Entrepreneurship and Business Opportunities in Today’s Small Towns hosted by Russell Williams, Jennifer Olson, and Deb Barnett.
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June 11, 202644 min
Branch Cafe & Market: Elaine Ramseyer and Nina Donovan
Branch Cafe and Market: Legacy, Values-Driven Food, and Community in Downtown CarbondaleHosts Jennifer Olson and Russell Williams interview Elaine Ramseyer and Nina Donovan about The Branch Cafe and Market (formerly Long Branch), a legacy downtown Carbondale business and regional draw that expanded by merging with Town Square Market. Elaine recounts buying the cafe in 1998, growing from coffee and cookies into a full kitchen, adding a separate bakery/catering kitchen after purchasing the former Tokyo Restaurant, and evolving from a long-time vegetarian menu to include items like grass-fed beef burgers, wild-caught Alaskan salmon patties, and organic chicken, while staying focused on fresh, handmade food and quality ingredients. Nina describes the market’s specialty grocery offerings, prepared foods, local artisan gifts, supplements, and a homeopathic pharmacy, plus its role as a welcoming “third space” hosting meetings, art, memorials, showers, and community events. They discuss post-COVID staffing challenges, changing customer habits, marketing via social media and email, and their service- and relationship-driven mission, including support for international orphanages and local trade scholarships.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:50 Meet The Guests02:05 Branch Origin Story02:46 Growing Into A Kitchen04:26 Bakery Expansion Move05:19 Menu Evolution Values07:14 Market Merge Explained08:52 Entrepreneur Backgrounds12:40 Elaine New York Tales13:27 Nina Community Roots16:29 Third Space Events20:14 Hosting And Staffing20:48 Hours And Rentals21:28 Post Covid Staffing Shift23:29 Slow Food Versus Fast25:54 Marketing And Specials28:30 Artisan Gifts And Pantry29:09 Dietary Needs Focus30:21 Health Shop And Supplements31:02 Finding The Location32:36 Values Over Profit36:25 Community And Giving Back39:36 Connections And Networking42:16 How To Find Branch43:31 Sponsor Thanks And Wrap
May 28, 202652 min
The Dome at Blueberry Hill: Jeremy & Sarah Farr
The Dome at Blueberry Hill, in Southern Illinois. The Farrs explain relocating from Central Texas after friends moved to the area, seeking a slower pace of life, more family time, and a better school system, and deciding to leave high-paying jobs to become their own bosses. They describe evolving from early ideas like canvas tents and cabins to a fully insulated geodesic-style dome assembled largely by themselves, designed with minimal, nature-focused interiors, a panoramic window, loft sleeping, kitchenette, bathroom, and year-round comfort. They detail the secluded two-acre property with a game barn, swings, and nearby draws like the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, Giant City State Park, Cobden, orchards, and trails. They discuss using guest feedback, five-star reviews, and consistent social media marketing, share lessons on working as spouses and entrepreneurs, and preview plans to expand with two additional units in Union County.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1269628820773673911?source_impression_id=p3_1779908464_P3JpK7b3dU6q0uKh
May 21, 202629 min
My Office Help: Shayna Shadowen
My Office Help: Virtual Office Support, AI Tools, and Growing a Service Business from Rural IllinoisHosts Jennifer Olson and Russell Williams welcome Shayna Shadowen of My Office Help, a virtual office providing backend support for home service contractors and other small businesses through live phone/admin support, a CRM-based platform, and AI tools for calls, texts, email, scheduling, and social media. Shadowen shares her roots in a third-generation electrical business, how helping other electricians led to running offices for multiple companies, and how the company ultimately shut down the electrical business in 2024 to focus fully on My Office Help. She describes growth driven by the 2020 appliance repair boom, serving about 70 clients across the U.S. and Canada with 19 team members, flat-rate pricing for live support, tiered platform plans, and per-minute advanced AI. She credits onboarding, staying in defined roles, coaching, team training, and BNI networking for local traction, and cites family as her “why.”Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://myofficehelp.com
May 14, 202638 min
Taco Trim Show - Auto Upholstery: Brittny Edwards
