Midway Business Podcast

Want to Think Like a CEO? John Andrade Shares The 4 Formula to Untangle Any Challenge

Butch Zemar chats with John Andrade, who went from teenage Nextel hustler to selling an online car platform (pre-Carvana) to banking—and somehow lived to tell the tale.
His takeaways? Failures are tuition, visibility beats inboxes, and “No Soliciting” signs are just suggestions.
John also makes the case that advisory boards aren’t just for Fortune 500s—they’re for anyone trying not to blow up their business plan. Through his “Go For CEO” platform and his book, he shares the 5 Fs: Faith, Family, Fitness, Finance, and Fun. (Because what’s the point of being CEO if you’re broke, burnt out, and no fun to be around?)
He leaves listeners with a 4-step roadmap—Assess, Align, Accountability, Action—basically cheat codes for entrepreneurs who’d rather grow their business than wallpaper the office with motivational posters.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact John Andrade: LinkedIn

Stop Losing Talent: Engagement That Works (Without Pizza Fridays)

In this episode of the Midway Business Podcast, Butch Zemar talks with Lindy Hoyt, Founder of People Ambassadors, about why keeping employees engaged sometimes feels harder than keeping your New Year’s resolution past January.
Lindy shares how most companies confuse “butts in seats” with engagement—and then wonder why turnover looks like a revolving door. Her take: retention requires intention. Don’t drag people back to the office just so they can sit on Zoom; give them purpose, growth, and connection.
She lays outsimple but powerful tools like one-on-one meetings (don’t cancel them unless you want disengagement), stay interviews (asking people why they stick around before they leave), and tailoring recognition so it actually matters. Spoiler: not everyone wants the “Employee of the Month” plaque.
Lindy also points out that employees don’t leave companies—they leave managers. Translation: if your team keeps bailing, it’s not the snacks in the break room—it’s you.
The bottom line: retention isn’t about ping-pong tables or pizza Fridays; it’s about actually knowing your people.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Lindy Hoyt: LinkedIn

Collecting Cash Without Collecting Enemies: Turning Overdue Invoices Into Pure Profit

Host Butch Zemar sits down with Bill Clayton of Transworld Systems, the fixed-fee collection service ($10 an account) even the Girl Scouts would use. Founded in 1970 by doctors tired of losing profits to percentage-based agencies, Transworld recovers overdue accounts without torching customer relationships—a “patient who pays stays” kind of philosophy.
Bill dishes on why most businesses wait too long to act (once it’s six months overdue, your chances of getting paid are about the same as finding a stapler in the office when you actually need one). He covers the biggest mistakes—like letting untrained staff chase debts or sending threatening letters that would make a corporate attorney faint—and offers prevention tips: collect better info upfront, add personal guarantees, and make early “just checking in” calls before you have to play bad cop.
From HIPAA rules to “third-party intervention” magic, Bill’s message is clear: receivables are pure profit, and getting them back beats chasing twice as many new sales just to make up the loss.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Bill Clayton at Transworld Systems Inc.: 815-245-8386

Why Your P&L Is Lying to You (and How to Catch It in the Act)

In this episode, Butch Zemar chats with Virginia McGann of Integrated Back Office Solutions, who turns financial chaos into clear business roadmaps. She’s seen it all—QuickBooks files built during Super Bowl commercials, negative bank balances that somehow still cash checks, and owners calling “money in the account” a profit margin. It’s part detective work, part intervention, and entirely about helping business owners stop guessing and start knowing.
Virginia explains why cutting marketing is like skipping breakfast—you’ll regret it fast—and why clinging to low-margin services out of nostalgia is costing you more than you think. She’s quick to remind owners that the 80/20 rule isn’t just a theory; it’s the difference between running a business that thrives and one that’s always “almost there.”
Her “Sleep Tight Package” pairs IT and accounting assessments so owners can worry less and focus on what they do best. It’s a one-stop tune-up for the two areas that keep most owners awake at night—cash flow and tech headaches.
Her takeaway: treat your numbers like a GPS—without one, you’re just driving in circles and calling it strategy. Even the best driver eventually runs out of gas if they don’t know where they’re going.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Virginia McGann at Integrated Back Office Solutions: 312-789-4915, vmcgann@ibos.biz

AI Won’t Replace You… Unless You’re Doing the Wrong Work

Host Butch Zemar chats with Michael Kupchak—accountant, educator, fraud examiner, and youth sports coach—about a career path that runs from small family business to teaching at the University of Chicago. Michael shares how blending accounting with information sciences put him in the sweet spot for AI’s rise—not to replace humans, but to kill repetitive work so you can focus on the good stuff (like lunch).
He warns that in fraud, the biggest risk might be the person you trust most—kind of like whoever “manages” the office coffee fund. On generational shifts, today’s grads are more likely to question professors and expect work-life balance out of the gate.
Off the clock, Michael coaches youth sports and backs his kids’ dreams—whether engineering, SWAT team, or whatever they change their mind to next year. His advice: learn the numbers, but more importantly, learn to solve problems no one’s answered yet… because AI won’t do all your thinking for you.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Michael Kupchek IV: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekupchek/
 

How to Fix Your Business in Eight Days (Without Firing Everyone on Day One)

