Adapting His Way Into Spokane Entrepreneurship | Doyle Wheeler

Adapting His Way Into Spokane Entrepreneurship | Doyle Wheeler

In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, Blake sits down with Doyle Wheeler to break down his journey from 18 years in auto body to becoming a Spokane entrepreneur, founding Kinetek Media and running First Avenue Coffee in downtown Spokane.We talk about:- How a $200 Black Friday laptop became the foundation for Kinetek Media- Landing an unpaid six-month gig running Launchpad Spokane's Twitter and turning it into Kinetek's first paying client at KXLY- What Startup Weekend and early Spokane social media looked like in 2010, before photos could even be shared on Twitter- Why innovation and the willingness to pivot became Kinetek's core value- How algorithms actually work, why they reward engagement over accuracy, and what that means for marketers- Running First Avenue Coffee alongside a marketing agency and what "surprise and delight" means in bothDoyle shares tactical insight into digital marketing, brand building, and adapting to platform shifts, along with lessons learned from building multiple businesses in Spokane.If you're interested in digital marketing, entrepreneurship, small business, branding, or building a company in Spokane, this conversation is packed with practical insights.Subscribe for more conversations with founders, investors, and operators building the next generation of companies!

How Video Marketing Builds Brands with Andrii Mynka

What separates content that gets ignored from content that drives real business growth? In this episode, we sit down with Andrii Mynka, New Business Director and Partner at 16x9 Video Agency, to explore the power of strategic video marketing and authentic storytelling. From growing social media channels into thriving communities to helping brands transform their identity through compelling visual content, Andrii shares what he's learned about creating videos that don't just earn views—they build trust, generate leads, and grow businesses. We also dive into why bold marketing often outperforms playing it safe, the role of minimalism in branding, how businesses can leverage organic micro-content, and why serving your community is one of the smartest long-term marketing strategies. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, entrepreneur, or content creator, this conversation is packed with practical insights on using video to stand out in a crowded digital world. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why storytelling is your biggest competitive advantage * How businesses can create video content that actually converts * The balance between bold, memorable marketing and authenticity * Strategies for building a brand through organic content * Common mistakes businesses make with video marketing and how to avoid them Tune in for an engaging conversation with Andrii Mynka about creativity, entrepreneurship, and the future of video marketing.

The Human Side of Digital Marketing with Ed Reese

For more than two decades, Ed Reese has helped businesses turn digital marketing data into meaningful business decisions. As Principal of Sixth Man Marketing, Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor at Gonzaga University, Ed has built a career at the intersection of analytics, strategy, and education. In this episode, Ed shares lessons from 20+ years in digital marketing, including how analytics can tell the story behind customer behavior, why great marketing starts with understanding people—not just data—and how businesses can improve websites, search performance, and user experience through informed decision-making. Beyond marketing, the conversation explores Ed's passion for mentoring the next generation of professionals, helping students bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, and the importance of building authentic relationships throughout your career. From launching LocalU and speaking at industry conferences to teaching future marketers and advising organizations, Ed reflects on the value of curiosity, lifelong learning, and creating opportunities for others. Whether you're a marketer, business leader, entrepreneur, student, or anyone interested in leadership and career growth, this episode offers practical insights on using data with purpose, building meaningful connections, and creating lasting impact.

What If Concrete Could Clean Water? | Greg Johnson

What if the roads, sidewalks, and parking lots we rely on every day could help reduce flooding and clean stormwater before it reaches our waterways? In this episode, Blake sits down with Greg Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO of AquiPor Technologies, to discuss how one Spokane startup is reinventing concrete to solve some of today's biggest infrastructure and water management challenges. In this episode, you'll learn: • How AquiPor is transforming traditional concrete into high-performance porous concrete • The entrepreneurial highs and lows of building a hard-tech startup • Why solving infrastructure challenges requires innovation, patience, and resilience • Greg's approach to leadership, fundraising, and scaling a mission-driven company • The future of stormwater management and resilient infrastructure If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review to help us continue sharing stories from entrepreneurs and innovators making a difference.

Building a Brand That Actually Stands Out | James Clark

What does it actually take to build a brand experience people remember? James Clark, founder of Wunder Beast, on the realities of building a standout brand from the ground up and why branding goes far beyond a logo.James Clark builds digital activations and brand experiences that stick. In this conversation we get into the story behind Wunder Beast, what actually separates businesses that thrive from those that struggle, the marketing that genuinely moves the needle, and the mindset that keeps a founder going when things get hard. Whether you're an entrepreneur, operator, or marketer, there's plenty here worth stealing.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro00:40 What Wunder Beast builds03:42 What brands actually get out of it05:03 Standing out in a crowded market06:03 Going to market with a tiny team10:50 How AI changed the work14:39 AI slop & the creative industry18:48 Where experiential marketing is heading21:33 Favorite builds & hardest logistics25:55 The founder roller coaster27:00 Why build this in Spokane30:47 Fixing Spokane's startup scene33:12 Rapid-fire round37:48 How to reach JamesCONNECT WITH JAMESLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-clark-27920065/Wunder Beast: https://wunderbeast.com/—Cowles Ventures Podcast — founder & operator conversations from the Inland Northwest. Hosted in Spokane.Episode 32#Entrepreneurship #Branding #Marketing #Startups #Founder #Spokane #WunderBeast #CowlesVentures