To The Point is a monthly podcast produced by Crux, the un-agency that fuels business growth. Our podcast features exclusive interviews with successful business leaders across the country to highlight the entrepreneurial spirit and share how marketing can transform an organization. Through thought-provoking conversations that get to crux of it, we’re helping businesses elevate their brand and amplify their mission.
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1
The Art and Science of Staffing – Matt Sharples | Co-Founder & CEO at TriCom Technical Services
18:55
18:55
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18:55
For our 21st episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Matt Sharples, Co-Founder and CEO of TriCom Technical Services, about EQ, AI, Bora Bora and 8-bit nostalgia. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!By Crux KC
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Coalition of the Willing: Marketing Kansas City on a Global Stage - Tim Cowden | President & CEO of Kansas City Area Development Council
29:33
29:33
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29:33
For our 20th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Tim Cowden, President & CEO at Kansas City Area Development Council, about attracting businesses to the two-state metro, the future of our regional workforce, and the inspiration for his personal collection of KC icons in neon. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each mont…
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Solving problems through service, strategy and serendipity – Aviva Ajmera | Founder & CEO at SoLVE KC
20:04
20:04
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20:04
For our 19th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Aviva Ajmera, Founder & CEO of SoLVE KC, about how trust and transparency topple team challenges, and why leaders must get comfortable with crucial conversations. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!By Crux KC
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1
The Next Level: How the NAIA helps small colleges create sustainable performance on the field and in financials – Jim Carr | President & CEO at NAIA
14:50
14:50
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14:50
For our 18th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Jim Carr, President and CEO of NAIA, about the business of college athletics, the rise of emerging sports, and a new resource designed to maximize a schools’ Return on Athletics. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!…
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The Pickleball Effect: Building a Brand on Backyard Community – Kelli Alldredge | President at Chicken N Pickle
24:03
24:03
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24:03
For our 17th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Kelli Alldredge, President at Chicken N Pickle, about the rise of pickleball, the power of human connection through sports, and the key to localizing at scale. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!By Crux KC
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Leaders flex first: Building an effective team through engagement and environment – Dr. Patrick Handley | Founder at Insight Institute
30:05
30:05
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30:05
For our 16th episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Dr. Patrick Handley, creator of INSIGHT Inventory and founder of Insight Institute, a resource that helps organizations transform teams and develop talent. Dr. Handley discusses the origins of his strengths-based personality assessment tool, how strong communicators impact company cul…
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The human element: A people-first approach to labor and employment law – Kerri Reisdorff | Shareholder at Ogletree Deakins
25:43
25:43
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25:43
For our 15th episode President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Kerri Reisdorff, Shareholder at Ogletree Deakins, who explains how companies can leverage compliance for a competitive edge, and how Law and Order and a Midwest upbringing inspired her tenacious work ethic. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!…
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All in: Redefining the commercial insurance industry with “we” culture – Rick Kahle | Senior Vice President at Alliant Insurance Services
19:12
19:12
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19:12
For our 14th episode President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Rick Kahle, Senior Vice President at Alliant Insurance Services, who shares all on standing up a KC office, inspiring company loyalty through employee benefits, and the secret behind why so many deals are done on the golf course. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each mon…
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Leading from the Heart(land): Championing KC on the International Stage - Joe Reardon | President & CEO of the KC Chamber
21:00
21:00
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21:00
For our 13th episode President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Joe Reardon, President/CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, who shares his family’s legacy in local government, the importance of supporting extraordinary entrepreneurs, and why KC’s recent momentum is anything but an accident. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesda…
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1
Alfa Romeos to Alpha Waves: Inside the Cranium of a Creative Entrepreneur - Ethan Whitehill | President & CCO of Crux KC
19:37
19:37
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19:37
For our 12th episode, Crux Founder & CEO Melea McRae turns the tables and interviews our host, Ethan Whitehill, President & CCO at Crux. Ethan shares his entrepreneurial journey, the un-agency's plans to “communitize” marketing, and why fast-growing companies should take a cue from seafarers. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each mon…
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Leveraging EQ to Build Relationships and Develop Sales Engines - John Hall | VP of Marketing at ZoomGrants, CSO at Crux-Xcelerate
17:49
17:49
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17:49
For our eleventh episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with John Hall—VP of Marketing at ZoomGrants, CSO at Crux-Xcelerate, and Founder & CEO of GetRecruited24/7—who shares how a strong EQ, collaborative communication and taking inventory can transform sales teams. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!…
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The C-Suite Value of Chief Marketers: Strategy and Stewardship - Tom Butch | Founder & President of Strategy:Solutions, Inc.
