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PODCAST

The Small Business Spotlight

The Credit Banc Team

Every business has a backstory—and we’re here to share it. The Small Business Spotlight features candid conversations with entrepreneurs across the U.S. about how they started, scaled, and stayed in the game. From first wins to hard lessons, each episode offers real insights and inspiration straight from the people who’ve lived it. Brought to you by the team at Credit Banc, this is where Main Street gets a mic

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

42:33

What It Really Takes to Buy (and Run) a Small Business

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/09/23

What happens when you buy a business instead of starting one from scratch? In this episode of Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz talks with Connor Pera, owner of The Print Authority, about his leap into acquisition entrepreneurship and what it really takes to grow a business after the deal is done. Connor opens up about the challenges of managing cash flow, navigating vendor relationships, and balancing personal guarantees with the responsibility of leading a team. He also shares his proudest

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37:00

How a Side Hustle Sparked a Construction Business

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/09/16

What do egg sales, landscaping, and construction have in common? For entrepreneur Jake Jaros, they were all stepping stones on the path to founding Archway Construction. In this episode of the Credit Banc Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Jake to unpack his journey from small side hustles to running a full-fledged construction company. Jake shares how partnerships fueled his growth, how he navigated capital challenges, and why strong project management and marketing strategies

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22:54

Starting a Home Building Business with No Experience:...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/09/09

What does it take to go from knowing nothing about construction to becoming a recognized custom home builder? In this episode of the Credit Banc Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Connor Andries, owner of Andries Builders. Connor shares his unlikely path—from managing a mobile home dealership to building his very first home (with zero prior construction knowledge). He talks about financing his first projects, building during COVID, and why transparent budgeting and a strong team

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27:47

From Car Sales to Hydro Wash 360 | Adin Kikic’s...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/09/02

Ever wondered what it takes to turn a bold idea into a thriving business? Join us as we sit down with Adin Kikic, founder of Hydro Wash 360, to unpack his incredible journey from car sales to building one of Jacksonville’s leading exterior maintenance companies. 🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How Adin made the leap from a stable career to entrepreneurship ✅ The financial hurdles he overcame and how he funded his vision ✅ The innovative marketing strategies that fueled Hydro Wash 360’s

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43:38

Building a Business in the Gaming Industry

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/08/26

In this episode of Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz interviews Tomas Ortola-Stange, co-founder of Svidanza Audio, a studio specializing in music and game scoring for video games. Tomas shares how he turned his lifelong love of music into a thriving creative business in the gaming industry, building unique soundtracks and interactive music that connect players emotionally to the games they love. From the challenges of launching a business to the art of storytelling through audio, this

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28:14

From Consultant to Confectioner: The Sweet Rise of 48...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/08/20

What do honey marshmallows, risk-taking, and a former government consultant have in common? A damn good story about turning passion into product. In this episode, Irv Cruz sits down with Amy Trout Hughes, founder of 48 Blocks Fine Candy, to talk about her leap from the federal world into the whimsical (and wildly competitive) world of sweets. Amy shares how she bootstrapped her business, innovated the candy game, and built a community-first brand that doesn’t want to be the next Hershey’s; she wants

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22:05

From Corporate Chef to Curated Luxury: The Black Cat...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/08/12

How do you go from cooking for crowds to curating exclusive dining experiences for the elite? In this episode, Irv Cruz sits down with Lionel Chadwick, founder of The Black Cat List, a boutique Nashville-based firm connecting ultra-high net worth clients with private chefs and luxury estate services. Lionel shares how he left the corporate kitchen behind to build something of his own, from the early financial hurdles to designing a brand that stands out in the hospitality space. If you’ve ever

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21:28

Behind the Seams: How Emily Built a Fashion Studio

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/08/05

Emily Thompson turned childhood sewing sessions into a thriving business in New York’s Garment District. On this episode of Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Emily to unpack how she built BERTHOLLET NYC, a full-service studio helping fashion brands bring their visions to life. From her early passion for stitching to studying fashion in Paris and designing for Olympic athletes, Emily shares the real behind-the-scenes work it takes to scale in the fashion industry. Whether you’re

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19:47

How a Garage Sale Launched a Syrup Empire

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/07/29

In this episode of the Credit Banc Small Business Spotlight, Irv Cruz sits down with Amber Burr, co-founder of Daddy’s Homemade Syrups, to talk about building a syrup empire rooted in clean ingredients, family values, and pure nostalgia. What started as a way to make healthier breakfasts for her family turned into a full-fledged small business, with hand-drawn jars, a sold-out garage sale debut, and over 20 syrup flavors later, Amber shares what it really takes to turn a kitchen creation into a

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19:30

Holistic Healing in Mental Health: A New Approach

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/07/22

Can a mental health practice feel more like a safe space than a clinic? In this episode of the Credit Banc Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz interviews Chyllia Dixon, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of Hazelwood Mental Health. After leaving a six-figure job, Chyllia followed her calling to create a practice built on holistic, relationship-driven care. From integrating hypnotherapy and aromatherapy, to measuring success through patient stories, Chyllia shares how she built trust,

