2 B's in a PODcast

Jans Corporation
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  • Entrepreneurship
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In 2 B's in a PODcast, brothers Brad and Brian Jans take you Beyond the Blueprint to share stories about family, business, construction, and the people behind the projects. 👉 Subscribe to learn more about our work, our values, and our vision for building a better future.

  1. Aug 14

    The Mistake That Kills Small Towns Isn't Money

    What do small towns actually need to grow, and what kills them when they try? Tyler Tordsen of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance says the answer usually isn't money. It's internal fighting. Brad Jans and Brian Jans of Jans Corporation, a commercial construction company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sit down with Tyler Tordsen, President and CEO of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance (SMGA), South Dakota's largest regional nonprofit economic development organization. SMGA serves the communities ringing Sioux Falls across Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner and McCook counties, including Harrisburg, Tea, Brandon, Hartford, Crooks, Lennox and Canton. This is a conversation about the towns around the city, not the city itself. In this episode The six spokes every strong community needs, and what happens when one breaks Why the biggest mistake small towns make is internal fighting, not a lack of money What small towns think they need but usually don't, and the cheaper option most already have What a data center really means for a small town, and where the misinformation starts How a development like 38 North in Hartford comes together, and SMGA's role behind it Why a growth plan beats saying yes to the first deal that shows up How SMGA's part-time contracted model works for towns too small for a full-time hire Tyler's path from Senator Mike Rounds' office to the South Dakota House to SMGA Chapters 0:00 The four counties, and balancing them with Sioux Falls 0:47 Beyond the Blueprint: welcome to 2 B's in a Podcast 1:38 What is the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance? 2:20 From MCEDA and LCEDA to SMGA: 36 years of regional development 3:09 From Senator Rounds' office to the legislature to running SMGA 7:48 How being an enrolled tribal member shapes his view of development 9:21 The six spokes every strong community needs 13:15 Ten bills signed into law in his first session 17:54 Education, the prison debate, and rethinking recidivism 20:16 What economic development actually looks like day to day 21:46 38 North in Hartford, and SMGA's role in a development 24:06 Balancing four counties without playing favorites 27:12 Data centers: what's real and what's misinformation 30:17 The data centers already here, including the EROS Data Center 31:05 Where a data center should and shouldn't go 34:15 What it actually costs a small town to grow 39:39 The secret sauce behind the region's growth 42:51 What small towns think they need but really don't 43:39 The first move for a small-town leader who wants to grow 47:35 Keep building 51:28 Bonus: everyone's favorite Sioux Metro community 55:21 The one mistake small towns make when they try to grow Questions this episode answers What is the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance? SMGA is South Dakota's largest regional nonprofit economic development organization, headquartered in downtown Sioux Falls. It serves the small and mid-sized communities and counties around Sioux Falls, advising them on growth, supporting existing businesses, and helping with infrastructure and community projects. What is the biggest mistake small towns make when they try to grow? Internal fighting. Tyler says a business looking at a community senses internal politics quickly, and a town too small to afford division loses projects over it before a conversation starts. Do small towns need their own police force? Often not. Many communities assume they need one, then run the numbers and find crime is low enough that contracting with the county sheriff's office works well and costs far less. Are data centers good for small towns? It depends on the project and the location. Tyler points to real benefits in property and sales tax, alongside conditions a community can set, such as closed-loop cooling so a project does not deplete local water. About the guest Tyler Tordsen is President and CEO of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. Born in Sioux Falls and raised in Rapid City, he is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. He spent eight years in the office of U.S. Senator Mike Rounds as Southeast Regional Director and State Director of Tribal Affairs, and served in the South Dakota House of Representatives for District 14. He holds degrees from the University of South Dakota and a master's from Air University. Sioux Metro Growth Alliance: siouxmetro.com Resources mentioned Sioux Metro Growth Alliance annual Growth Summit Leadership Sioux Metro, SMGA's eight-month leadership development program 38 North, the Jans Corporation residential development in Hartford, SD EROS Data Center, the federal data facility near Sioux Falls About 2 B's in a Podcast 2 B's in a Podcast is hosted by brothers Brad Jans and Brian Jans, owners of Jans Corporation, a commercial construction company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Every episode is a real conversation with the family business owners, builders and community leaders shaping Sioux Falls and the region. We go beyond the blueprint. Jans Corporation: janscorp.com If this episode was useful, follow the show and leave a rating and review. It genuinely helps other people in small towns find it. Watch the full conversation on YouTube: Jans Corporation.

