Main Street Makers

Listen to the inspiring journey of Yolanda McCray, owner of Skyler M Style & Wellness, as she details starting a fashion and lifestyle boutique as a side business. She highlights how she prioritizes business credit today to be ready for future growth. Also, she discusses creating a business model focused on a passion for crafting, her sales strategies and challenges, as well as the importance of mental health.

—

Nav Technologies...

In this eye-opening episode, credit expert Gerri Detweiler offers lessons from when her personal and business identities were stolen simultaneously. Discover the financial (and emotional) impacts of having one's identity stolen — as well as practical identity theft protection tips. Plus, learn how personal credit can affect your business, why business credit matters, and steps you can start taking to build it today.

As mentione...

In this episode, Dale and Kat of Kitty Badhands discuss their journey as small business owners in the e-commerce retail space, focusing on their holiday planning and cash flow strategies. They share insights on avoiding overproduction, navigating inventory management, and the importance of planning ahead — for Small Business Saturday all the way through the holiday season.

—

Nav Technologies, Inc. (“Nav”) makes no assurances or repr...

In this episode, Emily Millheim of Emily Marie Glass explains how she works full time and runs a thriving glass-blowing business. Discover practical tips for managing time, making your health a top priority, and leveraging skills from one career to enhance the other. Whether you're considering starting a side hustle or already juggling multiple roles, this episode offers inspiration and guidance to help you navigate the comple...

Listen as Vincent Latteri, founder of Hito Pak and Pak Hope, shares how a life-changing experience abroad sparked his mission to serve the unhoused community. He talks about lessons learned from running multiple businesses, staying proactive when challenges come fast, and why he believes people — not profits — are a small business’s greatest asset.

—

Nav Technologies, Inc. (“Nav”) makes no assurances or representations regarding the...

In this episode, the owner of BCK Ranch, Ryan Lockwood, shares how a family health crisis sparked the launch of their thriving family-owned-and-operated microgreens business. Ryan opens up about bootstrapping startup costs, building business credit with Nav, and expanding — despite big bank rejections. He shares real insights into juggling personal savings and reinvesting profits to fuel aggressive growth. Get tips on stepping out ...

In this episode, seasoned entrepreneur Cassandra Outlaw shares her journey through various business ventures, including farming, real estate, and a restaurant. Cassandra discusses the importance of overcoming fear, building a supportive network, and understanding business credit. Learn valuable insights on using net-30 accounts to build credit and help establish legitimacy.

—

Nav Technologies, Inc. is a financial technology company a...

Listen as Tammy Valentine, owner of LuckyTamm Marketing Group, shares her journey to build a successful marketing agency from what was originally a side hustle. Tammy emphasizes the need to delegate as a business grows, and how important it is for her to be the opposite of a micromanager. Additionally, she touches on the common traits of successful small businesses she interacts with — ending with insider tips on marketing oneself ...

In this conversation, we talk with successful entrepreneur, Yizreel Tate, who owns several businesses, including a transportation company. Yizreel shares insights on how he scaled his business from one party bus to over 100 vehicles in just a few years, emphasizing the role of community support and the need for proper organization and resources for aspiring entrepreneurs. He also provides valuable insights into navigating the fundi...

In this conversation, we talk with Chad Huber, former entrepreneur and current product manager at Nav who led the development of the Nav Prime Card. Chad emphasizes how his small business days taught him the importance of understanding customer needs and building relationships as core components of business success. He also discusses how providing value and differentiation can lead to a thriving business — as long as you have the r...

In this episode, we talk with Kathleen Lauer, the owner of Inspire Salon, about the challenges and successes in running a small business in the beauty industry. Kathleen shares her initial fears about stepping away from directly cutting hair and into a pure leadership role — but that it became the catalyst pushing her business into growth mode.

—

Nav Technologies, Inc. (“Nav”) makes no assurances or representations regarding the acc...

In this engaging conversation, Marty McDonald shares her bold entrepreneurial journey. Learn how one cold email to Target got her placed in over 400 stores. She discusses business challenges faced by entrepreneurs, particularly women of color, while also emphasizing the importance of community building, mindset, and self-advocacy.

—

Nav Technologies, Inc. (“Nav”) makes no assurances or representations regarding the accurac...

In this episode, small business owner Clarence Adams shares the importance of focusing on building business credit early on — so you’re not relying solely on personal credit — as well as the value of mentorship. The conversation highlights common struggles faced by small business owners and offers valuable insights for those starting their own businesses.

—

Nav Technologies, Inc. (“Nav”) makes no assurances or re...

In this episode of Main Street Makers, Christine Hodge shares her inspiring journey from being a paralegal to becoming the co-owner of a successful family window cleaning business. With over 21 years in the industry and a revenue of $2 million, Christine discusses the importance of systems for pricing and cash flow management, and the significance of building a community with other like-minded small business owners.

<...

In our first ever episode, learn how Blake Milam took Guapaholics, a lifestyle brand, from a dorm room operation to a thriving small business. Host Catherine talks with Blake about his entrepreneurial journey, where he emphasizes the importance of research, consistency, and sacrifice when growing a small business. He also highlights how building business and personal credit was crucial for his company's growth, and how he plan...

Welcome to Main Street Makers, the podcast for small business owners who are building the backbone of our communities. I’m your co-host, Tiffany, and if you’re running—or dreaming of starting — a local business that makes our neighborhoods vibrant and connected, you’re in the right place.

From hair salons to construction companies to cleaning services, small businesses like yours are what keep Main Street thriving. But let’s face it...