The Big Fish Cares Podcast

Joining Benny on episode 67 is Chuck Thokey! Chuck is a sales and marketing coach, author, mentor, and keynote speaker. Helping small to large home improvement organizations grow their sales by as much as 50%-80%, Chuck has the experience and knowledge and coaching ability to help you meet and even exceed your revenue goals. Most companies looking for an effective coach are asking for someone with up to date success and experience. Chuck works directly with contractors who are implementing our sales strategies everyday that transform their sales teams and constantly outperform their markets and the industry. Growing up near Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Chuck grew up with a love of aircraft which led to Chuck eventually becoming a Flight Test Engineer at Bombardier Learjet in Wichita, KS. After the 9/11 attacks, Chuck was forced to find another career path. Moving back to Ohio, he became a mortgage broker working in sales and eventually into a national sales management position. It was here he found much success through coaching and training hundreds of sales talent into top sales professionals. Chuck began managing teams, many previously stagnant, by teaching how to increase revenue of large home improvement companies at record speeds. Currently, Chuck works with small, medium and large companies all over the country that are in need of sales coaching on a variety of levels. Speaking at many different conferences and company events across the nation on topics ranging from The Prospects Experience, Strategic Sales Process and Closing, as well as Sales Leadership & Coaching. Connect with Chuck below: https://contractorcoachpro.com/ https://topreptraining.com/

Joining Benny on episode 66 is the Chief Operation Officer of Plannatech, Adam Bjorn. Adam has 25 years of experience in the tech industry, with a focus in enhancing the global iGaming ecosystem. Adam got his start in gaming two decades ago in sportsbooks and horse racing. Adam has been influential in helping guide companies in becoming compliant in the sports betting part of the industry and in driving aspects of technology development. Benny & Adam discuss the journey through the gaming industry, and the impact it has on our culture. They also chat about their love of VeeCon and have plans to link up at this year’s event! Connect with Adam below: https://twitter.com/adambjorn2 https://www.adam-bjorn.com/

Joining Benny on episode 65 is his Executive Assistant and Manager of Big Fish Media, Ally Monroe! Benny & Ally talk about how different personalities in business are set-up for success in different functions, and how those personalities complement one another. One topic that stems from that conversation are some tips and best practices on hiring, and the right questions to ask in an interview process. Ally shares her origin stories, from growing up in a blue-collar family, to her love of music, and how that all led her to pursue a career in nursing. Ally shares some very powerful stories from her career in nursing, and how those experiences built up her ability to handle anything that is thrown her way. Following her nursing career, Ally shares her path that led her to joining the Big Fish team and becoming an integral part of Benny’s different businesses.

Joining Benny on episode 64 is filmmaker, video producer, and member of Benny’s content team, Jaydev Hemrajani. Jaydev is originally from Mumbai, India – and now lives in Curacao, after a 7 year stay in Miami. Benny & Jaydev first met at VeeCon in 2022, and have since partnered up on creating loads of content for BennyFisher.com Jaydev shares his origin story and what it was like growing up in India & Curacao, and then adjusting to life in the states. He also talks about how he got his start in the production industry, and what led him to take the leap into making it his career. Connect with Jaydev below: https://twitter.com/jaydevh20 https://www.instagram.com/jaihemrajani

Joining Benny on episode 63 is Adam McChesney, an entrepreneur, podcaster, and digital marketer. At a young age, Adam’s family encouraged him to pursue his own path rather than following in the family line of work. In July of 2020, Adam took the leap into the entrepreneur world, leaving his medical device job to build up his own digital marketing company. With the success of his new endeavor, he then expanded his entrepreneurship by owning 2 more businesses in other industries. Benny & Adam discuss the perks and adversities that come with being an entrepreneur, and how things like processes, core values, and scaling plans are paramount to breaking out of start-up mode and moving into a fully scalable business. Connect with Adam below: https://adammcchesney.com/

