POWER CONNECTOR

EPISODE 28: Connecting with Ryley Austyn & Dan Fischer

Meet Ryley Austyn, Founder and CEO of Raustyn Holdings, joined by Dan Fischer, President and CEO of Citizen State Bank and Chairman of Raustyn Holdings. In this episode, they discuss the philosophy behind building successful, long-term businesses and the importance of leadership, integrity, and persistence. The conversation explores how to cultivate a high-performing team, mentor future leaders, and provide meaningful value to business owners while preserving the unique culture of their companies. They also highlight strategies for creating sustainable growth, navigating succession planning, and leveraging personal connections to open doors that others might consider closed. Key Takeaways: · Choose the difficult road — True growth often requires effort, persistence, and facing challenges head-on. · Study success holistically — Learn from individuals who excel in business, family, and personal development. · Consistency and integrity matter — Showing up reliably builds credibility and opens doors. · Mentorship and leadership — Surround yourself with talented people and guide them to achieve their best. · Patience is a competitive advantage — Focus on long-term success, not short-term gains. · Plan for legacy and succession — Thoughtful planning ensures a business thrives beyond its founders. · Work ethic and values matter — Courage, ethics, generosity, and persistence are essential for lasting success.

Episode Special Fireside Chat with Coach Gary Torgow, Huntington Bank

Episode Summary In this inspiring conversation, Gary Torgow—Chairman of Huntington Bank—shares lessons from a career that bridges law, real estate, banking, politics, philanthropy, and faith. From his first leap into Detroit real estate with a vacant 109-unit building to leading one of America’s largest regional banks, Torgow’s story is rooted in resilience, character, and service. He reflects on the mentors who shaped him, the role of kindness and civility in leadership, and how challenges—personal or professional—can become opportunities for growth. Torgow also discusses his vision for Michigan’s future, the importance of education, and how philanthropy and business are inseparably linked. For entrepreneurs and leaders, his message is clear: relationships, patience, and integrity are the cornerstones of lasting success. Takeaways: -Character opens doors — In business and banking, trust and relationships matter as much as cash and credit. -Kindness is a strategy — Small gestures, empathy, and civility create ripple effects of opportunity and blessings. -Invest in people, not just deals — Education, mentorship, and community support fuel long-term growth. -Be patient in real estate and business — Success comes from the right deals, not the fastest ones. -Philanthropy drives prosperity — The more you give, the more communities (and businesses) thrive together. -Legacy is built on values — Success isn’t about being the smartest or richest in the room, but being among the best people in the room.

Episode Special Fireside Chat with Coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State

In this special fireside chat, legendary Michigan State Men’s Basketball Coach Tom Izzo shares timeless lessons on leadership, trust, culture, and adaptability—lessons that resonate far beyond the basketball court. Reflecting on 31 years of coaching, Izzo discusses the evolving challenges of recruitment, the impact of NIL and the transfer portal, and how to maintain a winning culture despite constant roster changes. He emphasizes that success—whether in sports or business—comes from trust, work ethic, chemistry, and culture. Through stories of coaching greats like Mateen Cleaves and walk-on turned business leader Matt Ishbia, Izzo illustrates how values learned in athletics can be directly applied to building thriving organizations. He also shares personal moments, including the joy of coaching his son, and offers insights on legacy-building, humility, and staying driven even after reaching the top. Takeaways: -Trust is the foundation—whether recruiting athletes or securing business deals, people commit when they believe in your character and consistency. -Culture beats talent—a player-led team (or employee-led company) outperforms one that relies solely on top-down leadership. -Humility sustains growth—celebrate achievements but stay hungry; as John Wooden reminded Izzo, there’s always more to accomplish. -Personal connections matter—spending time with people at every level of your organization builds loyalty and performance.

Episode 27: Connecting with Ankur Rungta & Chris Ostrowski

Meet Ankur Rungta, Co-Founder & CEO of C3 Industries, Inc., and Chris Ostrowski, Chief Technology Officer at Dutchie. In this episode, they discuss the rapidly evolving cannabis industry, focusing on the growing role of technology, particularly AI, in optimizing business operations. The conversation dives into the shift from a focus on growth to a more sustainable approach centered on optimization. They also address the challenges of navigating complex state regulations and the importance of collaboration among operators to drive industry-wide change. In this episode, we talk about: *The shift from growth to optimization in the cannabis industry. “The cannabis industry is no longer emerging; it’s here to stay.” *How technology, especially AI, is transforming business efficiency. “There’s just too much data; it’s a critical point for us.” *The necessity of collaboration and coalition-building to push for industry progress. “We need to see progress, and it’s a long game.” *The need for unified advocacy to drive meaningful policy reform. “We all need to participate federally.”

Episode 26: Connecting with Dan Fischer

Meet Dan Fischer, the President and CEO of Citizens State Bank. In this episode, Dan shares insights into the bank's impressive growth since 2020, its unique culture centered on strong relationships and community involvement, and his leadership philosophy of leading by example. The conversation also touches on the role of golf in building business relationships and the bank’s future expansion plans. In this episode, we talk about: *Relationship building at the highest level and its importance in business success. "It's all about relationship building at the highest level." *The bank’s commitment to community involvement and making a difference. "We take pride in being a part of our community and making a difference." *How golf serves as a valuable tool for forging business relationships. "Golf isn't just a game; it's where business relationships are forged."