On Today's Episode: Bob Brown is the Chief Executive Officer of Modern, the comprehensive full-service mechanical contractor that has been serving clients for 85 years.Bob sits down to discuss what it’s like to take over a major company at the age of 30, how his family’s legacy has impacted his life, and how three generations of leadership have all benefited the business in different ways. Bob also shares an inside look at what Modern does for its clients, how communication has been key to their success, and how their company strives to keep family first.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Real Success with Nate Kaeding

Episode #62: Bob Brown, CEO of Modern

Seth Wallace and Tyler Barnes joined Nate for a live recording earlier this summer to discuss their upcoming season, how NIL and the transfer portal have changed their approach to recruiting, and how managing the Iowa football team is often similar to managing a business.Seth Wallace previously worked as the Assistant Defensive Coordinator for the University of Iowa Football Team before being elevated to Assistant Head Football Coach at the beginning of this year. Tyler Barnes previously served as the Recruiting Director before stepping into the role of Chief of Staff and General Manager earlier this summer.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #61: Live Event (ft. Tyler Barnes and Seth Wallace from University of Iowa Football)

On Today's Episode: Charlie Rohde is the President of King’s Material and Dakota Red Corporation, a legacy company that has been meeting the Midwest’s construction needs since 1882. Charlie sits down with Nate to discuss the history of King’s Material, his father’s history and legacy, what his experience has been like as President of the company, and what the next generation of King’s Material might look like.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #60: Charlie Rohde, King's Material

On Today's Episode: Michael Gerdin is the Chairman and CEO of Heartland Express, a truckload carrier based in North Liberty, IA that serves customers throughout the United States and Mexico, and has been a legacy business in Iowa since it was founded by Michael’s father, Russell Gerdin, in 1978.Michael shares with me the humble origin story of Heartland Express, an inside look at the company’s landmark IPO, and how working his way to the top equipped him for success. He also shares thoughts on how Covid has impacted the trucking industry, what the future may hold for the company, and how he attributes a lot of the company’s success to his family’s propensity for saying no.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #59: Michael Gerdin, Heartland Express

On Today's Episode: Dawn and Brittany Schorg are the mother/daughter duo behind Czech Feather & Down, the Cedar Rapids-based bedding company that has been helping people get better sleep for over 100 years.Dawn and Brittany share with me how Czech Feather & Down started as a household business, how remaining small has given them their unique niche, and how being a women-owned business has worked in their favor. They also explore how online sales have helped their business evolve, how Brittany has helped revolutionize their marketing and online presence, and they share their thoughts on the one unique benefit of working with your family.I learned a lot, and I think you will too.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #58: Dawn & Brittany Schorg of Czech Feather & Down

On Today's Episode: Nate sits down with Naftaly Stramer and Ofer Sivan, the founders of Oasis Street Food and Falafel Restaurant, the Iowa City staple serving and distributing Mediterranean food throughout the state since 2004.Naftaly and Ofer share their early experiences with Mediterranean food and how it inspired them to bring better experiences to the midwest. They also discuss the ad hoc origins of Oasis, how they have found success by identifying needs, and how they think about their partnership and the future of their business.Learn more about Oasis at https://oasisstreetfood.com/This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #57: Naftaly Stramer and Ofer Sivan of Oasis Street Food and Falafel Restaurant

On this special episode of Real Success, I sat down at the Iowa Athletic Club for a live podcast recording with Bob Bowlsby and Beth Goetz, who both have incredible careers in athletics and happen to represent two generations who have taken on the mantle as Athletic Director of the University of Iowa.Bob Bowlsby served as the fourth commissioner of the Big 12 Conference from 2012 to 2022. Prior to that position, he served as the athletic director at the University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, and Stanford University.Beth Goetz is the newly appointed Athletic Director at the University of Iowa, but has been with the department since 2022. She previously was the Athletic Director at Ball State University from 2018 to 2022.Bob and Beth explore the differences between Bob’s time as Iowa’s Athletic Director back in 1990 and Beth’s early experience in the role, how Beth is approaching a new strategic planning process, and the two dig into the changing landscape of college athletics, including the repercussions of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness). Additionally, Beth touches on long-term facility plans at Iowa, both share their thoughts on the deep partnership universities need to have with their communities, and both Bob and Beth take a turn praising Iowa’s most exciting current player, Caitlin Clark.I learned a lot, and I think you will too.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #56: Generations of Athletic Directors (ft. Bob Bowlsby and Beth Goetz LIVE from Iowa Athletic Club)

"On today’s episode, I sit down with Bill and Charlie Nusser, the father and son duo behind Hands Jewelers, a venerable family-operated store in Iowa City providing jewelry, gems, and watches, for over 165 years.Bill and Charlie both share their respective stories about how they first joined the family business, how they navigate the line between business and family, and they explore the unique ways their business has evolved over time. Additionally, Bill reflects on some of the worst adversity the business has faced, Charlie shares how his approach to the financials has shifted, and they both explore what real success means to them.I learned a lot, and I think you will too." - NateLearn more about Hands Jewelers at handsjewelers.com.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #55: Bill and Charlie Nusser, Hands Jewelers

