Fast Break: Small Business Growth Strategies
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Fast Break presented by M3 Elevate can help you discover strategies you can use to grow and protect your business. Spend part of your lunch break with Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate, as he interviews some of the Midwest’s most influential business leaders.
Available episodes
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Nov 30, 2023
Ep 21: Personal Insurance Market Insights for Your Home, Auto and Umbrella Coverage
As rising claim costs result in increasing volatility throughout the market, personal insurance lines such as home, auto, and umbrella coverage are impacted as well.
On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Jennifer Vanderlip, Amy Schroeder, and Kim Nichols from the M3 Elevate team for a personal insurance conversation. They discuss a number of factors impacting the market today, including severe weather events, increasing car repair costs, and the rising cost of medical care. Tune in to learn what all this mean for the future of the personal insurance market.
"Insurers will likely start adding mitigation requirements on a consistent basis... from an eligibility perspective, you might start seeing them request things like water shutoff valves in order to qualify.”
- Jennifer Vanderlip, Personal Lines Lead with M3 Elevate
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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Oct 26, 2023
Ep 20: Helping Your Employees Navigate the Individual Health Marketplace During Open Enrollment
It’s open enrollment time for Individual Health plans. As a small business owner, you may have employees who need to shop the marketplace for a variety of reasons. However, the Individual Health Marketplace can be confusing to navigate. With all the different plan options out there, how can your employees know that they are choosing the best plan to fit their needs?
On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Natalie Damro, an account executive on the M3 Elevate team who specializes in individual health. Matt and Natalie cover guidance for individuals across the employment spectrum whether someone's retiring early, a 1099 employee, or experiencing a gap in employment. Tune in to learn how Natalie works to simplify the complicated marketplace so you and your employees can feel confident in choices regarding individual health plans.
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“Most individuals out there are scared of health insurance and kind of everything that it brings to the table. Most people don't have that resource and to ask the hard questions to or don't feel comfortable doing so. And that's what I'm here for.” - Natalie Damro, Account Executive for Individual Health with M3 Elevate
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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Oct 5, 2023
Ep 19: Act Now, Relax Later - Help Your Team Get Ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment
The Medicare space can often be confusing or overwhelming to people. In this episode of Fast Break, Matt has invited four members of the M3 Elevate Medicare team – Virginia Van Haren, Jason Haglund, Rachel Hug, and David Schuebel – whose every day focus is helping businesses and individuals navigate the complex world of Medicare.
In this conversation with Matt, these four Medicare professionals share their insights and wisdom on the best ways to grow and protect your business by having good insights about and a practical strategy for the Medicare program. As an employer, you will come away with practical advice that you can offer anyone at or approaching the eligibility age as we head into the 2024 open enrollment season.
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“In the world of small business, [you] may not have a large HR team. [You] may not have access to the information on Medicare, and I think one of our jobs is to make sure that we're educating [your] team as well as [your] employees.” - Virginia Van Haren, Medicare Lead with M3 Elevate
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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Sep 21, 2023
Ep 18: Employee Health and Wellness: Nice or Necessary? - with Euan Findlater + Tyler Stuntebeck
When employees are healthy, they're more productive, more engaged, and less likely to miss work. On this Fast Break, Matt welcomes Tyler Stuntebeck, M3's population health and wellbeing manager and Euan Findlater, general manager and personal trainer at CrossFit Mojo - two experts who are dedicated to employee health and its impact in creating a thriving workplace.
Tyler, Euan, and Matt delve into how investing in and supporting your employees in attaining their basic wellness needs can lead not only to a reduction in chronic disease among your employee population, but an increase employee productivity, satisfaction, and loyalty.
