Entrepreneurial Insights

There are so many great entrepreneurs in Memphis, and their stories need to be told. Entrepreneurial Insights is a bi-weekly podcast sponsored by Century Wealth Management and the Society of Entrepreneurs. In each episode, Jay Healy and Pearson Crutcher sit down with accomplished business owners and entrepreneurs from Memphis, as they share insights and narratives from their journey to success.

Robert Shaw (S5E12) 01/31/2025

Susan Stepherson (S5E11) 09/27/2024

Stacy McCall (S5E10) 09/13/2024

SweetBio (S5E9) 07/19/2024

Carolyn Hardy (S5E8) 05/03/2024

Joshua D Poag (S5E7) 04/19/2024

Joshua D Poag (S5E7) The Society of Entrepreneurs and Epicenter recently launched What’s Next, a series of lunches featuring new and exciting businesses in the Memphis area. This podcast was recorded during the founder of Avadain Brad Larschan’s, recent What’s Next presentation. Josh Poag serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Poag, a position he has held since its formation in 2014. He was previously President and CEO of Poag & McEwen Shopping Center from 2009 until 2014. With over 20 years of experience in the lifestyle center industry, Josh has worked on all facets of the business. Josh has previously served as Executive Vice President- Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President- Chief Financial Officer, Vice President- Development, Development Manager, Project Manager, and Leasing Manager. Before joining Poag’s predecessor, Josh was a financial analyst and engineer. In his role as President and CEO, Josh manages the executive team, oversees key partnerships and runs the day-to-day operations of the company. Josh’s strengths lie in generating new business and establishing corporate vision and direction for the company. Josh is focused on creating unique projects that provide an experiential environment for customers to shop, eat and be entertained. Josh is attuned to the future of the lifestyle center industry and how it is adapting to the rapidly changing world. He ensures that Poag is creating multidimensional properties that function as the core of the community in which they are located. Josh is a member is ICSC, serves on the Platinum Commercial and Retail Development Council of ULI, and is Chairman of the Board of Community LIFT, a non-profit organization that strives to accelerate revitalization in neighborhoods across Memphis. Josh was named one of the 40 under 40 by the Memphis Business Journal. Josh earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University in Chemical Engineering. /episode/index/show/entrepreneurialinsightspodcast/id/30842703

Brad Larschan (S5E6) 04/05/2024

Bob McEniry (S5E5) 03/22/2024

Leta Nutt (S5E4) 03/08/2024

Johnny Pitts (S5E3) 02/23/2024

David Wedaman (S5E2) 02/09/2024

Susan Stephenson (S5E1) 01/26/2024

A Panel Presentation On Protecting Your Brand (S4E8) 07/28/2023

A Panel Presentation On Protecting Your Brand (S4E8) The Society of Entrepreneurs and Epicenter Memphis recently presented “Protecting Your Brand”, a panel on harnessing your skills to bring the best product to your customer while also knowing when to say no to protect the integrity of your brand. This panel features Susan Stephenson of Independent Bank, Shannon Briggs of Campfire Collective, Lisa Toro of City & State, Bartholomew Jones of Cxffeeblack, and our moderator Mike Bruns, retired Founder of Comtrak Logistics. We hope that you will enjoy this podcast featuring this very informative presentation. Susan Stephenson is a passionate Memphian, proud mom of four and grandmother of 12 perfect grandchildren. This is her 44th year in banking—the last 25 years at independent bank (i-bank) the company her partner and she founded in 1998. She serves on several local boards, including the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, New Memphis Institute, and is the current President of the Society of Entrepreneurs. Shannon Briggs is the founder and head trailblazer for Campfire Collective, a Memphis-based agency that specializes in igniting marketing and public relations campaigns for community-based organizations. Shannon serves on the board of the DeNeuville Learning Center for Women, Shelby County Drug Court Foundation, and East Buntyn ArtWalk. She is a graduate of Leadership Memphis and is an active member of the Greater Memphis Chamber ambassador program, The Society of Entrepreneurs Insights Group, and PRSA Memphis. Additionally, she was named the "2022 PR Executive of the Year" by PRSA Memphis and is a member of the 2023 Memphis Business Journal's 40 Under 40 class. With over 20 years of experience and expertise in brand development and digital marketing, Lisa Toro has helped numerous organizations and businesses, including her own, craft their unique brand identities. Her expertise lies in developing comprehensive strategies that go beyond aesthetics and logos, delving deep into the essence of a brand and its authentic expression. In addition to her professional achievements, Lisa is deeply committed to giving back to her community. She actively mentors aspiring entrepreneurs, helping them develop their skills and nurturing the next generation of small businesses. Her dedication to fostering growth and empowering others has earned her respect and admiration from fellow business owners and mentees alike. Bartholomew Jones is an educator, emcee, avid coffee nerd, and native Memphian. He is also the co-founder of cxffeeblack, a renowned thought leader in matters regarding the African origins and diasporic future of coffee, and a key creative disruptor within the specialty coffee industry. Bartholomew Jones, along with his wife Renata, intended to reinstate the origin, purpose, and integrity of cxffee through the knowledge of its Black history and being a part of its Black future, creating Cxffeeblack. As the movement, Cxffeblack, continues to press forward to educate community about the history of cxffee through the lens of Blackness; it also seeks to inspire the uniqueness, authenticity, and future of Black people. Links to items mentioned in the interview: /episode/index/show/entrepreneurialinsightspodcast/id/27572736