  2. Jul 31

    The Backstreet Boys Golf Prank That Fooled Everyone | 2 B's in a Podcast

    What does it take to keep a family business alive for 50 years? Erik Helland, owner of Landscape Garden Centers, has the receipts. In this full episode of 2 B's in a Podcast, hosts Brad and Brian Jans (owners of Jans Corporation, a Sioux Falls commercial construction company) sit down with Erik Helland, second-generation owner of Landscape Garden Centers and the man behind Bloom and Branch in downtown Sioux Falls. Erik's dad Phil moved the family from Watertown to Sioux Falls in 1977 and opened Lakeland Nurseries, which became Landscape Garden Centers in 1989. Next year the company turns 50. Erik took the reins in his early 30s and became sole owner about a decade ago. It starts with a bucket of nails, detours through a Las Vegas golf trip in Backstreet Boys costumes, and lands somewhere more honest than most business interviews get.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Why taking over in his early 30s was "way too early," and what Erik would do differently with his own kids - How one conversation over drinks led to rolling out EOS across the whole company in a week - Why they self-performed the new build instead of hiring a contractor, down to pouring their own concrete - What Landscape Garden Centers actually does: design build, bid work, renovations, maintenance, irrigation, a staff arborist and Christmas lights - How Bloom and Branch came together with Ariana Johnson of 605 Florista, and why downtown foot traffic behaves nothing like a destination site - The lesson Erik learned the hard way: "banks are not your friends" when things get tight - Why he brings in 23 seasonal H-2B crew members a year and provides their housing - How Sioux Falls handled emerald ash borer, and why autumn blaze maple is next to watch - The ripple-in-a-pond test Erik runs before any decision big enough to change the company   CHAPTERS 0:00 The bucket of nails story 0:41 Meet Erik Helland: Landscape Garden Centers and Bloom and Branch 1:38 The Vegas golf trip they pulled off as the Backstreet Boys 6:24 What Midwest golf trips taught them about leadership 9:56 1977: Watertown to Sioux Falls and the Lakeland Nurseries years 11:54 Taking over the family business in his early 30s 13:19 How EOS changed the way the whole team runs 16:39 He wanted to be in the FBI, not landscaping 17:45 Three generations of Hellands in the green industry 21:40 "My dad was always giving back to Mother Earth" 22:43 Opening Bloom and Branch in downtown Sioux Falls 26:20 Moving to 271st Street and doubling the footprint 29:02 Self-performing the build: "we poured all our own concrete" 29:44 What Landscape Garden Centers actually does 33:51 His dad threatened to chain himself to the trees 36:56 Ash borer, autumn blaze maples and tree diversity 37:50 The hardest lesson: "banks are not your friends" 40:09 H-2B crews and what "family business" actually means 44:42 Will his kids take over? "TBD" 45:51 The Avera waterfalls project he's proudest of 47:59 Downtown, Midtown, Uptown: a Sioux Falls geography lesson   QUESTIONS THIS EPISODE ANSWERS Who owns Landscape Garden Centers in Sioux Falls? Erik Helland is President and Owner. His father, Phil Helland, started the business as Lakeland Nurseries in 1977 after moving the family from Watertown, South Dakota. The name changed to Landscape Garden Centers in 1989, and Erik became sole owner roughly ten years ago.   What is Bloom and Branch in downtown Sioux Falls? Bloom and Branch is the downtown floral shop from Landscape Garden Centers, in the Jones421 building. It handles weddings, funerals, corporate events, everyday arrangements, delivery, and weekly or monthly flower subscriptions.   What is the hardest lesson of running a family business? Erik's answer is blunt: don't rely on a bank. Banks will lend when things are good, but when conditions get tough they are not the partner you assumed they were.   ABOUT THE GUEST Erik Helland is President and Owner of Landscape Garden Centers in Sioux Falls, the second generation to lead the company his father Phil founded as Lakeland Nurseries in 1977. He is also behind Bloom and Branch, the downtown floral shop in the Jones421 building. An SDSU graduate who once wanted to work for the FBI, he has spent his whole career in the green industry. Landscape Garden Centers: https://www.landscapegardencenters.com 47238 271st St, Sioux Falls, SD 57108 | (605) 338-0706   ABOUT 2 B'S IN A PODCAST 2 B's in a Podcast is hosted by brothers Brad and Brian Jans, owners of Jans Corporation, one of the largest commercial construction companies in South Dakota. Every episode is a real conversation with the people building Sioux Falls: family business owners, community leaders, and the folks whose names are on the door. Jans Corporation: https://www.janscorp.com