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“Everything is so interconnected and I think we've realized that if we are supporting our health, our fitness, we can see direct benefits in the workplace.” - Euan Findlater, CrossFit Mojo
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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Sep 7, 2023
Ep 17: Where You Work is as Important as How You Work with Tim Cleary
Our working environments have undeniably shifted over the past decade. In an increasingly hybrid working model, does your business space matter? We’ve invited Tim Cleary, Executive Vice President at Ideal Builders to Fast Break for a conversation on how your physical space can impact the overall success of your business.
Tim and Matt discuss how the lines between business, home, and recreational spaces have blurred in our post-COVID world, if we were on this trajectory pre-pandemic, and what it all really means for you and your business as you look to attract and retain top talent.
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“People are less afraid [to say], ‘Our brand is one of excellence and our space is going to match that. Why? Because we're going to recruit the best talent and we expect to attract the type of customers that are looking for the best.’ ” - Tim Cleary, Ideal Builders
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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May 3, 2023
Ep 16: Your Old IT Equipment - A Hidden Security Threat with Neil Peters-Michaud
This episode of Fastbreak features Neil Peters-Michaud, Founder and CEO of Cascade Asset Management, discussing an aspect of business that has been far too long neglected: the retirement of old IT equipment. Neil explains the importance of properly retiring your old equipment to ensure your business is remaining secure and sustainable.
Not only will you gain practical knowledge on retiring old IT equipment to ensure your business is safe from a data breach, but you will also learn why you should reevaluate your values regularly, the importance of continuous education, and why outsourcing is sometimes necessary.
Resources
* Cascade Asset Management: https://cascade-assets.com
* Certified Electronics Recyclers: https://www.epa.gov/smm-electronics/certified-electronics-recyclers
* e-Stewards: https://e-stewards.org
* R2: https://sustainableelectronics.org
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“I think the thing we’re doing successfully at Cascade is being true to what we know how to do, understanding when we need to go out and bring more talent to help us.”
- Neil Peter-Michaud, Cascade Asset Management
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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Apr 13, 2023
Ep 15: Banking Crisis & Recession - Protecting Your Business in an Uncertain Economy with Corey Chambas
We’re living in uncertain economic times, but where are we headed, and how can small businesses protect themselves? The media doesn't always provide accurate information or sound counsel. That’s why we’ve invited Corey Chambas, President & CEO at First Business Financial Services, Inc., to give us the facts.
Corey breaks down everything from what’s happening with the banking crisis, why it’s happened, if we should be worried about our own banks, and what to do moving forward to ensure we’re safe and secure. Corey provides practical advice on how to be consistent, calm, and ready amidst the economic crisis.
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“This recession has been forecasted for a long time, everyone's seen it coming... but that doesn’t mean things have to get worse for a given business. It depends on how you react to the situation. Did you prepare and plan? And can you play offense when others are playing defense?”
- Corey Chambas, First Business Financial Services, Inc.
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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Mar 9, 2023
Ep 14: The Biggest Mistake Small Businesses Make During Tax Season with Chase Inda
As a small business owner, tax season can be daunting; but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode of The Fast Break, we break down what can sometimes seem like an overwhelming topic into actionable steps toward a more profitable tax season this year and for years to come.
Chase Inda, Tax Partner at Baker Tilly, has worked at Baker Tilly since 2006 and while you may have never heard the words “passion” and “taxes” strung together in a sentence before, it surely reigns true with Chase. His passion is clear as he shares the wisdom he’s learned over the years and supplies tactics for small businesses during tax season. Throughout the episode, Chase discusses actionable items such as minimizing payroll taxes and maximizing deductions, and he touches on some of those confusing acronyms like “ERC” and “PPP” and how they affect your business. So, tune in “now, for tomorrow.”
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“Now, make sure your foundation is set in the current and be ready to change. We are in a world that–even in the tax code world and even more so for business owners–change is immediate. Tomorrow is really the right narrative.”
