The Grit to Growth Podcast

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.

What does it look like to build a career that blends business leadership with meaningful, life-changing work? Jason Schoolmeester has taken a path through agriculture, staffing, and corporate HR before landing in a role that brings it all together.
In this episode, Jason joins Levi to share his journey from growing up on a farm near the Minnesota–South Dakota border to becoming Chief Human Resource Officer at Lifescape in Sioux Falls. After studying psychology at Dordt University, his early experience working directly with individuals with developmental and behavioral needs sparked an interest that would later come full circle. His career took him through high-volume staffing, relocation to Alabama, and HR leadership roles supporting complex operations before ultimately returning to the Midwest to join Lifescape.
What You'll Hear:Jason shares how his early hands-on experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities shaped his perspective on meaningful work. He walks through his transition into human resources, including managing large-scale hiring operations and working in high-stakes environments that required strict procedures and accountability. He also explains what Lifescape does, supporting children and adults across all stages of life with developmental, behavioral, and complex medical needs through a combination of healthcare, education, and residential services.
You’ll gain insight into the challenges of building culture and retaining talent in a highly competitive job market, especially in a mission-driven organization. Jason also discusses the importance of listening to employees, understanding the real issues behind workplace concerns, and balancing operational demands with purpose-driven work. He also shares a personal story of how Lifescape impacted his own family, reinforcing the real-world impact of the organization’s services.

What does it take to move from hands-on clinical work into leadership within a healthcare system? Tom Johnson has built his career across pharmacy, education, and healthcare operations, offering a unique perspective on that transition.
In this episode, Tom joins Levi to share his journey from growing up on a dairy farm in Brainerd, Minnesota, to becoming Vice President of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services at Avera Health. After earning his PharmD from North Dakota State University and completing a residency in acute care, Tom began his career in a dual role with South Dakota State University and Avera, working in the ICU while also teaching. Over time, his path evolved from clinical practice into leadership, expanding his responsibilities across pharmacy, laboratory, and imaging services.
What You'll Hear:Tom shares how his early experiences in farming shaped his work ethic and decision to pursue a career outside of agriculture. He walks through his progression from clinical pharmacist to faculty member and eventually into administrative leadership, highlighting how each role built on the last. He also discusses the importance of maintaining a clinical perspective while making leadership decisions and the balance required to support teams without losing sight of day-to-day realities.
You’ll gain insight into the challenges healthcare systems face today, including funding, operational complexity, and decision-making in patient care. Tom also explains how healthcare has shifted toward shared decision-making, where providers guide patients through options rather than making decisions for them. For those early in their careers, he emphasizes the importance of saying yes to opportunities and being open to paths that may not be obvious at the start.

What systems keep emergency services and local governments running behind the scenes, and what happens when they fail? Eric Nyhaug works in public safety technology, supporting the software that many cities and agencies rely on every day.
In this episode, Eric joins Levi to share his journey from growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to building a career across healthcare and technology. After earning a degree in healthcare administration from USD and spending years in healthcare tech, Eric made a shift in his career path, eventually earning his MBA from the University of Sioux Falls. About nine years ago, he transitioned into the public safety space, a field closely connected to his family’s background in law enforcement.
What You'll Hear:Eric explains his role at CentralSquare Technologies, a company that provides software used by public safety agencies and local governments across North America. He shares how these systems support everything from law enforcement operations to administrative functions like utility billing and property taxes. He also talks about the importance of building relationships with agencies and how his work helps them get the most out of the technology they depend on.
You’ll gain insight into how public safety software operates behind the scenes, how career paths can evolve across industries, and why the systems most people never see play a critical role in everyday life.

