And now the 419 with Gretchen DeBacker, Matt Killum and Kevin Mullan ah.

Welcome in to the 419 powered by WGTE and presented by Whetro Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin Mullen, Gretchen Debacker, and I tell them, we've got an exciting show today as we take a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tata John, I guest is in the building and only it really is good that there's only one of him.

Yeah, but he's going to talk a little bit about his curated list.

Look ahead a little bit into April.

So excited about that.

We're going to be starting to turn for the better or the worse.

Whatever it is.

Wait 15 minutes and we'll just say something.

People say it still feels too cold.

Yeah, yeah.

Sure.

Yeah, yeah, it's going to be that way.

It's.

I was having the conversation with, Danny.

So she's, your wife and my wife.

She's teaching now.

And, we're trying to convince the kids school to start later and end later.

Oh, like, right now they get out at the end of May.

Oh, I see, but, like, push it into June.

Yeah, it's not quite.

And it's not open yet anyway.

So like let's and then start September.

We used to always start after Labor Day.

Yeah.

And that's my memory as well.

Yeah.

And now and Labor Day was like the last weekend and then still start.

But now they start in August.

Yeah.

So they've got like a month and a half left.

That's crazy.

Yeah.

I'm just like good.

Keep them keep them longer.

Keep them until the end of June.

Yeah.

We're not ready to for them home yet.

Yeah.

Give me like the the good weather days.

Let's let that be the summer break rather than get out.

You know, the last week of May, I think one of the kids should become our intern over the summer, which for show any any one of them.

We just need we need to work that 100%.

We've talked about.

I just told somebody this last night.

I said if we home alone.

Yeah.

Miles.

Yeah.

I'm convinced to go on that he'd be elected to summer.

Like I said, house on Facebook Marketplace.

Come back.

He's mayor.

No, I said no.

I said he'd actually be the president of the HOA.

Oh, yeah.

Mind you, there isn't to current you'd have to do.

But he said he'd be walking around, be like, you know what we need?

Yeah, we need, we need more rules.

Yeah.

So yeah.

No, that's the eight year old, his birthday.

He told me, it's like 11, ten days.

He's got the countdown on.

Yeah.

For his birthday.

Every year I play the same.

It's the same dad joke that I tell people like, no, no, no birthdays, countdown.

Oh, so like, you're eight, you're going to be seven now.

Yeah.

And he's like, nope.

I was like six.

Really?

You're going to be six.

And he's just like me.

Like, yeah, this wasn't funny last year.

Yeah, yeah, it's still not funny.

You just need this letter in your mailbox.

You've been fined by the HOA.

Yeah.

See, it's exact property.

Yeah.

All right, so John Acres is here.

We also have some folks from the UT Family Business Center.

Yeah.

Angie Jones, will be here, from the YouTube Family Center, but then also Matt Kripke and Donna Martin, who are family business owners or former family business owners.

Great.

Participate in that great program at the University of Toledo.

It's been there forever.

So many family businesses in our region.

When when my family had a business, we were a member here.

It's just a great organization.

So I'm excited to see what all kinds of new things they have going on there.

All right.

Yeah, it'll be fun.

All right.

Let's just let's take a break.

When we come back, we'll have John Nichols come join us.

Take a look at the month of April and some of, his list of the best things to do around northwest Ohio.

So will that John sort of dictate what we should do, what we should put on the calendar?

For this week.

So.

Nope.

No pressure.

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It's your opportunity to catch the 419 every day of the week.

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That's what you for better people put in for bear.

That's like the eighth time I've heard that this morning.

I still don't know what it means, but maybe we'll find that out.

We'll ask John.

Okay.

What that means when we come back on the other side of this break here on the 419.

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Thank you.

Welcome back into the 419, powered by.

We're taking a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tada.

And we're joined once again by our good friend John I guess John, welcome back to the show.

Hello.

Good to see you guys.

Good to see you John Logan for bear, is a phrase that Gretchen used all willy nilly this morning.

But for that one up to him.

Yeah.

What what does loaded for bear mean to you?

Well, it's a hunting term.

Originated in the 1800s.

No, I just yeah, I've always known.

I heard you guys talking about this and I think it just means you're.

You mean business.

You're you're not messing around, right?

You're you're preparing for the worst case scenario.

And you're ready for it.

Since when?

Big Bear wants you to think, yeah.

So, so so I guess as you're preparing for the worst case, are you loaded for bear to be on this show?

I'm slightly loaded.

Okay.

Yeah.

No, me do different idiom.

Oh my goodness.

Yeah.

All right.

So I've got a full bar of a thousand bananas.

So toledo.com.

You've got a community calendar with all of the events happening across northwest Ohio all in aggregated in one place.

Right.

You take a look and sort of identify, hey, here's some events we want to feature every week.

So here's five events that you think people should take a look at, right.

What where did I know?

We talked about this a little bit, but if folks, you know, missed some previous conversations, where does that list come from?

Who's the team that that says, hey, here's the five events that people should take a look at.

The don't feel obligated to prioritize them.

Oh yeah.

Well, that includes myself.

And, let me know.

There there we have Deb wiser is a content editor as well, and she comes from a media background.

And helps.

We, like you said, we aggregate a calendar.

We keep a Google doc between us and have our eyes on websites, Facebook, Eventbrite, you know, all kinds of ways to stay on top of what's happening with organizations.

And what kind of backgrounds did you use for your senior pictures?

Well, I know I actually wore shorts to my senior picture because I was because it was waist up.

Yeah, yeah.

But it wasn't it wasn't the library of Books.

Wasn't the rattan chair.

It was a big number.