Taco Trim Shop: A 65-Year Upholstery Legacy with Brittany EdwardsOn the Small Town Big Business podcast, cohost Allison Hassler joins the hosts to interview Brittany Edwards of Taco Trim Shop, an automotive upholstery business founded in 1960 by her father, Roger “Taco” Loss. Brittany explains the name comes from “Taylor and Cook,” the prior owners, and shares the shop’s moves from Benton to Christopher and then Herrin in 1980. After her brother became ill, Brittany and her husband Daniel moved from Chicago and assumed ownership within a month; Daniel manages installations while Brittany handles customers and operations. They serve customers across Southern Illinois and nearby states, do automotive and commercial upholstery (including medical projects), and are currently not taking couches or most boats. Brittany discusses upgrading equipment, using SBDC workshops and grants for bookkeeping/legal help, building a website and social media presence, using ChatGPT, launching Taco Trim Media to document classic-car stories, and hosting a Herrin car show that drew about 150 cars.00:00 Podcast Introductions00:58 What Taco Trim Shop Is01:18 Origin Story Taylor Cook03:01 Family Legacy Today04:16 Sudden Succession Plan06:06 Learning As New Owner07:32 Service Area And Website08:55 Beyond Cars Commercial Work11:26 What They Do Not Do12:59 Materials OEM Seat Covers14:58 Equipment And Craft Process15:47 Roles Hiring And Care17:50 Apprenticeship And Experience18:52 Husband Joins the Craft20:48 Teamwork in a Tiny Shop21:13 Bookkeeping Grants and Taxes22:35 Marketing and Social Growth24:32 Networking Prayer and AI27:06 Taco Trim Media Stories29:06 Car Show Surprise Success31:12 Favorite Builds and Services32:51 Dad Legacy and Motivation35:01 How to Contact Taco TrimRecorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://www.tacotrimshop.com/
April 23, 202639 min
M.A's Filipino Cuisine: Aicy Munsell
Small Town Big Business podcast with guest co-hosts Alison Hasler and Russell Williams interviews Aicy Munsell, owner of M.A's Filipino Cuisine in Marion, Illinois. Icy shares how she moved from the Philippines at 21, started the business as a food truck during COVID in 2020 because Filipino food was missing locally, and later opened a restaurant now in its fifth year. She explains Filipino cuisine as a unique blend of influences (including Chinese and Spanish), notes it’s generally not spicy, and highlights popular items like lumpia, chicken adobo, and a top-selling spicy pork belly adobo. The discussion covers sampling to help new customers, made-in-house items sold in a small grocery cooler area, catering options up to 250 people, marketing via Facebook, Google and reviews, and the challenges of getting customers in the door while relying on family and a chef for support.00:00 Podcast Welcome Sponsors00:49 Meet Guest Host Alison01:11 Introducing Aicy Munsell01:49 From Food Truck To Restaurant02:56 Why Start During COVID06:14 Filipino Cuisine Basics08:03 Menu Tips Samples Fusion09:33 How The Kitchen Runs10:48 Team Culture Hospitality16:19 Making Marion Home18:34 Serving The Filipino Community19:57 In Store Grocery Corner20:09 House Made Menu20:55 Local Grocery Partners21:20 Catering Options22:34 Unexpected Best Sellers24:02 Restaurant Challenges25:54 Marketing And Reviews27:25 Serving Students29:48 Supporting Local Eats30:27 Advice For New Owners32:08 Hours And Workload34:55 Why She Keeps Going35:46 Finding Filipino Community36:58 Final Thanks And Wrap Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://www.facebook.com/m.a.sfilipinocuisine/?tsid=0.12392617292112218&source=result&_rdrSPECIAL 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/Russell Williams: https://www.facebook.com/RussellDeanWilliams/Jennifer Olson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferolson618/Deb Barnett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahrbarnett/#podcast #smalltown
April 9, 202630 min
Art Snacks: Bits & Pieces Art and Antiques
Art Snacks: $5 Local Art Vending Machines Coming to Marion’s Civic CenterHosts Jennifer Olson (City of Marion) and Russell Williams (Ethos) welcome back Jennifer Colboth of Bits and Pieces Art & Antiques, now located at 204 Tower Square Plaza sharing space with Milkweed Provisions. Colboth discusses receiving an Illinois Arts Council grant to launch Art Snacks, a $5 art vending machine program featuring work from 20 local artists, with artists receiving the full vending amount; the first large machine will be placed at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center with a public launch event on April 12. The project also includes two small traveling machines to rotate through area businesses and Art Snacks Junior, low-cost art supplies and learning materials for kids, for which she is seeking family-friendly locations and donated supplies. Colboth invites artists, host sites, and donors to contact her via Facebook pages or email.00:00 Podcast Welcome01:22 Meet Jennifer Colboth02:16 Art Snacks Grant03:29 Vending Machine Details05:46 Launch Event Info06:23 How It Started08:39 Grant Application Lessons11:06 Traveling Machines Plan12:58 Art Snacks Junior14:22 Partners and Callouts16:07 Donations And Funding18:29 Kid Friendly Supply Range19:44 One Year Program Model21:20 Building An Art Community23:43 Showcasing Kids Creations25:08 Downtown Collaboration Spirit26:09 Rollout Dates And How To Help27:26 Contact Info And Store Hours28:55 Wrap Up And SponsorsRecorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063552012481
