Episode 109: "45 Years of Betting On Himself: How a Radio Shack Francise Owner Built a Nationwide IT Deployment Company from Albuquerque." - (Ron Rydeski, CEO, Voltage IT)

Episode 110: Doug Niemeyer, President & General Manager, TexLynx Americas

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Doug Niemeyer, President and General Manager of TexLynx Americas, pulls back the curtain on the software that quietly powers global commerce, the barcode label design, print automation, and label management platform trusted by 750,000 companies across 170 countries. For 30 years, TexLynx has operated as the invisible infrastructure behind virtually every product that moves through a supply chain, from hospital medications to grocery deliveries to chemical containers, without ever taking a dollar of venture capital. Doug shares how he has spent 17 years building the Americas division from the ground up, starting as an account manager and cultivating a team whose average tenure rivals that of the company itself, and what it truly means to stay in your lane and be a mile deep and an inch wide in a market most people never think about until something goes wrong. The conversation explores how a 41-person team manages to serve a global customer base at scale by obsessing over service quality, including the deliberate and hard-won decision to answer every incoming support call with a live human being. Doug also discusses how supply chain disruption, reshoring, and rapidly shifting compliance requirements have brought barcode labeling from a background function to a boardroom conversation, and how TexLynx has positioned itself to capture that demand through education, automation, and deep customer partnerships built on trust. He closes with a powerful reminder for founders building in overlooked niches: resist the shiny object, partner with customers as if you truly have their best interests at heart, and be willing to tell them when they don't need to buy anything from you today. Connect: Website: https://www.teklynx.com [https://www.teklynx.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-niemeyer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-niemeyer]

Episode 109: "45 Years of Betting On Himself: How a Radio Shack Francise Owner Built a Nationwide IT Deployment Company from Albuquerque." - (Ron Rydeski, CEO, Voltage IT)

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Ron Rydeski, CEO & Founder of Voltage IT, shares how a decades-long journey through software startups, Radio Shack franchising, financial services, and hands-on training with one of the nation's largest IT field deployment companies ultimately led him to build a nationwide network of field technicians from Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2014. Voltage IT specializes in IT field deployment and technology services, sending skilled technicians anywhere in the country to install, maintain, and repair digital signage, point-of-sale systems, ATMs, and retail technology for clients who need someone reliable to show up and get the job done. Ron discusses the lessons he absorbed working inside a large-scale operation and how he translated that experience into a leaner, more responsive model built on preparation, white-glove client relationships, and a deep commitment to technician readiness. The conversation explores the real challenges of running a distributed workforce of independent technicians across every region of the country, from sourcing talent through referral networks and universities to building systems that ensure every technician walks onto a job site prepared. Ron also speaks candidly about one of the most common blind spots in services businesses: the difference between revenue and cash flow, and how invoice factoring and proactive client communication have helped Voltage IT navigate the gap between when work is completed and when payment arrives. He shares his vision for expanding into content management and media services, and closes with practical wisdom for founders in the thick of it, reminding them that doing whatever it takes, communicating constantly, and staying ready to regroup and reschedule is what separates businesses that endure from those that don't. Connect: Website: https://www.voltageit.com [https://www.voltageit.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronrydeski [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronrydeski/?isSelfProfile=false]

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]