The Wyoming SBDC Network Podcast

In this episode of the Wyoming SBDC Network Podcast, founder Jennifer Clark discusses the expansion of J&J Second Chance Small Holdings from non-profit to small business over the last few months and how that transition has helped her plan and fund new growth. Located in Rock River, WY, J&J Second Chance Small Holdings focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming goats as well as mini horses, mini cows, and mini donkeys. For those that cannot be rehomed J&J Second Chance provides sanctuary. J&J Second Chance offers entertainment and therapeutic opportunities for both humans and animals to have a second chance at life. 

Connect with Jennifer here:

www.jjsecondchancesmallholdings.com

Find more information about the Wyoming SBDC Network: WyomingSBDC.org

Before joining the Wyoming SBDC, Steve Shalosky was the owner of small manufacturing businesses. His experience also includes six years of experience as a Business Advisor in the North Texas SBDC Network; his start-up; and a long corporate career, working in most aspects of business for some of the best companies in the world. Shalosky is also an Army veteran, where he served as a logistics officer. When he isn’t working, he enjoys keeping fit, either at the gym or on the trail, and he is excited about the number of beautiful trails the greater Laramie area has to offer.  He is also looking forward to visiting the other parts of this beautiful state.

Find out more about our upcoming training events at WyomingSBDC.org/Training

Brenda Mattson took ownership of Legend Pizza in November of 2023. Legend Pizza, formerly Pizza on the Run, has been a fixture in Powell for decades. Mattson herself was a manager of the business for over eight years. This experience made her a natural choice to continue on the legacy of the restaurant. The episode covers her succession from manager to now owner of the thriving business, her leadership style, and what she hopes to accomplish with her ownership transition. 

Kristin DiBona, cofounder of Wyonics, joined the podcast to discuss how Wyonics brings sustainable technology to Wyoming and beyond. We discuss how Wyonics plans to scale its operation from research and development to manufacturing and commercialization. We also explore Wyonics's work with the Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative and the Phase 1 and 2 grants they have received to develop their technology. 

On this episode of the Wyoming SBDC Network Podcast, we get to know Izzy Carbert, University of Wyoming student, owner of Carbert Cleaning LLC, and intern for the Wyoming SBDC Network’s Community Navigator Program. Carbert discusses how these three diverse experiences support each other as she learns, works, and operates her business within the Laramie community. 

Learn more about the Wyoming SBDC Network: WyomingSBDC.org

Learn more about the Community Navigator Program: wyomingcommunitynavigator.org

Dustin Frost and Kevin Beagle of Legacy Irrigation located in Sheridan WY, sit down with the Wyoming SBDC Network to discuss the purchase of their business, how they have used their small business acumen to make informed decisions to guide their business, and what makes Veterans prime small business owners.

Register for the upcoming Service to Success Webinar series: WyomingSBDC.org/Training

Find out more about the Wyoming SBDC Network: WyomingSBDC.org

The latest episode of the Wyoming SBDC Network podcast features Christoph Geisler, cofounder of Unlocked Labs. Unlocked Labs was founded in 2020 with the mission to deliver truly effective and targeted probiotics. We sit down with Dr. Geisler to discuss how he has taken his innovation from idea to business endeavor and all the things that come along with that process.

Find out more about Unlocked Labs at: unlocked.bio

Find our more about Innovation Funding at: WyomingSBDC.org/Innovation-Funding

CyberWyoming is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization that provides training and consulting to businesses, nonprofits, technical professionals, and business advisors in Wyoming.  The new field of cyberpsychology plays heavily into our training and education model. Executive Director of Cyber Wyoming joins the Wyoming SBDC Network podcast to talk about how the organization will be participating in the implementation of the new Cybersecurity Grant awarded to the Wyoming SBDC Network and share some concrete tips on how your business and personal data can be more cyber secure today.

Learn more about Cyber Wyoming at CyberWyoming.org

Learn more about Wyoming SBDC Network at WyomingSBDC.org

It's time to lock down your holiday marketing strategy, is your small business ready to commit? Listen in to our conversation with marketing professional, Jessica Perry of Creative Blue Yonder, and get inspired to commit to your holiday marketing campaigns today!

Find more training and assistance at WyomingSBDC.org

Learn more about Jessica https://creativeblueyonder.com/

Shawn Day is the founder and president of Wyoming's newest record label, Big Horn Records of Sheridan WY. "Big Horn Records will take Wyoming’s burgeoning music scene to the rest of the world, in the process establishing itself as one of the most innovative and eclectic music companies in America today. Our collective aim is to support and promote emerging and established artists across the state of Wyoming,"

Listen in on our conversation to learn more about how Big Horn Records came to be and find out more about founder Shawn Day's history in the music industry and his community leadership in Sheridan WY.

Find out more about Big Horn Records here: https://bighornrecords.net/home/

Check out the Big Horn Records Local Crowd campaign here: https://newyoming.thelocalcrowd.coop/campaign/big-horn-records/

Explore the Wyoming SBDC Network: WyomingSBDC.org

Alex Gunter is the founder of his consulting company Unicorncat Consulting LLC and is a self-described Digital Transformation Maverick. Alex joins us on the Wyoming SBDC Network podcast to discuss consumer-available generative AI tools like ChatGPT and how small business owners can use these tools to improve their operations. Alex also gives us more information on his upcoming training webinars about how to use ChatGPT for small businesses.

