American Operator

Joseph Cabrera

See America’s small businesses the way they were meant to be seen — up close, on the ground, and through the eyes of the people who run them. American Operator documents the real stories of Main Street: • We visit small businesses across the country. • We highlight operators keeping their towns alive. • We show what ownership actually looks like. • And we expose the hidden cost of private equity roll-ups hollowing out local communities.From family-owned shops to essential service businesses, from thriving main streets to towns devastated by outside ownership, we’re capturing the reality of American small business at a turning point.Our mission is simple: keep America locally owned & operated by shining a light on the businesses, operators, and communities worth fighting for.Subscribe and join the movement to rebuild, revive, and protect America’s small business backbone.This is American OperatorPod: @AmericanOperatorPodcastInsta: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator

  1. 6D AGO

    Running Your Small Town Like A Business I Josh Schroeder - Mayor of Georgetown I AO 48

    What makes a small town thrive — and how do you grow without losing what made it special in the first place? In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with Josh Schrader, Mayor of Georgetown, Texas, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, small business, community, and the real work behind building Main Street America. Mayor Schrader shares how Georgetown became one of the fastest-growing cities in the country while still preserving its small-town charm, why community involvement isn’t optional for business owners, and what leadership actually looks like when the headlines don’t matter. This conversation covers: Why small businesses must give back to the communities they serveHow Georgetown avoided becoming just another suburbLeading through rapid growth, COVID, and hard decisionsThe importance of humility, honesty, and accountability in leadershipWhy young people are returning to trades and small business ownershipBalancing growth, culture, and long-term sustainabilityFrom law to local government, from downtown squares to generational leadership, this episode is a masterclass on why Main Street still matters — and why the American Dream is alive in places willing to protect it. If you care about small business, local leadership, and the future of American towns, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Join the Movement Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators: Website: www.americanoperator.com AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

    1h 12m
  2. 12/02/2025

    Say Yes And Show Up | Greg Gordon — Party Machines | AO 44

    Greg Gordon is unfiltered, unpredictable, and one of the most original operators you’ll ever meet. From renting margarita machines across Texas to running for Austin Mayor and accidentally building a global foam business, Greg’s story is a masterclass in saying yes, showing up, and figuring it out later. Greg Talks About:  🔴 Growing up with chaos, grit, and resilience — and how it shaped his operator mindset.  🔴 The ninth-grade moment that taught him to ask, risk, and show up.  🔴 How one impulsive “yes” turned into a worldwide foam business.  🔴 Scaling Party Machines from garage mixing to Amazon, Walmart, and global demand.  🔴 Why mistakes are fine — but never the same mistake twice.  🔴 Planning every year with ruthless clarity and protecting his time.  🔴 Why not every customer is your customer — and why consistency beats everything. Real stories. Real ownership. Real lessons from the field. This is American Operator. AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com Join the Movement Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators: Website: www.americanoperator.com AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

    1h 9m
  3. 11/11/2025

    Fighting Nazis, Making Whiskey, and Honoring The Men Who Invented Mountain Recreation I 10th Mountain I 41

    In the heart of Vail Valley, Ryan Thompson and Sean McNeill run 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co., a distillery paying tribute to the legendary 10th Mountain Division — soldiers who fought Nazis, came home, and laid the foundation for modern skiing and mountain recreation. From bartending in small-town Colorado to building a nationally recognized whiskey brand, Ryan and Sean share the grit, hospitality, and entrepreneurial spirit that drive their work — and how honoring history can guide the future of business. They Talk About: 🔴 Building a whiskey brand from the ground up while staying true to your roots. 🔴 The lessons of service, grit, and perseverance learned from the 10th Mountain Division. 🔴 Why running a business means working in service of something bigger than yourself. 🔴 How Main Street businesses preserve history, culture, and community. 🔴 The hardest lessons learned from failure — and why they pale in comparison to the challenges faced by those who came before them. Real stories. Real ownership. Real lessons from the field. This is American Operator. Join the Movement Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators: Website: www.americanoperator.com AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

    1h 1m
5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

See America’s small businesses the way they were meant to be seen — up close, on the ground, and through the eyes of the people who run them. American Operator documents the real stories of Main Street: • We visit small businesses across the country. • We highlight operators keeping their towns alive. • We show what ownership actually looks like. • And we expose the hidden cost of private equity roll-ups hollowing out local communities.From family-owned shops to essential service businesses, from thriving main streets to towns devastated by outside ownership, we’re capturing the reality of American small business at a turning point.Our mission is simple: keep America locally owned & operated by shining a light on the businesses, operators, and communities worth fighting for.Subscribe and join the movement to rebuild, revive, and protect America’s small business backbone.This is American OperatorPod: @AmericanOperatorPodcastInsta: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator