that they receive some of the proceeds from the tournament. Specifically, the money raised goes to the Child Abuse Assessment Team (CAAT) that works collaboratively with the justice system and social services to provide wrap around care for abused and neglected children. Such a vitally important program in our community.    Prost!     Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing   

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we speak with Michelle and Bethany from the Pearson Field Education Center, one of the beneficiaries of the McKibbin Legacy Classic golf tournament that we were part of.     Aviation was a such huge part of John McKibbin's life, so it makes sense that some of the proceeds for the tournament go to support the Pearson Field Education center, that focus on so many different aspects of aviation, things like weather weather, math, engineering and robotics. They also do a great job of tying in Clark County history to some of their programs as well. Great people and a great organization.     Prost!   Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing 

Every episode of the Business Over Beer podcast, Ben's lovely wife Angela brings us a mystery beer.   We call this segment: Angie's. Mystery. Beer.     Well this season, at the Columbia Credit Union McKibbin Legacy Classic golf tournament, we did something a little different, we had an Angie's Mystery KEG. Special thanks to Taps Growler House for sponsoring the keg. And instead of just the 3 of us tasting the beer and trying to figure out what it is, we got opinions form people all over the golf course, and we were shocked when we found out what the beer was.     Prost!   Episode Links: Business Over Beer Columbia Credit Union McKibbin Legacy Classic Taps Growler House Brother Cascadia Brewing     Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing 

On this episode of Business Over Beer, after months of planning for the McKibbin Legacy Classic golf tournament, we finally made it for this very special interview with members of The McKibbin family, including John McKibbin's wife, Nancy. The McKibbin Sisters might have a made another appearance too, they sure aren't shy around a microphone...) They gave us fresh insight into the type of man John McKibbin was and the impact he had. He was a community leader and connector who really cared about making Clark County the best it could be. It was great to hear them talk about what the tournament means to them and why preserving his legacy is so important.   Special thanks to the whole McKibbin clan for sharing their stories about their family.    Prost!   Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing         

In this episode of Business Over Beer, we talk with Jennifer Harris McKibbin, Megan McKibbin and James Oneil. Jennifer and Megan are the daughters of John McKibbin who died in a plane crash in 2016. John was a prominent member of our community and a mentor to James Oneil, a long time friend of the McKibbin family and the founder of the McKibbin Legacy Classic Golf Tournament.       Also, the McKibbin Sisters, as it turns out, are our kind people and we had some fun along the way too. The sisters are both small business owners themselves. Jennifer runs Look Within HR, providing consulting services to professional services small businesses. And Megan is a realtor for Windermere as runs a residential staging and design firm called M McKibbin Company.    We're so thankful to all three of them for sharing their stories about their family.   Prost!   Highlighted Craft Beer: Hop Valley Brewing - Eugene, OR Mango & Stash IPA, 6% ABV, 30 IBU "Mango and Stash starts with a barley and wheat base and adds a generous amount of mango purée, (11 pounds per barrel!), to compliment the natural stone fruit characteristics of Mosaic Cryo Hops®. The result is a Double Punch smoothie of fruit and hop flavors that will leave you craving a sequel."   Leinenkugel's - Chippewa Falls, WI Summer Shandy, 4.2% ABV, 11 IBU "Our own unique take on Franz Kugler's original Munich tavern tradition. Leinenkugel's® Summer Shandy® is our traditional weiss beer with refreshing natural lemonade flavor that makes it the perfect summer beer."   Hop Valley Brewing - Eugene, OR Pineapple Stash House IPA, 6.7% ABV, 31 IBU "Enjoy the tropical bouquet of this island inspired delight. Generous heaps of pineapple were added to the fermenter to create harmony with Simcoe Cryo Hops®."   Fort George Brewery - Astoria, OR City of Dreams Pale Ale, 5.5% ABV,  "Once in awhile, you find that magical place. A creative confluence of scenic panoramas, bountiful lands, and independent spirit. A site on the edge of nowhere yet enticing to all, where cityscape ends and the open ocean begins. Whether you call it Shangri-La or Utopia or the City of Dreams, one thing is certain – this is the beer you will find there."   Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing 

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we have President and CEO of Columbia Credit Union, Steve Kenny.  Columbia Credit Union is the largest, locally owned financial institution in Clark County. Born and raised right here in Vancouver, Steve has been with CCU since 1987, and was appointed CEO in 2009.  Steve talks with us about what differentiates Columbia Credit Union from others in the industry and why they chose to be the title sponsor for the McKibbin Legacy Classic golf tournament that we were part of.  He recognizes that it is this community that has helped CCU to thrive, and that is why it is so important that they give back to all the communities they serve. Steve also talks with us about culture and some management tactics that make Columbia Credit Union so beloved by its employees and members. Prost!     Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing 

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we interview Vesta Hospitality Founder and CEO Rick Takach. Rick was nice enough to invite us to the site of the future AC Hotel by Marriott that is opening next year. We got to have the first drink in what will be the bar of the hotel, pretty awesome.    Vesta Hospitality is based right her in Vancouver, WA and they acquire, develop and manage hotels all across the country. Community is at the core of everything they do, not just locally in Vancouver but everywhere they manage hotels.     Speaking of the AC Hotel, Rick gave us a tour of the hotel with a sneak peak at all the amenities and a couple of hidden secrets you won't want to miss, the link to that is below along with links to our other season 5 episodes, please check those out as well.     Prost!     Highlighted Craft Beer: Deschutes Brewery - Bend, Or Obsidian Stout, 6.4% ABV, 55 IBU "Brave the unfathomable depths of black barley and roasted malt amidst dark passages of rich chocolate and distinct notes of espresso."   Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing 

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we interview Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate. We get to learn about Jason's journey as a small business owner, how his commitment to technology has given him a competitive advantage, and we learn why he is such a faithful sponsor to the McKibbin Legacy Classic golf tournament.   In business for over 35 years, IGN started as a metal nameplate shot, making metal labels for manufacturers, they have grown into biggest printer in Southwest Washington printing everything from basic signs and banners to wrapping vehicles and walls to very high end metal labels Jason also gave us a tour of his shop and he has a special surprise for us at the end of it, the link to that is below along with links to our other season 5 episodes, please check those out as well. Prost!   Highlighted Craft Beer: Mac & Jacks - Redmond, WA African Amber Ale, 5.8% ABV, 30 IBU "This beer erupts with a floral, hoppy taste, followed by a well rounded malty middle, finishing with a nicely organic hop flavor. Locally sourced two row grain and a blend of specialty malts give our amber its rich taste."   Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing   

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we interview Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep, a non profit focused on the mental health of his employees.     Did you know that the Construction Industry has the hight rate of suicide in this country? To try and combat that, Mike shared with us his people first approach to business and life.  Mike founded Catworks in 2005 and wanted his construction company to focus first on building people and helping them be their best. Mike knows that the thing that can keep us safest is our mind, so he strives to make Catworks the most uncomfortably safe paces to work. So may great life lessons in this one.     Prost!   Highlighted Craft Beer: Fort George Brewery - Astoria, OR Suicide Squeeze IPA, 7.2% ABV,  “Packed with Mosaic, Amarillo and Citra Hops and front-loaded with 2-row barley paired with deep cuts of specialty malt, this Northwest IPA is masterfully balanced.”   Please Support our Sponsors:  Virtual Cathy Andres Jimenez: andres.jimenez@edwardjones.com    Taps Growler House Uptown Screen Printing Better Together Payment Solutions: service@bettertogetherps.com  Diana Rutherford: thepnwrealtor@gmail.com    Watch All Season 5 episodes, AVAILABLE NOW:  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 1  John McKibbin Spotlight, part 2  Tournament Highlights with The BOB  Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center  Pearson Field Education Center  Angie's Mystery Keg  The McKibbin Sisters   Steve Kenny, CEO of Columbia Credit Union  Rick Takach, CEO of Vesta Hospitality  AC Hotel by Marriott Tour  Jason Beatty, CEO of International Graphics and Nameplate  International Graphics Shop Tour  Mike Nieto, CEO of Catworks Construction and Founder of Dig Deep  Tom and Ryan Cody, Founders of Cody Staffing 

When James Oneill, founder and coordinator of the Columbia Credit Union McKibbin legacy classic golf tournament, asked us to Podcast from the event , We thought it would be a lot fun, a great way to meet local small business owners and of course drink some beer. But it tured out to be so much more.    In Season 5 of the Business Over Beer podcast we share with you the story of what John McKibbin meant to this community from his wife Nancy, his daughters Jennifer and Megan, and others that knew him.  He lived and died as a man of service, with his family and community at the forefront of everthing he did. We felt a real kindred spirit with John and the whole McKibbin family.    You will learn about this great golf tournament, the causes that it supports and what make it a can't miss event year in and year out.   We also got to interview some great local business leaders like the CEOs of Columbia Credit Union, Vesta Hospitality, International Graphics and Nameplate and Catworks Construction.    And speaking of the beer. You certainly won't want to miss Angie's Mystery Keg, it turned out to be one of our all time favorites, but were we able to guess it????   When you sit down a share a beer with great people, you learn there is nothing we can't accomplish together as a community.   Prost!