Host Butch Zemar sits down with Jamal Wolf, who went from being Circuit City’s #1 computer salesperson (back when selling a desktop was like selling a car) to running two companies—Chicago Smart Business Solutions and Chicago Smart Realty Solutions. His career detour wasn’t exactly voluntary; after corporate commission “restructuring” (aka, “we’re changing how you get paid, so you make less”) and the 2008 job market disaster, Jamal decided if people kept saying, “We’re afraid you’ll take our customers,” maybe he should—just legally, under his own logo.
Jamal walks us through his Eight-Day Plan, which starts with Day Zero—admitting you have no idea what you’re doing (kind of like most Monday morning meetings). From there, it’s about focusing on the right thing, testing it, scaling it, and making sure the instructions are so simple that anyone could follow them—because the moment you leave, someone will try to “do it their own way” and break it.
With stories ranging from turning a warehouse’s daily shipping from 60 to 1,000+ packages, to integrating AI so employees can “click less and coffee more,” Jamal proves process improvement isn’t just for massive corporations with color-coded org charts. Whether you want him to fix it and hand it back, or fix it and run it for you, Jamal’s point is clear: A solid process saves money, time, and possibly your sanity—especially when your current plan is just “hope nothing breaks this quarter.”
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Jamal Wolfe on LinkedIn.

Your Data Just Got Held Hostage. Now What?

In this episode, Butch Zemar chats with tech attorney Lisa Gavin, who’s navigated everything from fintech to ransomware settlements (yes, that’s a thing). Lisa lays out what happens when a hacker locks down your data and demands crypto—hint: there’s no Liam Neeson, just consultants billing by the hour and your cyber insurer asking if you’ve “read the policy.”
She introduces tabletop drills—live-action crisis simulations where your leadership team roleplays disaster. No PowerPoints. No IT guy to save the day. Just real talk like: “What do we do if payroll gets hacked at 3 a.m.?” Spoiler: most companies have no clue. These drills help expose weak spots before a real breach does—and no, forwarding sketchy emails to your MSP doesn’t count as a plan.
If your Wi-Fi password is taped to the breakroom fridge and your incident response plan is “hope,” this episode is your wake-up call.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
 

How to Stop Paying for a Broken Healthcare System (Without Firing Your Broker… Yet)

In this episode, Butch Zemar chats with benefits vet Gary Blaum, who’s spent decades in the TPA and PBM trenches. Spoiler: PBMs were cooking the books, and Gary brought spreadsheets to the gunfight. After years of chasing down shady contracts, he found something better—Vitable—a fixed-cost primary care model that sends nurse practitioners to your employees’ homes. Yep, house calls are back, and no, it’s not 1942.
Employees love the zero copays. CFOs love the predictable costs. HR finally has a recruiting tool better than casual Fridays. With early diagnosis, real care, and a 3:1 ROI, this model doesn’t just bend the trend line—it dropkicks it.
As Gary says, “There’s no good reason not to do this.” Unless, of course, you’re emotionally attached to double-digit renewals.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.

Beyond the Breaking Point: What Great Leaders Do Differently

🎙️ In this episode of the Midway Business Podcast, Butch Zemar dives into the unglamorous truth about why people give up too early — and no, it’s not just because Netflix released another season of something shiny. From childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut (thanks for nothing, Navy recruiter) to navigating the chaotic galaxy known as health insurance, Butch shares battle-tested stories about how success isn’t a straight line — it’s more like a drunken loop-de-loop through doubt, detours, and deductible spreadsheets. Spoiler alert: most people don’t fail — they just stop showing up.
 
Using Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal streak as a metaphor (because who doesn’t love hockey analogies), Butch reminds us that even the greatest need assists — from line mates, life partners, and yes, even LinkedIn followers. Whether you're chasing a business goal, a personal best, or just trying to survive open enrollment season with your sanity intact, this episode is your wake-up call to stop ghosting your goals. Grab your calendar, call your therapist, and for the love of benefits, journal your action steps. Because the only thing worse than failing is hiring a broker who gives up faster than your New Year’s resolution.
 
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.

Dear CFO: You Analyze Everything Except the One Thing Bleeding Cash

In this episode of the Zemar Podcast, Butch Zemar takes us on a wild ride from outdated Navy aircraft to outdated employer health plans — because apparently, both refuse to die quietly. Using a broken FLIR pod as a metaphor (and no, not the kind of pod you cry in after seeing your renewal increase), Butch breaks down why starting from scratch isn't such a bad thing — whether it's rewiring aircraft or rebuilding your benefits strategy. If NASA can reprogram a space capsule with duct tape and whiteboards, your company can certainly rethink its January 2026 health plan before it's too late (yes, even in July 2025).
Bonus tip: your broker might already be on summer vacation, but that doesn’t mean your fiduciary duty is too.
He compares the health insurance renewal process to a family board game — except in this one, the rules change annually, the dice are rigged, and your CFO keeps trying to skip to the end without reading the instructions. Butch lays out the roadmap: ditch the cookie-cutter plan, start removing predictable expenses like doctor visits, challenge your broker on drug rebates, and don’t be afraid to ask “why are we still doing it this way?” If you can control office supplies and taxes, you can control your health plan. And if all else fails, channel your inner Captain Jack Sparrow, grab your sword (or spreadsheet), and charge the Kraken — because it’s time to fight back against bad renewals. 💥💼🩺
 
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net 708-535-3006