Grill Nation With Jason Grill

Guests - Jason is joined by Dr. Rodney Smith, Vice President for Access and Engagement at William Jewell College. Dr. Smith shares his incredible story/experience and information about William Jewell's Opportunities Without Barriers initiatives (tuition recast plans, expanded grant programs and a holistic admission process eliminating standardized testing as a requirement for admission). Additionally, he talks about diversity, equity and inclusion work and all that it entails as William Jewell welcomes in the most diverse class in its history in fall 2020. To finish the show, Dr. Smith shares his proudest moment as a leader (incredible story), one word to describe him and William Jewell, the best advice he's ever received and what the future holds for him and William Jewell. Fantastic show, important topics and an awesome guest this week!

Guests – Jason is joined by Jon Schram, CEO of The Purple Guys, a tech company that has grown since 2001 to become the Midwest’s premier provider of IT support services. Jon talks about his entrepreneurial journey, why and how the color purple became his branding jackpot, challenges that the business has overcome and how it made it stronger, marketing successes and failures, how the company has grown and adapted, when is the right time for a company to hire an IT company, how Covid changed their business, what security challenges the pandemic created and how cloud based services effect IT support. Plus so much more about The Purple Guys important services, structure and Jon’s business lessons/advice!

Guests - Jason is joined by Lee Mudd, President and Owner of RLM Underground, a fast growing telecom construction company operating throughout the United States. Lee talks about how he came to KC from Kentucky less than 5 years ago, the why behind starting his own company, what motivates him and his overall business / company values, how rurul broadband business is booming, trends in the industry, how he has grown to over $8M in revenue with over 30 current projects, the word that describes him and his business best, opportunities in his sector, proudest moment in business, how failure has made him stronger and what he learned for it, best advice for success in business and how what he envisions growth looking like for the future. This show checks all of the boxes!

Guests - Jason is joined by Jeff Phillips, Senior VP at Landmark National Bank and Joe Hirleman, Partner at Midwest Glass and Glazing. Jeff and Jason start the show discussing how and why access to people and resources are becoming more important in 2020. Joe then joins the discussion and shares valuable business lessons and growth strategies  that have led him at Midwest Glass and Glazing. He talks about coming from an entrepreneurial family, how the business has evolved, construction trends, why culture is important, how accountability and processes have helped implement changes to better the business, shares the best advice that his father taught him and so much more. Great conversation this week with some awesome takeaways.

Guests - Jason is joined by Justin Watkins, CEO/Founder - Native Digital and Jake Jacobson, VP of Growth and Partnerships - Native Digital. The group discusses backgrounds, how Native Digital has grown, why Jake left larger business and healthcare world to join Justin, some great mentor advice, what Native Digital offers in digital marketing services including breakdowns of Crossroads Hotel and City of San Jose case studies, key tenants of full visibility/transparency in Native Digital agency life with clients, how KC base plays a part in coastal pitches, best advice ever received in business and one word we need to focus on as we look forward to 2021. Incredibly valuable and entertaining hour for you!

Guests - Jason is joined by Melissa Vincent, Executive Director of the Pipeline Entrepreneurship Program. Melissa shares her impressive entrepreneurial journey, successes, failures, best business advice every received, her startup investment thoughts, information about the Pipeline Entrepreneurship Program including its large successes, major partners, members, important updates and the impact on the region now and into the future. Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge and country wide entrpreneurial and business experience that you will enjoy!

Guests - Jason is joined by Jarrett Sutton, NBA Scout (New Orleans Pelicans) / ESPN Color Commentator (SEC Network). The two discuss Jarrett's time at Mizzou, how games guarding Coach Mike Anderson at the rec center played a role on how he ended up on the basketball team as a scholarship player, and how a timely, unexpected meeting at the Big 12 tourney as a player led to him becoming an NBA consultant and scout. We also break into how Jarrett got into broadcasting, favorite Mizzou memories as a fan and a player, the potential of the NBA coming to Kansas City in the short term with the Toronto Raptors and in the long term with an expansion team, biggest career accomplishment, how he has built a career managing to stay based in KC, best advice ever received and favorite places in KC to eat. Awesome and entertaining hour with Jarrett!

Guests - Jason is joined by Michelle Altrich, President at Viracor Eurofins Clinical Diagnostics. The two discuss Michelle's career work and focus on how Viracor, based in the KC region, has become a worldwide leader in lab testing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Michelle's company just launched and gained FDA authorization for its At-Home Covid-19 testing kit and is innovating daily to meet the needs of medical professionals, hospitals and individuals worldwide. The two also discuss how decision making processes have changed during the pandemic, how a diverse workforce and employment opportunities are growing in the healthcare and lab industry, what the next Covid-19 wave and testing technology looks like, when a vaccine will arrive and how Viracor has adapted and thrived amidst long hours for its team. Incredible visionary and healthcare leader on this week's show!

Guests - Jason is joined by Jeff Phillips, Senior VP at Landmark National Bank and Dan Walsh, Managing Partner and Founder of Spokes (Coffee, Cafe, Cyclery) in Kansas City. Jeff and Jason start the show and discuss the uptick in growth of companies throughout the KC region and the Excellence Wins book. Dan then joins and discusses his journey from the corporate world (Hallmark) to starting a successful company (Spokes), how he did it, what he learned, secrets of obtaining data in person to help when he started, how having a corporate job before helped him and hurt him at times, how opening a second location was different than the first, the advantages and disadvantages of having investors, why to shift business based on market conditions, how downtown KC has changed and how it could improve and so much more. This show has it all!