On this episode of Business Over Beer, we're live from Taps Beer Reserve in Ridgefield Washington for the 3rd annual Hilinski's Hope Foundation Fundraiser.     Hilinski's Hope was born out of tragedy when the Tyler Hilinski, then the quarterback of the Washington State University Football Team, took his own life.  Hilinski's Hope promotes  awareness and education of mental health and wellness for student athletes all over the country. And now for the second straight year has organized college football mental health week with over 60 schools participating.    We were so happy to be part of this event hosted by our good friend Kevin Summers of Taps Beer Reserve, and amazing business owner who is doing so much for our community.   Also, October 10th is world mental health day and it is important that we continue to normalize the conversation around mental health, mental wellness and mental illness.   Prost!   Craft Beer We're Drinking: Fortside Brewing - Vancouver, WA Defresh Mode IPA, 6.6% ABV, 48 IBU "We're kicking off fresh hop season with a beer that will ‘never let you down again'. We like to think ‘everything counts' in this beer, from the foundation of Pilsner and light caramel malts to the four layers of flavor and aroma hops. A pint of Defresh Mode is like your own ‘personal Jesus'."   Aslan Brewing Company - Bellingham, WA Totality Pale Ale, 5.4% ABV, 30 IBU "Lime, orange bitters, and evergreen flavors from Barbe Rouge, Centennial, and Huell Melon hops."   Goodlife Brewing Company - Bend, OR Sippy Cup Hazy Pale Ale, 6.4% ABV, 35 IBU "Sippy Cup is a hazy yet brightly golden color, Pale Ale, with a thick creamy head, bursting with juicy hop flavor and aroma. Melon, pineapple, black tea, and citrus notes are upfront in the aroma. A light, medium-bodied mouthfeel finishes with a burst of citrus/tropical flavors and a very subtle bitterness."       Episode Links: Hilinski's Hope Taps Beer Reserve ESPN/E60 Documentary: Hilinski's Hope

Business Over Beer Episode #89 with Tara Tinsley, Part 2 This week on Business Over Beer, Country Musician, Tara Tinsley, returns for part 2 of her interview. In this episode, Tara talks about the evolution of her writing, how writing songs merely about pain and struggle no longer inspire her. Rather, she is writing about finding answers to the struggles and finding inspiration in the things that really matter in life. As a result, she is writing more Christian Music as a way to show gratitude for her life and to create music with messages of hope for her audience.   Prost!   How Trauma Can Inspire Your Work  When Tara Tinsley looked out her window while living in Tacoma, WA, and saw a man lying in the snow, she knew deep down something wasn't right. She walked down to the waterfront and found the man had taken his own life.  She shared this story with us recently on The Business Over Beer Podcast, and this experience is what pushed her to create "Restored", a YouTube series filled with songs of hope and words of encouragement. Our Impact On Others One aspect of that experience that really stood out was that while she never knew this man, was never a part of his life, now, he would be a part of her life forever. This is a stark example, but the fact is, we can't always know how we're impacting another's life and there will be people that come in and out of our lives who make a difference in who we are. The opposite is true as well, we are impacting others, even when we don't realize it.   "You can have fame and money, but you can't take those with you when you go," Tara explains, "but you can leave your mark. And, by a mark, I mean helping people and changing lives so they can help people and change lives." Finding meaning in the stress Trauma, pain, stress, those are all constants in our human existence. The levels fluctuate, but they are always there, and they can be a source of chronic disease and unhealthiness.  In Tara's case, this trauma was thrust upon her unexpectedly, without warning, and not by choice. As a small business owner, you've chosen this path, so the stress and pain and trauma associated with it are just part of what you've signed up for. Of course, that does not diminish the potential effects of that stress, therefore it's imperative that you find a way to deal with it so it doesn't destroy your health.  One tool you can use is to assign meaning to your stress: Why do you care about it in the first place? Shawn Achor, happiness researcher and author of The Happiness Advantage, says that when we think about the highest moments of stress in our lives, they are often the experiences that have made us who we are. We are taught that stress is bad and we often try to flee or diminish stress in our lives. But stress can actually be enhancing if you actually acknowledge it, reconnect to the meaning, and channel your stress response toward that meaning. Stress is inevitable, but its effects on you are not.    Tara assigned meaning to her trauma, using it to create something that would help others who are struggling, to understand the importance of forgiveness, and to bring her closer to God.   Be Kind All of this is a reminder that we humans are all in this thing together. We need love, support and guidance and you never know what pain or struggle someone may be in the midst of. Most of that is silent and guarded. But when we remember that we need each other for survival, when we create safe places for people to be vulnerable and promote wellness and healing, we are making the world a better place.   And in the end, isn't that the point of running a small business, to have a positive impact in the lives of your customers and in your community.    Angie's Mystery Beer: Bombastic Brewing - Hayden, ID Shiver Coffee Stout, 10.5% ABV Proudly brewed with Thomas Hammer Coffee. Silky but bold imperial stout with dark chocolate flavors mixing with Thomas Hammer Coffee to create a delightful espresso flavor. A sipper for dessert or breakfast, if so inclined.   Episode Links: Tara Tinsley Restored Faith (Official Music Video) Johnny Cash covers "HURT" Lou Alexander on The BOB Get Back Back To Me (Official Music Video) Join The Business Over Beer Patreon

This week on Business Over Beer, we welcome Country Music Star, Tara Tinsley to the program. Tara was shy girl who decided at a young age that she wanted to be a singer. She got her start by signing the National Anthem at a local motocross race, and turned that into a nearly 20 year music career.  In this episode, we talk about the business of being a musician and the challenges of staying relevant in a rapidly changing industry. We were fortunate enough to have Tara play us a few songs, first up, an acoustic version of one of her newest singles, Faith.   Prost!   Our Guest's Craft Beer Offering: Manhattan Project Beer Co. - Dallas, TX Black Matter, Coffee Stout, 8.6% ABV, 25 IBU "From first sniff to the finish, the coffee is evident, but not so evident that it is overpowering. You will also discover chocolate, cinnamon, and even a touch of vanilla in both the flavor and aroma. It has a full, silky body with medium carbonation."   Episode Links: Tara Tinsley Faith (Official Music Video) Dingonek: The Jungle Walrus Heathen Brewing  

Business Over Beer Episode #87. with Lou Alexander, Part 2 Returning for Part 2 of his interview on the Business Over Beer Podcast is Lou Alexander, Motivational Speaker and Founder of Big A88 Jogger apparel.  In this episode, we learn how Lou used his football experience to approach his Sales process. Also, we learn what launched him into the world of professional speaking, and more about his mission of helping people reach their full potential. Lou truly is working to make the world a better place by bringing his community together, through social media, through his Big A88 Jogger run club and, by spreading a message of how to find happiness no matter your circumstances.   Prost!   The One Thing No One Will Tell You About Authenticity The word "authenticity" gets thrown around a lot these days, especially in the marketing world. We hear that brands cannot be successful unless they are being "authentic". And when Motivational Speaker and the Founder of Big A88 Jogger, Lou Alexander, joined us on The Business Over Beer podcast recently, he, too, said that authenticity is the key to making a positive impact on those around you.   You might think that authenticity is simply being yourself, and what could be easier than just being you. But, the one thing no one will ever tell you is that finding your true authentic self, and for small business owners, establishing an authentic brand, is not easy.   Be Fearless The truth is, being authentic is really hard. You have to decide how you want to show up in the world, and you have to work at it every day. When we were children, we approached the world without fear, no understanding of consequences, just absorbing the world around us, and learning though our experiences.  But somewhere along the line, we lose those child-like instincts, and life tells us that we are supposed to act a certain way because of the color of our skin, the house we live in, the car we drive, or the level of education we've received. Society provides labels for everything and everyone around us and are assigned according to what we see.  Labels prevent authenticity.  And, the funny thing is, we pay extra for certain labels because we believe in what that label represents, but we lose ourselves in the process. The label restricts and constrains us from being our true self. We stop learning, we stop experiencing the world around us as if we were a child doing it for the first time. Instead, we make assumptions, and allow others to influence how we think and what we know.    Authenticity Lies in Your Energy Close your eyes. How do you feel?  Are you happy or unhappy? Are you calm or stressed? What's at the foundation of that feeling, does it come from something in your control or out of your control? Would you be satisfied if others judged you based on that feeling? Let's say you feel unhappy. Are you unhappy because you can't get the car you want or because you don't have food on the table? If the cause of your unhappiness, or stress, or insert some other negative emotion here, is something that is in your control, then it's merely a notion you are placing on yourself.  As a result, that's the energy you carry with you. When you close your eyes and focus on how you truly want to show up in the world, the energy you give off to others, without apology, without pretense, is your authentic self. Others may try to label you, but that doesn't matter because those who try to label you no longer serve your ability to be impactful. And by putting your focus on the energy you give off, you have more awareness of the energy of others, the energy you are looking to receive. You stop looking with your eyes, and start feeling for connection with humanity.  That's authenticity. That's impactful. And it's not easy.      Angie's Mystery Beer: Barrel Mountain Brewing - Battle Ground, WA Trail Builder Imperial IPA, 9% ABV, 100 IBU "Pungent hop aroma with a unique fruitiness. Tropical fruit and citrus zest. Resinous bitterness with a dry, clean mouthfeel."   Episode Links:  Lou Alexander Big A88 Jogger Securing the Win Business Over Beer Patreon  

