Creative Agency Success Show
by Summit Virtual CFO by Anders
Has your business scaled beyond $1 million in annual revenue? Do you employ a staff of 20 or more people? If so, you've likely experienced a whirlwind of highs and lows that come with growth. You're not alone in your journey. Since 2002, Summit CPA Group, now Summit Virtual CFO Services by Anders, has helped businesses and creative agencies across America and the globe by providing Virtual CFO Services, cash flow management, business tax planning, financial forecasting, and much more. We've also performed hundreds of 401(k) audits and provided CPA firms with accounting outsourcing services and Virtual CFO consulting. This podcast seeks to help service-based business owners dive deep into the financial side of their business to achieve growth and financial success. Tune in bi-weekly as our hosts—Jamie Nau, Director + Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner at Anders CPAs + Advisors—interview special guests to share knowledge in the digital and creative agency industry, as well as Jody’s
Episodes
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Best Halloween Candy Ranked: The Ultimate Trick-or-Treat Candy Draft
You know the candy you dig for first and the one you trade away before you get home. This year, the Anders Virtual CFO team drafted both. In this episode, Jamie Nau brings back the show’s holiday draft, this time for Halloween candy. Adam Hale, Partner and Managing Director of Advisory at Anders,...
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Top Agency Trends from SoDA Prague on Trust, AI, and Talent with Mikala Page
Every agency conference talks about AI. At SoDA Prague, the conversation that kept coming back was trust. In this episode, Mikala Page, Virtual CFO at Anders, joins Jamie Nau to recap their week at the SoDA event in Prague. They share why agencies are hiring senior talent over entry-level roles,...
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How to Predict Your Ad Campaign's ROI Before You Spend a Dime with Skip Wilson
Most businesses pour money into ads with no real idea what they will get back. Skip Wilson built a way to predict that answer before the first dollar goes out the door. In this episode, Skip Wilson, founder of DRAFT Media Partners, joins Jody Grunden and Tyler Bryant to discuss predictable ad...
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Why Every Agency Needs a Niche and a Fractional CMO Mindset: Switch's Richard Muscat Azzopardi
Most agencies say they have a niche. Few actually built one after being told, in blunt terms, that they looked exactly like everyone else. In this episode, Richard Muscat Azzopardi joins Jamie Nau and Jody Grunden to discuss niching down, the fractional CMO model, and what it takes to become part...
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How To Build a Top Ad Agency From a Garage: ONE23WEST's Founding Story with Scot Keith
Creative agency growth gets harder when overhead, burnout, weak client fit, and unclear culture start shaping the business. In this episode, Scot Keith joins Jamie Nau to talk about creative agency growth, advertising agency culture, low-overhead operations, client fit, and why the best creative...
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How Brands Build Trust with Podcasts with Roger Nairn
Earning client trust is one of the hardest things a service-based business can do. In this episode, Roger Nairn, Co-Founder and CEO at JAR Podcast Solutions, breaks down how brands use podcasting as a long-form trust-building engine and why it works better than almost any other marketing channel...
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Med Tech Marketing with Rachel Knutton
Most agency owners say they serve everyone. The ones building real, sustainable profit say the opposite. In this episode, Rachel Knutton, CEO and Founder of Alluvia Studio, shares how she built a thriving niche agency in one of the most regulated and complex industries in the world: MedTech.…
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Legal Foundations That Actually Drive Agency Profit with Sharon Toerek
The most profitable agencies do more than deliver great work. In this episode, Sharon Toerek, Owner and Founder of Legal+Creative | Toerek Law, shares how legal foundations, intellectual property, agency contracts, AI risk management, marketing compliance, data privacy, value-based pricing…
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Adapt or Fall Behind: The New Rules of Business Growth with Rachel Ody
The rules of business growth are changing faster than ever. The businesses that adapt will find new opportunities. The ones that resist change risk falling behind. In this episode, Rachel Ody, Project Management Operations Consultant and Coach at Hello Rachel, talks about what it takes to grow a...
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The Future of Agency Growth Is Human and AI-Driven with Jay Owen
The future of agency growth is not just more automation. It is also a more human connection. In this episode, Jay Owen, CEO of Business Builders, joins Jamie Nau to talk about agency community, event strategy, thought leadership, organic growth, and the practical ways AI is changing how agency...
