Fast Break

Why Belonging is Important in Business

In this episode of Fast Break, Matt and his guests, Beth Ridley (Founder & CEO of Ridley Consulting Group) and Alicia Kiser (Vice President of Human Resources at M3), discuss supporting employee authenticity and well-being, and building a work environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Tune to learn how to access language and resources you can use to help your work force feel accepted and appreciated.
Link to resources mentioned by Beth in this episode: ridleyconsultants.com/resources  

Building a Powerful Brand on a Budget

A strong brand can evoke emotion, and build trust, familiarity, and loyalty. But as a growing business with finite resources, figuring out how to create a recognizable name for your business on a tight budget is enough to keep you up at night. You need the confidence to build and articulate your brand, and to show up in a distinctly differentiated way in the market.
In this episode of Fast Break, Matt connects with Matt Sabljak (President, Partner at SRH) and Julie Redders (Vice President of Marketing at M3) as they share their secrets on how to craft a powerful brand identity, even on a shoestring budget. Tune for practical ways to make your brand stand out from the crowd without breaking the bank.
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“Brand is what anybody thinks of [you], it's not just a name and a logo… Here's who we are. Here's why we're valuable. Here's what we can do for you. Here's why you want to remember us and work with us.”  – Julie Redders, Vice President of Marketing at M3
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“A brand is the ultimate defense because while products can change rapidly, technology can change rapidly - what doesn't change rapidly is what people have in their brains, in their minds.”– Matt Sabljak, President, Partner at SRH
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Unlocking HR Solutions - Insights, Strategies, and Practical Tips

In building a successful business, it's essential to create sustainable HR processes that comply with regulations and best practices. But this can be overwhelming, and staying current is challenging. You don't have to do it alone, though. By getting the right people and partners on board for HR tasks, you can get back to focusing on growing your business.
In this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Jessica Subach (Client Solutions Manager) and Mike Beringer (HR Manager) from The Employer Group to discuss proactive strategies and practical tips for navigating the ever-changing HR landscape and building a secure foundation for your company's future. Whether you're a lean startup or part of a well-established larger company, tune in for valuable HR insight!
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“Don't forget the small things that make a big difference in HR: find ways to inspire across the organization, be present within the organization, create an open door policy to establish or develop trust within the organization, and think strategically to align HR to the organization's goals”  –  Jessica Subach, Client Solutions Manager at The Employer Group
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“When you find an opportunity. Whether it's policies or anything else, be willing to adapt.”–  Mike Beringer, HR Manager at The Employer Group
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Get the Right Coaches in Your Corner as You Grow Your Business

As you navigate the ups and downs of running a small business, hitting those moments where things seem to stand still is totally normal. That's where having the right coaches becomes a game-changer for your success. These coaches can give you fresh perspectives, help you dodge common pitfalls, and make the journey to business growth a whole lot smoother. 
On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Brent & Kate Halfwassen, owners of Halfwassen & Associates, LLC and MKEbusinesscoach.com to discuss the importance of having coaches in your corner to help you navigate the path of growing your business. 
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“Seeing the whole picture is difficult. You're in the trenches. You're doing the thing. You're working hard...  we can see the whole field a little bit better for [you]. And… highlight aspects that maybe [you've} downplayed…  We are not just teaching the how to's and the tactical pieces, we are helping to deconstruct some things that are going on in the head that are wrong… So then [you] can see clearly and really understand [your] worth and value.”  –  Brent Halfwassen, Owner of Halfwassen & Associates, LLC
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Locals Investing in Locals – Finding Genius in Your Own Community

It’s clear gener8tor – a nationally ranked venture capital firm and accelerator that brings together startup founders, investors, corporations, job seekers, universities, musicians, and artists – is on the move and deeply connected to the world of small and growing businesses. They envision communities achieving measurable and transformational growth through programming that enables equitable access and opportunity. 
On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Joe Kirgues, co-founder and managing director of gener8tor. They discuss ways the community can catalyze investments in local talent, the importance of mutual support among business owners, and strategic investment approaches for new and growing businesses to ensure future growth.  
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“We have this belief that opportunity is everywhere. It's born proportionately equally in every community and yet the opportunity to connect with capital with investment, with customers, isn't distributed everywhere. So how can we use our platform to bridge that gap? Across race, place and gender, we've tried to be as diverse as the communities we serve.”  
–   –  Joe Kirgues, Co-Founder & Managing Director of gener8tor 
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

How a Strategy of Giving Back Fuels Your Business Growth

Working collaboratively with local non-profits, businesses, community leaders, donors, and volunteers can solve big picture issues that no one person or organization can address alone. 
On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Renee Moe, CEO of United Way of Dane County to talk about why, as a small and growing business owner, you should be  thoughtful about your philanthropic strategy and the impact that your organization's giving can have on the community. Your involvement in building a stronger, healthier, and more connected community creates an environment where your business can thrive.  
 
