The Blueprint: Powered by K Marketing Co

Megan Kalbach
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MARKETING

Welcome to The Blueprint: Powered by K Marketing Co. Hosted by Founder and CEO Megan Kalbach, this podcast is your guide to navigating the world of marketing, business growth, and leadership. Each episode, we'll cover key topics like branding, digital strategy, team leadership, and smart decision-making, with insights from local business owners, community leaders, and the K Marketing team. Think of The Blueprint as a strategic guide to building and refining your business. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or leading a team, this podcast gives you the clarity and confidence to stop spinning your wheels and start making purposeful progress.

  1. MAY 5

    From Dreaming to Doing: The Entrepreneur's Journey with Sarah Bedsaul

    Every business owner had to start somewhere, and that’s what this new series is all about! In each “From Dreaming to Doing” episode, Megan will be joined by a local entrepreneur to talk about their experience growing their business, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them. In this series debut, Megan is joined by Sarah Bedsaul, Owner and CEO of Zephyr Strategic Services in York, PA. Sit down with Megan and Sarah as they dive into leaving corporate America, squashing imposter syndrome, with a healthy dose of HR wisdom as well. If you’re looking for advice, experience, “been there, done that” moments, or just need to know that you’re not alone in your experience: this is the podcast for you! Learn more about Zephyr Strategic Services at zephyrstrategicservices.com Learn more about K Marketing Co. at kmarketingco.com 0:00 Introduction to the Entrepreneur’s Journey Series 1:05 Meet Sarah Bedsaul 1:52 What is Fractional HR? 5:25 Building Structure For Employees 9:06 Hazards of AI Usage in Business 11:33 What Made You Decide to Start Your Business? 15:50 The Struggles of Starting Out as an Entrepreneur 17:15 Understanding The Employee Experience 19:17 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 20:37 Bearing the Weight of Generating Revenue for Payroll 22:01 Did You Always See Yourself as an Entrepreneur? 23:14 What Was Your Biggest Fear Starting Your Business? (And Was It True?) 27:51 Different Generations in the Workplace 32:24 Embracing Societal Change 33:45 Sarah’s Soup Theory for Belonging 36:30 Supplementing Your Weaknesses as an Entrepreneur 42:26 Have You Ever Considered Quitting? What Kept You Going? 44:55 Focusing Your Energy in the Right Places 46:18 Overcoming Burnout as an Entrepreneur 47:28 What Do New Entrepreneurs Not Prioritize That They Really Should? 49:20 Understanding Your Place In Your Industry & Embracing “Competitors” 50:46 Evolving and Changing Your Business Over Time 52:22 How Has Being a Business Owner Changed You Personally? 57:42 What is One Thing About Your Journey You Wouldn’t Change For The World? 58:41 Advice For New Business Owners 1:02:16 Conclusion

    1h 3m

  2. APR 7

    Maintaining Morale: Showing Appreciation For Your Employees (with Aubrey Montgomery)

    Morale can make or break an office environment. When your employees are happy, productivity is high and motivation is strong. But when your employees are unhappy, it can cause projects to lag and satisfaction to drop. In this week’s episode of The Blueprint, Megan is joined by Aubrey Montgomery to dive into how she keeps morale high in her office. Listen in to learn strategies to show appreciation for your employees from expressing gratitude to selecting meaningful gifts. If your office is in need of a morale boost, this episode is a great place to start! Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:38 Meet Aubrey Montgomery 2:04 What Does Morale Really Mean in Business? 2:54 What Actually Happens When Morale is Low? 5:11 How Do You Harness High Morale? 9:17 How Does Leadership Affect Morale? 12:07 How Can Leaders Model The Energy They Want in the Office? 18:12 Are Big Gestures Or Small Actions More Significant? 20:59 Employee Appreciation on a Budget 24:19 What Made You Feel Appreciated as an Employee? 26:05 How Do You Build Appreciation Into Your Office Culture? 27:43 Simple Ways to Show Appreciation For Your Employees Today 28:49 Conclusion

    29 min

  3. MAR 10

    Beyond Transactions: Building a Business Rooted in Relationships (with Chuck Honabach)

