In this episode, I sit down with Dessie Redmond, co-owner of Full Fledged Brewing Co., for a conversation that’s equal parts business insight and real-life storytelling. We talk about her journey from a career in urban planning to co-founding a brewery in Council Bluffs, Iowa—and why she and her husband chose that specific city to chase their dream.

We dive into what it takes to start a business in a new place, how community support played a critical role in their growth, and the ways they had to pivot during the pandemic. Dessie opens up about the lessons she’s learned around entrepreneurship, working alongside her partner, and how to balance a full-time job while growing a business on the side.

We also talk candidly about the myths of business ownership, the strategic (and very real) importance of things like ceiling height and distribution laws, and how staying open to change helped them thrive.

This conversation is for anyone who's ever considered building something from scratch, especially if you’ve wondered what it really takes to choose the right place, the right people, and the right time.

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Unpacking this episode min by min: 

02:53 The Journey to Brewing

06:01 Establishing the Brewery

08:59 Navigating Challenges and Opportunities

12:04 Community and Support

15:06 The Impact of the Pandemic

18:01 Innovation and Growth

21:03 Future Aspirations

27:09 Engaging the Community: Innovative Public Engagement Strategies

28:00 Adapting to Change: The Evolution of Brewery Offerings

29:57 Navigating Business Challenges: Lessons from the Brewery

34:22 Planning for Growth: Capital and Layout Considerations

40:23 Balancing Act: Managing Time and Responsibilities

44:45 Working Together: The Dynamics of a Business Partnership

47:20 Misconceptions of Entrepreneurship: The Reality of Business Ownership

Related Episodes:

#3 Nailing an RFP, scope creep and sticky details - a candid chat with client Nicole Lindquist (PT 1)

#4 Taking on big projects when you don't know it all, and how we created the Iowa West Foundation Imagine Hours -with Nicole Lindquist (Pt 2)

#9 Taking an idea from paper to reality, making tough decisions and creating a values driven business with Alysia Hess, Founder of The Occasional Collective

Vivian Kvam:

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Dessie Redmond:

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• Website - https://fullfledgedbeer.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fullfledgedbeer/

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Riding Tandem with Vivian Kvam

A podcast from Tandem Works

Email the team: RidingTandem@thetandemworks.com