Building Loved Businesses

Chad Kooiman: Building a Car Shop People Actually Love

In this episode, I sit down with Chad Kooiman, founder of Ultimate Automotive, to trace his journey from a small franchise shop to a thriving two-location business built on culture, trust, and community. Chad shares how he started in 2000 under the All Tune and Lube franchise while still in college, hustling for customers through coupons before eventually breaking out on his own. We dig into his people-first philosophy — how he takes care of his team, runs the business alongside his wife, and has evolved from technician to CEO. He also walks me through what makes Ultimate Automotive different: a free ride service for customers, an unconventional pay structure, and a culture of curiosity that's getting his team ready for EVs and self-driving vehicles. If you're building something that lasts, this one's for you.

From Broadcast to Business: Preserving Memories in the Digital Age

Stephanie Csornok shares her journey from broadcasting to founding Digital Downsizing, a niche business preserving family memories through digital conversion. Discover how her background, emotional connections to memories, and strategic marketing have shaped her entrepreneurial success.

How Trust and Detail Drive Business Success

Dan Frisch, co-owner and president of Cullen Insulation, shares his journey from college to leading a successful insulation business across multiple states. Discover how strategic growth, maintaining company culture, and attention to detail drive their success.

Culture, Chick-fil-A, AI & Human Connection with Nathan Schock

In this special episode, Nathan Schock joins Eric Brooker on the Counsel Culture podcast for a powerful conversation about growth, clarity, and building cultures that last. As a guest on Eric’s show, Nathan unpacks the hidden reason customer experience often breaks during growth: unclear culture. If you’ve ever wondered why things start slipping as your company scales, this conversation goes straight to the root

Building a Business with Empathy

In this episode of Building Loved Businesses, host Nathan Schock interviews Andi Broneske, branch manager and estimator at Stimatic, a restoration company. Andi shares his journey from being a business owner to working for Stimatic, discussing the challenges and rewards of both roles. He emphasizes the importance of empathy in customer service, especially in the restoration industry, where clients are often facing difficult situations. The conversation also touches on the growth of Stimatic, the significance of finding the right team members, and the future goals of the company.