The GrowthPro Edge

The GrowthPro Group

Are you ready to GROW? Welcome to The GrowthPro Edge, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders, sales professionals, and service teams sharpen their competitive advantage. Whether you're looking to scale your business, develop a high-performing team, or level up your personal leadership, we bring you the real-world stories and proven strategies you need to succeed. Hosted by The GrowthPro Group, each episode delivers the actionable tools required to grow smarter and lead better. Stop settling for average. Find your edge and accelerate your growth.

  1. 6h ago

    Team Building Through the Power of Play | The GrowthPro Edge

    What if the best team-building experience is one that gets people out of their usual roles and gives them permission to play? In this episode of The GrowthPro Edge, Denise Killian talks with Carlo D'Amore of Live in Theater about how immersive experiences can build stronger teams, break down workplace barriers, and help people see their colleagues in a completely different way. Carlo shares how his background as an actor, writer, director, producer, and entrepreneur led him to create Live in Theater, an interactive experience where the audience doesn't simply watch the story. They become part of it. That same approach has become a powerful team-building tool. Through storytelling, problem-solving, improvisation, laughter, and shared experiences, teams have an opportunity to interact outside their normal workplace roles. Employees who are typically quiet may find their voice, traditional workplace hierarchies begin to disappear, and coworkers discover strengths in one another they may never see at work. Carlo and Denise also discuss why these experiences work: people are actively participating, communicating, thinking critically, and solving challenges together while having fun. What You'll Learn • Why shared experiences create deeper team connections • How play, storytelling, and inclusion build trust and collaboration • Why getting outside your normal roles can transform a team • How interactive experiences can give quieter team members an opportunity to contribute • Why laughter can be a surprisingly powerful team-building tool • How critical thinking and collaboration develop naturally when teams solve challenges together • Why the most valuable team-building experiences give everyone a role in the outcome Learn more about Carlo and Live in Theater at LiveInTheater.com. Follow @LiveInTheater. Listen, watch, and subscribe to The GrowthPro Edge: https://thegrowthprogroup.com/the-growthpro-edge-podcast/ Find your next edge at GrowthProGroup.com

    Team Building Through the Power of Play | The GrowthPro Edge
  2. Aug 13

    Turn Visits Into Loyalty | The GrowthPro Edge

    What if the customers already coming through your doors are your biggest untapped opportunity for growth? In this episode of The GrowthPro Edge, Denise Killian talks with Brett Sheridan of ROLLER about the latest Pulse Report findings on customer loyalty, membership programs, and the rapidly changing role of AI in how guests discover and book attractions. Brett brings more than 30 years of operations experience to the conversation and shares what ROLLER is seeing from attraction operators and guests around the world. One finding stands out: 41% of regular guests still don't have a membership or loyalty status, creating a significant opportunity for businesses to turn occasional and repeat visitors into more loyal customers. Denise and Brett dig into what makes a loyalty or membership program work, why simpler programs are often better, and how operators can use value, frequency, exclusivity, and smart incentives to encourage guests to visit and spend more. They also explore how AI is changing customer discovery. Search is no longer just about traditional SEO. AI tools and large language models are pulling information from websites, reviews, directories, and other sources, making your entire online presence increasingly important. What You'll Learn • Why 41% of regular guests still don't have a membership or loyalty status • How to build simple loyalty programs that drive frequency and spending • Why unlimited-visit memberships may be more attractive than points-based programs • How season passes and monthly payment options can make memberships more accessible • Ways to create value and encourage additional in-venue spending • Why operators should avoid overcomplicating loyalty programs • How AI and large language models are changing attraction discovery • Why the human touch may become even more valuable as technology advances Get the ROLLER 2026 Pulse Report: Roller Report Listen, watch, and subscribe to The GrowthPro Edge: https://thegrowthprogroup.com/the-growthpro-edge-podcast/ Find your next edge at TheGrowthProGroup.com

    Turn Visits Into Loyalty | The GrowthPro Edge
  3. Aug 6

    Hire for Potential, Not Perfection | The GrowthPro Edge

    Why are great candidates getting overlooked—and what can hiring managers do differently? In this episode of The GrowthPro Edge, Denise Killian talks with Amber Lambert of Betson about the frustrations on both sides of the hiring process. They explore why businesses may be looking for candidates in the wrong places, how AI and credentials can create barriers, and why personality, potential, flexibility, and cultural fit may matter more than what's on paper. Amber brings experience as both a former family entertainment center owner and a leader within the industry. She explains why hiring managers should look beyond the résumé, avoid judging candidates too quickly, and create interview experiences that reveal how someone communicates, interacts, and responds in real situations. The conversation also examines how automated hiring systems may screen out qualified candidates simply because they did not use the right keywords. Denise and Amber discuss the importance of identifying what a position truly requires and separating skills that must already be present from those that can be taught through a strong training program. What You'll Learn • Why great candidates may be getting overlooked in today's hiring process • How to hire for personality, potential, and aptitude—not just credentials • Why getting to know candidates before judging them can lead to better hires • How AI screening tools may prevent qualified candidates from being seen • Why audition-style and group interviews can reveal more than a résumé • How pay, flexibility, happiness, and culture influence a candidate's decision • Why employers should evaluate whether a degree is truly necessary for the job Listen, watch, and subscribe to The GrowthPro Edge: https://thegrowthprogroup.com/the-growthpro-edge-podcast/ Find your next edge at TheGrowthProGroup.com

