Episode 84: Carolyn Brand, Founder and CEO, SpanHR

Episode 102: Michelle Howard, Owner & CEO, Southern Hospitality Home

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Michelle Howard, owner of Southern Hospitality Home, shares how a people-first philosophy has transformed a small residential assisted living facility into a place where residents truly feel at home. With a dedicated team, remarkably low staff turnover, fresh chef-prepared meals, personalized activities, and hands-on leadership, Michelle explains why continuity of care is the foundation of exceptional senior living. She also discusses the unique advantages of small Type B residential assisted living homes, where meaningful relationships, individualized attention, and a family-like atmosphere create better outcomes for residents and peace of mind for their loved ones. Michelle also opens up about the challenges of growing a business built on deeply personal care. While demand for high-quality senior living continues to rise with an aging population, she shares her concerns about scaling without sacrificing the culture, compassion, and hands-on approach that define Southern Hospitality Home. This inspiring conversation offers valuable insights into leadership, service, and building a business that puts people first, making it a must-listen for entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, and anyone passionate about creating lasting impact through exceptional care. Connect: Website: https://www.southernhospitalityhome.net/ [https://www.southernhospitalityhome.net/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhojnacki [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhojnacki/?isSelfProfile=false]

Episode 101: Joe Terry, CEO, Culture Partners

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Joe Terry, CEO of Culture Partners, shares how their company can unlock extraordinary results by creating clarity, alignment, and accountability around purpose, strategy, culture, and outcomes. Drawing from years of experience helping companies of all sizes, Joe explains why many leadership teams are unknowingly misaligned and how culture becomes a powerful driver of performance when it moves beyond slogans and into everyday behaviors. He introduces the concept of the “Results Pyramid,” revealing how experiences shape beliefs, beliefs drive actions, and actions ultimately determine results. The conversation also explores themes from Joe’s USA Today bestselling book, Surrender to Lead, which challenges leaders to let go of fear, scarcity, and ego in favor of leading from a place of love, abundance, and gratitude. Joe discusses the research-backed connection between purpose, culture, and business performance, why adaptable cultures consistently outperform rigid ones, and how personal growth is essential for organizational growth. Filled with practical leadership insights and powerful personal stories, this episode offers a compelling perspective on building high-performing organizations while creating meaningful impact in the lives of others. Connect: Website: https://culturepartners.com/about/bio-joe-terry/ [https://culturepartners.com/about/bio-joe-terry/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-terry [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-terry/?isSelfProfile=false] Book: https://www.surrendertolead.com/ [https://www.surrendertolead.com/]

100th Episode

In this special 100th episode of The Think Small Podcast, the team behind the show comes together to reflect on the journey from a single-host passion project to a thriving platform featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, executives, and small business leaders across a wide range of industries. The discussion explores how the podcast evolved, what inspired each host to join the mission, and the common themes that have emerged from nearly 100 conversations with business owners navigating growth, setbacks, innovation, and leadership. The episode also dives into the lessons learned from the entrepreneurs who have shared their stories, including the importance of resilience, community, mentorship, and authentic leadership. The team discusses the growing role of AI in business, how technology is reshaping the workplace, and why human connection remains at the heart of successful organizations. Looking ahead, they share their vision for the future of the podcast, the opportunities they see for building stronger business communities, and their excitement for the next chapter of helping small and midsize business leaders tell their stories. Connect: Alex Reyes - https://www.linkedin.com/in/areyes1023 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/areyes1023/] Monica Dema - https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicadema [https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicadema/] Rob Godlewski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-godlewski [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-godlewski/?isSelfProfile=false] Denise Steinbring - https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisesteinbring [https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisesteinbring/?isSelfProfile=false]

Episode 99: "America's Outdoor Downtown: How San Diego's Most Unlikely CEO Turned a Nonprofit into a National Model — and a For-Profit Company" (Betsy Brennan, President & CEO, Downtown San Diego)

In this episode of The Think Small Podacst, Betsy Brennan, President and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, joins the podcast to share how she has transformed one of the nation’s most influential downtown organizations into a powerful engine for economic development, urban revitalization, and community impact. Over the past eight years, Brennan has overseen a growing operation that now manages a $25 million annual budget, leads initiatives across 275 city blocks, and helps shape the future of Downtown San Diego through strategic partnerships, data-driven decision-making, and innovative public-private collaboration. In this conversation, Brennan discusses tackling complex challenges such as homelessness, creating sustainable solutions through programs like safe sleeping sites, and balancing economic prosperity with cultural vitality. She also shares insights on launching Urban Strategy Services, a for-profit venture that exports San Diego’s successful clean-and-safe model to other cities, while helping drive major projects including the $14.4 billion Civic Center revitalization effort. The episode offers valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, community-building, and how organizations can create lasting impact while navigating growth, change, and uncertainty. Connect: Website: https://downtownsandiego.org/ [https://downtownsandiego.org/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsybrennan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsybrennan/?isSelfProfile=false]

Episode 98: From Shark Documentaries to the Shop Floor: How a 100-Year-Old Family Business Built the Data Layer Manufacturing Was Missing.(Chris Moore, Vice President, Caddis Systems)

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Chris Moore, Vice President and Co-Owner of Caddis Systems, shares the story behind a machine monitoring platform that began as an internal solution for a century-old family manufacturing business and evolved into a powerful tool helping manufacturers unlock hidden capacity and improve operational performance. Drawing from his unique journey from producing documentaries for major television networks to helping lead an industrial technology company, Chris explains how manufacturers can gain real-time visibility into machine utilization, eliminate costly blind spots, and make better decisions based on accurate production data rather than assumptions. He discusses how Caddis Systems helped drive significant increases in machine utilization and revenue, ultimately becoming a standalone solution serving industries ranging from machining and foundries to forestry, food processing, and beyond. Chris also explores the future of Manufacturing 4.0, the growing role of artificial intelligence in production environments, and why reliable machine data has become the foundation for operational excellence. He shares practical insights on leveraging downtime as an opportunity for growth, building strategic partnerships to scale a business, and helping manufacturers transition from reactive management to data-driven decision-making. For business leaders looking to improve efficiency, maximize existing assets, and remain competitive in an increasingly automated world, this conversation offers valuable lessons on technology, growth, and the importance of having a trusted source of operational truth. Connect: Website: https://www.caddissystems.com [https://www.caddissystems.com/about-us] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-moore-lcm2m [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-moore-lcm2m]