Mile High Success Podcast

Nick Elder
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Business

Success. Influence. Connection. Welcome to the Mile High Success Podcast, hosted by Nick Elder. Each episode features engaging conversations with Denver's leading entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and professionals who are making an impact in their industries and communities. Discover the stories behind their success, the leadership lessons they've learned, the challenges they've overcome, and the strategies they use to grow their businesses, build influence, and create lasting relationships. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, business professional, or someone passionate about personal and professional growth, you'll walk away from every episode with practical insights, fresh ideas, and real-world advice you can apply immediately. From leadership and business strategy to innovation, networking, and community impact, the Mile High Success Podcast shines a spotlight on the people helping shape Denver's thriving business community. New episodes released regularly.

  1. 2d ago

    Failing Forward: James Phifer on Leadership, Family Business, and the Future of Community Management

    What happens when you take over the family business and suddenly have to prove you can lead it your own way? In this episode of the Mile High Success Podcast, Nick Elder sits down with James Phifer, president and owner of ACCU, to talk about leadership, family business, community management, failure, and building a strong company culture. James grew up around the community management business. His father started the company in 1970, and James began by doing hands-on jobs like picking up grounds, deadheading flowers, and moving trash cans. He eventually became a community manager, worked his way through the company, became president in 2015, and later purchased the business from his father. James shares why his relationship with his father helped prepare him to lead. One important lesson was being allowed to try things, make mistakes, and then take responsibility for fixing them. That lesson became an important part of James' own leadership style. James also opens up about one of the hardest parts of his career: taking over a company where many employees had known his father for years and some questioned whether James could successfully lead it. He explains why setting expectations early, making tough business decisions, and betting on himself helped him move through the transition. Nick and James also discuss the changing community management industry. James explains what community managers actually do, why the career can be challenging but stable, and why he believes locally owned companies can offer something different from businesses backed by private equity. One of James' biggest leadership lessons came when he realized he had become the bottleneck in his own company. Trying to solve every problem himself was limiting the company's growth. Learning to trust his team, let other people make decisions, and allow them to learn from mistakes changed the way he led. The conversation ends with a look at artificial intelligence and how ACCU is experimenting with new tools to improve the work experience for community managers while still understanding that customers may not always be ready to replace human interaction with AI. It's a conversation about learning from failure, trusting people, leading through change, and having the courage to keep moving forward. About James Phifer James Phifer has spent decades working in community management and now leads the family-owned ACCU. He worked his way through the business before becoming president in 2015 and eventually purchasing the company from his father. James is passionate about company culture, employee retention, community management, developing leaders, and finding new ways to improve the experience for both employees and customers.

  2. 3d ago

    Why Water Tech Could Be the Next Big Investment Opportunity with Steve Kloos

    Water is something we all need, but most people do not think about it as an investment opportunity. Steve Kloos does. In this episode of the Mile High Success Podcast, Nick Elder sits down with Steve Kloos, Partner at Burnt Island Ventures, to explore the growing world of water technology and venture capital. Steve has spent much of his career working with technology, early-stage companies, and climate-focused investments. Today, he helps find and support companies that are building new ways to solve water problems. Steve explains why water is such a large and important market and why changing climate conditions are creating an even greater need for new solutions. He shares examples of companies using AI to inspect sewer pipes, LED technology to disinfect water, new ways to reduce water waste in commercial kitchens, and creative business models that provide free drinking water. Nick and Steve also dig into the investment side of the business. Steve explains how his team reviews hundreds of companies each year and what they look for before deciding to invest. At the early stage, the founder and team matter a lot. Steve looks for entrepreneurs who truly understand the problem they are solving, listen to customers, test their ideas, and can adapt when things do not go as planned. They also discuss how Burnt Island Ventures evaluates risk. Steve shares how the team builds different possible outcomes for an investment and looks closely at the market, growth potential, pricing, competition, customer demand, and possible exits. The conversation also explores the water challenges facing Colorado and the West. Steve explains why the issue is bigger than a short-term drought and why new technology, better water management, and entrepreneurship may all have an important role to play. For investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about where innovation may be headed next, this episode offers an inside look at an industry most people rarely think about. Steve Kloos is a Partner at Burnt Island Ventures and has a PhD in chemistry. His career has included work in membrane technology, General Electric, venture capital, climate investing, and water technology. Burnt Island Ventures specializes in investing in water-focused technology companies.