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How Agency Owners Can Make AI a Team Sport with Rob Harr
AI adoption gets risky when agency owners move faster than their teams can follow. In this episode, Rob Harr, co-founder and President of Sparkbox, joins Jamie Nau and Tom Wadelton to talk about AI, agency operations, leadership, team adoption, innovation, and business model change. You will hear...
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The Hard Truth About Rebranding and Growth with Amy Maxwell
When your messaging, positioning, and systems stay aligned, you create clarity, trust, and momentum for the next stage of growth. In this episode, Amy Maxwell, Founder and Creative Director at Maxwell Design Co, breaks down the hard truth about rebranding, business growth, brand strategy, thought...
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Why Most Webinars Fail to Convert and the Two-Step Signup Fix That Changes Everything with Logan Lyles
You put in the work to plan a webinar and still walk away with no sales calls booked, no pipeline, and no clear path forward. In this episode, Logan Lyles, Founder of DemandShift, shares his proven webinar strategy for B2B service-based businesses that want to generate leads, book sales calls…
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How to Systemize Your Business and Multiply Impact with Kenny Harper
When your processes are structured and your team knows what to do next, you gain time and improve performance. In this episode, Kenny Harper, Growth Coach at Growth Amplifiers, shares how to systemize your business, simplify operations, and multiply impact using scalable systems, repeatable...
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Why Most Service Businesses Struggle to Grow Profitably with Al Zdenek
Growth can feel lighter when your business starts working with you, not against you. In this episode, Al Zdenek, Executive Chair of CakeClub, breaks down why most service-based businesses struggle with profitability, cash flow management, financial planning, and sustainable growth. You learn how…
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How AI Can Give You Back 80% of Your Time with Greg Boone
Time is one of the most valuable assets in a service-based business. Yet many owners and teams spend most of their week searching for information, copying data, formatting documents. In this episode, Greg Boone, CEO at Walk West, explains how artificial intelligence, AI tools, automation, and…
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Why Half Your Marketing Budget Feels Wasted (And How to Fix It) with Jeff Greenfield
When leads feel inconsistent and results do not match the spend, the problem is rarely effort. The problem is visibility, measurement, and knowing what actually drives growth. In this episode, Jeff Greenfield, CEO of Provalytics, breaks down why so many service-based businesses feel like half…
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Stop Carrying the Weight Alone: Build Systems That Free You with Steven Ness
A well-built service business creates momentum instead of pressure. With the right systems in place, you allow growth to happen without burning out. In this episode, Steven Ness, founder of Lighting the Way Leadership, explains how business owners can stop carrying the weight alone by building...
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How to Protect Your Margins Before the Sale Begins with Albert Banks
Many service-based business owners win deals, deliver great work, and still struggle with margins. In this episode, Albert Banks breaks down how service-based businesses can protect margins before work even starts. You get a clear look at pricing strategy, value-based pricing, project...
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Stop Thinking Like a Freelancer—Start Earning Like a Founder with Jesse Gilmore
Run your agency with clarity, confidence, and control. Many creative and marketing agency owners are closer to real growth than they realize. In this episode, Jesse Gilmore, CEO and founder of Niche in Control, breaks down the mindset and structure shifts that agency owners must make to achieve...
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Why Every Business Owner Should Think Like a Forensic Accountant with Clay Kniepmann
As a business owner, you may trust your team, but that trust can blind you to the quiet financial risks inside your business. In this episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, we talk with Clay Kniepmann, manager in Forensic and Litigation at Anders, to share practical tips on balancing trust...
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Turn Publicity Into Profit: The PR Strategy That Works
Imagine turning media attention into real business growth. For service-based small business owners, publicity is about turning visibility into profit. In this episode, Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, shares exactly how you can use PR to grow your credibility and revenue. He explains how…
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Improve as an Agency Leader and 'Calm the Chaos' with Karl Sakas
If you’re invisible online, you’re losing clients before they even know you exist. In today’s competitive market, your digital presence is your storefront. In this episode, Agency Consultant & Executive Coach Karl Sakas of Sakas & Company explains why being invisible online is costing you clients...
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Amplifying Human Potential In Your Business with AI Support
You don’t need more hands—you need better tools. For service-based small business owners, AI can lift the burden of repetitive tasks, helping your team do more of what moves the needle In this episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, we sit down with Ed Krystosik, Co-Founder of RAC Projects…
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What's a Maturity Model Anyway?
