Abby Lehr, Lutz

Amy Jurgens, Southeast Community College Center for Entrepreneurship

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with Amy Jurgens, Director of Entrepreneurship at Southeast Community College Center for Entrepreneurship, to discuss what it really takes to turn an idea into a successful business. Drawing from her experience working with entrepreneurs at every stage of the business lifecycle, Amy shares insights into the challenges new business owners face, the common mistakes that derail promising ventures, and the resources available to help entrepreneurs gain traction and grow. The conversation explores the importance of business planning, mentorship, networking, and developing the skills necessary to move from concept to execution. Travis, Gary, and Amy also discuss Nebraska's entrepreneurial ecosystem, the role education plays in fostering innovation, and why entrepreneurship is a viable path for people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Amy offers practical advice for aspiring business owners, students, and professionals considering launching a venture of their own. The discussion goes beyond startups and into the mindset of entrepreneurship itself—covering problem-solving, resilience, adaptability, and the willingness to take calculated risks in pursuit of opportunity. Whether you're thinking about starting a business, growing an existing company, or simply interested in the entrepreneurial journey, this episode provides valuable insights from someone dedicated to helping the next generation of business owners succeed.

Pat Miller, The Leadership Coach

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish welcome leadership expert, author, and business coach Pat Miller for a conversation about leadership in a rapidly changing business world. Pat shares practical insights on how business owners and leaders can embrace artificial intelligence without losing the human skills that make organizations successful. Rather than focusing on technology for technology’s sake, the discussion centers on how AI can help leaders become more effective, make better decisions, and create more time to focus on the areas where they provide the greatest value. The conversation also explores one of Pat’s core leadership philosophies: most leaders are delegating the wrong things. Pat explains why delegating tasks often creates frustration, while delegating outcomes creates ownership, accountability, and better results. He shares practical examples that business owners can immediately apply within their own organizations. Travis, Gary, and Pat also discuss leadership development, adapting to change, building stronger teams, and why continuous learning has become a necessity rather than a luxury in today's business environment. Whether you're leading a company, managing a team, or preparing for the next phase of growth, this episode is packed with actionable leadership lessons designed to help you work smarter, lead more effectively, and stay ahead of the curve.

Jeff Dostal, High Performing Sales

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with sales professional Jeff Dostal for a conversation about one of the most misunderstood—and most important—functions in any business: sales. Jeff brings decades of real-world sales experience to the discussion as he shares lessons learned from building relationships, earning trust, and helping businesses grow through effective selling. The conversation challenges many of the stereotypes surrounding sales and explores why the best salespeople are often problem solvers, listeners, and trusted advisors rather than high-pressure closers. Travis, Gary, and Jeff dive into what separates top performers from average salespeople, how business owners can build stronger sales cultures, and why so many organizations struggle with sales despite having great products or services. They also discuss prospecting, handling rejection, building long-term relationships, and the habits that consistently lead to success. The discussion goes beyond tactics and into mindset, discipline, and personal development—offering valuable insights for business owners, managers, sales professionals, and anyone responsible for driving revenue. Whether you're leading a sales team, growing a business, or looking to sharpen your own selling skills, this episode is packed with practical advice from someone who has spent a career helping businesses succeed through the power of relationships and effective communication.

Mark Nelson, CFO Systems

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with Mark Nelson of CFO Systems to talk about one of the most overlooked areas in business growth—financial leadership. Many business owners are great at sales, operations, or delivering their product or service, but eventually every growing company reaches a point where “checking the bank balance” is no longer enough. Mark explains why understanding financials at a deeper level can completely change the direction of a business and how outsourced CFO services help companies make smarter strategic decisions. The conversation dives into cash flow management, forecasting, budgeting, profitability, and the common financial blind spots that hurt otherwise successful businesses. Travis and Gary also discuss why many owners avoid financial reporting altogether, how to use numbers to make better decisions, and the difference between bookkeeping, accounting, and true financial leadership. Mark shares real-world insight into helping businesses navigate growth, economic uncertainty, and operational challenges while building stronger long-term financial foundations. Whether you’re a startup founder, established business owner, or manager trying to better understand the financial side of business, this episode delivers practical advice on turning financial data into a tool for growth instead of a source of stress.

Jim Reiff, Nebraska Enterprise Fund

Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish welcome Jim Reiff of the Nebraska Enterprise Fund to the latest Inside Business.