Episode Summary

In this episode of the Make Space for More podcast, host Melissa Swink chatted with tax expert Carmine Guida Jr. to explore the intricacies of tax planning and strategy for business owners. You don’t want to miss this conversation about the importance of proactive tax planning, the evolution of Carmine's business, and the impact of recent tax law changes.

Carmine shared about the need for strong communication between accountants and clients, common misconceptions about tax deductions, and best practices for hiring employees. He also provided valuable insights on audit readiness and the importance of maintaining proper documentation. Stay to the end; you don’t want to miss helpful resources for business owners seeking to enhance their financial strategies.

Key Highlights:

• Discover why waiting until tax season to talk to your accountant might be costing you thousands in missed opportunities.
• Learn how proactive tax planning can transform your business from reactive to strategic when it comes to financial decisions.
• Understand the crucial difference between tax preparation and tax planning - and why it matters for your bottom line.
• Find out why showing more income (not less) might actually be the smart move for your business growth.
• Get the inside scoop on commonly overlooked deductions that could be game-changers for your business.
• Learn how to build a relationship with your accountant that goes beyond annual tax returns to create real financial strategy.

About Our Guest:

Carmine Guida Jr. is a Partner at Basso & Guida, bringing over 15 years of experience in individual and business tax planning. Known for providing top-level professional advice in a clear and approachable manner, he helps clients navigate complex financial decisions with confidence. Under his leadership, Basso & Guida has been recognized as a Dan’s Papers Hall of Fame winner for Best Accounting Firm on the North and South Fork of Long Island, NY, solidifying its reputation for excellence.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Make Space for More podcast, host Melissa Swink speaks with Ashly Hartmann, Vice President of R-Value Insulators, about scaling a business in the building trades industry, and the importance of aligning that business with your personal values and lifestyle.

Tune in to hear a discussion about the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, the significance of team dynamics, and the necessity of delegating responsibilities. Ashly shares insights on hiring, the role that coaching has played in the business’s growth, and how having support at home can enhance productivity. The conversation also touches on the importance of networking and building relationships in business, as well as the joys of traveling and living life on one's own terms.

Key Highlights:

• Discover why aligning your business with your personal values is essential for sustainable success.
• Learn how strategic delegation and hiring support (both at work and home!) can transform your business from overwhelming to organized.
• Understand why investing in coaching might be the game-changer your business needs to reach the next level.
• Find out how successful entrepreneurs are redefining work-life balance in the construction industry.
• Get the inside scoop on building a team culture that supports both business growth and personal freedom.
• Learn why embracing failure as feedback might be your fastest path to success in the building trades.

About Our Guest:

Ashly Hartmann, VP of R-Value Insulators serves her family and the building trades industry from her home in Northern Wisconsin. RVI provides building science education to tradespeople and homeowners by delivering efficient solutions that maximize home performance, provide overall comfort, and bring peace of mind. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Ashly continually seeks opportunities to extend the educational reach of RVI to builders and tradespeople eager to understand the science of building. Family and exploration are the cornerstones of Ashly's heart, propelling her on adventures across the globe.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave

Episode Summary

In this special episode of “Make Space for More,” host Melissa Swink interviews Lisa Susen-Sullivan, a seasoned real estate broker and multi-passionate entrepreneur. Tune in to hear a frank discussion of Lisa's journey into real estate, the impact of COVID-19 on the housing market, and the emotional aspects of real estate transactions.

You’ll learn about Lisa’s experiences with outsourcing and delegation in her business, as well as her passion for travel and how she manages her side business. This episode is for you if you want to absorb wisdom about work-life balance, effective communication, and the value of seeking help to grow and scale a business.

Key Highlights:

• Discover why emotional intelligence might be your most valuable asset in building a successful real estate business.
• Learn how strategic outsourcing can transform your business from overwhelming to organized (while actually improving client service!)
• Find out why the most successful real estate professionals are choosing collaboration over competition in today's market.
• Understand how embracing technology and automation can give you the freedom to focus on what truly matters: Building relationships.
• Get the inside scoop on building multiple revenue streams while maintaining work-life balance.
• Learn why setting boundaries with technology might be the key to both better client service and personal peace.

