Entrepreneur Don Surber joins Built Without a Net to discuss leadership, business growth, and lessons from building and selling companies. Don shares candid insights on resilience, decision-making, and the realities of running a business without a safety net.

From pitching in the Atlanta Braves organization to building a consultancy that helps businesses grow with purpose, Scott Sobkowiak’s journey is one of resilience and reinvention. In this episode of Built Without a Net, Scott shares lessons on identity, kindness, and why true success comes from building more than just a ladder—you need branches to land on when life changes course.

In this episode of Built Without a Net, I sat down with John Washcovick, whose career journey is anything but ordinary. After 23 years in pharmaceutical sales, marketing, and operations, John took a leap into entrepreneurship—leaving the corporate safety net to launch a payroll services company. Over the next 12 years, he and his partners built a business serving more than 900 clients across Milwaukee and Phoenix before selling to isolved in 2022

Myles Powell is a food entrepreneur who traded his career in civil engineering for a passion that truly fed his soul. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in civil engineering and a business minor, he briefly appeared on the Food Network before launching his first venture, 8 Myles. While completing his MBA, he built the brand around premium, clean, frozen comfort foods—most famously mac and cheese with moxie. In 2021, Myles left engineering behind to focus fully on growing his company. Today, his dedication and vision continue to drive expansion as he pursues his bold goal of building one of the only Black-owned CPG companies valued at over $200 million.

Every business eventually faces problems—compliance hurdles, employee complaints, and leadership challenges that no one saw coming. In this episode, we dive into five common myths about HR in small businesses and uncover the truth behind them, offering practical solutions that protect your team, your growth, and your peace of mind.

Darren P. Mende, CPA, MBA, is the founder of DP Mende & Co., a boutique firm delivering accounting, tax, small‑business advisory, and fractional CFO/COO services. Energetic and forward‑thinking, he helps entrepreneurs and individuals drive positive change by bridging finance, operations, and technology. In addition to being a Certified Public Accountant, Darren is also a Certified Real Estate Appraiser and seasoned C‑suite leader. His firm specializes in tailored solutions—from startup modeling and business structuring to tech implementation, M&A support, and succession planning. Darren’s unique blend of strategic insight and hands-on expertise empowers clients to navigate today’s complex small‑business landscape.

It all begins with an idea. Every business hits a point where things get messy—team dynamics, compliance, surprises, and leadership moments that test everything you've built. Welcome to Built Without a Net, where business gets real and people's problems meet practical solutions. Hosted by business owner and fractional HR expert Brad Foley, this show dives into the challenges no one prepares you for so that you can lead through the hard stuff and build something that actually works.