Claim OwnershipPlant Your Flag with Bean Media
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We wanted to start a show that helps tell the stories of the amazing people who chose to Plant Their Flag and become a business owner. We talk about what it means to plant your flag, through good and bad, and we meet internally and with guests around Western New York to hear what it means to them
22 Episodes
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On this episode of the Plant Your Flag Podcast, we have Dr. Stephanie West, who is an immensely successful woman. Recently, she's planted her flag as a business owner to do consulting for veterinary practices. She is also the author of a recently released book! S.O.A.P. For Success. A book to make you love your business again and simplify your operations so you can focus on your mission. Mike and Dr. West have known each other for a while, and it's truly an honor to have her on our podcast. ...
We can't believe we've been doing this podcast for so long. We are so excited to share more stories of business owners, personal successes, and planting your flags. In this episode, Mike and Jer recap the 6 guests we've had on the podcast since last time we did one of these. Jeff Zoerb, Steve Kottakis, Mike Austin, Lindsay Giardina, Tracey McCormick, and Dan Kautz. We'll share our key takeaways and try to put their words into perspective. Thanks for joining us on another episode of th...
Welcome back to the Plant Your Flag podcast, where we host business owners who took the risk to start their own business and plant their flag. Join us now to witness an incredible business success story! Today, we are joined by Tracey McCormick, who speaks to Jer about how she and her husband started their company, National Restroom Trailers (NRT). She started this company over eight years ago, and since then, they have been growing their business into something truly special. Thanks for jo...
Welcome back to The Plant Your Flag Podcast. In Episode 19, Mike sits down with Lindsay Giardina, founder of Prestige Administrative Consulting, a Buffalo-based business that helps entrepreneurs reclaim their time and streamline their operations. Lindsay shares how she took her 20+ years of experience in operations and turned it into a thriving solo consultancy. For over 8 years, Lindsay has built a reputation as the behind-the-scenes support system that helps business owners stay in their z...
The Startup Story of how 3 bachelor's, about to head down the aisle, became business owners is an interesting one. Yeah, it almost sounds like a Judd Apatow movie. Join us for the premiere of the 2nd season of Plant Your Flag. In this episode, Mike Austin, a co-owner at Stag Pack, Imagine Pack, and Mafia Pack, joins Jeremy Mountain to tell us about how he and his fellow bachelors planted their flag as business owners and embarked down the entrepreneurial road. First, they started with r...
Welcome back to The Plant Your Flag Podcast. Here In Episode 17, Mike speaks with Steve Kottakis, the owner of Nickel City Property Management. Steve tells his story from how he moved into the Buffalo area from New Jersey and learned the area through his investments in real estate, and how he became a property manager. Steve began his journey only a handful of years ago. He worked for many years in the corporate world before taking the risk to plant his flag and become his own boss. He took h...
Welcome back to The Plant Your Flag Podcast. In Episode 16, Jer speaks with Jeff Zoerb, the hardworking owner of Moto Z and the Ducati guru! Jeff shares his story about how he changed from a teenage motorhead to a wildly successful entrepreneur, recounting the hardships, successes, and stories that led him to where he is today. Jeff started as a kid who took apart everything. Through his experience in the military and working at other auto shops, Jeff took his unique skill set and started th...
In episode 13 of the "Plant Your Flag" podcast, Mike sits down with Rev. Frederick Marschner, LCSW-R. This episode is like no other Fredrick dives into his experience as a psychic medium and social worker. People around the world reach out to him for exorcisms and more. Mike gets emotional when Fredrick tells him the names of his spirit guides. Fredrick also shares how he and the spirit world can help heal people through Reiki as well as his craziest encounters with the spirit wor...
Our 11th episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast we sit down with Paul Chisholm of Plan Administrators. In this episode, Mike sits down with Paul, our oldest guest on the podcast so far, to dive into his journey of entrepreneurship. Paul shares valuable insights on his path to success being the owner of 7 businesses. Now focused on helping other businesses grow and build wealth, Paul discusses the strategies and lessons he's learned along the way. Tune in to hear more about his venture...