It was a big the my graduating year, I think I was leaning on it.

Yeah.

Class ring football.

No, none of those.

So you didn't use numbers either?

It was drape and I was not wearing a shirt.

Gretchen, how many light bulbs did they go through?

Your senior photos?

At least a dozen.

Okay.

Yeah.

So, like, of the events that are on the calendar, I mean, you mentioned, like, you guys are sort of looking at different lists in, out, finding them.

How many of them are submitted to you versus how many are you guys actually going out and finding.

You know, that's a good question.

I would say probably maybe 5050.

It's I think that a lot of organizations what what I surmise is they don't necessarily have someone who is, able to put them in the calendar.

I mean, it's an easy thing to do.

We encourage people to do it, but not everybody takes advantage of, service, if you want to call it that.

But certainly is a service, so.

But, you know, the longer we do it, the longer I think people catch on.

Like, this is, again, it's something that people can do for free.

We generally moderate it within 24 hours, if not a few hours, and get it live on the site and, yeah, but I would encourage anybody to please take advantage of it.

On a personal note, John, how much of it sort of sets your calendar to the thing to come in?

You're like, oh, cool, I'll go to that or.

Yeah, I think, a fair amount, like it.

There are a number of events in Toledo that are cyclical.

You know, it always happens like the first weekend in May or, you know, not go on, ask these.

Absolutely.

And, we have all of yours listed.

That's right.

On the calendar.

I do once a month.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's about prevention where you want to or not.

Where do you, we talked about that.

Yeah.

That's right.

Well, I'd to know we talked about it on the show yesterday, but the importance of screening.

That's right.

And so Matt is like, you know what?

I'm just going to screen every week.

Right.

Every time a box becomes available in my home, I use it and then mail it to toledo.com.

That's the address again.

Just.

Don't give it out.

All right.

So, what's on the what's on the list?

Okay.

So we have so we have a good list for this week.

First is, opening day.

Opening day was yesterday, right?

It's opening week.

I mean, when you.

Games ago.

Two days ago.

Right.

Merry Christmas John.

Yeah.

There's games, you know, all week up through Sunday.

So going to be a little chilly.

But it's fun week to go out and check out all the new stuff.

At the ballpark we got beautiful weather today.

It'll be this is a this is finally baseball weather.

It's okay.

I'm excited.

Anything else you want to say about that?

Just, you know, like you've said, Matt, the weather has changed.

And so April is one of those months where things start popping and everybody starts, you know, coming out a hibernation, doing things.

Yeah, they're all loaded for bear.

I know the like the money has had the conversation for years about like their frustration around weather forecasts.

Right.

And so you you watch the news or you open up your app and you see there's a, you know, 70% chance of rain today.

And like, you know, Joe wants you to know like that means that there's a 70% chance that somewhere in the county, in the county area, it's going to rain at some time.

It does not mean it's going to rain for the entirety of the baseball game.

So you should still come out and enjoy the game.

Okay.

You can do a whole show on this whole 70% thing, because that's not how I use the weather app.

I just think it's going to 70% a chance that it's going to rain on me today.

Yeah.

On the thing that you want to do most, do you think the percentage is relative to where you are?

Yeah, I know this is like, age old argument.

You can save it for another.

Okay.

We'll say what's a whole other topic.

Yeah, it's a whole it's called I'm going to start a whole different podcast.

It's got the 420.

That's all right.

This weekend, through Sunday is Great Gatsby the musical.

It's the national tour ancestor.

And that was Jeremy Jordan still in that?

Yeah, that was the worst.

So we saw it on Broadway with Jeremy Jordan.

We specifically went, yeah, for Jeremy Jordan, people.

I went with my niece as well, who's 16.

Hi, Harriet.

And people her age, kids her age and a little bit older are obsessed with Jeremy Jordan, especially if they like Tommy as woman musicals.

He was in Newsies, and he's in any way he was.

He came out on stage and it was like a scream fest.

So yeah, it's a it's a good it's a good musical.

It's a roaring show.

After your screaming, I was asked to sit down.

Yeah.

That's it on.

It's great.

Yeah.

No it's good you're dressed as a cat.

No, it's Gatsby, that cat speaks what is happening.

Right.

All right, let's keep moving on.

Okay.

Anyway, that's the Stranahan Theater.

Get tickets.

It should be a great, great show.

The next event, Saturday, April 11th, is Mommy Fest.

Mommy Riverfest.

This is the first time event, and I think I don't know a lot about it.

There's A5K and then there is, like a fishing derby, you know, so obviously the mom mommy is very high right now in the water, but it's, yeah, all the kids, all these life walleye fishermen come into town and they said they're gonna have food trucks, entertainment, kids, stuff to do.

2 to 6 on, this Saturday, April, this is a big deal.

You know, we frequently muse about, people complain about who we are, not, but we are the walleye capital of the world.

This is a really good idea for both Miami and, potentially eventually, Perrysburg.

Take advantage of this.

People, to your point, are coming from all over.

The fish.

John, if, Jeremy Jordan was running the five K. What do you think it's time would be?

I, I don't know, I tried to put you on the spot.

Like, I don't even know if you would catch a fish.

Yeah.

No.

Oh, Jeremy Jordan won't catch a fish.

There is something.

Catch fish.

I think it's called the walleye waddle, where the people are going to be wearing waders and running a race.

I think I read some of that seems kind of interesting.

I like to know drug policy here on this.

I like the idea of the walleye waddle.

I think that's I think that's fun.

Yeah.

It's good.

Okay.

The next big event for this weekend is Saturday, April 11th.

The Metroparks take over the main library.

That's right.

