The CEO Next Door

We've all heard about entrepreneurs starting their businesses at home, but John Bura may be the first guest on The CEO Next Door to launch his company out of his bedroom. On the final episode of season three, we chat with John about the story behind Mammoth Interactive. We learn how John went from teaching guitar lessons in Calgary to founding a company that produces games, apps, and training content for a variety of platforms and audiences. 

In 1996, Ari Kahn (CEO at Bridgeline Digital) earned the fastest PhD awarded in the history of the Artificial Intelligence department at the University of Chicago. This week on The CEO Next Door, we chat with Ari about being on the cutting edge of AI and what AI meant in the 90s.  We also learn about what it was like to not only found FatWire Software, but also lead the company to an eventual acquisition by Oracle.

Did you know the market for Jeep customization is booming? And that before LIV Golf, there was another golf league that made a play to compete with the PGA? Neither did we.Join us this week as Matson Breakey walks us through his career evolution, starting as a novice graphic designer and eventually co-founding one of the premier manufacturers of aftermarket parts and suspension systems for Jeeps.

Take two. After a terrible attempt at a prank foiled our first recording, we welcome Lloyed Lobo onto the show to chat about how persistence and a strong sense of community have shaped both his personal and professional journeysJoin us as we discuss how Lloyed's upbringing in Kuwait and Mumbai taught him to take everything in stride. From founding Boast to writing and publishing his first book, Lloyed learned from his mistakes and figured out how to transform his failures into successes. You can't succeed without trying, and Lloyed's willingness to dive in and get his hands dirty has yielded truly remarkable results. 

Debt collection is oftentimes met with resentment and associated with negative connotations. Many folks in the space, however, are actively working to change this by approaching collections with empathy. This week on The CEO Next Door, we chat with Clint Daoud, CEO of Unifin, Inc.  We learn how how Unifin is helping people achieve financial stability and independence while flipping the script on what it means to be a debt collector. 

What's it like growing up in Russia? How do you adjust to a new way of life after immigrating to America as a teenager? Why leave a stable, corporate career behind to start a business?  What does it mean to be a Co-CEO?We touch on these questions and more with Sasha Yablonovsky, Co-CEO of Loanspark. 

Ron Douglas knows how to scale businesses. Plain and simple. Whether he's growing his own companies or helping entrepreneurs find success, Ron understands what makes companies pop.How does one go from working at a prison to running multiple businesses and making millions of dollars? On this week's episode of The CEO Next Door, we learn how savvy investing and a deep operations background can yield incredible results. 

Organ transplants save lives. Have you ever wondered, though, how organs get from donors to recipients? We have your answer on today's episode as we chat with Ryan Rusnak, co-founder at Airspace. From starting as a kettle corn apprentice to creating a viral beer cannon to founding a company focused on time critical freight forwarding, Ryan has had quite the journey. Join us as we shake things up and chat with our first ever CTO about what it takes to start and scale a business.

Chris Joyce has seen it all. Literally. At 24 companies and counting, Chris has already explored more careers, businesses, and industries than most people could ever dream of.Chris personifies persistence. Not only does he exemplify this day in and day out, but his infectious "never give up" attitude has inspired countless entrepreneurs. Join us as we discuss what it takes to scale a business on this week's episode of The CEO Next Door.

We're back! Welcome to the third season of The CEO Next Door. To kick things off, we chat with Matthew Gray about his experiences traveling with rock bands, cooking for celebrities, hosting a late-night radio show, and selling a business to Trader Joe's.Leaving everything behind is not easy, but Matthew shattered expectations by moving to Hawaii and pursuing his love of all things food. Join us as we explore what it means to be a true trendsetter on this week's episode of The CEO Next Door. 

Many entrepreneurs emerge from the university setting. Companies led by both student and faculty founders have become commonplace. Logistically, though, have you ever stopped to consider how this works?This week on The CEO Next Door we demystify tech transfer offices with our guest, Randy Eager. We dive into invention licensing, equity agreements, product commercialization, grant opportunities, and intellectual property assignment.

Born into an entrepreneurial family, Stacy Edgar was destined to start a business of her own. Stacy's experience growing up with her father trying to navigate the healthcare system sparked a desire to rethink the status quo.As CEO of Venteur, Stacy is striving to change American healthcare by enabling individuals to stay healthy on their own terms. Join us this week on The CEO Next Door as we explore how Stacy's expansive worldview has shaped her approach to starting and leading a business.

When most people hear the term "entrepreneur," they think of Silicon Valley, tech companies, and venture capital. Many CEOs, however, find success via alternative paths. Join us this week as we speak with Ohio-native Ken Rusk, a professional ditchdigger, author, and blue-collar entrepreneur. 

Growing up, we're taught to never draw on the walls at home. By founding The Wall Printer (a vertical printer capable of printing digital images and murals on virtually any surface), Paul Baron took this notion and flipped it on its head.Tune in this week on The CEO Next Door as we chat with Paul about how he went from stringing tennis rackets and teaching math to opening restaurants and commercializing international solutions like The Wall Printer.

