The First Customer

In this episode,  I was lucky enough to interview Joel Reed, CEO and founder of Open Arc.

Joel starts to unpack the long, nonlinear journey of building a software consulting company that’s lasted more than 20 years. Joel shares how a career plateau, the 2008 financial crisis, and a humbling professional low point ultimately pushed him to start Open Arc. From working four 10-hour days to fund the business on the side, to landing thei...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Calvin Hendryx-Parker, CTO and co-founder of Six Feet Up.

Calvin shares the origin story behind Six Feet Up’s unforgettable name—drawn from his family’s mortuary business—and how servant leadership, community involvement, and trust became foundational principles for building a durable software consultancy. From hosting websites on a literal coffee-table server in a San Francisco apart...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Bill Near, Founder and CEO of Helios, a performance wearable helping hockey players and teams improve faster through motion-based data and video integration.

Bill breaks down Helios’ first-principles approach to avoiding “tech fatigue” by delivering recurring, practical value—most notably through time-saving video workflows and emerging AI-driven coaching insights that turn...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ole Lensmar, co-founder and CTO of Testkube.

Ole shares his unique perspective growing up across Germany, the US, and Sweden, and how those experiences shaped his adaptability and approach to entrepreneurship. He reflects on the differences between launching tech startups in Europe versus the United States, and why he believes the US remains a more mature market for scaling innovation...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Det Ansinn, the founder of Brick Simple LLC, serial entrepreneur with four successful exits, and current CEO of MedTech company Neuralert. 

Det shares his journey from pumping gas at the Doylestown Airport to building multiple innovative ventures, emphasizing the value of authentic connections, strong team culture, and pursuing projects that excite him over purely profit-driven motive...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Chris Molaro, CEO and co-founder of NeuroFlow. 

Chris unpacks the personal and professional journey that takes him from growing up in Queens and Long Island to serving as an Army officer and ultimately building a healthcare technology company. Chris shares how the events of 9/11, his experience at West Point, and years of active-duty service shape his leadership philosophy and resilie...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview the legendary sales expert and bestselling author Jeb Blount.

Jeb shares stories from his upbringing in small-town Georgia, where being the smallest kid in school taught him grit, hustle, and the relentless work ethic that would later define his career. He talks about finding confidence through public speaking, his early ambition to become a lawyer, and the surprising momen...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Joel Montvelisky, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of PractiTest.

Joel shares his unlikely journey from Costa Rica to the world of software testing. He talks about becoming a Cowboys fan in the 1970s, stumbling into QA because it paid slightly better than bartending, and eventually discovering that testing was far more than bug hunting—it was about improving products, reducing ris...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Andy Kochanowski, founder and CEO of Alerify, a data center based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Andy shares his journey from a 30-year career in corporate America, including service in the Navy, to taking the leap into entrepreneurship. He explains how Alerify serves a niche market of small and medium-sized businesses seeking secure, localized data storage through co-locatio...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Sean Heberling, founder and CEO of Marion Street Capital.

From buying up newspaper routes as a kid in Rochester, New York, to hiring friends and building a mini “paperboy empire,” Sean’s early ventures taught him how to scale, manage people, and spot opportunity. Those same instincts followed him through a 20-year career in hedge funds and later into academia as a finance pr...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Adam Holt, founder and CEO of Asset-Map.

Adam talks about how his entrepreneurial drive took shape from his early years in New York to leading one of the most innovative platforms in financial visualization. Adam shares how his mother’s example as a self-made realtor influenced his approach to business and connection, teaching him to treat every interaction as a chance to form genuine...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Joshua Davidson, CEO and founder of Chop Dawg.

Growing up just outside of Atlantic City during the Great Recession, Josh saw firsthand how fragile traditional industries could be. Watching friends’ families lose homes and his father work multiple jobs gave him a survival instinct and a drive to create opportunities for himself. By the time he was a teenager, Josh was building websites...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Rob Wenger, CEO and founder of Higher Logic.

Rob shares how Higher Logic evolved from a LinkedIn-style networking idea into a powerful engagement platform serving over 3,000 clients worldwide. With a focus on professional communities—ranging from doctors and accountants to global corporations—Rob explains how the right mix of purpose, participation, and leadership can shape ...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tim Haak, founder and Vice President of Innovation at Mile6. 

Tim shares how growing up in a small-town family business shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, and how his curiosity for technology led him to build his first websites as a teenager—before he even had his driver’s license. From those humble beginnings to leading a digital product agency that has reinvented itself every few y...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Marco Benitez, CEO and founder of ROOK, a company revolutionizing how wearable health data is integrated and used.

Marco opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Mexico to moving his family to the U.S. to pursue bigger opportunities. He reflects on how his first startup shaped his path, how COVID-19 became the catalyst for ROOK’s pivot, and the game-ch...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Umair Khan, CEO and founder of Techamana.

Umair explains that Techamana is a vetted talent marketplace designed to stand apart from traditional freelance platforms. Techamana ensures quality by rigorously evaluating technical skills, communication, and cultural fit before admitting freelancers to the platform. He explains that the company matches clients with top candidates within 48 ...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Melissa Sherman, founding CEO of MOBILion Systems, Inc.

Melissa shares how her Midwestern upbringing and early career at DuPont shaped her blend of science and business acumen, transforming her from a researcher into a CEO. She talks about discovering her passion for building businesses around complex technology, drawing on experiences ranging from textiles and fashion to in...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Dan Abel Jr., the Chief Chocolate Officer of Bissinger’s Chocolate.

Dan shares how his family grew up immersed in the candy business—starting from a small family-run operation in 1981 to acquiring and leading the iconic Bissinger’s brand today. Dan walks us through their unique family dynamic, how each sibling found their place in the business, and what it’s really like behind the sce...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Adam Dakin, President and CEO of Keriton.

Adam’s entrepreneurial journey starts with selling hats and t-shirts in college before building multiple venture-backed startups and leading health tech investments at DreamIt Ventures. When Keriton’s investors seek new leadership, Adam steps in with a plan to stabilize finances, restructure the team, bring sales and marketing in-house, and cl...