The CommerceCast

Todd Baltz and Mark Holt

The CommerceCast is a podcast hosted by Mark Holt and Todd Baltz. It features interviews of community and business leaders in Randolph County, with a focus on members of the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. Send in questions or guest suggestions to: commercastpod@gmail.com

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 16: Sheila Ponce: Home Care vs. Home Health plus Chamber News!

    CHAMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS: Todd opens the show with three updates from the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. First, the launch of "First Friday Coffee," a new morning networking event starting this August at FirstHorizon Bank with coffee provided by Lighthouse Coffee. Second, public nominations are officially open for the highly anticipated Randolph County Business and Sports Hall of Fame, which will eventually be housed in the Randolph County Heritage Museum! Third, an early reminder about the Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet in October.   TODAY'S EPISODE: Inspired by her parents' career in the same field, Sheila and her brother launched Walk with Us Home Care in November 2018. Fast forward to today, her agency employs 55 aides and services roughly 100 clients from Pocahontas all the way to Jonesboro and Imboden. With an estimated 1,000 residents in the Randolph County area currently relying on in-home assistance, we discuss the hidden but booming business of aging in place. Todd also shares his own family's experience using Walk with Us to help his grandmother stay comfortable and independent in her own home. Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber Submit your nomination for theRandolph County Halls of Fame: www.randolphchamber.com/halls-of-fame Check out Walk with Us HomeCare: www.wwuhc.com Guest Suggestions: Have a storywe should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out tothe team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Want to promote your business on thepodcast? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Sponsored by: ProMed Ambulance and Pocahontas Glass (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

  2. Jul 14

    Episode 15: Kristi Harris: "Motion is Lotion," Healing Hometowns, and the Growth of GTS Therapy

    This week on The CommerceCast: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz sit down with true hometown girl Kristi Harris, physical therapist and partner at GTS Physical Therapy.  Knowing she wanted to be a physical therapist since the 4th grade, Kristi shares her journey from Pocahontas to Lyon College and UCA, and eventually bringing her expertise back home. GTS’s motto? "Strengthening our hometowns".  We dive deep into the mechanics of keeping the body moving. Kristi offers vital advice for parents of student-athletes transitioning from a sedentary summer into the grueling heat of fall sports (and yes, that includes the band kids!). She also breaks down common "weekend warrior" injuries, the fascinating difference between Western dry needling and Eastern acupuncture, and the life-changing results her clinic is seeing with the "Neubie" machine—a device that uses direct current electricity to treat neuropathy.   In This Episode: The Wrestling and Crutches Origin Story: Kristi jokes about how her older brother, Mike Thompson, practicing professional wrestling pile-drivers on her as a kid may have sparked her early interest in neck and cervical injuries.The "Direct Access" Secret: A highly valuable tip for listeners: Arkansas allows patients to be treated by a physical therapist for up to 28 days without needing a prior referral from a physician.Hydration and the "No Pain, No Gain" Myth: Why kids need water over Gatorade when sitting inside, and how parents can tell the difference between typical soreness and a lingering injury.High-Tech Healing: A look at the "Neubie" machine, and how just 10 minutes of electricity and water can restore balance and feeling to patients suffering from severe neuropathy.Links & Resources:  Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber   Connect with GTS Physical Therapy: Phone: 870-248-1119 Website: gtsphysicaltherapy.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/gtspocahontas/ Location: 2520 Thomasville, Pocahontas, AR, 72455 Join the Conversation: Have a story we should tell? Email us atcommercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out tothe team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Want to promote your business on thepodcast? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!  Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Sponsored by: ProMed Ambulance and Pocahontas Glass  (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