    What really keeps customers coming back to a business? It’s not just great service… It’s great relationships. This week on The Blueprint: Powered by K Marketing Co, Megan sits down with returning guest and local entrepreneur Chuck Honabach to talk about the heart of any successful business: genuine customer relationships. Through his experience in working in a variety of industries, Chuck has learned that the strongest businesses are built on more than transactions, they’re built on trust, care, and connection. He shares real stories and practical ideas for staying connected with your clients in meaningful ways. From simple gestures like commenting on social media to unexpected acts like sending get-well cards or celebrating major life moments, he explains how small, thoughtful touches can leave a lasting impact. Whether you're a new entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, you’ll walk away with fresh inspiration for strengthening the relationships that truly drive your business forward. To learn more about Chuck Honabach, visit chuckhonabachteam.com To learn more about K Marketing Co. visit kmarketingco.com Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:40 Meet Chuck Honabach 1:18 What Does it Really Mean to Go Beyond Transactions? 3:05 Going Above and Beyond For Your Clients 5:06 When Did You Realize The Importance of Relationships in Business 7:50 Building Relationships Over Time 9:30 Difference A Client and Your Professional Network 12:06 Doing The Unexpected 13:35 Building Trust Early in a Relationship 16:37 Relationships Turning Into Unexpected Opportunities 21:15 Building Relationships as a New Entrepreneur 23:55 Networking as a Parent 25:55 Homework: Go Meet Someone New 29:05 Making Yourself Approachable in Conversation 30:30 Staying Connected After Introductions 33:34 Don’t Be Intimidated by Failure 34:05 Conclusion

    34 min

  4. FEB 10

    Serving the Community: The Heart Behind Local Nonprofits (with Kristin Chronister)

    This week on The Blueprint: Powered by K Marketing Co, Megan is joined by Kristin Chronister of the Long’s Park Amphitheater Foundation to discuss the heart behind serving the community. In this episode, Kristin shares her personal connection to the arts and dives into what "serving the community" truly looks like. They also discuss the realities of running a local non-profit, from the challenges of funding and volunteer engagement to the delicate balance between tradition and innovation. Whether you are a donor, a volunteer, or a business owner looking to get involved, join us to learn why non-profits are essential to our region. To learn more about the Long’s Park Amphitheater Foundation visit longspark.org To learn more about K Marketing Co. visit kmarketingco.com 0:00 Introduction 0:36 Meet Kristin Chronister 0:56 It’s Been COLD in Lancaster, PA 1:51 What Inspired You to Get Involved in Non-Profits 3:04 How Does Long’s Park Amphitheater Foundation Serve the Community? 3:48 Long’s Park Summer Music Series 4:50 What Challenges Are Non-Profits Facing Right Now? 5:55 Benefits of Volunteering 7:20 Finding Your Third Space 7:43 How Do Community Support and Local Partnerships Contribute to Non-Profit Success? 9:26 Why Non-Profit Work Truly Matters 12:53 Balancing Tradition and Innovation as a Non-Profit 16:22 The Importance of Third Spaces 19:23 Long’s Park Art Festival 23:37 Conclusion

    24 min

  5. JAN 27

    The Power of Partnerships: Collaborating Your Way to Growth (with Jason Konopinski)

    This week on The Blueprint: Powered by K Marketing Co, Megan is joined by Jason Konpinski from Shumaker PDT to dive deeper into the importance of collaboration. While "community over competition" is the mindset we established last week, this week we’re talking about how building partnerships is the action that takes that idea a step further. In this conversation, Jason and Megan discuss how to approach networking with collaboration in mind and how to nurture those partnerships over time, rather than just at the beginning. They explore the early signs that a connection has partnership potential and provide advice for moving from a community mindset to intentional collaboration in 2026. Whether you are a business owner or a professional looking to create impactful connections, join us to learn why partnerships are so beneficial for small business growth. To learn more about Shumaker PDT, visit shumakerpdt.com To learn more about K Marketing Co. visit kmarketingco.com 0:00 Introduction 0:24 Meet Jason Konopinski 1:32 How Do You Build a Connection From Casual Conversations? 3:00 What Role Does Networking Play in Turning Community Into Real Growth Opportunities? 4:02 How Can Businessowners and Professionals Approach Networking with Collaboration in Mind? 5:17 Partners Over Transactions 7:55 There’s Room For All of Us to Thrive 9:00 Competition Can Be Good, But It Can Also Be Antagonistic 11:35 What Makes a Partnership Successful Beyond Exchanging Referrals? 23:08 What Mistakes Do People Commonly Make When They Try Turning Networking Into Partnerships? 27:17 The Changing Landscape of Sales 32:38 The Changing Landscape of Social Media 40:34 Advice For Moving From Community Mindset to Intentional Collaboration 44:26 Conclusion

    45 min

  6. JAN 20

    Community Over Competition: Building Supportive Business Circles (with Alex Piazza)