About Our Guest:

Lisa Susen-Sullivan is the Owner and Broker of Integrity Real Estate Team — a local, independent agency in Wisconsin. She is also President of the Lakeshore Realtors Association (LRA) and the Broker of Choice for Stepping Stone Homes, southwest Wisconsin’s largest new home builder. Colleagues and clients alike have described her as enthusiastic, communicative, and responsive — with a ‘get the job done’ attitude and great sense of humor.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Episode Summary

In this week’s “Make Space for More,” host Melissa Swink interviews Max Mednik, a serial entrepreneur and COO of Epsilon3. They discussed Max's journey in entrepreneurship, the evolution of his startups, the importance of idea generation and execution, and the challenges faced in growing a business.

Max shares insights on networking, maintaining relationships, and staying productive as an entrepreneur. He also offers advice to aspiring founders on navigating their growth and decision-making processes. Tune in to learn practical tips from the trenches!

Key Highlights:

• Discover why successful entrepreneurship isn't just about great ideas; it's about systematic execution and validation through real customer willingness to pay.
• Learn how strategic organization and project management can transform your entrepreneurial journey from chaotic to controlled.
• Learn why wearing multiple hats isn't just a startup phase. It's a crucial skill for long-term entrepreneurial success.
• Find out how intentional networking and relationship-building lay the foundation for finding the right co-founders and opportunities.
• Get the inside scoop on how successful entrepreneurs stay productive while juggling multiple ventures and responsibilities.
• Learn why asking specific, targeted questions is your secret weapon for getting the expert guidance you need to grow.

About Our Guest:

Max Mednik is co-founder and COO of Epsilon3, which makes process and resource management software for many mission-critical industries. He is a serial entrepreneur and software engineer. He has co-founded four startups (three of which still exist today) spanning financial technology, legal technology, and aerospace and defense.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Make Space for More podcast, host Melissa Swink interviews Kristen Powers, the executive director of Benevolence Farm, a nonprofit focused on supporting formerly incarcerated women. Kristen shares her journey into nonprofit work, the mission of Benevolence Farm, and the challenges and growth the organization has experienced.

Tune in to learn about the nonprofit’s approach to community support, innovative reentry programs, and the personal stories that drive their mission. Kristen also discusses her evolving role as an executive director and the tools and strategies she employs to sustain energy and focus within the nonprofit sector.

Key Highlights:

• Learn why traditional reentry programs often fall short, and how Benevolence Farm is revolutionizing the approach to supporting formerly incarcerated women.
• Discover how authentic leadership and innovative thinking can transform lives through sustainable community solutions.
• Get an inside look at navigating nonprofit leadership challenges while maintaining mission focus and preventing burnout.
• Find out how strategic planning and systems creation can help mission-driven organizations scale their impact effectively.
• Learn valuable lessons about building and maintaining community support networks that drive meaningful change.

About Our Guest:

Kristen Powers (she/her/hers), Executive Director of Benevolence Farm, believes that we are more than our worst mistakes. As director of a rural reentry nonprofit, Kristen, who also goes by KP, is honored to work alongside formerly incarcerated women who are creating innovative reentry programs and advocating for systemic change. It is her hope that we can learn to create communities capable of addressing harm and safety together, outside of prisons and jails. Kristen loves the fact that her own life was changed by moving to a farm and now gets to work at one.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Make Space for More podcast, host Melissa Swink welcomes Karen Widas, a payment solutions expert. They discuss Karen's journey into the credit card processing industry, the complexities of payment solutions for businesses, and the importance of evaluating different payment systems to save costs.

Tune in to learn various tools and technologies that can enhance business efficiency, including QuickBooks and ChatGPT, plus signs that it’s time to reassess our payment processing methods!