  3. Jul 17

    The #1 Question Homeowners Never Ask About Concrete

    Why does concrete crack, and how do you make a driveway, patio, or parking lot last decades instead of years? Pat Gerlach of Concrete Solutions Unlimited breaks it all down on 2 B's in a Podcast. In Episode 20, hosts and brothers Brad Jans and Brian Jans of Jans Corporation, a commercial construction company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sit down with Pat Gerlach, Field Superintendent at Concrete Solutions Unlimited (CSU), a full-service concrete contractor in Sioux Falls and part of the Jans family of companies. With more than two decades in the concrete trade, from pouring and finishing to field management, Pat answers the questions homeowners and business owners never think to ask. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Cement vs. concrete: what the difference actually is (and why it matters when you order a mix) - The one question almost nobody asks a concrete contractor: how do I care for my concrete after the pour? - Why drainage and downspouts quietly destroy driveways, sidewalks, and foundations from underneath - What freeze-thaw heaving is, and why your patio seems to "grow" every South Dakota winter - What salt and ice melt really do to a concrete surface, and safer winter alternatives - Good cracks vs. bad cracks, and how joints tell concrete where to crack - Rebar vs. fiberglass bar vs. wire mesh for driveways and flatwork - Why curing is the most skipped step in concrete, and what spalling looks like when it goes wrong - Concrete vs. asphalt: which parking lot surface lasts longer and why - How a 3D laser screed let the CSU crew place 180 yards, 18 ready-mix trucks, in about an hour - When to schedule a driveway replacement, realistic lead times, and why waiting rarely saves money CHAPTERS 0:00 What separates a foundation that lasts from one that fails? 1:34 Welcome to 2 B's in a Podcast: meet Pat Gerlach of Concrete Solutions Unlimited 1:52 Cement vs. concrete: setting the record straight 2:40 Mix designs 101: 4,000 PSI, high early, and waterproof mixes 3:52 Working inside the Jans family of companies 4:44 The wildest pour: 180 yards in about an hour with a 3D laser screed 5:59 What full-service concrete means on a commercial job 6:53 How weather makes or breaks a pour 8:44 Building relationships with other general contractors 9:38 The question homeowners never ask: caring for concrete after the pour 11:00 Downspouts, drainage, and what water does under your slab 12:57 Why concrete heaves in winter: the freeze-thaw cycle explained 13:55 Salt, ice melt, and safer winter care for driveways and sidewalks 16:07 Sealing your concrete: DIY or hire a pro? 16:57 Good cracks vs. bad cracks, and how to repair one 19:03 Rebar vs. fiberglass bar vs. wire mesh 20:00 Where owners overspend and cut corners: curing 101 22:36 Curling, flat floors, and robot-ready warehouse slabs 23:57 Vibration, voids, and the art of consolidation 26:45 Why adding water to the truck ruins your concrete 27:55 The spalling problem that hit driveways after COVID 30:30 Concrete vs. asphalt: which really lasts longer? 33:02 Concrete MythBusters: winter pours, 28-day strength, stamped concrete, hairline cracks 38:00 The most underrated pour Pat ever finished 40:47 When to plan your concrete project (and current lead times) 43:38 The one thing every owner should do each year 44:38 Handprints, memorial pours, and wrap-up COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE Q: What is the difference between cement and concrete? A: Cement is an ingredient in concrete. Concrete is a mix of cement, water, and aggregate. Cement is the powder that binds it together. Q: How do I make my concrete driveway last longer? A: Keep water away from it. Slope drainage and downspouts away from the slab, seal the joints and surface, shovel snow promptly, and go easy on ice melt. Q: Does concrete last longer than asphalt? A: In Pat's experience, yes. He has replaced far more failed asphalt with concrete than the other way around, especially in parking lots. Q: Are cracks in concrete always bad? A: No. Joints are placed to control where concrete cracks. Cracking becomes a problem when it is excessive or when moisture gets in and makes it worse. ABOUT THE GUEST Pat Gerlach is Field Superintendent at Concrete Solutions Unlimited in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. CSU handles foundations, footings, interior floors, curb and gutter, sidewalks, paving, stamped concrete, and snow removal for commercial and residential clients across the Sioux Falls area. Website: https://www.concretesolutionsunlimited.com Phone: (605) 331-5267 ABOUT 2 B'S IN A PODCAST 2 B's in a Podcast is hosted by brothers Brad Jans and Brian Jans, owners of Jans Corporation, a commercial construction company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Each episode features conversations with the family business owners, builders, and community leaders shaping Sioux Falls and the region. Subscribe for more conversations with the people building Sioux Falls. #ConcreteDriveway #SiouxFalls #2BsInAPodcast #Construction #FamilyBusiness