- Chase Inda, Tax Partner at Baker TIlly
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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Feb 2, 2023
Ep 13: Real Growth and Protection Stories About Businesses We’ve Worked With - Featuring the M3 Elevate Team
In today’s episode, we’re joined by M3 Elevate team members James VanBuskirk, Starie Thompson, Jennifer Vanderlip, and Virginia Van Haren. The team shares their insights and experiences on a variety of topics from business insurance, employee benefits, personal lines, and Medicare.
The team provides real stories from real businesses employing effective offensive and defensive tactics, and discuss the strategies your business should implement in 2023 to optimize growth and protection.
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Timestamps:
* Setting up the defense you actually need–not what you thought you needed
* 00:00 A special giveaway
* 01:52 M3 Elevate Team introductions
* 03:20 Business growth through offensive strategies
* 03:44 The importance of disability insurance
* 04:48 Signs your current insurance broker isn’t working for you
* 06:43 How to address Medicare questions
* 07:41 Forward-thinking coverage for your business
* 09:25 Business protection through defensive strategies
* 09:40 The importance of benefits in regard to retention
* 11:11 The defense you think you need versus the one you actually need
* 12:59 Where to send employees that are retiring
* 14:08 Creating the right insurance plan for your business
* 16:30 The best insurance advice for your business in 2023
* 16:58 Using employee benefits to set your business apart
* 17:22 Doing your research so you know what’s out there and what exactly you need
* 18:11 2023 70 million 65+ Medicare
* 18:55 The importance of cyber coverage
* 20:00 The Fastest Break
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“What we’ll typically do for playing defense is incorporate that offense as well. We’ll talk through your company... the setup, what your ownership structure looks like... what does your typical year–or month or day or week– look like, and then build a program... to address everything, it’s going to address all of the risks, not just what you currently have or not just what your contracts say."
- James VanBuskirk, Account Executive & M3 Elevate Business Insurance Lead
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Fast Break is hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate
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Jan 26, 2023
Ep 12: Why You Need to Give Back as a Business with Matt Neumann
Today’s episode is a special one. Not only are we featuring a giveaway, but get some great advice about being a responsible business leader from Matt Neumann, Chief Executive Officer at Neumann Companies, Inc. If you’re a business owner or manager looking to make an impact, this episode is for you.
As a second-generation family business owner, Matt is committed and recognizes the long-term approach to business growth and investment. Matt was awarded 40 under 40 by the Business Journal, Professional Builder, and Midwest Renewable Energy News, and was recently awarded the Wisconsin Way Future Leader of the Year.
Throughout the episode, Matt shares insight on what has made him a successful leader, from the top attribute a leader needs to have to the steps business leaders need to take in their businesses to stay relevant.
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“A sustainable business is also one that’s giving back from the profit it earns."
- Matt Neumann, CEO - Neumann Companies, Inc.
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Fast Break is hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate
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Dec 8, 2022
Ep 11: The Four Pillars of a Successful Downtown – And How You Can Apply Them to Grow Your Business with Jason Ilstrup
Jason Ilstrup, President at Downtown Madison Inc., joins us to share the benefits of a thriving downtown–both for businesses and individuals alike.
Members of a downtown community (whether as a business or as an individual) can stand to gain a lot from this episode. Jason shares two real-life examples of businesses that effectively use his two favorite offensive strategies: creating a unique experience and using omnichannel techniques. And he discusses powerful questions business owners need to ask themselves as they prepare their defensive strategy such as, “How do we survive now to thrive in the future?”
Jason will also cover the four pillars of a prosperous downtown, the benefits of a thriving downtown, and how members of the community can contribute and benefit from their own downtown.
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“Successful downtowns are all about people. They’re about people living here, working here, playing here, visiting here from other cities. Downtowns are a place where people connect, where they socialize, where they do work and that is the network effect.”
- Jason Ilstrup, Downtown Madison, Inc.
