Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg

A little peek at what is coming in Season 4 and who I am kicking things off with as guest speakers!

Susana Eshleman grew up in Argentina and has followed a path that took her from a student at the University to Nebraska where she was washing dishes to make money to Harvard Business School, Hallmark and eventually Children International as CEO where she leads 1,500 employees and nine thousand volunteers. She sat down with Joel to talk about leadership, culture and her journey.

Matt Moody has spent his professional career as an entrepreneur. His most recent company, Bellwethr, uses intelligent interventions to create retention and revenue for its clients. Matt discussed his background and Bellwethr's early success with Joel.

Justin Ricklefs worked multiple stints for the Kansas City Chiefs before deciding to start Guild Content. His company creates content and focuses on content strategy through effective storytelling. Joel recently sat down with Justin.

Angela Hurt founded Veracity, which is a technology and management consulting company in 2006. She now has about 150 team members. Angela oversees the strategic direction of the company, which delivers IT solutions to its customers in the commercial and government sectors. She's a long-time athlete in numerous sports and she's been on numerous boards, a mentor and extremely involved in the Kansas City community. Joel sat down with Angela to talk leadership, culture, women in technology and sports.

Joe Knittig discovered the world of orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti in 2005. With a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to apply business and advocacy to a new kind of client, Joe left the law practice he loved in 2008 to make an impact in the United States and around the world. Global Orphan Project sets traditional institutional orphan care models aside and connects a global family united by a shared vision to care for vulnerable children while keeping families together.

Lisa Ginter began working at CommunityAmerica Credit Union in 1995 and is now the CEO. Lisa is one of three Kansas Citians to be recognized in 2019 among the ‘Top 100 Financial Executives’ by the National Business Journal network and has been selected as a ‘Power 100’ honoree by the Kansas City Business Journal every year since becoming CEO. Joel sat down with Lisa to talk credit unions, people and Patrick Mahomes.

As technology changes the world, all industries are needing to innovate and adapt, including insurance. Launch KC’s fourth accelerator is in the works and they have teamed up with Brush Creek Partners. Joel sat down to discuss the upcoming 75-day accelerator that will begin in May 2020 with Nathan Kurtz, Steve Gardner and Alex Springer.For more information: https://bcptech.co/insurtech-accelerator/

2020 has begun and Joel sat down with a longtime friend and fellow entrepreneur Jeff Landsman of Phase 6 Productions to discuss goals for the new year, the ups and downs of business, favorite Chicago Pizza and the improper use of the word literally.Jeff Landsman was also a guest in 2019 discussing his journey into business ownership and lessons learned. That is episode 316 in Season 3 if you want to check it out!

This episode is the second in a two-part review of his guests' Small Ball answer about the little things that make up the big things in a company's culture. As the year comes to a close, Joel Goldberg looks back at the 44 episodes of Rounding the Bases from 2019. Joel asks every guest three “baseball” themed questions.What is the biggest home run you’ve hit?What is the biggest swing and miss you have taken?What is small ball to you?

As the year comes to a close, Joel Goldberg looks back at the 44 episodes of Rounding the Bases from 2019. Joel asks every guest three “baseball” themed questions. “What is the biggest home run you’ve hit? What is the biggest swing and miss you’ve taken and what is small ball to you?”This episode and the next will feature the best of each guest's small ball answer about m the little things that make up the big things in a companies culture.

Matt Condon is the CEO of Bardavon Health Innovations, a company to provide innovative, clinically-based solutions to enable employers to identify and connect with the best medical practices in their marketplace through a proprietary cloud-based clinical intelligence system. Bardavon has a mission to change healthcare with data, transparency, innovation, and integrity. They have grown from about 30 to 170 associates in the last two years.

Harrison Proffitt and his co-founder Ben Jackson created Bungii, a mobile application that puts a driver and pickup truck at a users fingertips to help people move or haul items across town like Uber or Lyft does with passengers.They created the company in college After an initial fundraising round of $3.5M, Harrison moved around the country to start Bungii in numerous states. Website is bungii.com or search bungii on the App Store.

Dr. Diego Gutierrez is an assistant professor of marketing and management at Rockhurst University. He played professional soccer from 1996-2008 and won an MLS title in 1998. He consults, announces MLS soccer and teaches. He specializes in business development and sales and marketing in various industries.

