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The Think Small Podcast

The Think Small Podcast

di The Think Small Podcast

Episode 119: Bill Groener, Co-Founder, Carabiner Consulting

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Bill and John of Carabiner Consulting share how two veterans of the entertainment technology world, with careers spanning Broadway sound design, Walt Disney theme parks, lighting design, live event production, and the full financial lifecycle of companies in the industry, came together to build a consulting firm focused on helping small to mid-sized businesses in the entertainment technology space grow, professionalize, and eventually exit on their own terms. Whether the client rents lighting rigs for touring concerts, installs permanent AV systems in corporate headquarters, or manufactures the gear that makes live events possible, Carabiner brings a bento box of operational, financial, sales, and strategic support to founders who built their companies on passion and technical skill but never had to think about cash flow management, valuation, or succession planning until now. The conversation digs into one of the most underappreciated business stories of the next decade: the wave of boomer-era entrepreneurs in the entertainment technology sector who are approaching the end of their operating years with no exit strategy, no succession plan, and no idea how much value they are sitting on. Bill and John make the case that selling does not have to mean goodbye, that the right transition can keep a founder involved, protect their relationships, and unlock value they never knew they had. They also offer a refreshingly honest take on AI, acknowledging its utility for repetitive tasks while pushing back firmly on the idea that it can replace the relationship-driven, institutionally complex work of guiding a founder through the most important financial decision of their business life. Their biggest obstacle right now is simply time, but with a network full of people genuinely excited to hear from them, the pipeline is already richer than they can work through. Connect: Website: https://www.carabinerconsulting.com LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-groener-348806b

Episode 118: Dena Strehlow, Senior Director, Threotech

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Dena Strehlow, Senior Director of Threotech, shares the science and commercial story behind one of the most clinically distinctive magnesium ingredients on the market today. With a PhD in food science and more than 30 years of experience spanning General Mills, ADM, and Tate & Lyle, Dena brings a rare combination of deep scientific credibility and commercial savvy to a product that is genuinely differentiated: Magtein is a patented, proprietary form of magnesium shown in clinical studies to cross the blood-brain barrier, delivering cognitive, memory, focus, and mood benefits that most magnesium supplements simply cannot achieve. Originally discovered by researchers at MIT in the context of Alzheimer's research, Magtein has spent over a decade earning its place in the supplement aisle and is now rapidly expanding into functional food and beverages, a category that Dina believes is just beginning to reach its potential. The conversation explores where the functional ingredient market is heading, from better-for-you sodas and social tonics to functional coffees, stick packs, and low-caffeine energy drinks, and why brands like Recess Mood are proving that you do not always have to lead with the science to win with consumers. Dena also reflects on the lessons she has carried through periods of both revenue contraction and rapid demand surges, including the discipline to simplify a product line under pressure, the importance of radical transparency with customers when supply cannot keep up with demand, and a guiding philosophy she keeps coming back to: you are either winning or learning. With Magtein growing at double digits and a pipeline of emerging brands looking for clinically substantiated functional ingredients, the next three to five years look very bright. Connect: Website: https://threotech.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denastrehlow/

Episode 117: Joe Garber, Founder, CEO & CTO, Cyberiad AI

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Joe Garber of Cyberiad AI shares how a team of veterans with over a decade of real-world AI experience built a purpose-built platform to solve the non-clinical front office and back office inefficiencies that quietly drain revenue from dental service organizations and multi-office dental practices. From predicting patient no-shows and optimizing scheduling to enabling multilingual patient outreach across the 35-plus languages a large dental organization might encounter on any given day, Cyberiad AI is applying HIPAA-compliant, multi-agent artificial intelligence to the operational complexity that most dental groups are still managing with a patchwork of disconnected tools and manual processes. Joe traces his own journey from early AI work in legal document analysis and privacy protection through to today's agentic AI revolution, offering one of the clearest plain-language explanations of where AI has been, where it is now, and where it is heading next. The conversation is a masterclass in the discipline required to build a focused AI company in a world where the technology can theoretically be applied to almost anything. Joe is direct about why chasing two chickens means catching none, and why the decision to go deep into dental before expanding to optometry, other medical practices, and eventually international markets is the only strategy that builds durable product market fit. He also speaks candidly about what is slowing the company down right now, the need for more voice of customer conversations and the funding that would allow the team to scale those efforts faster, making this one of the most honest startup conversations the show has featured. If you know someone who owns multiple dental practices, this is an episode worth passing along. Connect: Website: https://go.cyberiad.ai/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joegarber

