Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Valeria Torres for a powerful, wide-ranging conversation on leadership, resilience, branding, and the psychology behind sustainable business growth.

Valeria shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. at a young age to building a career in the legal industry and ultimately pioneering a niche at the intersection of executive leadership and industrial organizational psychology. As a Director of Operations at 8 Figure Firm Consulting, Valeria helps law firms scale into true businesses, while her personal brand, ValeriaTorres.io, supports executives navigating burnout, identity, and high-performance leadership.

This conversation goes far beyond tactics. Together, Heidi and Valeria unpack what it really means to build a business that aligns with your strengths, why perfection is the enemy of growth, and how personal branding has become a critical driver of trust and differentiation in both B2B and B2C markets.

Listeners will walk away with practical insights on why multitasking is a myth, how to reframe failure as fuel for growth, and why defining success on your own terms is essential for long-term impact.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-torres-/

Website: https://valeriatorres.io/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Show Notes:

In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, Heidi Schalk sits down with Raja Danish, Co Founder and CEO of Wise Medical Billing, to unpack the real challenges healthcare providers face with revenue cycle management and medical billing accuracy. Raja shares insights from his background in operations and healthcare, highlighting how inefficient processes, lack of KPI tracking, and outdated billing practices directly impact cash flow and patient experience.

The conversation explores common billing mistakes, the role of automation and AI in modern medical billing, and why providers must either learn their numbers or partner with experts who can help them scale sustainably. Raja also breaks down the importance of benchmarking performance, reducing denial rates, and building tailored billing strategies instead of one size fits all solutions.

This episode is a must listen for healthcare practitioners and practice owners who want to improve revenue realization, streamline operations, and focus more on patient care while ensuring their business remains financially healthy.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajadanish/

Website: WiseMedicalBilling.com

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Scott Stout, CEO of MedVector, to unpack one of the biggest bottlenecks in modern medicine. Patient recruitment for clinical trials.

Scott shares how outdated recruitment methods like billboards and generic digital ads are slowing innovation and delaying life changing treatments by years. He explains the complex tension between FDA requirements and HIPAA privacy laws and why this has created a broken multibillion dollar sub industry.

You will learn how MedVector is rethinking the entire clinical trial model by putting physicians back at the center of the process and leveraging telemedicine to unlock access, improve diversity, and dramatically reduce patient leakage. Scott also walks through his unconventional journey from finance and wealth management into healthcare innovation and how one simple question sparked the creation of MedVector.

This conversation dives into decentralized clinical trials, the cultural resistance within pharma, why adoption is harder than technology, and what the next three to five years will look like for remote and hybrid trial models.

If you are interested in healthcare innovation, clinical research, patient access, or scaling a marketplace driven business, this episode offers powerful insights from the front lines.

Bio:

Scott Stout is the Founder & CEO of MedVector, a company revolutionizing how clinical trial sites collaborate with local doctors. The result unlocks access to advanced medicine for millions of patients otherwise trapped behind treating physicians who don't refer patients to clinical trials.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stout-01992653/

Website: www.MedVector.com

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Lisa Doehnert of Ease Learning to explore how organizations can scale adult learning programs without sacrificing quality, learner engagement, or integrity.

With over 20 years of experience in EdTech and adult learning, Lisa shares deep insights into instructional design, skills-based learning, workforce development, and the evolving role of AI in education. The conversation also highlights Ease Learning’s mission-driven approach, including its Freedom Talent Network that empowers military spouses and transitioning veterans through meaningful remote work opportunities.

This episode is a must-listen for education leaders, corporate training teams, workforce development professionals, and organizations navigating skills gaps, online learning design, and rapid program scaling.

Bio:

Lisa has dedicated her entire career to improving learner outcomes at scale. She spent the last 17 years working with custom educational content development teams on K-12 projects, accepting leadership positions along the way that included directing project management and operations for adult learners. Her leadership and oversight of several key accounts resulted in the development of multiple innovative programs, a robust library of market-leading free and open higher ed textbooks, and high-quality online programs with distinguished faculty at institutions such as NYU, Tulane, and Johns Hopkins. In 2022, she completed her MBA and pivoted to a career in business development. Determined to meet any budget, schedule, or learning challenge, Lisa is passionate about being a go-to solution for her clients and bringing teams together to achieve goals through creative problem-solving and workflow efficiencies.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ldoehnert/

Website: https://easelearning.com/

Connect with me:

🎁Spotlight to Scale: Spotlight to Scale Blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk, Co-Founder of HLH Growth Solutions, sits down with Maura Mitchell, Managing Director of Entrepreneurial Services at the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC). As we step into 2026, the conversation explores what it truly takes to start and scale a business without burning out, overspending, or going it alone.

Maura shares how the WBDC has supported entrepreneurs for nearly 40 years by providing access to capital, contracts, and connections. She breaks down why traditional business plans often fail early-stage founders and explains how the Lean Startup Method and the Business Model Canvas create faster clarity with far less risk.

The discussion also goes deeper into the human side of entrepreneurship. Maura opens up about how personal loss reshaped the way she advises business owners, why holding space matters, and how stillness can unlock clarity, creativity, and sustainable growth. Together, Heidi and Maura challenge hustle culture, emphasize market validation over perfection, and invite listeners to define success on their own terms.

This episode is a must-listen for founders, solopreneurs, and advisors who want to build profitable businesses that actually fit their lives.

Bio:

Maura helps entrepreneurs navigate the hardest parts of starting and growing a business with honesty, curiosity, and a deep understanding of what it means to keep going after profound loss. After losing her husband and best friend, Duncan, she learned firsthand how to lead with both courage and tenderness.