  4. Jul 3

    J&L Harley-Davidson's 50-Year Story: Joe & Jimmy Entenman

    Two brothers who build things sit down with two brothers who build motorcycle culture. On this episode of 2 B's in a Podcast, Brad and Brian Jans of Jans Corporation host Joe and Jimmy Entenman, the second-generation owners of J&L Harley-Davidson in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for an honest, funny conversation about running a 50-year family business. What started in 1975 — when the Entenman family answered an Argus Leader ad to become a single-line Harley-Davidson dealer — has grown into a Sioux Falls institution. Joe and Jimmy talk about learning the business by cleaning bathrooms and pulling weeds, earning their way into ownership over a 15-year transition, buying out their father Jim and uncle Lonnie, and carrying a family legacy that goes back to 1900 in Sioux Falls. It's a real look at family, culture, community, and what it takes to keep a business relevant for half a century. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE - What actually makes someone a "biker" — and why the culture is growing, not shrinking - How the Entenman family won the Harley franchise in 1975 out of 20-plus applicants - Why earning ownership beat being handed it — and how family businesses survive the transition - How J&L grew into Big Sioux Powersports and Harley-Davidson of Fargo - Inside the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy, which trains as many as 200 new riders a year - The oddest jobs of growing up in the business (yes, including the oil-wrestling story) - Why Sturgis matters to South Dakota — and the rain, the T-boned deer, and the global crowd - How the brothers build culture, treat every customer the same, and sell rider-to-rider - Giving back: Make-A-Wish, Emily's Hope, veterans groups, and the Ride for Heroes challenge CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: a few too many beers & a borrowed leather coat 03:25 Welcome: two sets of brothers, and what makes a "real biker" 05:38 Outlaw origins: WWII vets, the first clubs & going mainstream 09:15 The J&L story: answering an Argus Leader ad in 1975 11:38 Growing the family: Fargo, Big Sioux Powersports, Can-Am & Royal Enfield 17:58 The Harley-Davidson Riding Academy: up to 200 new riders a year 21:29 The oddest jobs of growing up in the business 24:43 The 100th-anniversary "oil wrestling" that went sideways 26:20 Sturgis stories: rain, a T-boned deer & a worldwide crowd 35:22 The evolution of the bike: lighter frames, the V-Rod & Livewire 43:48 Building culture: bike nights & treating everyone the same 47:09 Beer & Pretzels with Yogi & passing it to the next generation 52:49 Off the clock: cabinets, Traegers & 25-minute rips 56:04 The most overrated thing about biker culture 58:09 "Make a friend": how J&L sells rider-to-rider 01:00:04 Ride for Heroes & giving back to Sioux Falls ABOUT THE GUESTS Joe and Jimmy Entenman are brothers and co-owners of J&L Harley-Davidson, founded in 1975 by their father, Jim Entenman, and uncle Lonnie Entenman (the "J" and "L" in J&L). Based just off I-29 (Exit 83) at 2601 W. 60th Street North in Sioux Falls, the dealership marked its 50th anniversary in 2025. The Entenman family's operations include J&L Harley-Davidson (Sioux Falls), Big Sioux Powersports (Sioux Falls), Harley-Davidson of Fargo (West Fargo, ND), and Glacial Lakes Harley-Davidson (Watertown, SD). J&L is known across the region for Hot Harley Nights, Soo Foo Moto Fest, monthly bike nights, the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy, and its longtime support of Sioux Falls community causes. ABOUT 2 B's IN A PODCAST 2 B's in a Podcast is hosted by brothers Brad and Brian Jans of Jans Corporation, a commercial construction company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The show goes beyond the blueprint to tell the stories of Sioux Falls family businesses, community leaders, and the people building the community forward. New conversations with the owners, founders, and characters who shape Sioux Falls and the surrounding region. Like this episode, share it with someone who'd enjoy it, and drop a comment below — we read them.

