Epic Entrepreneurs
Welcome to Epic Entrepreneurs! What does it take to build a real and thriving business in today’s world? As entrepreneurs and business owners, we went into business to have more freedom of time and money. Yet, the path of growing a business isn’t always filled with sunshine and rainbows. In this chart-topping show, host Bill Gilliland; author of the best-selling book “The Coach Approach” leverages his decades of experience coaching proven entrepreneurs to make more money, grow the right teams, and find the freedom of EPIC Entrepreneurship.
Episodes
231 episodes
How Carolina Outdoor Lighting Built A People-First Business with Maja Potocki
What does it really take to turn a two-person hustle into a durable, people-first business? We sit down with Maja, co-founder of Carolina Outdoor Lighting, to trace the arc from answering irrigation clients’ lighting requests to building a desi...
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21:29
From Chaos To Calm with Jess Reed Green Mountain Space
Imagine walking into a home that felt chaotic yesterday and feels peaceful today. That’s the promise behind luxury organizing done right, and we brought back Jess Reed of Green Mountain Space to unpack exactly how her team delivers one‑day tran...
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28:12
Own Your Energy: Coaching For Hospitality Growth with Christine Smith
What if the biggest block to your team’s performance isn’t strategy, but unspoken tension? We sit down with hospitality business coach Christine Smith to unpack how emotional intelligence, honest conversation, and patient self-trust can transfo...
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25:04
From Small Excavator to Booked Solid: How Craft, Focus, and Integrity Built a Local Powerhouse with Ryan Wooten
What does it look like to grow a local contracting business without billboards, gimmicks, or chaos? We sit down with owner-operator Ryan Wooten, who went from a single excavator to a respected residential grading and retaining wall company by d...
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19:36
How a 26-Year-Old Turned Painting Into Premium Hospitality with Cedric Merrills of WOW Painting
What if your contractor experience felt more like a five-star hotel stay than a gamble with your calendar and patience? That’s the challenge Cedric Merrills took on when he left wedding photography to build WOW 1 Day Painting in Asheville—a com...
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31:06
Building Trust: Home Inspections, Growth, and the Power of Planning with Will King
Buying or selling a home shouldn’t feel like a blindfolded leap. We sit down with Will King—former teacher, now owner of Highside Home Inspections—to unpack how steady maintenance, clear education, and intentional planning reduce anxiety and cr...
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19:23
From Second-Generation Electrician to Strategic Partner: How Thomas Fleming Builds Trust, Talent, and Cash Flow Resilience
Ever wonder why a $150/hour service call doesn’t mean the owner makes $150? We pull back the panel with Thomas Fleming, president of Strategic Electrical Solutions, to explore the real economics of the trades—7,000 hours of experience, a daunti...
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31:42
Ten Years, Two Markets: How Big Frog Turned Branded Apparel into a Community Growth Engine With David Riddell
What if your logo could sell for you every day—quietly, consistently, and everywhere your customers go? We sit down with David Riddell of Big Frog Custom T‑Shirts to unpack a decade of growth powered by flexible production, community presence, ...
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25:31
When entrepreneurship gets hard, sell something—and keep customers, team, and mission first with Brad Currin WNC Built
What if a remodeling company could also be a recovery engine for families and a launchpad for veterans? That’s the story Brad from WNC Built brings to the table—a ground-up look at how service, sales, and culture can scale a local business whil...
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16:18
How a Banker and Nurse Became Cedar Experts with Dale and Stephanie Hatfield
What happens when a banking executive and a registered nurse decide to completely reinvent their lives at age 55? Dale and Stephanie's journey from comfortable careers to launching Cedar Direct, a specialty lumberyard in Western North Carolina,...
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18:48
From Crawlspaces to Classrooms: How Justin Berger Revolutionized Home Inspection
Justin Berger takes us behind the curtain of home inspection entrepreneurship, revealing how his business evolved from a simple scheduling concept to the comprehensive team-based approach that's driven 20% year-over-year growth for Home Inspect...