Swell Spark is a company with concepts such as escape rooms and axe throwingThey are known for Blade and Timber and breakout escape rooms, have 11 storefronts nationwide and believe in the importance of having fun to bring people together for shared experiences.Matt was a guidance counselor and owned a soda shop when he started an escape room as a side hustle.They started the axe throwing trend and expanded to six locations around the country.www.swellspark.com

Don Peterson is entrepreneur in residence for Launch Health Accelerator, an incubator working on ideas to disrupt and improve the current health care system involving six companies. They have partnered with the Economic Development Corporation of KC & Nueterra Capital.The cohort visited the Mayo Clinic during the 12-week program. Companies are MedZERO, WellBrain, TheraWe Connect, Sickweather, Healium by Story UP and Spoke Health.Website: launchhealthaccelerator.org

Chad Peterson is the owner of Peterson Acquisitions. He was a pilot and lost his passion for flying following 9/11. When the market crashed he change professions, built companies, sold them and realized he could help other people sell companies. He’s written multiple books, including “Blue to White: A Working Man’s Guide to Self-Employment” and “Swinging Doors: A Guide to Selling Your Business."Website: www.petersonacquisitions.com

Kilee Nicklels and her husband own a jewelry company called Nickel and Suede, selling lightweight, big leather earrings. They are based in Kansas City and sell their jewelry online all across the country. She began with an Etsy store and started a blog to support the business. They’ve been on the Inc 500 list for two straight years. Website: nickelandsuede.comBlog: one littlemomma.comIG: @nickelandsuede @onelittlemommaPodcast: With Kilee Nickels

Jeff started his company Phase6 Productions in January 2016, edirting spots, promos and sizzles, serving clients such as United Airlines and Bacardi. Website: www.phase6productions.comTwitter: www.twitter.com/jefflandsman

Max Schachter's life changed on February 14th, 2018, when his son Alex was one of 17 children and teachers murdered during the Parkland massacre. Max founded Safe Schools for Alex with a mission to providing the most current school safety best practicesand developing a national clearinghouse that drives school safety best practices across the US.The clearinghouse website goes live in November at www.schoolsafety.gov. www.safeschoolsforalex.org

Brian serves as CEO of Torch.AI and has more than 20 years of experience leading mission driven, high growth, technology-focused companies. Torch.AI helps leading organizations leverage artificial intelligence in a unique way via a proprietary enterprise data management software solution. Clients include the Department of Defense and companies like Microsoft and H&R Block Prior to Torch.AI, Brian launched or acquired several companies all focused on technology enabled services and data connectivity.

Barnett Helzberg Jr, former owner and president of Helzberg Diamonds founded HEMP, the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentorship Program in 1995. Danny O’Neill, founder of the Roasterie was the first mentee, paired with Henry Bloch. They’ve had speakers such as Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple. He sold Helzberg Diamonds to Warren Buffett and has spent of lifetime helping aspiring businessmen and women connect with mentors.

Ron Hill is the CEO of Redemption Plus. Ron lived in Seattle and sold a computer training company 23 years ago prior to moving to KC to start Redemption Plus and become a one stop shop for entertainment centers and bowling centers and helping them grow more by wasting less. They currently have more than 50 employees.He believes in conscious capitalism, elevating humanity through business.Website: www.redemptionplus.com or google conscious capitalism Kansas CityRon can be found on LinkedIn

Pat Warren is the President of the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City Kansas. The facility becomes 6th largest city in the state with 10,000 people in one place for a weekend. The track has 35 full time employees but approximately 3500 on a race weekend. Pat previously worked at Sprint. The track hosts about 250 events a year, driving schools, exotic driving schools and big non-related motor sports events.Website: Kansasspeedway.com

Paul Schofer is CEO of the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, a facility that opened in 2011 and welcomes 500,000 patrons a year in a building designed by architect Moshe Safdie. The KC Symphony, KC Ballet and Lyric Opera are resident performers. The building was ranked one of the world's 15 most beautiful concert halls.Paul worked at Hallmark , Marion Laboratories and began working for Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation before becoming CFO and then CEO of the Center.Website: www.kauffmancenter.org

Neal Preston started shooting photographs in high school while going to concerts. He decided to skip college and moved to LA when he was 19 where he eventually landed a retainer deal with Atlantic Records to do publicity photos and press parties and caught some breaks being on the road with Cameron Crowe and Rolling Stone.He went on to work with Led Zeppelin traveled with Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Queen.He wrote a book called “Neal Preston, Exhilarated and Exhausted.”