Business Over Beer Episode #86 with Lou Alexander, Part 1 The Business Over Beer podcast welcomes Motivational Speaker, Lou Alexander of Authentic Impact, and Founder of the Big A88 Jogger apparel line.  Despite the hardships that came from growing up in the inner city, Lou had an amazing family foundation laid by his mother, he found football at the age of 15, and was highly recruited to play division 1 college football. Lou accepted a scholarship to play for Syracuse University, was the first in his family to graduate college, and went on to play in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted Free Agent.  Now with a lifetime of experience to draw on, Lou is sharing what he has learned from his journey, and is focused on helping people become their biggest selves at whatever they do.  Prost!   Motivation vs. Cultivation: Which one will springboard your small business to the next level? We all face challenges in our lives, we all have ups and downs, and as small business owners, those highs and lows can come in rapid succession. Also, we all know that personal development and growth can come out of hardship. We often learn more from our failures than from our successes, and we can use that failure as motivation to achieve success.  But when Lou Alexander joined us recently on The Business Over Beer podcast, he shared a very unique perspective on how to take your small business, your leadership skills and your growth mindset to another level.  Motivation or Cultivation? Small business owners and entrepreneurs are naturally highly motivated and have a deep-seated passion for solving problems. As a motivated leader, you work on improving the skill sets you already have, you work to be better in your current environment.  But is that motivation enough, or is there another level that can help you achieve even greater success? Yes, it's cultivation. To be cultivated means that you want to acquire new skills, new qualities and new habits. Cultivation is about growing something bigger outside of your motivation. Cultivation is motivation coupled with curiosity and an openness to ask for help in order to learn new ways of doing things. Unfortunately, our motivation can get in the way. We are motivated by how others view us, motivated not to appear weak, lost or not in control of every aspect of our business and lives. As a result, our egos can restrict cultivation.  The Springboard Small business owners rely on their motivation to keep at the daily grind of building a business. We are constantly looking for the spot where our product or service fits in the marketplace, and what are all the right elements that will launch our business forward. We're looking for a springboard and it's your motivation that gets you to the springboard. For many of us, that's enough. Once we find the springboard, we are content, we have a feeling that we made it, that we have nothing else to learn, and it's enough to feed our motivation. Most definitely you can be a strong leader and build a successful business by merely tapping into your motivation.  But what Lou talked about with us is next level leadership, next level entrepreneurship for those who are ready to take it on, and be willing to admit that they don't have all the answers.   Are you ready to be cultivated? Sticking with the springboard analogy: if the springboard is motivation, understanding the mechanics of how the springboard works is cultivation.  For example, as a kid from the inner city, who lost his father at an early age, Lou had plenty of motivation to improve his circumstances. So when he had the opportunity to attend Syracuse University on a football scholarship, he knew that could be the springboard to a better life. When he arrived on campus, he felt like he had made it. He was the first in his family to make it to college, he broke the cycle, and for Lou at that time, it was good enough.   But what Lou understands now, that he didn't know then, and that many of us do not consider when we are launching our small business forward is, if you don't know how the springboard works, and you just blindly jump, you may get launched in the wrong direction and end up hurting yourself. "I didn't take the mechanics of getting to the next level seriously. I didn't understand what was under the spring board to make me launch, all I knew was it was a launch pad," Lou said. "I didn't take the time know how it actually worked, and I got hit in the mouth."    Are you willing to Dig Deep? So what does this motivation vs. cultivation mean for small business owners? Dig deep and stay motivated enough to find the springboard that can launch your business to the next level. Dig deeper to understand how this springboard works so you know where you're headed.  Dig deepest by always looking for ways learn and acquire new skills; do not rest on your laurels and simply be content with who you are today; take the finite details personal.  Small business ownership is not race with a start and finish line. You may think you've made it, but you haven't, there's always another level if you're willing to cultivate it.    Guest Beer: Golden State Cider - Sebastopol, CA Jamaica, 5.8% ABV "​Inspired by the rich tradition of Agua Frescas, Jamaica reimagines this familiar taste from a dry cider perspective. Jamaica is a naturally pink cider made with tropical hibiscus flowers, which create fragrant aromas that lead to fresh berry flavors and a tart, round finish."   Episode Links: Big A88 Jogger Lou Alexander The Monster of Morbach  

Business Over Beer episode #85. with Katie Zink, Part 2  Returning for Part 2 of her interview on the Business Over Beer Podcast is Katie Zink, Founder and Principal Consultant with Social Construct Consulting.  In this episode we delve into the great work Katie is doing with organizations to create and implement diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) plans, focusing on companies that truly care about these issues. At Social Construct Consulting, her effort is not in convincing people that DE&I is important. She is not breaking down the doors of white CEOs demanding they give up their seat. Her work focuses on companies that want to do better in these areas, who recognize they will be better for it because it helps their employees do better at work, enjoy their work, and will create a safer and more comfortable place for more people at work.  She aims to make things better for everybody, but it will take everybody. Prost!   Making equity benefit the already widely benefitted How do we convince the people who already have the power and privilege that improved diversity, equity and inclusion are good things for them and their businesses? That question was asked to Katie Zink, Founder of Social Construct Consulting, during the latest episode of the Business Over Beer Podcast by Co-Host Jonathan Kaylor.  The question is a reasonable one when you think about all the calls to give more people of color, women, LBGTQ, and other underrepresented groups a "seat at the table". The underlying issue, as Jonathan noted in the episode, is that those in a position to give up these seats are not interested in relinquishing any of their power or privilege because they do not see any benefit for themselves.  Katie calmly responded, so you're asking, "how do we make equity benefit the already widely benefitted?" Instantly, Jonathan realized that he had asked the wrong question. And more importantly, his mindset and the questions he had been asking himself, too, about how to advocate for equity, were also wrong.   We should not be looking to make a business case for DE&I, trying to measure how it will improve the bottom line. As Katie explains, there is no silver bullet solution, and those who do not understand why this is important for companies, probably just don't care. Even the word "inclusion" is being interrogated because it centers around dominant culture as well. Someone has to do the including, right? One reason so many diversity initiatives fail at companies is because the focus is on hiring underrepresented groups into the existing culture. The only way to address the root cause is to first change the culture, to build a new table, and create a collectivist mindset.    Collective Culture Yes collectivism challenges the people who have that power who don't want to give it to anybody. Yes, collectivism requires a relinquishing of power. Yes, collectivism is counter to our current crony capitalist system. No collectivism is not socialism or communism. A collective culture is everyone's job and the purpose is to serve a collective organization, not just certain individuals and real change will not happen by trying to convince the one percenters. This becomes a grass roots initiative, with real entrepreneurs and small business owners, who understand the gap and want change. This is what entrepreneurs do, they pioneer new spaces, new thoughts, and don't wait to be invited to someone else's table. Small business owners must feel empowered to advocate for change, and know that we do have all the power with a collectivist mindset.    Angie's Mystery Beer: Browar Witnica, S.A. - Poland Black Boss Porter, 9.4% ABV "Brown-colored porter falling into a dark ruby. The foam is very durable, the smell is clearly caramel. The taste is dominated by burnt caramel with a noticeable and moderate bitterness and sweetness."   Episode Links: Katie Zink Social Construct Consulting Join The BOB Crew Koken Market Colorado Native Moose Drool Renewal Workshop Basecamp Controversy Community Call to Action Marcus Carter  

Business Over Beer Episode #84. with Katie Zink, Part 1  On this episode of the Business Over Beer Podcast, we have Katie Zink, Founder of Social Construct Consulting. Katie focuses her work at the intersection of employee activism and culture, where she helps organizations create an initial Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) plan and works closely with them on how they're going to make culture change happen.  In the episode, Katie gives us her definition of corporate culture, the different components that make up culture, and how perks impact culture. Also, we discuss navigating proper cultural language, privilege of dominant culture, and creating pathways to success for all.    Prost!   Our Guest's Craft Beer Offering: GoodLife Brewing - Bend, OR Sippy Cup Hazy Pale Ale, 6.4% ABV, 35 IBU "A hazy yet brightly golden color, Pale Ale, with a thick creamy head, bursting with juicy hop flavor and aroma. Utilizing a yeast strain from Imperial Organic Yeast, we used a light malt bill with fruit-forward hops Galaxy, Mosaic, and El Dorado. Melon, pineapple, black tea, and citrus notes are upfront in the aroma. A light, medium-bodied mouthfeel finishes with a burst of citrus/tropical flavors and a very subtle bitterness."   Episode Links: Katie Zink Social Construct Consulting The Farmer City Monster Join The BOB Patreon Koken Market Raphael House University of Colorado  

The Business Over Beer podcast welcomes back Iggy Odighizuwa, Chief of Operations at Systems-By-Design, and Head Transformation Coach at Tri-180 Coaching.   2020 challenged, and clarified, Iggy's mission and values. Iggy hired a coach to help him grow his business, which did not help him produce the results he needed. So, he developed his own client acquisition system which was so successful, that the coach he had hired licensed it from him so the coach could use it with his own clients. Iggy shares the story of how that coach then sued Iggy for the ownership rights to the program, which he was able to successfully defend in court, and ultimately led to the launch of his new business, Systems-By-Design.  In this episode, we learn that small business success comes from perseverance and fortitude, following your core values, and taking advantage of opportunities as they come up, even if the timing doesn't fit into your overall plan.  Prost!   The 2 cornerstones of an Entrepreneur Mindset Small Business Ownership can be very overwhelming, especially early on. You have to wear every hat, you have to work inside your business, and find the time to work on your business. Money is tight. Time is even tighter. And it can be very challenging to stay focused on keeping a healthy mindset while still kicking the can down the road.  Iggy Odighizuwa, Chief of Operations for software consulting firm, Systems-By-Design, recently joined us on the Business Over Beer Podcast, and he talked about his experience taking those first steps into Entrepreneurship and shared with us the 2 cornerstones of an Entrepreneur Mindset: Impact and Leverage.    Impact When developing your business model, any small business owner must be able to answer this question: How can I make the greatest impact on those I am looking to serve? The question is not how can I impact the most people, or how do I satisfy everyone.  Having the greatest impact is about understanding your specialty, what is your corner of the market and knowing how you are going to help the people you say you want to help. As a true professional, your impact needs to be focused outward. We often time get caught in the trap of making it all about ourselves and focusing on how it impacts me or my business.  Considering "greatest impact" for those you serve requires you to be flexible in how you approach your business model. The delivery system for creating the greatest impact may be different that the one you are using today or what you originally envisioned when you launched your business.  But when you clearly define your target market, and commit yourself to greatest impact, then you can use it to maximum advantage: leverage.    Leverage  For a healthy entrepreneur mindset, a second question every small business owner needs to answer is where do I have leverage or where can I create leverage? Leverage serves as your compass and creates freedom and flexibility. You can leverage your professionalism, your specific expertise, your values as small business owner. The clarity you create around these leverage points helps you draw your ideal customer.  When you know where you have leverage, you can determine how you want to use it. Charge a premium price. Acquire more clients. Acquire better clients. Grow your team. Or you can do what Iggy did, and share the leverage. Iggy has a well documented personal training system that gets results for his clients. But as just one person, he has a cap on the number of people he can help. So he could have leveraged his expertise by bringing in a team of other trainers under him to expand his reach. But eventually each trainer would max out and burn out the same way he did.  So he had to reconsider greatest impact, which was to take his program online. Doing that leveraged his system and expertise, and differentiated himself from all the unqualified trainers who were corrupting the space. He created leverage for his clients, too, by providing a permanent solution that they could keep coming back to in order to maintain their results. And since the system taught his clients how to do it themselves, Iggy could focus more of his time on bringing in more clients that he could help get healthy. Talk about leveraging your expertise for greatest impact.  Now, he is teaching other fitness professionals how to do the same thing, giving them added leverage to create successful business, and as a result, exponentially increasing his impact on those who need help getting healthy.  Leverage gives you the freedom to say no to certain prospects or activities. It gives you the freedom to put the proper value on your product or service. And Intentionally applying leverage in the right areas empowers yourself, your team, and the people you serve, creating a better life for everyone your business touches.    Angie's Mystery Beer: San Tan Brewing Co. - Chandler, AZ Moon Juice Galactic IPA, 7.3% ABV, 65 IBU "An out-of-this-world IPA crafted with tons of Galaxy and Nelson-Sauvin hops that transcends all Earthly pleasures, emitting an aroma of peach, apricot and tropical fruit."   Episode Links: Systems-By-Design Tri-180 Coaching Join The BOB Crew

