Stephan Harman of FUSIAN shares how Sunday sushi parties in Aspen became a 7-location Ohio chain — bootstrapped, chef-free, and built toward 100 restaurants without outside capital.

Steve Browne shares his journey from unemployment to Chief People Officer at LaRosa's Pizzeria—eliminating the "black hole" HR reputation, achieving 1% office turnover, writing three HR books, and running 25-year HR roundtable supporting thousands in transition.

Amy Spandau of Ablaze Financial shares how 25 years of startup CFO experience — and losing everything on a ranch deal — led her to build back-of-house infrastructure for founders at the one-to-five million mark.

Healey Mendicino shares how she went from Port of Subs franchisee to CEO, survived 2008, navigated a landmark acquisition, and is now expanding the brand to 500 locations including Guantanamo Bay.

Rich Waigand of SFW Partners shares how 30 years of relationship-first accounting, a painful leadership transition, and a nonprofit born in a hospital room shaped one of St. Louis’s most respected CPA careers.

Brian Wygle of Help for My Company shares 40 years of corporate fixing — from buying a distressed oil company for $300 to helping owners change the thinking that got them into trouble.

Andrea Belfanti shares how she went from a 2008 layoff to leading ISHC, a global network of 270 elite hospitality consultants across six continents, by leading with kindness and proving that being the host is still being the boss.

Adam Harris, CEO of CloudBeds, shares how a Brazil pivot built a $15B hospitality platform — plus AI signals, remote parity, and building with purpose over transaction.

Greg Waller shares how a bankruptcy at 26 and a PhD from Purdue shaped his unique approach to valuing and selling middle market companies at Cornerstone Valuation.