  5. Jun 19

    From Army Farm Kid to Running a 3rd-Generation Steel Company | P&M Steel

    Every building in Sioux Falls is standing on something you'll never see — the steel. In this episode of 2 B's in a Podcast, Brad and Brian Jans of Jans Corporation sit down with Mike DeJong, President of P&M Steel, to talk about the work behind the walls: structural steel fabrication, the backbone that holds up the city's schools, stores, and skyline. P&M Steel started in 1970 and is now a third-generation, employee-owned (ESOP) company in Sioux Falls. Mike's own path there wasn't a straight line — he grew up on a family farm in Platte, South Dakota, spent roughly 30 years in the military and National Guard, deployed alongside his own father in 2003, and met his wife on deployment before working his way up to run the company. This is a real conversation about what it actually takes to fabricate steel on a deadline, why communication makes or breaks a project, and how a blue-collar trade is changing with technology, tariffs, and a tight market. In this episode: The P&M Steel story — three generations and an employee-owned shop From the Army to the steel floor: Mike's road to running the company Deploying with his dad — and a Vietnam vet finally getting his welcome home Why steel is the backbone of a building (and the parts nobody sees) When is the right time to build? Reading the shop, the schedule, and the market How 20–25 people touch a single project from bid to delivery The real timeline: 12–16 weeks from drawings to steel on site Tariffs, interest rates, and the risk of buying steel before approval Building schools — including the Harrisburg Freshman Academy his daughter sat in first Technology and automation: from hand layout to one machine that does it all Welding programs, young talent, and the future of the trade Family business, succession, and letting your kids find their own path Rapid fire: steel vs. concrete vs. wood, and what GCs get wrong ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 The steel keeps getting bigger 00:52 Welcome to 2 B's in a Podcast 01:23 Meet Mike DeJong & P&M Steel 01:55 Three generations of P&M Steel 02:55 From the Army to running a steel company 04:01 Growing up on a Platte, SD farm 05:55 Deploying alongside his own dad 07:01 What people don't understand about steel 07:43 When is the right time to build? 09:17 Bigger city, bigger steel 10:05 Surviving COVID 11:00 Choosing partners — why communication wins 13:27 The backbone nobody sees 14:53 Building schools & the Harrisburg Freshman Academy 15:44 How many hands touch one project 16:45 Drawings to delivery: the real timeline 17:58 Steel mills, buying, and tariffs 20:57 Welding programs & young talent 22:18 Technology: from hand layout to one machine 24:24 Family, kids & finding your own path 26:41 Back to the farm? Cattle, small towns & the hat 29:15 Rapid fire 31:01 The toughest builds: dairy barn trusses & curved steel 33:01 Backlog, paint, finishes & galvanizing 33:57 EOS and the 5–10 year vision 36:18 Employee-owned: what ESOP really means 36:55 Military leadership on the shop floor 38:54 The future of PNM Steel 39:52 Where to find PNM Steel 40:56 Small jobs, big jobs — steel for your home too 41:37 Keep building 🏗️ About the guest Mike DeJong is the President of P&M Steel, a third-generation, employee-owned structural steel fabrication company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, serving the region from Pierre to Aberdeen and into Minnesota and Iowa. 📍 4401 Northwest Port Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 🌐 p,steel.net 🎙️ About the show 2 B's in a Podcast is hosted by Brad and Brian Jans of Jans Corporation — a Sioux Falls commercial construction company. We go beyond the blueprint to talk about construction, family business, leadership, ranching, and the people building South Dakota. Connect with Jans Corporation: 🌐 https://www.janscorp.com 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/company/jans-corp/ 📘 https://www.facebook.com/janscorp/ 📸 https://www.instagram.com/janscorporation/ If something here resonated, like the episode, share it with someone in the trades, and subscribe for new conversations every week. #P&MSteel #SteelFabrication #SiouxFalls #SouthDakota #StructuralSteel

