Rooted and Reaching Podcast

This week we speak with Gage Bagwell, CEO and Automation Engineer at Innovated Manufacturing. Gage shares his inspiring journey of turning a simple idea into a thriving business aimed at helping those with limited mobility. Gage shares how his team developed an innovative arm-assisted rifle mount to support a quadriplegic boy earning his shooting badge at Boy Scouts, highlighting the company’s commitment to giving back to the community. As Gage discusses the evolution of Innovated Manufacturing, he reveals how their focus has pivoted towards robotics and automation to sustain the business while still maintaining their core mission of helping others.

This week we speak with Niles Mat, Co-founder of the innovative health app Zahra, a platform tailored specifically for Muslim women’s health needs. With features like cycle tracking, an Islamic calendar, and a community forum, Zahra aims to bridge the cultural and health education gap for women in the Middle East and beyond. Niles shares her experiences in fundraising, the importance of anonymity in discussions surrounding women’s health, and the challenges and triumphs of being a young entrepreneur.

This week we speak with Tae’Lor Lake, Founder of Trophy Details. Tae’Lor shares her journey as a young entrepreneur and the innovative approach she brings to the mobile car wash industry. With a focus on convenience, Trophy Details provides high-quality detailing services directly to clients, freeing them from the hassle of traditional car washes. Tae’Lor discusses the inspiration behind her business, which emerged from her fascination with processes and systems and her personal experiences in the car wash sector.

This week host Susan Ford sits down with Cat Edmonds, Co-Founder of Connect 574, an organization aiming to boost social connections in the South Bend region. Cat discusses the origins of Connect 574, born out of a recognizably common issue for many adults: making friends and finding activities to engage with locally. The platform offers monthly events and digital tools ensuring newcomers, and locals alike, can develop social networks in South Bend.

This week hosts Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford sit down with Griffin Eaton, the visionary behind Juke—an innovative platform likened to a modern jukebox for live music. Griffin shares the origins of Juke, revealing how a personal need for song requests at a live music event evolved into a thriving business venture. He shares the initial challenges and opportunities in South Bend, leading to the eventual relocation to Nashville, pursuing deeper industry connections. He also discusses expanding Juke’s features, including fan interactivity at live events and breaking into sports. Listen as Marty, Susan, and Griffin talk about the supportive South Bend community and give advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

This week host Susan Ford sits down with the dynamic co-founders of rScan, Ryan Ryker and Julian Marquez. Ryan and Julian share insights about their early ventures, including a clothing line, and how they reconnected to establish rScan, a company designed to help manage returned and liquidated products online. They also share how the South Bend community played a crucial role in their initial success, providing financial support and customer feedback.

This week hosts Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford speak with Alejandro Saucedo, CEO and founder of Indiana’s Elite Cleaning, a comprehensive cleaning company. As a third-generation professional cleaner, Alex shares his journey from humble beginnings as a migrant worker to creating a successful cleaning company that embodies both heart and professionalism. His employee-centric philosophy, emphasis on supplier diversity, and continuous community involvement illustrate a holistic approach to entrepreneurship.

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford welcome the founders of “A Bite With Mee,” Mee Sun Klingerman, and Jairo Aleman. Mee Sun and Jairo discuss the formative experiences that led them to the food industry, including Jairo’s early aspirations inspired by TV chefs and Mee Sun’s involvement in organic farming and cooperatives. They share how their paths converged, leading to both a personal and professional partnership.

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford speak with Rich Carlton, President of Aunalytics, a company specializing in managed IT and analytics services. Rich discusses the fascinating journey of Aunalytics, exploring how it has paved the way for innovation and technology in the South Bend-Elkhart region. He shares insights into the company’s foundations, its critical role in local economic development, and the significant impact of its AI-driven analytics services in transforming regional businesses.

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford explore the fascinating world of food analytics with Rian McDonnell, Co-Founder of FloVision Solutions. Rian shares his journey from rural Ireland to establishing a cutting-edge company in the South Bend Elkhart region, focused on optimizing the food chain, particularly within the protein industry. He shares how FloVision Solutions employs AI and sensor technologies to improve yield, reduce waste, and enhance the overall quality control of food production.

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford talk with Richard Worsham, Co-Founder of Janus Motorcycles. Richard shares his journey from architecture to designing custom motorcycles and founding Janus Motorcycles. He discusses the importance of relationships and the role of community and local resources in his entrepreneurial journey. Marty, Susan, and, Richard discuss the evolution of Janus, from making custom mopeds to producing DOT-certified motorcycles, and the significance of maintaining a human connection in the digital age.