Business Over Beer Podcast episode #82. with Iggy Odighizuwa, Part 1 On this episode of the Business Over Beer podcast, we welcome Iggy Odighizuwa, Head Transformation Coach at Tri-180 Coaching and Chief of Operations at Systems-By-Design. Iggy got into the health and fitness space training athletes at a university, and then built a large personal training business doing upwards of 70 - 100 sessions per week. Facing burn out and a business model that was clearly unsustainable, Iggy shifted to an online coaching model, systemizing his training program to be more efficient, more sustainable for himself, and providing better result for his clients.   Iggy then brought the systemization expertise he built to Systems-By-Design, a software consulting company, specializing in marketing and creating systems for client acquisition, content delivery and business operations for health and fitness professionals who are looking to build their business online. While their focus on the health and fitness space, the application of their software can be used for nearly any small business.  "You learn so much more about yourself as an entrepreneur. You realize what's important to you. You have to make sacrifices to get to where you want to be and forces you to develop your character and grow as a human being, so you can be the man and be the leader that you need to be to take your business where you want to go." - Iggy Odighizuwa, COO Systems-By-Design   Our Guest's Craft Beer Offering: Black Raven Brewing Company - Redmond, WA Wisdom Seeker, Double IPA, 8.9% ABV, 70 IBU "Folklore and mythology present the raven as an omniscient creature with special powers and abilities. The Wisdom Seeker Double IPA gets its special powers from an enormous amount of hops and malted barley. Brewed in the West coast Double IPA style, this bold brew features massive citrus and herbal hop additions and a full hop aroma. Seek your wisdom cautiously; this hop feast packs a punch."   Episode Links: Systems-By-Design Tri-180 Coaching Black Raven Trickster IPA on The BOB Osa Odighizuwa 2021 NFL Draft 3rd Round Pick

Business Over Beer episode #81. with Loowit Brewing Company  Welcome back to part 2 of our interview at Loowit Brewing Company with Co-Owner Thomas Poffenroth, Head Brewer, Landon Smith, and Sales Manager, Jason Green.  In this episode, we dig a little deeper into the background of each of our guests, how the Loowit Brewing Company got its start and how these guys all ended up here together. Also, we get into the business of brewing, discussing self distribution versus hiring a distributor partner, the importance of supporting local, as well as how tough it can be to jump in on niche beer trends.   In the end, we learned that Loowit is gonna do what Loowit does. And, we're happy about that, because we love what they do, it's great for beer drinkers and great for our community.  Prost!   Staying true to yourself is always a good small business strategy Finding your way as a new small business owner is really challenging. For us at TH3 Entertainment (the parent company of Business Over Beer), we are still refining our business model and have gone back and forth on various strategies.  One of the temptations is to put all your focus on trends and fads. Don't get me wrong, understand the short and long term trends of your business, your industry and the broader market is a crucial piece of running a successful small business. Moreover, understanding the difference between a trend and something that's trendy, is an important distinction.   In our latest episode, Loowit Brewing Co-Owner, Thomas Poffenroth, talked about the trend curve in brewing, and how being too far ahead of the curve can be just as bad as being behind the curve. Thomas says one of his biggest fears is becoming irrelevant, a fear that so many of us small business owners can relate to, and, if you are not careful, one that can easily send you off track chasing the latest shiny objects.  So as a small business owner, when deciding whether or not to put in your hard earned time and money to ride the wave of the latest trend, the first thing to ask yourself is if you are being true to yourself. Don't change your business model if it means changing what you're all about at your core. Follow the trends that align with your business model and your mission. If the trend turns out to be a fad and dies out quickly, you will be left with a product that still makes sense and you will likely still have some demand for it within your customer base.  But if you chase a trend that is counter to what you do at your core, even if you get the timing right, you may struggle to find a market, your current customers may not want it, and the new customer acquisition costs for something that is misaligned with your business can turn the opportunity into a liability.   In the end, take Loowit's advice and keep focused on doing what it is that you do, and don't be tempted to chase a brass ring that's not the right fit for your fingers.    Angie's Mystery Beer: Loowit Brewing - Vancouver, WA Mount St. Helles, Helles Lager, 4.8 ABV, 21 IBU "A traditional German Lager made with Skagit Valley malts and NW Hop german varietal hops. Clean and crisp, this is the perfect beer for the season."    Episode Links: Loowit Brewing Coolest F-ing Corner in Vancouver Hallertau Mittelfrüh Kitchen Nightmares Gordon Ramsey Captured By Porches ProBrewer Maletis Beverage Business Over Beer Patreon  

On this episode of the Business Over Beer podcast, we are lucky enough to be at Loowit Brewing Company, speaking with Co-Owner, Thomas Poffenroth, Head Brewer, Landon Smith and Sales Manager, Jason Green.  Thomas, and his longtime friend and Co-Owner, Devon Bray, were tired of going into Portland for great beer. So their idea was simple: 1. Open THE brewery serving the Washington side of the Columbia River, And 2. Brew great beer.   Now, Vancouver and Southwest Washington have become its own unique beer destination, no longer standing in the shadow of its neighbor to the south, and frankly, where the best beer on the planet is being brewed. As one of the true OGs of the North Bank, Loowit has continued to operate out of the same location in Downtown Vancouver, WA since 2012. And, make no mistake, it was Loowit who was at the forefront of the craft beer movement in Southwest Washington.    Prost!   The right way to find opportunity in adversity In the 20+ years since the internet revolution, it seems there is nearly nothing that hasn't already been done before in some form or fashion. Try getting your first choice of an email address, a social media handle, or a website address if you want to know what I mean.   In a growing industry like craft beer, with so many new products coming out constantly, and worldwide, imagine the challenge to create a new beer name that has never been done before. And if you do choose a product name that's been done before and it infringes on someone else's trademark, you got problems. That's what happened to Loowit Brewing Company with their flagship beer, Shadow Ninja, in 2015. This beer defined their brand and had become so much a part of their identity, even being called "The Ninja Brewery" by some of their super fans. So when Loowit received a cease and desist letter from another brewery stating that it was infringing on the other brewery's trademark, it was an understandably crushing feeling and, at first, they just couldn't see how they could move ahead without their flagship. They could have fought it, but as Co-Owner Thomas Poffenrock mentioned to us, when you have a trademark, it's your right and responsibility to defend the mark. Ultimately, fighting it would have been wasted energy that would be better spent on how to move forward. Interestingly, they certainly wouldn't have imagined back then that they'd actually be thankful that it happened.    A blessing in disguise After the initial shock wore off, Loowit knew they had to try and turn this adversity into something positive. But how? What they know now, that they didn't know then, was that the beer was ready for a refresh. This "crushing blow" was actually an opportunity to upgrade their brand and make a splash with the a re-launch.  Which they did. Their new flagship, Shadow Shinobi, was launched as "same beer, new name." They released a comic book about the experience, and as a result, sales of the beer increased and their brand was revitalized.   The lesson here is twofold Number 1, when an apparent crushing blow is dealt to your business, do not fold under the adversity. Be careful not to waste your time, energy and money sulking, pointing fingers, or looking for someone else to blame. Instead, believe that it is happening for a reason. Do not use it as an excuse to show anything other than resiliency and look for the opportunity within that challenge to improve your business.   Second, don't wait for a crushing blow before you look for ways to refresh your brand, your products or your business. Complacency is one of the great threats to any business, and it's an unseen threat, that oftentimes doesn't reveal itself until outside conditions bring it to the surface. So build into your normal practice ways you could blow things up a little that could reinvent the way you operate. Not that you should blow up your business on any kind of frequent basis, but thinking about, and discussing, new ways to look at your business can help you stay fresh, current, and relevant in a very crowded marketplace. And, it's way better that you have control of any explosions, instead of waiting for a cease and desist letter that forces your hand.    Guest Beer: Loowit Brewing Co. - Vancouver, WA Gamma Ray IPA, 6.9% ABV, 67 IBU Modern West Coast IPA, very aromatic with a dankness in the aroma and on the palate, and flavors of tangerine and mandarin orange. Brewed with strata, cascade and idaho 7 hops.    Episode Links: Loowit Brewing Philip Reardon the Ten-Eyed Man Loowit Changes the name of their flagship to Shadow Shinobi Storm Shadow IIPA Breakside Brewing OSU Food Science and Fermentation  