What does food security really mean, and why does it matter beyond agriculture? Jeff Lochner has spent his life working in farming, ranching, and agricultural finance, giving him a unique perspective on that question.
In this episode, Jeff joins Levi to share his journey as a fourth-generation farmer and rancher in eastern South Dakota. After graduating from South Dakota State, Jeff began his career as a farm credit system lender in Iowa and Nebraska before returning to his family’s diversified crop and livestock operation. His decision to come back was shaped by a family turning point, ultimately leading him to help carry on and grow a multigenerational farm.
What You'll Hear:Jeff shares what it’s like to operate a large, diversified farm and ranch, including crops like wheat, corn, soybeans, and managing a sizable cow herd. He talks about the realities of returning to a family operation, working alongside multiple generations, and how roles evolve over time. He also reflects on his experience in agricultural lending and how it shaped his understanding of the broader ag industry.
You’ll gain insight into the challenges and responsibilities of multigenerational farming, the connection between agriculture and financial systems, and why Jeff believes food security is not just an agricultural issue, but a national one.

What role do airports play in the growth of a community, and why are they often overlooked in conversations about economic development? Kent Penney has spent his career working in aviation and local government, helping answer that question.
In this episode, Kent joins Levi to share his journey from growing up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to pursuing a career in public administration. After earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration, he began working in Alliance, Nebraska, where he took on a wide range of responsibilities, including serving as an airport manager. That experience introduced him to aviation and ultimately shaped the direction of his career.
What You'll Hear:Kent explains how he got started in airport management and why he chose to focus on aviation within local government. He shares how working in smaller communities required him to take on multiple roles and how that hands-on experience opened new opportunities. He also walks through his career progression, from local government roles to positions in airport leadership across multiple cities and even serving as Nebraska’s aeronautics director.
You’ll gain insight into how careers in aviation can develop without a defined path, the connection between local government and airport operations, and how airports contribute to the broader community in ways people don’t always recognize.

What role do physician associates play in today’s healthcare system, especially in rural communities? Echo Kopplin has built her career helping people better understand that answer.
In this episode, Echo joins Levi to share her journey from growing up on a ranch in rural Nebraska to becoming a physician associate and advocate for healthcare education. Now based in Spearfish, South Dakota, she focuses on improving how clinicians are trained, supported, and positioned to care for patients in an evolving healthcare system.
What You'll Hear:Echo explains what a physician associate actually does, how the profession is trained, and why there are still many misconceptions about the role. She also discusses the importance of healthcare access in rural communities and how providers can better support patients in areas where medical resources are limited.
You’ll gain insight into the path to becoming a PA, the realities of practicing medicine in rural America, and why educating both patients and professionals about the profession matters for the future of healthcare.

What does it take to build a career in medicine while staying deeply connected to your community? Dr. Dennis Miller has spent decades doing exactly that.
In this episode, Dr. Miller joins Levi to share his journey from growing up in Northern Ontario to becoming a co-owner of Siouxland Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, he has spent years performing complex surgical procedures, serving on hospital trauma teams, and helping patients through some of their most challenging medical moments.
What You'll Hear:Dr. Miller breaks down what oral and maxillofacial surgery actually involves, from wisdom teeth removal to complex facial trauma cases. He also shares the path that led him into the field, the realities of practicing medicine for decades, and how staying involved in both the medical community and the local community has shaped his career.
You’ll hear insights into the discipline required to succeed in medicine, the responsibility that comes with surgical care, and the importance of building trust with patients and the community you serve.

What does it take to fund real estate deals when traditional banks say no? Kevin Amolsch has spent decades answering that question.
In this episode, Kevin joins Levi to share how his journey from the military led him into real estate investing and eventually into founding Pine Financial Group, a private lending company that helps real estate investors secure the capital they need to close deals and grow their portfolios.
What You'll Hear:Kevin breaks down how private lending works and why it plays a critical role for real estate investors who need speed and flexibility. He also shares what lenders actually look for in a deal, common mistakes investors make when seeking funding, and lessons he has learned from years of working with developers and investors across the country.
You’ll walk away with insights into how deals get financed behind the scenes and what it takes to build long-term success in real estate investing.
Be A GuestAre you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.