    This week Megan is joined by Alex Piazza, Business Relations Manager with the Lancaster Chamber to discuss the transformative power of building supportive business circles. They dive into strategies for authentic networking, how to get your employees engaged with the local community, and why "community over competition" is essential for a healthy local business ecosystem. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just finding a place to start building your community, join us to learn how collaboration strengthens our entire region. To learn more about the Lancaster Chamber and its role in building a local business community, visit lancasterchamber.com To learn more about K Marketing Co. visit kmarketingco.com 0:00 Introduction 0:55 Meet Alex Piazza 3:28 Why is it Important to Prioritize Community Over Competition? 5:37 How Do Businesses Actively Support Each Other Through the Chamber? 8:43 Finding the Value in Networking Opportunities 10:13 Selecting the Right Events to Attend 11:38 Why Do Some Businesses Hesitate to Get Involved With Their Community? 14:20 Giving Back to The Community That Helped you Grow 17:52 Getting Your Employees Engaged With The Community 19:44 How Can Business Owners Network Authentically? 23:21 Networking With a Low Social Battery 26:20 Advice for People Intimidated by Business Organizations 29:37 Find a Place to Start Building Your Community 31:22 How Does Collaboration Benefit Businesses During Challenging Economic Seasons? 35:50 Don’t Be Afraid of Letting Your Employees Interact with Competitors 36:55 How Can Small Businesses Contribute to Their Community? 40:16 The Power of Small Businesses 43:09 How to Build Meaningful Business Relationships 45:23 Get Out and Explore Your Community

    49 min

  7. JAN 6

    Starting Strong in 2026: Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals (with Emily Hess)

    Thinking of setting goals for your business in the new year? This week on The Blueprint we’re diving into all things goal setting with special guest Emily Hess! Whether you’re a new business owner setting goals for the first time or a seasoned entrepreneur who feels like their tank is too empty for new goals, this episode is for you! Learn more about Emily and Markit’s services at www.makeyourmarkit.com Learn more about K Marketing Co at www.kmarketingco.com 0:00 Welcome to The Blueprint Season 2 0:38 Meet Emily Hess 1:41 Markit’s Partnership with K Marketing Co. 2:18 Setting Goals in the New Year as a New Business Owner 4:43 How to Set Goals When You Feel Burnt Out 6:18 What are S.M.A.R.T Goals? 7:17 How to Make Your Goals Specific and Achievable 8:30 Make Your Goals Purposeful 9:30 Using S.M.A.R.T Goals to Build Your Business 12:26 How to Track Progress Towards Your Goals 14:30 Common Goal Setting Mistakes 16:07 Perfection is the Killer of Progress 17:32 S.M.A.R.T. Goals Should be Income Producing Activities 19:20 Don’t Set Goals That Are Too Broad 21:43 Look at the Costs of Your Goals 24:35 Balancing Ambition with Realistic Expectations 25:50 Learning From Your Mistakes 30:04 Flexibility is Part of the Process 32:24 Looking Ahead to The Blueprint in 2026

    33 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    Putting the Right Employees in the Right Roles (with Eric Stark)

    Megan sits down with local attorney and business owner Eric Stark to discuss putting the right people in the right seats in order to create a stronger team. From identifying strengths to encouraging a positive workplace culture, this episode is full of insight on building the best team for your business. The Blueprint: Powered by K Marketing Co will return with an all-new season in January 2026! Learn more about Stark Law Group at www.starklawllc.com Learn more about K Marketing Co. at www.kmarketingco.com 0:00 Introduction 1:36 Getting the Right People in the Right Roles 5:12 Reassigning Employee Roles 8:45 Small Business Employees Need to be Flexible 11:56 Employees Want Purpose 12:45 Determining if Someone is the Right Fit 14:30 Curating a Strong Workplace Culture 16:36 Setting Workplace Expectations 19:20 Understanding Different Work-Life Balances 23:40 What Does a Healthy Workplace Culture Look Like? 30:25 Differences Between Owner and Employee Experiences 33:01 Identifying the Right Person 35:10 Building a Strong Foundation Together 42:35 Conclusion

    44 min
See All (23)

Trailer

About

Welcome to The Blueprint: Powered by K Marketing Co. Hosted by Founder and CEO Megan Kalbach, this podcast is your guide to navigating the world of marketing, business growth, and leadership. Each episode, we'll cover key topics like branding, digital strategy, team leadership, and smart decision-making, with insights from local business owners, community leaders, and the K Marketing team. Think of The Blueprint as a strategic guide to building and refining your business. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or leading a team, this podcast gives you the clarity and confidence to stop spinning your wheels and start making purposeful progress.

Information