I'm going to be volunteering at this at noon on Saturday if anyone wants to see me.

But, Matt, what is it?

Is it canceled?

No.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

This just in?

Yeah.

Probably five years ago, may say worse than that.

We partnered with the library.

They do this with multiple other partners.

But we bring all of our outdoor activities indoors, so if you can imagine, you get to climb to the roof of the atrium there with our tree climbing program.

You get to shoot, bow and arrow in, one of their rooms.

So we bring the outdoors indoors.

Great partnership.

The library, of course, is, just an unbelievable partner in any in an immeasurable amount of ways.

But fun for us to see, a couple thousand, kids walk.

Yeah.

That's amazing.

It's it's a it's a great event, and we're lucky to be able to participate.

I've taken the kids in the past, and it is such a fun time.

And it's literally a combination of like, two of the best things we have in northwest Ohio.

And that's it's a great facility.

The the main library is incredible.

Yeah.

And so my kids love going to that on its own.

And then you add to it all of the fun activities that the Metroparks does bring it in.

And you basically, you've turned, the library into an amusement park for the day.

And like, they got a chance to do archery for the first time ever.

Yeah.

The climbing wall is outside.

It's food trucks as well, because God forbid we do an event without food trucks.

So.

Yeah.

Good.

Okay.

Final, pick of the week is the toilet.

No pun intended.

Is the Toledo Pickleball Classic.

And Career Futures Expo.

This is put on by the University of Toledo.

It's an also an inaugural event.

Right?

Totally free.

They're going to do kids clinic.

It's an adult career expo.

Certainly open for you University of Toledo students.

Yeah, but it's open to the community as well.

Definitely.

You know, there's the pickleball aspect that the I think their corporate teams and their high school teams that has two teams in the Pickleball Classic, we are not on any we weren't invited to participate.

No, no, they're they're looking for real athletes.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But and then like you said, a career expo.

I think Sam Chang from mid story is deeply involved with kind of the planning of the event.

And I think it's just, everybody who's going to come out to watch that pickleball action will have an, access to this expo that is, you know, about internships and various networking.

It's a great idea.

The Metroparks is proud to be a part of it.

And the sponsor of it, you know, pickleball, in for a long time was just, thought to be for, seniors, right?

Because it's a relatively low impact, social, way to go out and get your body moving.

But 25 and under has embraced this.

It's, on the doorstep of being the next varsity sports, endeavor.

So it's certainly fun.

I know that Sam has gotten the bug.

He plays all the time.

We've got some great pickleball facilities around town.

Great courts that remain.

I think they've converted some of the University of Toledo.

Yeah.

And obviously the Metroparks is proud to partner with the one downtown.

And don't make no mistake, these teams are loaded for bear.

They're loaded.

Well, for bear, champ, what are some of the.

We're going to see how good.

Yeah.

Shane and Marcus are pickleball.

Are they playing?

They're playing.

I will tell you, Marcus Harrison, has incredible hand-eye coordination.

Even as a kid.

So he is not.

Do not count out.

Don't sleep on Marcus Harrison.

That's right.

Well, yeah.

Well, I don't know.

Never mind.

Yeah.

Oh, just like some of the events that you actually intercom or you individually are looking forward to for the month of April, things that people should plan for.

So we've already mentioned the Mud Hens.

That's a big thing that their season kicks, you know, gets underway.

The ribbon opens, this weekend.

And so we kind of transition from ice skating to roller skating.

That's a big deal.

And what a great addition to the community.

There's a huge orchid show that's coming to the Toledo Zoo.

This is the auto show is really cool.

It's massive, and it lasts for a long time.

It's not like just a 1 or 2 day thing.

It's there all kinds of workshops.

And again, this these are some specialty things.

But I think still people should, you know, check it out.

Be curious.

That's the best thing about this list.

I frequent it certainly when I have the girls.

That's exactly right.

When you have kids and you want them some, find something to do.

You go there.

Tons of stuff.

That's right.

No comment on that one.

Let's go back to the list.

Let's hear about my kids.

That's great.

Really, really wonderful.

No.

I just I'll just kind of highlight a few of these in.

In mid-April.

You have holy Toledo poker days.

That's like a 3 or 4 day event that it happens primarily in Perrysburg.

Just that they canceled that due to doping.

It's very I think it's gotten out of control the last couple of ye So they've got they've rectified that a little self promo quickly.

I'm involved with putting together, an improv festival that happens the 17th, 18th and 19th, at Trinity Episcopal Church is called Chapel Grounds.

This is our second iteration of doing this.

So check that out there.

A lot of really great long form improv teams are going to be.

Is it teams performing or is it workshops or is it but no workshops?

It's the first day is sketch comedy and short form.

Second day is all long form, third day is a little more long form and some what is considered a jam.

Just so fun.

John, are you going to be in it a little bit?

Yeah.

Good.

I mean, we'll decide if it's good or not.

All right.

Well, it'll be great.

Yeah.

Gretchen, you should get back into it.

Yeah.

Toledo records are a record store.

Day is a big deal for people who collect vinyl.

You know, culture clash is always, involved.

No noise records, Allied records, your media exchange.

Those are some local, record stores that participate.

Alice Cooper is coming to town on the 21st of April.

Alice Cooper is a scratch golfer.

Did not know that.

Yeah.

He's like, can you play pickleball, though?

Hard to say as he ever while I fish or has me ask you a question.

One on one.

Jimmy Jordan and Alice Cooper.

What do you like?

My mind on Alice Cooper?

Anything.

That's right.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

Running for bear.

There's a party in the park.

That is.

They do party in the park on the road.

