Ep. 03 Startup Hustle, Second Chances & Smart Growth with Mark & Emily

Ep. 3: Startup Hustle, Second Chances & Smart Growth  with RJ Telecommunications

In this episode of Beyond the Mark, host Joe Toma sits down with Mark Friday and Emily Ostroski of RJ Telecommunications — and this one’s a masterclass in perseverance, reinvention, and people-first leadership.

Mark’s journey started with breaking computers at age 5 and ended (well, continues!) with owning and scaling a Michigan-based telecom company. In between? He flipped a house, opened a sandwich shop, ran a Family Video store, and made a few tough but defining calls in business. Emily, who joined as Mark prepared to buy out the original owner, brings a fresh perspective on financial systems, contracts, and the backbone of company operations.

Whether you’re growing a small business, leading a team, or just love stories about real-world entrepreneurship, this episode delivers.

🔑 What We Talk About:

Mark’s wild ride from food service to full ownership of RJ Telecommunications

Why flipping a house during the 2008 crash led to opening a sandwich shop

The painful but necessary decision to let go of a long-time employee

How RJ chooses clients based on values, not just revenue

Emily’s growth from new hire to key operations leader — and how she rewrote their legal agreements from scratch

Why taking care of people (not just customers) drives growth

What the future of RJ looks like — and why it’s about systems, service, and strategy

💬 Quotables:

“I’ve never run away from responsibility. I just keep adding more and more and more.” – Mark
“We’re not looking to nickel-and-dime anyone — we’re here to do the right thing.” – Emily
“I don’t hire people to be yes men or yes women. I hire smart people to help me lead better.” – Mark

📣 Connect with RJ Telecommunications:

@rjtelecommunications

🔗 https://now.rj10.com
📞 [phone] 
📍 Michigan-based, serving clients nationwide

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🎧 Beyond the Mark is a podcast hosted by Joe Toma, helping business leaders, marketers, and entrepreneurs grow unforgettable brands through smart strategy, bold storytelling, and better swag.

 

For guest inquiries, sponsorships, or to learn how we can help elevate your brand:
📩 Email: [e-mail]
🌐 Visit: logoclothingshop.com
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💼 Connect on LinkedIn: Joe Toma

 

Thanks for listening—and remember: keep showing up, keep learning, and keep making your mark.