Chris Bird (S4E7) 07/14/2023

Chris Bird (S4E7) From his earliest recollections Chris Bird was always interested in business, commerce and sales-from operating drink stands by the neighborhood tennis court to advertising his lawn mowing business on white match book cases with a rubber stamp with his contact information. In college, Chris even started 1520 Enterprises Unlimited to loan money to friends who were short on funds pending payday or mom and dad’s deposit. Although unincorporated and unlicensed that business was very similar to today’s payday and title loan businesses. After college, at this grandfather’s urging, Chris studied for and passed the life insurance licensing exam. With the desire to be his own boss driving him, he left that business and started a series of businesses-Microcomputer Consulting Associates, consulting and custom software design; Lido Development, LLC-buying, improving, developing and selling real property and Spec-Tech architectural consulting. (Notable local projects included Peabody Place, Target House and FedExForum) In 1999, Chris was asked to consider purchasing Delta Door and Hardware Co. by its owners and spent a year inside the company working towards that goal. In 2000, at a meeting of Memphis Rotary, John Dillard told Chris he wanted to retire. Chris formed an agreement with John Dillard, Jr that he would form a new corporation that in two years would purchase the assets of the existing Dillard Door & Specialty Co. Chris took $75K in savings and a personal note from JD to capitalize the new corporation Dillard Door & Security, Inc. At the time of purchase, the company had 12 employees and was doing about 2 million in revenue. In 5 years the company had grown to about 50 employees and 6 million in revenue. In 2008, the security portion of the business had become large enough that they started a separate company Dillard Security Services, LLC to better handle the needs of the security business. While the recession years took its toll on new construction related businesses, the security and service sector of our business continued to thrive and produce more than 8mil in revenue and both are climbing. In 2013, due to the increased amount of business done with law enforcement entities, a Federal Firearms License was procured to offer firearms, as well as other security services, to law enforcement contacts. DSS Firearms, LLC is now almost a stand-alone business. In 2018, Dillard Door acquired Tri-State Glass, a 60 year old, family owned business that had a large portion of its revenue from Dillard. This is coming full circle because when John Dillard, Sr. started his business in 1947 it was called Southern Glass and evolved from just glass to what Dillard Door & Security, Inc. is today. Chris Bird is actively involved in various church and community organizations including the Memphis Rotary Club Board, Regional One Health Foundation Board of Directors, Calvary Episcopal Church Vestry, Door and Hardware Institute, the Construction Specifications Institute, Morrison Architectural Scholarship Fund at UofM, Memphis Heritage Board, NFIB State Leadership Council and Crime Stoppers. Links to items mentioned in the interview: The Rotary "4-Way Test" has become an important fixture in Rotary- guiding Rotarians in their personal lives as well as in their professional lives. It asks the following four questions: "Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?" /episode/index/show/entrepreneurialinsightspodcast/id/27450777