They're doing, you know, kind of before their official season starts.

So there's a Toledo Pickle mania fest happening that's on the 25th, but on the 24th at the corner of Washington and Superior downtown, they're going to do a concert.

The bridges.

And I believe renegade rent Renegade lemonade.

I got that right.

They're going to perform.

So that'll just kind of, you know, kick off the season and get people started.

Another first time event is the Adams Street Dance Festival.

This is for people who love EDM music.

Seven, I think different venues on Adams Street are participating.

I have not heard of this one.

Is this this is April 26th.

Okay.

Now, are they going to have that before 9 p.m.?

It actually starts at 4 p.m.. All right.

So it's gonna be perfect.

You'll be in bed by six.

I think you'll be at urgent care.

I invite you to, Of course, the, Glass City Marathon, Mercy Health, Glass City Marathon, and, that's always a huge event.

Big event.

I think it's already sold out in terms of the registration.

Oh, and then not an April event, but the mix is happening in early April, so by the next time, May 1st or early May.

May 1st, Friday, May 1st, that's part be agreed.

It's a great fundraiser for the Arts Commission.

I think the next time we meet that event will have already happened.

So that's why it's worth mentioning.

Absolutely awesome people.

More information on, all of these events.

Where can they find them?

Online@toledo.com.

Nailed it.

John Nichols, thank you so much for joining us again.

We'll see you back here next month.

Is again, every Thursday we take a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tada!

We appreciate you being here.

When we come back, we'll be joined by Angie Jones with the UT Family Business Center.

We'll be right back on the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by GT.

It's our toyota.com community calendar driven by Tada.

Take a look at some great events that are happening across northwest Ohio.

We've got an event coming up mid April with the UT Family Business Center.

We thought, you know, why don't we take a step back and talk about what is the UT Family Business Center?

We're joined now by Angie Jones.

Angie, thank you so much for being here.

Yeah.

Well, thank you so much for having me.

What is your role with the Family Business Center, I guess.

What is the UT Family Business Center?

Yeah, so I am director of the UT Family Business Center.

I have been director for about 12 years now.

Oh my goodness.

Yes we are we are an outreach organization in the College of Business and Innovation, and we exist for the success of the family business community.

We do all types of programing, events, connections, networking, with the sole goal of providing the resources that family businesses need to grow, thrive and survive.

You know, we want multigenerational family businesses in our region because family business is the backbone of our community.

How many therapists you employ?

Yeah, we should have a lot.

Yes, yes.

What is the definition of family business?

Great question.

So you're not a nonprofit.

You're not a public company.

You're a family business.

So oftentimes people will think, well, I'm not a family business because I don't have a next generation working with us.

But if your family values are guiding some of your business decisions, you're a family business.

Interesting.

And some of this is to help scale, this is to help create policies and procedures or the whole board.

What are some of the more intricate components of this that people might not think of?

So a lot of what makes a family business different than a public organization or a corporate organization is the family dynamics part of it.

Right.

And so oftentimes when you're in a business, you're focused on the business growing the business, scaling the business.

But when you see stories about family businesses failing, typically it's because they don't focus on the family dynamics part the family part of it.

Working with spouses, you imagine working with your spouses all day long and then going back and living with them, working with children, bringing children into the business, and oftentimes family businesses are struggling with that old baggage like, oh, grandpa liked you best, or you got to do this, or because you were the oldest or you were the youngest, you were baby or favored.

So all of that, even though it might be 20, 30 years ago, surfaces when you're working together and running a business.

So we help educate on that.

The two things that we do best are helping people start conversations that they don't know they should be having.

Right.

So good succession or transition.

You need to start building your bench out ten years early.

And most people don't know that.

Or helping them have conversations that they know they should be have, but they don't know how to have it right.

So how do you sit with your parents and talk about their mortality?

Like, what's going to happen to the business when you're not here?

Well, I'm not going to not be here.

You know, I'm going to die in this chair.

Right?

So helping them have those cameras, I've been asking I've been talking to my dad about when he's going to die for a long.

Yeah.

So we can help you with that?

Yes.

Help him with their business.

You know what?

That, Yeah.

Yeah.

What is interesting.

Get done crying, when we end it.

But I think when you think about family business and succession planning, sometimes that involves somebody who's not a part of the family.

Absolutely.

I imagine that's a part of what you guys provide some support around.

We do.

And we have a whole network of resources.

You definitely want a third party.

That is one of the number one ones that we recommend.

It's because when you have family and siblings and you're talking about that, it's you can't avoid the emotional part of it, right?

So you need to bring that third party in to help guide those kind of things.

What you just said is true of the entire concept, right?

I mean, I am surprised I knew this existed, and I knew that it was a real good gift to our region.

But you're dealing with a lot of soft skills that are incredibly complicated, right?

Family dynamics are something that we have a marginal understanding of.

And you have to sort of pull out honesty that people vulnerability.

That's right.

So if at the risk of putting you on the spot, how did you get to this position, what makes you uniquely good at it?

Well, I was joking about a therapist that I that's a I mean, I think that's a legitimate you know, I do think in my third third of my life that that might be therapy and mental health might be an area I want to focus on.

Sure.

I come from a family business.

My parents owned a business called Truck and Van Land.

They have sold it.

I have been through the gamut.

Six out of seven kids.

Right.

So we've lived through all of those challenges where you're six out of seven.

Yes.

And six out of seven.

Who is your least favorite?

Seven?

The seven.

I'm just kidding.

You know, the seven kids are way a lot, but the seventh is a baby.

So, Yeah.

So I have lived all of those challenges.

I've been with the university for 27 years.

