How do you know when your successor is ready to take over?

Katie Ittenbach, President & CEO of SMARI Research, and SMARI founder Jim Ittenbach join Scott Eckart to talk about how their family business successfully transitioned from one generation to the next. For over a decade, Katie climbed the corporate ladder and showed her value to the company, until Jim knew she was ready to lead.

Katie and Jim share pivotal moments from their story, such as Katie’s shift from biochem to business and Jim’s decision to accelerate her path to leadership. You’ll hear about the skills that Katie had to develop on her way to the top, how Jim learned to let go and trust his daughter’s leadership, and how to maintain a professional relationship with family in the workplace.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to identify when your successor is ready, even if they’re your own child
• What it looks like to lead in a new way without losing the founder’s legacy
• How taking on a leadership role starts with small decisions

Things to listen for:

(01:19) Meet Katie and Jim Ittenbach

(03:17) Why joining the family business wasn’t Katie’s original plan

(10:27) The moment Jim decided to go all-in on SMARI

(15:14) How to spot talent and drive

(16:45) How Katie earned clients’ trust without using her last name

(21:10) The moment Jim knew Katie was ready to lead

(23:30) How Katie and Jim set professional boundaries

(27:14) Making decisions for the company before becoming CEO
(31:36) The importance of collaborating with a group
(42:57) The secret to an effective succession plan

Resources:

Katie Ittenbach’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieittenbach/

SMARI LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-marketing-&-research-inc-/

SMARI website: https://smari.com/

What does it look like to build a business around care instead of hype?

Mark Moreland, founder of Body Outfitters, joins Scott Eckart to reflect on his journey from reluctant student to personal trainer to owner of a growing three-location business. With years of leading people and clients under his belt, Mark shares how his long-term mindset has shaped everything from client retention to talent development, and how it helped him create a succession plan just as he was expanding his business.

He and Scott talk about the transition from technician to leader, how to spot someone who’s wired to care, and what business owners get wrong about intensity. You’ll hear why Mark believes consistency beats complexity, how his team builds client trust one text at a time, and what a fitness business can teach you about stewardship.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the long game builds better businesses
• How to scale your values across a growing team
• What client care actually looks like in practice

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Meet Mark Moreland

(06:34) Advice for young adults feeling directionless

(10:50) How Mark planned the first studio

(15:17) Early growth lessons and client connection habits

(21:07) Why leadership starts with managing yourself

(25:31) On working with his mom as CFO

(31:17) Turning career pivots into expansion plans

(35:14) Letting go of control as a founder

(38:14) Supporting your people and their goals

(41:01) Moving faster and trusting your gut

Resources:
Mark Moreland's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-moreland-a5572838/

Body Outfitters website: https://bodyoutfitters.com/
Body Outfitters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodyoutfitters/
Body Outfitters Instagram: @bodyoutfitters

What does it take to turn a family business into a thriving tourist destination?

Lucas Dull and Dana Dull join host Scott Eckart to share how they transitioned from traditional grain farming to building one of Indiana’s most beloved agritourism businesses. As second-generation owners of Dull’s Tree Farm, they’ve expanded far beyond Christmas trees, creating a place where thousands of families return year after year.

They talk about the experience of returning to a family business, making tough calls to change the way they ran the business, and the unexpected ways their community showed up when things went wrong. You’ll hear what they’ve learned about showing up for your employees, honoring legacy, and how a family business can pass valuable life skills down to the next generation.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to know when it’s time to shift your business model
• What a real-world succession plan looks like in practice
• Why clarity on values matters more than getting your strategy right

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Meet Lucas and Dana Dull

(05:03) What agritourism is and why it works

(08:26) Leaving engineering for a family business

(12:51) Early signs of entrepreneurial thinking

(16:55) Why they shut down grain farming

(22:42) How Dana became chief of operations

(25:58) The moment it felt like a real business

(31:06) Rebuilding after a fire nearly shut them down

(36:32) How their kids responded to the crisis

(37:51) Lessons on legacy from the first generation

How do you build a business on giving without losing sight of growth?

Marcus Manges, Regional President at Accelerent Indianapolis, joins Scott Eckart to talk about how his career evolved from selling knives to creating one of the most effective business development platforms in the region. Now serving multiple markets, Marcus shares what he’s learned from bringing abundance-minded leaders into the same room.

He and Scott discuss why the right relationships change everything, how giving builds trust, and what business owners really need in a referral partner. You’ll also hear Marcus interview Scott on his story-first approach to meeting new clients, how to help others when you don’t have the answers, and why you need to do business valuation quarterly, not annually.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why a trusted introduction is more powerful than a cold referral
• How to build a room full of givers
• What makes a business group worth your time and money

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Meet Marcus Manges

(02:50) Why helping others builds lasting success

(05:26) Giving too much without getting credit

(13:12) How to truly listen in business relationships

(17:27) Why Scott chose to serve business owners

(21:05) The reason the silver tsunami matters

(22:07) What Scott learned about earning trust in Indy

(28:18) A real story about unexpected succession

(31:44) Seeing business opportunities through faith

(37:12) The lies we tell ourselves about value

The biggest shifts in a business often come from decisions no one else sees.

Future Proof is a show for business owners facing the pressure to grow and the weight of legacy, often at the same time. Hosted by Scott Eckart, each episode features honest conversations with leaders who’ve made bold moves, stepped into succession, or redefined success altogether. You’ll hear what they were up against, what they chose, and what they’d do differently now.

If you're thinking about what's next and want to build a business that lasts, this is the show for you.