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28:54

Is This the Solution to the Housing Crisis? with John...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/07/15

What do The Sims, zoning laws, and housing shortages have in common? In this episode, Irv Cruz interviews John Poillucci, founder of Space House Architecture, to talk about his journey from childhood dreams to launching his own architecture firm. John shares how designing in The Sims as a kid sparked his interest in building real homes, why ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) are a vital part of solving the housing crisis, and how technology is transforming how clients visualize their dream spaces

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21:58

From Psychology to Roofing CEO: Lauren Morley’s...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/07/08

What do psychology and roofing have in common? More than you think. Our next guest, Lauren Morley, went from psych grad to CEO of two construction companies — and she’s doing it with heart, hustle, and a plan called PRIME. In this episode of Credit Banc’s Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz interviews Lauren Morley, President of R3NG and CP&M, who made the bold leap from psychology major to roofing CEO. Lauren opens up about taking over the family business, redefining leadership in a

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35:09

Can Dessert Be Healthy and Still Taste Good? with...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/07/01

Can dessert be healthy and delicious? ðŸ¨ In this episode of Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Scott Campbell, the founder of Love in My Tummy Foods, to explore how his personal health journey turned into a mission-driven food brand. From overcoming dietary restrictions to navigating the strict food industry regulations, Scott reveals the secrets behind creating desserts that are plant-based, nutritious, and actually delicious. Whether you're a food entrepreneur or a

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14:29

How to Grow a Brand Without a Big Budget

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/06/24

From beat producer to beverage boss. 🎶➡️🥤 Deondrikk “Deon” McFadden launched Carolina Made Beverages from scratch—no big investors, no corporate help. Just hustle, rebranding, and serious social media game. In this episode of Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz talks with Deon about how he transformed his music audience into loyal customers, self-distributed his first cases, and scored his first sports sponsorship. If you’re a product-based founder or want to grow your brand on a budget, this

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21:51

From Corporate to Culinary: Brittney Iten’s...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/06/17

🚚 What happens when a corporate career meets a Cubano Loco? You get Saucy Chops—a food truck packed with flavor and built with grit, creativity, and one hell of a sauce lineup. In this episode of Credit Banc’s Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz talks with Brittney Iten, founder of Saucy Chops, about how she went from corporate grind to culinary trailblazer—launching her brand in the middle of the pandemic and building it into one of Denver’s tastiest success stories. Whether you’re starting a

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13:15

How Amber Gaige Built a Marketing Agency That Runs...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/06/10

What if your marketing didn’t just look good… but actually worked? In this episode of Credit Banc’s Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Amber Gaige, founder of Far Beyond Marketing, to talk about how bad marketing is costing business owners time and money—and what it really takes to build a brand that drives results. As a third-generation entrepreneur, Amber gets real about the mindset shifts that fueled her growth, how she overcame imposter syndrome, and how she built a company

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15:55

🧼 Transforming Grooming: Don Yurick on Building a...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/06/03

What happens when a former Silicon Valley exec leaves the tech world behind to redefine what a barbershop can be? In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Don Yurick, owner of Hammer & Nails Grooming Shops for Men, to unpack how he's transforming the men’s grooming experience—one subscription at a time. From building recurring revenue with a subscription-based model, to leading a team that thrives on purpose and personal growth, Don shares what it takes

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20:02

How This Business Owner Went From Wall Street To Cars!

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/06/03

🔧 From trading floors to torque specs—Andy Bizub’s entrepreneurial journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Will Hyder sits down with Andy Bizub, owner of Midwest Performance Cars, a top-tier European auto repair and performance shop based in Chicago. Andy shares how he pivoted from being a commodity trader to running a multi-location automotive business built on trust, culture, and customer-first service. From hiring challenges to building

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19:30

From Tech to Triumph: David Banisakher on Scaling...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/05/20

🚀 What happens when a tech-savvy founder applies startup grit to food and beverage distribution? In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with David Banisakher, founder of Paradine Services LLC, to explore how he bridged the world of tech, sales, and food retail by creating a third-party marketplace distribution powerhouse. From early cash flow struggles to building a powerful sales team and investing in brands he believes in, David opens up about the

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26:40

From Enforcement to Entrepreneurship: Navigating the...

The Small Business Spotlight ·

2025/05/15

🚛 What happens when a former compliance officer trades his badge for a business plan? In this episode of Credit Banc's Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz sits down with Matt Freeman, founder of DOT Training Solutions LLC, to explore how he transformed his background in government enforcement into a hands-on hazmat training company helping trucking professionals stay safe—and stay compliant. Matt shares the early startup struggles, the underestimated power of word-of-mouth marketing, and how

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38 results

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