You know, I graduated from the other school down south on a Sunday, started at UT on Monday, and have been there ever since.

The first part of my career I was in university marketing, which was a great job, I loved it, and then, the job the assistant director of the Family Business Center opened up.

I come from a family business.

I understood the challenges.

I understood the people and applied for it.

Got it.

And I was interestingly, the director at the time hired me as her succession plan.

Right.

She's like, I think we need to practice what we preach.

Right?

So she knew she was going to retire in five years.

So she wanted to hire someone that understood family business that lived it.

That could take over.

Sure.

When you're.

So we did ad you're talking to companies about trying to find that success or.

I mean, are there kind of first steps that somebody should take to figure out who that right person is?

Like, are they trying to find a clone of themselves or are they, you know, what's the right kind of first step down that road?

I mean, ideally they want to clone of themselves.

Absolutely.

So oftentimes they're building, business for family generation for legacy.

So they're looking the first step is they typically look at, you know, their children, nieces and nephews because they want to keep the the business in the family.

And we say you really need to start.

We have a next to now program.

We have next specific programing for next gen because you really need to start incorporating them, educating them, letting them learn and understand all parts of the business really early on in that just, oh, I'm going to retire in like a year or two.

So I'm going to hand over the business.

So we have a lot of programing on how to the things that they need to be a part of and how to incorporate them, how to connect them with other next gen so they can develop their peer network.

What I say we're having critical conversations is not something that everyone has the skill set to do.

You, give us some tips.

And this is probably has some utility to it, right.

What are some of the, the ways that you coach families and the give them the ability to have these candid or critical conversations with one another in how does it create anxiety for you?

I mean, there's got to be tension in some of these.

Yeah.

Well, the difficult thing is, you know, we say that communicate and overcommunicate because if you look at failed businesses, it, a lot of times it comes down to communication.

Sure.

So we're in a position where, you know, maybe we know this owner's perspective and we know that, hey, I'm thinking about transition and I'm going to transition to I want my son or daughter to take over, but I haven't communicate.

So I'm like, have you communicated that plan?

Do you have it in writing?

No, I have it up here.

Right.

But but I'm working on it.

And then I, we talk to the son or the daughter and they're like, you know, mom, dad's never going to pass on the business.

I tried to bring it up.

They don't want to talk about it.

So I think I'm going to leave and just go start my own business.

And oftentimes it's a competing business because that's what they know.

Right.

So but everything's also confidential.

So it's navigating those delicate conversations.

And they you need to talk to each other.

And a lot of times we'll do programing knowing that okay, this person needs to hear this and they need to get together.

So let's develop some type of programing because of they need to hear it.

There's going to be a lot of other.

We have about 240 companies that are members of our staff are are going that's amazing.

Gretchen, you not only on a family business, but you are a participant in this program.

At the risk of putting you on the spot, some lessons learned or some challenges, things that you wish you had done differently or some of the assistance, you go, yeah, all the stuff that Angie's talking about, those conversations, you know, one of the things about a family business that people may not realize is it's your whole life.

It's your entire family's life.

And so how do you not, you know, came to the table?

Thanksgiving and Christmas, I mean, everything, even the people that are not involved in the business, generally speaking, or talking about the business all the time.

And so it's how do you navigate that?

How did you what did you just did it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Sure.

You know, we I mean, we had fun.

So it you know, it wasn't it wasn't overly acrimonious.

There were a couple crying meetings.

But yeah, that was mostly because we were being mean to each other because we're sibling.

It wasn't my siblings and my mom.

So yeah, it's hard because you can't act the way you can in a, in a setting otherwise that you would with someone that you grew up with.

Since you were born.

My mom is terrifying and she just tells us what to do.

Is that a helpful, can we call it strategy?

Yeah, but one of the cool things that they did back then, which I think you still do, is we would go to the meetings and every meeting would be at another regional family businesses company.

Oh, until you get to tour like, their facilities and the offices and then hear from the owners of businesses what they were going through, and, and see all these really cool manufacturing places and offices.

And that's still part of the program today.

Yeah, absolutely.

We think a lot of the best learning is that peer to peer, that just connecting with someone who understands it doesn't matter what industry you're in service manufacturing it.

You know, if you're big, small, but someone that walked through what you're walking through and they understand and they can learn from each other.

So connecting people together, we have peer groups, a peer group program, affinity groups.

We have roundtables just for thi a great one.

HR leaders within a family business.

Right.

So that's a whole nother.

Yes.

Well who did that for you all.

And I think my sister did it.

My sister Louise was like our HR person.

Okay.

Well and it's always good when you put a HR person.

Yes.

That's always recorded.

Nothing snarky about that.

That's right.

Yeah.

But that's true.

In a family business, HR is usually a department of one or half parents.

Aunt Susie, who's never been trained in it.

But we trust Nancy, right.

Exactly.

So we know she could be the meanest.

So to.

Yeah, I what is the, what are some of the.

We're talking to the Angie Jones, director of the UT center for Family Business.

What are some of the statistics about economic impact and the numbers as it relates to family businesses in the state?

Yeah.

So or the region?

Okay.

I don't have those numbers off the top of my head.

That's right.

You know, I could do that.

I'm going.

You say it confidently.

Right.

That's exactly right.

It's millions billions.

So I but I can get those numbers.

But the I think that gross GDP is crazy high.

There's, I want to say like 65% of the businesses nationwide are family owned businesses.

That's amazing.

And it really every business starts as a family business.

I mean, it's starting with mom and pop coming up because they can make something or they can do something well, and then it grows into.

And then we're going to put you on the spot here again, I guess.

And I apologize for that.

