American Operator

How do you go from corporate life to building a nationally recognized service brand?

In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with the founders of Pink’s Window Services to talk about leaving corporate jobs, surviving COVID layoffs, and building a blue-collar business with purpose.

They share the real story behind starting a window cleaning company, the humility required to succeed in the trades, and why ...

Will Fry, Founder of American Operator, returns to the podcast to break down why Mainshares became American Operator—and what that shift means for the future of small business in America.

In this episode, we unpack the real problems with traditional private equity and solo ETA, why operators—not spreadsheets—should lead businesses, and how American Operator structures deals that keep companies locally owned and community-driven. Wil...

DJ Smith runs a business built on a single truth: you only get one shot a year to get it right. As the founder of Holiday & Harvest Tree Farm in Austin, he operates in a world where Christmas isn’t a season — it’s a high-stakes sprint that determines the entire year.

DJ Talks About:
🔴 Running a seasonal, zero-margin-for-error business where one weekend can make or break everything.
🔴 How growing up between entertainm...

Greg Gordon is unfiltered, unpredictable, and one of the most original operators you’ll ever meet. From renting margarita machines across Texas to running for Austin Mayor and accidentally building a global foam business, Greg’s story is a masterclass in saying yes, showing up, and figuring it out later.

Greg Talks About:
 🔴 Growing up with chaos, grit, and resilience — and how it shaped his operator mindset.
 🔴 ...

On this Thanksgiving episode, JC reflects on gratitude, community, and what we lose when convenience replaces connection. It’s a reminder that Main Street still does something Amazon never will: bring people together.

JC Talks About:
 🔴 How the holiday rush buries gratitude and intention.
 🔴 The difference between mass-produced gifts and Main Street craftsmanship.
 🔴 Why small businesses shape our culture an...

At 20 years old, Tori Clark lost her father — and overnight, inherited her family’s charter bus company, Clark Travel, along with millions in debt. What followed wasn’t just a business turnaround. It was a six-year fight to survive, rebuild, and eventually redefine what success means.

Today, she runs Spa Luxe, a hospitality-driven wellness brand rewriting the rules of the spa industry — built on empathy, service, and community.

Tori ...

In the heart of Vail Valley, Ryan Thompson and Sean McNeill run 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co., a distillery paying tribute to the legendary 10th Mountain Division — soldiers who fought Nazis, came home, and laid the foundation for modern skiing and mountain recreation.

From bartending in small-town Colorado to building a nationally recognized whiskey brand, Ryan and Sean share the grit, hospitality, and entrepreneurial spir...

What happens when an Irish river guide turns his passion for adventure into a small business empire in the Colorado mountains?

Ken Murphy, founder of Adventure Outdoors in Eagle, Colorado, shares how a one-way ticket to the U.S. turned into a lifelong pursuit of freedom, grit, and entrepreneurship. From ski lifts to whitewater rapids, Ken built a career around recreation — and then transformed that passion into a thriving multi-busi...

What happens when you trade the desk job for a dog bus?

For Evan, the journey from finance to fur started with one realization — he was meant to work outside, around animals, and on his own terms. After years behind a desk as a banker and analyst, he walked away from corporate life to care for horses, manage vet clinics, and eventually launch EZ Dog Stay & Play — a dog daycare and boarding business built on connection, trust, an...

Why do veterans make some of the best business owners in America?
For John Panaccione, the answer starts with leadership, decision-making, and grit — traits forged not in a boardroom, but on the battlefield.

John grew up in Rhode Island in a family with a long history of military service. After years as an Army officer — including a stint leading airborne tank units during Desert Storm — he learned lessons that would carry ...

The future of flight isn’t louder—it’s quieter.

Mark Moore and Ian Villa are the co-founders of Whisper Aero, a Tennessee-based startup designing the next generation of electric propulsion—technology so quiet, clean, and efficient that it’s poised to transform everything from drones to airplanes to leaf blowers.

After 32 years at NASA, Mark left government research to bring aviation innovation to small-town America. Alongsi...

He gave up his dream of becoming an astronaut to lead the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Col. Justin “Astro” Elliott’s story is one of grit, leadership, and choosing the harder path.

Col. Justin “Astro” Elliott grew up in Houston, with NASA in his backyard and space in his sights. A first-generation Canadian-American, he fought through obstacles—like poor eyesight that nearly ended his aviation career before it began—to become a ...

What happens when three friends from Alabama bring Southern grit, barbecue, and a whole lot of hustle to the mountains of Colorado? You get Moe’s Original BBQ — a community-driven restaurant that’s grown from a Vail Valley train station into more than 50 locations across the country.
In this episode of American Operator, JC sits down with founders Mike, Jeff, and Ben to unpack the story behind their legendary brand. From bootst...

For Brooks, the path to becoming a business owner wasn’t straight — but it was true. Brooks grew up hunting, fishing, and processing deer with his family, he always had a connection to food and community. After a short stint in college, years running a local deli, and time in the oil field, life took a sharp turn when COVID hit. Laid off and back at square one, he found himself working at the town’s longtime meat market — and event...

Austin Pardon's Pod Description?Austin Pardon grew up bottle-feeding baby tigers and walking among exotic animals — a third-generation legacy that shaped his vision for Droptine Studios. What began as a passion for telling the stories of exotic animal ranchers and breeders has grown tenfold into a thriving creative business, serving both corporate clients and small operators alike.

In this conversation, Austin shares how o...

In this episode of American Operator, JC sits down with Wade Lombard—an entrepreneur who went from disrupting the moving industry to building custom homes—to talk about leadership, discipline, and staying in your lane. Wade shares how key relationships shaped his path, why marriage transformed his priorities, and how understanding the Enneagram has helped him lead more effectively. From tackling a low-barrier industry with high sta...

In this episode of American Operator, JC sits down with James, founder of Tarrytown Roofing, to unpack a life shaped by grit, urgency, and a drive to do things better. From being sent alone to a family ranch in Mexico at age 12—learning Spanish, ranching, and resilience—to building a career in sales before betting on himself in the roofing industry, James’ journey is a masterclass in adaptation. He shares how discipline, mentorship...

Michael Summers didn’t start in the trades — he started on stage. A former theater major at Baylor turned tour manager for bands like Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, and Robert Randolph, Michael’s early career was all about storytelling, logistics, and making people laugh. Today, he owns Alamo Glass, a residential and commercial glass business in Texas — and his path from the entertainment world to blue-collar ownership is anything but t...

Here is a description for Kaylee Watts - Thoughts?
At the beginning of building a thriving laser skincare business, Kaylee Watts was juggling four jobs keeping Austin Laser Solutions running (all solo) — answering phones, treating clients, and managing books all between 6th Street bar shifts. What started as a grind turned into a scaled, multi-location operation with loyal clients and a growing team. But with growth came someth...