"On today’s episode, I sit down with Leslie Epstein, Owner and CEO of Your Tanning Bar, the airbrush tanning solution in Cedar Rapids, Coralville, and Bettendorf that provides a UV-free alternative to being bronze. Leslie shares how her father influenced her entrepreneurial spirit when she was young, the story of how tanning an entire sorority gave her a first taste of success, and how she capitalized on her niche as well as being early to the Iowa market. Leslie also digs into why her partnership with Hall Perrine Cancer Center and educating the community about “Safe Sun” has been so important, what her early business plan meant to her later success, and Leslie teaches me how exactly airbrush tanning actually works.I learned a lot, and I think you will too." - NateLearn more about Your Tanning Bar at yourtanningbar.comThis podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #54: Leslie Epstein, Owner of Your Tanning Bar

Cale Henderson, Tim Kindl, and Justin Zehr are three of the owners of Fun Not Fancy Restaurant Group, a collection of popular restaurants in Cedar Rapids and Marion.The group shares their unique origin story, the backwards way they approach their restaurant concepts, and how they navigate the modern challenges of restaurant ownership. They also dig into BlocktoberFest and their philanthropic efforts, the new podcast they’re preparing to launch, and how real success looks just a bit different to them than you might expect.I learned a lot, and I think you will too. -NateLearn more about FNF's new podcast, Industry Dogs, at bio.site/industrydogsLearn more about BlocktoberFest II at facebook.com/events/1382342955657636This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #53: Cale, Justin, and Tim from Fun Not Fancy Restaurant Group

On today’s episode, I sit down with Doug Alberhasky, third-generation Owner and Operator of John's Grocery.Doug shares what it was like growing up within the family business, the surprising ways the community has changed his life, and how selling imported beer reinvented John’s Grocery. Doug also digs into the exciting historical film he’s working to bring to life, how John’s Grocery got the nickname “Dirty John’s,” and why real success for Doug has less to do with him and more to do with his son.I learned a lot, and I think you will too. -Nate KaedingLearn more about John's Grocery at johnsgrocery.com, and follow along with the production of the "Death of a Brewer" film on Facebook at facebook.com/deathofabrewer.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #52: Doug Alberhasky, Owner of John's Grocery

On Today's Episode: Nate sits down with Andrew Lehman, Tournament Director of the John Deere Classic, the annual professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour that takes place in the Quad Cities. Andrew shares information on his internship with the golf tournament and how he was in the right place at the right time, what it is like to have an engaged sponsor like John Deere, and they take an inside look at the operations of the nonprofit that runs the tournament. Andrew also discusses some of the ins and outs of the new partnership between PGA and LIV Golf, he gives us an inside look at the new concert series they’re launching this year featuring Darius Rucker and Blake Shelton, and Andrew shares some of his favorite golf memories with us.Learn more about the John Deere Classic at johndeereclassic.com.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #51: Andrew Lehman, Tournament Director of the John Deere Classic

On the 50th episode of the Real Success podcast, Nate sits down with Kirk Ferentz, Head Coach of the University of Iowa Football Team, a position he has held for 25 years. The two discuss how he has seen the landscape of football change since he started his career in the ‘80’s, how they continue to see big returns from small innovations, and how his job at Iowa compares to his time in Maine. They also discuss why he has his team read books on productivity and collaboration, what real success means to someone who has already found a significant level of success in his career, and Nate even gets Coach to share some positive thoughts on special teams and kickers. Follow along with all things Hawkeye Sports at HawkeyeSports.com.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #50: Kirk Ferentz, Head Football Coach at the University of Iowa

On today’s episode, Nate sits down with Scott Keplinger, CEO of Intellisee, the real-time artificial intelligence (AI) risk mitigation platform working to detect and mitigate threats before an incident occurs by using a company’s existing passive surveillance cameras.Scott shares with how his passion for businesses that solve REAL NEEDS has informed his work, his thoughts on how AI will change our lives the same way cell phones did, and how his team is working to use technology to create a safer world. Scott also discusses a number of real use cases for how their company uses AI to save other company’s money and reduce risk, how their unique partnership with the University of Iowa will continue to grow, and how his team is setting ethical boundaries to make sure that the Terminator film never becomes reality.Learn more about Intellisee at intellisee.com.This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode #49: Scott Keplinger, CEO of Intellisee

On Today's Episode: Mark Kaufman is the founder and chairman of Athletico Physical Therapy, a successful national company with local Iowa roots.Mark shares with me how he started with a single rehabilitation center in Chicago back in 1991, his unique insight into how camaraderie motivates rehabilitation, and his perspective from being on the front lines of the new college athletics landscape. Mark also explores how he and his team grew the company to nearly one thousand locations, the ever-changing science (and business) of athletic training, and Mark shares what real success means to him.Learn more about Athletico Physical Therapy at athletico.comThis podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Episode 48: Mark Kaufman, Founder of Athletico Physical Therapy

“Real Success,” produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding, is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you. This Corridor Media Group podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank.

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Real Success with Nate Kaeding

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