Frank Cianciola (S4E6) 06/30/2023

Phil Coop (S4E5) 06/16/2023

Phil Coop (S4E5) Phillip G. Coop is the co-founder and Chairman of Memphis, Tennessee based EnSafe Inc., one of the nation’s largest environmental and safety consulting firms. The original founders, Phil Coop, Wendell Knight, and James Speakman were motivated by their strong desire to pursue careers (then unavailable in the commercial sector) that intersected business, science and public policy related to environmental protection and safety. EnSafe manages environmental and safety risk issues for companies throughout the United States from 15 offices nationwide. The Company also performs projects worldwide. EnSafe was founded in 1980 in Memphis, grew rapidly, and by 1994 was listed by INC Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the country. EnSafe continues to succeed and grow from the original founders’ ethics and vision and is managed by senior staff who have been with the firm for 20-25 years. Mr. Coop leads the Company’s scientific and compliance consulting practices, with a specialty in the management of environmental risks. He is a frequent lecturer on environmental risk, disaster response, and hazardous substance management. Mr. Coop is well known in Tennessee as an advocate for good environmental practices in the context of overall business and economic management and speaks frequently on the importance of a stable, scientifically sound regulatory system that encourages both environmental protection and economic expansion. He was the 2004 recipient of the University of Memphis’ Herff Award for distinguished service to engineering and currently serves as Chairman of The Webb School Board of Trustees. Coop was inducted into The Webb School’s Distinguished Alumni Society in 2007. Mr. Coop is co-chairman of the Mid South Environmental Forum and is a charter member of the Hazardous Materials Control Institute. He serves on the board of Ballet Memphis. He has served on the Memphis-Shelby County Air Quality Board and the board of advisors for the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, and director and treasurer for the Tennessee Brownfields Association. He is a proud member of The Memphis Group – business leaders in support of St. Jude Hospital. Mr. Coop is a native of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, where his family has resided for many generations. He received his A.B. degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard University in 1970. He is married to Memphis artist, and former Federal Express Director, Kay Coop. Links to items mentioned in the interview: The /episode/index/show/entrepreneurialinsightspodcast/id/27162513

Denise Higdon, James Kelley, Dr. Mary McDonald (S4E4) 05/26/2023

Doug Marchant (S4E3) 05/12/2023

Jay Myers (S4E2) 04/28/2023

Jay Myers (S4E2) Jay B. Myers is founder and CEO of Interactive Solutions Inc. (ISI), a Memphis-based firm that specializes in video conferencing, distance learning, telemedicine, and audio-visual sales and support. Jay started ISI in 1996 and has built it into a $25-million company with 55 employees & offices in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, as well as Oxford, MS, & Little Rock, AR. ISI has received numerous corporate awards and recognition in the past several years. The company was named to INC. magazine’s list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States seven times in the past 11 years. ISI also was recently featured in the Small Business section of the Wall Street Journal. In addition, ISI was named the Memphis Business Journal Small Business of the Year in 2001 and in 2003 was the first recipient of the Kemmons Wilson (founder of Holiday Inn) Emerging Business Award. In 2007, Jay published his first book, Keep Swinging: An Entrepreneur’s Story of Overcoming Adversity and Achieving Small Business Success and subsequently received the 2010 Ethan Award for success as an entrepreneurial author. A natural storyteller, Jay is a sought-after speaker at CEO conferences and entrepreneurial development programs where he shares inspiring stories and practical tips based on growing ISI from $11- to $25-million during the Great Recession. Jay’s message as detailed in his second book, Hitting the Curveballs: How Crisis Can Strengthen and Grow Your Business, reveals creative, practical strategies to achieve business success in difficult times. In 2018, ISI was sold to the world’s largest AV Integration firm, AVI-SPL. Jay was inducted into the Christian Brothers High School Hall of Fame in 2011 and is active in numerous Memphis area community and civic organizations. Myers currently serves on the advisory board of the Chickasaw Council (Boy Scouts of America) Bancorp South and the National Foundation for Transplants. He is also past chairman and a current board member/executive committee member of the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South. Links to items mentioned in the interview: “A mentor is someone who allows you to know that no matter how dark the night, in the morning joy will come. A mentor is someone who allows you to see the higher part of yourself when sometimes it becomes hidden to your own view.” Oprah Winfrey /episode/index/show/entrepreneurialinsightspodcast/id/26636667

Going to Market (S4E1) 04/14/2023

Going to Market (S4E1) The Entrepreneurial Insights podcast kicked off season 4 with a live taping of a presentation on “Going to Market”. The podcast features Kiamesha Wilson (Kaye's Pints & Scoops), Randy Stepherson (Superlo Foods - Stepherson's) and Art Seessel, formerly of Seessel’s Supermarket. These veteran entrepreneurs shared some excellent insight on the ins and outs of "going to market" with products successfully. We hope that you enjoy the show. Links to items mentioned in the interview: Recipe for Seessel’s Chocolate Butter Pie, Reprinted from The Daily Memphian, January 22, 2023 Ingredients 1 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon fine salt (see notes) 1 tablespoon nonfat dry milk powder 6 squares Ghirardelli 100% cacao unsweetened chocolate bar (see notes) 1 stick unsalted butter 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cup Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk 2 tablespoons hot water 2 large eggs Pie crust pastry, store-bought, or use pie crust recipe that follows Directions Blend the sugar, cornstarch, salt and dry milk powder; set aside. Break chocolate bar in pieces as marked, put in bowl with butter and melt in microwave on butter or chocolate setting if your microwave has them. Otherwise, use power setting 2 or 3 and microwave two to four minutes until melted. Stir well. Blend vanilla, sweetened condensed milk and hot water. Microwave to 160 degrees (use an instant-read thermometer), about 30-60 seconds. Mix eggs, but don’t whip. Add sweetened condensed milk mixture to eggs. Add chocolate; blend, then add to dry ingredients and mix on low speed until fully blended. Place pie crust in a 9-inch pan and pour in mix. Bake at 360 degrees for 30-45 minutes, depending on your oven. The pie will start to form a thin chocolate film on top. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in center of pie. If it pulls out clean, the pie is baked. If it’s wet, bake a little longer. Notes: The recipe is accurate as printed, but here are two tips. Jennifer Biggs uses about half the amount of salt, and Art Seessel thinks that five squares of chocolate is sufficient. These are taste preferences and won’t affect the integrity of the pie. Makes one 9-inch pie. Seessel’s Pie Dough Ingredients 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour 11 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 teaspoon nonfat dry milk powder ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 medium whole egg Directions Mix flour and butter together until it forms pea-size balls. Mix baking powder, salt, powdered sugar and milk powder. Mix vanilla and eggs, then add everything together and mix only until dough comes together in one mass and sides of bowl are clean. Roll out pie dough into a circle (about 1/8” thick), fold dough in half, place onto half of the pie pan, fold the other half over the rest of pie pan, carefully pat the dough into the bottom and around the edges, then crimp into any form you desire. Dough should set in pan one hour before filling and is best used fresh. Note: If you refrigerate the dough (it will hold two to three days) or freeze it, store it in a Ziploc freezer bag and bring it to room temperature before using. Makes one pie crust. /episode/index/show/entrepreneurialinsightspodcast/id/26534469

John Wilcox (S3BONUS) 07/13/2022

Ron Coleman (S3E10) 06/22/2022

Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman (S3E9) 06/08/2022

Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman (S3E9) Natives of Memphis, Andy and Michael began cooking as children. Their extended Italian families would gather for jovial Sunday suppers, where everyone would help make homemade meatballs and ravioli. When Andy and Michael met at Christian Brothers High School, they immediately connected over their similar ancestral backstories. After graduating from the University of Mississippi and Auburn University, respectively, Andy and Michael attended Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, SC and the Italian Institute for Advanced Culinary Studies in Calabria, Italy. Both Andy’s and MIchael's first formative kitchen experience was working under Chef Jose Gutierrez at Chez Philippe in Memphis. In 2008, Andy and Michael opened Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, which led to their first James Beard Foundation nomination. The duo followed their debut with Hog & Hominy, a wood-burning neighborhood restaurant that was recognized by Bon Appetit, GQ and Southern Living as one of the top new restaurants in the country in 2013. That year Food and Wine also selected them as Best New Chefs in the country, their cookbook Collards & Carbonara: Southern Cooking, Italian Roots was published and they were recognized as semifinalists for Best Chef Southeast by the James Beard Foundation. Two years later, Porcellio’s Craft Butcher highlighted their love of traditional butcheries and heritage meats. The 2016 opening of Josephine Estelle in the Ace Hotel in New Orleans, LA, was their first foray into a hotel space. Catherine & Mary’s a nod to their Italian grandmothers opened in 2016 as well. Gray Canary, located in Old Dominick Distillery in the South Main Arts District in downtown Memphis soon followed as their sixth concept. For their seventh restaurant, Bishop, Andy and Michael dug into their French cooking foundation that began right out of culinary school. Housed in the historic Central Station Hotel, this latest concept continues as the third in their stable of downtown restaurant locations and continues to underscore the renowned chefs' company culture of family and friends. They started the Andrew Michael Foundation in 2021 to help organize how the company can give back to our community. Links to items mentioned in the interview: /episode/index/show/entrepreneurialinsightspodcast/id/23356427

Harry Smith (S3EP08) 05/25/2022

Gary Dodson (S3EP7) 05/11/2022

Denise Stewart (S3EP6) 04/27/2022

Karen Blockman Carrier (S3EP5) 04/13/2022

Fred Jones (S3EP4) 03/30/2022

John Malmo (S3EP3) 03/16/2022

Art Gilliam (S3EP2) 03/02/2022

Entrepreneurial Insights

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