Business Over Beer Podcast Episode #79. | Columbia Credit Union and EcoDigital Media, Part 3  As we conclude our trilogy with the Co-founders of EcoDigital Media, Kimberly Brecko and Randy Short, and Columbia Credit Union's Marc Timm, Chief Lending Officer, and Joe Storm, Director of Commercial Lending, it is clear why these four individuals came on the show together.  Business is truly about creating mutually beneficial relationships, and the greatest success we can have, both personally and professionally, is by adding value. It's understood that a successful business must add value to its customers, but make no mistake, customers can, and should, add value for its vendors. Through mutual success and true partnership, you transcend "business" and achieve community. Prost!   2 perspectives on keeping a long term focus for small business owners In this episode our guests offer 2 unique perspectives on the importance of staying focused on the long term. As a small business owner, assigning a feeling a permanence to whatever you are going through today, regardless of whether it's good times or tough times, is a sure fire recipe for getting stuck, and will hinder your ability to achieve your goals.   Ride the waves, but watch the horizon Marc Timm, Chief Lending Officer at Columbia Credit Union, uses an ocean analogy. Whether you are swimming or surfing or sailing, it's important to keep your eyes on the horizon. Yes, in the ocean, and in business, we have waves crashing down on us constantly. It is important to remember that those waves are normal, they are expected, and they create daily, sometimes hourly, ups and downs. But those waves are not permanent, in fact, nothing is permanent and you can overcome the challenges put in front of you. In his book, The Infinite Game, Simon Sinek says that no one wins or loses business, you are either ahead or behind, and the target is constantly moving. Circumstances change, Markets change, technology changes, people change. Fight the waves with everything you have today then put it behind you. As Joe Storm, Director of Commercial Lending for Columbia Credit Union, says, no matter what happens today, we have another shot at it tomorrow. Small business owners must take the approach that there is no finish line, keep your eyes on the horizon, it's there to keep you on course while you battle waves.    Partner for life? For Kimberly Brecko, Co-Founder of EcoDigital media, it was more personal. She and her co-founder, Randy Short, were dating when they started the business. Their dating relationship did not last, but they fought through that to keep the business going. But as she looks back on those times, she sees now that she was so focused on what she was going through in the moment, instead of looking to the horizon and realizing that this was a long term endeavor, and that she and Randy would remain partners and would become family.  By not assigning permanence to what you are facing day to day, you can grow and evolve past the crashing waves that are trying to steer you off course. And when you get to some smoother waters, you realize what you are capable of, what you can endure, how strong you are, and that pain and difficulty don't last forever.    The good times aren't forever either Small business ownership, entrepreneurship, and business in general, is tough, and can be lonely at times. But it's not all bad. If it were all doom and gloom, why would so many of us have chosen this path? There are moments when the waves die down and you sail in smooth waters for a time. But it's just as important not to assign permanence to those either. When times are good, still keep your eye on the horizon, keep your eye on the vision, and don't allow comfort and complacency to knock you off course.    Angie's Mystery Beer: Fort George Brewery - Astoria, OR Matryoshka, Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout, 12.8% ABV "Aged for one year in a blend of Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Westward Whiskey barrels. This barrel aged stout is an exercise in balance and intensity, full of bold flavors such as vanilla, anise, chocolate, coffee, and charred oak, all integrating seamlessly. The high gravity and robust mouthfeel give the beer heft and substance, while remaining smooth and deceivingly drinkable."   Episode Links: EcoDigital Media Columbia Credit Union Koken Market Global Health News Network    

Business Over Beer Episode #78. | Columbia Credit Union and EcoDigital Media, Part 2 This week on the Business Over Beer podcast, we have part 2 of our 3 part series with Co-founders of EcoDigital Media, Kimberly Brecko and Randy Short, along with Marc Timm, Chief Lending Officer, and Joe Storm, Director of Commercial Lending, for Columbia Credit Union  In this episode we learn about EcoDigital Media, a Digital Signage and Visual Communication company, and how Kimberly and Randy are using their platform to help companies boost productivity and provide their clients with unique customer and employee experiences. Prost!   Do not sell products, sell to behaviors As a small business owner, especially if you are new business owner or if you do not have much experience in sales, the natural inclination is to launch into a pitch that focuses on the product you are selling. And you can definitely build a business selling all the great features of your product or service.  But if you want to take your business to the next level, look no further than human behavior to sell your product. For example, in the middle of the pandemic, when many business were struggling to stay afloat, employees were losing their jobs and budgets were getting slashed, many business owners were focused on the event itself and all the things that were holding them back. Kimberly and Randy, on the other hand, chose to focus on how people were behaving as a result of the event. Take out, Drive thru, and curbside pickup became table stakes for businesses of all kinds and EcoDigital was able to customize an offering for clients to meet this growing and rapidly changing shift in the marketplace.    Integrate your product to behaviors Entrepreneurs are problem solvers at heart, and often times the market is not ready for your solutions. Perhaps, people are not behaving the way you expect them to...or need them to... in order to sell your product or service. So instead of telling people all the great things your product does, focus on how your product will integrate with what people are doing, and how they will feel as a result.  For example, one of primary industries that EcoDigital serves is Hospitals and Healthcare. The impact of the pandemic to this industry has been far reaching. Imagine trying to get a meeting with a hospital administrator in the past year saying you want to sell them some signage?! A product first approach would have been a tough sale.  But with a behavior first approach, Kimberly and Randy were able to relate their offering to the experience that will be had by employees, patients and visitors, and demonstrated how specific targeted content would improve the day to day experience for all, during a time when everyone truly needed an improved experience.    Envision the experience If you are a new business owner, or are in a business where the ROI on your product or service is largely intangible, remember that people make decisions based on emotions, how they feel about something. So when you talk to people, read between the lines, what are they really saying, or more importantly, how are they feeling and help them envision an experience that helps them fill the gaps.    Our Guest's Craft Beer Offering: Matchless Brewing - Tumwater, WA Southbound and Down, West Coast IPA, 7.2% ABV "Originally brewed in 2020 for the launch of our friends’ new company Southbound Distributing in Vancouver, WA. This nod to both their namesake and their favorite TV show is a modern take on West Coast IPA. It’s completely juiced up with Centennial, Citra and HBC-692 that crank out citrus, pine and even subtle tropical notes. All of this jumps the wake on a sea of Best Pilsner, SVM Vienna & Weyermann Munich malts. Because fundamentals are a crutch for the talentless."   Episode Links: EcoDigital Media Columbia Credit Union Smokey and the Bandit - Eastbound and Down Tap Union Freehouse Boylan Root Beer  

On this episode of The Business Over Beer Podcast, we speak with Chief Lending Officer, Marc Timm, and Director of Commercial Lending, Joe Storm, of Columbia Credit Union, as well as the Founders of EcoDigital Media, Kimberly Brecko and Randy Short.  When Kimberly and Randy could not get a call back from their bank regarding the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), it was Columbia Credit Union that picked up the phone and helped them take advantage of these funds to help their business during the pandemic. As a result of their experience, Kimberly and Randy brought over many of their accounts to Columbia Credit Union.  In this episode, we learn why Columbia Credit Union is the best in class for its members, its employees and for the small business community here in Southwest Washington and Portland Metro.   Prost!   The 2 things to build your company culture around As a small business owner, if there are two things to build your company culture around, it should be Help and Resolve.   Help First, help goes both ways: asking for help and offering help. As in life, both aspects of help are important to a successful business. And sometimes, both aspects come into play simultaneously, like during a global pandemic that forces a complete shift in how the business world operates.  Being a small business owner means being part of a community, and since 1952, Columbia Credit Union has been setting the example for our community. A huge part of their corporate culture is focused first on helping people, not just helping shareholders. Also, it's also about empowering their workforce to find ways to help its members no matter what circumstances they are presented with. For example, when the pandemic hit, they sprung into action to administer PPP loans for small businesses, nearly half of which were not current members. Yes, there was tremendous uncertainty and ever changing guidance from the SBA . And no, they did not have all the answers or the how to's.  But even as the first round of funding ran out, up until all hours of the night, with help from employees from across the business, they worked to administer these loans that would save job and businesses in the community.  Having a "help" first mindset is why Columbia Credit Union have been recognized as the best credit union for 12 straight years and why 92% of their employees either like, or love, working there.     Resolve What a great word. It's a word that exudes strength, decisiveness, and the desire to find solutions to the most challenging problems. For Columbia Credit Union, the pandemic created potentially devastating outcomes for it members and for the whole community.  As a financial institution, it's their job to manage risk, not avoid it. But, with the pandemic, the risks were almost completely unknown, and so it was Columbia Credit Union's values and culture that drove decisions. From the outset, they knew that failure was not an option. Immediately, it stopped being about their own work and their own goals, instead they made sacrifices to their own business, and resolved to save jobs and help their small business members navigate these unprecedented circumstances.  When you see the resolve in others, and others see the resolve in you, it creates a culture within the whole community to help each other. And, as a small business owner, when you put these at the center of your culture, and when you Resolve To Help, you too will be a true community leader, you'll be recognized as best in class, and from there, the business and financial success are sure to follow.    The Guest's Craft Beer Offerings: Black Raven Brewing Co. - Redmond, WA Trickster IPA, 6.9% ABV, 68 IBU "In mythology, the raven can play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules, hence the name Trickster. This well-balanced IPA has a light fruit, citrus and piney hop aroma with a full hop flavor."   Bouy Beer Co. - Astoria, OR Czech-Style Pilsner, 6.2% ABV, 35 IBU "Bright traditional taste. A classic pilsner with roots in the great beer heritage of the Czech Republic. Our Czech-Style Pilsner features Saaz hops supporting layers of rounded malt flavors. As right today as it was a few hundred years ago. From a place that’s weathered a few trends in its time; here, history never gets old."   Episode Links: EcoDigital Media Columbia Credit Union Shuswaggi, The Shuswap Lake Monster  