So you're thinking about starting a business. You have an idea and the drive to succeed, but you're lacking the resources and support to make your dream a reality.Join us this week as we chat with Jake Hare about how he overcame homelessness, founded Launchpeer, and helps early-stage entrepreneurs start their businesses. 

Have you ever wondered how Oprah came up with the idea for the now-legendary car giveaway? Or what it's like to work with some of the biggest names in movies, television, and news?Join us this week as we chat with media maven Karen Stolman-Firsel about the ins and outs of broadcasting and media production!

Growing up in a small town, a love of computers catalyzed Casey Fenton's desire to explore the world. Whether it's through promoting transparency in peer feedback, lodging/hospitality innovation, or simplifying and demystifying equity grants, Casey is constantly striving to improve human connection.In this episode, we discuss Casey's key takeaways from both his travel and professional experiences. We learn about the founding of Couchsurfing and examine what it takes to be an effective leader.

Life is filled with ups and down. From working in his family's print shop growing up to a stint in prison to founding and scaling Templi, Nick O'Brien has seen it all.Join us as we explore Nick's journey and discuss how life's most challenging moments can spark both personal and professional growth 

To kick off season two, we begin with something a little different. Our co-host, Mike Mayer, shares his experience being in the middle of the July 4th mass shooting in Highland Park, IL.We also welcome Charlie Saffro, a fellow Highland Parker and co-founder of CS Recruiting.  We highlight the importance of establishing a strong company culture, discuss current supply chain dynamics, and explore how sourcing and securing team talent can make or break your business.

Have you ever wondered what happens to excess merchandise? What do decorative pillows, Christmas décor, picture frames, snorkeling equipment, and onion head baking soda holders have in common?Tune in this week to hear from liquidation expert David Metzner as we learn about B&G Sales and the nuances of the wholesale world!

If you look up the definition of "Renaissance Man," we're pretty confident you'll find a picture of Billy Banks. The summation of Billy's vast experiences have shaped his unique approach to business, family, and life.Join us as we unpack Billy's journey (and his learnings along the way) on this week's episode of The CEO Next Door!

Packaging? Let's talk about packaging! We're thrilled to welcome Dan Aronson, CEO at Elevate Packaging, to this episode of The CEO Next Door. Fueled by early entrepreneurial success via the the launch of his high school store, Dan caught the business bug before ever stepping foot on a college campus. After a couple stints in the world of finance, an MBA, a successful exit in the home security space, and a Victorian-themed product turnaround, Dan was equipped with the knowledge to launch Elevate.Tune in this week as we discuss how Dan's career experiences have informed his approach to operating a business. 

Most folks are familiar with the saying "opposites attract." Well, in the case of this episode,  we explore what happens when "entrepreneurs attract." Please join as we chat with Amy Mayer, founder of Little Green Kitchens and wife of co-host Mike Mayer.  From growing up surrounded by entrepreneurs (Amy's father and grandfather both started their own businesses) to starting a family with one, Amy has been immersed in entrepreneurship for the majority of her life. We discuss Amy's perspective on business and explore the world of luxury kitchen reselling and renovating on this week's episode of The CEO Next Door!

Growing up, Chris Foreman learned the basics of politics, fundraising, and hard work from his family. Although he didn't end up pursuing politics (or a burgeoning sports career), Chris leveraged these early life experiences to enter the business world.Chris' perspective from working with both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations led him to identify inefficiencies surrounding government procurement processes. This knowledge, paired with the drive to make a difference, was the basis for Marketplace.city. Tune in this week to learn more about how Chris blazed his own trail on The CEO Next Door!

This week we welcome Kelly Gallagher, President at EverLights. Growing up, Kelly had a firsthand look into the world of business and entrepreneurship via her mom's electrical supply company. It was never her intention, however, to start a family business .We chat about how Kelly shifted from aspirations of becoming an English professor to starting an electrical supply, design, and recycling company with her mother. Tune in as we explore family business dynamics and how Kelly blazed her own trail in the electrical distribution space.

After spending years at Fortune 500 companies, Adam Radulovic rekindled his entrepreneurial spirit and set out on his own. Tune in this week to hear how Adam's early experiences taking out the trash, slinging shaved ice, and running a bulletin board system helped lay the foundation for XL.net. You might even learn something about scuba diving and bioluminescence! 

In this episode, co-host Donovan Morrison will detail his entrepreneurship journey. From starting his own private tutoring business in high school to launching a venture-backed business directly out of college, Donovan has already made a splash in the business world. Learn more about his successes, failures, and more in this episode of The CEO Next Door!

In this episode, co-host Mike Mayer dives into his past, present, and future. From starting an eBay store in Chicago to becoming CEO at Main Event Digital, Mike has truly seen it all. Tune in to learn more about the world of digital marketing and how to successfully start an agency.

Welcome to The CEO Next Door! In this short introduction, we'll provide a sneak peek of what to expect in the episodes ahead. We'll highlight founders and their unique journeys to success. Join us as we explore this and more on The CEO Next Door!