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)

Episode 108: Dr Giacomo Vacca, President & CEO, Kinetic River

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Dr. Giacomo Vacca, founder and CEO of Kinetic River Corp, shares the remarkable journey that took him from a physics PhD at Stanford under a Nobel Prize winner to building a biophotonics company from his home office in Mountain View, California. Holder of 82 patents and inventor of laser rastering, a technique that increased the throughput of a foundational cancer research technology by a factor of 30, Giacomo left a prestigious research fellowship at Abbott Labs to pursue his own vision in flow cytometry and nanoparticle analysis. Kinetic River's instruments are now installed at institutions including the National Cancer Institute, the NIH, leading research universities, and sites in Taiwan, supporting both diagnostic and biomedical research applications. The conversation explores Giacomo's deliberate decision to grow the company through NIH grants and consulting revenue rather than venture capital, the realities of bootstrapping a hardware company in a field VCs largely avoid, and the steep personal cost of stomaching extended periods of zero income while relying on the unwavering support of family. He speaks candidly about the gap between scientific brilliance and the commercial skills founders must teach themselves, the power of relationships and reputation when starting with nothing, and the value of a high-end 3D printer in accelerating product development. Giacomo also reflects on rediscovering choral singing and painting after thirty years immersed in building his company, and offers a powerful reminder that an eventual exit or financial payoff can never be the sole measure of success: the willingness to value the grind itself is what separates founders who endure from those who burn out. Connect: Website: https://www.kineticriver.com/ [https://www.kineticriver.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gvacca [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gvacca/?isSelfProfile=false]

Episode 107: Stephen Demaayer, CEO, Novatech

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Stephen Demaayer, CEO of Novatech, shares how the company has evolved from its roots as a copier and printer sales business into a complete managed office solutions provider, combining managed IT, cybersecurity, and print management for thousands of clients across the southeastern United States and beyond. Founded in the 1980s and built through a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth, Novatech now serves roughly 10,000 customers, with its managed IT segment growing rapidly even as the traditional print business remains essential to its overall strategy. Stephen discusses how he led organizations through major economic contractions, including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, and how those experiences shaped his approach to preserving technical talent and capability even during the toughest downturns. The conversation explores Novatech's transformation from a transactional, device-selling model into a proactive, service-driven business built around recurring revenue, client trust, and operational urgency. Stephen explains how artificial intelligence is reshaping the company's ability to predict equipment failures, train new technicians using decades of aggregated field experience, and deliver faster, more reliable service to clients who depend on their technology to keep running. He also shares insights on scaling company culture through rapid growth, the unique advantages Novatech brings to its acquisition strategy, and his vision for a future where managed IT becomes the majority driver of the business within the next several years. Connect: Website: https://www.novatech.net/ [https://www.novatech.net/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevendemaayer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevendemaayer/?isSelfProfile=false]

Episode 106: From the Bedside to the Boardroom: 21 Years of Building the Healthcare Safety Net That Sumter County Didn't Know It Needed (Annie Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Tandem Health)

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Annie Brown, CEO of Tandem Health, shares her remarkable journey from registered nurse to leading one of South Carolina’s most comprehensive federally qualified health centers. Since becoming CEO in 2004, Annie has helped grow Tandem Health from a single clinic with 27 employees into a community healthcare system with 12 facilities, more than 300 employees, and over 77,000 patient encounters annually. She explains the unique role federally qualified health centers play in expanding access to care, serving patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay, and addressing healthcare challenges through innovative programs including school-based clinics, mobile health services, pharmacy programs, behavioral health, dental care, and specialty services. The conversation explores how Tandem Health has successfully navigated funding uncertainty, healthcare policy changes, and evolving community needs through strategic diversification, operational discipline, and a strong commitment to patient-centered care. Annie discusses the importance of 340B pharmacy savings programs, community partnerships, and addressing social determinants of health to improve outcomes while lowering healthcare costs. She also shares leadership lessons learned over two decades of growth, emphasizing the value of building strong teams, trusting subject matter experts, investing in organizational sustainability, and creating lasting economic impact within the communities Tandem Health serves. Connect: Website: https://tandemhealthsc.org [https://tandemhealthsc.org] LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-brown-031914159 [http://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-brown-031914159]

Episode 105: "The Document That's Failing 80% of Patients and the Doctor Who Built the Fix" - Dr. Ferdinando Mirarchi, CEO and Chief Medical Officer, MIDEO Health

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Dr. Ferdinando Mirarchi, board-certified emergency physician and founder and CEO of MIDEO Health, shares the deeply personal clinical experiences that drove him to uncover one of healthcare's most overlooked patient safety crises: the widespread misinterpretation of advanced directives and living wills. Through his landmark TRIAD research series, a peer-reviewed national study spanning more than 13 publications, Dr. Mirarchi proved that clinicians misinterpret these critical documents at a rate of 80%, leading to patients being resuscitated against their wishes, or denied life-saving care they clearly wanted. His work exposed a systemic failure that affects tens of millions of Americans and their families, and set the foundation for a technological solution decades in the making. The conversation explores how Dr. Mirarchi built MIDEO Health and its patented platform, MIDEO, which stands for My Informed Decision on Video, now deployed across 43 states and five countries. By placing the patient's own voice at the center of the advanced care planning process through short, clinically validated videos, MIDEO Health gives providers the clarity they need to honor a patient's true wishes in life-or-death moments. Dr. Mirarchi discusses the enormous challenges of driving adoption in a resistant, heavily regulated industry, the limitations of education alone as a solution, and why technology, strategic partnerships, and relentless persistence are the only path forward. He also offers candid advice for founders navigating walls that seem immovable: go around them, find like minds, and brace for impact. Connect: Website: https://mideohealth.com/ [https://mideohealth.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferdinando-mirarchi-d-o-f-a-a-e-m-f-a-c-e-p-6b20a258 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferdinando-mirarchi-d-o-f-a-a-e-m-f-a-c-e-p-6b20a258]

Episode 104: Richard Strauss, CEO, Teakdecking Systems, Inc.

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Richard Strauss, CEO of Teak Decking Systems, shares the remarkable story of a company that has spent over four decades crafting precision teak and composite decks for yachts, super yachts, and some of the most iconic vessels in the world. Founded in 1983 and now operating as a fully matured employee-owned ESOP, Teak Decking Systems has built its reputation on meticulous craftsmanship, serving ultra-high-net-worth clients across the United States and Europe. Richard discusses how the company navigated the disruptions of COVID-19, post-pandemic supply chain challenges, and the seismic shift in the global teak market following sanctions on Myanmar, while maintaining its commitment to quality and protecting its highly skilled workforce. The conversation explores how Teak Decking Systems is evolving to meet a changing marketplace by expanding its material offerings to include composite decking, cork, and sustainably sourced green teak, while also embracing technology and artificial intelligence to streamline operations and enhance the client experience. Richard shares how the company is building a custom client portal, developing AI-powered engineering and quoting tools, and empowering younger team members to lead the charge in digital innovation. He also reflects on some of the company's most extraordinary projects, including decks for museum warships like the USS Alabama and USS Iowa, as well as one of the largest privately owned sailboats in the world. Connect: Website: https://www.teakdecking.com/ [https://www.teakdecking.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-strauss-82425926 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-strauss-82425926]