The, is this still the case or are there new family businesses?

It's a trend.

Still, this is just a strong component of our of economic infrastructure.

Oh, absolutely.

Absolutely.

Especially in our region.

Right.

And Manufacturing's coming back.

Yes.

Which is a great thing for this area.

Why did the University of Toledo back then and still today, want a commitment to this, to this particular segment of business in question?

Yeah.

So we were interestingly, the idea came up by the business community they came to.

So we've been around for we'll celebrate 34 years next week.

Yeah.

So we've been around for quite a while, and some business leaders came to the university and said, hey, at the time the fortune 500 are leaving, Shell or globe had closed down.

Champion sparkplug just closed down.

And so it was family business that was going to be the backbone of our regional economy.

And there was no place in this area where they could get together, learn from each other.

So the dean, the president at the time said, great idea.

We love the synergy between connecting the family business community with the students, with the faculty.

And that's really how it started at the University of Toledo, is you guys have got an event coming up, April 14th, the Doing right spotlights.

Yes.

What is that event?

Yes.

So I love this event so much.

So it is a donor supported event.

I believe she's on the next segment.

And the idea came about of wanting to focus and spotlight companies in our area that are doing good for the sake of doing good.

Right.

You know, oftentimes nonprofits do, because that's their mission.

Public companies typically have resources to do things, and sometimes people think, well, I'm a smaller business.

I can't really make an impact.

So we, through a nomination process, have highlight spotlight three companies.

This is our fourth year doing it of companies that are doing small things, little things, big things that are great for the community and for the sole reason because it's the right thing to do, not because it's helping their bottom line.

So we have three fantastic companies that we're highlighting.

It's April 14th, 11:30 a.m.

at The Pinnacle, which is a member of our center, and it's open to the community.

I think we have a few more days left for registration with who are the businesses being highlighted this year?

But they've been announced.

Yes, they have, DNC technology.

It part that is fantastic.

It is great.

And, we work with a guy, Jeremy, Park out of Memphis who has a national, parks program, and he facilitates he does videos.

I just watched all the videos.

They're phenomenal.

I mean, these companies are doing great things.

Heart and City Apparel and Findlay, it's awesome.

Who all happen to be.

You don't have to be a member of the family business center.

And but it's certainly not a coincidence.

Driving and we'll plug in for sure.

And we're not on the judging committee because it's way too hard.

But all three of them are about to be good on the judging committee because of your ads.

You look like you want.

Yeah, that this is really going to put you on the spot here.

If you had to pick, based on your childhood in your family, between trucks or vans.

Trucks.

All right.

Let's go and travel.

And if people want more information on this event or the US Family Business Center, where can they find it?

Yep.

They can go to the University of Toledo website.

Just put in family business center, in the search committee or the search box or just, doing right spotlight.

If you Google that, it'll take you right to.

And pretty soon you can look at toledo.com.

Exactly.

We'll get you on there.

And also Angie Jones Anti-Fan you heard it here for Angie.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, we're joined by Matt Kripke and Donna Martin to talk about the Doing Right Spotlight event April 14th at The Pinnacle.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We just wrapped up a conversation with Angie Jones, director of the UT Family Business Center.

They've got an event coming up April 14th, the Doing Rights spotlight, looking at family businesses that are, as the name suggests, doing it right.

We're joined now by the, supporters of that event.

Donna, thank you so much for being here.

Donna Martin.

This was and also Matt Christy with Crypto Enterprises.

Donna, this event, is sort of your brainchild or your baby.

You're you're helping make this happen.

I am it's a very passionate subject for me.

Business doing good.

And we have great businesses in Toledo.

A lot of them are small.

Some of them are bigger, like Matt and it's it's really a pleasure to find them, discover them and display them.

Why did you want to start this event?

And further than that, why did you want to fund it?

Well, I had a near-death experience about five years ago, and it was my third cancer rodeo.

And after it was over, I thought to myself, you know, this could have been it.

Yeah.

Even though when I went in I had I had no thoughts of that.

And when I came out, I did and I thought, you know, I was going to do things to help further the idea of ethics in business and doing things right in my will.

And I thought, well, why wait?

Yeah.

This man, you know, because that could have happened like two weeks ago.

So we might as well get on it now.

And that idea started with me brainstorming.

And then I went to the center for Family Business, and Angie and the staff there was outstanding.

They really seized on the idea.

We did a few, a few focus groups, and the ideas came and went and came and went.

And we landed on the Doing Rights spotlight, and then it developed from there.

What was your business career?

What did you do when you were working?

I was in the real estate title business.

It was, Northwest Title Agency, and we sold it in 19.

Well, it was a long time ago anyway.

Wouldn't that help?

Yes.

Please leave that out.

Yes, ma'am.

Yeah, yeah.

And, and then I started doing some consulting work and other things, and, I just saw the way businesses operated when I was inside one.

And I really wanted to encourage the good that they're doing that people are doing.

There are wonderful businesses in Toledo doing fabulous things, and nobody knows about them.

So how did you first become acquainted with Matt or what?

Matt, what Kripke Enterprises was doing?

Well, we put out an application for people to nominate companies, and, they they don't have to be in the center to do that.

Anyone can nominate and that nomination periods open for maybe 3 or 4 weeks.

And after we get the nominations, we review all of them and we basically select those that we want to spotlight.

Matt was one of the were you first?

That was Matt was first.

And it was highly, highly impressive.

And we were really glad to select his company.

Matt, tell us a little bit about what you were doing at your company that that Donna and the team found.

So impressive.

You said, What is Christie Enterprises?

If people are familiar, let's start with what you what you do.

