Episode 118: Dena Strehlow, Senior Director, Threotech

Episode 119: Bill Groener, Co-Founder, Carabiner Consulting

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Bill and John of Carabiner Consulting share how two veterans of the entertainment technology world, with careers spanning Broadway sound design, Walt Disney theme parks, lighting design, live event production, and the full financial lifecycle of companies in the industry, came together to build a consulting firm focused on helping small to mid-sized businesses in the entertainment technology space grow, professionalize, and eventually exit on their own terms. Whether the client rents lighting rigs for touring concerts, installs permanent AV systems in corporate headquarters, or manufactures the gear that makes live events possible, Carabiner brings a bento box of operational, financial, sales, and strategic support to founders who built their companies on passion and technical skill but never had to think about cash flow management, valuation, or succession planning until now. The conversation digs into one of the most underappreciated business stories of the next decade: the wave of boomer-era entrepreneurs in the entertainment technology sector who are approaching the end of their operating years with no exit strategy, no succession plan, and no idea how much value they are sitting on. Bill and John make the case that selling does not have to mean goodbye, that the right transition can keep a founder involved, protect their relationships, and unlock value they never knew they had. They also offer a refreshingly honest take on AI, acknowledging its utility for repetitive tasks while pushing back firmly on the idea that it can replace the relationship-driven, institutionally complex work of guiding a founder through the most important financial decision of their business life. Their biggest obstacle right now is simply time, but with a network full of people genuinely excited to hear from them, the pipeline is already richer than they can work through. Connect: Website: https://www.carabinerconsulting.com [https://www.carabinerconsulting.com] LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-groener-348806b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-groener-348806b]

Episode 118: Dena Strehlow, Senior Director, Threotech

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Dena Strehlow, Senior Director of Threotech, shares the science and commercial story behind one of the most clinically distinctive magnesium ingredients on the market today. With a PhD in food science and more than 30 years of experience spanning General Mills, ADM, and Tate & Lyle, Dena brings a rare combination of deep scientific credibility and commercial savvy to a product that is genuinely differentiated: Magtein is a patented, proprietary form of magnesium shown in clinical studies to cross the blood-brain barrier, delivering cognitive, memory, focus, and mood benefits that most magnesium supplements simply cannot achieve. Originally discovered by researchers at MIT in the context of Alzheimer's research, Magtein has spent over a decade earning its place in the supplement aisle and is now rapidly expanding into functional food and beverages, a category that Dina believes is just beginning to reach its potential. The conversation explores where the functional ingredient market is heading, from better-for-you sodas and social tonics to functional coffees, stick packs, and low-caffeine energy drinks, and why brands like Recess Mood are proving that you do not always have to lead with the science to win with consumers. Dena also reflects on the lessons she has carried through periods of both revenue contraction and rapid demand surges, including the discipline to simplify a product line under pressure, the importance of radical transparency with customers when supply cannot keep up with demand, and a guiding philosophy she keeps coming back to: you are either winning or learning. With Magtein growing at double digits and a pipeline of emerging brands looking for clinically substantiated functional ingredients, the next three to five years look very bright. Connect: Website: https://threotech.com/ [https://threotech.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denastrehlow/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/denastrehlow/]