  3. Jun 30

    Episode 14: A Call to Action with Mark and Todd

    This week on The CommerceCast: We want to hear from you! Comment below and join in our conversation on today's episode. We want to hear YOUR guest ideas! No special guests this week! Hosts Mark Holt and Todd Baltz take the mic to recap a wildly successful Season 1 and lay out the roadmap for the future of the podcast. Following a season that saw thousands of views and featured incredible local leaders like Mayor "Mongo," Fire Safety Officer Scott Baltz, and County Judge Ben Wicker, Mark and Todd discuss the core mission of the CommerceCast. We dive into why long-form, face-to-face conversations are the ultimate antidote to anonymous, negative Facebook comments, and how the podcast serves as an unbiased platform to promote Randolph County's brightest ideas. The guys also break big news: the official rollout of the Randolph County Sports and Business Hall of Fame coming in July and give a brief overview of how nominations and voting will occur.   In This Episode: Season 1 in Review: Looking back at the surprise success of the first season, including Ann Savage's viral episode, and why there is an endless supply of interesting stories in the county.Facebook Yes and No: A candid discussion on why local leaders need an accountable, face-to-face platform to share their ideas rather than battling anonymous critics online.2026 Candidate Debates: Mark and Todd announce their goal to take the show on the road for the upcoming local elections to host live, unbiased candidate debates—and why they are looking for sponsors to make it happen.The Hall of Fame: The official announcement of the new local Sports and Business Hall of Fame. Nominations are open to everyone, but you must be a Chamber member to cast a vote. Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber   Join the Conversation: Have a story we should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out tothe team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Want to promote your business on thepodcast? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Rate & Review: If youenjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Sponsored by: ProMed Ambulance and Pocahontas Glass  (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

  4. Jun 16

    Episode 13: Matt McKlung: The Family Business of Kubota and the Future of Farming

    This week on The CommerceCast: Producer Todd Baltz takes the host chair to sit down with Matt McClung, the General Manager of Riverside Kubota. Opening their doors officially in August 2023, Matt unpacks what it takes to expand a family-owned equipment empire into Pocahontas. Matt shares his lifelong journey in theagricultural equipment business—starting with a highly unauthorized joyride on his dad's new 75-horsepower tractor at the age of six. From the introduction of construction lines like excavators to the digitization of the tractor cab, Matt explains why today's service techs have to be just as skilled with a computer diagnostic tool as they are with a wrench. But more than just tractors and telematics, this is an episode about hometown values. Matt shares his gratitude for the overwhelming "Pocahontas Pride" he experienced when total strangers offered to help him save his shop from rising floodwaters, and why he chose to give back by joining the Chamber Board.   In This Episode: The Family Footprint: Managing three dealerships across Mountain View, Batesville, and Pocahontas,and the intense 24/7 pressure to ensure local farmers don't lose their crops due to broken equipment.The Pocahontas Difference: Matt's touching reflection on the community stepping up to volunteer their labor when floods threatened the store.Rapid Fire & Shout-outs: Matt chooses biscuits over cornbread, a Blue Heeler over a Lab, and gives a massive shout-out to Misti Stowers at Buttercream Bakery. Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber   Go by Riverside Kubota today and checkout their tractor selections: https://www.riversidekubota.com/   Guest Suggestions: Have a storywe should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out tothe team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Want to promote your business on thepodcast? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Rate & Review: If youenjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Sponsored by: ProMed Ambulance and Pocahontas Glass   (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

  5. Jun 2

    Episode 12: John Plumley: From Combat Medic to Your Local Ambulance

    This week on The CommerceCast: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz sit down with John Plumley, a former Army combat medic and current paramedic/administrator with ProMed Ambulance. When you dial 911 in Randolph County, who actually answers the call? John walks us through his fascinating life story, starting in a small New York town where "the dairy cows outnumbered the people" to serving as a combat medic.John then breaks down the mind-blowing evolution of the modern ambulance—from the cramped vans of the 90s to today's $400,000 mobile emergency rooms equipped with hydraulic stretcher lifts and AI software that generates patient narratives.   In This Episode: The Combat Medic: John shares his military background, how he utilized the GI Bill to earn his degrees, and why he pivoted from his dad's firefighting legacy into his true niche in emergency medical services.World-Class Care, Hometown Values: A look at the business of rural healthcare, the potential impacts of the ARRIVES Act, and why ProMed intentionally sourced local businesses to build their new facility.The Chamber & Public Service: John gives his perspective as a retiring Chamber Board Member-at-Large, and offers a candid take on why serving in local government is a necessary, albeit thankless, job. Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber Sign up for PriorityCARE today: https://promedambulance.com/  Guest Suggestions: Have a storywe should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out tothe team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Want to promote your business on thepodcast? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Rate & Review: If youenjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Sponsored by: ProMed Ambulance and Pocahontas Glass  (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

