In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All, host Jamie Seeker sits down with Evan Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Riverview Systems Group, Inc., a Silicon Valley-based live event production company with a 38-year track record of staging unforgettable experiences for major global brands like Google, Apple, and Cisco.

Evan shares the unlikely blend of theater and accounting that led to his success, how he kept his team intact during the pandemic by pivoting to virtual production, and why empowering people is the secret to creating extraordinary events—and lasting culture. He also talks about co-founding the Rhythm Academy of San Jose, mentoring the next generation of industry talent, and what he’s learned across four decades in business.

This one’s packed with heart, hustle, and hard-won wisdom.

• Adapting to change in the live event industry
• The power of culture in business longevity
• The transition from analog to digital production
• Leading through crisis with empathy and creativity
• Mentorship, education, and community impact
• Entrepreneurship across industries

1. “There was never an idea in 1987 that we’d become a $20 million company. We just wanted to provide a service nobody else was offering.”
2. “Patience is one of the most important things. Being willing to listen, and not being stuck on your own ideas—that’s how you grow.”
3. “Our best work is done under NDA.” 😄 (A lighthearted but telling nod to high-stakes production work)
4. “The team chose to take a cut in salary rather than see any coworkers laid off. That speaks to the culture here.”
5. “I’ve always tried to empower people to do what they’re passionate about. That’s how careers grow—and how teams stick together.”
6. “We didn’t have a plan during the pandemic, but we had the right mindset: be flexible, pivot fast, and do the next right thing.”
7. “If you want to be successful as a business owner, you're in it 24/7. It's a commitment, not a shortcut.”
8. “There’s such a joy in watching someone you’ve mentored succeed—even if they don’t work for you anymore. That’s impact.”

🌐 Website: www.riverview.com

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/RiverviewSystemsGroup

📺 YouTube: @riverviewsystemsgroupinc4339

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All, host Jamie Seeker talks with award-winning architect and sustainability leader Scott Rodwin. From starting his firm after spontaneously quitting a job in 1999 to building a nationally recognized design/build company, Scott shares how community, collaboration, and bold thinking have shaped his journey.

He opens up about:

• The early days of hustling for projects
• How he built two thriving businesses in tandem
• The philosophy behind taking full responsibility for the client experience
• Lessons from surviving economic downturns
• Why teaching, service, and advocacy are part of his business DNA

Scott’s insights are a blueprint for what it means to build with both purpose and precision.

Scott left a job without a plan but found his first client through a neighbor — and his next through a friend in the community. These early, small projects became award-winning and launched his firm.

“I didn’t have a plan. It was totally spontaneous and accidental… but I had a community, and that’s what saved me.”

Scott explains why his firm embraces the architect-led design/build model — to ensure quality, reduce risk, and give clients a single point of responsibility.

“We take full responsibility for everything. Our clients love the idea of single-point responsibility — and in our industry, that’s unusual.”

“In 25 years of doing business, we’ve never been sued. That’s practically unheard of in this industry.”

Scott has been a sustainability advocate since before “green building” was a common term. His first project used straw bale construction and earned national awards.

“We didn’t call it green building then. We just did it because it felt right.”

From hiring a seasoned construction expert to partnering with a younger team member with drive, Scott shares how complementary skills build strong businesses.

“The most important thing when looking for a partner is not finding someone like you. It’s finding someone who complements your weak areas — and who you trust.”

“We call it peanut butter and jelly. Very different, but it works.”

Scott’s service as AIA Colorado President and as a teacher and speaker stems from his belief in lifting others up.

“We all do better when we share knowledge. Scarcity and fear have no place in our industry.”

“One of our competitors said, ‘We’ve learned so much from you over the years. I’m just giving back.’”

Scott reveals how his firm survived the 2008 crash by cutting hours, not people — and why collective sacrifice built long-term loyalty.

“We rise together, we sink together. No one got laid off. Everyone took a hit — together.”

Scott’s signature advice is practical, generous, and powerful:

“Find your passion. Build your community. And create true partnerships inside your business.”

“Our culture is one for all, all for one — and we haven’t had a single internal political issue in over 20 years.”

• “Your first jobs come from your social network — not your website.”
• “If we’re going to be sued for it anyway, we might as well be in control of...