"When people have the experience, and exposure, and leadership courage to help partner and lead change, I think that is a way that we can help empower small and growing businesses to not only become stronger leaders in their own businesses, but become stronger leaders in our communities.”   
–  Renee Moe, CEO of United Way of Dane County 
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Navigate the Personal Lines Storm - Strategies to Tackle Soaring Rates in a Hard Market

As rising claim costs result in increasing volatility throughout the market, personal insurance lines such as home, auto, and umbrella coverage are impacted as well. 
On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Jennifer Vanderlip, Amy Schroeder, and Kim Nichols from the M3 Elevate team for a personal insurance conversation. They discuss factors impacting the market today, including severe weather events, increasing car repair costs, and the rising cost of medical care. Tune in to learn what all this means for the future of the personal insurance market. 
"Insurers will likely start adding mitigation requirements on a consistent basis... from an eligibility perspective, you might start seeing them request things like water shutoff valves in order to qualify.”   
- Jennifer Vanderlip, Personal Lines Lead with M3 Elevate
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Helping Your Employees Navigate the Individual Health Marketplace During Open Enrollment

It’s open enrollment time for Individual Health plans. As a small business owner, you may have employees who need to shop the marketplace for a variety of reasons. However, the Individual Health Marketplace can be confusing to navigate. With all the different plan options out there, how can your employees know that they are choosing the best plan to fit their needs?   
On this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Natalie Damro, an account executive on the M3 Elevate team who specializes in individual health. Matt and Natalie cover guidance for individuals across the employment spectrum whether someone's retiring early, a 1099 employee, or experiencing a gap in employment. Tune in to learn how Natalie works to simplify the complicated marketplace so you and your employees can feel confident in choices regarding individual health plans. 
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“Most individuals out there are scared of health insurance and kind of everything that it brings to the table. Most people don't have that resource and to ask the hard questions to or don't feel comfortable doing so. And that's what I'm here for.”   - Natalie Damro, Account Executive for Individual Health with M3 Elevate
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Act Now, Relax Later - Help Your Team Get Ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment

The Medicare space can often be confusing or overwhelming to people. In this episode of Fast Break, Matt has invited four members of the M3 Elevate Medicare team – Virginia Van Haren, Jason Haglund, Rachel Hug, and David Schuebel – whose every day focus is helping businesses and individuals navigate the complex world of Medicare.  
In this conversation with Matt, these four Medicare professionals share their insights and wisdom on the best ways to grow and protect your business by having good insights about and a practical strategy for the Medicare program. As an employer, you will come away with practical advice that you can offer anyone at or approaching the eligibility age as we head into the 2024 open enrollment season.
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“In the world of small business, [you] may not have a large HR team. [You] may not have access to the information on Medicare, and I think one of our jobs is to make sure that we're educating [your] team as well as [your] employees.”   - Virginia Van Haren, Medicare Lead with M3 Elevate
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Employee Health and Wellness: Nice or Necessary? - with Euan Findlater + Tyler Stuntebeck

When employees are healthy, they're more productive, more engaged, and less likely to miss work. On this Fast Break, Matt welcomes Tyler Stuntebeck, M3's population health and wellbeing manager and Euan Findlater, general manager and personal trainer at CrossFit Mojo - two experts who are dedicated to employee health and its impact in creating a thriving workplace. 
Tyler, Euan, and Matt delve into how investing in and supporting your employees in attaining their basic wellness needs can lead not only to a reduction in chronic disease among your employee population, but an increase employee productivity, satisfaction, and loyalty. 
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“Everything is so interconnected and I think we've realized that if we are supporting our health, our fitness, we can see direct benefits in the workplace.”   - Euan Findlater, CrossFit Mojo
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.