On this episode of the Business Over Beer podcast, we have part 2 of our interview with Cathy Baillargeon, Founder and CEO of Virtual Cathy, a company providing remote administrative support for business owners and non-profits.   After a very spirited Angie's Mystery Beer segment, in which Ben's lovely wife Angela, once again pulled some next level psychic voodoo with her beer selection, we discuss the lonely road of Entrepreneurship, the psychology of Small Business Owners, and how Cathy has built a culture around caring and companionship for her clients. At the heart of her business, she is helping small business owners unwind many of the misconceptions about what entrepreneurship traditionally has been, resulting in a happier and healthier life for the small business owner, and a healthier, more profitable business.  Prost!   How to Make the Lonely Road of Entrepreneurship Less Lonely For many of us, we were taught from an early age, that working longer was the same as working harder. This is a misconception, that in today's culture, we need to unwind in order to help the mental health and wellness for, not only entrepreneurs and small business owners, but for our broader workforce.   Many entrepreneurs, specifically solopreneurs, have a mindset around their work that "if I CAN do, I should do it", and "what would it say about me as business owner if I gave up these tasks." There's an inherent fear that letting go of certain things means it's not theirs anymore.  But that doesn't have to be the case. Any small business owner doesn't have to prove that they can do data entry. They do not have to justify giving up tasks that they are not good at or that they simply don't want to do. The road of entrepreneurship can be lonely enough without trying to convince yourself that if you aren't working 18 hour days, that somehow you are less than. The Covid-19 pandemic allowed small business owners to step back and take a break that allowed them to see what was truly important in life. In this new remote workplace culture and the gig economy, and getting support from services like Virtual Cathy, a business owner's life can look much different. A business can still grow without the business owner having to work 24/7, allowing them to be better wives, husbands, mothers and fathers...and better business owners.    Angie's Mystery Beer: Sasquatch Brewing Co. - Portland, OR Free Couch, Hazy IPA, 7.1% ABV This craft beer is "made with Simcoe hops and double dry hopped with Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic hops. Notes of passion fruit, melon, peach, and blueberry. It’s full bodied, pale in color, and super juicy."   Episode Links: Virtual Cathy What's in the bag? Koken Market Alchemist Beer Crazy Cait Alien 5th Dimension Shit Join Business Over Beer Patreon

On this week's episode of Business Over Beer, we welcome Cathy Baillargeon, Founder and CEO of Virtual Cathy, a company providing remote administrative support for business owners and non-profits.   As a business management consultant, prior to becoming a business owner herself, Cathy saw first hand that business owners were struggling with how to effectively delegate administrative tasks, preventing their businesses from achieving their full potential. Also, when Cathy launched her business three years ago, she was able to navigate some of the start up headaches because she had the experience guiding other business through those challenges as a consultant. Now, Virtual Cathy's Army of Virtual Assistants (VAs) are helping businesses in 27 states, with a wide variety of services including data entry, travel planning, email management, scheduling and social media management.  Prost!   3 Tips for Small Business Owners: 1. Delegating is a skill set that must be developed by a small business owner. For any small business owner, our business is our baby, and the thought of giving up control of any aspect of it can be hard. But the reality is, in order for a small business to grow, business owners must spend their time doing what they do best everyday. It's easy to get bogged down, especially with administrative tasks, that, while essential for the business, may not be essential for the business owner's time. That is where delegating comes in, and it doesn't come naturally to some people. Think of delegating as a skill that you need to work on, like any other skill. Really think about what you spend your time doing versus what you WANT to spend your time doing. Then get out of your own way and start delegating.  2. Understand where the market is going, and how your business can fill the holes. As a small business owner, just running the day to day can take take up most of your time. And when a massive disruption hits the market or your industry, you are left having to quickly react, and innovate, or pivot, or worse, close your doors. Cathy saw the challenges business owners were having delegating administrative tasks. In addition, she also understood (even pre-Covid) the value of providing this service virtually. So when the pandemic hit, she was already poised for the virtual workplace and was perfectly positioned to help her clients as they were forced to make this shift as well.  Be disciplined enough to understand where the market is headed and position yourself for a shift, even before the shift is necessary. Do not get lost in the day to day of your business, because if a big shift comes, it may just be your business that gets lost. 3. Say it out loud. We all have lots of ideas. For those of us with a natural entrepreneurial spirit, we believe our ideas can change the world, and that we can make money from them. A great first step to turn an idea into action is to say it out loud. Cathy had been envisioning a Virtual Assistant business, but it was when she verbalized it to her networking group, that she sprung into action. Once she put it out there, it created a sense of obligation for herself to pursue it. Once you say it out loud, the initial feedback you receive, positive or negative, can help you determine if it's a viable idea and can change your mindset from "doing it someday" to "today".   The Guest's Craft Beer Offering: Matchless Brewing - Tumwater, WA Whhhip It, Vanilla Hazy IPA, 7.7% ABV "Crack that Whhhip It! Give that can a sip. Step on a crack, break out your 4-pack. When a problem comes along, you must Whhhip It! Before the beer sits out too long, you must Whhhip It!"   Episode Links: Virtual Cathy Taps Growler House Whip It - The Movie Whip It - Devo That's Heavy Doc Critical Role Podcast DragonRealms  

Business Over Beer Episode #74. with Keith Sconiers, Part 2 On this episode of the Business Over Beer podcast, we welcome back Keith Sconiers, President of NW Advisory Group and Catalyst Training & Development, for part 2 of our sit down.  In this episode, Keith talks about his passion for helping athletes understand the opportunities that entrepreneurship can provide for them after their playing days are over. But, instead of creating a "fall back plan", Keith helps shape a new plan, that includes success on and off the field, a plan that can provide for themselves and their family, and ultimately help them live their best life.    In This Episode: Tying the Athlete Journey to an Entrepreneurship Journey, provides the best opportunities for athletes to make a positive impact in the communities they came from.  The Entrepreneur path allows athletes to own their life, their brand and their future, so they can go back and teach that same path to the kids that come from the place they came from.  For Keith, he did not know there was another path, he had to learn the hard way, try at many different jobs and situations, before he learned there are opportunities for a better life through entrepreneurship.  There are companies that are doing fine job getting athletes jobs, but they are not helping athletes achieve their true potential, and not every athlete wants to go work for someone else. The NCAA is not set up for the athletes to live their best life.  Athletics, especially for those coming from the inner city, are an opportunity to help their family get out of a bad situation; education does not offer that same opportunity, so they do not focus on it in the same way as they do with athletics. Catalyst Training and Development is working with Athletes throughout their education so they understand what can be available after their athletic career is over. Catalyst helps athletes answer the questions "who do I want to be a hero to" and "who do I want to serve with my work", these answers provide the roadmap.   Angie's Mystery Beer: Cascade Lakes Brewing - Redmond, OR Pineapple IPA, 7.1% ABV, 37 IBU "We are stoked to offer this tasty IPA where mountain pine aromas collide with the tropics. The blend of 3 flavorful hops and a splash of pineapple make this the liquid to drench your cottonmouth."   Episode Links: Keith Sconiers  NW Advisory Group Paysuite Catalyst Training and Development NCAA Tupac - Picture Me Rolling  

On this episode of the Business Over Beer podcast, we welcome the very inspirational Keith Sconiers to the program. Keith is the President of several businesses, including Northwest Advisory Group, Catalyst Training and Development and PaySuite.   In each of his businesses, the mission is very clear: help small business owners and entrepreneurs be successful. As a young man, it was entrepreneurs that helped him and his father get by. Now, Keith is working to be that for others, paying it forward in his community with his experience, his time, and his expertise. Prost!   In this episode: Keith was on a troubled path and could have easily given into to his surroundings and circumstances. It was Keith's high school basketball coach that first cast a vision for his future, giving him something to work toward through basketball. Rooted in the belief that if he doesn't quit, and doesn't give into to challenges and the negative self talk, that he can become the kind of person that was there for him when he was growing up and become that kind of person for someone else. You can't avoid bad things from happening, but when you persevere and overcome those obstacles, it fuels a belief in yourself and your future success. You don't need someone else to tell you what the right thing to do is, you have the power within you to do the right thing no matter how difficult the situation you're in.  When faced with an obstacle, trust your experience, think of times when you've been through something similar, and instead of focusing on the bad stuff or being a victim, embrace the positive attributes that show up in the middle of tragedy.  The only way to find value in the painful experiences you've had in life is if you actually do something with them. Otherwise, it's just tragedy that you just have to sit with.    Guest Beer: Xicha Brewing - West Salem, OR Chela, Mexican Style Lager, 5.3% ABV, 18 IBU Technically, it’s a light lager brewed with flaked corn. The industry calls it a Mexican Lager. But we call it a Chela. It’s an every occasion beer; from hanging with your homies to just coming home from work. Nothing complicated. Nothing fancy. This is a beer for the people. Cerveza para la gente. ¡Salud!   Pale Especial, Mango Pale Ale, 6.5% ABV, 44 IBU A copper colored pale ale brewed with mango heartily hopped to hold its own against the sweeter mango addition. A fine balance of malt, hop, and fruit.   Episode Links: Keith Sconiers  NW Advisory Group Paysuite Catalyst Training and Development Pura Vida Taco Spaceship Barlows Brewery Portland State University  

