Spotlight Podcast

Tim Branyan highlights impactful business owners, entrepreneurs & leaders to discuss personal + professional evolution, entrepreneurial mindset, and advice for the next generation of founders.

Spotlight Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Spotlight Podcast, a business show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #13

  Indiana's $200 BILLION 'Silver Tsunami' -- Only 1 in 10 Family Businesses Survive This

  Sep 8, 202646 minS3

  Brian Schutt, Director of Indiana's Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, joins the Spotlight Podcast to unpack the "silver tsunami" — the wave of baby boomer business owners retiring without succession plans, which threatens nearly 19% of Indiana's GDP. He shares how his office's KEEP Initiative (including a "Zillow for small businesses" marketplace) is tackling this crisis, plus his philosophy on entrepreneurship, community-driven growth, and why he believes there's never been a better time to start a business. 01:30 Meet Brian Schutt: The "Accidental Entrepreneur" 04:00 Building Refinery46 & Reviving a City Block 07:30 Sponsor Break: Community First Bank 09:00 Landing the State Director Role 12:30 Leading with Curiosity, Not Prescribed Solutions 16:00 What Surprised Him Touring Indiana's 92 Counties 20:00 Social Capital vs. Financial Capital 23:00 The Governor's Vision for Main Street Businesses 27:00 What Is the "Silver Tsunami"? 30:00 Inside the KEEP Initiative & SMB.co Marketplace 35:00 Why Indiana Is One of the Best States to Start a Business 40:00 Local Resources for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 44:00 Advice: Show Up, Sign Up, Stay Consistent 48:00 Closing Thoughts & How to Connect with the Office Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vision___studio_/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfbindiana/ Follow & Subscribe to Community First Bank of Indiana: @CFBindiana Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

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  Episode #12

  SBA Loan Secret Banks Don't Tell You - The Insider Guide to Getting Your Business Funded

  Aug 24, 202642 minS3

  Community First Bank's Chief Commercial Banking Officer, Jonathon Malin, breaks down how SBA loans work, why they're a game-changer for startups without proven cash flow, and how local, relationship-driven banking differs from big regional banks. He also digs into Kokomo's downtown growth, the psychology of taking on business debt, and the advice he gives entrepreneurs before they ever walk into a bank. 02:44 – Jonathan's Path: From Part-Time Teller to Bank Exec 03:48 – Why He Loves Working with Small Businesses 05:28 – Local vs. Regional Banks: What Makes Community First Different 06:23 – What a Successful Loan Application Actually Looks Like 07:10 – Sponsor Break: Fraud Prevention Tips for Business Owners 08:42 – Biggest Misconceptions About SBA Loans 10:26 – Conventional Loans vs. SBA Loans Explained 12:40 – Advice Before Walking Into the Bank 17:27 – Kokomo's Hotel & Convention Center Opportunity 19:30 – Is Taking on Business Debt a Bad Idea? 21:10 – How the Economy & SBA Lending Have Changed in 11 Years 24:00 – Behind the Scenes of the Redevelopment Commission 27:52 – "Green Flags" Jonathan Looks for in Business Owners 41:04 – Letting Go of Control & Building the Right Team 45:48 – Loan Regrets, Red Flags & Predatory Online Lenders Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vision___studio_/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfbindiana/ Follow & Subscribe to Community First Bank of Indiana: @CFBindiana Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

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  Episode #11

  From Air Force to Empire: How Paul Wyman Beat 50 Competitors & Built a Legacy in Kokomo