In this emotional and eye-opening episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All, host Jamie Seeker sits down with Derek Du Chesne, co-founder and CEO of Better U, a telehealth company offering at-home psychedelic therapy. Derek shares his deeply personal journey—from achieving outward success to hitting rock bottom after a mental health crisis. He opens up about how a single ketamine therapy session saved his life, shifted his inner dialogue, and inspired him to start a mission-driven company focused on making mental health treatment more accessible, affordable, and holistic.

Listeners will hear firsthand about Derek’s transformation, how Better U was born, and why he's committed to disrupting the current mental health care model. The conversation offers hope, insight, and a candid look at what it really takes to create something that matters.

• At the height of career success in cannabis and wellness industries, Derek faced a personal collapse: career severance, heartbreak, and deep depression.
• Despite financial security, he felt empty and experienced suicidal ideation.
• Traditional therapies (psychiatric meds, talk therapy, even seeing a shaman) weren’t helping.

• A friend intervened during Derek’s lowest point and introduced him to ketamine therapy.
• After one session, he experienced a profound mental “reset.”
• He describes the experience as the first time in months he could breathe and feel connected again.

• Inspired by his transformation and time spent with psychedelic researchers at Stanford, Derek felt a responsibility to help others.
• Noted barriers to ketamine therapy: stigma, cost ($1,500/session), and lack of aftercare.
• Launched Better U in 2021 with Dr. Sam Zand to offer more affordable, supported, at-home treatments.

• Better U has now delivered 200,000+ sessions across 35 states.
• Leveraged telehealth innovations post-pandemic to offer oral ketamine therapy safely at home.
• Reduced cost to ~$100 per session—making it 10x more accessible.

• Better U now offers a broader platform including:
• Ketamine-assisted therapy
• Functional medicine
• Weight loss programs
• Sexual health
• Holistic psychiatry & soon, talk therapy
• Focused on helping patients find multiple tools for healing—not just a single pill.

“Relentless commitment to the mission… and to your own self-love and mental health. You need to be able to live with yourself through the highs and the lows.”

“Nobody takes their own life because they’re thinking clearly. It goes against everything in our nature—we’re wired to survive.”

“Ketamine therapy created space between me and my thoughts. It quieted that inner critic.”

“We started Better U to help prevent suicide. Now, we’re building a platform for full-spectrum mental wellness.”

“If it’s not your why, you’re not going to survive the lows that come with building something that matters.”

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All, Jamie Seeker sits down with Jill Gustavson, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Topaz Services, LLC — a hospitality contact center that’s grown from a bootstrapped startup into a nationwide operation serving over 80 hotels.

Jill shares her remarkable 40+ year journey, beginning in the early days of tech publishing, where she started her career at Byte Magazine in the 1970s. With a deep background in publishing, project management, and advertising, Jill took the leap into entrepreneurship in 1986, co-founding San Francisco Reservations with her husband, Eric. Over the decades, they evolved their business into Topaz Services, embracing new technology while staying true to their people-first philosophy.

Jill opens up about what it was like to be a woman in leadership during a time when few others were in the room, how culture and mindset played a key role in her business’s longevity, and why staying anchored to your mission and core values is what it truly takes to succeed — and stay in business for four decades.

Jill’s Background & Start:

• Fell into publishing serendipitously — hired at Byte Magazine because she “walked with purpose.”
• Worked across multiple departments, eventually managing special projects and launching a new tech magazine.
• Moved to San Francisco for a sales role, met her husband/business partner, and launched their company together.

The Launch of San Francisco Reservations (1986):

• Identified a gap: no central source for hotel referrals when properties were sold out.
• Launched a single 800-number hotel reservation service — quickly gained traction.
• Coined their business values early on: “fast, effective, and efficient”.

Growth into Topaz Services:

• From whiteboards and faxes to AI, omnichannel contact systems, and proprietary booking software.
• Today, Topaz integrates with major PMS and CRS platforms (like Mews and StayNTouch).
• Maintains a hybrid team model, with remote staff long before the pandemic normalized it.

Leadership Philosophy & Company Culture:

• People-first mindset: hired for personality and communication skills, not just experience.
• Prioritized strong internal culture: friendly, courteous, and connected.
• Balanced innovation with intentional, human-driven service.

Challenges Faced:

• Major shifts in technology required constant reinvention.
• Economic downturns and global events (Gulf War, 9/11, COVID) deeply impacted the travel industry.
• Learned to scale back, adapt, and stay connected with staff during hard times.

