Dirt to Sky Business Podcast

In this episode of the Dirt to Sky Business Podcast, Jordan Hill sits down with Jason Conrad, owner of the Salem Capitals, to unpack one of the most unconventional journeys in sports and business.From playing professional basketball overseas to cashing out his savings, 401k, and stocks to buy a team with only $2,000 left in his bank account Jason shares what it really takes to build something from the ground up.

Develop a greater vision with Jordan Hill on the Dirt to Sky Podcast. Bringing on a powerful aray of guest that exclusively features their talents and respective position in their work and community.FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS!IG AND TIKTOK: DIRTTOSKYPODCAST#Business #BusinessPodcast #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of the Dirt to Sky Business Podcast, host Jordan Hill sits down with Tom Hoffert, CEO of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.
Tom shares his incredible journey growing up in Salem, the lessons he learned from entrepreneurial grandparents, and how he stepped into leadership during one of the chamber’s toughest financial moments.
From “burn the boats” leadership mentality to building a culture of trust, mentorship, and resilience, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to lead an organization and support small businesses in a community.
If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with powerful insights on leadership, mindset, and building strong networks.
FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS!IG AND TIKTOK: DIRTTOSKYPODCAST
#Business #BusinessPodcast #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of the Dirt to Sky Business Podcast, host Jordan Hill sits down with Tom Hafford, CEO of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.Tom shares his incredible journey growing up in Salem, the lessons he learned from entrepreneurial grandparents, and how he stepped into leadership during one of the chamber’s toughest financial moments.From “burn the boats” leadership mentality to building a culture of trust, mentorship, and resilience, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to lead an organization and support small businesses in a community.If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with powerful insights on leadership, mindset, and building strong networks.0:00 Intro0:16 Welcome to the podcast0:32 Meet Tom Hafford – CEO of the Salem Chamber1:04 Tom’s upbringing and early life in Salem2:01 Growing up with teachers and entrepreneurial grandparents3:20 Lessons learned from family businesses4:12 First jobs and early work ethic5:24 Family struggles and caring for his sister7:02 Hardship, resilience, and perspective9:46 How struggles shape your greatest strengths10:21 Leadership values: integrity and character11:02 “Burn the Boats” mindset explained11:18 Leaving a lucrative career to lead the Chamber12:14 The financial crisis he inherited14:22 Realizing the scale of the challenge16:04 Rebuilding the organization and restructuring17:14 The reality of nonprofit leadership18:59 Leading with purpose instead of profit19:48 Being a community caretaker21:24 How leaders can bring out the best in others22:57 Building the right team and company culture24:23 Why relationships matter in business26:02 Supporting small businesses through the Chamber29:03 Dealing with failure and leadership pressure31:21 Leadership challenges and anxiety33:09 The importance of strong mentors and friends35:02 Why entrepreneurs shouldn’t build alone37:05 The loneliness of leadership41:40 The power of a strong board and community43:53 Final advice for entrepreneurs and leaders45:00 Closing thoughtsDevelop a greater vision with Jordan Hill on the Dirt to Sky Podcast. Bringing on a powerful aray of guest that exclusively features their talents and respective position in their work and community.FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS!IG AND TIKTOK: DIRTTOSKYPODCAST#Business #BusinessPodcast #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of the Dirt to Sky Business Podcast, Jordan Hill sits down with Rob Beckley, High School and Young Adult Pastor at Morning Star Community Church in Salem.Rob shares his journey into leadership at a young age, how he leads large teams of volunteers, builds healthy culture, handles conflict, and protects his family life while carrying the emotional weight of serving others. This conversation is packed with leadership lessons that apply far beyond ministry and directly into business, management, and entrepreneurship.Whether you’re a business owner, executive, manager, or emerging leader, this episode explores what it really means to lead with confidence, compassion, and purpose.Sponsored by Collier LawInterested in sponsoring the podcast? Reach out to Jordan Hill.⏱️ Timestamps0:16 – Introduction & sponsorship0:38 – Meet Rob Beckley and his role at Morning Star1:09 – Becoming a leader at a young age2:36 – Leading 100+ students and 18 volunteers3:18 – Growing up without faith and discovering purpose5:13 – Choosing ministry over engineering7:25 – Starting as an intern and leading older volunteers8:58 – Confidence vs insecurity as a young leader11:06 – How confidence is built through action12:06 – Leading people toward mission, not personality13:01 – Building strong team culture14:21 – “We” language and leading alongside your team15:18 – Hiring slowly and protecting culture16:05 – Conflict resolution and healthy confrontation18:46 – Micromanaging vs giving a long leash20:11 – Learning leadership styles from mentors22:45 – Work-life balance challenges24:40 – Setting boundaries and protecting family time27:00 – Parenting, priorities, and intentional presence29:02 – Compassion overload and emotional burnout31:01 – Creating healthy emotional distance32:12 – The importance of quiet and reflection33:05 – How upbringing shaped leadership values35:00 – Focusing on who you want to become36:00 – Keeping volunteers motivated38:23 – Seasons of doubt and wanting to quit39:03 – Defining success as faithfulness40:42 – Providing for family while following calling43:01 – Handling praise and keeping ego in checkDevelop a greater vision with Jordan Hill on the Dirt to Sky Podcast. Bringing on a powerful aray of guest that exclusively features their talents and respective position in their work and community.FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS!IG AND TIKTOK: DIRTTOSKYPODCAST#Business #BusinessPodcast #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth

From single mom to “million-dollar business builder,” Melody Campbell breaks down what actually grows a business in today’s SEO + AI landscape. In this episode of Dirt to Sky Business Podcast, Melody shares hard-earned lessons from 20+ years in digital marketing, how SEO is evolving alongside AI, why results matter more than credentials, and how resilience, pivots, and people-first thinking create long-term success.If you’re a business owner wondering why the phone isn’t ringing, how AI is changing search, or how to scale without burning out, this episode is a must-listen.Episode Highlights & Timestamps:00:00 – Intro & sponsor shoutout00:40 – Meet Melody Campbell, “The Small Business Guru”01:30 – Building a business as a single mom02:10 – From print marketing to predicting the internet boom03:20 – Why Melody chose SEO as her core focus04:00 – Turning small local businesses into six- and seven-figure companies05:30 – Why she only works with one business per category per area06:40 – Early tech obsession, AOL days, and learning before it was cool08:20 – Results over credentials: why execution is the real currency09:20 – Case studies that speak louder than marketing claims10:10 – Learning to price your value and stop undercharging12:00 – Why Melody doesn’t sell discounts, only results13:20 – What every business should do before hiring SEO help14:00 – Google Business Profiles and free visibility strategies16:50 – How AI is changing how people search and buy18:00 – SEO isn’t dead: why search still matters in an AI world20:20 – Why networking and social media alone aren’t enough22:30 – How AI rewards expertise, authority, and real stories24:00 – Building trust online with FAQs, case studies, and proof27:00 – Pivots, setbacks, and rebuilding after major life events30:00 – “Life is 50/50” and learning to solve problems instead of fearing them33:00 – Lessons from parenting, resilience, and choosing your hard34:45 – Bodybuilding, confidence, and rebuilding strength later in life36:50 – Showing up before you feel ready38:00 – Final thoughts on growth, discipline, and self-belief59:30 – Closing episode👉 Subscribe for more real conversations with business owners who’ve built success from the ground up.