Episode 99: "America's Outdoor Downtown: How San Diego's Most Unlikely CEO Turned a Nonprofit into a National Model — and a For-Profit Company" (Betsy Brennan, President & CEO, Downtown San Diego)

Episode 99: "America's Outdoor Downtown: How San Diego's Most Unlikely CEO Turned a Nonprofit into a National Model — and a For-Profit Company" (Betsy Brennan, President & CEO, Downtown San Diego)

In this episode of The Think Small Podacst, Betsy Brennan, President and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, joins the podcast to share how she has transformed one of the nation’s most influential downtown organizations into a powerful engine for economic development, urban revitalization, and community impact. Over the past eight years, Brennan has overseen a growing operation that now manages a $25 million annual budget, leads initiatives across 275 city blocks, and helps shape the future of Downtown San Diego through strategic partnerships, data-driven decision-making, and innovative public-private collaboration. In this conversation, Brennan discusses tackling complex challenges such as homelessness, creating sustainable solutions through programs like safe sleeping sites, and balancing economic prosperity with cultural vitality. She also shares insights on launching Urban Strategy Services, a for-profit venture that exports San Diego’s successful clean-and-safe model to other cities, while helping drive major projects including the $14.4 billion Civic Center revitalization effort. The episode offers valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, community-building, and how organizations can create lasting impact while navigating growth, change, and uncertainty. Connect: Website: https://downtownsandiego.org/ [https://downtownsandiego.org/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsybrennan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsybrennan/?isSelfProfile=false]

Episode 98: From Shark Documentaries to the Shop Floor: How a 100-Year-Old Family Business Built the Data Layer Manufacturing Was Missing.(Chris Moore, Vice President, Caddis Systems)

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Chris Moore, Vice President and Co-Owner of Caddis Systems, shares the story behind a machine monitoring platform that began as an internal solution for a century-old family manufacturing business and evolved into a powerful tool helping manufacturers unlock hidden capacity and improve operational performance. Drawing from his unique journey from producing documentaries for major television networks to helping lead an industrial technology company, Chris explains how manufacturers can gain real-time visibility into machine utilization, eliminate costly blind spots, and make better decisions based on accurate production data rather than assumptions. He discusses how Caddis Systems helped drive significant increases in machine utilization and revenue, ultimately becoming a standalone solution serving industries ranging from machining and foundries to forestry, food processing, and beyond. Chris also explores the future of Manufacturing 4.0, the growing role of artificial intelligence in production environments, and why reliable machine data has become the foundation for operational excellence. He shares practical insights on leveraging downtime as an opportunity for growth, building strategic partnerships to scale a business, and helping manufacturers transition from reactive management to data-driven decision-making. For business leaders looking to improve efficiency, maximize existing assets, and remain competitive in an increasingly automated world, this conversation offers valuable lessons on technology, growth, and the importance of having a trusted source of operational truth. Connect: Website: https://www.caddissystems.com [https://www.caddissystems.com/about-us] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-moore-lcm2m [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-moore-lcm2m]

Episode 97: Your Benefits Are Not a Black Box: What a 30-Year UHC Healthcare Insider Wants Every Small Business Owner to Know (Charles Carter, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Central and South Texas)

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Charles Carter, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Central and South Texas, shares insights from more than three decades in the healthcare industry and explains why business leaders have far more influence over healthcare costs than they often realize. Drawing on his experience leading one of the nation’s largest and most diverse commercial health plan markets, Charles discusses how employers can move beyond treating benefits as an annual administrative task and instead view them as a strategic driver of talent retention, workforce health, and long-term business performance. He highlights the importance of engaging with healthcare data, understanding employee health trends, and making benefits a core part of financial and operational planning. Charles also addresses the challenges facing the healthcare industry today, including public trust, rising costs, and the growing complexity of navigating care. He offers a candid perspective on how healthcare organizations can improve transparency, simplify the member experience, and leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to reduce friction and help people access care more efficiently. From value-based care and price transparency to workforce strategy and leadership lessons learned over a 30-year career, this conversation provides practical guidance for business owners looking to build healthier, more productive organizations while gaining greater control over one of their largest operating expenses. Connect: Website: https://www.uhc.com/ [https://www.uhc.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-carter-03b6638 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-carter-03b6638]

Episode 96: Andrew Salazar, President and Managing Partner, Patriot Freight Group

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Andrew Salazar, President and Managing Partner of Patriot Freight Group, shares the remarkable story of building a logistics company from a single truck and trailer into a rapidly growing transportation and logistics organization. Drawing on his background in manufacturing and quality management, Andrew discusses how Patriot Freight Group overcame a major growth plateau by implementing structured systems, standardized processes, and an ISO 9001-inspired framework. He explains how operational discipline, accountability, and scalable procedures became the foundation for sustained growth, successful acquisitions, and long-term customer relationships across the transportation, oil and gas, construction, and industrial sectors. Andrew also offers his perspective on technology, automation, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in logistics. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for people, he sees it as a powerful tool for empowering employees, improving efficiency, and eliminating repetitive tasks so teams can focus on higher-value work. He shares how Patriot Freight Group is leveraging technology to support ambitious expansion goals, including scaling revenue toward $100 million annually, while maintaining alignment around mission, vision, core values, and operational excellence. This conversation provides valuable insights for business leaders looking to build scalable organizations, navigate growth challenges, and embrace innovation without losing sight of their people. Connect: Website: https://www.patriotfreightgroup.com/ [https://www.patriotfreightgroup.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-salazar-05086927 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-salazar-05086927]

Episode 95: 25 Years, No VC, and a Missing $5M: The Resilient Scientist Divyan Patel, CEO/Founder, Genome Explorations Inc

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Dr. Divyan Patel, founder of Genome Explorations, has spent more than two decades at the forefront of genomic science, building a globally recognized molecular diagnostics company without a single dollar of venture capital. After helping pioneer genomic profiling at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Dr. Patel launched Genome Explorations in 2001 with a borrowed $40,000 and a vision to unlock the power of the human genome. Today, his company has collaborated with more than 1,000 institutions worldwide, including Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, and the Pasteur Institute, while producing over 180 peer-reviewed publications that have advanced cancer research, disease detection, and personalized medicine. In this episode, Dr. Patel shares the entrepreneurial journey behind turning groundbreaking science into real-world impact—from developing highly accurate blood-based diagnostics for cancer, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD to navigating the challenges of commercialization, funding, and business setbacks. He opens up about building a company through relentless reinvestment, the lessons learned from a failed partnership, and why resilience remains the most important trait for any founder. This conversation offers a rare look at the intersection of scientific innovation, entrepreneurship, and the determination required to bring life-changing discoveries to market. Connect: Website: https://genome-explorations.com/ [https://genome-explorations.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divyen-patel-ph-d-85565b3 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/divyen-patel-ph-d-85565b3]