The Business Edge with CWCU
The Business Edge Podcast with Central Willamette Credit Union is your go-to podcast for insights, strategies, and expert advice to help businesses thrive. Each episode dives into key topics like marketing, finance, leadership, and innovation—giving business owners the tools they need to stay ahead. Whether you're a startup, small business, or established company, this podcast delivers actionable insights to fuel your success.
Episodes
Have a business idea but aren't sure where to start? We cover a few simple first steps, helpful resources like SCORE, and how CWCU's business team can help you turn your idea into a plan.
Your personal credit score can get your business started, but building strong business credit can help set it up for the future. In this episode, we break down the key differences between personal and business credit and share simple steps to start building a strong business credit profile.
In this episode of Business Edge, we sit down with Rebecca Bond, Executive Director of the Albany Visitors Association, who has spent nearly three decades helping shape Albany's tourism strategy. Rebecca shares what the Visitors Association really does and why visitor dollars matter to every local business. Tune in for an inside look at how tourism and local business growth go hand in hand in the Willamette Valley.
How do we prepare today's students for tomorrow's workforce? In this episode of Business Edge, Rhonda Rhodes, Principal of Salem-Keizer's Career Technical Education Center joins us and shares how career and technical education is connecting students with local employers, building real-world skills, and strengthening Oregon's future workforce.
What does it take to grow a business without losing sight of your values?
In this episode of The Business Edge, Kerry Bennett of Homegrown Cultivation shares lessons on entrepreneurship, leadership, organic farming, and building a team that cares as much as you do. Hear how he navigates industry challenges, maintains quality, and stays true to his mission while growing a successful business.
Whether you're a business owner, leader, o...
Economic uncertainty is always around the corner, but strong businesses prepare before things get tough. In this episode, Dave Dirks breaks down how small business owners can build financial resilience, understand their numbers, improve cash flow, and create a business that can weather slowdowns, surprises, and changing markets with confidence.
This episode dives into a hard truth for small businesses: the customer you built your business around in 2019 may not be the same customer you’re serving today. Dave Dirks explores how changing expectations, digital habits, AI, and customer behavior are reshaping the way businesses compete and what small business owners can do now to stay relevant, valuable, and easy to choose.
Host David Dirks explains why AI is no longer a big-business luxury—it’s a practical “new employee” for any small business. Learn simple ways to use AI to write emails faster, improve proposals, streamline customer communications, and save real time each week. If you want an easy starting point with immediate payoff, this episode is for you.
In this episode of the Business Edge podcast, David Dirks kicks off a four-part series on small business in a changing world—where AI, shifting consumer behavior, and economic uncertainty are rewriting the rules in real time. David challenges owners to stop relying on “yesterday’s playbook” and start building a change-ready business with faster decision-making, stronger cash visibility, and a habit of questi...
In part two, CMO Dave Dirks dives into actionable steps for small business owners to take control of their brand. Learn how to craft a compelling local story, build strong community partnerships, and document your brand so employees can share it consistently. Dave also discusses the importance of listening to local feedback and why successful branding is a long-term commitment. Get inspired to think locally and make your brand a la...
In part one of our special series, CMO Dave Dirks debunks the myth that branding is only for big companies. Discover why your local presence is your greatest competitive advantage and how to define your business’s unique signature. Dave shares practical tips on making your brand stand out in your community and explains why, in today’s world, all business is local. Tune in to learn how to identify and communicate what ma...
In this episode we welcome back Andy Shelley, CEO of CannXperts, to discuss President Trump’s executive order moving marijuana to Schedule III. Andy shares what this change means for cannabis businesses, banking, and investment in 2026.
Discover how David Rogers’ The Network is Your Customer reveals digital strategies to help your business thrive in a connected world, turning networks into powerful tools for growth and engagement.
Dave dives into Seth Godin’s Whatchya Gonna Do With That Duck?, a collection of unconventional wisdom and big ideas for business leaders. Whether you’re looking to spark innovation or simply see your work in a new light, this episode is packed with insights to help you break out of the ordinary and make a real impact.
In this episode of the Business Edge Podcast, we sit down with Denisse, the owner and operator of La Dama Bartending. Denisse shares her inspiring journey from launching her bartending startup to building a thriving business with a loyal clientele—including Central Willamette Credit Union. Tune in as she discusses the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way, and discover how passion and perseverance have shape...
Join Dave as he explores Scott Belsky’s The Messy Middle, uncovering insights on navigating the toughest, most unpredictable stages of business growth, and how to stay resilient through the ups and downs.
Welcome to Dirks’ Must-Reads, where Marketing Director David Dirks shares his top book recommendations for business success. Each episode dives into a powerful book, offering insights and practical takeaways to help you and your business thrive. In this episode he unpacks the provocative ideas from Jeffrey Gitomer’s Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless. David explores why simply satisfying c...
In this episode of The Business Edge, we sit down with HR Manager Veronica Bruner to explore the evolving landscape of compensation, benefits, and pay transparency in small businesses. Veronica shares expert insights on how small organizations can create competitive and equitable pay structures, the importance of transparent communication around compensation, and practical tips for supporting employees through meaningful benefits. ...
Ever wonder why some retail locations never seem to succeed? Dave Dirks dives into the factors that can make or break a brick-and-mortar business. Find out why cheap rent isn’t always a bargain and what you should look for in terms of access, parking, and customer flow.
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