The Grit to Growth Podcast

How one business owner rebuilt a struggling company by developing leaders from within instead of selling out.
How can a business owner step away without selling the company, sacrificing its culture, or leaving loyal employees behind?
In this episode, Levi sits down with Rich Ashton, a longtime business owner who purchased a nearly bankrupt HVAC company in 1988 and rebuilt it into a successful residential and commercial operation. Rather than selling the business to private equity when it came time to step back, Rich focused on developing the employees already inside the company into leaders capable of running it without him.
What You'll Hear:
Rich shares how he entered the HVAC industry without a technical background and quickly found himself battling debt, an economic downturn, skeptical vendors, and employees who were hesitant to follow someone from outside the trade. What he expected to turn around in two years ultimately took five years of persistence, leadership, and learning how to communicate with an entirely different workforce.
The conversation explores how Tom's Mechanical developed a culture centered on employee empowerment and exceptional customer service. Rich explains why loyalty to his longtime employees made him unwilling to simply sell the company and walk away, leading him to create a leadership development program for blue-collar employees.
Rich also explains how to identify natural leaders inside an organization. They are not always the highest performers or the people with formal titles. Instead, they are often the individuals others naturally gather around, trust, and seek out for advice. By involving those informal leaders in decisions, business owners can gain valuable insight and stronger support when introducing change.
For entrepreneurs, Rich emphasizes the importance of focus, persistence, and being selective about the advice they follow. He shares why outside opinions can pull business owners away from the opportunity that best matches their passion and strengths, and why failure should be viewed as a temporary stop rather than the end of the journey.
Now retired from daily operations, Rich reflects on watching five employees from the original leadership program successfully run the company. He also shares how the lessons from that experience became the foundation for his book, Growing Your Own, and his current work speaking and training others on employee development and leadership.
This episode offers a practical look at rebuilding a struggling company, developing leaders from within, and creating a business that can continue succeeding long after the owner steps away.
Connect with Rich Ashton:
🌐 Website: https://growingyourown.net/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-ashton-397a2b10/
📖 Learn more about Rich's book, Growing Your Own, on his website or through Amazon.

How do you know if you're investing with the right real estate operator?
In this episode, Levi sits down with Pat Zingarella, founder of Invest Clearly, to discuss one of the biggest challenges passive investors face: evaluating the people behind the deals. After transitioning from corporate America into real estate investing, Pat built Invest Clearly to bring greater transparency to private real estate investing by helping investors research operators, compare opportunities, and learn from verified investor experiences.
What You'll Hear:
Pat shares his journey from working in corporate sales to buying his first fourplex just before COVID, navigating tenants who stopped paying rent, unexpected property expenses, and eventually discovering major fraud while working for a commercial real estate investor. Those experiences shaped his belief that investors need better tools to evaluate sponsors before investing.
The conversation explores why due diligence shouldn't stop with underwriting a property. Pat explains why investors should spend just as much time evaluating the operator as they do analyzing the deal itself, and why reputation, communication, and transparency are becoming the biggest differentiators in today's market.
Pat also breaks down how Invest Clearly works, describing it as a "Yelp for private real estate." The platform allows investors to compare real estate investment firms, browse investment opportunities, and read verified reviews from other passive investors to better understand what it's like working with different sponsors.
Levi and Pat discuss the current capital raising environment, why many sponsors are finding it harder to attract investors despite strong lead flow, and how today's market is rewarding operators who communicate honestly through difficult times rather than those with the biggest marketing budgets.
The episode concludes with practical advice for new passive investors, including why you should never invest in something you don't fully understand, how to ask better questions during due diligence, and why seeking independent perspectives outside of the sponsor's sales process can dramatically improve investment decisions.

