Jesup Group Podcast

This podcast episode features Shelby Fiegel, Director of the Community Development Institute (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas.  The Jesup Group focuses on entrepreneurship, community development, and growing digital economies in rural southwest Missouri. While most of our podcasts feature entrepreneurs, this episode is focused on how CDI is creating stronger, more vibrant communities through an intentional program that brings people who love their communities together to share ideas, plan, and network.  Learn more about the mission of CDI, who can participate (anyone who loves their community), and how communities have been transformed by those who participate in CDI.  Resource Links Grumpy Rabbit University of Central Arkansas CDI Ted Abernathy and Economic Leadership John Carroll and City Leadership Strong Towns City and Town Magazine

This podcast episode features Megan Escalante. Megan owns Pineapple Bliss, a growing specialty desert shop in Joplin, Missouri and a new location in Springdale, Arkansas. On this podcast episode, Megan discusses her journey as a serial entrepreneur. She discusses her entrepreneurial journey where she learned and became more resilient at each stop. The journey began with a degree in bio chemistry and transformed to two successful businesses in cosmetology and a growing restaurant chain. Listen as Megan discusses the mindset she developed to move past adversity, grow, and continually learn. If you are looking for a local contact who lives a growth mindset, this is your episode.   Links Pineapple Bliss SCORE Business Mentoring The Podcast I Couldn't Think of on the Podcast (Smart Passive Income) The E Myth Revisited Startup Junkies  

This month's podcast features Chris Forsythe from Precision Coffee in Nevada, Missouri. Chris could be described as a serial entrepreneur. In 2017 he left his steady, hourly wage job (that he worked at for 17 years) and since that time he has begun three businesses. We're going to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur, the challenges of limiting beliefs for aspiring entrepreneurs, and the opportunities he feels are available for people who recognize they already have the skills it takes to start their own business. Links Precision Coffee in Nevada, Missouri Go Giver book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People book The Compound Effect book Social Capital book  

This month's episode features John Newby, who writes a weekly syndicated column titled "Building Main Street, Not Wall Street" and community development approach he calls "Truly Local" as well as Sarah James, a repeat guest who is a local entrepreneur and community activist in Granby, Missouri.  These two guests are passionate about the possibilities in rural areas and have some great advice for rural areas, no matter your size.  Check out this episode and the resources below mentioned on this podcast. Websites Truly Local Website https://www.truly-localllc.com/truly-local-board Building Main Street, Not Wall Street Columns https://www.truly-localllc.com/past-building-main-street-columns  John Newby's email address info@trulylocalllc.com Grow Granby Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/growgranby Hello Sunshine Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/hellosunshinemarket Hello Sunshine Webpage https://hellosunshinemarket.com/    Book 13 Ways to Kill Your Community https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Kill-Your-Community-2nd/dp/146029758X  Podcasts 13 Ways Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/community-revival-by-13-ways/id1498624674 Community Development Institute (CDI) at University of Central Arkansas https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/community-development-institute/id1511819432  Develop This Community and Economic Development http://developthispodcast.com/ Strong Towns https://www.strongtowns.org/podcast The Bottom Up Revolution  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bottom-up-revolution/id1435989066  Go Cultivate https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/go-cultivate/id1429015716  

Indian Springs Brewing Company and Briar & Thistle are located in downtown Neosho on the historic Neosho square. These two women owned businesses have formed a strategic partnership to serve great beer, fantastic food, and create a unique "third place" that creates a sense community.  Listen to this podcast to hear how both of these women overcame early challenges and intentionally designed their businesses to serve their community by leveraging one another's strengths. If you have a historic downtown area in your community, give this episode a listen as these two share great insights about creating something special for the community. Not surprising, when entrepreneurs design their businesses for the community, the community shows up to support the businesses.

Bart Paden is a Jasper County native and co-founder of Midwestern Interactive, a rapidly growing software development firm located in Joplin, Missouri.  Bart discusses how he developed an entrepreneurial mindset that's allowed him to try, fail, and try again- eventually building one of the most robust digital services firms in the four-state region. To most people, growing a software development company in Joplin, Missouri is an unlikely proposition. Bart shares how he is growing digital talent in the region with a servant leader culture and the incredible potential of the digital economy in southwest Missouri. Listen and learn more about this improbable journey and the steps and mindset that is propelling Midwestern Interactive forward.

