Beyond Rockets

Hosted by Clark Dunn

Business Entrepreneurship MarketingExplicit

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Episodes

278

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

As Huntsville AL is primarily known for being the Rocket City because of its close association with the US Space Missions but Huntsville is so much more than that Huntsville is home to many high-tech companies, entrepreneurs involved in interesting startups, talented creatives, and much much more. My goal is to introduce you to some of these individuals that are taking Huntsville Beyond the Rocket.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 9, 202646 min

Episode 278: Zack Penney on Leading Bill Penney Toyota Into Its Next Generation

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with Zack Penney, CEO of Bill Penney Motor Company, to talk about growing up in Huntsville, joining the family business, and eventually taking over leadership of one of Alabama's most recognizable automotive brands.Zack shares stories from his early days working in every department of the dealership, the lessons he learned leading through the 2008 financial crisis, and the importance of building a strong culture centered around people. He also discusses expanding into new markets, acquiring and selling dealerships, launching the nation's top Toyota collision center, and what it means to steward a family legacy that spans more than 80 years in the automotive industry.The conversation also explores leadership, faith, mentorship, succession planning, philanthropy, and why Huntsville remains one of the most exciting cities in America to live, work, and build a business.Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, leader, or someone who loves Huntsville's growth story, this episode offers valuable insight into building a company that lasts for generations.https://www.billpenneytoyota.com

May 26, 202653 min

Episode 277: Joanna White on Building Community Through Culture and Innovation in Huntsville

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, we sit down with Joanna White, Managing Director of the Apollo Coalition, for a conversation about Huntsville’s growth, the power of community, and what it means to build culture through innovation. A Huntsville native, Joanna shares her journey from growing up in the Rocket City and discovering the local music and arts scene to spending over a decade with Arts Huntsville helping shape events like Panoply Arts Festival and public art initiatives across the city.The conversation also dives into Joanna’s years working alongside Tommy Battle through multiple mayoral campaigns, the lessons she learned about leadership, collaboration, and community engagement, and how those experiences prepared her for her current role helping lead innovation and culture initiatives at RCP Companies and the Apollo Coalition.Clark and Joanna discuss the transformation of Huntsville’s creative scene, the legacy of spaces like Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, Campus No. 805, and The Orion Amphitheater, and why MidCity has become a hub for connection, collaboration, music, entrepreneurship, and storytelling. Joanna also shares insight into major events happening through the Apollo Coalition including Market at MidCity, Camp to Amp, the MidCity Fourth of July celebration, WhistleStop BBQ Festival, and the vision behind the upcoming AIM Campus focused on arts and innovation.This episode is a conversation about preserving Huntsville’s history while creating space for the future, building ecosystems for human collaboration, and why now is one of the most exciting times to be part of the Rocket City.https://rcpcompanies.com/https://www.midcitydistrict.com/https://www.midcitydistrict.com/apollocoalitionhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joannabroadwhite

May 12, 202634 min

Episode 276: The Story Behind The Sift Podcast with Nathan Eldridge & Jeff Holsclaw

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with Nathan Eldridge and Jeff Holsclaw, hosts of The Sift Podcast, to talk about how a simple idea turned into a growing platform centered around faith, honesty, and real-life conversations. Nathan and Jeff share the story behind launching The Sift, the mission of creating a space where people feel welcomed into conversations about life, marriage, struggles, faith, and the Bible without judgment or pretense. They discuss why they wanted to specifically reach men who may feel disconnected from church, how podcasting became a modern way to build community, and the impact honest conversations can have on people searching for hope and purpose. The conversation also dives into the realities of starting a podcast, the importance of chemistry between hosts, and how personal hardships shaped the heart behind the show. Nathan opens up about difficult seasons in ministry and life, while Jeff shares why helping create this podcast became a meaningful way to pour into others again. They also talk about:Why authenticity matters in faith-based conversationsBuilding community through podcasting and social mediaThe relevance of the Bible in everyday lifeLessons learned during the first several months of podcastingTheir vision for the future of The Sift PodcastUpcoming episodes centered around the life of Davidhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582488430324https://open.spotify.com/show/18Jlr9A1gyWsoglyBhF3rU?si=22e1ac04ff77466b

April 28, 202643 min

Episode 275: The Story Behind Cook Museum and Its Rapid Growth with Brian Cook

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with Brian Cook, President and CEO of Cook's Pest Control and Board Chairman of Cook Museum of Natural Science.Brian shares the story behind a fourth-generation family business that started in 1928 and how it evolved into something far beyond pest control. What began as a small internal training tool eventually grew into one of North Alabama’s most impactful educational destinations.The conversation dives into:The legacy of Cook’s Pest Control and what it means to carry it forwardHow the museum grew from a 5,000 sq ft space into a major regional attractionThe vision behind the 2019 museum launch and its rapid growth since openingWhy STEM education became a central focus and how the museum earned statewide recognitionDetails on the upcoming expansion that could nearly double the museum’s sizeThe balance of running a growing company while leading a mission-driven nonprofitWith over 80,000 visitors annually and growing demand for deeper educational experiences, the museum is entering its next phase, one focused on scaling impact for future generations.Cook Museum of Natural Science: https://www.cookmuseum.orgCook’s Pest Control: https://www.cookspest.comBeyond Rockets: https://www.beyondrockets.com

April 14, 202638 min

Episode 274: Endless Opportunities: Boyd Duckett on Business, Fishing, and Building Duckett Pointe