March 26, 202654 min
Dayempur Herbals & Midwest Medical Thermography
Dayempur Herbals & Midwest Medical Thermography: Natural Health Businesses Growing in Southern IllinoisOn the Small Town Big Business podcast in Marion, Illinois, host Joe Kuski interviews Carbondale-based natural health entrepreneurs Anita Brown and Terry Hickey, who collaborate through DME Health Services, LLC. Brown runs Midwest Medical Thermography, a mobile digital infrared screening service focused on physiology and early detection of inflammation and disease, and also practices naturopathy/functional medicine through Radiant Functional Health. Hickey owns Dayempur Herbals, which grows and manufactures herbal supplements and personal care products at Dayempur Farm in Anna, Illinois, ships nationwide, and supports education through events and a new podcast, Healing Connections. They discuss building supportive practitioner networks, challenges of rural population density, and growing businesses organically with help from resources like ETHOS and the SBDC. Upcoming events include the Women’s Health Naturally Expo & Workshops (March 28, hormone balance theme), a Women’s Networking Breakfast (April 16), and an Herbal Medicine Workshop at Dayempur Farm (June 20).00:00 Podcast Welcome Sponsors00:50 Meet Today’s Guests02:09 Sister Businesses Collaboration04:29 Anita’s Origin Story06:04 Terry’s Herbal Journey08:24 Thermography Explained10:29 Mobile Scans Scheduling12:13 Barriers to Natural Healing16:48 Client Success Stories21:44 Thermography Age Breast Health24:19 Groovy Booby Breast Oils26:40 Men’s Health Hotspots28:01 Hawthorn Heart Support28:37 Bodybuilding Detox Concerns29:21 Why Southern Illinois30:58 Farm Grown Herb Operation32:27 Growing Beyond Local Limits34:35 Organic Business Growth37:36 Help With Admin Tasks39:46 Best Parts Of The Work41:39 How To Find Them43:36 Women’s Health Expo48:21 Women’s Networking Breakfast50:52 Herbal Workshop At The Farm52:59 Wrap Up And Sponsors
March 12, 202631 min
Reformed Design Co: Ben Childers
Reformed Design Co: Website Design, Organic Marketing, and Growing from Marion, IllinoisHosts Jennifer Olson and Russell Williams welcome Ben Childers of Reformed Design Co, a Marion, Illinois-based creative marketing agency specializing in website design, branding, and digital ads. Childers shares how he moved from an SIU marketing degree into small-business roles that grew into running marketing for four businesses, then launched Reform Design Co in 2023. He explains the company name’s roots in “always reforming,” discusses hiring his brother and using project-based help, and describes common website pitfalls like “build it and forget it,” emphasizing ongoing maintenance and regular updates. He outlines a marketing approach that prioritizes organic channels before paid ads, compares retail vs e-commerce customer loyalty, notes frustrations with platform support, recommends Alex Hormozi’s resources, and offers free 30-minute website audits at reformedco.com while aiming to expand local client work by 2026.00:00 Welcome and Sponsors00:50 Meet Ben and Reformed Design01:34 From SIU to Agency Founder03:03 Why the Name Reform04:07 Team and Website Focus05:24 Websites Need Maintenance06:48 Marketing Basics for Owners07:45 Organic First Social Strategy10:43 Onboarding and Leaky Bucket12:03 Entrepreneur Challenges and Learning14:31 Scaling Locally15:25 Delegating Coding Work16:40 AI Design Pitfalls18:06 Naming and SEO Basics20:15 Client Niches Split20:49 Retail vs Ecommerce23:16 Website Updates Matter24:39 Marketing Degree Advice28:26 Why and How to Connect30:00 Sponsors and Wrap UpRecorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://reformedco.com/
February 26, 202644 min
This Able Veteran: Malia Nix