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate
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Nov 10, 2022
Ep 10: How to Market your Business Heading into 2023 with Laura Gallagher
Laura Gallagher, Founder and President of The Creative Company and the author of #180in120 - How to Recharge Your Business in 120 Days, leads one of Madison's most respected PR and digital agencies. Having launched the Creative Company in 1989, Laura has a ton of experience marketing for businesses and was recently awarded IB Madison's Dane County Small Business of the Year in 2022.
In this episode, Laura shares her wisdom by telling us the offensive and defensive strategies her business uses to stay relevant. She'll teach you how to deliver a compelling story to your audience, how marketing has evolved, and what you need to do to be effective with your marketing strategies in 2023.
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“You have to think about it from their perspective, not from your own perspective. What would you want to know? If you didn't know anything about your brand, what would you need to know? What would be most important? What would be compelling? What would make you want to step in…
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Oct 6, 2022
Ep 9: Why Consistency Beats Intensity with Keegan Meuer
Keegan Meuer, owner and manager of the iconic State Street Brats in Madison, joins us to discuss the rollercoaster that is owning a business. Though difficult and frustrating at times, ultimately, it can be extremely rewarding.
Throughout Fast Break, we’ve heard some really great insights into the offensive and defensive strategies of owning a business, but we have to say that Keegan shares some of our favorite defensive tactics. Managing a restaurant comes with unique twists and turns on its own, but adding a pandemic to the mix certainly can throw a wrench into things if you let it. In this episode, Keegan joins us to share his three keys to staying successful amidst adversity.
* Starting from the bottom and building up (2:24)
* Taking risks to grow and stay relevant (4:16)
* Staying consistent and moving forward (7:20)
________________________ “I just try to think of a little bit every day, moving in the right direction, moving forward in a ‘no days off’ mentality.…
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Sep 8, 2022
Ep 8: Changing Your Growth Mindset with Zach Brandon
Zach Brandon, President of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, and Matt Cranney, sit down to discuss the importance of supporting small and growing businesses. The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce aims to help companies to play both offense and defense by providing the resources they wouldn't otherwise have.
Throughout the episode, Zach provides real-life examples of businesses that have played offense and defense effectively; and how others can too. One of these critical insights is at the core of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce: BEAM (brand, economy, advocacy, and members), an acronym Zach explains in the episode to help you unlock a greater growth mindset.
“If you think of soccer as sort of a metaphor for life or business. You’re watching the ball move sideways or backwards. It always isn’t just a press. You’re not always just pushing the ball forward you’re moving the ball in different directions because you’re trying to create space you looking for op…
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Aug 11, 2022
Ep 7: Developing and Retaining Quality Talent with Julie Unite
Now more than ever, it's critical to find and retain quality talent. But it's more than that; you must also sustain demands, be efficient, engage, and meet goals. But as many of us know, this is easier said than done. That's why we've invited Business Psychologist and Co-founder of Ascend Talent Strategies, Julie Unite, to discuss finding and retaining talent.
Ascend Talent Strategies is an organization that helps businesses "harness the power of people," And in this episode, Julie shares just how to do that. Julie and Matt dive into what it means to find quality talent, including the changes to finding and retaining talent post-covid, the importance of culture, and ultimately how to find a good culture fit for your company.
“Move away from having a transactional relationship with your talent… You really need to tap into ‘what are the needs of the individual?’ and then ‘what are the needs of the company?’ and ‘how can you find the happy medium there?’” - Julie Unite…
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Jul 28, 2022
Ep 6: People, Products, and Promises with Joe Hamilton
Joe Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer at Vortex Optics, joins us for part two of our conversation with him. In this episode, Joe covers the importance of the core values behind Vortex Optics, and how customer satisfaction is everything when it comes to managing a successful business. So tune in to learn how to make your customer the hero.
Vortex Optics is a family-owned and operated business determined to change the status quo by putting customers at the center of everything they do. If you haven’t heard part one, check it out to learn about the origin story of Vortex®, advice for those working for a family business, and the calculated risks businesses should take to stay relevant.
