The War Room Round Table

WRRT

Welcome to the War Room Round Table podcast; Victoria, Gabrielle, Erik, Steve, and I unite our skills and extensive experience to empower small businesses to thrive. From bookkeeping and consultancy, cutting-edge technology insights, seamless payroll management, and expert advice on workers' compensation to the art of captivating photography, dynamic videography, and strategic marketing tactics, we are a diverse panel of specialists here to guide you toward success. Join us at the Round Table as we equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to elevate your business to new heights.

Episodes

  1. 13 MAY

    Business, Trauma, and the 3-Second Rule

    This week on the War Room Round Table, we are joined by "Small Business Superhero" and author Kedma O. for a conversation that goes way beyond the boardroom. Victoria Dean leads a deep dive into Kedma’s incredible journey—from using cleaning as a survival tool in a traumatic childhood to building a home services empire that saves families from crisis.Stay tuned for a raw Q&A session as Steve and Erik join from the "Peanut Gallery" to challenge the status quo on work-life balance, the $1,000-an-hour mindset, and the question of why "hustle" is officially obsolete. Kedma leaves us with a chilling reminder of why you should never ignore your intuition and why you only ever have three seconds to change your life.00:15 – Introducing Kedma O.01:09 – What is Economic Development?04:45 – The Purple Room: A Story of Trauma & Control07:21 – Giving Back: Saving a Family with CPS11:22 – Why Coaching is just a "Band-Aid"14:37 – The Specialist Coach: Comedians & TikTok20:24 – Peanut Gallery: The Struggle Owners Face Quietly28:17 – What Billionaires’ Calendars Actually Look Like45:13 – The White Van: The 3-Second Rule

    48 min
  2. Shop Talk at the Trophy Room: The 2026 Kickoff

    19 MAR

    Shop Talk at the Trophy Room: The 2026 Kickoff

    With Victoria Dean away on assignment, the boys are left to their own devices at the Oregon Golf Club. In this "unsupervised" episode of the War Room Round Table, Erik, Steve, and Dean catch up on a busy start to the year. From Portland’s restaurant scene to a cautionary tale about a law firm's digital security meltdown, we’re diving into what it actually takes to stay "battle-tested" in 2026. Pull up a chair for some honest shop talk among mates. Thanks for tuning in!

    35 min
  3. 🏡 Design, Dollars, and Downtown Dreams with Christine Jarski of CJ Dean Designs

    19/12/2025

    🏡 Design, Dollars, and Downtown Dreams with Christine Jarski of CJ Dean Designs

    Welcome back to the War Room Roundtable! This week, Victoria sits down with Christine Jarski of CJ Dean Designs to talk all things business, beautiful spaces, and building a brand. Christine, whose company is named after her entrepreneurial father, shares her journey from working on the side to taking the full-time leap during the pandemic. We talk about the rewarding challenges of new construction projects—including a deeply personal custom wallpaper mural—and discuss the constant hustle of effective marketing. Plus, Christine’s diverse background in fundraising and economic development in the Portland metro area has uniquely prepared her for the project management demands of interior design, and she gets a peek at her exciting plans, including her own line of custom wallpaper!Thanks for listening!CJ Dean Designshttps://cjdeandesigns.decoratingden.com/https://www.instagram.com/cjdeandesignsddi/https://www.facebook.com/CJDeanDesignsDDIVictoria Deanhttps://consulttak.com/Victoria@consulttak.comSteve Shaffhttps://pdxittech.com/steve@pdxittech.comDean Cambrayhttps://deancambrayphotography.com/dean@deancambray.comErik Swansonswansonpdx@comcast.net Erik.swanson@questco.net

    15 min

  4. 13/12/2025

    🎙️ The War Room Round Table: Dissecting Small Business Challenges at Boyds Motor Werks

    Welcome back to The War Room Round Table! This week, we're wrapping up our podcast with Eric Edwards at Boyd Motor Werks.Eric gave us a candid look inside his foreign auto repair shop, confirming what many of us small business owners face every day: the harsh reality of staffing and recruitment, the crucial need for effective succession planning, the ever-present threat of security challenges, and the complex calculus of accurate costing and ROI.Whether you're moving expensive foreign cars or managing any growing operation, the fight is the same. Please, pull up a chair as we dissect Eric's successes and struggles and offer our strategic recommendations on how to tackle these universal business challenges.Thanks for listening!