Creative Agency Success Show (Episode 144): “A maturity model isn't a report card, it's about understanding where your decision-making capabilities are.” - Jamie Nau In this episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, Jamie Nau and Jody Grunden pull back the curtain on how small business owners...
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Mastering the Art of Agency Growth: Lessons from Brad Farris
Episode Title: Mastering the Art of Agency Growth: Lessons from Brad Ferris Episode Summary: In this episode of "The Creative Agency Success Show," hosts engage with Brad Farris from Anchor Advisors, a seasoned expert with over 20 years in the marketing and creative agency space. The discussion...
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2024 Year in Review
Episode Title: 2024 Year in Review Episode Notes: In our year end wrap up: Jody, Brett, Tom, Hannah, and Jamie share favorite moments from the show, podcasting resolutions and holiday gift wishes. the hosts reflect on personal anecdotes and provide their aspirations for the upcoming year. They…
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Riding the Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster: Insights from Tom Conlon
Episode Title: Riding the Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster: Insights from Tom Conlon Episode Summary: In this episode, the hosts engage with Tom Conlon, founder of North Street Creative, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the cyclical nature of business. Tom shares insights on the challenges...
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From Clicks to Conversions: The Power of Retargeting in Digital Marketing with Zaid Ammari
“The good thing about retargeting is that most of the sales don't actually come from people clicking on the ad. They come from people seeing the ad and then either Googling the company or typing in the URL in the browser.” – Zaid Ammari The finer details of this episode: Marketing strategies...
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Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions in Creative Agencies with Jonathan Baker
“We try to help the sellers understand what the buyer's long-term vision is, what changes they expect to make, and over what period of time, because all of these things have implications on the business but also on emotions.” – Jonathan Baker The finer details of this episode: Overview of mergers...
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Unlocking Exit Readiness: How to Prepare Your Agency for a Successful Sale with Phil Daniels
“It's never too early to start planning because you never know when that end is going to be. Operate with optimism. There's a lot of activity that's really unprecedented in the industry right now, and I think for the years ahead, it's going to be very good for agency owners who build really…
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Spooktacular Showdown: A Halloween Movie Draft Special
In this special episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, four speakers with Halloween-themed personas—Jamie Nightmare, Hannah Hexed Hood, Adam Haunted Hale, and Joey Killing Kenny—engage in a lively draft-style discussion about their favorite Halloween movies. Jamie, the enthusiastic host…
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The Best Strategies for Nurturing Client Relationships with Adam Kurzawa
”When I think about sales, it's really nurturing relationships and manufacturing opportunities. That is your job all day, every day.” - Adam Kurzawa The finer details of this episode: Insights on business development strategies for creative agencies. Emphasis on nurturing existing client...
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Using a Forecast for Growth: A 2019 Episode About One Client’s Growth Revisited
“Having a strong forecasting process really should make it easier to eliminate things—like knowing if the seventh project is really one of the top seven things we need to do to hit our goals.” – Tom Wadelton “When you build a budget, you're creating a plan for the next year, and then things…
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Strategies for Business Owners to Leverage Podcast Guest Appearances with Julie Fry
Importance of podcasting for business owners Enhancing visibility and credibility through podcast appearances Networking opportunities provided by podcasting Role of podcast guest booking agencies in facilitating appearances Content repurposing strategies for maximizing podcast impact Overcoming...
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The Most Essential Tips for Personal Branding on LinkedIn with Donna Serdula
“If you sit down and really make sure that your profile resonates and is truly you, it feels good, and you smile. Ultimately, you become a person who doesn't have to look for a job. Jobs find you. You become a person whose phone rings because there are opportunities, because people know you,...
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"How Can Agencies Achieve Better Alignment Between Sales and Project Management?:" with Rachel Gertz
"Alignment is going in the same direction, fighting for the same things, and looking at the same big picture together.” – Rachel Gertz The finer details of this episode: ● Importance of project management and operations in digital agencies and creative studios ● Challenges in project management…
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VCFO Deep Dive: Jason Swenk
“Standing out is great, but conversion is crucial.” – Jason Swenk It’s hard to build a business if you don’t invest in systems.” – Jason Swenk The finer details of this episode: Analysis and insights on building a strong email list Sales cycle and close percentage Unique marketing strategies...