Guests - Jason is joined by Tory Schwope, Founder and Owner of DCA Outdoor and Colonial Gardens. Fascinating show discussing DCA Outdoor's business and the 12  brands under it, how Colonial Gardens is becoming an agritourism destination, Tory's background and passion for plants, trees, ecology, what the future holds, top tips for planting season, favorite tree of all time and best business advice. Awesome show with a true leader in the nursery and tree production, landscape distribution, retail and agritourism space.

Guests - Jason is joined by Sayard Parrish, VP at Landmark National Bank and Diana Holt, CEO and President at Wilkerson Crane Rental. Jason and Sayard discuss what she is seeing with business clients finishing 2020 and looking forward to 2021. They then talk with Diana about Wilkerson Crane, acquiring the company, growth of the business, project experience, services, why they kept the company name and motivation behind slogan "Raised Right", new headquarters, vision for the future, being a female leader in a male dominated industry and best lessons learned in the industry and throughout her leadership of the company. Join us!

Guests – Jason is joined by KCADC leaders and team of Tim Cowden, Jonathan Knecht, Jessica Palm and Jennifer Lyon to discuss the KC Heartland Campaign / KC.org. The group talks about the why behind it, how it has progressed in year one, how it is leveraging uncertainty in 2020, flexibility in platform, different activations locally and nationally, metrics behind its early success and how it will look towards the future in areas such as remote location work (already #1 place in US to work remote), talent and B2C recruitment. Great information and energy this week!

Guests - Jason is joined by Mark Grimes, Founder of 31 Startups in 31 Days and 90 Days to Cash Flow Positive, from Portland, Oregon. The two discuss Mark's impressive entrepreneurial journey from starting a Top 20 interactive ad agency according to Adweek Magazine, to getting into the startup and business coworking space early on, to his diverse and inclusive Startup Podcast Network to his latest endevour, starting 31 companies in 31 days in August 2020 and making them all cash flow positive in 90 days by the end of November 2020 (2% of gross revenue from dollar 1 for all 31 startups goes to women founders in developing countries). Mark also offers up some strong entrepreneurial and business advice for those thinking of starting a company. Exceptional show this week with some very interesting topics and perspectives.

Guests - Jason is joined by Stacie Prosser, Market President and Publisher of the Kansas City Business Journal. The two discuss Stacie's background and role, KCBJ growth, vision and strategy, the topics, stories and engagement they cover, trends moving forward, how things changed for area businesses post COVID-19, how someone grows in this industry/best advice, what one word describes the Kansas City Business Journal and why plus so much more! Fascinating show this week!

Guests – Jason is joined by Pat Contreras, Director of Project Development at McCownGordon Construction. The two discuss Pat's impressive background and journey from the Westside of KC to Saint Louis University to Columbia University to US Diplomat in Pakistan and Mexico City to Candidate for Statewide Office in Missouri to McCownGordon. Pat shares some great stories and advice from along the way. The two also talk about trends in construction, where the region and kc is going, why board service is important to him, restaurant recs and so much more. This show has a little bit of everything for the listener with an insighful guest. Join us!

Guests – Jason is joined by Jeff Phillips, Senior VP at Landmark National Bank. They talk with Bill Kimmel, President of RJ Kool, and Darren Harding, VP of RJ Kool, a premiere commercial laundry equipment company with mutiple areas of service throughout the Midwest. The group really takes a deep dive into what makes a partnership work, how you grow and acquire with a focus on closing integrated, strategic purchases, what entering new markets is like and best advice on doing well in new geographic areas, how to grow recurring revenue with your clients and how their has touched so many verticals and industries over the last 60 years. Valuable insight this week!

Guests – Jason is joined by Pete Mundo, Morning Talk Radio Show Host and Program Director in Kansas City who hails from NYC area and has hosted / produced on CBS Radio, Fox News Radio and Sports Illustrated. Pete is also the Owner of Hearthland College Sports a Big 12 Sports Website / Podcasts. We discuss Pete's background out east and here in midwest now, how he grew in the industry, how he made it to KC from the national level, best practices and trends in the media world, Election 2020, favorite interview and who he wants to interview, most famous twitter follower, best advice for those getting into journalism / sports and political broadcasting media and so much more this week. Awesome hour with Pete Mundo!

Guests – Jason is joined by Victor Hwang, economic growth expert and Founder/CEO of Right to Start. The two discuss Victor's impressive background, reasoning behind his latest endeavour Right to Start, what Right to Start is all about, why changing minds, changing policies and changing communities is so important, incredible data and misconceptions about startup and new companies being formed in US as related to job creation, what the future holds for Right to Start around the US and best advice for those with an idea or wanting to start their own company. Great insight from a true leader and expert in the worldwide entrepreneur and startup world this week!

Guests – Jason is joined by Joel Goldberg, Kansas City Royals Live Host, In-Game Reporter for Fox Sports Kansas City, Public Speaker and Rounding the Bases Live Host. The two discuss how major league baseball, broadcasts, interaction with teams/players and life in general has changed for Joel and his work/businesses. Joel shares some great takeaways on broadcast and business adaption during Covid-19 and gives a peak behind the curtains on how everything is working right now with baseball broadcasts. Always an informative hour and show with Joel Goldberg!

Guests – Jason is joined by Dr. Marilyn Richardson, a nationally recognized leader in healthcare who provides a spectrum of advanced health solutions with an integrative, holistic focus. Dr. Richardson provides these services for men and women at the KC Wellness Center and the Hormone Hair and Vein Center, which include hormone replacement therapy, iv vitamin therapy, regenerative medicine, peptide therapy and medical weight loss solutions. She truly shares a wealth of knowledge and advice on this week’s show targeting health, wellness, vitality, sleep and energy. Her passion, expertise and deep joy of helping others be their best comes out in this week’s show. Join us!