  3. 4d ago

    Building Success Across Borders with Tyson McDaniel

    What happens when you stop limiting your career to one industry, one country, or one way of doing things? In this episode of the Mile High Success Podcast, Nick Elder sits down with Tyson McDaniel, an architecture, engineering, and construction professional with more than 20 years of experience. Tyson has worked on major projects connected to organizations such as NASA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon. He has also helped create standardized processes that have saved organizations millions of dollars. But Tyson’s story is about much more than buildings and projects. Tyson shares how a mentor he met when he was just 15 years old helped shape his career and his approach to working with people. That relationship lasted for decades and taught Tyson lessons about construction, communication, marketing, and understanding what clients really need. Nick and Tyson also talk about Tyson’s international experience. After spending two and a half years in Taiwan, Tyson saw how ideas and systems developed in the United States could be adapted to help organizations in other parts of the world communicate and work better. Now, Tyson is working toward an even bigger goal: developing an international architecture and engineering firm that can serve clients around the world. Throughout the conversation, Tyson shares an important idea behind his success. Instead of limiting himself to one country, language, or industry, he has continued to build on what he already knows while stepping into new opportunities. For Tyson, the best new opportunities often allow him to bring three to five past experiences with him. That gives him a strong foundation while still allowing him to learn something new. This conversation is a great reminder that your past experiences do not have to stay in the past. They can become the building blocks for your next opportunity.

  4. Sep 24

    From Alaska to Real Estate Success: Jesse Laner on Investing, Relationships & Building Wealth

    What does it take to build a successful real estate career when you start during one of the toughest housing markets in history? On this episode of the Mile High Success Podcast, Nick Elder sits down with Jesse Laner, co-founder of C3 Real Estate Solutions, to talk about Jesse’s path from growing up in a small community in Alaska to building a successful real estate business and investment portfolio in Northern Colorado. Jesse entered real estate during the 2008–2009 housing crisis. Instead of seeing a bad market as a reason to stay away, he saw an opportunity to learn. He brought the same mindset he had developed as a college basketball player into his new career: work hard, keep learning, and put in the time. Jesse shares why he believes real estate professionals need to balance finding new business with building long-term relationships. Rather than always chasing the next deal, he encourages agents to take care of past clients, build trust, and create a business based on repeat and referral relationships. Nick and Jesse also dive into real estate investing and the shift from active income to passive income. Jesse explains why his early focus was on building equity and growing his net worth, and why cash flow can become more important later when an investor wants to rely less on active income. They also discuss mentorship and one of Jesse’s biggest lessons: relationships are capital. A relationship Jesse formed when he was just 12 years old eventually became an important friendship and business relationship decades later. For Jesse, success is not something anyone builds completely alone. Mentors, friends, partners, clients, and unexpected relationships can all change the direction of your life. If you are building a real estate career, investing for your future, or simply looking for a more sustainable way to grow your business, this conversation offers practical lessons about hard work, patience, investing, mentorship, and the power of relationships.

  5. Sep 23

    The 5% Technical, 95% Human Side of Success with Craig Hollabaugh

    What if the most important skill in a technical career has very little to do with technology? On this episode of the Mile High Success Podcast, Nick Elder sits down with Craig Hollabaugh, a longtime engineer, consultant, programmer, and startup veteran whose career has taken him across industries including medical technology, transportation, petroleum, national security, and solar. Craig shares one of the biggest lessons he learned as a consultant: doing great technical work is not enough. He says his work is about 5% technical and 95% human relations. Craig learned this lesson the hard way. Early in his consulting career, friction with an internal team cost him a job. Looking back, he realized his role was not to walk into a company and become the hero. His job was to help the people already there become the heroes. Nick and Craig explore what that lesson can teach consultants, leaders, and anyone trying to build stronger teams. They also talk about the major changes AI is bringing to software development. Craig has been programming since 1979, and today he uses agentic coding tools to complete projects at a speed and level that once seemed impossible. But he also explains why decades of experience still matter when directing these tools and why younger developers face a new challenge: learning how systems work while AI can increasingly do the coding for them. Craig also shares lessons from a career spent largely outside traditional employment. He explains how relationships have helped him move from customer to customer, why repeat clients can be so valuable, and why having a strong online presence can open unexpected doors. For people starting their careers, Craig offers a simple message: build things, show your work, learn to talk comfortably with people, and focus on developing both compassion and competency. As Craig looks toward retirement, he is not planning to stop creating. He hopes to combine engineering and art by building kinetic sculptures and one-of-a-kind vacuum tube guitar amplifiers that are works of art themselves.

  6. Sep 22

    Leading Through Risk, Failure, and AI: Adam Massaro on Building a Winning Legal Practice

    Success in business often means making tough decisions when the outcome is not guaranteed. For trial attorney Adam Massaro, learning how to manage risk, prepare for different outcomes, and stay willing to fail has been a major part of building his career. In this episode of the Mile High Success Podcast, Nick Elder sits down with Adam Massaro, a litigation partner at Reed Smith who helped launch the firm’s Denver office. Adam shares how his career grew alongside Denver and how he went from building a broad corporate litigation practice to helping establish the Denver office of a global law firm. He also talks about the responsibility that came with bringing members of his team along for that transition. Nick and Adam explore what separates great attorneys when technical skill alone is not enough. For Adam, one of the biggest differences is being able to connect with clients on a human level. Litigation can last for years, and clients often face major decisions with uncertain outcomes. Adam explains why strong, clear advice and honest conversations are so important. They also discuss Adam’s approach to risk. Before going to trial, he thinks through multiple possible outcomes and builds different paths forward. That same idea carries into leadership: prepare for Plan A, but be ready for Plans B and C. Adam also shares one of the biggest challenges he has faced as his practice has grown: learning how to scale without becoming the person who has to make every decision. He explains why leaders need to trust their teams with meaningful responsibilities so those people can grow. The conversation also covers Adam’s daily habits, his decision to stop drinking alcohol in 2020, his use of cold exposure, and the role failure has played throughout his life and career. Finally, Adam explains how artificial intelligence is changing litigation. Rather than using AI only to review documents or research case law, Adam uses it to test arguments, identify weak points, explore different scenarios, and “war game” cases before making important decisions. Adam’s message is simple: if you spend your life trying to avoid every failure, you may also avoid the risks that create your biggest opportunities.