Joining Benny on episode 62 is Matt Morrison. Matt was in the Army reserves, deployed in Iraq, where his unit was focused on construction & engineering, which has paid off for him in his professional life and his side hustles. Matt & Benny spend a lot of time on the topic of mental health, and how that’s played a role in both of their professional careers and personal lives. Matt shares some insightful stories on how he has adapted to living with depression – and how he has learned to channel it and not let it derail him. In 2015, Matt purchased a book after seeing it jumping off the shelf to him each time that he visited the airport bookstore. He finally listened to that calling and bought it, and that instinct of following a calling to a book began a new shift in Matt, where he learned to listen to the self-discovery moments that he finds in the world around him. Matt realized that his new dawning is derived from the notion of how in his past he has always said “no” to himself, and “yes” to other people. The paradigm shift of putting his focus on himself first has created a new awakening that has set the foundation of his current path. Connect with Matt below: Crazy Day Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-day/id1651564799 Woodworking: Woodandspirit.net TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodandspirit?_t=8YxKC6dj97G&_r=1

Joining Benny on episode 61 is Vince Cortese. Vince is the host of the Leave Your Mark podcast, which has become an open channel for him to talk about his cancer survivor story, and to help others who have been through something similar. Vince shares his story of fighting cancer, from receiving the diagnosis through the adversities he went through during it, and then overcoming it. This is a powerful & inspirational episode for anyone who’s life has been affected by cancer, whether it’s personally or through a friend or loved one. Connect with Vince below: Leaveyourmarkvc.com vinnie@vinniecmarketing.com

Joining Benny on episode 60 is Pancho Serrano, the owner of Roofers Going Digital, a roofing focused digital marketing agency based in Austin, Texas. Pancho, like Benny, got his start in the automotive industry as a salesman for BMW. Pancho eventually moved from Mexico City to Austin, Texas. Upon relocating to Texas, Pancho found himself in the roofing industry as a salesman, without knowing anything about the roofing industry at the time. After struggling with selling through conventional methods, Pancho soon found his skills were best suited for reaching potential customers online through social media content on LinkedIn. Pancho tells Benny about life in Mexico and how that translates to life in the US, and how his upbringing & worth ethic set him up for success here in the states. Pancho’s company specializes in digital marketing on social media for commercial roofers & contractors to gain more leads, with a focus on LinkedIn. Benny & Pancho have a good discussion on the power of social media content from a personal brand and how that leads to interest on the business pages. Connect with Pancho below: Pancho’s cell# 915-222-0119 @Panchoserano (Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) https://www.roofersgoingdigital.com/

Joining Benny on episode 59 is real estate agent, Sadler Priest. Benny & Sadler have been friends on Facebook for a handful of years and have followed each other’s journeys. When Ben learned about Sadler’s origin story, he immediately wanted to have him on the show. When Sadler was 12 years old, he suffered a very traumatic situation that changed the course of his life from that moment on. Saddler goes into depth about this situation – sparking a great conversation between the two. Sadler has lived all over the country which has helped him embrace the differences that come with clients and colleagues alike. With continued growth in Real Estate, he and his wife – Heidi, formed The Heidi & Sadler Priest Team powered by eXp. This has assisted them in taking control of their business and how to run it with compassion and assertiveness in every situation. Saddler is a Veteran of the ARNG and lives in Butler, Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters. This is a great episode that shows how adverse events from our youth can become a fuel for helping others later in life. Connect with Sadler below: www.priestteam.com