What would you do if the company you trusted for your financial security suddenly disappeared?
In this episode, Levi sits down with John Casmon, marketing partner at Casmon Capital Group, multifamily investor, podcast host, and coach who has helped acquire more than $150 million in apartment investments while teaching busy professionals how to build wealth through real estate.
What You'll Hear:
John shares the pivotal moments that changed his life forever, including working through not one, but two corporate bankruptcies. After watching stable employers collapse around him, he realized that a paycheck alone wasn't enough to create true financial security.
One conversation with a coworker completely shifted his perspective. While everyone else was stressed about layoffs and uncertainty, this colleague remained calm because he had built investment income outside of his job. That lesson became the catalyst for John's journey into real estate investing.
The conversation dives into John's early real estate investments, the mistakes and lessons learned along the way, and how he eventually scaled into larger multifamily deals by leveraging partnerships and other people's money.
John also explains why today's investors need to focus on fundamentals instead of chasing trends. He discusses the importance of cash flow, risk management, market selection, and why many investors got caught up in unrealistic expectations during the recent real estate boom.
One of the most powerful takeaways is John's perspective on investing as a long-term game. Using sports analogies and real-world examples, he explains why setbacks shouldn't cause investors to quit, but rather adjust their strategy while keeping sight of their ultimate financial goals.
Whether you're just starting to think beyond your 401(k), actively investing in real estate, or looking for practical wisdom on building long-term wealth, this episode offers valuable insights on financial independence, risk, and creating your own "life jacket" before you need it.

What separates great leaders from average ones? And how do the best companies consistently find executives who drive growth, culture, and long-term success?
In this episode, Levi sits down with Kip Knippel, President and CEO of Kip Search, one of the nation's premier executive search firms specializing in C-suite and senior leadership recruiting. Through his work with private equity firms, venture capital groups, family offices, and growth-focused companies, Kip helps organizations identify transformational leaders who create enterprise value and scale businesses successfully.
What You'll Hear:
Kip shares his unique journey from practicing corporate law and commercial real estate to building a nationally recognized executive search firm. He explains how his passion for connecting people ultimately became the foundation for a business centered on helping organizations find exceptional leadership talent.
The conversation dives deep into what companies should look for when hiring executives, why cultural alignment often matters more than technical qualifications, and how top-performing leaders are motivated by meaningful challenges rather than compensation alone.
Kip also breaks down the critical roles growing companies need to hire first, including why many founder-led businesses reach a point where they need an operational leader or CFO to help scale systems, processes, and execution. He shares practical insights from working with startups, private equity-backed companies, and Fortune 10 organizations alike.
For professionals aspiring to leadership positions, Kip offers actionable career advice, including why proximity to great leaders matters, how to intentionally build your career path, and the importance of doing the job you want before you're officially promoted into it.
The discussion also explores how AI is impacting recruiting, why executive hiring remains a deeply human process, and how leadership recruitment has evolved in a post-COVID world where top talent is more open than ever to exploring new opportunities.
Whether you're a founder preparing to build your leadership team, an executive looking for your next opportunity, or an ambitious professional aiming for the C-suite, this episode delivers valuable insights into leadership, growth, and the mindset required to reach the highest levels of business.

What happens when someone spends 30 years inside the healthcare system… and realizes the system itself is broken?
In this episode, Sarah Johnson joins Levi to share her journey from longtime registered nurse to founder of Growth and Gratitude Coaching. After decades on the frontlines, Sarah saw a major shift in healthcare—from human connection and trust to a system driven by checkboxes, efficiency, and profit.
What You'll Hear:Sarah walks through her early years in nursing, where patient care was deeply personal—sitting bedside, building relationships, and truly understanding people beyond their symptoms. Over time, she watched that connection fade as technology and systems took over, leaving both patients and providers feeling disconnected.
A turning point came when Sarah realized she could no longer operate within a system that felt misaligned with her values. From hospital roles to home visits to navigating the challenges of COVID-era healthcare, she continued searching for a better way to serve people.
That search led her to nurse coaching—a model that blends medical expertise with deep, human-centered coaching. Within months of discovering it, Sarah fully committed, completed her training, and launched her own private practice in 2024.
Now, she helps people regulate their nervous system, reduce anxiety, overcome addiction, and reconnect with themselves—without relying solely on medication or rushed doctor visits. Her approach focuses on true, lasting wellness by addressing mind, body, and lifestyle together.
Sarah also breaks down what nurse coaching actually is, why it’s still relatively unknown, and why she believes it’s the future of healthcare as more people seek personalized, holistic support.
If you’ve ever felt like the healthcare system is missing something—or you’re looking for a more human approach to wellness—this episode will completely reframe how you think about healing and support.