  6. Jun 5

    Nyberg's Ace Hardware: 7 Stores, One Family, and a Cat Named Kevin

    Nyberg's Ace Hardware has been Sioux Falls' helpful place for 68 years — across 7 stores, three generations, and one very memorable cat. This is the story.   In this episode of 2 B's in a Podcast, Brad and Brian Jans (Jans Corporation) sit down with Kevin Nyberg and his daughter Kelly Nyberg at the flagship 41st & Minnesota store to talk about how a 1958 wrong-turn detour from Hibbing, Minnesota turned into one of South Dakota's most recognized family businesses — Nyberg's Ace Hardware, Nyberg's Dakota Workwear, and Nyberg's Ace Handyman Services.   🔨 What you'll learn: - How Kevin's dad picked Sioux Falls over Torrington, Wyoming in 1958 — and why being the first retailer on 41st Street in 1969 still pays off today - The full history of the downtown Nyberg's Ace location (yes, the old Sid's Liquor — with the Texaco pump, bakery pans, and Al Neuharth / USA Today / Sodak Sports backstory) - Why "Don't chase, Nyberg's Ace is the place" still drives every location decision — and where the next three Sioux Falls stores might land (57th & Highway 100 is the one everyone asks about) - Kelly Nyberg's path from LA stand-in for Selena Gomez to Dakota News Now host to running hiring and marketing at the family business - How the team keeps 27- and 40-year employees — and why hiring people with disabilities is core to the Nyberg's culture - Hot Classic Nights — 10th year of the downtown car show benefiting the Shriners - Why Kevin's dad was the first to bring Weber Grills to South Dakota, and why Ego battery-powered lawn equipment is flying off the shelves right now - The Janss Corp + Nyberg's build history — 10th & Sycamore, Sartoma & 41st, and what goes into laying out a hardware store - The story behind a cat named Kevin Nyberg (you'll have to listen)   ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Inside the downtown store: Texaco pumps, bakery pans & Sid's history 00:53 Welcome — meet Kevin and Kelly Nyberg 01:52 The buffalo Hawaiian shirt story 03:39 Is anyone nervous about doing a podcast? 04:10 1958: Hibbing, a wrong turn, and how Sioux Falls beat Torrington Wyoming 05:53 1969 — Nyberg's becomes the first retailer on 41st Street 07:55 Kevin's first paycheck at age 9 — pulling every bolt out of every bin 09:12 Helpful is the culture — traditions Kevin keeps alive 11:05 "Don't chase, Nyberg's Ace is the place" — convenience, quality, helpful 12:25 The downtown store — Sid's Liquor, Texaco, and the USA Today connection 14:14 Hot Classic Nights — 10 years of downtown car shows 16:10 The "golden ticket" — three Sioux Falls parcels and what's next 18:36 Kelly Nyberg: from LA acting to Dakota News Now 22:31 The cat named Kevin Nyberg 26:36 The future of Nyberg's Ace — Eric, the next generation 28:14 The team, the culture, and the 27- and 40-year employees 31:10 Word-of-mouth hiring and why retention is up 60% 32:48 What Sioux Falls is doing right 34:35 The Jans Corporation x Nyberg's build history 36:37 Inside the store layout — visual merchandising the helpful way 39:35 Advice for multi-generational family business 41:10 Family rules and Kelly as "interim CEO" 43:13 What's next — 57th & Highway 100 44:07 Best sellers — Ego, Weber, and Poppy's Popcorn 48:09 Rapid-fire: historical finds at the downtown store 49:14 Who's the better griller? 50:22 The one unwritten rule of working with dad 52:39 Wrapping up   🏢 About the guests: Kevin Nyberg is the second-generation owner of Nyberg's Ace Hardware in Sioux Falls, South Dakota — a 68-year-old family business with five Ace locations (41st & Minnesota, 12th & Kiwanis, 10th & Sycamore, Downtown, Sartoma & 41st), plus Nyberg's Dakota Workwear, Nyberg's Ace Handyman Services, a Watertown store, and a B2B supply division.   Kelly Nyberg is on-air at Dakota News Now (segments and the quarterly "Welcome Home" show), and leads hiring and marketing at Nyberg's Ace.   🎙️ About 2 B's in a Podcast: 2 B's in a Podcast is hosted by Brad and Brian Jans of Jans Corporation — a Sioux Falls-based commercial construction company. We talk beyond the blueprint about family business, the construction world, ranching, and what keeps people building and moving forward.   🔗 Connect: - Nyberg's Ace Hardware → https://www.nybergsace.com - Jans Corporation → https://www.janscorp.com - Subscribe for new episodes weekly   👍 If something here resonated — a story, a stat, or the cat — like the video, share it with someone in the trades or in a family business, and drop a comment below.   #NybergsAceHardware #SiouxFalls #FamilyBusiness #SouthDakota #AceHardware