Joining Benny on episode 58 is Cameron Herold, the mastermind behind the exponential growth of hundreds of companies. As the founder of the COO Alliance and the Invest In Your Leaders course, Cameron is a dynamic consultant who has coached some of the biggest names in business, including Sprint Telecom and a monarchy in the Middle East. Known as the "CEO Whisperer", Cameron has a reputation for guiding his clients to double their profits and revenue in just three years or less. Cameron's entrepreneurial journey began at a young age, and by 35, he had helped build his first two $100 million dollar companies. But his greatest achievement came as the COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, where he engineered the company's spectacular growth from $2 million to $106 million in revenue and from 14 to 3,100 employees - all in just six years. Cameron is not just a successful business leader, but also a captivating speaker. The current publisher of Forbes magazine, Rich Karlgaard, stated "Cameron Herold is the best speaker I've ever heard...he hits grand slams”. When he's not on stage, Cameron continues to teach through his Second In Command podcast and his bestselling books, including Vivid Vision, Meetings Suck, Free PR, Double Double, and The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs. Cameron is a top-rated international speaker and has been paid to speak in 26 countries and on all 7 continents, including Antarctica in early 2022. He is also the top-rated lecturer at EO/MIT's Entrepreneurial Masters Program and a powerful and effective speaker at CEO and COO leadership events worldwide. Connect with Cameron below: 480-747-1959 https://www.instagram.com/cameron_herold_cooalliance https://www.facebook.com/cameronherold/ https://www.facebook.com/COOAlliance/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronherold https://www.linkedin.com/company/coo-alliance/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVxhPgUCzGQQw0XuT9EeAFg https://twitter.com/cooalliance Links referenced during episode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/azdvjx00vdxik4r/Chapter%2012%20-%20The%20Roller%20Coaster%20Ride%20of%20Entrepreneurship.pdf?dl=0 https://theresanaiforthat.com/ai/dreamai/ https://everwandertravel.com/2025-vivid-vision/ https://investinyourleaders.com/

Joining Benny on episode 57 is Brittany Laws, of Royal Roofing in Texas. Brittany got her start in business in the oil and gas industry as an executive assistant, and then quickly moved into sales. Following her experience in sales, she then moved into operations. Benny & Brittany talk about their early years of growing up with their respective faiths, and how it served them both as they got older. Brittany came from an entrepreneurial family, and she shares how that helped inspire her to quit her job and start her own entrepreneurial business with Royal Roofing. Benny & Brittany also discuss the perils of “imposter syndrome”, and how prevalent that is among the entrepreneurial minded, and how personality assessments can be crucial to overcoming that. The two then discuss how having that true sense of identity allows someone to authentically find success in sales. This is a great episode for anyone who has thought about leaving their current job to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. Connect with Brittany below: heather@royalroofingoftexas.com https://www.instagram.com/mrs.brittanylaws/ https://www.facebook.com/Mrs.BrittanyLaws

Mandy McIntyre recently started her own business, Level Up Consultants. Where she focuses on business consulting based on leadership and company culture in the roofing industry. She has programs for leadership, Mental Health First Aid and DEI trainings to help recruit, engage and retain employees. She was previously the Operations Officer at 1st Choice Roofing Company in Cleveland, Ohio. Mandy grew up surrounded by construction, as her parents operated their own general contracting business – it was only natural to find a career that was cultivated from her roots. She began her tenure at 1st Choice Roofing in 2013 and has helped facilitate company growth of over 850% in that time. Focusing on the core values of integrity and education, Mandy is a content contributor for BOMA of Greater Cleveland, offering CEU’s in the state of Ohio for building owners and realtors regarding roofing preventative maintenance and service. Mandy has been published in numerous print and video publications, and is a proud member of National Women in Roofing as a contributor at their annual conference. In her free time, Mandy is passionate about TRX, yoga and meditation and can be found working on her practice as both a certified instructor and devout student. Her favorite places as of late are the woods on hikes with her rescue dog, Ghost, or in the gym trying to better herself. Mandy believes it’s the simple things in life that bring the greatest joy, which helps keep a balance between work and life no matter the situation. When managing her day to day routines she consistently reminds herself of a favorite quote from Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius: “Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” Connect with Mandy below! https://levelup-consultants.com mmcintyre@level-upconsultants.com

Joining Benny on episode 55 is fellow Pittsburgh area roofing business owner, Travis Kenny. Travis is a passionate and driven entrepreneur who's true purpose was born with the birth of his first son 10 years ago, and ever since then that purpose continues to grow within everything he does. Travis shares his origin story about his rough situations in his youth, and how that has helped shape the man he has become. Travis & Benny also discuss their faith and how that came to be and how it continues to play a pivotal role in their successes. Connect with Travis: Travis Benjamin (Facebook & Instagram) https://planetroof.com/

Joining Benny on episode 54, is Bobby Jones, a fellow entrepreneur and roofing company owner. Bobby shares his eye-opening story of second chances and overcoming massive life lessons & adversity from jailtime in his youth. Benny & Bobby discuss how inspiring a resurgence in life can be when given a second chance, and turning those life lessons and adversities into fuel for growth as entrepreneurs, husbands, fathers. This is an inspiring episode for anyone who has faced a long hill to climb and found light at the top.

