Midway Business Podcast

Most businesses get stuck in two traps: Parkinson’s Law (work magically takes as long as the calendar allows) and Stockholm Syndrome (loyalty to broken systems and brokers). Together, they hijack your benefits program and quietly torch your budget.
On this episode of the Midway Business Podcast, Butch Zemar breaks down how hockey kids, CFOs, and even HR teams all fall into the same time-wasting habits—dragging their skates until renewal season forces a last-minute scramble. Your “loyalty” to an outdated process is costing six figures while your broker is out golfing.
If you’re tired of watching margins bleed while your team warms the bench, listen in and get a plan that actually wins. 
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.

Running a business is hard enough—you don’t need your videos looking like they were shot on a flip phone. On this episode of the Midway Business Podcast, Butch Zemar sits down with videographer and drone pilot Dancello Bennett to unpack how SMBs can use video to tell stories that connect (instead of putting audiences to sleep).
From construction sites to weddings, Dancello shares practical lessons on preparation, creativity, and keeping up with fast-moving trends. The message? Stop winging it with DIY content—your brand deserves better than stock photos and clip art.
Tune in for tips every SMB can use to sharpen their brand and finally look as good on video as they say they do in meetings.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Dancello Bennett: 708-465-0595 or The Space Between Films And Dreams

On this episode of the Midway Business Podcast, Butch Zemar sits down with Kate McCauley from Wounded Warrior Family Support to explore how one small nonprofit is filling critical gaps for America’s veterans and their families.
Kate shares powerful stories from her 18 years with the organization—how a “mom-and-pop” idea grew into nationwide programs providing mobility vehicles, respite care for caregivers, welding certifications, and financial education. Beyond the logistics, it’s a lesson in leadership, resourcefulness, and building sustainable impact even with a lean staff.
For SMB owners, CFOs, and HR leaders, this conversation is packed with inspiration: how to build credibility through transparency, why culture and mission drive long-term loyalty, and what it really takes to create programs that last.
Listen in for strategies you can apply to your own business while also learning how to support an organization that’s truly changing lives.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Kate McCauley at: kate@wwfs.org or Wounded Warrior Family Support 

On this episode of the Midway Business Podcast, Butch Zemar sits down with Chicago business consultant James DiMambro to unpack the “Rule of Threes”—why boiling things down to three clear benefits, values, or differentiators can set small and midsize businesses apart. (Because let’s be honest—if your pitch deck needs 47 slides to explain your value, you’ve already lost the room.)
With nearly two decades of experience across marketing, sales, and customer success, James has worked with everyone from scrappy startups to Fortune 500s. He explains why sharpening your brand, simplifying your message, and delivering consistency across marketing, sales, and client experience is the real secret sauce to credibility.
They also dive into common SMB missteps—from tuning out customer feedback to fearing AI instead of letting it take the grunt work off your plate.
Tune in for practical insights that will help you cut through the noise, gain an edge, and grow with confidence.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact James DiMambro: LinkedIn

Running a business without a process is like steering a ship with no rudder—you’re just hoping the waves take you somewhere good. In this Midway Business Podcast episode, Butch Zemar dives into why so many owners get paralyzed by bad habits, overthinking, or flat-out fear of change.
From companies passing on nearly a million in savings, to leaders drowning in “analysis paralysis,” the stories highlight a bigger truth: success comes from predictability. Just like sales, operations, or HR, benefits (and every other part of your business) run smoother when you’ve got a playbook.
Stop clinging to old patterns and start building systems that give you clarity, control, and room to grow. Because in business—unlike Vegas—the house doesn’t always have to win.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.

Who knew pizza could teach you something about running a business? In this episode of the Midway Business Podcast, Butch Zemar sits down with Alex Yount of Chicago Pizza Guys—a passion project that started with three friends swapping favorite pizza spots and grew into a community followed by thousands of fellow pizza lovers.
Alex takes us inside their journey from casual conversations to creating reviews, videos, and a loyal following that celebrates the best slices Chicago has to offer. Along the way, he shares stories of the places that stand the test of time, the family-run shops with generations behind the counter, and why consistency and authenticity matter just as much in food as they do in business.
This conversation isn’t just about crusts and toppings—it’s about what makes people come back, what helps a small business stand out, and how loyalty and community keep brands (and pizza places) alive for decades.
Discover how Alex and his team turned their love of food into lessons any business owner can apply.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Alex Yount: Chicago Pizza Guys

In this episode, Dr. Tom Germino of Germino Dental shares 40+ years of business lessons—growing from a one-chair startup (with his wife running the front desk) into a multigenerational family practice serving patients across three generations.
Business Tips:
Customer loyalty is everything. Patients still stick with him after 40+ years—because trust outlasts flashy marketing.
Invest in tech (and people). From silver fillings to digital scans—staying relevant means upgrading more than just equipment (yes, that includes fossilized spreadsheets).
Build the right team. Your crew is your reputation. You can’t scale if you’re the only one holding the drill.
Think long-term. Values—not just tools—are what carry a business across decades.
And yes, there are laughs too. Dr. Germino jokes that asking patients to floss is like asking employees to update the CRM—everyone nods, but only a few actually do it.
His message to business owners? Focus on relationships, process, and culture—and your business will shine for decades.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Germino Dental: 708-349-3443, Germino Dental

In this episode, Butch Zemar sits down with lifetime entrepreneur MZ, who built a 40-year event production company (think Bulls championship parades and Fortune 500 events—not your average company picnic) before shifting his focus to helping business owners gain control of theirs through EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System).
MZ shares what decades in the trenches taught him—like how solving the wrong problems really well still doesn’t help (we’ve all been there), why consistent processes give business owners actual freedom, and how structure—contrary to popular belief—doesn’t kill creativity, it makes room for it.
For him, the work isn’t just about building stronger businesses—it’s about improving the lives of the people running them. Because let’s face it, business ownership is tough, but with the right playbook, it doesn’t have to feel like you’re the only one holding the flashlight in the dark.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact MZ: Michael (MZ) Ziffra

In this episode, David Cole of Aluminight Custom Outdoor Lighting sheds light—literally—on how professional exterior and landscape lighting can transform homes and businesses. From permanent holiday lights (finally retiring the “Clark Griswold” ladder routine) to design strategies that make a property shine without blinding hot spots, David explains how thoughtful placement and planning make all the difference.
But this isn’t just about bulbs and wires—it’s also a playbook for business owners. David shares why following every trend (like peak lighting) isn’t always smart, how DIY shortcuts can cost more in the long run (sound familiar, CFOs?), and why service after the sale builds more loyalty than the initial sale itself.
He also reminds us that a strong crew is everything (try finding employees who’ll troubleshoot wiring in both 100° heat and -10° snow), and that sometimes your hidden edge as an entrepreneur comes from unexpected places—like David’s background in graphic design, which gives him a creative eye competitors can’t match.
His philosophy? The lights shouldn’t be the star—your property should. And for business owners, the lesson is clear: the product isn’t the hero, your client is.
For more information, please contact us at EliteBenefits.net or call 708-535-3006.
To contact Dave Cole at: Aluminight Custom Outdoor Lighting

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