Commonwealth Connections

Hosted by Dawson Fields

Business Careers

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Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Commonwealth connections is a podcast highlighting local leaders and entrepreneurs. We want to spotlight their stories, business and leadership impact in the commonwealth.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 13, 2026Episode 524 min

S3E5 - Jack Arnold & Jake Wiseman, The Madison Hall

Send us Fan Mail Diving into the heart of real estate and community revitalization, Dawson Fields welcomes Jack Arnold and Jake Wiseman back to the Commonwealth Connections Podcast. This episode is a deep dive into their latest project: Madison Hall. Jack shares his journey from a small farm in Cynthia, Kentucky, to becoming a doctor with a unique perspective on real estate. His background in medicine and wound care gives him a unique lens through which he views renovation projects. This experience has led him to an unexpected partnership with Jake, his realtor, as they embark on this exciting renovation project. Their bond, built over a decade of trust and collaboration, has now expanded into the realm of real estate. To connect with Dawson you can reach him at: Dawson@novainsurancegroup.com

September 29, 2026Episode 426 min

S3E4 - Jake Wiseman & Daniel Rogers, The Madison Ayers

Send us Fan Mail Join host Dawson Fields with local real estate visionaries Daniel Rogers and Jake Wiseman, who unveil the secrets behind their ambitious mission to breathe new life into a historic downtown Lexington building. Discover how Daniel, a seasoned short-term rental operator, and Jake, a real estate professional with a decade of experience, teamed up to tackle the challenges of preserving a 210-year-old structure while maximizing its potential for the future. In this engaging conversation, you'll uncover: The surprising backstory of the Madison Ayers building and why it was a prime opportunity for redevelopment. Strategies for balancing historical preservation with modern usage in urban settings. Unique insights into the short-term rental market and how this project aims to cater to the growing tourism in Lexington. To connect with Dawson you can reach him at: Dawson@novainsurancegroup.com

September 15, 2026Episode 345 min

S3E3 - Trent Mobley, Owner of Berner Pest Solutions

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dawson is joined by Trent Mobley, founder of Berner Pest Solutions, who shares his journey from a pest control technician to a successful entrepreneur in Kentucky, revealing the unexpected lessons he's learned along the way. Trent dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from Florida to Kentucky, navigating the pest control landscape while establishing a customer-first approach in his new business. You’ll discover: - The transformative moment that led him to start Berner Pest Solutions, driven by a desire to create a culture focused on customer care rather than corporate metrics. - Insights on managing a pest control business—what he learned about problem-solving that parallels entrepreneurship. - The unique pest challenges in Kentucky compared to Florida, including how environmental factors influence pest control strategies. You can find out more about Trent and Berner Pest Solutions at their website: https://bernerpest.com/ To connect with Dawson you can reach him at: Dawson@novainsurancegroup.com

August 25, 2026Episode 245 min

S3E2 - Jonathan Pliszka, Owner of High Knoll Wealth Advisors

Send us Fan Mail Jonny Pliszka, founder at High Knoll Wealth Advisors and lecturer at the University of Kentucky, shares how a corporate career in finance evolved into a purpose-driven business built around financial literacy, behavioral coaching, and intentional growth. He also talks about what makes Lexington special, why the firm’s mural became part of its identity, and how AI is changing both financial advice and human connection. You can connect with Jonny and High Knoll at their website: https://www.highknollwealth.com/ To connect with Dawson you can reach him at: Dawson@novainsurancegroup.com

August 11, 2026Episode 140 min

S3E1 - Steve Straub, Co-Owner of Nova Insurance Group

Send us Fan Mail Steve Straub jumps into the studio to share his experience entering entrepreneurship not through starting his own business, but how his experience uniquely positioned him to be able to acquire and merge to hit the ground running joining Nova Insurance Group alongside host Dawson Fields. In this episode, Steve shares his unconventional career path—30 jobs from parole officer to defense contractor, from a shoe shiner to a military export specialist—all of which taught him vital lessons about service, resilience, and adaptability. His experience navigating a 50-hour travel odyssey for a job interview reminds you that perseverance and creativity unlock opportunities others only dream of. In this Episode: How early jobs like shoe shining and caddying built foundational sales and service skills that still drive him today The behind-the-scenes story of jumping from corporate America into insurance and what it takes to succeed on your own terms Why embracing chaos and variety keeps his work fresh, exciting, and filled with growth. The importance of loving people through insurance—not just selling policies but delivering impact To connect with Steve you can reach him at: Steve@novainsurancegroup.com To connect with Dawson you can reach him at: Dawson@novainsurancegroup.com

August 14, 20251 hr 34 min

S2E13 - Mandy Higgins, Lexington History Museum

Send us Fan Mail This week we got to interview Mandy Higgins from the Lexington History Museum. After being closed for over a decade. The Lexington History Museum reopened in August 2023. Mandy comes on to share about getting it reopened along with everything they have there showcasing the rich history of Lexington, Kentucky. https://www.lexhistory.org/ Commonwealth Connections is hosted by Weston Wilson and Dawson Fields. To connect with hosts of the show, email dawson@novainsurancegroup.com or culverscky@gmail.com

June 12, 2025Episode 1243 min

S2E12 - Chase Collins, Co-Founder of Village Reach

Send us Fan Mail Chase Collins comes on to tell us about Co-Founding Village Reach and they're mission as well as the work involved in running a non-profit. You can check out more on their website: https://www.villagereach.world/ Commonwealth Connections is hosted by Weston Wilson and Dawson Fields. To connect with hosts of the show, email dawson@novainsurancegroup.com or culverscky@gmail.com

May 21, 2025Episode 1146 min

S2E11 - Reece Mateyoke, Owner of Thoroughbred Turf

Send us Fan Mail Reece Mateyoke comes on to share his experience running Thoroughbred Turf. Based out of Lexington, KY. Thoroughbred Turf services equine farms and commercial properties with everything landscape maintenance to snow removal. You can check out their website at: https://www.thoroughbred-turf.com/ Commonwealth Connections is hosted by Weston Wilson and Dawson Fields. To connect with hosts of the show, email dawson@novainsurancegroup.com or culverscky@gmail.com

March 6, 2025Episode 101 hr 4 min

S2E10 - Emily Johnson, Recovery Room

Send us Fan Mail Emily Johnson is the owner of Recovery Room in Lexington, KY. She comes on to share how she got involved with starting her own Health and Wellness Recovery Room. With services including Cold Plunge, Infrared Sauna, Contrast Therapy, Red Light Therapy, Compression Therapy, Cryotherapy, and more. Recovery room is your full body recovery services all in one place. You can check out their website at: https://recoveryroomlex.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA5pq-BhBuEiwAvkzVZaK_K4KVG53Ff-gbCKk-J-5HDxImr_W04Mx82fFkme8Z-s-H7ZuifxoCnq8QAvD_BwE Commonwealth Connections is hosted by Weston Wilson and Dawson Fields. To connect with hosts of the show, email dawson@novainsurancegroup.com or culverscky@gmail.com

February 27, 20254 min