What does it actually look like to grow a family business from a small shop into a multi-million dollar operation—and then step away from it?
In this episode, Matt Erfman joins Levi to share the full journey behind Dakota Land Manufacturing, a company that started as a small, family-run operation and grew into a regional manufacturing leader with over 150 employees. From working in the shop as a teenager to helping lead the company through major growth, mergers, and ultimately a majority sale, Matt walks through every stage of the process.
What You'll Hear:Matt shares how he got his start working in the business during high school, learning hands-on manufacturing before bringing in formal business strategy after college. What began as a small operation with just a handful of employees evolved through consistent customer outreach, strategic growth, and a willingness to adapt.
A key part of the story is how the company found its footing early on—starting with a niche in sheet metal fabrication and landing foundational contracts that helped them survive and grow. From cold outreach and local relationships to landing larger clients, Matt explains how momentum was built step by step.
The conversation also dives into the realities of running a family business. Matt shares the challenges that come with mixing family and business decisions, and how their team eventually reframed their approach—shifting from a “family business” mindset to becoming a “business family,” where decisions are made in the best interest of the company first.
You’ll hear how pivotal moments—like the 2008 recession and achieving ISO certification—opened the door to major growth opportunities, leading to multi-million dollar customer relationships and long-term scalability.
Matt also breaks down the strategic decisions that led to a merger in 2015, bringing in outside leadership and creating a more structured organization. That evolution ultimately set the stage for selling a majority stake in 2023, allowing for both continued growth and a transition into the next chapter.
Now serving on the board, Matt reflects on life after stepping out of day-to-day operations—focusing on health, family, and giving back to the community.
If you’re building something long-term, navigating a family business, or thinking about your eventual exit, this episode gives a clear, real-world look at what that journey actually involves—and what to think about when you reach the finish line.

What separates content that gets ignored from content that actually drives results? Jeff Pickett believes the answer is simple, but often overlooked: stop talking about yourself and start telling better stories.
In this episode, Jeff joins Levi to break down how he built Forefront Studios, a video strategy company focused on helping businesses grow through intentional storytelling. With a background in marketing, healthcare, and video production, Jeff brings a unique perspective on how strategy and creativity work together to produce real ROI.
What You'll Hear:Jeff shares his journey from working in consumer marketing and healthcare to launching his own video company and eventually co-founding Forefront Studios. What started with small projects like weddings and freelance work evolved into a full-scale studio helping businesses clarify their message and grow through video.
A major focus of the conversation is what businesses consistently get wrong: they make themselves the center of the story. Jeff explains why the customer should always be the “hero,” while the business plays the role of the guide. This shift, rooted in proven storytelling frameworks, is what turns marketing from noise into something that actually connects.
You’ll also hear how Forefront approaches strategy differently. Instead of jumping straight into content creation, they start with deep discovery, identifying whether a client actually needs what they’re asking for, or something entirely different. That clarity allows them to focus on outcomes, not just deliverables.
Jeff also dives into ROI, sharing how intentional video strategy can generate 10x+ returns when done right, and why they won’t take on clients unless they believe that level of impact is possible.
The conversation touches on current trends, including the rise of AI-generated content. While it’s fast and accessible, Jeff explains why it often lacks authenticity and why audiences can quickly recognize it. In a world full of noise, genuine human storytelling is what still stands out.
If you’re a business owner struggling to clarify your message or justify your marketing spend, Jeff offers a simple starting point: listen to your customers, understand their problems, and build your story around them.
This episode is a practical look at how to create marketing that actually works, by making your customer the focus and using story as the vehicle for growth.