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with professional fisherman, entrepreneur, and developer Boyd Duckett to unpack a career built on recognizing opportunity and taking action.Boyd shares how dropping out of high school led to his first business, how he secured a $565,000 loan at just 22 years old, and the lessons learned from building and selling multiple companies along the way. From launching a successful tank leasing business to working in the music industry with artists like Tim McGraw and Joe Diffie, his journey is anything but conventional.The conversation also dives into his passion for fishing, winning the Bassmaster Classic, and turning that success into Duckett Fishing. Plus, Boyd shares details on his latest venture, Duckett Pointe, a lakefront residential development in Guntersville designed to make lake living effortless.At the core of it all is a simple idea: life provides endless opportunities if you learn how to recognize them.https://duckettpointe.com/duckett-pointe-brochure-page/duckettfishing.com

March 31, 20261 hr 16 min

Episode 273: How One Huntsville Weatherman Changed Weather Forever: The Bob Baron Story

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with legendary Huntsville meteorologist and innovator Bob Baron to unpack a career that helped reshape how we understand and track weather.From his early days in radio to becoming a trusted voice on television, Bob shares how creativity and curiosity led to the creation of his iconic “Weather in Motion” — long before modern graphics existed. But what began as broadcast innovation quickly turned into something much bigger.After the devastating 1989 Huntsville tornado, Bob set out to solve a critical problem: how to deliver faster, more accurate, and more localized severe weather information. That mission led to the founding of Baron Services — a company that pioneered real-time storm tracking, advanced radar technology, and tools that are now used across the country to save lives.This conversation dives into the evolution of weather technology, the responsibility of communicating during crisis moments, and how one idea — built out of a home office — grew into an industry-changing company.It’s a story about innovation, impact, and how Huntsville played a key role in shaping the future of weather forecasting.https://baroninstitute.comhttps://baronweather.com

March 17, 202629 min

Episode 272: How Freedom Exteriors Is Redefining Home Remodeling in Huntsville with Jordan Rodriguez

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Jordan Rodriguez, founder of Freedom Exteriors, to talk about his path from athlete to entrepreneur and how he built a growing exterior remodeling company in Huntsville. Jordan shares how his journey took him from Grissom High School to college athletics, into multiple careers, and eventually into the home improvement industry, where he found his fit.Jordan explains how Freedom Exteriors has evolved from a small operation installing windows by hand into a more focused, consultative business specializing in premium siding, windows, and doors for long-term homeowners. The conversation dives into what makes their process different, why trust matters so much in the trades, and how Freedom Exteriors is helping homeowners make confident decisions without pressure.They also discuss Huntsville’s growth, the kinds of homeowners Freedom Exteriors serves best, and what it looks like to build not just a business, but a team and a reputation that lasts. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, home improvement, or building a business the right way, this is a great conversation.https://www.freedomhuntsville.com

March 3, 202618 min

Episode 271: From Rome to Rocket City: The Story Behind ShopMOSS

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Vania, founder and creator of ShopMOSS, a jewelry and apparel boutique located in the Village of Providence in Huntsville.Vania shares her journey from moving to the U.S. from Rome at age 12 to building a creative brand deeply rooted in her Italian heritage. After earning a degree in graphic design and spending a decade in photography, she picked up clay on a whim in 2018 and began sculpting statement earrings that quickly gained traction online. What started as a small creative experiment grew through pop-ups, community support, and years of consistency before becoming a brick-and-mortar storefront.Now six months into her retail space, Vania reflects on the leap from online to in-person retail, building a team, navigating her first holiday season, and creating a shopping experience centered on self-expression through ShopMOSS’s signature charm bar. She also shares what she wishes she knew before opening and what’s next for the brand.This is a conversation about creativity, culture, community, and the courage to build something tangible in Huntsville.https://shopmosshandmade.comhttps://www.instagram.com/shopmoss/

February 17, 202635 min

Episode 270: Changing the Landscape: Jack Fite on 50 Years of Fite Building Company

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Jack Fite, CEO of Fite Building Company, to talk about five decades of construction in North Alabama.Jack shares his journey from growing up in a family lumber business to leading a multi-regional construction firm, celebrating 50 years in business. Along the way, he opens up about the early grind, navigating economic downturns, Huntsville’s explosive growth, and why optimism is essential to building strong teams.They dive into Fite Building’s commitment to being true “builders,” the importance of investing in young talent and the trades, and how the company’s Plus 1 culture focuses on getting better every day.This conversation covers leadership, succession planning, workforce development, and what it really takes to grow a company that lasts.If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, construction, building great teams, or shaping the future of North Alabama, this episode is for you.https://www.fitebuilding.com

February 3, 202624 min

Episode 269: Scaling The Vessel and Building Creative Community in Huntsville with Jordyn Brummett

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Jordyn Brummett, co-owner of The Vessel, a community pottery studio in Huntsville, to reflect on how far the journey has come since her first appearance on the podcast more than three years ago.Jordyn shares the story of launching The Vessel as a brand-new concept, testing the idea at Stove House, and quickly realizing the demand for creative space and community in Huntsville. She walks through the lessons learned from outgrowing their original studio, the challenges of balancing classes, memberships, and limited space, and how those experiences shaped the vision for their next chapter.The conversation also dives into the personal side of entrepreneurship including taking calculated risks, growing a business as a family, and knowing when the timing is right for a big leap. Jordyn explains how The Vessel’s move to Lincoln Mill finally allows the studio to fully support memberships, deepen community connections, and create room for long-term growth.This episode is a candid look at building momentum, learning as you go, and taking small steps toward a vision that won’t let you go.Our 1st Podcast in 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-01L0Qn_0wThe Vesselhttps://www.thevesselstudio.org