    Hire for Potential, Not Perfection | The GrowthPro Edge
  4. Jul 30

    AI That Actually Sells | The GrowthPro Edge

    What if AI could make your sales process more personal instead of less? In this episode of The GrowthPro Edge, Denise Killian sits down with Keith Moehring to explore practical ways AI can help sales professionals personalize outreach, prioritize leads, automate follow-up, and create better customer experiences without losing the human connection. Keith explains how sales teams can use customer notes, website activity, past conversations, and other information they already collect to create more relevant communication. He also shares how AI can help identify the most engaged leads, uncover insights hidden in sales conversations, and turn basic follow-up into timely, personalized outreach. The conversation goes beyond simple prompts and automated emails. Keith discusses how businesses can create custom AI tools using their own knowledge, experience, and processes. When AI is combined with real subject matter expertise, it can become a powerful competitive advantage for the entire team. • How to use AI to create personalized sales emails in minutes • Ways AI can identify your best sales opportunities and improve follow-up • Why custom AI tools can become your team's competitive advantage You'll also learn how to: • Use call notes and transcripts to identify pain points, next steps, and opportunities • Score and prioritize leads based on engagement • Create follow-up emails based on website visits and customer interests • Build branded chatbots and custom GPTs using your own knowledge base • Use AI without replacing the listening and personal connection that make sales work Listen, watch, and subscribe to The GrowthPro Edge: https://thegrowthprogroup.com/the-growthpro-edge-podcast/ Find your next edge at TheGrowthProGroup.com

    AI That Actually Sells | The GrowthPro Edge
  5. Jul 23

    Multiple Businesses, One Entrepreneurial Mindset | The GrowthPro Edge

    What does it take to build and lead multiple businesses across completely different industries? In this episode of The GrowthPro Edge, Denise Killian talks with entrepreneur Jim Lewis about building businesses in commercial real estate, natural foods and pharmacy, and family entertainment. Jim shares how unexpected opportunities shaped his entrepreneurial journey, including how a vacant property led to an entirely new business venture. He explains why entrepreneurs must be willing to experiment, make decisions without being paralyzed by failure, and find people who know more than they do. The conversation also explores how Jim develops teams that take ownership, identify solutions, and solve problems without everything running through the owner. His approach is simple: when an employee brings you a problem, ask them what they think the solution should be. Jim also offers an honest look at starting a business. It will often take longer and cost more than expected, but the opportunity to build something meaningful can still make the journey worthwhile. What You'll Learn • How to turn unexpected opportunities into successful businesses • Why empowering your team to solve problems is essential to growth • How to seek out people who have the knowledge you need • Why experimentation and failure are part of improving a business • What new entrepreneurs should realistically expect when starting a business • How taking action instead of waiting can lead to fewer regrets Find your next edge at TheGrowthProGroup.com

    Multiple Businesses, One Entrepreneurial Mindset | The GrowthPro Edge
  6. Jul 2

    Why Industry Associations Matter | The GrowthPro Edge

    Watch on YouTube: What if the smartest move for your business is not something you do alone? In this episode of The GrowthPro Edge, Denise Killian sits down with Jim Tartal, owner of Scottdale Music Services and Secretary of AMOA, to talk about why industry associations are one of the most underutilized growth tools available to business owners. From advocacy and networking to problem-solving and professional development, Jim shares how involvement in state and national organizations has helped him grow his business, navigate industry challenges, and build meaningful relationships throughout his 45-year career. This conversation is a reminder that business owners do not have to figure everything out alone. Industry associations can provide a stronger voice, better connections, shared knowledge, and support when challenges get complicated. What You'll Learn Why industry associations create a stronger voice for business owners How networking with peers can help solve business challenges faster The role advocacy, education, and collaboration play in long-term success Why getting involved can help operators stay informed and prepared How meaningful industry relationships can support business growth Guest: Jim Tartal, Owner, Scottdale Music Services Secretary, AMOA About The GrowthPro Edge: The GrowthPro Edge is a business and leadership podcast from The GrowthPro Group, created for leaders who want to grow smarter, lead better, and build stronger businesses. Connect with Us: Visit our website: thegrowthprogroup.com Book a Free Call: Ready to start your own growth journey? Set up a free growth call with one of our coaches today. Get in Touch: Have an idea for the show or want to be a guest? Email Denise at denise@thegrowthprogroup.com.

    Why Industry Associations Matter | The GrowthPro Edge

About

Are you ready to GROW? Welcome to The GrowthPro Edge, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders, sales professionals, and service teams sharpen their competitive advantage. Whether you're looking to scale your business, develop a high-performing team, or level up your personal leadership, we bring you the real-world stories and proven strategies you need to succeed. Hosted by The GrowthPro Group, each episode delivers the actionable tools required to grow smarter and lead better. Stop settling for average. Find your edge and accelerate your growth.