And then we can get into kind of what that enables you to do.

Sure.

So first off, thanks for having us here and giving us the spotlight to talk about this program.

This is really nice and amazing.

So Cook Enterprises is a 33 year old company.

We've been here in Toledo.

We're headquartered here.

We have locations in Tennessee and Florida as well, and we have a couple different divisions.

The division here in Toledo is mainly recycling, so we buy a little bit of metal from the public.

But mainly what we do is we recycle aluminum all over the world.

How did this what is the origin story of this?

My mom and dad started the company.

It was literally a ma and PA family business.

So apropos of the family business center, and, my family had been in the recycling business for a lot of years.

They sold their company in 1983 to Omni Source, who is still the dominant player here in Toledo.

And then my dad stayed there for about ten years.

And then when he was 49, he had that decision to make.

Do I write up my career here or go start something else on my own now?

How much pressure do you feel at the house to sort your recycling appropriately as a leader in the field?

I feel like the neighbors are watching so not only are my neighbors watching, but when I take my dog for a walk in the morning, I take two bags, one for poop, my left to say that, one for poop, and then one for aluminum cans.

And I pick up aluminum cans on the side of the road to make sure they get recycled.

Appreciate both bags.

Yes.

So that obviously I've taken some stuff to recycle at Kripke's, but I most of my interactions are, when your guys are doing great things in the community, talk to us about what's what's important to you as being a business in Toledo, that certainly the things that that made you an appropriate initial, awardee of the, the Doing It Right award?

Well, we were we won the award, in the first year, and we won it because of what we were doing for our employees.

And yes, we feel it's very important to show your employees that you really care about the environment in the community that you live in.

And we were I mean, we just love being in Toledo.

We love everything about it.

It is Toledo has been so good to our company, so good to all of our employees.

The program that we put in place for our employees that got us this recognition is a first time homebuyers program.

And what we put in place was, you could go through a six month financial literacy program that we put on in concert with, Sun Credit Union.

And they would come in and teach our employees what's a mortgage?

What is your credit score?

How do you improve it all?

And then here's all the things you don't think about with homeownership, so that we weren't sending people out and into the wilderness, and they were going to be like, what did I just do?

Right.

After they go through that, we will match up to $2,500 of their, initial down payment towards a house, and then we'll give them $100 a month towards a mortgage for the next three years.

That's that's that is incredible.

I'm embarrassed to say, and we'll get to the Metroparks connection in a second.

But I was unaware of that.

What an incredible offering.

When you talk about environment, I mean, selfishly, I think about environment in mostly one way.

Right.

But creating a an ecosystem.

As trite as it sounds, it's great because it's true and it matters.

An ecosystem of people who care.

And you have built a community inside of where people know that you literally put your money where your mouth is.

How many employees have you been able to help with the program?

It's either 6 or 7.

And now keep in mind we only have 70 employees.

Yeah.

So about let's say 10% of our employees, they can't do any math.

That doesn't matter when you go to school in Phoenix.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know you you're involved in a lot of other nonprofit organizations as well.

Why is is this like support of the community?

So important to you guys as a business versus, you know, you you certainly have the right to take your money and pour it back into the business and drive more profit and, you know, probably set up your, your kids and your families better by, by doing that.

Why do you choose to do these things?

Well, we do we do both.

You know, obviously when you are a for profit business, if you want to be around, you can't just only service the community.

That's right.

But it is part of our DNA.

And and what we realize is that when your employees see that, you care about them, with a program like this, they'll run through a wall for you.

Sure.

When your community, when your, employees see that you really care about the community you're from, and you give them time off to go volunteer, and you give them time off to go build a house for habitat for humanity, Playhouse at Fifth Third Field or whatever the the program is.

They say, okay, this is this is a company that really cares about me, cares about my growth.

The center for Family Business, which we're very involved in and said, when she was talking, she was talking about how the peer to peer, is the main thing behind it.

What we learned from in, in what Donna has done is we got to talk to other businesses.

This is where we got to know Taylor Automotive Group.

They were a winner the same year that we were.

I didn't know all the things they were doing in the community.

She turned us on to them.

We become friends and we kind of share notes on what are you doing?

What are you doing?

What are the things that you're behind?

Remarkable down there to see the awardees, to see where this has become and to see, you know, to some extent, I mean, people are doing some of this work.

You know, I don't want to say, like for the recognition, but like, but this award inspires more people to do good and that's the purpose.

Thanks for saying that.

That was the whole reason was to showcase people like Matt in his company for for others to say, I could do that or I could do something small.

Maybe not what he's doing, but something else to send a message to my employees that they are important, sure, but also to send the message to other people, you know, that that can be done.

And it's being done right here, right now.

And you didn't know about this, right?

That's right.

And so that's the that's the beauty of it.

Matt and other awardees were on a stage.

And that'll happen again next week.

They're honored in front of a crowd of a luncheon crowd, and they get to tell their story and share it with.

Last year I think we had 150 or 170 people some day.

I hope we have 1000.

Yeah.

But, I don't think this news has any boundaries like it should be done everywhere.

Yes, ma'am, I can tell you.

And, I would be remiss, as a Metroparks employee, the Metroparks, connection with Clippy has been, absolutely a real positive and wind in our sales, for the park system.

So I can speak on behalf of the team and I'm honored to work with, crypto enterprises.

Is a true community partner.

Dave Zink, my boss, Al Miller, who oversees our foundation team Smith, all people, who not only, are grateful for, the support from a financial perspective, but Matt.

But the company's DNA, your words, infused in their spirits, is also something that is incalculable, right?

Work is.

Work is called work for a reason.