On Being a Woman in Leadership:

• Often the only woman (and youngest) in the room early in her career — but never saw it as a limitation.
• Focused on being results-driven, project-oriented, and purpose-focused.

What It Takes – Jill’s Final Wisdom:

• Keep your core mission and values front and center.
• Use technology as a tool, not a crutch.
• Stay grounded in your purpose and adapt with the times.
• Support both your team and your clients — and serve them equally well.

In this high-energy episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All, Jamie Seeker sits down with Cody Romness, co-founder of Allegiate, a strength training gym bringing college-level athletic structure and performance to everyday people. From the football field at USC to the startup world at Patreon, Cody’s path has been anything but ordinary.

He shares how the athlete’s mindset of grit, discipline, and team dynamics has shaped every move he’s made as an entrepreneur. We get into the intentional branding behind Allegiate, the mindset challenges of scaling, and what it really takes to lead a high-performance team — not just in the gym, but in business.

Whether you're an athlete, a business builder, or just someone chasing growth, this episode brings 🔥 insight on turning intensity into impact.

• From USC to CEO: How college athletics instilled the mindset Cody still uses to lead his business.
• Branding With Intention: Why the name “Allegiate” was designed to stand alongside legacy fitness brands — and what it really means.
• Startup Lessons from Music & Tech: What Cody learned from working in the music biz and at Patreon that helped shape Allegiate’s growth.
• Culture Starts with Performance: Why Cody focuses less on “company culture” and more on getting the right people in the right roles.
• Scaling Isn’t Sexy: Cody opens up about the messy middle of growth — including rebuilding teams, systems, and his own mindset.
• Mindset is Everything: The power of reframing failure, staying in the game, and letting the business build you as much as you build it.

What does it take to be a business owner?

• Allegiate Gym: allegiategym.com
• Follow Allegiate on Instagram: @allegiategym
• Connect with Cody: codyromness.com | @codyromness on Twitter | LinkedIn

In this heart-centered and thought-provoking episode, host Jamie Seeker speaks with Ari Drosman, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Resurface Group, a mental health and addiction treatment organization designed specifically for people who don’t fit into traditional systems—what Ari calls “the outliers.”

Ari shares how his path into psychology began unexpectedly, sparked by a powerful moment of connection with a client during his early fieldwork. Over the past two decades, he's developed a fully integrated, life-based approach to healing that blends personal presence, innovation, and flexibility.

Together, Jamie and Ari unpack what it means to truly serve misunderstood individuals through tailored, in-home, and deeply relational care. Ari opens up about the clinical and business challenges of building an unconventional model, how he integrates personal life into professional purpose, and what it takes to nurture a connected, healthy team.

The episode closes with Ari’s beautifully honest take on what it really takes to be a business owner in a mission-driven space.

• Initially studied English and Philosophy.
• Was encouraged by mentors to consider therapy.
• A transformative moment with a client showed him the power of presence in healing.

• Clients with unique, layered challenges that don’t fit into traditional care models.
• Includes neurodivergent individuals, high-performing professionals with hidden struggles, and families as the "symptom bearers."

• Offers life-based treatment: care is delivered in the home, workplace, or natural environment.
• Entirely individualized; no group therapy or standard one-size-fits-all programming.
• Prioritizes deep integration into the client's real life, including experiential sessions (e.g. surfing, shared meals, etc.).

• Pushback and misunderstanding from traditional clinicians.
• Navigating limitations of insurance reimbursement.
• Educating and onboarding clinicians into a new model of care.

• Ari candidly shares that balance is a work in progress.
• His wife is a core collaborator in the Resurface journey.
• He practices presence over time, focusing on depth rather than quantity.
• Ari builds a relationship-centered team culture rooted in mutual support, flexibility, and well-being.

• 30-hour full-time workweek for clinicians.
• Team members create their own schedules.
• Emphasis on being a healthy person first, so they can effectively help others heal.

“The ability to be present with someone’s healing is the most sacred and honorable space for me to be in.”

“An outlier is just someone who doesn’t fit—and we built Resurface to treat them like the Goonies we are.”

“If I’m not healthy, how can I heal?”

“Not having a boss means everybody is my boss.”

“I want people to make really wonderful mistakes because they’re trying too hard, not because they’re not trying at all.”

Ari’s answer:

• Grit, moral clarity, and an unwavering sense of right and wrong.
• Commitment to growth and accountability.
• A love of learning through mistakes and...

