Archives: Episodes

I talk with Chris Bautista, owner of Above Roofing, LLC, about how he got into roofing, what he has learned after 12 years in the trade, and what homeowners need to know before hiring a contractor. Chris helps with leaks, repairs, replacements, and roof inspections. He got started after helping install a roof and found that the work fit him. We talk about one of his biggest business lessons: underestimating a job and losing money. That experience taught him to inspect roofs with more care, ask better questions, and price the work the right way. Chris also explains why homeowners should ask about insurance, experience, and the types of roofs a contractor can handle, especially with older roofs in the Kanawha Valley. We also cover the staffing challenges facing the trades and why young people should consider building a career in skilled work. Chris believes every entrepreneur needs hustle, and he is working on patience. His faith also plays a role in how he built Above Roofing.

In this episode, I talk with Lee Jordan about Battleground Wrestling and how he built an independent wrestling promotion in West Virginia. Lee started with a love of wrestling and turned it into a live event business that runs about six shows a year. We talk about the early days, buying the first ring, running a wrestling school, and creating a place where performers can train, build their characters, and get time in front of a crowd. Lee explains that independent wrestling is where many wrestlers begin before working toward larger companies. He also makes a point that applies to any business: social media helps, but it does not replace footwork. You still have to meet people, hand out flyers, hang posters, and build interest in person. His best investment was more chairs so more people could attend in comfort. His biggest lesson is to keep going, stay different, and focus on bringing people together through a strong show.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I talk with Jannson Williams of Apex Tech about managed IT services and why technology matters for local businesses. Jannson explains that an MSP manages the digital systems a business depends on, including computers, internet, phones, and networks. He connects that work to a business problem: downtime. When systems go down, employees stop working and money gets lost. Jannson came to this region from Atlanta to play basketball at Marshall, and he sees value here that he does not want left behind as the world moves forward. We talk about change, cybersecurity, and the need for business owners to stay ready in a field that never sits still. He also shares lessons from business and life, including the value of networking, quality business cards, and not using a TV as a computer monitor. At the center of it all, Jannson points to his faith in Christ as the belief that keeps him grounded.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I explain why skills alone do not make money. The market respects skill, but it pays for results. I use my own work as an example because I can shoot video, edit, create visual effects, and build 3D animation, but none of that matters to a business owner unless it solves a problem. People do not hire me because I understand cameras, lenses, or color space. They hire me because they need more attention, more visibility, and a better way to reach customers. The same applies to plumbers, designers, consultants, IT companies, insurance agents, and almost every other business. Customers are not buying the tool. They are buying the outcome. I also explain why business owners get stuck when they keep doing all the work themselves. Growth starts when you step back, train others, build systems, and work on the business instead of staying trapped inside it. The lesson is simple: stop selling your skill. Sell the problem you solve.

I talk with Jay Silverman and Joel Bennett about their dogumentary on the search for the best West Virginia hot dog. What starts as a COVID-era idea to support mom-and-pop restaurants turns into a years-long project across the state. They visit 284 places, judge every part of a West Virginia-style hot dog, and meet people and stories they never could have planned. We talk about the Saint Albans premiere, the mustard-colored carpet, Bogeys serving hot dogs at the event, and how the project grows beyond food. Jay and Joel explain that the film is really about West Virginians supporting each other, celebrating small businesses, and showing the state in a way people do not always get to see. The lesson is simple: stay focused, stay consistent, and follow the story where it takes you.

I talk with Edward Yu, principal of Huntington Analytics in downtown Huntington. Ed helps organizations close the gap between wanting AI and having the structured data needed to make it useful. We talk about why data matters for businesses, nonprofits, and workforce development programs, especially when grants and public trust are involved. Ed explains how tracking outcomes can show whether programs are helping people gain skills, find work, and move forward. He also pushes back on the fear that technology will replace people. To him, better data frees people to focus on the human side of the work. We also get into why every entrepreneur needs technology skills, how digital focus groups may shape media testing, and why Ed believes goodwill is good business.