Tanya O’Callaghan is a world touring bass player from Ireland who lives in the US. Wayne Strickland spent 38 years as an exec at Hallmark. They met at a music camp with Wayne as a student and Tanya an instructor and now collaborate delivering a “leadership rhapsody” keynote speech.Tanya got big break being asked to record a track with the band Tool as a young musician and flew to Arizona from Europe.Tanya IG: tanyaocallaghan_official . www.leadershiprhapsody.comwww.waynestricklandspeaki

Matt Watson is founder of the company Stackify. They were named in the Inc 5000 fastest growing companies in August 2019, ranked 379. He sold Vin Solutions for $147M to Autotrader.Stackify has about 25 employees in KC, and 20 in the Philippines. They built a tool that helps software developers understanding how they are performing and have over 1100 customers all over the world. Matt attended Devry but did not finish school and obtained his Email: [email protected]

Dr Dred Scott is the president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of KC. Scott was an educator and administrator before this job. He believes in building relationships and sees himself as the champion storyteller for the organization. Named after Dred Scott, a slave who fought for his freedom in front of the Supreme Court. Dr. Scott tries to carry on the legacy by telling the Dred Scott story. Website: www.helpkckids.org@helpkckids on socialmedia Twitter: @drdredScott

Kemet Coleman is an urbanist, entertainer and entrepreneur. His stage name as a musician is “Kemet the Phantom.”As an urbanist, he’s fascinated by streets, infrastructure, transportation, and what connects people with human natureHe created opportunities in the city for entrepreneurs at Moss Salon Studios, Kansas City’s first urban co-working space for salon professionals.New album called “Electric Park,” released August 16, 2019.kemetthephantom.comyourphantastic.commosssalo

Matt Decoursey, founder of Full Scale, and Andrew Morgans, founder of Marknology discuss time management and the power of no.Matt talks about the ability to say no and defining opportunity costs. Andrew says he receives thousands of messages a week and it’s a matter of timing as to when people reach him. Andrew IG: @andrewmorgans or website marknology.comMatt website fullscale.io He is the co-host of the Startup Hustle podcast.IG: @startuphustlepodcast and @Decourseymatt

Ajamu Webster grew up in Los Angeles. As a junior in high school, he liked math and science and wanted to be an engineer after hearing about the profession from a neighbor.He moved to Kansas City to work for Burns and McDonnell between 1980-84, Butler Manufacturing until 1988 before he started his company, Dubois Consultants, named after W.E.B. Dubois Learning Center.He and his team hope to solve the issue of water quality in parts of the world where people don’t have access to clean drinking wate

Michelle Robin is a wellness chiropractor and owns a practice called Your Wellness Connection. Michelle hosts a podcast called “Small Changes, Big Shifts,” and wrote a book with the same title. She believes that making small changes is a mindset. She’s teaming up with Win For Kc and creating an event called Shifts on September 14, 2019 at UMKC, an event for women and girls ages 12 and up to experience a full day of mindfulness, movement and nutrition. Website: smallchangesbigshifts.com

Matt DeCoursey is the founder of Full Scale with Matt Watson. They co-host the podcast Startup Hustle.He worked in the music industry before returning to school in his 30s and started a business selling concert tickets.Started Full Scale, which was a company of 180 people after one year with millions of dollars of revenue headquartered in Kansas and the Philippines.He’s written three books, “Balance Me,” “Million Dollar Bedroom,” and “The Realist’s Guide To A Successful Music Career,”

Jeff Hanson was born with a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis. He started painting at age 12 during chemotherapy and radiation for a brain tumor and in spite of a visual impairment and a learning disability, he is now a world renowned artist at 25 years old. Elton John is one of the many celebrities who has bought some of Jeff’s artwork. Jeff hopes to raise $30 million for charity by the time he’s 30 year old. www.jeffhansonart.comTwitter: @JeffHansonArtInstagram: jeffhansonart

AY is an entrepreneur/entertainer who's developed technology to power street performances through solar energy. He started a series of concerts called the Battery Tour, which raise money to purchase solar powered boxes for villages that need electricity. Twitter/IG: @batterytour @AYmusikJune 7 First FridayJune 8 Veg Fest in RiverMarketJune 14 KC Museum Free Concert https://youtu.be/d-yjcSwS1I4https://youtu.be/LMI8qqxPTEcwww.fanlink.to/aymusik

Eze Redwood is an entrepreneur, restaurant owner, problem solver, strategist, and much more. He's been a Google Fellow, American Fellow, and founder of Rise Fast, an organization that helps professionals in their 20s and 30s create impact and value in the work place. He also is a partner in a gourmet wings restaurant called Wings Cafe in Kansas City. He's determined to to help people find the right careers and fit. Website: insights.risefast.co thewingscafe.comTwitter: @RiseFast @TheWi

Victor Rojas is a baseball announcer who started an apparel company with his wife called “Big Fly,” named after the term he uses to call a home run as an announcer for the Los Angeles Angels.Launched in February 2019. Trying to tell stories of baseball through graphics and apparel. Available onlineWebsite: www.bigflygear.comKC Sports will be a reseller in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and OklahomaTwitter: @BigFlyGear & @victorrojasIG: bigflygear & victorrojas29