Welcome back for part 2 of our interview with Larry Sharpe, Managing Director of The Neo-Sage Group, Host of The Sharpe Way with Larry Sharp, and 2018 Libertarian Gubernatorial Candidate for New York State.    In this episode, Larry shared with us that it was in deciding to move out of New York, that he decided to run for Governor. He was upset that he had to leave his state, his friends and his business to find a better place to live, and out of that experience, he decided he wanted to fix it.  Our country is in need of healing and it is only through a third party that we can actually start the healing process, and the Libertarian Party is in the best position to play that role.  Prost!    In This Episode: Larry ran for Vice President of the United States in 2016 and lost the Libertarian Party nomination by 31 votes. After the 2016 Presidential election, there was a hole in Libertarian leadership that Larry wanted to step in and fill. New York has lost 1.5 million residents in last 10 years and will lose 2 congresspeople after this most recent census. Rhetoric does not work for a third party; only in a 2 party system, running on a platform of "I'm not him" works. As a third party candidate you have to be a full time candidate in order to have impact. There was so much in fighting within the Libertarian Party during the 2020 primary, the party nominated their 2nd choice for President. Running his Gubernatorial campaign was a lot like his first failed business, he learned lessons on how to run a a proper third party campaign by failing. He brought a plan to the Libertarian Party for the 2020 Presidential campaign based on what he learned running for Governor, but did not get support from party leaders regarding that plan. The top of the ticket should be working to gain popularity and then passing that onto candidates at the local level. If you want fairer money in politics, there needs to be only one campaign finance regulation: total and absolute transparency.   Angie's Mystery Beer: Georgetown Brewing - Seattle, WA Meowsa, Double IPA, 8.1% abv "If you force fed a watermelon a steady diet of mandarin oranges and pineapples and then dropped said watermelon into a wood chipper, this beer has the resulting aromas and flavors that came out of the business end of that wood chipper.”    Episode Links: The Neo-Sage Group The Sharpe Way Libertarian Party Larry Sharpe Policies Judge Jim Gray Angela McArdle Angela McArdle on The Sharpe Way Justin Amash Drafts Tri Partisan Bill    

This week on The Business Over Beer Podcast, we go after the Squatchers with Larry Sharpe, Managing Director of The Neo-Sage Group, Host of The Sharpe Way and 2018 New York State Gubernatorial Candidate for the Libertarian Party. Larry shares with us his journey to entrepreneurship, which started well before he owned his first business. After his father passed away when he was just 12 years old, and in need of positive male role models, Larry found what he was looking for in the US Marine Corp, serving for 7 years.   After leaving the Marines, Larry helped his mom, an addict, get out of prison. With a felony conviction, Larry watched her become a hostage to every job she had, ultimately starting a business with her so she could be the boss and take control of her life. A business that she ran all the way until her retirement.   Prost!    In this episode: As leaders move up, they tend to be very good technically but not very good emotionally. Leaders are good at communicating accurately, but not being responsible for the results of that communication. For modern leaders to be successful, technical skills are no longer enough, soft skills are required.  The only way our country heals is through a third party mediator, and the Libertarian Party is the only party that doesn't force you to convert. As a Libertarian, you can be as liberal or as conservative as you want to be, just don't force others to be the same. If you're an entrepreneur and you're doing something you hate, you're doing something wrong. Larry was always the #2 sales rep at every sales job he had because he spent time helping others to do well, realizing that he is even better at training and being a teacher. Optimism is the best indicator of success for a sales rep. Leadership today is not management. Management is processes and resources, which can be learned in school, and computers can manage better than humans anyway. Leadership is people. In today's world we need a whole lot more of people's brains, we need more than just their arms and legs. We need initiative and imagination.   The Libertarian ideals fit perfectly to what he was already training; modern day leadership, post industrial leadership is about ownership mentality and volunteerism.   Guest Beer: Baerlic Brewing - Portland, OR Pancake House, Breakfast Imperial Stout, 11% abv "Just like your Great Grandpa’s daily breakfast at the Pancake House—hotcakes slathered in maple syrup alongside a bottomless cuppa joe. And seeing as he’s retired AF, maybe a squirt of chocolate syrup on top."   Episode Links: The Neo-Sage Group The Sharpe Way Tuttle Bottoms Monster Libertarian Party Robert Ringer To Be or Not To Be intimidated Objectivism / Ayn Rand

Welcome back to the second biggest podcast in the Pacific Northwest behind only The Sasquatch Hunters, for part 2 of our interview with Drs. Kyle, Tiffany and Cody, Co-Founders of Life Force Chiropractic in Vancouver, WA.   On this episode, we learn how their Midwestern mentality and a little small town feel, combined with a near death experience, has defined their practice and has led them down a path of service to their community and striving for improved health and wellness for all.   Prost!   In this episode: Despite 17 other Chiropractors in the same zip code, for Life Force, it's never been about competition, rather about reaching more people. If people are getting the help they need to heal and adapt, that's what's most important. Life Force knows what defines their practice, and they will attract the patients that resonate with what they're doing and others will resonate with other chiropractors in the area. It's a very selfless profession and it's not about what can they get out of the community but rather what can they put into the community If they can get more people under chiropractic care who need it, whether with with Life Force or another practice, the important thing is realizing that a healthier society creates happier world.  People pass judgement on others before knowing the full story or before even listening to the story; we need to learn not to condemn someone because they are not where you're at. Respect your neighbor, and understand that people make decisions based on their own experiences. Life Force has heard more suicide stories since the pandemic started than the previous three years in business.   To combat the mental health crisis in this country, we have to have more public conversations in order to make these topics more normal.  Control what you can control; there's a handful of things that you get to make decisions on, focus on those and give the rest away.    Angie's Mystery Beer: Crux Fermentation Project - Bend, OR  Tough Love, Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, 14% abv, 70 IBU "Tough Love is bold but nuanced, an homage of sorts to the traditional Russian Imperial Stouts and the ruling style of Catherine the Great. We construct it with dark roasted malts, malted rye, and oak-smoked wheat, and then banish it in Kentucky bourbon barrels. The aging process smooths out the edges on an otherwise bold statement, and bitterness succumbs to tender strokes of vanilla beans, hints of dried cherries, and new layers revealing themselves with each sip."   Episode Links: Life Force Chiropractic Follow Life Force on Facebook and Instagram Hello Kiel The BOB Happy Hour with Life Force Chiropractic BNI Lac Seul Tornado  

When you hear the word "chiropractor", you probably don't think of things like neurological function or healing from within. But for the past 3 years, the Founders at Life Force Chiropractic in Vancouver, WA, Doctors Kyle Kurscheidt, Tiffany Thorne and Cody Kurscheidt, have built a practice with Hope, Health and Healing at the center of their Vision.   On this episode, we learn about some of the history of Chiropractic, part of the journey that drew these doctors to chiropractic medicine, and all about how they work to give their patients, of ALL ages, a better life. Prost!   In This Episode: As a family business, they must balance the mission of the business with their individual ambitions and meeting the relationship needs inside the business and out.   At the heart of their practice, for themselves as partners, and their patients, you have to put yourself aside and understand the human being across from you. Having patience and communication, you can make it all work.  You wipe the world off your shoes at the door. Chiropractic began as a neurological based practice, looking at the function of the body and restoring it. The early days of chiropractic let the body's innate and inborn intelligence run its course to let people live a better life. Over time it got watered down as back pain, neck pain and headaches that people associate with chiropractors today. When you look at any market, people are looking for 3 things: Mission: Who are you, what are you doing, and why do you do it.  Story: This comes from knowing someone, what you went through, and how they relate to your story. Price: If you get the first two right, the third doesn't matter.  God doesn't make garbage, the body is made heal and when we put the right things in the body, the body does what it needs to do. Your health is a puzzle, and if you're putting the right pieces in, you get the picture you're looking for.    Guest Beer: Deschutes Brewery - Bend, OR Fresh Squeezed IPA, India Pale Ale, 6.4% abv, 60 IBU "Juicy sweet hop aromas of grapefruit and passionfruit. Hops carry through a muffin-like malt character rounding out this full flavored IPA into a thing of beauty like no other."   Episode Links: Life Force Chiropractic The Beast of Bray Road Life Force on The BOB Happy Hour Smith Rock Palmer College of Chiropractic Dr. D.D. Palmer I was there twice last year BNI

In this week's episode of the Business Over Beer podcast, we welcome Jake Kaempf, Founder and CEO of The Everyday Company, back to the program for part 2 of his interview.  On this episode, we learn about the fundamental mindsets you need to have in order to be successful as an entrepreneur. Also, Jake tells us all about his new company, and how taking a technology first approach will compliment his existing brand development business.  The Everyday Company is the first of its kind, AI Powered branding technology and service company, using cutting edge machine learning technology to collect, aggregate and interpret the latent data associated with the signals of a brand, and tracks where brands are appearing in conversations and through user generated content in digital media. The platform has wide ranging uses across industries that empowers employees who needs better data for their decision making. Prost!   In this episode: Too many entrepreneurs make presumptions about how successful they are going to be without paying attention to all the different aspects that go into it.  Entrepreneurs get selfish and nit pick as soon as they reach a point that they can grow.  Entrepreneurs must concentrate on how they will build a team that will improve what they do.   If you're afraid of sharing your skills and techniques because someone will suddenly overtake you, then you're not actually any good at what you do.  Entrepreneurs need to have the ability to share, to be open and to trust. Prefail: To hold back ideas, or to hold back on starting or executing something because they are afraid of it failing or for fear people will not accept it.  Entrepreneurship is not fun, but can also be the most amazing thing in the entire world.  New entrepreneurs that have a great idea are afraid to find out that someone else is already doing it. Fact is, there's always somebody better than you.  Understand your product, your customer and your competitor and realize where you can differentiate, and if you can't differentiate, then start anew. To differentiate themselves, The Everyday Company doesn't claim to have the answer before actually doing the work to understand where a potential client trying to go. In the era of data and needing empirical proof, you can't just have special sauce; it doesn't mean that design, interpretation, creative intuition is gone, but it does need to be complimented.  Brand has been so robed in mystery for so long, and it's time to bring proof in order to back up assumptions and intuition.   Angie's Mystery Beer: Pelican Brewing - Pacific City, OR Sea'N Red, Irish Style Red Ale, 5.4% ABV, 25 IBU "This smooth, richly flavored beer has a malt aroma reminiscent of toffee, caramel, and cocoa with a subtle floral bouquet. The lush aroma gives way to a full, rounded malty flavor with toasty biscuit-like character and notes of caramel. A smooth, well-balanced finish both satisfies and quenches. Sip and sea for yourself—Sea’N Red is a round malty brew whimsically served up in a bold, colorful name."   Episode Links: The Everyday Company Arthur Hitchcock Photography This Is Marketing by Seth Godin Nate Silver's Five Thirty Eight Oregon Sports Angels Tupac Shakur (1971-1996) Creative Director John C. Jay Dictators Podcast Leonardo da Vinci The Medici Family

