The Behind the Brand Podcast

Episode #29: Derek Magee, Magee Financial Group

What does it take to bet on yourself when you have a mortgage, three kids under four, and no guaranteed paycheck waiting on the other side? In Episode 29, hosts Bob Paden and Adam Hayes sit down with Derek Magee, CPA and Founder of Magee Financial Group, for an honest, grounded conversation about faith, family, and the leap from employee to entrepreneur. Derek's story starts where most do: heads down, learning the craft. After years at Donovan CPAs gaining wide-ranging experience in tax, audit, and the business side of running a firm, Derek found himself at a crossroads. A growing family, a desire for flexibility, and a fast-growing community in Whitestown, Indiana pointed him toward something bigger: starting his own CPA firm from scratch. But Derek is quick to give credit where he believes it's due. From the very beginning, he and his wife surrendered the firm to God, and that peace, he says, has carried them through the uncertainty of startup life. Whether it's leaving the office for a family lunch two minutes away or simply not having to answer to a clock, Derek has found that the "richness of life" he was chasing isn't always measured in dollars. He also opens up about the CPA profession's looming talent crisis, how he serves families not just as their tax guy but as a financial navigator, and the mindset shift that made him stop talking about starting a business, and actually start one. This episode is equal parts practical and personal. If you've ever thought about going out on your own, this one's for you.

Episode #28: Kevin Lingg, Loaded Dough

What do environmental health and safety management and scratch-baked cookies have in common? For Kevin Lingg, founder of Loaded Dough, they're both part of one of the most unexpected entrepreneurial journeys you'll hear. In this episode, hosts Bob Paden and Adam Hayes sit down with Kevin to trace a career path that wound through automotive manufacturing, a GE acquisition, a lean manufacturing pivot, and three job losses, before landing in a licensed commercial kitchen in Indianapolis, doing what he loves. Kevin spent 15+ years as an EHS manager before a spark of curiosity sent him down a new road. After watching a Bobby Flay Throwdown episode featuring Levain Bakery in New York City, he went home, tried to recreate those iconic thick cookies, and, despite the recipe not quite working out, stumbled onto something people couldn't stop raving about. What started as a side hustle baked out of a home kitchen became Loaded Dough, a growing wholesale and events cookie business that Kevin has intentionally kept a lifestyle business on his own terms. This conversation gets real about imposter syndrome, the ego hit of losing a corporate identity, what it feels like to cold-pitch your first stranger (and get ghosted), and why Kevin believes doing what energizes you is the only sustainable strategy. Kevin also shares his take on pricing, scaling (and choosing not to scale), and the happy accidents, like chopped chocolate and a chance encounter outside a charcuterie shop, that shaped the business into what it is today. If you've ever wondered whether the "slow build" side hustle can become something real, this episode is for you.

Episode #27: Jason Beutler, ROBOSOURCE

In this episode of the Behind the Brand Podcast, hosts Adam Hayes and Bob Paden sit down with Jason Beutler, founder of ROBOSOURCE, to explore how businesses can practically integrate AI into their everyday operations. Jason brings a refreshing perspective to the AI conversation, it's not about the technology, it's about change management. Jason explains his company's "Process Coach" approach, which treats AI like an external employee that communicates through email, chat, or text to help teams execute real work inside their existing systems. The key? A human is always in the loop. AI drafts the email but doesn't send it. It suggests the CRM update but asks permission first. This philosophy allows businesses to ease into AI adoption without fear of losing control. The conversation dives into practical use cases spanning HR, finance, insurance, and sales, and Jason shares his memorable analogy: AI is like a really good cover band, impressive and talented, but it's mimicking patterns, not creating something new. That distinction matters when setting realistic expectations for what AI can and can't do in your business. Jason also traces his own journey from aspiring Disney animator to computer science student studying early AI and neural networks at Taylor University, to serial entrepreneur and MBA graduate who launched ROBOSOURCE in 2010. Along the way, he emphasizes that the biggest barrier to AI adoption isn't the tool itself, it's getting your people and processes aligned and ready. If you're a business leader wondering where to start with AI, this episode is your roadmap.

Episode #26: Brad Scoffin, Advanced Business Brokers

What happens when 73% of all privately held businesses need to change hands in the next decade, but most owners aren't remotely prepared? Brad Scoffin, partner at Advanced Business Brokers (ABB), joins hosts Adam Hayes and Bob Paden to unpack the real story behind the so-called "silver tsunami" and why the gap between what owners expect and what the market will pay is wider than most people think. Brad shares hard-won lessons from a decade of helping business owners navigate one of the most significant, and emotional, transactions of their lives. From sellers who sabotage deals three days before closing because they haven't figured out what comes next, to private equity firms dangling inflated offers they never intend to honor, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the messy reality of buying and selling businesses. The episode also dives into the rise of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), why the "buy a business and sit on your couch" fantasy is exactly that, and how AI-generated outreach is adding a new layer of noise to an already confusing marketplace. Brad breaks down why the simple math of multiples doesn't actually work the way most owners think it does and why running your business as if you could sell it tomorrow is the smartest thing you can do, whether you plan to exit or not. If you own a business or advise someone who does, this episode is essential listening.

Episode #24: Daniel Crichlow, Indianapolis Badge and Nameplate

In this episode of Behind the Brand Podcast, hosts Adam Hayes and Bob Payden sit down with Daniel Crichlow, who is leading the next chapter of Indianapolis Badge and Nameplate, a company founded in 1948 that got its start stamping dog tags for three states. Daniel shares the fascinating history of the business, from its origins on Mass Ave to his father's purchase of the company in 1977, and now his own journey transitioning the business from a badge and nameplate operation into a full-service sign company. Daniel opens up about what it's really like navigating a family business transition, why he considers himself an outlier, and how his relationship with his father has made the process remarkably smooth. He dives into the strategy behind the company's impressive 46% revenue growth, explaining why he walked away from the bid-work model and instead chose to build deep relationships with niche developers in senior living, religious institutions, and beyond. The conversation also explores the threats and opportunities facing the signage industry, from AI's impact on design to the rise of digital signage and the technology race that Indiana companies can't afford to lose. Daniel gets real about why saying "yes" to everything nearly hurt the business and how becoming less industry-agnostic has been a game changer. Whether you're a business owner navigating growth, considering a family transition, or just curious about what goes into the signs you see every day, this episode is packed with insight.