  Aug 17, 202659 minS3

  Air Force veteran and Kokomo real estate entrepreneur Paul Wyman sits down with host Tim Brandon on the Spotlight Podcast to unpack how he built The Wyman Group into a market leader against 50 competitors, and the leadership mindset ("find good, do good, feel good") that got him there. He also opens up about handling public criticism as a former county commissioner, raising his kids as a leader, and why Kokomo, Indiana has become an unexpected magnet for major investment. 01:34 Paul's Origin Story: Jersey to the Air Force 03:22 Landing in Kokomo After the Military 04:47 Sponsor Break: Fraud Prevention Tips 07:12 First Year Building The Wyman Group 11:06 Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe 14:46 Fear Is What Stops Most People 21:01 Dogs Don't Chase Parked Cars: Handling Negativity 25:27 Processing Anger the Right Way 29:49 Do We Have More Leaders or Fewer? 33:10 Vision, Culture & Beating 50 Competitors 38:00 What Makes a Great Realtor: A History of Success 43:18 Find Good, Do Good, Feel Good 48:02 Kokomo & Howard County's Big Growth Story 59:35 Why Paul Never Claps Back at Critics Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vision___studio_/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfbindiana/ Follow & Subscribe to Community First Bank of Indiana: @CFBindiana Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #10

  Data Centers, AI & Millions in Funding: Inside Indiana's Business Boom w/ Vanessa Green Sinders

  Aug 3, 202640 minS3

  Indiana Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Vanessa Green Sinders joins hosts Tim Brandon and Courtney Butler to break down how state and local chambers work together to fuel Hoosier business growth — covering everything from small business health insurance and succession planning to the 2027 budget session and Indiana's data center/AI boom. She also opens up about leaving a 20-year D.C. political career to lead Indiana's economic future, and shares candid advice on leadership, compartmentalizing work/family, and building an "employer of choice." 1:49 Meet Vanessa Green Sanders, Indiana Chamber CEO 2:42 From Capitol Hill to Indiana: Her Career Path 4:09 Sponsor Break: Community First Bank Fraud Prevention 5:35 State Chamber vs. Local Chamber, Explained 6:20 Indiana Chamber's Mission & Advocacy Work 11:09 Chamber Care: Small Business Health Insurance Expansion 13:30 Vanessa's Growth & Vision as State Chamber CEO 15:47 Top Resources Every Indiana Entrepreneur Should Know 20:10 Succession Planning & Buying an Existing Business 21:30 What's Coming in the 2027 Statehouse Budget Session 23:42 How to Become an "Employer of Choice" in Indiana 28:48 Data Centers, AI & Educating Local Government 35:22 Rapid Fire Questions & Closing Thoughts Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vision___studio_/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfbindiana/ Follow & Subscribe to Community First Bank of Indiana: @CFBindiana Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #9

  Your Bank Said NO? Here's How to Turn It Into a YES — Community Bank Insider Bob Hickman Reveals All

  Jul 27, 202643 minS3

  In this episode of the Spotlight Podcast, hosts Courtney Butler and Caitlin Sheets sit down with Bob Hickman, Chief Banking and Credit Officer at Community First Bank of Indiana, to break down everything small business owners need to know about securing funding — from writing a bulletproof business plan to understanding why a bank's "no" might actually save you. Bob shares candid insights from 24 years of community banking, including real success stories and the critical mistakes that hold entrepreneurs back. 02:15 — Meet Bob Hickman: 24 Years at Community First Bank 05:30 — How the Bank Grew from 16 to 150 Employees 09:00 — What Happens When a Small Business Walks Through the Door 13:45 — Business Plans Explained: Who They're Actually For 18:20 — The Drive Competition: Kokomo's Shark Tank 23:00 — How to Write a Business Plan That Works (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) 28:30 — Financial Projections: Why "It's Just a Hobby" Without Them 34:15 — The #1 Expert Every Small Business Needs to Hire First 39:40 — How to Leverage Small Funding Into Big Growth 44:20 — Grants & Hidden Resources: The Revolving Loan Fund Most People Don't Know About 48:50 — Overcoming the Fear of Pitching Your Business 53:30 — When a Bank Says No — and Why That Can Be a Good Thing 58:00 — Bob's Proudest Moments: The 17-Year-Old Real Estate Investor & More 1:02:15 — Kokomo's Future: Diversification, AI, and Quality of Place Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vision___studio_/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfbindiana/ Follow & Subscribe to Community First Bank of Indiana: @CFBindiana Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not reflect our official policy. Content is based on guest opinions and is not intended to offend or harm any group or individual. Always seek professional advice for legal, financial, or business matters.

  ListenShow Notes

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