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Scale Your Agency and Build a Strong Community with Jason Swenk
“As you're building your business, you're building your agency, you're going to realize that there's some prospects that are just not right. You have to go through that Vegas buffet and get sick and food poisoning because you overate and you ate a lot of the bad shit and you tell yourself, ‘I'm…
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VCFO Deep Dive: Beyond HGTV Success featuring Traci Barrett
“After almost 20 years of doing that nonstop, I started to lose myself a little bit. I started to wonder, is this what I want to do for the next chapter of my life? Is there something else out there for me? When I looked around in corporate America, what I realized and what I saw was that there...
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VCFO Deep Dive
Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success, is now...
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A Deep Dive into Leadership, Problem Solving, and Team Engagement with J. Scott
“Shifting from advocacy to inquiry is really important, and I think most leaders today are probably advocacy heavy because it's the model that we see most.” – J. Scott The finer details of this episode: Importance of leading the way in marketing and working with clients Transforming…
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Navigating Digital Marketing Trends: Insights from Industry Events with Hannah Hood
“Clients don’t want to ask us for new ideas; they want us to come to them with new ideas.” Hannah Hood The finer details of this episode: ● Shortening of the sales cycle indicating a positive shift in the industry ● Trend of clients seeking specialized services from agencies ● Emphasis on the…
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Unleashing the Power of Delegation: HR Insights and Leadership Strategies with Vicky Brown
Episode Notes: “Delegation is challenging; it requires a lot of thought process and a lot of preparation. But you shouldn’t try to do everything on your own; use your team. Delegation is about giving them enough information so that they know what the end goal is.” Vicky Brown The finer details of...
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Sales 'Snacks' for Creative Agencies
Sales is the engine of any agency, but oftentimes it's the hardest part to grow and scale when you move from a founder-centric shop to a full marketing organization. The clips in this episode offer some of the best pieces of advice our hosts of the Creative Agency Success Show have gathered,...
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Pipeline Meetings: Why A CFO Helps Agencies Accelerate Growth with Hannah Hood
“As a little bit of contextual background for our listeners, if you don't already know, as a part of the suite of meetings and services that we offer our clients, we are in what we call our pipeline meeting. During these meetings and throughout our client relationship, we stress the importance of...
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Digital Agency Growth: From Infancy through Adolescence to Maturity with Karla Santi
“I'm the CEO. I'm not a CFO, but I was acting as one. It was not my favorite part of running a company because math doesn't excite me like it does some of you. I can do it, and I think I did it pretty well. But it was invaluable to be able to have your firm come in and take a look at how we've…
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Why Attending Events is Good for Business with Jay Owen
“You want to be around people who are better than you – more talented, more experienced; go and soak it in. The places where I find the most growth for myself and my agency is where I’m around other people, and we’re just sharing ideas.” – Jay Owen The finer details of this episode: ● Jay’s…
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How Agency Owners Can Work Less and Earn More with Karl Sakas
“When you start the agency, everyone expects you to be the contact. But you probably don't want to do that forever. Maybe initially you delegate implementation work, the subject matter expert stuff, or project management. Then you probably want to delegate account management stuff. Usually you're...
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Unmanage Your Agency: A Conversation with Agency Agile's Jack Skeels
“Managers are far more costly than we realize. The more managing you have going on, the lower the overall productivity of the organization. Leadership matters, don't get me wrong, but agencies are managed to success.” – Jake Skeels The finer details of this episode: Challenges of managing a…
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About this show
Has your business scaled beyond $1 million in annual revenue? Do you employ a staff of 20 or more people? If so, you've likely experienced a whirlwind of highs and lows that come with growth. You're not alone in your journey. Since 2002, Summit CPA Group, now Summit Virtual CFO Services by Anders, has helped businesses and creative agencies across America and the globe by providing Virtual CFO Services, cash flow management, business tax planning, financial forecasting, and much more. We've also performed hundreds of 401(k) audits and provided CPA firms with accounting outsourcing services and Virtual CFO consulting. This podcast seeks to help service-based business owners dive deep into the financial side of their business to achieve growth and financial success. Tune in bi-weekly as our hosts—Jamie Nau, Director + Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner at Anders CPAs + Advisors—interview special guests to share knowledge in the digital and creative agency industry, as well as Jody’s
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Summit Virtual CFO by Anders
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