OUTdrive – Details, episodes & analysis

In this final episode of OUTdrive with Cliff Callis at the mic, Cliff and agency president Megan Hartman reflect on the evolution of the podcast, the growth of Callis and what lies ahead. From its launch in 2020 during the early days of the pandemic to 250+ episodes later, OUTdrive has shone a spotlight on rural American voices. Now, as Cliff steps into a new chapter and Megan takes over as host, this monthly touchpoint is evolving as well, bringing fresh insights and a continued commitment to clients and our community.

Rocky Sickmann has lived a life few can imagine. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and one of the 52 Americans held for 444 days during the Iranian hostage crisis, Rocky's story is one of faith, endurance and purpose. In this episode, he reflects on his time in captivity, the values that sustained him and the lives lost that continue to inspire his work. Now serving as Director of Anheuser-Busch accounts for Folds of Honor, he shares how his journey led him to a mission that helps provide scholarships for families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders. It's a conversation about country, commitment and carrying on.

What makes someone click "buy" online? Sarah Gallagher has been chasing that answer for over 20 years. As the leader of Gamma Waves, a Shopify-focused e-commerce agency, she's helping brands grow with smarter strategy, faster sites and more human experiences. In this episode, Sarah and Cliff talk about how the online shopping space has evolved, what brands can do to stand out and why performance matters more than ever.

Agriculture is the biggest industry in Missouri and its importance to feeding the world is enormous. In addition to growing crops for food and fiber, storage and distribution are vital tasks in the process. Our guest today has been producing for nearly 50 years grain bins that enable farmers to store their produce until they're ready to sell. Bub Caldwell is the President of W. B. Young, Missouri's premier grain handling specialist since 1959.

In this episode, Bub shares the story of how W. B. Young was founded, his evolving role over the years, and how he has grown the business by paying attention to what's going on in the world, building relationships and taking care of his customers and employees. He also describes how he is transitioning his business and rewarding his loyal employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and how that works.   

Twice a year, our agency principals team up with other small agency owners around the country to catch up and help each other be better.  We've been involved in a peer group for nearly 20 years and it's one of the reasons we've been able to stay relevant and current with all the changes going on in our industry.  When we get together, whether it's in person or virtual, we discuss the hottest marketing trends, share best practices and new technologies, pitch big ideas and talk through the challenges we're facing in our firms.  

Today, I'm driving solo to share some of those hottest marketing trends and tips with you.  Sit tight and listen in for insight on what's working and what you should be working on, things to think about for your own marketing program and questions you should ask yourself to help you fine tune what you're doing.  It's brief but packed full of marketing insight for rural America.

I always love talking shop with other agency owners. In this intriguing episode, I interview John Smiddy, founder, president and chief strategist at LeadPlan Marketing in Michigan. He's also the author of the book Stop Guessing Start Marketing and the host of The Marketing Fundamentals Podcast. John got his start in the music business, touring around the country with a variety of bands, promoting products at those shows and realizing that as much as he enjoyed playing music, he really loved the marketing side of it. Listen in as John shares the logic behind his P5 marketing strategy, how to build a strong brand identity and how to scale a business through effective marketing. We also get into the digital marketing landscape and where we see it going into the future.

We believe we've got it pretty good out here in rural America, where we enjoy a high quality of life, with plenty of great opportunities and a safe environment in which to live, work and play. It may be the world's best kept secret. Our guest today is a person who is telling that story through his work in economic development consulting. Rob Harrington is the principal of Rural Growth Strategies, and he founded his company to help small communities overcome the challenges of getting their message out to someone who may be interested in what they have to offer. Listen in to get a better understanding about the people of rural America, hear about some of the opportunities we have here, gain insight into why a business should consider relocating to a small community and learn how technology and innovation are creating a springboard to future growth.

It's always amazing how one experience in life prepares you for the ones that follow.  That's the way it's supposed to be, right?  Our podcast guest, Jim Marino, got his start during college working for a construction, development and marketing conglomerate in Missouri.  From there, he took his sales, project management and business expertise to a metal building manufacturer in Georgia and a garage door maker in Alabama, before coming full circle in his current role as a Business Development Executive for a steel building company in Texas.  Listen in as Jim and I discuss how business development, sales and marketing integrate to form a powerful tool to grow a business, the biz dev strategies he employs to recruit and retain clients and his appreciation for growing up in a small town in rural America.

Most people today recognize that digital media has revolutionized modern marketing plans. Yet, nothing replaces the look and feel of a high-end magazine. Every day, millions of people throughout rural America and the world consume content found in magazines, and then they pass them along. Today's guest has built a highly successful career creating, publishing, marketing and in some cases, selling upscale lifestyle magazines targeted to female readers. Listen in to hear about Dave Leathers' career path, how he has grown and marketed many different publications and his thoughts on rural America.

Very few family businesses survive past a third generation and a fourth is a rarity. Zephyr Manufacturing is one of those elite companies that has not only survived but thrived for nearly 100 years. Our guest today is R.J. Lindstrom, who is the current president, owner and great-grandson of the founder. Built on values that focus on made in America, quality products and great customer service, Zephyr is around today because of the business and marketing decisions made by R.J. and his predecessors. One thing's for sure – each generation had to be open to change and evolve to meet its current and future needs.