  7. Sep 17

    Josh Davies: How to Stay Relevant and Resilient in the Age of AI

    Change is happening faster than ever. AI is changing how we work, how companies grow, and what skills people need to succeed. So how do you keep up without losing sight of who you are? In this episode of the Mile High Success Podcast, Nick Elder sits down with award-winning speaker, author, and workforce futurist Josh Davies to talk about thriving in a world of constant change. Josh shares his journey from hospitality leadership to entrepreneurship and the creation of the Center for Work Ethic Development. His work has helped people build the basic skills that matter in every career: showing up, having a good attitude, taking responsibility, working well with others, and continuing to learn. Josh also explains why the old ways of dealing with change may no longer be enough. Being resilient can help you stand strong, but standing still for too long can leave you behind. Being adaptable can help you change, but chasing every new idea can cause you to lose your direction. Josh believes we need both. He shares his approach to combining resilience and adaptability so people can stay grounded in what matters while remaining flexible enough to grow as the world changes. Nick and Josh also talk about the impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace, why work ethic is not simply a generational issue, and why resilience and adaptability are skills that can be learned. One of Josh’s most practical ideas is the “1% approach.” Instead of trying to change everything overnight, focus on getting a little better each day. Those small improvements can build on each other and create major change over time. The conversation also explores entrepreneurship, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, the value of surrounding yourself with people who will give you honest feedback, and why investing in yourself may be one of the most valuable investments you can make. Josh Davies is an award-winning speaker, author, and workforce futurist who has delivered more than 600 keynotes across four continents. He founded and later sold the Center for Work Ethic Development and now helps leaders and organizations develop the human skills needed to navigate rapid change. Listen as Nick and Josh explore how to stay relevant, keep growing, and build the skills that technology cannot replace.

  8. Sep 16

    Henry Baskerville on Client Service, Adaptability, and Building a Successful Career

    What does it take to build a successful career when the work is hard, the stakes are high, and every case brings a new challenge? In this episode of the Mile High Success Podcast, Nick Elder sits down with Henry Baskerville, a partner at Fox Rothschild. Henry represents clients in complex commercial litigation, white-collar criminal investigations, and construction disputes. Henry shares the story of his career, from starting out in Chicago to building his practice in Denver. He explains why communication, hard work, and being willing to adapt have played such a big role in his success. For Henry, great client service goes beyond doing good legal work. Many of his clients are smaller businesses and startups facing disputes that could have a major impact on their future. That is why he works hard to stay responsive and make sure clients know their problems matter to him. Henry also talks about what happens when a case does not go according to plan. During a trial, new information can change everything. Instead of sticking with the same plan, Henry believes in doing the extra work, studying the details, and changing the strategy when needed. Nick and Henry also discuss an important lesson for people early in their careers: stick with it. Henry shares how there was a point when he wondered whether he wanted to continue practicing law. As his career grew and he developed his own book of business, however, he gained more control over the work he did and how he did it. Henry also explains why he chose to become a strong generalist in litigation instead of focusing on one narrow area. That choice allows him to learn about different businesses, industries, technologies, and disputes while using his litigation skills to help clients solve difficult problems. The conversation also covers the importance of staying organized when managing many cases, why Henry still prefers handwritten notes, and how regular workouts help him manage stress and perform at a high level for his clients and family. Henry’s message is simple: communicate, adapt, keep learning, take care of yourself, and be willing to go the extra mile. To connect with Henry Baskerville, visit his profile on the Fox Rothschild website, where his contact information is available. Henry also shares that he is happy to speak with people to see if he can help or point them in the right direction.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Success. Influence. Connection. Welcome to the Mile High Success Podcast, hosted by Nick Elder. Each episode features engaging conversations with Denver's leading entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and professionals who are making an impact in their industries and communities. Discover the stories behind their success, the leadership lessons they've learned, the challenges they've overcome, and the strategies they use to grow their businesses, build influence, and create lasting relationships. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, business professional, or someone passionate about personal and professional growth, you'll walk away from every episode with practical insights, fresh ideas, and real-world advice you can apply immediately. From leadership and business strategy to innovation, networking, and community impact, the Mile High Success Podcast shines a spotlight on the people helping shape Denver's thriving business community. New episodes released regularly.

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Elder
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Mile High Success Podcast