  7. May 22

    Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum on Crime & Growth

    What if Sioux Falls is actually getting safer — not more dangerous — and the perception gap is the real story?   In this full episode of 2 B's in a Podcast, hosts Brad and Brian Jans (owners of Jans Corporation, a Sioux Falls commercial construction company) sit down with Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about policing, growth, civic responsibility, and what's actually happening inside one of America's fastest-growing small cities.   Chief Thum has spent 20 years with the Sioux Falls Police Department. He grew up at 16th and Duluth in Pettigrew Heights — the same neighborhood he would later patrol as a young officer. Lincoln High School. University of Sioux Falls. A sales job he hated. And the moment he and his wife both pivoted into the work they felt called to do. Twenty years in, he says it was absolutely the right call.   What you'll hear in this episode:   The numbers vs. the perception. Sioux Falls violent crime is at a six-year per capita low. Property crime is at a per capita low. The city is adding 5,000–6,000 people a year and is now larger than Des Moines proper — yet the narrative many people carry is that crime is getting worse. Chief Thum unpacks why click-driven news and social media drive perception more than statistics.   The mentorship gap. He and Mayor Paul TenHaken pushed for 75 mentors across three Title I schools. In a city of 225,000+, only 36 people signed up. The Chief is honest about his frustration — and equally honest that policing alone can't solve the upstream issues that show up downstream as crime.   Camp Postcard. A program nobody talks about. For five years, SFPD school resource officers have identified at-risk sixth graders and sent them to camp counseled by cops, with measurable downstream effects on behavior, school performance, and trust in law enforcement.   What keeps the Chief up at night. Officer safety in an era when more weapons are being brandished against officers, the gap between parole and meaningful supervision, and the conversation Sioux Falls needs to have about recidivism.   The Christmas Eve story. A domestic-violence case that ended in a SWAT call-out in Marion, South Dakota — and an entire team that showed up on Christmas Eve without anyone asking twice. The Chief's reframe of "family first" hits different once you hear it.   What cops don't control. The laws. The Chief on why a basic civics refresher might be the most underrated public-safety reform in the country, and the one law he'd write today if he could (hint: smoke-shop synthetic drugs).   Construction, crime, and a story Brad and Brian know firsthand. The episode closes with a real Jans Corporation case study — a GPS tracker hidden inside a decoy generator on a Sioux Falls jobsite, tracked off Cliff Avenue, leading to the recovery of a substantial cache of stolen property. Plus the time three Jans Corp decking guns disappeared from a site and reappeared in an apartment closet after a fire alarm. Real lessons for construction companies, homeowners, and small businesses on how to stop being easy targets.   Technology, body cams, license plate readers. Why Madison, South Dakota currently has more LPRs than Sioux Falls — and how that technology is already moving cases.   Jail and training facility design. Why the new Sioux Falls public safety training center came in at the right time, and what modern correctional and training architecture makes possible for staff and inmates alike.   About the guest: Jon Thum is the Chief of the Sioux Falls Police Department, a 20-year veteran of the department who previously served on SWAT and rose through patrol, investigations, and command. A lifelong Sioux Falls resident, Lincoln High School and University of Sioux Falls graduate, he leads a department of more than 340 people serving a city of 225,000+.   About 2 B's in a Podcast: 2 B's in a Podcast is hosted by Brad and Brian Jans, owners of Jans Corporation — a Sioux Falls-based commercial construction company. Each episode, the Jans brothers sit down with family business owners, founders, and community leaders across South Dakota to talk about building things that last: businesses, buildings, partnerships, and the community itself.   Connect with the Sioux Falls Police Department: Website: https://www.siouxfalls.gov/government/departments/police Non-emergency: 605-367-7000 · Emergency: 911   Connect with Jans Corporation: Website: https://www.janscorp.com   Chapters: 00:00 McGruff makes a cameo 00:32 Welcome to 2 B's in a Podcast 01:42 How Jon got into law enforcement 06:01 The identical twin brother story 09:11 Sioux Falls growth — and what the crime numbers actually say 12:30 The mentorship gap: 36 sign-ups in a city of 225,000 13:48 Staffing a police force for a city the size of Des Moines 16:54 Recruiting and the national narrative around policing 19:11 What keeps the Chief up at night 21:21 The Christmas Eve hostage call in Marion, SD 23:48 The biggest misconception about crime in Sioux Falls 27:05 Camp Postcard — the program nobody talks about 29:55 What cops don't actually control 31:14 The one law Chief Thum would write today 35:30 An early-career story you won't forget 38:50 Mental health calls and what the system left to police 43:00 Body cams, vehicle GPS, and solving cases with footage 47:24 Jail and prison design — why it matters 51:21 Inside the new Sioux Falls public safety training center 53:57 Construction site crime and a Jans Corp GPS bait sting 1:00:28 Phishing, payroll fraud, and the new crime landscape 1:03:50 Lock your doors, lights, and cameras 1:04:42 The Jans Corp decking guns story 1:06:35 The best part of the job 1:07:11 Cop TV show recs 1:09:11 What criminals hope you don't know 1:10:26 Closing thanks