21:04
21:04
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21:04
For our tenth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Tom Butch, Consulting Strategist and Senior Editorial Contributor at Crux, as well as Founder & President of Strategy:Solutions, Inc. Tom draws from his first-hand, C-level experience to provide perspective on the fractional CMO model and explore why delegation is key to strong leade…
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Balancing Entrepreneurial Risk & Operational Safety - Skuli Gudmundsson | President & CEO at OCCU-TEC
26:11
26:11
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26:11
For our ninth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Skuli Gudmundsson, President & CEO at OCCU-TEC. Skuli shares his career pivot into entrepreneurship and the importance of safety & health in the workplace. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!By Crux KC
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Your Personal Brand and the Power of Connection - André Davis | Corporate and Community Engagement Executive at Built Interior Construction
19:02
19:02
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19:02
For our eighth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with André Davis, Corporate and Community Engagement Executive at Built Interior Construction. André explains the importance of relationships, community, and an integrated personal/professional brand. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!…
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Kansas City's Urban Growth, Economic Impact, and the Power of Partnerships - Jon Copaken | Principal at Copaken Brooks
22:39
22:39
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22:39
For our seventh episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Jon Copaken, Principal at Copaken Brooks. Jon discusses the impact of urban growth in Kansas City, the elements of quality development, and the legacy of Copaken Brooks. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!By Crux KC
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Fostering Entrepreneurship Through Collaboration - Kim Randolph | President and CEO of the Heartland Black Chamber
18:50
18:50
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18:50
For our sixth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill sits down with Kim Randolph President and CEO of the Heartland Black Chamber. Kim shares her keys to growing an impactful non-profit and building a better community. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!By Crux KC
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Building Business Value and Knowing Your Customer - Grant Burcham | Former CEO of Mobank | Chairman of CyTek Corp
12:36
12:36
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12:36
For our fifth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Grant Burcham, the Former CEO at MoBank and Chairman at CyTek Corp. Grant breaks down his lifelong banking journey, discussing the power of relationships and the significance of small businesses. He also explains his involvement with CyTek Corp and what makes them unique in IT. Get t…
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Marketing Research and Emotional Resonance - Grant Gooding | Founder & CEO at PROOF Positioning
19:56
19:56
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19:56
For our fourth episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Grant Gooding, Founder & CEO at PROOF Positioning. Grant shares his take on market research and why there’s no such thing as a rational decision. He also breaks down how the PROOF method leverages emotional resonance for better insights. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday …
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Making Investments and Growing Your Business - Tim Webster Founder, CEO & Chairman| Heirloom Brands & Farmer Direct Foods
21:21
21:21
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21:21
For our third episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill chats with Tim Webster Founder, CEO & Chairman of Heirloom Brands & Farmer Direct Foods. Tim shares his journey of developing successful brands and selecting the perfect investment for growth. We also get his top picks for consumer trends in 2023. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of…
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Leveraging HubSpot for Business Growth - Brian Bresee | HubSpot’s Director of Sales, North America Solutions Partner Program
23:40
23:40
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23:40
President & CCO Ethan Whitehill sits down with Brian Bresee, HubSpot’s Director of Sales for its North America Solutions Partner Program. Brian shares insights on utilizing HubSpot to grow your business, marketing and sales automation, 2023 technology trends and more! Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!…
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The Story Behind Crux - Melea McRae | Founder and CEO of Crux KC, LLC
10:51
10:51
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10:51
For our debut episode, President & CCO Ethan Whitehill introduces Crux Founder & CEO Melea McRae. We’ll cover Melea’s entrepreneurial journey, the story behind Crux, our mission to fuel business growth, and why we’re launching a podcast. Get to the point with us on the last Tuesday of each month!By Crux KC
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