Lifted is a well-being movement about elevating who you are and how you show up in the world. Her company is known for its probiotics targeted to enhance mood and well being. Learned that thoughts create feelings. Can’t just think positive, need to believe it. About telling a different story. Facebook.com/groups/theliftedlifeInstagram: LifedNaturalsPodcast: The Lifted LifeWebsite: www.liftednaturals.com

Chukky Okobi is a former NFL center who is now a mindset coach with a company named “Basic Instructions.”He’s a master practitioner of NLP. Neuro refers to the mind. Linguistic communication refers to how the neuro language functions. Teaches people that there is a simple way to get what they want. 4 basic instructions for high level of achievement of success:Let go of the pastHave a desired outcomeTaking actions based on aligned with the destinationFocusWebsite: www.basicinstructio

Nibal Henderson is the director of learning and development for New Directions Behavioral Health. Focus on developing with knowledge and skills to succeed, and be fulfilled.Grew up in Kuwait, moved to Texas as a teenager. Credits exposure to different cultures & travel as being important to perspective.Believes in putting humans first. Ask the question was this helpful, was it kind, was it necessary? Does it help you move forward?Loves peoples and systems which are huge in business and sports

Wesley Hamilton is the founder of a nonprofit named Disabled But Not Really Foundation. Also an adaptive athlete and motivational speaker and a full time single father. He was shot twice just after his 24th birthday, paralyzing him from the waist down. His doctor told him to change his diet, which forced him to study nutrition. Went from 270 pounds at his highest and dropped to 135.Websites: www.iamwesleyhamilton.comwww.disabledbutnotreally.orgTwitter, IG, FB: iamweshamilton

Jen is a mom, wife, writer, blogger & minivan aficionado who loves working in her jammies, a NY Times best seller w/ a million followers on social media after starting a local blog to relieve her stress from her job as a realtor. An elf on the shelf blog went viral. Degree in creative writing.Series of books titled “People I Want To Punch In The Throat.”Over 600 blog posts at www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.comTwitter: @Throat_PunchIG: piwtpitt

Chris Costello is co-founder of blooom, with 3 O's, a technology company started to help people better invest and allocate their 401K. Started with 3 founders and now has 22 employees in Leawood, KS.Clients receive access to a financial advisor but also interaction with Blooom’s client-service team. One client at a time mentality.Creative video on their website has led to 2-3 times the amount of clients signing up.Analysis on website takes 3 minutes. Payment is as little as $10 a month.www.blooom.

Allison Edwards is a physician and entrepreneur who founded a primary care practice.She can take care of 80-90 percent of a person's health care needs without referral to a specialist. Strong focus on relationships. No co-pays, charge patients a monthly fee who have constant access to the doctor. Goal of providing health care to patients in a way that's affordable and transparently priced.Website: www.kansascitydirectprimarycare.comPhone: 913-730-0331

After serving in the Army, Patrick finished school & started KC Cattle Company, a veteran owned and operated company that buys feeder calves and sells beef through e-commerce. Mission is bridging gap between agriculture & the consumer & serving the veteran community. Lost brother-in-law Jeremy in the line of duty and now lives his life for Jeremy. Starting an incubator for vets interested in entrepreneurship.www.kccattlecompany.com Instagram/Facebook: @kccattlecompany

Nicole Feltz and her younger brother bounced around growing up in Kansas City, Kansas with an alcoholic mother.Owns insurance agency. Focus is to give 10% back to the community. Started working w/ American Family at 18-years old to pay for college. Motto is dream big.Advice is get educated by talking to anyone and everyone.Wants to buy and open a house for women and children in need and looking for a fresh start in honor of her late mother.Phone: (913) 383-9100 Email: [email protected]

Courtney Thomas grew up in North Carolina. Managed veterinary hospitals before moving to Kansas City in 2010.The daughter of an alcoholic mother, she was raised by her grandmother, who was a survivor of domestic violence and ran a successful business.Programs offered at Central Exchange range from negotiation skills to conflict resolution to STEM. LinkedIn: CourtneyLeahThomasEmail: [email protected]: Centralexchange.orgFeb 21st Event at CX:https://bit.ly/2T4k1sM

Jake Reid grew up in NE Ohio. Played Div 3 basketballFirst job out of college was with New Orleans in the NBA, first management opportunity with move to Charlotte.Worked in England in soccer for two seasons, then to Kansas City in 2010. Became president and CEO eventually.Involved with re-brand changing name from Wizards to Sporting KC. After a year of criticism, the move was praised.Jake focuses on business, Peter Vermes focuses on the team and they are synced at the hip reporting to Cliff Illig

Amy founded her company Perspective Consulting three years ago.People are complex but predictable. She works with organizations using the Predictive Index to build teams and understanding what drives individuals. Optimize talent. Not just about datas. About what you do with the data. Data informs intuition. Trying to move the needle and change the perspective on gender equity.