This week hosts Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford talk with Mike Brown, Founder of SOULSTIR Publishing. Mike shares his remarkable journey from personal reflection during 2020’s challenges to the establishment of his publishing company. In sharing his family’s impactful story and his deep-rooted connections with Notre Dame, Mike reveals how he found his purpose and began to inspire others through empowering stories.

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford talk with Len Morris, CEO of Viewrail, a modern stair company in Goshen, Indiana. Len’s background is multifaceted, having once been a pastor, he transitioned into an entrepreneur and business leader in the South Bend-Elkhart region. He shares the core values of Viewrail and the pivotal moments that have shaped his entrepreneurial outlook. Len discusses the need for entrepreneurs to constantly iterate and solve real problems for customers, how culture and mission drive every aspect of business, and why continuous forward-thinking is necessary to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford sit down with Josh Rodgers from Mili Llama to dive into the entrepreneurial mindset transforming the educational landscape in the South Bend-Elkhart region of Indiana. With a focus on community-based solutions, Mili Llama aims to address the substitute teacher shortage by leveraging local talent. Josh Rodgers shares his moving story of crossing from the security of traditional employment to the unpredictable yet rewarding world of startups.

Recorded live today at IDEA Week, join entrepreneurs Ray Fraser, cofounder of Vital View Technologies, Riley Ellingsen, cofounder of heARsight, Joshua Rodgers, Chief Growth Officer of Mili Llama, Lynn Greenberg, Founder and CEO of Pivt, and moderator Cat Edmonds, Program Director at the University of Notre Dame, as they discuss funding rounds.

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford talk with Amanda Havens, curator of the South Bend – Elkhart region’s only female-led brewery and cidery. Amanda shares her journey of working in established breweries to fostering an innovative concept focused on community engagement and the empowerment of women. With a collaborative cooperative model, the venture aims to provide a platform for local homebrewers, showcasing diverse brewing talents while offering a broad spectrum of artisanal beverages.

This week hosts Nick Kuhn and Bethany Hartley talk with Michael Yoder, owner of Truth Work Media and Stockroom East. Michael shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur and how he started his own podcast company after realizing he wanted more fulfillment in his career. Michael talks about the importance of building relationships and surrounding yourself with a strong team. He discusses the challenges and successes he has experienced in his various ventures and reflects on the impact of his family. Michael gives an in-depth look into his future plans with the team at TWM, his desire to be a good father and husband, and his plans to continue growing his businesses.

This week host Bethany Hartley talks with Mike Keen, Founder of Hometowne Development LLC. Mike discusses his work in the Near Northwest neighborhood of South Bend, Indiana. He shares his journey from being a college professor to becoming a small-scale developer and the principles of urbanism and sustainability that guide his work. Mike shares how incremental development and collaboration between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors create a thriving community. He also talks about the small-scale development movement and highlights the need for increased density and multifamily housing to address the affordability crisis.

This week, host Bethany Hartley talks with Austin Cabello from Haunt of Hounds and ZR Investments. Austin shares his experiences in real estate development, and what it’s like being a co-owner, navigating the day-to-day challenges of running a business with your friends. He also discusses the unique ways he has approached the restaurant and hospitality industry, and how he and his wife hope to continue to make a positive impact on South Bend.

This week host Nick Kuhn talks with Phil Smoker, Vice President of Sales at Smoker Craft Boats. Phil shares the history of the family-owned business and how the company transitioned from a lumber company to building boats and eventually merged with StarCraft to create a larger and more innovative product line. He also highlights the cooperative spirit in the South Bend Elkhart region and the company’s focus on innovation and technology, including the use of robotics in their manufacturing process. Phil shares his own entrepreneurial experience and emphasizes the importance of creating a thriving community for future generations.

This week host Nick Kuhns talk with Nate Miller, Founder of Consensus Networks, a startup that aims to simplify cryptocurrency and blockchain wallets. Nate shares his experiences in the Navy and how he transitioned into entrepreneurship through Notre Dame’s ESTEEM program. He also discusses the challenges of building a startup in the crypto space, the importance of building trust in the industry, and the potential of blockchain technology beyond finance.

This week host Bethany Hartley talks with Annie Johnson, Founder of Take Care, South Bend, a business connecting the South Bend community with the gifting industry. Annie curates care packages, gift baskets, and subscription boxes using products from various vendors in the South Bend area. She shares her founding story, how she finds the people she works with, and the most surprising part of running her own business. Annie also talks about the challenges of being an entrepreneur and shares her vision for the future of Take Care, South Bend.