This week on the Business Over Beer podcast, we welcome Jake Kaempf, Founder and CEO of The Everyday Company. In Part 1 of this interview, we learn that Jake was very entrepreneurial and obsessed with brand even from a young age. Jake shares with us his philosophy and approach to branding, specifically, that brand lives at the intersection of operation, finance, and demand creation. And while design is an important aspect of branding, his agency differentiates themselves by bringing a more tangible and measurable approach to branding for his clients.  At the time of this recording, Jake was still running the agency he founded called Amprsnd, a Brand Development Agency specializing in insight, strategy, and implementation of brands.  And, as you will learn in part 2 of the interview, they have since gone through a merger and have created The Everyday Company.  Stay tuned for that.  Prost!   In this episode: If you ask 1000 people to define brand, you'll get 2000 answers. The key is to define brand for each client, and better measure and build strategies that are cohesive to the operational and financial strategy that goes on within organizations Branding deals with perception and how to break down and describe the elements of perception. The signals of perception fall into 3 categories: social, emotional, and functional True branding doesn't sell a false idea of your company, it gets to the core of what the founders are all about, and to the culture of the people that actually work for you. The idea that small business is the backbone of this country, it's about an ideal that entrepreneurs have the ability and responsibility to affect real change in the communities they serve. Being an entrepreneur is about having the ability to go after an opportunity, with a chance to succeed or fail, and working to make sure those opportunities are available to everyone.  What's better than than a great strategy? A good strategy, well executed.   Guest Beer: Level Beer - Portland, OR Bad Hombre, Mexican Lager, 4.8% ABV "The Fake News will tell you that clear beer is weak. That is only what losers would say. This beer is classy, made for winners, winners who like the beach. This beer is dangerous, and if you add a lime wedge, it's out of control. Salud."   Episode Links: The Everyday Company The Ozark Howler Bare Bones Brewery - Oshkosh Lager Dos Equis Northwestern Kellogg School of Management World Surfing league Kate Delhagen Oregon Sports Angels Camp Sherman, OR

On this episode of The Business Over Beer Podcast, we are back with Part 2 of our interview with Michael Pan, Founder of Pan's Mushroom Jerky. In the last episode we learned all about Michael's journey that led him to the carpet on Shark Tank. In this episode, he shares with us his experience on the show, what it was like to make a pitch to the Sharks, and why getting a deal was so emotional.   As Michael shared with us, getting a deal on Shark Tank does not guarantee success, but it sets him up for a new and exciting phase of his business, and we couldn't be more happy for him and his success. Prost!   In this episode: After 12+ years of bringing this product to market and all the challenges that come with being a small business owner, the validation from the Sharks on the product, combined with the year he had in the Pandemic, to get a deal was humbling and overwhelming.  Making a pitch on Shark Tank is just as chaotic in reality as it looks on TV; the Sharks are extremely competitive and they did a great job of amping up the pressure at Michael's expense. Orders for the product post Shark Tank were 6x larger than expected. Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Pan's Mushroom Jerky was having a tough time keeping up with demand, so they moved into a new larger space in March. Navigating the operation in a brand new space during the time of a pandemic, while keeping his employees and manufacturing process safe, he still managed to grow the business throughout the summer of 2020. You don't have to be vegan to enjoy this product; this is a great option for anyone looking to reduce meat intake or anyone just looking for a healthier snack.    Angie's Mystery Beer: Fort George Brewery - Astoria, OR Suicide Squeeze, IPA, 7.2% ABV "Packed with Mosaic, Amarillo and Citra Hops and front-loaded with 2-row barley paired with deep cuts of specialty malt, this Northwest IPA is masterfully balanced."   Episode Links: Pan's Mushroom Jerky Michael Pan Shark Tank Shark Tank Chicago Style Italian Beef Food Innovation Center Whole Foods  

On this episode of Business Over Beer, Michael Pan, founder of Pan's Mushroom Jerky, joins us fresh of his appearance on ABC's Shark Tank TV show. A former engineer for Motorola, and the product guy for a tech start up, Michael dipped his toe into different types of entrepreneurship before going all in on Pan's Mushroom Jerky in 2018.  During a trip to Malaysia to connect with his roots, Michael's cousin served him a mushroom snack that he had been making for friends, family and selling locally. After that trip, feeling blown away by the product, and now having this family story that he felt connected to, combined with a feeling of wanting to do something new professionally, Michael knew he wanted to get mushroom jerky out to the rest of the world. How does it taste? Well, we pair three Pan's Mushroom Jerky flavors with different types of craft beer.   Prost!   In this episode: Made with shiitake mushrooms, Pan's Mushroom Jerky is plant-based, vegan, high in fiber and vitamin D, paleo-friendly, Kosher, soy-free, gluten-free, and uses organic ingredients. The goal is to get the texture of the meat without using meat and mushrooms are a very healthy and still satisfying part of a vegetarian diet. During the early years as a side hustle, natural food trends and vegan foods were still very niche and beef jerky was still becoming artisan, so with these emerging markets were coming out, there was a good idea for a business, but Michael didn't know if there was full time business there.   Initially importing the product from his family overseas, Michael started it as a side hustle, giving him the time he needed to learn how to run a food business. In 2012, he launched a tech start up, Fan Cred, with friends as his first leap into entrepreneurship, giving him the experience he needed to go all in with the mushroom jerky business. In 2018, Michael boot strapped his business, testing recipes over and over in his apartment, sampling it like crazy and wearing all the hats, from sourcing ingredients, to making the product, to going out and selling it. The uniqueness of the product caught people's eye early on, getting it onto a few store shelves, and then attending food tradeshows helped to initially scale the business in retail.   Guest Beers - Paired with Pan's Mushroom Jerky: Gigantic Brewing Co. - Portland, OR Kölschtastic, Kölsh, 5% ABV, 25 IBU - paired with Pan's BBQ Mushroom Jerky "Kölschtastic is a Kölsch style beer inspired by a trip to Köln, Germany. It is a clean, crisp traditional beer with a subtle balance of malt and hops. It is a clear, top-fermented beer with a bright straw yellow hue similar to other beers brewed primarily with Pilsner malt. We use traditional Kölsch yeast in our version, but add a little more hop than the Germans do.  Gigantic Kölsch is a beautiful, crisp version of the original with just a touch of hops to balance the malt."   Backwoods Brewing Co. - Carson, WA Big Cedar IRA, India Red Ale, 6.5% ABV, 50 IBU - paired with Pan's Original Mushroom Jerky "Brewed year round, this India Red Ale has hop-forward flavor, balanced with a sweet and roasty malt finish. Floral aroma, with citrus and pine."   Wild Ride Brewing - Redmond, WA Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter, 6% ABV, 18 IBU - paired with Pan's Zesty Thai Mushroom Jerky "We love beer. And we love peanut butter. And Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter is here to bring the best of these two worlds together! With notes of chocolate and caramel, this porter is complemented by the addition of creamy peanut butter flavor. It's a true liquid peanut butter cup, and it's here for you to enjoy."   Episode Links: Pan's Mushroom Jerky Michael Pan on Shark Tank The Spottsville Monster A Taste of Asia and Tea New Seasons Market Motorola Motorola Startac Fan Cred    

Welcome back to the second biggest podcast in the Pacific Northwest behind only The Sasquatch Hunters. In part 2 of our interview with Reland Logan, Founder of Gray Digital Marketing, we discuss the importance of being genuine and the role authenticity plays in marketing. Specifically, we get into the real ways business owners can be more genuine about serving BIPOC Communities.  We also discuss her soon to be released podcast called Our Diverse Pineapple Tribe, that tackles the question of how to properly market to marginalized communities. It will feature everyday people sharing stories of when they have been marketed to well, when they haven't, and why it hurts, why there's pain there, ultimately trying to help marketers improve moving forward. Go follow her on Social Media right now, you will not want to miss it.   Prost!   In this episode: With the rise of social media, we can see whether brands are curated or if they are being their authentic self.  As a business owner, your values and who you are have to be your foundation. If you don't infuse your authentic self, you'll just end up being something you're not, greatly hindering your potential for success. If you want to be genuinely authentic in progressing marginalized communities, you have to actually get to know them; you need to become friends with the people in those communities. When you don't have friends of color, you won't understand, nor will you be corrected, when you do something wrong. Reading a book or putting a black square on your social media profile does not make you an ally; You MUST invite people who are different than you into your spaces. Business Leaders must focus not only on hiring BIPOC employees, but also need to donate their time and money, giving back to communities that are underrepresented. Do what it takes to get to know the people in these communities, not only for them, but just as importantly, for you. You can't promote something you don't understand. Marketing personas are archaic, you can't market to one person, instead, market to a mindset in order to reach a more diverse audience.   In her course, she helps with strategy, writing for social, optimizing your bio so that it is searchable and attracts your key audience, and how to pull people off social and sell to them long term.     Angie's Mystery Beer: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - Milton, DE Punkin Ale, Pumpkin Brown Ale, 7% ABV, 28 IBU "A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, brown sugar and spices. As the season cools, this is the perfect beer to warm up with."   Episode Links: Gray Digital Marketing Pineapple Tribe Motor Oil Emerging Leaders PIE American Marketing Association Women in Tech Out In Tech Enneagram Dave Chapelle Idina Menzel Thriller Clark County Historical Museum - Music Exhibit