The HotSeat by StartUp Hutch

Join Executive Director Graham Klemme as he sits down with Joey Ward of ForWardAI and HutchConnect. They discuss AI tools, websites, and building community.

Join Executive Director Graham Klemme as he sits down with Mark Buckley of the Toy Depot. They discuss the importance of caring for your employees and customers, as well as Mark's time at the Kansas Small Business Development Center.

Join Executive Director, Graham Klemme, as he sits down with returning guest Nate Hiatt to talk about his construction company LUXE Kansas. they discuss affordable housing, building a team, finding mentors, and more.Find Luxe Kansas on the web:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luxekansas/Instagram: @luxekansasluxekansas.com

Join Program Manager Christopher Acker as he sits down with StartUp Hutch's new Executive Director, Graham Klemme. They discuss Graham's history of entrepreneurship, what brought him to Hutchinson and his ideas for the future of StartUp Hutch and the Reno County Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. You can reach Graham with your questions, or to assist in your entrepreneurial endeavors here:Email: [email protected] Office Phone: 620-665-3319Cell Phone: 319-541-7024

Join Executive Director Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Joel Iwashige, owner of Common Thriving. The discuss Joels own entrepreneurial journey, from working with a software business in Bangladesh to launching his own consulting business here in the united states.

Join Executive Director Jackson Swearer as he gets on a call with Kira Chereé Cobb of Entrepreneur Business Basics (EBB). Together they discuss programs EBB offers including the JUMP© cohorts as well as Kira's own entrepreneurial journey, and the importance of investing in yourself. Learn more about EBB and JUMP© at ebbkc.comKira and Jackson also mention past guest Mark Keeton, listen to his episode here: https://www.startuphutch.com/thehotseat/episode/33a5fb4d/start-up-mark-keeton-of-readylink

Join Executive Director Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Pippin Williamson, owner of Sandhills Brewing and former owner of Sandhills Development as they discuss Pippin's entrepreneurial journey.

Join Executive Director Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Mark Keeton, the winner of the Entrepreneur Business Basics JUMP Pitch Contest as he shares his entrepreneurial journey, what he got out of the EBB JUMP class, and what's next for ReadyLink!

Join Executive Director Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Cody Ruebke, Owner and League Commissioner of XP League NW Wichita. They discuss youth e-sports, the games students play, how students compete, and their experience at nationals.

The Heartland Regional Food Business Center helps farm and food enterprises start up, grow, and make supply chain connections needed to serve growing demand for local and regionally produced food.The Heartland Regional Food Business Center is one of 12 across the nation established in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the development of a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system. It consists of over 30 partners to provide these services.https://heartlandfoodbusiness.org/business-builder/

Join Executive Director Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Chief the Barber, owner of Diamond Cutz. Chiefs story is one of perseverance, second chances, and the entrepreneurial spirit.

Join Executive Director Jackson Swearer as he sits down StartUp Hutch's own Program Administrator, Christopher Acker. They discuss the many programs offered by StartUp Hutch as well as Christopher's own business, Salt City Sound, and why he loves Hutchinson.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Dave Inskeep, owner of Joe McGuire Insurance, as they discuss the highs and lows of business ownership, intricacies of acquiring an existing business, and the ins and outs of commercial business insurance.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Sarah Diamond, Downtown Manager at the Hutch Chamber. They discuss local events, grants, community growth, and the downtown master plan.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Justin Mills of Kansas Drone Services. They discuss the drone industry and what it takes to get a new venture off the ground.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with David and Christena Weber of Weber Auto Glass. They discuss what it takes to make the leap of faith to start a business and the importance of a supportive community.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Brett Henry of Adams Brown, Strategic Allies and CPAs. They discuss accounting as it relates to your business and the importance of paying attention to how money flows through your business.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Darren Thomas of HTeaO Hutchinson, as they discuss tips for new entrepreneurs, how they approached joining a franchise, the importance of local connections, and what it means to be a buffalo.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Kurt von Ahnen of Mañana No Mas, which started as a digital marketing firm that grew into an eLearning and eCommerce developer. They discuss the growth and changes in the business and Kurts transitions from New Mexico, to California, and finally to Hutchinson.Learn more about Kurt von Ahnen here: https://kurtvonahnen.com/

This month, Jackson sat down with Don Macke on the Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast.The Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast provides strategies to empower rural community success and vitality. Hosted by e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems' Don Macke, episodes will feature interviews with cutting edge rural development thought leaders and community practitioners; remarkable entrepreneurs including business, nonprofit, and government professionals; and the learnings of e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. Connect with Don, learn more about e2, and subscribe!Don Macke leads e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (formerly the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship), hosted by NetWork Kansas to build sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems across North America. Don has over 40 years of community economic development and policy experience. He was most recently the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the national Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. Through this work, Don helps communities and regions throughout North America grow entrepreneur-focused economic development strategies and ecosystems. Don calls Nebraska home with his wife Jenny Carver and their two adult sons Sam and Eric, and he is a proud resident of America’s Great Plains Region.Subscribe to the Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast here: https://www.energizingentrepreneurs.org/podcast/

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer on location in Haven as he sits down with Kevin Evenson of Sleep Haven as the discuss business ownership, cashflows, mentors, and taking the long view of business and reinvesting back into the business.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer on location in Haven as he sits down with Jen Brummer of Jenz Java. They discuss what the drive thru coffee shop has to offer as well as meeting the needs of their local community.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer on location at Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm in Nickerson with Joe and Aryn Hedrick. They discuss the evolution of the farm and bed and breakfast, traveling around the country, and their commitment to the community.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Ashley and Zachary Carson, owners of Axe It Up Hutch, as they talk about the importance of mentors and developing relationships with other professionals as well as trying new things, like a mobile axe throwing unit!

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Andrew Penrose, owner of Jack’s for All Trades, a business in Buhler, Kansas, as they talk about the importance of planning ahead and hard work when you take over an existing business and the importance of working together with your community.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Shelly Bartel, co-owner of Bartel Kitchen and Bath, a business in Buhler Kansas, as they talk about the hard work that goes into creating a successful small business, the importance of carrying on the traditions of a family owned business, taking care of your customers in the changing economy, and working together as a community to create a thriving local economy for small businesses.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Jim Seitnater, the Interim Director of Planning and Development at the city of Hutchinson and prior Downtown Development Manager, to discuss the history of the development of downtown and what resources are available to small business owners as they look to develop historic properties.

In this episode, Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer interviews Nathan Hiatt of High Point Pharms. They delve into topics such as the current state and future of the CBD and hemp industries, running a family business, and government regulations surrounding these industries. Nathan shares his insights and experiences on these subjects, offering valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in the field. This episode is a must-listen for those interested in the CBD and hemp industries and for anyone looking to run a successful family business.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Bud Conklin of Conklin Cars to discuss running a long-standing successful business in Reno County. Topics included successful business expansions, adapting to the Internet Age, and transitioning from one generation to the next.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Sam Foreman of Foreman Law Group to discuss some of the legal matters that come with starting and running a business as well as insights from Sam’s own entrepreneurial journey.

Join Entrepreneur Navigator Jackson Swearer as he sits down with Logan Lawson of Sensor Dynamix to discuss Logan's move back to Reno county as well as the highs and lows of the first few years of starting his business and the importance of perseverance

The HotSeat by StartUp Hutch combines storytelling with practical advice about business by sitting down with real Reno county residents and asking them questions about their entrepreneurial journey. How did they get started? What were the keys to their success? What obstacles did they have to get over along the way? you'll hear from both new start ups and longstanding successful businesses and in between we will sprinkle in some conversations with other experts as well.