What does it look like to carve out a completely unique niche inside healthcare? Dr. Jill Kruse found her answer at the intersection of medicine and aviation.
In this episode, Jill joins Levi to share how she built Flight Time Medical, a specialized practice focused on aviation physicals and pilot care. With over 20 years of experience as a physician, she combines her medical background with her own experience as a pilot to help ensure people in the cockpit are safe, healthy, and ready to fly.
What You'll Hear:Jill walks through her journey from growing up in northwest Iowa to becoming a physician and eventually discovering aviation medicine. What started as a casual conversation about flying turned into earning her pilot’s license and stepping into a critical role as an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), helping pilots meet strict FAA medical standards.
You’ll also hear a breakdown of how aviation medical certifications work, why they’re essential for safety, and how few specialists actually exist in this space, especially in smaller states like South Dakota. Jill shares what it means to be one of only a handful of senior AMEs in the state and the growing demand as many providers retire.
Beyond her clinical work, Jill talks about balancing multiple roles, running her own practice, working in the hospital, and hosting Prairie Doc, a long-running public health show focused on making medical information accessible and trustworthy.
She also shares practical advice for healthcare entrepreneurs: don’t wait until everything is figured out. Start, learn as you go, and lean on others who have already done it.
This episode is a powerful look at how following curiosity can lead to unexpected opportunities, and how building a niche can create both impact and flexibility in your career.

What happens when you get tired of fixing the same problem over and over again? Loren Heesch turned that frustration into a business.
In this episode, Loren joins Levi to share how decades working in plastic manufacturing led him to spot a costly, overlooked issue: cheap, failure-prone components that constantly shut down production lines. Instead of accepting it, he decided to build something better. That decision eventually became Black Widow Valves, a company focused on creating durable, high-performance check valves that actually last.
What You'll Hear:Loren walks through his background, including over 30 years in manufacturing and how repeated equipment failures pushed him to start experimenting with his own solution. He explains how a difficult season in life became the catalyst for building his product and how solving one specific problem turned into a real business.
You’ll also hear a simple breakdown of what his valves actually do, why most alternatives fail, and how improving a “small” component can save companies significant time and money by preventing costly downtime.
Beyond the product, Loren shares the reality of starting a business from scratch: figuring out naming, legal setup, marketing, and sales without a roadmap. He talks about learning everything on the fly, the importance of persistence when no one is paying attention, and why passion is essential when early support is limited.
This episode is a real look at entrepreneurship in its raw form, solving problems, staying consistent, and building something meaningful one step at a time.

What does it take to help people navigate their hardest moments and come out stronger on the other side? Kristal Steeves has built a career doing exactly that.
In this episode, Kristal joins Levi to share her journey from decades in Denver working with homeless populations and child welfare systems to launching her own private practice in South Dakota. As a mental and behavioral health clinician, she has spent years working with children, families, and individuals in crisis, helping them rebuild stability, reconnect with themselves, and move forward with purpose.
What You'll Hear:Kristal walks through her early career working with high-acuity populations, including leading transitional housing programs for women experiencing homelessness and spending over a decade in child welfare helping families reunify. She shares powerful stories of resilience, including what it takes to support individuals through trauma, addiction, and systemic challenges while still seeing the human behind the situation.
You’ll also hear how her work has evolved into private practice, where she now focuses on helping people through trauma, major life transitions, and mental health challenges. Kristal explains her approach to therapy, why regulating the nervous system is the first step before changing thoughts or behaviors, and how small practices like breathwork can create immediate, meaningful change.
This episode is both deeply insightful and highly practical, offering real tools you can use to manage stress, improve resilience, and better understand what’s happening in your mind and body.