Small Town Big Business

Indigo Realty Et Al: Alysa Bunting on Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, Mindset, and Fasting | Small Town Big BusinessJennifer Olson (City of Marion) and Russell Williams (Ethos small business incubator) welcome AlysaBunting of Indigo Realty to discuss her entrepreneurial path from selling lily pads as a teen to building retail and service businesses, buying her first rental property 27 years ago, and earning her real estate license the same week she learned she was pregnant. Bunting explains launching Indigo Realty in Johnson City to align with family life, the origin of the “indigo bunting” name and mascot, and growing to 10 agents plus leasing and property management. She shares challenges of business ownership, her community education workshops on handling inherited/estate homes, and her podcast “Aspire with Alisa” alongside hosting Southern Illinois’ segment of American Dream TV. She also highlights nonprofit work including a gingerbread fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club, the new Indigo Foundation for non-traditional scholarships, and her health journey into carnivore-style eating, fasting, and mindset practices.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://www.indigorealty.net/

Edward Jones in Downtown Marion: Teaming, Main Street Advice, and the Future of Financial PlanningThis episode of Small Town Big Business, recorded at the Citadel Building in downtown Marion, features Edward Jones financial advisors Randy Lewis and his son Brendan Lewis discussing their Marion-based practice and its growth. Randy, a 19-year Edward Jones advisor, explains the firm’s “Wall Street to Main Street” approach of serving small-town clients based on need rather than net worth. Brendan shares returning from Nashville and Chicago to join the business, bringing a younger perspective and interest in building networks for young professionals locally. They describe the industry’s shift from stock picking to comprehensive advice, including financial planning, fiduciary service, estate and tax considerations, charitable giving, and insurance topics, alongside office expansion to support a three-advisor team and staff. They also address rising demand for advice post-COVID, AI’s role in efficiency, and the importance of long-term client relationships.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/r-lewis

Marion Connects: Activating Tower Square Plaza with Third Thursday, Rock the Plaza, and Fall FestHosts Jennifer Olson (City of Marion) and Russell Williams (Ethos) interview Marion Connects president Amy Eckert about the group’s origins and growth activating downtown Marion’s Tower Square Plaza. The conversation traces how citizen feedback from a “Reversing the Exodus” event led to organizing Marion Connects, launching family-friendly Third Thursday programming, and formalizing as a 501(c)(3) to accept donations and run events. Eckert describes signature Third Thursday themes (line dancing with Cowboy Kyle, patriotic “Red, White, and Boots,” “Star Spangled Splash Bash,” and a back-to-school pep rally night), the Neighbor Spotlight series, a local history series with John Musgrave, and partnerships supporting Shine & Show and Rock the Plaza concerts. They discuss the group’s moderated Facebook presence as a community resource and economic development tool, and preview the first Fall Fest at the Williamson County Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 17, with vendors, daytime kids activities, and evening beer garden and live music.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://marionconnects.org/

Inside Marion’s Cultural & Civic Center: Booking, Murals, and Downtown Economic ImpactHosts Jennifer Olson and Russell Williams (with guest host Allison Hassler) interview Josh Benson of the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, a city-owned 1,100-seat venue in downtown Marion, Illinois that runs about 165 dates a year and operates like a business with its own budget. Benson explains that success in booking touring acts depends on long-term relationships, routing, and complex negotiations involving technical and hospitality riders, show budgeting, marketing costs, labor, and concessions, with examples such as “green M&M” clauses and detailed artist requests. The discussion highlights the Center’s role as an economic driver for downtown revitalization, drawing ticket buyers from 900+ zip codes while only about 10% come from Marion. They cover community initiatives including story walks, support for Marion Connects, fountain music programming, and a major mural program that grew downtown murals to 31, plus youth programming, career exposure, and upcoming events and ticket-buying guidance via marionccc.com.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://marionccc.com/

Sunny Street Cafe Expands to Marion: New Standalone Location, Pickup Window, and Hiring PlansHosts Jennifer Olson and Russell Williams welcome guest host Allison Hassler and guest Chris McBride to discuss Sunny Street Cafe’s new second Southern Illinois location in Marion, Illinois. McBride explains the Marion cafe will be the brand’s first standalone building, featuring a pickup window, patio with roll-up glass doors, and a possible private event room, while offering breakfast, brunch, lunch, and likely mimosas and bloody marys. He outlines Sunny Street’s structure (about 25 locations split between corporate and franchise), notes the Marion site’s strategic placement near hotels, the interstate, Pilot, and Cornerstone traffic, and shares plans to hire about two months before opening and train staff in Carbondale. McBride also discusses kitchen operations, workforce changes, leadership and motivation, hiring qualities, and catering options from pickup to full-service events.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://www.sunnystreetcafe.com/SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:Watermark Auto Group: https://www.watermark.auto/Fowler Heating & Cooling: https://fowlerheatingandcooling.com/Swinford Media Group: https://swinfordpublications.com/Arcadia Wealth Group: https://www.raymondjames.com/arcadiawealthgroupBanterra Bank: https://www.banterra.bank/Southern Illinois Now: https://southernillinoisnow.org/Produced by Union Street Artshttps://www.unionstreetarts.com/