  8. May 8

    Why Sioux Falls Keeps Growing | Jeff Griffin, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce | 2 B's in a Podcast

    What makes Sioux Falls one of the fastest-growing business communities in the Midwest? Why are companies, entrepreneurs, families, and developers continuing to invest in South Dakota? And what does it actually take to build a city where business, community, leadership, and opportunity all grow together? In this episode of 2 B's in a Podcast, Brad Jans and Brian Jans of Jans Corporation sit down with Jeff Griffin, President and CEO of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, for a wide-ranging conversation about economic development, workforce challenges, political leadership, business advocacy, and the future of Sioux Falls. Jeff shares his journey from Ohio to South Dakota, his background in public service and community leadership, and how he became one of the most influential voices in Sioux Falls business and economic development. Together, they unpack what many leaders around the country call Sioux Falls' "secret sauce"—the unique culture of collaboration between business leaders, elected officials, entrepreneurs, developers, educators, and community organizations. This conversation explores what's working, what challenges lie ahead, and what it will take to keep Sioux Falls growing over the next decade. In this episode, we discuss: • Jeff Griffin's journey to Sioux Falls   • What the Chamber of Commerce actually does   • The biggest misconceptions about business advocacy   • Why Sioux Falls continues to attract people, businesses, and investment   • Public-private partnerships that shaped Sioux Falls   • How Forward Sioux Falls helped transform the city   • TIF (Tax Increment Financing) explained   • Workforce development challenges in South Dakota   • Recruiting talent to the Midwest   • The role of relationships in economic development   • Why agribusiness remains critical to South Dakota's economy   • Political division, leadership, and civic responsibility   • The future of Sioux Falls over the next 5–10 years   • Advice for entrepreneurs, business owners, and future community leaders   Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, contractor, developer, community leader, or someone curious about why Sioux Falls continues to grow, this episode offers an inside look at the people and partnerships shaping one of America's most dynamic regional economies. About 2 B's in a Podcast: Hosted by Brad Jans and Brian Jans of Jans Corporation, 2 B's in a Podcast explores construction, entrepreneurship, family business, leadership, ranching, and the people building South Dakota. New episodes feature business owners, builders, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and community changemakers from Sioux Falls and across the Midwest. Connect with Jans Corporation: Website: https://janscorp.com YouTube: Jans Corporation If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something meaningful.

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5
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4 Ratings

About

In 2 B's in a PODcast, brothers Brad and Brian Jans take you Beyond the Blueprint to share stories about family, business, construction, and the people behind the projects. 👉 Subscribe to learn more about our work, our values, and our vision for building a better future.

Information

  • Creator
    Jans Corporation
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    2 B's in a PODcast