PTSD Service Dogs, Trauma Resilience, and Community Support in Southern IllinoisJennifer Olson and Russell Williams host Small Town Big Business from downtown Marion, Illinois, and welcome Malia (pronounced “Maria”) Nicks to discuss ThisABLE Veteran, a local nonprofit celebrating 15 years. Founded by Behesha Doan, a former police canine handler with over 40 years of experience, the organization trains and places PTSD service dogs nationwide at no cost to veterans. Dogs are purchased as puppies with at least five generations of service-dog lineage and trained for 18–24 months, then matched to veterans through a national application and interview process with an emphasis on the wellbeing of both the veteran and the dog.Nix explains the nonprofit’s Trauma Resilience Program: accepted veterans complete 10 weeks of weekly Zoom meetings with grounding and breathing techniques before arriving in Marion for a 21-day in-person stay on the organization’s acreage outside town. The program focuses on skill-building rather than retelling trauma, and the team coordinates with veterans’ clinicians. Service dogs are trained for anxiety alerts (e.g., responding to knee bouncing or jaw clenching) and nightmare interruption, with veterans taught movement and paced breathing to prevent escalation into flashbacks, rage, or other destructive outcomes.Behesha also operates Extreme Canine (public boarding and training) and created training academies to expand PTSD service-dog training nationally, including a basic academy and an annual masterclass requiring two years of experience. The episode covers how to distinguish legitimate service dogs from emotional support animals, including ADA access differences and the service dog’s focus and responsiveness to its handler.Nix shares her “chapter two” journey from business development roles in architecture, finance, and school partnerships in Dallas to studying social work, experiences with family caregiving through the VA system, and suicide awareness work after her 17-year-old nephew died by suicide. She joined This Able Veteran after being asked to support suicide-related needs for the DoD-funded program, observed life changes in veterans during 2023 sessions, and later became executive director, relocating from Texas to Southern Illinois.The hosts discuss what Nix appreciates about Southern Illinois, including community events like the Heroes United Concert, outdoor access, local amenities, and kindness from residents. The conversation ends with ways the community can support This ABLE Veteran now that Department of Defense funding was not allocated for the current year: donations, fundraisers, supplies via a Chewy wishlist, airline and hotel points to offset travel and housing, meal support for veterans during 21-day stays and four-day refreshers, and volunteering. The website is thisableveteran.org; the application portal reopens March 1. The organization is active on Facebook and Instagram, plans for TikTok, is on LinkedIn, and offers a quarterly electronic newsletter plus limited mailed updates. Sponsors and Ethos/City of Marion contact information are also shared.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://thisableveteran.org/00:00 Welcome and Sponsors00:49 Meet Malia Nicks01:30 Mission and Service Dogs04:01 Trauma Resilience Program06:20 Bahaa Origins and Canine Expertise10:40 Grant Growth and Malia Journey17:28 Serving Veterans Nationwide18:18 Why Southern Illinois Feels Like Home21:39 Service Dog Legitimacy and Laws24:12 Spotting Real Service Dogs25:55 Handler Rights and Privacy26:43 Anxiety Alerts in Action29:19 Nightmare Interruption Tasks29:56 Best Breeds and Temperament31:29 Trainer Academies Nationwide32:46 Inside the Training Facility35:11 How the Community Can Help39:26 Support PTSD Without Judgment41:41 Stay Connected and Final Thanks
February 12, 202639 min
Mindy's Miles Travel Agency: Mindy Combs on Small Town Big Business:
Building a Travel Empire: The Journey of Mindy's Miles Travel AgencyIn this episode of Small Town Big Business, hosts Jennifer Olson and Russell Williams interview Mindy Combs from Mindy's Miles Travel Agency in Marion, Illinois. Mindy shares her journey from working as a marketing director in banking to establishing a successful travel agency. She provides insights into the value of travel agents, the growth of her business despite challenges like COVID-19, and the importance of personalized customer service. Mindy also discusses her marketing strategies, team dynamics, and future aspirations. The episode emphasizes the significance of local support, community involvement, and the rewarding aspects of turning a passion into a thriving business.00:00 Welcome to Small Town Big Business00:11 Meet the Hosts: Jennifer and Russell01:34 Introducing Mindy Combs of Mindy's Miles Travel Agency01:54 The Journey from Banking to Travel Agency02:47 The Value of a Travel Agent05:58 Growing the Business and Team11:51 Marketing Strategies and Client Relationships13:35 Challenges and Learning Experiences17:45 Support and Inspiration18:22 Family Support and New Opportunities19:09 Networking with Other Advisors20:14 The Importance of FAM Trips21:44 The Hard Work Behind All-Inclusive Resorts22:54 The Rise of Cruise Vacations25:15 Challenges and Joys of Running a Travel Business27:15 Team Dynamics and Growth32:06 Handling Travel Disruptions34:03 Final Thoughts and Contact InformationRecorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://www.mindysmilestravelagency.com/
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