In this episode, Levi King shares his entrepreneurial journey, the mindset shifts that helped him succeed, and the sacrifices he made along the way. From cold-calling businesses in his 20s to raising $200M in venture capital, Levi opens up about the grit, resilience, and personal growth required to build multiple successful businesses.

• Grew up in rural Idaho in a strict, traditional environment that discouraged thinking outside the box.
• Realized early on that he didn’t trust others with his future and needed to forge his own path.
• Started his first business—an electric sign company—by cold-calling potential customers despite being an introvert.
• Motivated by fear of poverty early on but later realized that true fulfillment came from impact, not just money.

• Biggest personal sacrifice? His mental health—spent years prioritizing work over himself.
• Early in his career, he thrived under stress and thought he was invincible.
• In his 40s, he started experiencing panic attacks after raising $100M from Goldman Sachs.
• Lesson learned: You can’t give everything to business, family, and others without taking care of yourself.

• Initially, success = financial stability & escaping poverty.
• Later, success became about legacy, impact, and helping others succeed.
• Nav now serves over 1 million small businesses in the U.S. by helping them navigate financial health and credit.

• Raised $200M in venture capital, but the pressure didn’t decrease—it got worse.
• Thought the most stressful time would be in the early startup phase, but stress actually increased as the stakes got higher.
• Biggest challenge: Balancing investor expectations, company vision, and personal well-being.

• "Entrepreneurship means going through hell and back—over and over again."
• The only guarantee? There will always be challenges—the key is how you respond to them.
• Grit & resilience are more important than intelligence, money, or connections.
• Find your deeper "why"—money alone won’t push you through the hardest moments.

💬 “I didn’t trust adults with my future. I didn’t believe what they believed about me.”

💬 “I thought once I raised $100M, the stress would go away. It got worse.”

💬 "You won’t invent a new version of hell—every entrepreneur goes through the same struggles."

💬 "If you don’t know what you're willing to go through hell for, you won’t make it."

💬 "The only guarantee in building a billion-dollar company is that you'll go to hell and back a hundred times. You don’t know when or how, but it’s coming."

💬 "I had to stop giving everything to my company, my family, my marriage, my friends—I had to start giving to myself."

💬 "I realized I'm...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All, host Jamie Seeker sits down with Jeff Wenninger, a retired LAPD lieutenant with over 33 years of experience. Jeff shares his journey from overcoming dyslexia and a speech impediment to becoming a leader in one of the most demanding police forces in the country.

Jeff’s path to law enforcement was unexpected—after a negative encounter with police as a college student, he shifted his focus to criminal justice, aiming to create change from within. Over the years, he worked in elite LAPD units, including Metropolitan Division, where he handled dignitary protection for U.S. presidents and celebrities. Later, as a gang enforcement leader, he transformed the way officers were selected and measured, prioritizing integrity, accountability, and real impact over just making arrests.

Now, as the Founder & CEO of Law Enforcement Consultants, Jeff helps police departments nationwide improve training, reduce liability, and rebuild public trust. His forthcoming book, On Thin Ice, presents actionable solutions for reimagining policing in the 21st century.

• "It was an obstacle, but not a barrier." – Jeff on overcoming dyslexia and his speech impediment.
• "I never intended on doing 33 years in law enforcement. I was going to do five years, get my PhD, and be a professor of criminal justice." – Jeff on his unexpected career path.
• "Would you want a surgeon who just barely passed? Then why would you want a police officer with the same mindset?" – Jeff on why excellence matters in law enforcement training.
• "36% of officer-involved shootings involve individuals suffering from a mental health crisis. Yet, only 15-18% of departments provide training for it." – Jeff on the need for better police training.
• "More officers die by suicide every year than are killed in the line of duty. We need to take better care of them." – Jeff on officer well-being.
• "Reform implies something is broken. I don’t like that word. It’s about reimagining policing—how can we do it better?" – Jeff on shifting the conversation around law enforcement changes.
• "80% of people will never have a personal interaction with law enforcement. They form their opinions based on what they see in the news. Police need to control that narrative." – Jeff on the importance of public perception.
• "You have to have the courage to be passionate and strive to achieve. Life is bigger than just you." – Jeff’s answer to What It Takes' signature question on success.

📖 Jeff’s Book: On Thin Ice – Pre-order at jeffwenninger.com

🔗 Law Enforcement Consultants: lawenforcementconsultants.com

🔗 Jeff’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeff-wenninger-4247a854