Made In Mississippi

Since this episode aired in May, 2018, Robert St. John has revitalized a community and created a catalyst for economic development in Mississippi's capital city.  St. John is one of the managing partners of the development that includes The Capri, The Pearl Tiki bar, and the Highball Lanes restaurant, bar, and 10-lane bowling alley.  St. John's story is a testament to the wisdom and insight of entrepreneurship in Mississippi.

This episode marks the beginning of a new Era for Made In Mississippi. Casey Combest hosts a fun interview with Shelly Withers Janous.  Janous is originally from Starkville, MS and is a successful entreprenuer in Clinton, MS. Listen as they talk about her career, and the persistence, hard work and faith that has prepared her for "such a time as this"- Esther 4:14. Casey finishes the episode with a big reveal about the future of Made in Mississippi. 

For this episode of Made in Mississippi, we turn the tables and hear from Casey Combest, owner of Blue Sky Studios and founder of the Made in Mississippi podcast. Casey sits down with Erin to talk about how he got his start and how to build a business that's the right size for your goals. Casey also shares how he learned that that success doesn't always look like building a bigger team. 

Wyatt Waters started painting as a young child and hasn't stopped since. Listen in as he shares the story of the path he took to turn his love of painting into a successful enterprise.

Lucy Schultze runs Red Window Communications in Oxford, Mississippi. Red Window's goal is to be the agency that helps better align a client's real-life message with their online message. In this episode, we speak about the power of relationships, the unique way Lucy started Red Window, and the value of having the next generation involved in your business. 

Jon David Cole started working at The Country Squire during grad school with no aspirations to become an entrepreneur. Listen in to his story of how in an unexpected turn of events he bought the business and has grown it to be known worldwide.

Paul Lavallee of Lavallee Electric joins this episode of Made in Mississippi. Paul sat down with Erin to share about what got him started in the electrical business and how Lavallee Electric has grown today. He also breaks down the importance of leveraging the skills you have and building on them so you can aim for growth no matter your industry.

Dr. Lee Gary and Dr. Wendy Lewis join the Made In Mississippi podcast on this episode. They share what it’s like to build a truly unique experience that customers look forward too, in a field that typically brings A LOT of anxiety for customers. Wendy and Lee also share about putting the customer experience first, their lessons learned, and what it takes to enjoy the journey of entrepreneurship in Mississippi. 

Vince Vavrunek is now building his second business after selling his first. Listen in to hear what drove him toward entrepreneurship in the first place and the decisions he made along the way to build a business that he was able to sell. 

On this episode, Marilyn Tinnin and Katie Eubanks join us to discuss 20 years of Mississippi Christian Living. Marilyn and Katie discuss how Katie came to own the brand, and how it has changed over time. Listen in to hear more, or check them out at www.mschristianliving.com or Facebook.com/mschristianliving

Rina White joins us on this episode to share about her journey to entrepreneurship through the acquisition of an already existing, stable business with a platform holding potential for expansion. Rina desired to be an entrepreneur, but she did not have a start up idea or team. By following an acquisition route, she was able to "de-risk" entrepreneurship. Listen in to hear more about her path to owning Laundry South. You can check out her business at www.laundrysouth.com 

Cliff Osbon, co-owner of Office Evolution in Flowood, sits down with Erin in this episode, where he shares insight and wisdom as a seasoned entrepreneur. He details his journey from the beginning of his career, and emphasizes how paying attention to cultural trends can help you be more informed to make wise business decisions and take hold of new business opportunities. Filled with great nuggets of wisdom that can be applied to any stage of your career, this is an episode not to miss!

Leslie Ann Jones the founder of Muscadine Press, shares her entrepreneurial journey from her first sale on Etsy to building a robust retail and wholesale business all from her spare bedroom. Get the inside scoop on how she added wholesale into her business model and how relationships have played a part in her success.

Denny VanderMolen of Vermeer MidSouth and Jackson Endeavors joins us today to discuss the ins and outs of how business impacts life. Denny discusses with us the importance of identifying and finding a good partnership to support the end game. Not only that, but he also discusses what it looks like to balance ego and humility in business. Most importantly, Denny discusses the role time can play in both business in life, and the importance of using it well. You can find out more about his work at vermeermidsouth.com or call 601.720.8830 to find out more about Jackson Endeavors.

On this episode, Casey and Erin (S8E2) discuss the past and future of Made in Mississippi. Join Casey and Erin as they discuss where the show is heading, and what it looks like for entrepreneurs in the state. Listen in to find the why behind the podcast. If you're interested in finding out more about Erin Fults, check out Season 8 Episode 2. Subscribe to our email chain madeinmississippi.com and give us a follow at madeinms on social media.

Robby Followell of Followell Fotography shares on this episode about his experiences building his brand. In his photography, Robby works hard to ensure that all aspects point back towards the specific passions of what he is best at and what he enjoys most. Listen in to hear about what it looked like for Robby to identify who and what his brand is. We know you'll enjoy this episode. Check Robby out at followellfotography.com or on Instagram @rfollowell or @followellfotography

Marlo Kirkpatrick is a professional storyteller who found her skill of writing. One of the unique things that Marlo does is that she helps businesses tell her story. Listen in to hear Marlo share about the importance of stories for businesses. As a writer, one of her favorite things is seeing ordinary people do extraordinary things. If you want to learn more, look at kirkpatrickporchcreative.com 

Sajani Barot of The Skin Consult joins to discuss how she as a trained, licensed pharmacist is impacting the skin care world. What originally started as Sajani working towards a better skincare routine for herself has transformed into a tele-health consultation business that helps people find confidence and understanding in their personalized skincare routine. Listen in to hear how The Skin Consult is making a difference.

Sarah Smythe of Lagniappe, an interior design, gift shop, and wedding and event planning business, joined in on this episode to discuss her journey over the past few years. Sarah, from MS, spent time in NYC but decided to come back to open her business in MS. Sarah shared about the importance of finding what you love and jumping right in. If you're interested in learning more, follow them on Instagram @misslagniappe or on Facebook.

CreateHealth is an outsource marketing department that does a variety of things ranging from digital advertising to traditional prints to social media. Robyn and Tobey have their foundations in healthcare, but they have expanded to other types of businesses. Their best advice is that if you want something to happen. you have to make it happen. Listen in to find out what makes CreateHealth different, or check them out at creathealth.ms