Our 10th episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast introduces Joe Nicastro a partner at Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall Mike sits down with Joe to talk about how he ended up planting his flag as an attorney. He takes us through his time as a musician opening for Paul Mccartney in London and getting to where he is now. Joe shares insight as a business owner, the importance of setting goals, having dreams as well as weekly meetings with your team to drive growth in your business and mu...
Our 9th episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast introduces the owner of Made 2 Move Fitness, Jared Byer In this episode, Jared Byer talks with Mike about his business transformation from personal training and guiding folks through effective full-body workout plans to corporate speaking engagements focusing on Work Place Wellness. Jared discusses how he started in the fitness industry, his shift to corporate wellness, and how the fitness /gym industry has changed over the years. He also shar...
Our 8th episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast introduces the co-owner of Kreative Kitchens and Baths, Jim Blendowski! Jer sits down with Jim to talk about how he planted his flag in the Kitchen and bath design space. Jim talks about how he became the co-owner of Kreative Kitchens and Baths when he was contacted by an old connection Steve Tarnish. They discuss Steve and Jims approach to employee management and business operations. As well as what sets them apart in the industry. You ...
Our 7th episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast recaps the most memorable business and life advice and challenges our guests faced in episodes 1-6. Hosts Jer and Mike sit down to talk about the most impactful advice and stories from each episode this season. Check out who we talked to: EP 1- Bean Media Productions EP 2- Bradley Tree EP 3- Spark Fitness EP 4- Kenton Chamber of Commerce EP 5- Advanced Sewer & Drain Cleaning EP 6- Junk Luggers Buffalo They discuss pullin...
Our 6th episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast introduces the owner of Junkluggers of Buffalo, Eric Conrad! Mike sits down with Eric to talk about how the Junkluggers flag was first planted here in Buffalo. Eric dives into how the COVID era influenced him to forge a new path that led to the start of Junkluggers. He speaks about what it's like owning a business and how he's learned over the last few years how to maximize the reach and assistance he and his team can provide. He expla...
Our 5th episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast introduces the owner of Advanced Sewer & Drain Cleaning, Tony Luckoski Jer sits down with Tony to talk about how he ended up being the face of the company, and how he's had to grow as a person since doing so. He dives into some rich history of Advanced Sewer & Drain Cleaning and how it all started. He speaks in detail about some amazing people who helped him see the freedom and responsibility that being a business owner can provid...
Our fourth episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast introduces the President/CEO of Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce, Cathy Piciulo! Mike hosts this episode and speaks in depth with a friend of the company and a superstar in the WNY flag-planting community. Cathy has been working as the leader of the Ken-Ton Chamber for over 6 years and wears many hats as President & CEO. She talks at length about how joining your local chamber of commerce can be extremely beneficial for both new and old busine...
Our third episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast introduces the owner of Spark Fitness, Jenn Ickowski! Jer hosts this episode and speaks with Jenn in depth about how Spark Fitness was born, and what obstacles needed to be overcome to turn it from an idea into the family it is today. Jenn shares who helped her see her vision was a realistic possibility and what it took to ignite the spark. We learn about how Spark has created a culture that fosters a togetherness that keeps you coming back fo...
Our second episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast introduces the owner of Bradley Tree & Landscaping, Jared Webber! Mike hosts this episode and speaks in depth with Jared on what it takes to be a successful business owner. He speaks on what he's learned from taking over the company from what his father started, and how the company has evolved. He speaks on learning to grow, and build on the foundations of a longstanding family company, and what it takes to keep that culture and passion t...
We figured we'd kick off our first Plant Your Flag podcast with the owner and creator of Bean Media Productions, Inc. Mike Bean We talk about what/who inspired him to plant his flag, and who he was when he first started the company back in 2006. We talk about what he's learned along the way and what he'd tell his younger self. This podcast will be dedicated to the fearless ones who decided to stick their flag in the ground and start their venture. We will continue to talk about ...
Jeremy returns to the "Plant Your Flag" podcast with Mike to recap key takeaways from episodes eight through fourteen. They share unique insights from each guest's journey into business ownership. Jeremy also discusses his experience taking family leave for the birth of his son and the challenges of stepping away from Bean Media Productions. Throughout the episode, Mike and Jeremy reflect on recurring themes of entrepreneurship, leadership, personal growth, and finding purpose in both busin...
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