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39:31
From Louisville to Western NC: How Lyn Mabry Built a Pure Design Business
What happens when you take a leap of faith, leave behind a successful business, and start over in a new community? Lyn Mabry, founder of Designing Spaces by Lyn, did exactly that when she followed her dream of living in the mountains of Western...
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30:58
From Recession to Success: How BCA Architecture Grew Through Community with Brent Campbell and Erin Foy
What happens when you launch an architecture firm on the very day a recession begins? For Brent Campbell, founder of BCA Architecture and Design, that seemingly terrible timing in 2007 became the foundation for a thriving Asheville-based practi...
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29:36
Building Legacy: From Family Trade to Luxury Construction with Doug Peterson
What does it take to build multi-million dollar luxury homes in today's challenging market? Doug Peterson of Peterson Builders TX pulls back the curtain on his third-generation construction business that's thriving in the competitive Texas Hill...
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18:47
The Balanced Business: Building Coastland Tree Works with Spencer Unger
What does it take to transform specialized skills into a thriving business while maintaining your sanity and creating a workplace people actually want to join? Spencer from Coastland Tree Works reveals exactly that in this candid conversation a...
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23:52
From Decks to Airbnbs: Creating Multiple Revenue Streams with Derek Prince
Derek Prince takes us behind the scenes of his entrepreneurial journey as founder of Pro Property Services, Asheville's premier exterior contracting company specializing in deck construction, siding, roofing, and log cabin restoration. But this...
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23:09
Paver Perfection: Building a Niche Business Empire with Garfield Jones
Carving out a specialized niche might seem limiting, but for Garfield Jones of Paver Perfection, it's been the foundation of his entrepreneurial success. Broadcasting from Palm Beach - what Garfield calls "the paver capital of the world" - this...
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18:42
Hurricane to Opportunity: Rebuilding Western NC Business with Brett Hulsey
Brett Hulsey's journey from college newspaper staffer to media company owner defies conventional wisdom about print's demise in a digital world. As owner of Holsey Media Group and WNC Business Magazine, Brett shares how he transformed a small p...
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33:03
Reputation, Reliability, and Retirement Plans: A Different Kind of Painting Business with Jeremy Gunn
What does it take to build a thriving business in a traditionally blue-collar industry? Jeremy Gunn of JBG Painting reveals the surprising answers in this candid conversation about entrepreneurship, employee retention, and creating real value.<...
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35:24
What Happens When Dreams Meet Strategy with Jacqueline Boone
Dreams fuel every great business achievement, yet most organizations struggle to bridge the gap between inspirational vision and practical implementation. This disconnect isn't just philosophical—it's costing the global economy $438 billion ann...
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24:41
Unlocking the Value of Your Business: Insights from Viking Mergers & Acquisitions with Jeff McKeehan and Chris Buehler
Successful entrepreneurs know their business is often their largest asset, yet most lack a clear strategy for unlocking its full value when it's time to move on. Jeff McKeehan and Chris Buehler from Viking Mergers & Acquisitions pull back t...
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26:37
Same-Day Decisions: How Local Banking is Disrupting Finance with Andy Nadeau
When was the last time your banker gave you a same-day decision? For most business owners, the answer is "never" – but Andy Nadeau and his team at FB Financial are changing that reality in Western North Carolina."We tell business owners...
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28:26
How SEO Changed Everything for 4 Square Roofing, with James Hamilton III
What happens when you combine roofing expertise with self-taught digital marketing skills? James from 4 Square Roofing reveals the blueprint that transformed his business from struggling startup to a lead-generating powerhouse without spending ...
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20:22
The XP League Revolution: How Local Entrepreneurs Are Transforming Youth Gaming Culture with Cheryl and Mark Chambers
Ever wondered how to transform your child's gaming obsession into something that actually builds valuable life skills? Meet Cheryl Chambers, who along with her husband Mark, is revolutionizing youth gaming culture through XP League Asheville.
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25:09
Asheville is Open: How Local Businesses Are Bouncing Back Together with Jessica Kanupp
Ever wondered what happens when you join your local Chamber of Commerce but never show up? Jessica Kanupp, Director of Member Marketing and Sales at the Asheville Chamber, calls this the "ultimate missed opportunity" in this energetic conversat...
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28:31