Episode 117: Joe Garber, Founder, CEO & CTO, Cyberiad AI

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Joe Garber of Cyberiad AI shares how a team of veterans with over a decade of real-world AI experience built a purpose-built platform to solve the non-clinical front office and back office inefficiencies that quietly drain revenue from dental service organizations and multi-office dental practices. From predicting patient no-shows and optimizing scheduling to enabling multilingual patient outreach across the 35-plus languages a large dental organization might encounter on any given day, Cyberiad AI is applying HIPAA-compliant, multi-agent artificial intelligence to the operational complexity that most dental groups are still managing with a patchwork of disconnected tools and manual processes. Joe traces his own journey from early AI work in legal document analysis and privacy protection through to today's agentic AI revolution, offering one of the clearest plain-language explanations of where AI has been, where it is now, and where it is heading next. The conversation is a masterclass in the discipline required to build a focused AI company in a world where the technology can theoretically be applied to almost anything. Joe is direct about why chasing two chickens means catching none, and why the decision to go deep into dental before expanding to optometry, other medical practices, and eventually international markets is the only strategy that builds durable product market fit. He also speaks candidly about what is slowing the company down right now, the need for more voice of customer conversations and the funding that would allow the team to scale those efforts faster, making this one of the most honest startup conversations the show has featured. If you know someone who owns multiple dental practices, this is an episode worth passing along. Connect: Website: https://go.cyberiad.ai/home [https://go.cyberiad.ai/home] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joegarber [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joegarber]

Episode 116: Bruce Currin, CEO, SunriseITsolutionsGroup,LLC

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Bruce Currin, CEO of Sunrise IT Solutions Group, shares the story of a 19-year-old Texas-based cabling infrastructure company that has survived and thrived by staying nimble, building genuine relationships, and knowing when to say no. What began as a data center migration business at a time when almost nobody else was doing it has evolved into a full-service infrastructure company serving schools, prisons, fire and security firms, and now some of the largest data center development projects in the country. Bruce discusses how a strategic decision to launch his own staffing agency five years ago eliminated the expensive middleman model he had relied on for years, dramatically improved his margins, and gave him the ability to scale his workforce up or down across the country with a speed that most competitors simply cannot match. The conversation covers how Sunrise navigated the COVID era by staying deeply embedded with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, whose 104-facility infrastructure upgrade never stopped, and how the post-COVID market explosion brought the company to 150% growth just halfway through 2026, with even larger projects on the horizon. Bruce speaks candidly about the challenge of managing a flexible contractor workforce where reliability is never guaranteed, and why he converts his best contractors to W-2 employees to build a dependable core team. He also shares a piece of advice that every startup founder should hear: rapid advancement can shut a company down just as fast as a slow market can, and hitting singles consistently beats swinging for a home run you are not resourced to handle. With an exit strategy taking shape over the next two to five years, Bruce is building toward a handoff that protects the employees and culture he has spent nearly two decades creating. Connect: Website: https://www.sunriseitsg.com [https://www.sunriseitsg.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunriseitsolutions [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunriseitsolutions]

Episode 115: Betsy Frost, CEO, Q Mixers

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Betsy Frost, CEO of Q Mixers, discuss her journey leading one of America's largest premium mixer brands and the realities of scaling consumer packaged goods (CPG) businesses. Betsy shares how her career evolved from purpose-driven startups to leadership roles at General Mills before ultimately returning to entrepreneurial companies. She reflects on the challenges of navigating both rapid business growth and difficult contractions, emphasizing the importance of transparent leadership, scenario planning, supply chain resilience, and maintaining a strong company culture. Drawing from years of experience advising founders, she offers practical insights into making tough strategic decisions, supporting employees through organizational change, and balancing innovation with sustainable growth. The conversation also explores how Q Mixers is positioning itself for its next phase of expansion through consumer-focused innovation, including the launch of Q Refreshers and new national partnerships such as American Airlines. Betsy discusses why understanding customer behavior, retailer priorities, and operational readiness are essential for long-term success, particularly in highly competitive consumer markets. Throughout the episode, she highlights the value of staying true to a company's core mission while adapting to changing market conditions, offering actionable advice for entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to scale without losing the qualities that made their business successful in the first place. Connect: Website: https://qmixers.com [https://qmixers.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23253267517&gbraid=0AAAAAD9D5Fz99GhDtZyCf9t4A1x0Hw2pu&gclid=CjwKCAjwx7LSBhB3EiwAjcodxEjA3aydqAxMNaziAlXyf_1n3ucbBybLu82lx9iKhCW59RYcGqWH7RoCv48QAvD_BwE] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-frost [https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-frost/?isSelfProfile=false]