“Don't hire people & train your core values into them. Hire people who already have them. You will be better for it, your people will be better for it, they'll thank you - and your organization will run a lot smoother.” – Joe Hamilton, Vortex Optics
Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice Presiden…
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Jul 14, 2022
Ep 5: Navigating Family Dynamics and Calibrating Risk with Joe Hamilton
Joe Hamilton is the Chief Executive Officer at Vortex Optics, a manufacturer of optical equipment for hunting, wildlife watching, outdoor recreation, shooting sports, and law enforcement. Vortex® is a family-owned and operated business that is determined to change how business is done by putting customers at the center of everything they do.
In this episode, part one of two, Joe covers the origin story of Vortex®, advice for those who work for a family business, and the calculated risks a business should take to stay relevant.
Joe provided so much powerful insight about building a successful business around strong values and great advice about navigating said business that we split it into two parts. Stay tuned; part two is coming soon!
“If it's not a big risk, or a risk that's not irreversible go do it. Try it! You'll get an insight, and it's always better to gain insight that's been tested in the market.” – Joe Hamilton, Vortex Optics
Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vic…
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Jun 9, 2022
Ep 4: Market Your Business to Stand Out in a World Where Many Stand By
Richie Burke, Founder and CEO of GoGeddit Marketing and Media (GGMM), joins us to discuss marketing strategies that will help set your business apart from the competition. Throughout the episode, Richie shares valuable insight on standing out in "this seas of sameness" and his number one offensive and defensive recommendations.
When it comes to offensive marketing, it's vital companies find ways to differentiate themselves, learn and stay on top of things, and don't be afraid to try new things and fail because when you fail, you learn.
And when it comes to defensive strategies, Richie states it's important to hire help–even if they're non-revenue generating positions. By hiring out the jobs you don't excel at, you free yourself to do what you're great at.
“The best product doesn't always win; it's the product that resonates most with your target audience--that they can understand the best, that cuts through the clutter. Sometimes we need to be different and take a stand in your…
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May 5, 2022
Ep 3: Transform Your Mindset & Your Business with Chad McGehee
If you're interested in becoming the best version of yourself, this episode is for you.
In this episode, we're joined by Chad McGhee, Director of Meditation Training at UW Athletics and Co-founder of Inner Edge Meditation, to discuss mindfulness's impact on performance.
You can't always control your environment, but you can prepare for whatever may be thrown your way by practicing mindfulness. Chad shares insight into how the skills of greater focus and connecting more skillfully with oneself and others are fundamental to success and how you can apply them to your everyday life. Whether you're leading a team on the court or in the office, practicing mindfulness will help you become a better leader.
“If we're not present - if we're lost in the future, if we're lost in the past - well, then we have zero chance of being able to discern what's important now. First, we've got to get present.” – Chad McGehee
Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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Oct 29, 2021
Ep 2: The Cost of Losing A Client with Matthew Pletzer
Matt Pletzer is the owner of Lift Consulting, a boutique consulting firm in Madison that helps businesses solve complex challenges and thrive by developing and motivating their people. One of Matt’s strategies on offense is to ask tough questions and do the work that needs doing. On defense, Matt says it’s important to be agile, think a little differently, and pay attention. “One of the best defensive strategies is to make sure you’re paying attention to the people who helped you build what you have.” – Matt Pletzer
Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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Oct 21, 2021
Ep 1: Look to Each Other with Matt Sabljak
Matt Sabljak, the “S” in SRH Marketing, is the President and Partner of a growing, full-service agency headquartered in Milwaukee. In this episode, Matt talks about the work he and his team put in even before the pandemic that allowed SRH Marketing to grow during these unprecedented times. “When it comes to accountability, it’s a horizontal, every-direction web. It’s not looking up to leaders, it’s looking to each other. That’s who you show up to work for.” - Matt Sabljak
Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.
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