    22 min

  5. 02/12/2025

    Boyd Motor Werks

    Welcome back to the War Room Round Table, the podcast where we dissect the real-world battles small business owners face every day.This week, the War Roomers talk with Eric Edwards, the owner of Boyd Motor Werks, a legendary BMW and Mini repair shop that’s been in business for 50 years.How do you sustain a legacy brand's vitality? What do you do when you have too many cars and not enough technicians? And in a city like Portland, how do you protect your shop, your customers' property, and your team from the constant threat of theft and vandalism?Eric gets candid about his leadership philosophy, which has kept employees loyal for over 15 years, and the daily fight to maintain integrity in an industry with a bad reputation.Thanks for Tuning In.Victoria Deanhttps://consulttak.com/Victoria@consulttak.comSteve Shaffhttps://pdxittech.com/steve@pdxittech.comDean Cambrayhttps://deancambrayphotography.com/dean@deancambray.comErik Swansonswansonpdx@comcast.net Erik.swanson@questco.net

    15 min
  6. Welcome Back to the War Room Roundtable!

    10/11/2025

    Welcome Back to the War Room Roundtable!

    Hey everyone, and welcome back to the War Room Roundtable podcast! 🎙️We know it's been a minute since our last episode, but we've been heads-down helping our small business clients navigate a busy summer. We’re excited to be back in the studio with our amazing panel of experts, ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses today.In this episode, we discuss the importance of hitting pause, taking a much-needed break, and the necessity of strategic planning for growth and employee retention. Our panel discusses how to break the "busy cycle" and make time for what truly matters, such as taking a vacation or simply taking an hour for yourself. We also explore key business topics, including IT and publishing, as well as HR and payroll, and discuss why investing in yourself is the best investment you can make for your business.So grab a cup of coffee and get ready for a robust conversation about how to move your business forward, without burning out.

    28 min

  7. 29/01/2025

    Happy Hew Year!

    Happy New Year from the War Room Round Table! We wrapped up last year by sharing exciting projects and quick tips for a successful fourth quarter. In next week’s episode, Victoria sits down with Ilya from the Urban Crêperie, who opens up about the challenges of running a restaurant in Portland. Join us as we delve into his experiences and uncover valuable lessons for small businesses!

    41 min

  8. 29/01/2025

    The War Roomers

    Welcome to the War Room Round Table, where small business meets expert advice! We’re a dynamic team of five—Victoria, Gabrielle, Steve, Erik, and Dean—each bringing unique expertise. From accounting and CFO services to internet security, HR, marketing, photography, and video. We’ve got the skills to help your small business thrive. Join us as we tackle small business owners' real challenges and share practical strategies to help you succeed. We understand the journey because we’re on it, too, and we’re here to provide the insights you need to navigate your path forward. Thanks for tuning in! Web www.warroomroundtable.com Email info@warroomroundtable.com The Warroomers Victoria Dean ⁠https://consulttak.com/⁠ Steve Shaff ⁠https://pdxittech.com/⁠ Dean Cambray www.deancambrayphotography.com ⁠https://www.architecturalphotographys...

    10 min

  9. 29/01/2025

    Steve Shaff

    With over 25 years in the IT world, I’ve danced with the giants of the Fortune 500 and Fortune 50.  Then, I landed in a small medical billing office and discovered their IT guy had some… let’s say, “unique” methods. After untangling their digital mess, I became the go-to tech wizard for local doctors and dentists. It dawned on me that many small business owners either lack the know-how or can’t afford top-tier IT talent. So, I launched a company to rescue exasperated business owners from their computer chaos. That remains the bottom-line goal to this day!

    13 min

  10. 29/01/2025

    Gabrielle Zenner

    Gabrielle Zenner has been in retail operations for several industries and is currently in the risk management space. She loves a well-defined business operating strategy that is executable throughout the year. Storytelling is the heart of the business, and the initiatives help the company continue its successes. She loves building a culture of accountability, purpose, and passion through measurable strategic planning.

    13 min

  11. 29/01/2025

    Victoria Dean

    Victoria Dean is the powerhouse who brings clarity to running your business! She’s here to share the resources and insights you need to make intelligent decisions and confidently tackle those numbers. With over 20 years of experience, Victoria knows the ups and downs of being a business owner, and she understands how tough it can be to find someone you can trust to help you thrive. Web www.warroomroundtable.com http://www.consulttak.com/ Email info@warroomroundtable.com info@consulttak.com

    13 min

  12. 29/01/2025

    Erik Swanson

    Erik Swanson helps business owners with specific management solutions focusing on the daily employment-related complexities. In my purview, that's health care premium & benefits management, co-employment, HR admin/consult, WC premium, risk & safety services, payroll, and admin. erik@cardinalservices.com https://www.cardinalservices.com/

    13 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Welcome to the War Room Round Table podcast; Victoria, Gabrielle, Erik, Steve, and I unite our skills and extensive experience to empower small businesses to thrive. From bookkeeping and consultancy, cutting-edge technology insights, seamless payroll management, and expert advice on workers' compensation to the art of captivating photography, dynamic videography, and strategic marketing tactics, we are a diverse panel of specialists here to guide you toward success. Join us at the Round Table as we equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to elevate your business to new heights.

Information