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In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Mara Boggs, president and CEO of the Charleston Area Alliance. She explains how the Alliance supports local businesses through talent retention, economic development, and networking events. Before this role, she served in the Army as an engineer officer and later worked for Senator Joe Manchin. She highlights the Alliance’s incubator space, which helps small businesses grow, and the LIFT Center, a project aimed at revitalizing Charleston’s East End. Drawing from her experience as a jumpmaster in the 82nd Airborne, she emphasizes the importance of trust and adaptability in uncertain times. She encourages people to be trustworthy and build strong support networks. As we wrap up, she expresses her excitement about the future of the Kanawha Valley business community.

In this episode, I dive into the “fail-fast” mentality and why it’s essential for business success. I emphasize that failure isn’t the end—it’s a learning opportunity that helps refine strategies and improve outcomes. I share how many successful entrepreneurs embrace failure as a stepping stone, adjusting quickly rather than dwelling on mistakes. Instead of fearing failure, I encourage listeners to take calculated risks, test ideas, and adapt fast. I also highlight how this mindset applies to marketing—putting content out, analyzing results, and making improvements along the way. The key is to stay flexible, learn from setbacks, and keep moving forward.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Bob Brunner about the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. He shares that they are preparing for their 10th induction ceremony in April, with tickets available at different levels, including an exclusive event at the governor’s mansion. The Hall of Fame, founded by Michael Lipton 23 years ago, honors musicians from West Virginia, including country, classical, and even Hollywood figures. Bob explains how the museum ended up in the Charleston Town Center Mall, filling empty retail space with memorabilia donated by inductees. Visitors can see instruments, posters, and rare records while learning about the state’s musical history. He highlights this year’s inductees, including a Lincoln County songwriter with 35 number-one country hits. When I ask about his favorite West Virginia musician, Bob names Blind Alfred Reed, who wrote songs about hardship in the 1920s and 30s. Before wrapping up, he points out that a tribute album to Reed is available at the museum. I thank Bob for sharing his insights and remind listeners to hustle hard, hustle smart, and hustle with a smile.

I talk with Bob Theuring, an expert in leadership, soft skills training, succession planning, and crisis management. Bob shares how he helps businesses strengthen their teams by focusing on the human side of leadership—teaching employees to communicate effectively, solve problems, and navigate workplace challenges. We discuss the importance of preparing for leadership transitions and how companies can avoid disruption by having a solid succession plan. Bob also dives into crisis management, explaining how businesses can stay resilient when unexpected issues arise. He emphasizes that strong relationships, clear communication, and proactive planning are key to long-term success. Throughout our conversation, Bob’s passion for helping businesses thrive shines through, and he offers valuable insights that any business owner or leader can apply.

In this episode, I sit down with Brianna Duckworth to break down the power of structured marketing strategies. We dive into the importance of having a clear plan, understanding your audience, and creating consistent messaging that builds trust over time. Brianna shares her expertise on leveraging content effectively, using data to refine campaigns, and the role of storytelling in connecting with customers. We discuss how businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, can maximize their marketing efforts without feeling overwhelmed. From practical tips on branding to the impact of video content, this conversation is packed with insights that any entrepreneur can apply right away. If you’re looking for a smarter, more strategic approach to marketing, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I focus on controlling what’s within my power, a lesson reinforced through my experience with BNI. Success in business and networking comes from consistent effort—showing up, learning, and building relationships. In BNI, we control our attendance, education, and one-to-ones, while referrals follow naturally from that work. Whether in BNI or business, I can’t control when a client says yes, but I can control how I prepare and show up. This perspective keeps me focused on progress rather than stress. My challenge to listeners: Are you focusing on what you can control?