In this Fast Break episode, Joe Hamilton of Vortex Optics shares how authentic care, strong service, and a focus on customer experience help businesses stand out. He explores Vortex’s CARE philosophy and why doubling down on your “bright spot” can build lasting loyalty.

The property and casualty market is not shifting through headline shocks. It is changing through quieter misalignments that many organizations do not see until renewal day. In this episode of Fast Break, Matt Cranney sits down with Paul Connor of M3 and Jamie Gregory of Assurex Global to break down what is really happening across the commercial, personal, property, and casualty landscape as we move through 2026.

From softening property rates that still feel unpredictable, to a casualty market where competition and risk signals do not always align, this conversation cuts through the noise. The group explores why traditional labels like hard and soft no longer tell the full story, how carrier profitability and capital behavior are shaping client outcomes, and why strategy, not just pricing, is becoming the defining advantage in today’s market.

If you are navigating P&C complexity and want insight grounded in real market behavior, not just forecasts, this episode is worth your time.

This special Women’s HERstory Month takeover of Fast Break brings three remarkable nonprofit leaders to the mic for a conversation about impact, resilience, and the power of women shaping their communities in real time.

Guest host Becky Menefee sits down with Brenda Campbell of Secure Futures, Tara Panasewicz of the Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha, and Jane Graham Jennings of The Women’s Community to explore the systems women are still navigating today and the breakthroughs happening across Wisconsin.

From financial capability as a catalyst for independence, to the transformative force of positive mentorship, to redefining strength as survival for women rebuilding after abuse, these leaders share candid stories from the front lines of community change. They reflect on what it means to protect organizational culture in emotionally heavy work, mentor the next generation of women, and challenge the barriers that still restrict safety, opportunity, and equity.

This takeover episode honors the women who paved the way and celebrates the women pushing the work forward now. It’s a conversation about voice, agency, and what it looks like when women continue writing HERstory every day.

In building a successful business, it's essential to create sustainable HR processes that comply with regulations and best practices. But this can be overwhelming, and staying current is challenging. You don't have to do it alone, though. By getting the right people and partners on board for HR tasks, you can get back to focusing on growing your business.

In this episode of Fast Break, Matt is joined by Jessica Subach (Client Solutions Manager) and Mike Beringer (HR Manager) from The Employer Group to discuss proactive strategies and practical tips for navigating the ever-changing HR landscape and building a secure foundation for your company's future. Whether you're a lean startup or part of a well-established larger company, tune in for valuable HR insight!

________________________

“Don't forget the small things that make a big difference in HR: find ways to inspire across the organization, be present within the organization, create an open door policy to establish or develop trust within the organization, and think strategically to align HR to the organization's goals” – Jessica Subach, Client Solutions Manager at The Employer Group

________________________

“When you find an opportunity. Whether it's policies or anything else, be willing to adapt.” – Mike Beringer, HR Manager at The Employer Group

________________________

Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

Richie Burke, Founder and CEO of GoGeddit Marketing and Media (GGMM), joins us to discuss marketing strategies that will help set your business apart from the competition. Throughout the episode, Richie shares valuable insight on standing out in "this seas of sameness" and his number one offensive and defensive recommendations.

When it comes to offensive marketing, it's vital companies find ways to differentiate themselves, learn and stay on top of things, and don't be afraid to try new things and fail because when you fail, you learn.

And when it comes to defensive strategies, Richie states it's important to hire help–even if they're non-revenue generating positions. By hiring out the jobs you don't excel at, you free yourself to do what you're great at.

“The best product doesn't always win; it's the product that resonates most with your target audience--that they can understand the best, that cuts through the clutter. Sometimes we need to be different and take a stand in your marketing and messaging in order to do that.” – Richie Burke, GGMM

Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

The Medicare space can often be confusing or overwhelming to people. In this episode of Fast Break, Matt has invited four members of the M3 Elevate Medicare team – Virginia Van Haren, Jason Haglund, Rachel Hug, and David Schuebel – whose every day focus is helping businesses and individuals navigate the complex world of Medicare.

In this conversation with Matt, these four Medicare professionals share their insights and wisdom on the best ways to grow and protect your business by having good insights about and a practical strategy for the Medicare program. As an employer, you will come away with practical advice that you can offer anyone at or approaching the eligibility age as we head into the 2024 open enrollment season.

________________________

“In the world of small business, [you] may not have a large HR team. [You] may not have access to the information on Medicare, and I think one of our jobs is to make sure that we're educating [your] team as well as [your] employees.” - Virginia Van Haren, Medicare Lead with M3 Elevate

________________________

Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

If you're interested in becoming the best version of yourself, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we're joined by Chad McGhee, Director of Meditation Training at UW Athletics and Co-founder of Inner Edge Meditation, to discuss mindfulness's impact on performance.

You can't always control your environment, but you can prepare for whatever may be thrown your way by practicing mindfulness. Chad shares insight into how the skills of greater focus and connecting more skillfully with oneself and others are fundamental to success and how you can apply them to your everyday life. Whether you're leading a team on the court or in the office, practicing mindfulness will help you become a better leader.

“If we're not present - if we're lost in the future, if we're lost in the past - well, then we have zero chance of being able to discern what's important now. First, we've got to get present.” – Chad McGehee

Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.

This episode of Fastbreak features Neil Peters-Michaud, Founder and CEO of Cascade Asset Management, discussing an aspect of business that has been far too long neglected: the retirement of old IT equipment. Neil explains the importance of properly retiring your old equipment to ensure your business is remaining secure and sustainable.

Not only will you gain practical knowledge on retiring old IT equipment to ensure your business is safe from a data breach, but you will also learn why you should reevaluate your values regularly, the importance of continuous education, and why outsourcing is sometimes necessary.

Resources

• Cascade Asset Management: https://cascade-assets.com
• Certified Electronics Recyclers: https://www.epa.gov/smm-electronics/certified-electronics-recyclers
• e-Stewards: https://e-stewards.org
• R2: https://sustainableelectronics.org

________________________

“I think the thing we’re doing successfully at Cascade is being true to what we know how to do, understanding when we need to go out and bring more talent to help us.”

- Neil Peter-Michaud, Cascade Asset Management

________________________

Hosted by Matt Cranney, Executive Vice President of M3 Elevate.