Key Highlights:

• Discover why your current payment processing system might be quietly eating away at your profits, and what to do about it.
• Learn the crucial difference between flat-rate and interchange-plus pricing models, and why choosing the wrong one could cost you thousands.
• Understand how integrating the right payment solution with your existing tools can transform your business efficiency and cash flow.
• Find out how Karen builds trust with her clients through transparency and customized solutions.
• Get the inside scoop on how combining payment solutions with tools like QuickBooks and ChatGPT can streamline your entire operation.
• Learn why a "one-size-fits-all" approach to payment processing could be holding your business back from optimal growth.

About Our Guest:

Karen Widas is a payment solutions expert who helps manufacturers, distributors and service-based businesses reduce credit card processing fees and streamline operations. Through her company, she delivers secure, transparent, and customized systems that improve cash flow and simplify PCI compliance.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Make Space for More podcast, host Melissa Swink discusses the intersection of health, productivity, and business growth with guest Kymberly Klimek, PharmD, B.S, a functional medicine pharmacist. They explore how optimizing health can enhance leadership and productivity, the importance of understanding one's body, and the role of functional medicine in addressing chronic health issues.

Kymberly shares her personal health journey, the significance of testing, and how to create personalized health plans for optimal wellness. The conversation highlights the importance of a holistic approach to health and the potential for healing through lifestyle modifications.

Key Highlights:

• Discover why your unexplained fatigue or brain fog might be holding your business back from its full potential.
• Learn how understanding your body's unique needs can transform your health and your leadership effectiveness.
• Uncover the surprising connection between hormone balance and your ability to show up powerfully in your business.
• Find out why popping supplements without proper testing is like throwing darts blindfolded, and what to do instead.
• Understand how investing in your health is more than self-care – it's a strategic business decision that impacts your bottom line.
• Learn why traditional medicine might be missing the root cause of your health challenges, and how functional medicine takes a different approach.
• Discover practical ways to optimize your energy and focus without sacrificing your busy schedule.
• Get the inside scoop on why "powering through" health issues can actually sabotage your long-term success.

About Our Guest:

Kymberly Klimek, PharmD, B.S. is a Functional Medicine Pharmacist with advanced training in endocrinology, hormone balance, and root-cause healing. After personally overcoming years of chronic health struggles through functional and lifestyle medicine, she now helps others restore their health by addressing the whole person—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As an enrolled member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, she integrates both science and indigenous healing perspectives to guide clients toward true, lasting wellness. Visit her website at www.innatehealingandperformance.com

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on...

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Make Space for More podcast, host Melissa Swink interviews Jen Fietz, founder of Stoke RGA, who shares her journey from finance to marketing and the unique approach her company takes in helping manufacturers grow. They discuss the importance of strategic alignment, the challenges of rebranding, and the process of conducting a growth gap analysis. Tune in to discover the importance of specialized expertise in your area of business and the benefits of seeking an outside perspective when navigating business challenges.

Key Highlights:

• Authentic business growth stems from strategic alignment between marketing efforts and core business objectives.
• Manufacturers need more than traditional marketing tactics; they need a comprehensive growth strategy (including a “growth gap analysis”) that considers the entire business ecosystem.
• Gaining an outside perspective can transform your rebranding journey from daunting to strategic.
• Measuring outcomes, not just implementing ideas, is crucial for sustainable business growth.

About Our Guest:

Jennifer leads Stoke RGA as a founder, growth architect, and fierce advocate for execution that actually delivers outcomes. A proud woman-owned business leader, she brings strategic clarity, financial rigor, and a deep respect for the manufacturing mindset to everything she does. With a background in corporate finance and years of experience advising mid-market manufacturing companies, she’s known for helping leadership teams cut through complexity, align around what matters, and build momentum that lasts. Raised in a family of manufacturers, Jen understands the pressure to perform—and leads with a sharp focus on outcomes, not ideas. At Stoke RGA, she ensures every initiative is built for impact, grounded in execution, and designed to move the needle.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.