Fast Break

Where You Work is as Important as How You Work with Tim Cleary

Our working environments have undeniably shifted over the past decade. In an increasingly hybrid working model, does your business space matter? We’ve invited Tim Cleary, Executive Vice President at Ideal Builders to Fast Break for a conversation on how your physical space can impact the overall success of your business.
Tim and Matt discuss how the lines between business, home, and recreational spaces have blurred in our post-COVID world, if we were on this trajectory pre-pandemic, and what it all really means for you and your business as you look to attract and retain top talent.   
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“People are less afraid [to say], ‘Our brand is one of excellence and our space is going to match that. Why? Because we're going to recruit the best talent and we expect to attract the type of customers that are looking for the best.’ ”   - Tim Cleary, Ideal Builders
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Your Old IT Equipment - A Hidden Security Threat with Neil Peters-Michaud

This episode of Fastbreak features Neil Peters-Michaud, Founder and CEO of Cascade Asset Management, discussing an aspect of business that has been far too long neglected: the retirement of old IT equipment. Neil explains the importance of properly retiring your old equipment to ensure your business is remaining secure and sustainable.
Not only will you gain practical knowledge on retiring old IT equipment to ensure your business is safe from a data breach, but you will also learn why you should reevaluate your values regularly, the importance of continuous education, and why outsourcing is sometimes necessary.
Resources
Cascade Asset Management: https://cascade-assets.com
Certified Electronics Recyclers: https://www.epa.gov/smm-electronics/certified-electronics-recyclers
e-Stewards: https://e-stewards.org
R2: https://sustainableelectronics.org
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“I think the thing we’re doing successfully at Cascade is being true to what we know how to do, understanding when we need to go out and bring more talent to help us.” 
- Neil Peter-Michaud, Cascade Asset Management
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Banking Crisis & Recession - Protecting Your Business in an Uncertain Economy with Corey Chambas

We’re living in uncertain economic times, but where are we headed, and how can small businesses protect themselves? The media doesn't always provide accurate information or sound counsel. That’s why we’ve invited Corey Chambas, President & CEO at First Business Financial Services, Inc., to give us the facts.
Corey breaks down everything from what’s happening with the banking crisis, why it’s happened, if we should be worried about our own banks, and what to do moving forward to ensure we’re safe and secure. Corey provides practical advice on how to be consistent, calm, and ready amidst the economic crisis.
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“This recession has been forecasted for a long time, everyone's seen it coming... but that doesn’t mean things have to get worse for a given business. It depends on how you react to the situation. Did you prepare and plan? And can you play offense when others are playing defense?” 
- Corey Chambas, First Business Financial Services, Inc.
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

The Biggest Mistake Small Businesses Make During Tax Season with Chase Inda

As a small business owner, tax season can be daunting; but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode of The Fast Break, we break down what can sometimes seem like an overwhelming topic into actionable steps toward a more profitable tax season this year and for years to come.
Chase Inda, Tax Partner at Baker Tilly, has worked at Baker Tilly since 2006 and while you may have never heard the words “passion” and “taxes” strung together in a sentence before, it surely reigns true with Chase. His passion is clear as he shares the wisdom he’s learned over the years and supplies tactics for small businesses during tax season. Throughout the episode, Chase discusses actionable items such as minimizing payroll taxes and maximizing deductions, and he touches on some of those confusing acronyms like “ERC” and “PPP” and how they affect your business. So, tune in “now, for tomorrow.”
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“Now, make sure your foundation is set in the current and be ready to change. We are in a world that–even in the tax code world and even more so for business owners–change is immediate. Tomorrow is really the right narrative.” 
- Chase Inda, Tax Partner at Baker TIlly
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Real Growth and Protection Stories About Businesses We’ve Worked With - Featuring the M3 Elevate Team

In today’s episode, we’re joined by M3 Elevate team members James VanBuskirk, Starie Thompson, Jennifer Vanderlip, and Virginia Van Haren. The team shares their insights and experiences on a variety of topics from business insurance, employee benefits, personal lines, and Medicare.
The team provides real stories from real businesses employing effective offensive and defensive tactics, and discuss the strategies your business should implement in 2023 to optimize growth and protection.
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Timestamps:
Setting up the defense you actually need–not what you thought you needed
00:00 A special giveaway
01:52 M3 Elevate Team introductions
03:20 Business growth through offensive strategies
03:44 The importance of disability insurance
04:48 Signs your current insurance broker isn’t working for you
06:43 How to address Medicare questions
07:41 Forward-thinking coverage for your business
09:25 Business protection through defensive strategies
09:40 The importance of benefits in regard to retention
11:11 The defense you think you need versus the one you actually need
12:59 Where to send employees that are retiring
14:08 Creating the right insurance plan for your business
16:30 The best insurance advice for your business in 2023
16:58 Using employee benefits to set your business apart 
17:22 Doing your research so you know what’s out there and what exactly you need
18:11 2023 70 million 65+ Medicare
18:55 The importance of cyber coverage
20:00 The Fastest Break
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“What we’ll typically do for playing defense is incorporate that offense as well. We’ll talk through your company... the setup, what your ownership structure looks like... what does your typical year–or month or day or week– look like, and then build a program... to address everything, it’s going to address all of the risks, not just what you currently have or not just what your contracts say."
- James VanBuskirk, Account Executive & M3 Elevate Business Insurance Lead
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Fast Break is hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate

Why You Need to Give Back as a Business with Matt Neumann

Today’s episode is a special one. Not only are we featuring a giveaway, but get some great advice about being a responsible business leader from Matt Neumann, Chief Executive Officer at Neumann Companies, Inc. If you’re a business owner or manager looking to make an impact, this episode is for you.
As a second-generation family business owner, Matt is committed and recognizes the long-term approach to business growth and investment. Matt was awarded 40 under 40 by the Business Journal, Professional Builder, and Midwest Renewable Energy News, and was recently awarded the Wisconsin Way Future Leader of the Year.
Throughout the episode, Matt shares insight on what has made him a successful leader, from the top attribute a leader needs to have to the steps business leaders need to take in their businesses to stay relevant.
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“A sustainable business is also one that’s giving back from the profit it earns."
- Matt Neumann, CEO - Neumann Companies, Inc.
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Fast Break is hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate

The Four Pillars of a Successful Downtown – And How You Can Apply Them to Grow Your Business with Jason Ilstrup

Jason Ilstrup, President at Downtown Madison Inc., joins us to share the benefits of a thriving downtown–both for businesses and individuals alike.
Members of a downtown community (whether as a business or as an individual) can stand to gain a lot from this episode. Jason shares two real-life examples of businesses that effectively use his two favorite offensive strategies: creating a unique experience and using omnichannel techniques. And he discusses powerful questions business owners need to ask themselves as they prepare their defensive strategy such as, “How do we survive now to thrive in the future?”
Jason will also cover the four pillars of a prosperous downtown, the benefits of a thriving downtown, and how members of the community can contribute and benefit from their own downtown.
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“Successful downtowns are all about people. They’re about people living here, working here, playing here, visiting here from other cities. Downtowns are a place where people connect, where they socialize, where they do work and that is the network effect.” 
- Jason Ilstrup, Downtown Madison, Inc.
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate
 

How to Market your Business Heading into 2023 with Laura Gallagher

Laura Gallagher, Founder and President of The Creative Company and the author of #180in120 - How to Recharge Your Business in 120 Days, leads one of Madison's most respected PR and digital agencies. Having launched the Creative Company in 1989, Laura has a ton of experience marketing for businesses and was recently awarded IB Madison's Dane County Small Business of the Year in 2022.
In this episode, Laura shares her wisdom by telling us the offensive and defensive strategies her business uses to stay relevant. She'll teach you how to deliver a compelling story to your audience, how marketing has evolved, and what you need to do to be effective with your marketing strategies in 2023.
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“You have to think about it from their perspective, not from your own perspective. What would you want to know? If you didn't know anything about your brand, what would you need to know? What would be most important? What would be compelling? What would make you want to step into that story and make a call or find out more?” 
- Laura Gallagher, The Creative Company
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Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Why Consistency Beats Intensity with Keegan Meuer

Keegan Meuer, owner and manager of the iconic State Street Brats in Madison, joins us to discuss the rollercoaster that is owning a business. Though difficult and frustrating at times, ultimately, it can be extremely rewarding.
Throughout Fast Break, we’ve heard some really great insights into the offensive and defensive strategies of owning a business, but we have to say that Keegan shares some of our favorite defensive tactics. Managing a restaurant comes with unique twists and turns on its own, but adding a pandemic to the mix certainly can throw a wrench into things if you let it. In this episode, Keegan joins us to share his three keys to staying successful amidst adversity.
Starting from the bottom and building up (2:24)
Taking risks to grow and stay relevant (4:16)
Staying consistent and moving forward (7:20)
________________________ “I just try to think of a little bit every day, moving in the right direction, moving forward in a ‘no days off’ mentality. It doesn’t have to be 100 miles an hour every single day, but just continue to move the ball forward little by little.”
- Keegan Meuer, State Street Brats________________________
Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Changing Your Growth Mindset with Zach Brandon

Zach Brandon, President of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, and Matt Cranney, sit down to discuss the importance of supporting small and growing businesses. The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce aims to help companies to play both offense and defense by providing the resources they wouldn't otherwise have.
Throughout the episode, Zach provides real-life examples of businesses that have played offense and defense effectively; and how others can too. One of these critical insights is at the core of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce: BEAM (brand, economy, advocacy, and members), an acronym Zach explains in the episode to help you unlock a greater growth mindset.
“If you think of soccer as sort of a metaphor for life or business. You’re watching the ball move sideways or backwards. It always isn’t just a press. You’re not always just pushing the ball forward you’re moving the ball in different directions because you’re trying to create space you looking for openings are looking for opportunity I think that to me that’s the growth mindset, it’s a movement mindset, less of a straightforward mindset.” - Zach Brandon, President, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.