Mark Hudson is a Barry County native created one of the first premium poultry and livestock feed companies in the region along with a small group of Barry County entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs created Majestic Milling Company near Wheaton, Missouri.  Listen to this podcast to learn how Mark and his partners developed a rapidly growing business based on insights, curiosity, and willingness to develop products for an underserved growing market. We'll also discuss long-term plans to grow an entrepreneurial farming ecosystem among local farmers to supply conscious consumers of organic and non-GMO food products.

This month's podcast features Tiffany Jordan. Tiffany is a homeschool mom from Goodman, Missouri. She started a blog as an easy way to share her children's homeschool education experiences with family. Over the past few years, Tiffany learned how to turn her blog into a successful business. Tiffany recently shared her passion for education, experience, and entrepreneurship to create a youth entrepreneurship event in her home community.  In this episode, learn how Tiffany created her first blog, developed insights about the ability to earn an income from a blog, overcame early obstacles and self-doubts, and how she is giving back to her community by inspiring and developing young entrepreneurs.  Resilient rural communities are developed over time. Listen to this month's episode to learn how Tiffany has created her own business online and is now helping to inspire other young people in her area to create their own businesses. Links https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/   https://homeschoolhideout.com/  https://eliteblogacademy.com/   ​​https://wordpress.com/ 

This month's podcast features Ben McNelly of Full Bore Studios and Pennington Station. Ben is a software developer/ entrepreneur from Joplin Missouri. Ben's story is a great example of how curiosity, determination, and resourcefulness can develop marketable skills and a successful business.  Ben has built a successful software development group focused on VR, automation, gaming, and the internet of things. He also recently opened Pennington Station, a gaming and VR experience destination in downtown Joplin, Missouri. If you are into gaming, have kids who game and are interested in how they are created, or just want to hear about how one of the top game developers in the area got his start, give this episode a listen.    Links: Full Bore Studios Facebook Page  Full Bore Studios Webpage Pennington Station Webpage

This month's podcast features Kelly Anderson, CEO of the Kelly Anderson Group. Kelly shares his journey from an over-the-road truck driver to one of Neosho's fastest growing companies. Kelly is the first consultant that we've interviewed and he shares a wealth of information that can help those looking to begin a consulting business or grow a business beyond trading time for dollars.  You'll want to have a notebook handy and jot down some suggestions Kelly shares. Don't worry about writing down the names of books. We have them in the show notes below.  The Kelly Anderson Group Company Page Books In Search of Excellence The Science of Personal Achievement The Psychology of Success The E Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It 1000 True Fans The Innovation Stack Nudge Four Disciplines of Execution

This month's podcast explores the importance of farmers' markets as a platform for entrepreneurs in food and artisan related products/ services.  Scott Hall, Director of the Neosho Farmers' Market, joins the May podcast to discuss the role of farmers' markets as a community development tool, how local markets help create affinity for "place," and the low-cost/ low-barriers of to validate products and services  for aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs.   Links The Brooklyn "Flea" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQFiTQoZOQk  https://vimeo.com/12973867  A "How To" guide for farmers' markets http://placemaking.mml.org/how-to/michigan-farmers-markets/ Missouri Department of Agriculture resources for farmers' markets

This month's podcast features Kitchen Essentials owner, Traci Cliffman. Traci shares her journey from nearly two decades in the classroom to starting her own business in downtown Nevada, Missouri. Traci shares advice and insights related to: Financial and logistical considerations for people thinking about starting a business The role small businesses can play in downtown development Resources needed to encourage more small business growth   You can find Kitchen Essentials online on their webpage or their Facebook page. The New Growth Women's Business Center (Resource for entrepreneurs the following counties: Barton, Bates, Benton, Camden, Cedar, Dade, Dallas, Henry, Hickory, Morgan, Polk, St. Clair and Vernon).