Joining Benny on episode 53 of The Big Fish Cares Podcast is Philip Sessions. Philip is a speaker, author, podcaster, and a member of BMW corporate. Philip is an AI programmer at BMW, programming robots to deliver parts to the assembly lines. He also had a hand in the programming of the actual automations on the assembly line itself. Benny & Philip have in-depth conversations about the current state of AI and the future of AI and how it may impact our culture and jobs. This is an interesting episode for anyone interested in the subject of tech automation & artificial intelligence. Connect with Philip: speakingsessions.com

Joining Benny on episode 52 is friend and fellow contractor, Doug Martin! This is Doug's first podcast ever!  Doug shares his story of new beginnings and second chances - through going to rehab and the adversity he faced in his younger years. Doug helps others get back on their feet after they have experienced the same hardships, and on this episode provides valuable insights throughout the process of starting over. in 2015, Doug started his own roofing company, embarking on his entrepreneurial new beginning (BLC Roofing). Connect with Doug below!: doug@blcroofingoh.com

Joining Benny on episode 51 is fellow roofing company owner and visionary, Dan Lord. Dan shares his origin story from childhood through his early career adventures (which includes opera singing), and eventually leading to the roofing industry. Benny & Dan discuss how they both early on focused on customer service, branding, reviews, and the overall strategy to scaling their business from the beginning. The guys also chat about their own ADHD - and how they've attended to it throughout their career, both using it as a skill to benefit their respective growth. Connect with Dan and his company Mountain Roofing: dan@mountain-roofing.com https://mountain-roofing.com

Joining Benny on Episode 50 (Yes, 50!) is friend & colleague, Elizabeth Lytle. Elizabeth is the Client Success Director of Contractor Dynamics, the leading marketing training company for the construction industry. Elizabeth plays a hands-on role with our clients, creating strategic marketing plans, and overseeing general client success. She loves taking clients’ big ideas and helping them create actionable plans to reach their goals. Benny & Elizabeth chat in depth about ADHD, and the challenges & gifts that come along with having ADHD and working with people who have ADHD. Benny shares his childhood stories about going through school with ADHD and how that has helped shape who he has become today. This is a great episode for anyone who has ADHD, or someone who has a loved one with it.

Joining Benny on episode 49 is fellow roofing company owner, Chuck Allen. Chuck is the CEO & General Manager of Rio Blanco Roofing and Solar in San Antonio, TX. Chuck also is the host of "Keepin' it Rio", his podcast - similar to The Big Fish Cares, Chuck invites fellow industry people on to talk business but also invites people from all walks of life to share their story. Chuck shares his story of working in the industry as a roofing sales rep and how he always felt that he could do more and build something greater - eventually leaving his sales rep role and taking over as an owner of his own roofing company. This is a great episode for anyone looking to break into the industry or looking to move from installer/sales to owner - and learning some tips from someone who has done exactly that. Connect with Chuck! Keepin' It Rio Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@KeepinItRioPodcast Rio Blanco Roofing & Solar: https://www.rioblancoroofing.com/

Joining Benny on episode 48 is Brian Alexander, a Talent Optimization Expert. Brian works with leadership teams and organizations to help improve their teams' mindset & efficiencies. Benny & Brian discuss hurdles and philosophies of becoming an entrepreneur, and the secret sauce behind being successful as a small business owner. Brian got his start as a business owner with a Crossfit gym in the Chicago area, while working a corporate job – eventually leaving the corporate life to grow the gym and expand to more locations. Brian uses assessments to help identify a company’s team make-up and helps them place the right people in the right seats based on their personality trait assessments. This is a great episode for any entrepreneur or small business owner to collect some tips and ideas on how to improve their hiring and internal operations.