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  • Ep. 104 - What Every FEC Owner Should Know About SBA Loans

    Ep. 104 - What Every FEC Owner Should Know About SBA Loans
    Aug 27 2025
    In this week's edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Danny Gruening and Russ Van Natta break down what every FEC owner should know about SBA loans. They explain how SBA loans work, the differences between the 7(a) and 504 programs, and what lenders look for in applicants. They also cover realistic timelines, common challenges FECs face along the way, and strategies to make your application stand out. This episode serves as your roadmap for navigating the SBA loan process with confidence.
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    34 Min.
  • Ep. 103 - The 5 Business Data Points to Measure for FEC Growth

    Ep. 103 - The 5 Business Data Points to Measure for FEC Growth
    Aug 20 2025
    In this week's episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ Van Natta shares how FEC operators can stop guessing and start growing with the 5 business data points to measure FEC growth. From revenue by attraction and guest traffic patterns to party conversions, labor efficiency, and marketing ROI, Russ highlights the five most critical areas to measure and shows how even simple systems, like spreadsheets, can uncover insights that drive smarter decisions, reduce waste, and create more powerful guest experiences.
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    25 Min.
  • Ep. 102 - How to Grow from a Manager into a Leader Featuring Michelle Gruening

    Ep. 102 - How to Grow from a Manager into a Leader Featuring Michelle Gruening
    Aug 13 2025
    In this week's edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ Van Natta talks with Michelle Gruening, Personal Growth & Leadership Coach at Action Lab Leadership and founder of MG Coaching, about how to grow from a manager into a leader. Michelle shares lessons from her own career, including how to delegate effectively, give meaningful feedback, invest in personal growth, and apply the “1-3-1 Rule” to develop problem-solving teams. It’s a conversation full of practical ideas for anyone looking to strengthen their leadership and help their team thrive.
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    25 Min.
  • Ep. 101 - Problem-Solving Strategies for Leaders and Teams

    Ep. 101 - Problem-Solving Strategies for Leaders and Teams
    Aug 6 2025
    In this week's edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ Van Natta breaks down leadership strategies for breaking through stuck points. If you are feeling stuck, you're not alone. Russ dives into practical tools like the “5 Whys” to uncover root causes, reverse thinking to challenge assumptions, and reframing techniques to turn setbacks into growth opportunities. Whether you're navigating internal friction or shifting market dynamics, this episode is filled with actionable insights to help you lead with clarity, collaborate more effectively, and continue making powerful memories
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    20 Min.
  • Ep. 100 - The 5 Characteristics of Memorable Experiences

    Ep. 100 - The 5 Characteristics of Memorable Experiences
    Jul 30 2025
    In this week's edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, we hit the triple-digit mark!! In this milestone 100th episode, Russ Van Natta and Danny Gruening celebrate the journey so far and take a deep dive into what actually makes an experience unforgettable. Russ and Danny reveal the five characteristics that define truly memorable experiences. These are the same qualities that turn one-time guests into loyal fans. They share real-world examples from entertainment centers, theme parks, and their own lives to help operators take a more intentional approach to guest experience. They also introduce the "100 Memories in 100 Days" challenge, designed to help teams build a culture around creating impact and connection. This episode offers simple and powerful ways to help guests remember their visit for all the right reasons.
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    27 Min.
  • Ep. 99 - Perfectionism Is NOT A Superpower

    Ep. 99 - Perfectionism Is NOT A Superpower
    Jul 24 2025
    In this week's edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Danny Gruening talks about how perfectionism is NOT a superpower, and how chasing flawlessness may actually hold you back. Instead, Danny challenges listeners to embrace the power of mastery, which is built through consistency, discomfort, and purpose-driven growth. He explores the difference between fear-based perfectionism and progress-focused mastery, drawing on lessons from leadership experts like Brendon Burchard and John Maxwell. If you're striving to be great at what you do, this episode will reframe how you approach personal growth, failure, and the pursuit of excellence.
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    12 Min.
  • Ep. 98- Revenue Strategies for Today’s FEC featuring John Keys of CenterEdge Software

    Ep. 98- Revenue Strategies for Today’s FEC featuring John Keys of CenterEdge Software
    Jul 16 2025
    In this week's edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ Van Natta is joined by John Keys, Sales Director at CenterEdge Software, to share revenue strategies for today’s FEC. As part of the Amusement 360 Partnership series, John provides real examples like simplifying group bookings, launching After Dark events, and introducing premium cocktails to attract adult guests. Plus, we talk about taking inspiration from other industries, leveraging vendor partnerships for hidden opportunities, empowering staff to improve guest experiences, and sending teams on scavenger hunts to study competitors.
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    45 Min.
  • Ep. 97 - How to Convert One-Time Visitors Into Repeat Guests ft. Wes Ratcliff of ROLLER

    Ep. 97 - How to Convert One-Time Visitors Into Repeat Guests ft. Wes Ratcliff of ROLLER
    Jul 9 2025
    In this week's edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ Van Natta sits down with Wes Ratcliff, GM of Karting at ROLLER, to explore how FECs can convert one-time visitors into repeat guests. As part of the Amusement 360 Partnership series, Wes shares practical strategies to boost engagement, dwell time, and repeat visits. From expanding offerings to implementing unique programming, the conversation also highlights the importance of reducing friction through online and group bookings, leveraging data to make smarter decisions, and using guest feedback to improve ROI. Ultimately, success comes from delivering meaningful experiences that make the most of every guest’s time.
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    33 Min.