This month’s podcast is going to be a little different than previous months. While we haven’t quite reached one year of podcast guests, we are approaching the one year mark of beginning the Jesup Group effort at Crowder College. It’s a perfect time to reflect and share our progress to this point.  Over the past year the effort has evolved to focus on three key areas: Assisting with the development of a rural entrepreneurial culture in SW Missouri. Strategic regional and community development How to connect our rural students and residents to digital skills that will be essential to participate in an increasingly digital economy. As I reflected this past fall on how this effort began and has evolved, I ran across a video from a servant leadership conference we had  The title of the video was “Crowder College Servant Leadership Conference - Rick Webb - Grit Studios.”  In the fall of 2019 Crowder hosted our first ever servant leadership conference and Rick Webb was one of our keynote speakers. Rick is a retired Walmart executive, a self-described agitator, and founded a startup accelerator called Grit Studios in Bentonville, Ar. The title of his talk was “Raising our Capacity to Serve Our Community.”  As I watched the video and listened to his talk again, I realized this talk, really the entire event led to Crowder’s efforts to begin the Jesup Group effort.  A year and a half later I realized Rick was true to form and agitated us at Crowder. I hope you enjoy this podcast and become agitated to see how you can further develop your communities. Below are links to the resources Rick mentions in his talk. Innovation that Matters PDF https://www.1776.vc/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Innovation-that-Matters-2017-2.pdf  The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley https://www.amazon.com/Rainforest-Secret-Building-Silicon-Valley/dp/0615586724

Tony Savage and his wife Emily are just dipping their toes into the entrepreneurial waters. Their business, The Melting Pot, is located in Noel, Missouri and will open late spring of 2021. Noel is a unique community of less than 2000 people where over 30 countries of refugees and immigrants are represented and 11 languages are spoken. Tony and Emily have goals in their entrepreneurial endeavor that are far beyond creating a profitable business. They hope their business becomes a hub for community, collaborative conversation, and creative collisions. Tony shares an inspiring story that illustrates how an entrepreneur can advance communities economically and socially. Give this one a listen!   To support Tony and Emily in their efforts at the Melting Pot, please visit their Go Fund Me campaign. To learn more about the Melting Pot and follow them on Social Media, visit their Facebook page.

Andy Thomas, a world-class artist who was raised in Jasper County and lives in Carthage, Missouri with his wife Dina Thomas. To this point, our guests on the podcast have been people who created businesses around professional services, or commercial products for retail. We are taking a look today at the role of the arts and the numerous intersections between art, entrepreneurship, and community development.  You can find Andy's work at https://andythomas.com/

November 19th is Women in Entrepreneurship Day! At the Jesup Group we want to celebrate and encourage entrepreneurial women in southwest Missouri. This month's podcast features two inspiring women who pursued their passions in the businesses they created. Alyssa Vaughn owns the Flying V Mercantile in Monett, Missouri as well as A-List Properties Premier, also in Monett. Sarah James is the co-owner of Hello Sunshine Market located in Granby, Missouri. These women share their stories of how they became entrepreneurs, the challenges they faced along the way and how they overcame them. More importantly, they share their visions for the communities where they live. Don't miss this episode.

Our most recent podcast features John Hunter of Progressive Bike Ramps, American Ramp Company, Atlas Safe Rooms (and several more businesses).  John shares his insights on the future of biking and a bike culture in southwest Missouri and the type of culture needed to develop communities and entrepreneurship. As a McDonald County, Missouri native, John shares how a sense of community, determination, and willingness to learn led him to becoming one of the most prolific entrepreneurs in the area. 

Our August podcast will feature Shane Smith of Mass Depot, an e-commerce powerhouse located in Neosho, Missouri. Shane shares his journey that led him from an automotive service technician to an entrepreneur and one of the owners of a multi-million dollar e-commerce business. He also discusses why SW Missouri is the perfect location to become an entrepreneur and why e-commerce could be an economic development strategy for the region.

Our first Startup Stories podcast features Stacy Hall. Stacy and her husband scratched their own itch and created the potty chair they wish was available when they began potty training their own child. Listen to this episode to learn how, grit, creative thinking, and persistence led this Barry County, Missouri couple all the way to ABCs "Shark Tank."  

Learn about why we chose the name Jesup Group for our efforts and how Crowder College plans to use the Jesup Group to develop a robust entrepreneurial culture in southwest Missouri.