Register for his free workshops hosted by the Community Navigator Program today!

August 18 - ChatGPT101

August 25 - ChatGPT and Your Marketing Strategy

WyomingSBDC.org/Training

The Wyoming APEX Accelerator team (formerly the Wyoming PTAC!) are experts in government contracting for small businesses. Join us in this episode as we learn more about the overall program, program manager Janean Forsyth, and procurement advisor Sarah Mikesell Growney.

The Wyoming APEX Accelerator is hosting a bunch of incredible training events in August so be sure to explore them at WyomingSBDC.org/Training.

To get started in government contracting, contact Janean and Sarah at WyomingSBDC.org/WyomingAPEXAccelerator

Eat Wyoming and Heirloom and Native of Casper WY both use their businesses and platforms to celebrate local, seasonal, and Wyoming-grown food. These two businesses work in tandem to provide folks with the freshest foods all with an emphasis on providing them at all levels of accessibility.

"It's our Wyoming, together," -- Leah Burback

Learn more about their mission in this episode and find out more about them in the links below:

EatWyoming.com

EatWyoming.com/HeirloomandNative

Find out more about the Wyoming SBDC Network at WyomingSBDC.org

Kassandra Vaughn is an author, speaker, coach, podcaster, and the CEO and founder of her business, SK Media LLC. Kassandra joins us on the podcast to share a little bit about her business and discuss strategic planning for individuals and small business owners. She gives us some concrete advice and steps to follow when reviewing a strategic plan or creating a new one.

Learn more about Kassandra on her website: https://www.kassandravaughn.com

Learn more about the Wyoming SBDC Network on our website: WyomingSBDC.org

Sunshine Plant Co. of Cheyenne, WY opened its doors in October of 2022. They are a house plant retail shop that focuses on providing plants, tools, and resources for home gardeners as well as creating a bustling community for local makers and other small business owners. In building their business, Sunshine Plant Co. used resources from the Wyoming SBDC Network, Wyoming Community Navigator Program, and the Wyoming Women’s Business Center. 

Get to know more about founders Alexa Blooding and CylieAnn Erickson in this episode of the Wyoming SBDC Network Podcast. Explore more about Sunshine Plant Co. in the links below.

www.WyomingSBDC.org

www.facebook.com/SunshinePlantCoWyo

Join us as we sit down with Amanda Martin of Jackson Hole Mobile Massage to learn more about her growing business, her experience with the Wyoming SBDC Network, and how she recently won the U.S. Small Business Administration's Spirit of Wyoming Award. We are also joined by her Wyoming SBDC Network advisor, Devan Costa-Cargill, and our market researcher, Kayley Harrison.

Learn more about Jackson Hole Mobile Massage on their website: https://jacksonholemobilemassage.com/

Explore the Wyoming SBDC Network at: WyomingSBDC.org

Sarah Morey and Allison Hayek are building a support network for the mothers of Wyoming with their business, Earthside Birth & Wellness Center located in Cheyenne. Learn more about their story in this episode and find out how their business growth has intersected with the many small business resources available in Wyoming.

Find out more about Earthside Birth and Wellness on their website: EarthsideBirthWY.com

Check out their Local Crowd campaign: https://sewyo.thelocalcrowd.coop/product/bring-a-birth-center-earthside-to-cheyenne/

Explore the Community Navigator Program: WyomingCommunityNavigator.org

Connect with your Wyoming SBDC Network advisor: WyomingSBDC.org

P.J. Burns is the regional director for Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Weston, and Sheridan counties. Get to know a little more about her areas of expertise, what led P.J. to the Wyoming SBDC Network, and her incredibly jam-packed events schedule in her region this spring!

Find out more about her events at WyomingSBDC.org/Training.

The program mobilizes and leverages the Wyoming entrepreneurial support network to reduce barriers all small businesses, including those owned by groups such as veterans, women, and those from rural communities and communities of color often face in accessing capital and technical assistance.

The Wyoming Community Navigator Program uses a hub and spoke model to pursue its goals, where the Wyoming Small Business Development Center acts as the central hub, coordinating efforts of the spokes, to target outreach and services to business communities in need throughout the state.

Through their collective efforts, the hub and spokes provide training, mentorship, access to capital, and access to other resources to help business owners build resiliency, and ultimately be the driving force behind Wyoming’s economic recovery.

Get to know the CNP featured client, Gaiya's Harvest, founded by Petrina Peart after our CNP deep dive, and hear all about her experience on Beat Bobby Flay! Watch her episode here https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/beat-bobby-flay/episodes/youre-so-buteau-ful and check out her business at https://gaiyasharvest.com/.

Tori Parker, founder of Teton Lunch Counter in Jackson WY, has achieved so much in her first year of business. Hear all about her journey to entrepreneurship and how her Wyoming SBDC Network advisor, Audie Cunningham, helped her get there. 

You may know the Wyoming SBDC Network state director, Jill Kline, but did you know she has held almost every position type in the SBDC? Jill knows the organization inside out and is an invaluable asset to our business resource network and small business community in Wyoming. Listen now to hear all about her journey through the SBDC! 

The Wyoming SBDC Network Podcast will provide a new method of connection between clients and business resources. Join us monthly (or more) for conversations with leadership, clients, partners and program managers. 

Find out more about the Wyoming SBDC Network at WyomingSBDC.org.