  6. Apr 7

    Episode 11: Marilyn Hogan: Building Marr Street And You're Never Too Old

    This week on The CommerceCast: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt sit down with Marilyn Hogan, the creative force behind Mar Street Productions and a staple of the Pocahontas downtown square. Marilyn takes us back to the very beginning—learning piano at age 9 and eventually teaching out of the attic of the old Burks department store. Today, her studio offerseverything from violin and voice to ballet and Irish dance. Always a student herself; she shares the incredible story of deciding to learn the violin at age 40 alongside her sons, and teaching Taekwondo and eventually earning her 5th-degree black belt. All of this and more, on this week’s episode of The CommerceCast.   In This Episode: Building Marr Street: From buying an old department store to eventually taking over the Downtown Playhouse Theater. Black Belt Jazz Musician: The surprising story of how a momlooking for a martial arts class for her teenage sons ended up becoming a 5th-degree Taekwondo Grandmaster-in-training. The Science of Practice: Drawing on her 30-plus years as aspeech-language pathologist to explain why mandatory music practice is just as important as reading homework for a child's developing brain. Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber Buy a ticket for Celtic Nights: www.marrstreetspa.org Check out the music and martial arts classes: www.marrstreetspa.org    Join the Conversation: Have a story we should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out to the team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

  7. Mar 24

    Episode 10: District Judge Alex Bigger: From the Bench to the Gun Range

    This week on The CommerceCast: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz are joined by the Honorable Alex Bigger, the District Judge for the 11th Judicial District covering Randolph, Lawrence, and Sharp counties. Appointed in the height of the 2020 pandemic and subsequently elected to a full term, Judge Bigger breaks down the mechanics of the state district court system and why it operates much like a multi-county business.  Judge Bigger also gives us an inside look at his "weekend job" as an elite, competitive 2-gun shooter. Currently ranked as a Grandmaster, he shares stories from his recent first-place victory at an extreme "run-and-gun" competition in Missouri and why the Pocahontas public range is becoming a premier destination for shooters across the South.    In This Episode: Inside the 11th District: What a typical day looks like for the District Judge, and the push to bring uniformity across the courts in three separate counties. The Butterfly Effect: Alex shares the hilarious and fateful story of reconnecting with his wife, Graycen, while studying for the bar exam in Fayetteville. The Grandmaster: A deep dive into the world of competitive 2-gun shooting, the cutting-edge "shoot house" at our local range, and the mental game of staying loose under pressure.   Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber    Join the Conversation: Guest Suggestions: Have a story we should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out to the team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt andTodd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce  (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

  8. Mar 17

    Episode 09: Joseph and Belinda Ward: From the Farm to Your Freezer

    This week on The CommerceCast: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz sit down with the 2025 Chamber Members of the Year: Joseph and Belinda Ward, the husband-and-wife team behind Two Rivers Land and Cattle. Taking a third-generation farm into the digital age is no small feat. Joseph and Belinda walk us through their transition from traditional farming to a direct-to-consumer model, leveraging social media, onlineordering, and local farmers' markets to bring high-quality beef right to their neighbors' doors. We break down the stark difference between buying meat from a massive packing plant versus a local farm, and how their faith drives their mission to feed their community. From battling the elements during the recent winter storm to setting up subscription boxes and their new on-site farm store, the Wards are the ultimate example of modern agricultural hustle.   In This Episode: The Direct-to-Consumer Pivot: How they launched theironline presence two years ago, navigating the challenges of high cattle prices and learning to sell cuts directly to families. The Quality Difference: Why grass-fed, grain-finished cattleraised on open acres produce a far superior product to the massive feedlots.   Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber Subscribe to 2 Rivers Land and Cattle’s newsletter: 2riverslandandcattle.com Follow: 2 Rivers Land and Cattle on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok!    Join the Conversation: Have a story we should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out to the team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

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About

The CommerceCast is a podcast hosted by Mark Holt and Todd Baltz. It features interviews of community and business leaders in Randolph County, with a focus on members of the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. Send in questions or guest suggestions to: commercastpod@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Todd Baltz and Mark Holt
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Todd Baltz and Mark Holt
  • Show Website
    The CommerceCast