Episode 116: Bruce Currin, CEO, SunriseITsolutionsGroup,LLC

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Bruce Currin, CEO of Sunrise IT Solutions Group, shares the story of a 19-year-old Texas-based cabling infrastructure company that has survived and thrived by staying nimble, building genuine relationships, and knowing when to say no. What began as a data center migration business at a time when almost nobody else was doing it has evolved into a full-service infrastructure company serving schools, prisons, fire and security firms, and now some of the largest data center development projects in the country. Bruce discusses how a strategic decision to launch his own staffing agency five years ago eliminated the expensive middleman model he had relied on for years, dramatically improved his margins, and gave him the ability to scale his workforce up or down across the country with a speed that most competitors simply cannot match. The conversation covers how Sunrise navigated the COVID era by staying deeply embedded with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, whose 104-facility infrastructure upgrade never stopped, and how the post-COVID market explosion brought the company to 150% growth just halfway through 2026, with even larger projects on the horizon. Bruce speaks candidly about the challenge of managing a flexible contractor workforce where reliability is never guaranteed, and why he converts his best contractors to W-2 employees to build a dependable core team. He also shares a piece of advice that every startup founder should hear: rapid advancement can shut a company down just as fast as a slow market can, and hitting singles consistently beats swinging for a home run you are not resourced to handle. With an exit strategy taking shape over the next two to five years, Bruce is building toward a handoff that protects the employees and culture he has spent nearly two decades creating. Connect: Website: https://www.sunriseitsg.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunriseitsolutions

Episode 115: Betsy Frost, CEO, Q Mixers

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Betsy Frost, CEO of Q Mixers, discuss her journey leading one of America's largest premium mixer brands and the realities of scaling consumer packaged goods (CPG) businesses. Betsy shares how her career evolved from purpose-driven startups to leadership roles at General Mills before ultimately returning to entrepreneurial companies. She reflects on the challenges of navigating both rapid business growth and difficult contractions, emphasizing the importance of transparent leadership, scenario planning, supply chain resilience, and maintaining a strong company culture. Drawing from years of experience advising founders, she offers practical insights into making tough strategic decisions, supporting employees through organizational change, and balancing innovation with sustainable growth. The conversation also explores how Q Mixers is positioning itself for its next phase of expansion through consumer-focused innovation, including the launch of Q Refreshers and new national partnerships such as American Airlines. Betsy discusses why understanding customer behavior, retailer priorities, and operational readiness are essential for long-term success, particularly in highly competitive consumer markets. Throughout the episode, she highlights the value of staying true to a company's core mission while adapting to changing market conditions, offering actionable advice for entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to scale without losing the qualities that made their business successful in the first place. Connect: Website: https://qmixers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-frost

Episode 114: Ameen Nassiri, Founder & CEO, SPS Worldwide LLC

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Ameen Nassiri, founder and CEO of SPS Worldwide, shares the story of a company that grew from a catalog promotional products business into a specialized design, development, and manufacturing powerhouse trusted by some of the world's most demanding luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, Prada, L'Oreal, Nike, and Bulgari. What began with a cold call to Boeing at age 24, fueled by nothing more than a shared love of the Flyers and the kind of fearless ignorance only youth can provide, evolved over 25 years into a firm renowned for fully custom promotional programs that go far beyond putting a logo on a pen. Ameen traces the pivotal moment he walked out of a job after a new CEO told him to remind clients how lucky they were to work with the company, and how a phone call to his father, a physician who believed that serving others is a privilege and not a power play, provided the $20,000 and the conviction he needed to start something of his own. The conversation covers two of the most instructive inflection points in SPS Worldwide's history: a deliberate and painful decision in 2014 to cut the company in half by eliminating two underperforming business lines in order to double revenue, and the post-COVID surge that sent orders flying in faster than the team could process them. Ameen discusses how investing in technology during the downturn prepared the company to scale without a proportional increase in headcount, how AI is now helping his team reclaim 10 hours a week without eliminating a single role, and why he believes the rise of artificial intelligence is actually intensifying the human desire for real connection, which is exactly what luxury retail has always depended on. His closing message for founders is as direct as the man himself: failure is only final if you quit, and the people who will be replaced are not those threatened by AI but those who refuse to learn it. Connect: Website: https://www.spsworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameen-nassiri-2178018

Episode 113: Chris Bradley, Chief Marketing Officer, VERITIV

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Chris Bradley, Chief Marketing Officer of Veritiv Packaging and Supply Chain Solutions, offers a rare inside look at how a nearly $7 billion specialty packaging distributor thinks and operates like an entrepreneurial solutions partner rather than a traditional distributor. With more than 1,000 sales reps, 121 distribution centers across North America, and a design team of over 120 packaging engineers, Veritiv serves businesses of every size by taking a total cost of ownership approach to packaging, helping customers reduce carrying costs, reclaim warehouse space, automate manual processes, and navigate the increasingly complex demands of major retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Target. Chris shares how Veritiv's just-in-time inventory model, co-packing and kitting capabilities, and deep supply chain expertise make the company far more than a vendor, positioning it as a strategic growth partner for the small and midsize businesses it serves. The conversation covers how Veritiv helps customers through both contraction and rapid growth, from redesigning cold chain packaging to hit a lower freight cost threshold to building custom retail displays for a brand making its first appearance on a Costco pallet. Chris also pulls back the curtain on Veritiv's AI Transformation Lab, where the company is deploying agentic AI to handle manual order entry, optimize logistics networks through digital twins, and build product recommendation engines that give sales reps instant access to solutions from 7,000 suppliers. He closes with a clear message for small business owners: find a packaging partner that goes beyond price, embrace AI before it becomes a competitive disadvantage, and build the kind of organizational resilience that lets you capture opportunity no matter what the market throws at you. Connect: Website: https://www.veritivcorp.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismbradley

Episode 112: Alexander Tuttle, Founding Partner, Tuttle Yick LLP

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Alex Tuttle, founding and managing partner of Tuttle Yick LLP, shares the winding, self-made path that took him from a small town in Connecticut through law school in Washington, D.C., a master's program in real estate at NYU, and a series of increasingly specialized roles in construction and real estate law before landing in a cubicle in the Daily Planet building next to a stranger he met in a cab, who would eventually become his partner. Built entirely on word of mouth and long-term client relationships rather than advertising or transactional work, Tuttle Yick has grown into a 17-person boutique firm in New York City with three core practice areas: commercial real estate, construction law, and commercial litigation, along with a rapidly growing niche in the complex licensing agreements that govern construction access between neighboring properties in one of the densest cities in the world. The conversation explores the firm's evolution from a one-man operation where Alex touched everything to a multi-partner boutique navigating the real challenges of scaling systems, billing processes, and team redundancy, challenges that are common to every growing services business but particularly acute in law. Alex speaks candidly about how the pandemic turned out to be manageable because construction never stopped, and about how the firm is now grappling with one of the most honest questions in professional services today: what does AI actually mean for a business built on human expertise, confidentiality, and billable hours? He closes with a refreshingly grounded vision for the future, one focused less on headcount and square footage and more on keeping their eyes open to organic opportunity and rounding out the practice with complementary areas that can weather any economic cycle. Connect: Website: https://www.tuttleyick.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adtuttle

Episode 111: Bill Sowell, Founder & CEO, Sowell Management

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Bill Sowell, founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Sowell Management, shares how a career-defining decision to convert his personal financial practice to a fee-only model in 1995 set him decades ahead of an industry-wide shift that is still accelerating today. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sowell Management has grown into a nearly $7 billion registered investment advisory firm built entirely on organic growth, serving fiercely independent financial advisors with a full suite of back-office, compliance, portfolio management, and business development support. Bill discusses how the firm's deeply consultative approach, treating every advisor relationship as unique as a fingerprint, has allowed Sowell to differentiate itself from competitors who force advisors into a rigid box, and how a landmark partnership with Merchant Capital now positions the firm to pursue an ambitious M&A strategy alongside its continued organic growth. The conversation covers two pivotal turning points in Sowell Management's history: a slow and painful 50% revenue contraction that forced the firm to stop fishing in one small pond and expand across the country's largest independent broker dealer networks, and an overnight transformation in early 2017 when a competitor's regulatory crisis sent a billion dollars in assets to Sowell's platform in a single quarter. Bill reflects candidly on the culture, people, and sheer determination that allowed the team to absorb that growth without losing a single advisor from the transition, and on what it has meant to build a company that both of his children ultimately chose to join on their own terms. With a goal of reaching $15 billion in assets within three years, Bill's message to the market is straightforward: if you care about your clients and your legacy, there is a conversation to be had. Connect: Website: https://www.sowellmanagement.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-sowell-0778a33b

Episode 110: Doug Niemeyer, President & General Manager, TexLynx Americas

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Doug Niemeyer, President and General Manager of TexLynx Americas, pulls back the curtain on the software that quietly powers global commerce, the barcode label design, print automation, and label management platform trusted by 750,000 companies across 170 countries. For 30 years, TexLynx has operated as the invisible infrastructure behind virtually every product that moves through a supply chain, from hospital medications to grocery deliveries to chemical containers, without ever taking a dollar of venture capital. Doug shares how he has spent 17 years building the Americas division from the ground up, starting as an account manager and cultivating a team whose average tenure rivals that of the company itself, and what it truly means to stay in your lane and be a mile deep and an inch wide in a market most people never think about until something goes wrong. The conversation explores how a 41-person team manages to serve a global customer base at scale by obsessing over service quality, including the deliberate and hard-won decision to answer every incoming support call with a live human being. Doug also discusses how supply chain disruption, reshoring, and rapidly shifting compliance requirements have brought barcode labeling from a background function to a boardroom conversation, and how TexLynx has positioned itself to capture that demand through education, automation, and deep customer partnerships built on trust. He closes with a powerful reminder for founders building in overlooked niches: resist the shiny object, partner with customers as if you truly have their best interests at heart, and be willing to tell them when they don't need to buy anything from you today. Connect: Website: https://www.teklynx.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-niemeyer

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