We have to do it for x amount of years.

So these are the kind of things that makes getting out of bed, a little bit easier, right.

Well, thank you both for your leadership.

Thank you.

Yes.

We have you both.

Yeah.

All right, let's do this.

Let's put you guys on the spot.

Oh.

Now we're different.

That's the team.

We've been worried all morning.

That's what you said.

It's now time for Gretchen's wacky quiz.

I'm to ask for rapid fire questions.

Gretchen is asking for your favorite thing in are about Toledo.

And then you and Matt will work together.

Do it.

To describe Toledo in exactly nine words.

All right, here we go.

How would your parents describe your personality?

Oh, dear.

That's right.

That's exactly right.

That's my answer.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Driven.

Okay.

What?

Luxury is totally worth the price.

Oh.

BlackBerry mountain in outside of Knoxville, Tennessee.

It is not cheap.

It is one of the most incredible places in the world.

All right, we'll have to go there.

I need to go there now, if you like Metro, it's like a, metro park.

Except you pay a lot of money to go there.

It's.

It is so beautiful.

If it would make you feel better.

You're welcome to Venmo, Matt.

A ton of.

I'm going to what I did any time has to help out a fifth.

Thank you.

That a relationship is without boundaries.

That's absolutely right.

I would say the bitter end in in Virgin Gorda, that it's the end, you know, after that, you're lost at sea.

Yeah.

It's quite a beautiful place.

And I used to go there often with my husband.

Okay.

What's the funniest thing you've seen online?

Oh, my goodness, these are hard.

These are hard today.

Yeah.

I don't know Matt doing a headstand.

All right.

Okay.

It's on social media.

It's so easy when you don't have hair.

It is so easy.

It's like a cheat code.

Yeah that's right.

And then, who's your favorite neighbor?

Oh, this is rough.

That is hard.

I, I got a I, I am legally obligated to say Andy Golding, who I work with at Kripke Enterprises.

We not only sit next to each other at work, but we live across the street and over two houses.

there's no other option.

I have to how many Kansas you have in his front yard every day?

Yes.

It's the poop.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was good.

Like poop.

Yeah.

Oh my goodness.

What's your number one most favorite thing or what you consider to be the best thing about the city of Toledo or the region.

You know, I thought about this and I love our ethnic neighborhoods.

Sure.

The fact that we have different parts of people, I'm an ethnic product, and we had our neighborhood.

I mean, they kind of meshed, but I love the fact that that we have different kind of.

What's your background?

Lebanese.

Yeah.

There you go.

Yeah.

So they all they come together, but they they landed tacos.

Yeah.

You're.

Yeah.

I just joined the board of trustees at the University of Toledo, so I think I am once again legally obligated.

Contractually obligated, say University of Toledo.

I think you are.

Yes.

All right, well, to grow this, all of us together, we're just going to do nine words.

We're going to take.

Can we cheat?

Yes, ma'am.

The whole show is based on that.

So it's going to be and, we're going to give you the first two right there.

So you only have seven more.

Oh, good.

Yes.

Well, your math is bad.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Right.

Well I'm going to say the metro part.

That's what we'll give you two for that.

Oh my god.

Yeah absolutely.

Okay.

Keep going.

Adam Levine.

Levine.

Yep.

Yeah.

In general.

Yeah, absolutely.

But, you know, obviously the Museum of Art, but he's an incredible leader.

Yes, he is, the today or, sorry.

This week is opening day for the month.

And so you got to say the Mud Hens and and what they mean for Toledo, we'll double dip with the mountains in the walleye.

Well, I don't want to come in through it.

All right?

Just do that.

That's the best place to eat Lebanese food in town.

Oh, no, I'm not going there.

I. Your house is too smart for that, you coward.

Yeah, I am a coward.

We can't.

We can't promote it.

But how about the Lebanese food in Toledo in general?

Yeah, that was good.

Yeah.

No diplomat?

No, we're only one away.

One away, one away.

I, I just think it's.

It's the people.

The people here.

Incredible to see how worried nine people here are.

Incredible.

And the two of you are an example of that, Matt cracking down on being here.

And thank you so much.

Thank you.

Family business centers doing right.

Spotlight April 14th at The Pinnacle.

For more information, you can visit You Toledo's website and search the Family Business Center or just Google doing right spot.

Correct.

And you'll find more information on that.

We appreciate you guys being here.

Thank you so much.

All right.

We come back.

We will wrap up this toledo.com community calendar driven by Tata on the 419.

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We took a look at some of the best events happening across northwest Ohio.

But he left out.

Yes, without question, the best event.

I think he didn't want to show favoritism.

Okay, that's fair, but obviously the best event is going to be for one nine day, April 19th, 2 to 6 p.m.

at shoot mode.

My friends here at the 419, as well as our friends at ZTE, will be doing a live recording of our of our show at 4:19 p.m.

with some super cool surprise guest.

You can make your own shirt at shoot mode.

It's the dream scenario.

That's the part that I'm yeah, most excited about.

Proceeds of proceeds from the shirt will turn to.

Will benefit CTE.

There will be a food truck.

And don't forget to mention I's rib contest.

Well, that's who can every who can eat between he and I?

Who can eat the most ribs in three minutes?

I've never seen you eat around up to three minute 60s.

Yeah, it's hard to say.

Okay, for those of you who don't know, Shane, he is our rotund producer, so the odds are against me.

But he's never eaten a rib.

But I've got to get it done.

He doesn't know how to do it so respectfully.

I'm the one that has to hear him in my ear the whole show.

So that's your mistake?

Well, that's fair.

All right.

Have you missed any part of the show today?

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