Making the Brand Joel Mathew

In our first episode of Making the Brand featuring Chad Swieca as a full co-host, he and Joel go way back to not only the roots of Fortress Consulting Group, but also Joel's life roots and the influences that led to the agency as we know it today. There are as many stories of struggle as there are of success, and Joel and Chad don't shy away from discussing them all. Want to know what's next for Fortress? Listen to the end and you'll hear. Check back for more episodes on a monthly basis.

Meet Chad. Chad Swieca is the owner of River Light FC, a new USL soccer club that's based in Aurora, Illinois. He is a former collegiate and international professional soccer player who has turned that love of the game into an entrepreneurship journey that has touched many. He and Joel share a lot of valuable inspirations on the podcast that they've learned over the years in their respective career paths, as well as a compelling breakdown of the state of soccer in the United States. We ...

Listen to a new episode of Making the Brand as we sit down with the visionary entrepreneur, Carl West. Carl, a prominent figure in media and leadership development, is the mastermind behind Chicago's first and only hip-hop awards, a groundbreaking initiative that propelled local artists into the limelight, as well as many other projects and initiatives over the years.In this conversation, Carl shares his inspiring journey, from the inception of the hip hop awards to his unwavering commitment ...

For this special episode of Making the Brand, we welcomed Cheryl Scott, meteorologist for ABC7 in Chicago and friend of Fortress. While you may know Cheryl's face from the TV as she forecasts the ever-unpredictable Chicago weather, now is your chance to learn a little bit more about her story of discovering and re-discovering her calling to be a weather reporter, as well as her favorite things about living and working in Chicago. PLUS: a special cameo with Cheryl's dog, the famous Lola! For m...

For this special episode of Making the Brand, host Joel Mathew was joined by friend of Fortress and CEO of The Holy Post. Joel and Jon talk about the big vision for the Holy Post to become a media conglomerate that is unafraid to think Christianly and face all topics head-on. Unlike many other personalities and outlets in today's day and age, Holy Post is unconcerned with "hot takes" and aiming for nuance simply for the sake of nuance. There is something for everyone with The Holy Post, not j...

Author, nationally-syndicated host, and financial trailblazer, Terry Savage, has been on a quest to demystify personal finance for decades. Now, she’s in the giving back stage, looking for ways to help anyone get on track to reach their financial goals and retire on their own terms. Terry is a longtime client and friend of Fortress, and we were thrilled to have her back in our office for a sit-down. Terry has advice for everyone, so if you are someone wanting to buy a home, a car, or build a ...