Now, she guides others through moments of uncertainty, whether they’re launching something new or scaling a business that no longer fits who they’ve become. Her approach blends strategy with stillness, vision with vulnerability. She reminds entrepreneurs they don’t need all the answers to begin. They just need to take one brave, honest step forward.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellmaura/

Website: www.wbdc.org

Connect with me:

🎁Spotlight to Scale: Spotlight to Scale Blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Clayton Swalstad, President of Integrated Psych Solutions, to explore how purpose-driven leadership and operational strategy can transform mental health care delivery at scale.

Clayton shares his unconventional journey from high school dropout to Air Force veteran, healthcare executive, and mental health advocate. He explains how Integrated Psych Solutions evolved from a small inpatient psychology service into a multi-state organization providing acute, outpatient, tele-mental health, school-based services, and correctional facility support across Georgia and Florida.

The conversation dives deep into what differentiates their integrated care model, including embedding therapists directly into hospital settings, extending care beyond discharge, and addressing underserved populations through partnerships with hospitals, FQHCs, schools, and county jail systems.

Clayton also discusses the realities of scaling a healthcare organization, navigating staffing challenges post-pandemic, building payer and hospital relationships, securing sustainable funding, and preventing clinician burnout through intentional culture and leadership.

This episode highlights how mission, systems, and strategic growth can coexist while making a measurable impact on mental health outcomes for patients, families, and communities.

Bio:

Clayton Swalstad joined Integrated Psych Solutions in 2021. He has 28 years of senior management experience in hospital and physician network operations.

Prior to joining IPS, Clayton served in several senior inpatient medicine and operations roles with Parkview Physicians Group, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group and EmCare, Inc. and has held several executive leadership roles managing physician networks at Florida companies like Open MRI of Orlando, Medical Management Options, Inc., and PainCARE Management Services, Inc.

A member of the American College of Medical Practice Executives, Clayton is a Certified Medical Practice Executive and a member of the Medical Group Managers Association, the American College of Healthcare Executives and has been recognized as a Fellow by the Society of Hospitalist Medicine. Clayton holds a Masters Degree in Management from Troy University and a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Technology from Southern Illinois University.

Clayton served with distinction in the US Air Force, working on six continents while receiving multiple decorations and awards, including three Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Force Commendation Medals, an Air Force Achievement Medal, five Humanitarian Service Medals, and a National Defense Service Medal with a Bronze Star cluster for service from Viet Nam to Desert Storm.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clayton-swalstad

Website: Integrated Healthcare & Mental Health Solutions | Integrated Psych Solutions

Connect with me:

🎁Spotlight to Scale: Spotlight to Scale Blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk, co-founder of HLH Growth Solutions, sits down with Chris Brown, owner of Abbey Senior Health, to explore what truly drives excellence in senior care while building a sustainable, mission-driven business.

Chris shares his 35-year journey in healthcare, from rehabilitating struggling nursing homes to leading a person-centered senior living organization rooted in dignity, purpose, and community. Drawing on his background in healthcare administration and ministry, Chris explains why senior living must focus on the whole person by addressing mental, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being, not just clinical needs.

The conversation dives into the realities families face when deciding between aging at home versus senior living communities, the importance of socialization and purposeful living, and why waiting too long to make care decisions can limit options. Chris also discusses how Abbey Senior Health stands out in a competitive market through exceptional care, strong staff culture, and word-of-mouth referrals rather than flashy advertising.

This episode offers valuable insights for families navigating senior care decisions, healthcare leaders, and business owners who want to scale with integrity while preparing for the coming wave of baby boomers entering senior living.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbrown78/

Website: https://www.abbeyseniorhealth.com/

Connect with me:

🎁Spotlight to Scale: Spotlight to Scale Blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Ben Goodfriend, an advertising executive in the sports streaming and media technology space, to unpack how streaming, live sports, and evolving consumer behavior are reshaping the future of media and business growth.

Ben shares his career journey from documentary filmmaking to media production, talent agencies, FAST channels, and now Fanserv, where he works at the intersection of sports, ad tech, and programmatic advertising. With firsthand experience across legacy media and modern streaming platforms, Ben offers a clear, insider perspective on where the industry is headed.

The conversation explores the major shifts in how audiences consume content, including the rise of smart TVs, streaming adoption accelerated by COVID, and the growing dominance of short-form and on-demand viewing. Ben breaks down why live sports remain the most valuable asset in media, driving subscriber growth, advertising revenue, and platform differentiation.

Heidi and Ben also dive into the economics of streaming, including subscription fatigue, bundling strategies, advertising-supported models, and why profitability has become the new priority for major platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Peacock, and Paramount+. Ben explains why loyalty today is tied to content, not platforms, and what that means for retention and churn.

The episode further examines how streaming platforms are standing out in an increasingly competitive market, from eventized content and niche positioning to strategic rights acquisitions and targeted audience strategies. Ben draws parallels between streaming platforms and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of focus, clarity, and building for the long term.

Ben closes by sharing what he’s building next at Fanserv and offers a grounded reminder about leadership, resilience, and maintaining perspective in business and career growth.

This episode is a must-listen for founders, marketers, media professionals, and business leaders interested in streaming, sports media, advertising innovation, and modern visibility strategies.

Bio:

Ben Goodfriend cites storytelling as the common denominator of his career. A media and ad tech executive, Ben got his start in the non-scripted television department of William Morris Endeavor, where he focused on sports media. He then joined Amagi, the leading software provider in free ad supported television (FAST), helping to build the company's advertising business. Currently, Ben is the VP of Demand Partnerships at Fanserv, a sports-only private marketplace specializing in the monetization of premium live sports streaming across the MLB, NBA, WNBA, NHL, and more.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengoodfriend/

Connect with me:

🎁Spotlight to Scale: Spotlight to Scale Blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/