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
246 episodes
How A Local Carpet Pro Built Trust, Team, And A Thriving Service Business with Bret Wooton
What does it really take to turn a hands-on trade into a trusted local brand? We sat down with Bret Wooten of Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning to trace the path from employee to owner and uncover the simple, repeatable habits that drive customer l...
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17:25
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Crawl Spaces Aren’t Fun, But Getting Good Reviews Are — with Howard Jones
Emergencies don’t wait for office hours, and neither does Howard Jones. As the owner-operator of Healthy Home Environmental, he steps into flooded rooms and damp crawl spaces with a simple promise: fast response, straight talk, and work done th...
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17:00
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From Small Jobs To Big Wins: How A Handyman Scales With Profit, People, And Process with Dennis Koval
A five-star review doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built on numbers, people, and promises you keep. We sit down with Dennis Koval of FixnCarolina Pro Handyman Service to unpack how a local home services company scales with profit discipline and...
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16:29
Why Smart Owners Outsource Peace Of Mind For Their Seasonal Homes with Nick Gomez
What happens to a mountain home when the owner is a thousand miles away and a sudden freeze cracks a pipe? We sat down with Nick Gomez, founder of Mountain Vantage Properties, to explore how a home watch and property caretaking company protects...
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36:26
Grow People First, Then Profit Follows, with Ryan Ducker
Storms don’t just hit mountains—they hit companies. We sat down with Ryan Ducker, CEO of Ducker Land Management in Western North Carolina, to explore how a contractor that repairs landslides, builds engineered retaining walls, and crafts comple...
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40:34
Financing Growth For Small Businesses with Roberta McCullough
Growth isn’t luck; it’s a set of choices made on clear numbers, the right people, and the right capital. Cliff sits down with Roberta McCullough, COO of Institute Capital, to unpack how a Community Development Financial Institution helps founde...
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20:53
Craft, Culture, And The Business Of Restoration In Asheville with Alex Nebe
Old homes aren’t just charming—they’re built with materials and methods that can outlast anything at the big-box store. We sit down with craftsman and founder Alex Nebe of Retune Restoration to explore how careful preservation and thoughtful up...
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18:20
How Word Of Mouth Turned A Tough Trade Into A Thriving Company with Zeke Seaton
What if the strongest growth lever in home services isn’t ads, but trust? We sit down with Zeke Seaton of Solid ARM Solutions and Carolina Radon to explore how a healthy-home mission—mold remediation, crawl space encapsulation, moisture control...
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16:33
How Boundaries, Delegation, And Transparency Fuel a Thriving Interior Design Firm with Kateri Babb
Want a behind‑the‑scenes blueprint for growing a creative business without burning out? We sit down with Kateri, founder of Kateri Jane Designs, to unpack the practical playbook that powers her interior design studio: flexible systems, honest c...
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27:47
Music Is Fun Until You Forget To Invoice with Mari Hashimoto
Want a candid look at how a working musician turns raw talent into a real business without losing the joy? We bring on violinist and violist Mari Hashimoto to share the unglamorous truth behind dreamy ceremonies and flawless gala sets—boundarie...
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19:38
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Be Present in Your Purpose, How A Contractor Rebuilt, Scaled, And Gave Back with Nathan and Jen Dockery
Start with one truck. Add a bankruptcy, a marriage, a few core subs, and a vision for building big. Nathan and Jen Dockery share how Dockery Group went from reset to rapid growth by anchoring every decision in values, stewardship, and service—a...
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34:07
Networking That Actually Works; Lessons From A Home Inspector with Michael Van Hall
If growth feels random and networking feels like wasted donuts, this conversation will reset your playbook. We sit down with home inspector Michael Van Hall of Blue Mountain Home Inspections, a builder-turned-inspector who shows how stacked han...
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16:58
We Put Graffiti On Trucks And The Phone Wouldn’t Stop Ringing with Brendan Hogan Asheville Area Movers
What does it take to come back from losing every single truck overnight? We sit down with Brendan Hogan of Asheville Area Movers to unpack a hard-won playbook for rebuilding stronger: bold branding that makes phones ring, smart technology that ...
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22:43
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Leading Through Chaos With Futurist Thinking with Wendy White
What if you could spot disruption weeks before it hits and turn it into momentum? That question drives our conversation with Wendy White, co-founder and CEO of Continuum Consulting Services, whose 30-year path runs from ropes courses and catama...
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33:52
Stress Relief On Moving Day; How College H.U.N.K.S. Delivers Peace Of Mind with Anne Smith
Moving day can feel like a storm. We sat down with Anne Smith of College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving in Asheville to unpack how her team turns chaos into calm through mindset, leadership development, and community-rooted service. From the mom...
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24:15
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
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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