This week host Bethany Hartley talks with Kathy Burnett, the owner of Brain Lair Books. Kathy shares her experiences of owning a bookstore that focuses on uplifting marginalized voices, highlighting authors and illustrators from underrepresented communities. She discusses navigating challenges during the pandemic, implementing revenue streams, and seeking advice from other entrepreneurs.

For the first live episode of the Rooted and Reaching Podcast hosts Nick Kuhn and Bethany Hartley talk with Ramal Taylor, CEO of Millennia Strategies, and Joel Neidig, the Director of Research and Development at ITAMCO. Joel and Ramal share the beginnings of their entrepreneurial journeys and how they found success in business through their family and community support.

This week host Nick Kuhn talks with Ray Fraser, Entrepreneur in Residence at The IDEA Center at the University of Notre Dame. Ray explains how he got into medical technology and how Vital View helps visualize patients’ data to prevent hospital visits. He shares his passion for the future of medical technology and talks about the importance of collaboration and working together to discover innovative technologies that focus on prevention and early diagnosis.

This week host Nick Kuhn talks with Ambrose Kamya, Founder of Kinga Safety, a startup working to keep communities and campuses safer. Originally from Uganda, Ambrose discusses a project involving the entire agricultural value chain of his home country and how he was able to connect farmers to exporters with organic produce. He also shares what led to the creation of Kinga Safety and why he is passionate about creating safety for others.

This week host Nick Kuhn talks with Alex Sejdinaj, Co-founder of Code Works, a digital product studio based in South Bend that designs and develops tech solutions for clients with digital needs. Alex talks about the importance of tech literacy and how it gave her the skills to start her own business. She shares how Codeworks is offering coding classes, internships, and other resources to the community, as well as the Give Grove initiative, which matches local volunteers with nonprofits to help them reach their goals.

This week host Bethany Hartley converses with Jess Koscher, Founder of Write Connections, a design, marketing, and strategic services company. After losing her job and being unemployed for 12 hours, Jess was overwhelmed with requests from her network to discuss her next move. Although concerned about paying her rent, her network supported her by offering various tasks which led to the launch of Write Connections. Jess discusses her work in the nonprofit sector, the power of community, and how her mindset has helped her build a successful business.

In this episode of the Rooted and Reaching podcast, host Bethany Hartley speak with Johan Vazquez, Founder of Guac N’ Squat, a food business based in Goshen, Indiana. Johan’s passion for serving people, his pride in his Mexican heritage, and his entrepreneurial spirit have driven him to create a successful business from the ground up. He talks about the valuable role community plays in the support of business owners and shares how he is educating customers about Mexican cuisine through his products

In this episode of the Rooted and Reaching podcast, hosts Nick Kuhn and Bethany Hartley speak with Kevin Craig, Chief Executive Officer at Tessellated, a company developing high-strength polymer films in partnership with The University of Notre Dame. Kevin shares his journey from the Air Force to working with Tessellated to create graphene. He also discusses how military veterans have the same skill set as entrepreneurs: being able to be decisive in the face of imperfect information and the ability to get punched in the face and keep moving forward.

In this episode of the Rooted and Reaching podcast, hosts Nick Kuhn and Bethany Hartley speak with Paul Anthony, CEO and Co-founder at OpStart, a South Bend-based company managing accounting, finance, and other back-office functions for startups. Paul talks about his background in venture capital and how deviating from the traditional career path can bring value to your life and your community. He also discusses the unique ethos of South Bend and the vast opportunity it presents for successful and impactful startups.

In this episode of the Rooted and Reaching podcast, hosts Nick Kuhn and Bethany Hartley speak with Jared Bell, Founder of Myco Mushrooms, a specialty mushroom farm based in Goshen, Indiana. Jared shares how Myco Mushrooms began with a vision to bring specialty mushrooms to local restaurants, farmer’s markets, and wholesale distributors. He also discusses how mushrooms aren’t just delicious, but can also be used to clean up radioactive material, used to make packaging, and even help repair neural networks in the brain.

In this episode of the Rooted and Reaching podcast, hosts Nick Kuhn and Bethany Hartley speak with Derald Gray, also known as DG, Owner of DG Visionary, an Elkhart-based business offering upscale video production and mobile DJ services. DG talks about his professional journey as a photojournalist and how his entrepreneurial spirit led him back to Elkhart to start a business in a community he felt connected to. He also shares his passion for music and video and how he believes it has the ability to unify people.