ConversActions
ConversActions cuts through the noise with conversations that lead to action. Hosted by Bill Mitchell, each episode brings you unique perspectives, practical advice, and strategies from business leaders that you can apply to your own life or business. With over 20 years of experience connecting companies to growth opportunities, Bill Mitchell brings a wealth of knowledge to the ConversActions podcast. His mission? To help you learn from the best and apply those lessons to your journey.
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Matt Curtis on Choral Tracks, Choral Education, and Building a Business Around Music
<p>What if the secret to a better choir wasn't just more rehearsals, but smarter practice at home? In this episode, Matt Curtis, founder of Choral Tracks and former tenor and assistant music director for the world-renowned ensemble Chanticleer, reveals how a choir kid from La Crosse, Wisconsin, turned a summer experiment into one of the most influential tools in choral music today.</p><p>From recording Gregorian chant tracks as a college junior to navigating explosive growth during COVID, Matt shares how Choral Tracks is empowering singers of every level to practice with confidence, artistry, and joy, and where...
Matt Curtis on Building Capella: Culture, Community, and Creating an Experience
<p>What does it take to turn a historic 1886 church into a thriving wedding and events business? In this episode, Matt Curtis, founder of Capella Weddings and Events, sits down with Bill Mitchell to share how a background in music, an interest in real estate, and a willingness to take on a new challenge led him into the hospitality industry.</p><p>Matt shares what he’s learned about creating a seamless customer experience, building a team culture around hands-on leadership, and financing an ambitious renovation project. He also explains why patience and persistence matter when building a reputation, and ho...
James Hillmeyer on Honeybees, Hard Work, and the Partnerships That Feed America
<p>What if one of the most important parts of our food system worked almost entirely while the rest of us were asleep? In this episode, James Hillmeyer, co-owner of LB Werks and a second-generation commercial beekeeper, takes us inside the demanding world of commercial pollination. He shares how healthy partnerships with growers, year-round hive nurturing, and a relentless commitment to customer service keep bees, farms, and America's food supply thriving despite rising environmental challenges.</p><p>In this episode, we explore:</p><p>(02:45) Growing up allergic in a beekeeping family</p><p>(03:37) How commercial pollination really works behind the...
Building Trust, Community Legacy, and Seven Automotive Locations
<p>What does it take to build a business people can count on when their plans fall apart? Kohl and Jessie Adamson of Cordell's Automotive have turned car trouble into community trust, expanding from one inherited shop to seven locations across Wisconsin and Minnesota.</p><p>In this episode, they share how they've built a business on "old school excellence" while navigating industry technology changes, creating a culture where team members work "in the trenches with the wrenches," and investing deeply in small-town communities through hands-on philanthropy that goes far beyond writing checks. Their motto? Be Quick, be clear and...
Food Videography, Visual Storytelling, and Finding Authentic Connection Through Content
<p>What happens when passion meets practicality in the content creation world? In this episode, Steve Ray, Head of Brand Marketing at Foodist Films, takes us on an unexpected journey from driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to building a successful food videography business – and ultimately pivoting back to what truly matters.</p><p>From humble beginnings filming farmers markets in Austin, Texas, to creating content for household names like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and Siete Foods, Steve and his wife Alexandra built Foodist Films into a thriving visual content agency. But as the industry shifted toward six-second ads an...
Nick Netley on Innovation, Risk-Taking, and Competitive Advantage in the Express Car Wash Industry
<p>What does it take to compete with billion-dollar companies when you're a small business owner? In this episode, Nick Netley, founder of Sota Shine Car Wash, reveals how he's disrupting the booming car wash industry through bold innovation and calculated risks.</p><p>From selling the #1 Camp Bow Wow franchise in the United States to building what will be the world's longest car wash at 305 feet, Nick shares his journey of creating unique customer experiences that set his business apart from corporate giants. Broadcasting from his million-dollar self-service dog wash called Sota Pup, Nick discusses how he combines sustainability...
Digital Innovation in Survey Tech: Bridging Physical and Digital Infrastructure with Mike Klonsinski
<p>How do you transform a 50-year-old metal foundry into a cutting-edge digital technology company? In this episode, Mike Klonsinski, President of Berntsen International, reveals how his company made the dramatic leap from forging metal survey markers to developing RFID-enabled smart infrastructure that connects the physical world to digital twin systems.</p><p>From providing Lewis and Clark Trail markers to enabling election security through digital tracking, Berntsen International has quietly evolved from a Wisconsin foundry into a technology innovator serving over 6,000 surveyors nationwide. Mike shares insights on managing dual businesses, fostering innovation in traditional industries, and why the future...
Building Strategic Financial Foundations for Small Business Success
<p>What's the difference between surviving and thriving as a small business owner? In this episode, Tina Lockwood, co-founder of Lockwood Enterprises, reveals how proper financial structure and strategic thinking can transform a new or struggling business into a profitable, scalable enterprise.</p><p>From starting in their home office to establishing a brick-and-mortar presence after 15 years, Tina and her husband Doug have built a comprehensive accounting and business advisory firm that serves Wisconsin and Arizona. Their three-part approach – stabilize, strategize, and scale – has helped countless entrepreneurs move from "receipts in a paperclip" chaos to predictable profitability and compliance readiness.</p><p...
Chef John Bogan on Seasonality, Local Pride, and Creating Unforgettable Culinary Experiences
<p>A great meal is about more than just the food – it’s about connection, seasonality, and a dash of storytelling. In this episode, Chef John Bogan, founder of the Lake Geneva School of Cooking, invites us behind the scenes of his high-energy kitchen and reveals how he’s reimagining culinary education by making it as welcoming as a gathering at home.</p><p>From humble roots on an upstate New York "farmette" to opening acclaimed restaurants and teaching classes that feel like family reunions, Chef John Bogan has built a culinary community that celebrates local farms, changing seasons, and the jo...
Tackling Loneliness and Isolation in a Hyper-connected World
<p>Despite all our technology, one in three adults in America reports regular loneliness. This week’s guest, Brad Steckart, founder of Sit By Me, shares how his own experience working remotely inspired him to create an app that helps people break down social barriers in everyday spaces like cafes, bars, and libraries.</p><p>You’ll hear the research behind the loneliness epidemic, the surprisingly scrappy sticky-note origins of Sit By Me, and how the app makes real-world connections safe, consensual, and effortless. Brad Steckart breaks down the user journey, startup launch lessons, and why community-driven relationships are a win...
