Jaclyn Ricci had no formal business training. What she had was street smarts, an entrepreneurial spirit, a strong lifelong work ethic, and a determination to succeed.

She shares how she built The LadyBug Pest & Wildlife Control from the ground up into a six-time IndyStar Best Pest Control award winner, and how she's created a workplace people don't want to leave.

Jaclyn is a licensed structural pest control and nuisance wildlife operator who now speaks at conferences across the country and sits on planning committees for Purdue's Pest Management Conference and the Indiana Pest Management Association.

She talks about what it's like leading in a male-dominated industry, the lessons from her first year in business, and the story behind releasing over 1,000 bats from a church in Zionsville.

Jaclyn also opens up about running a family business with her husband Johnny, and son Jadin, and her plan to scale The LadyBug from $3M to $5M in the next two years.

She also breaks down the systems and culture behind her team's growth, from onboarding to promotion, and why so many of her employees choose to build a career at The LadyBug.

If you're a family business owner figuring things out as you go, or you're looking for a place to work where you can grow professionally and build a career, not just clock in for a job, this conversation is for you.

Other than the founding of the business, succession from one generation to the next is the most important event a multigenerational family business will ever experience.

And yet, most owners delay it, treating succession like something they can deal with later, when retirement is closer, when the next generation is ready, or when it feels more urgent.

That waiting creates real risk and often leads to poor outcomes, and the challenge doesn't rest only with the owners.

Many next-generation leaders are unsure, or unwilling, to take over at all.

In reality, succession is rarely as straightforward as simply preparing the next generation to step into leadership and ownership.

In this episode, Todd Rimer sits down with Bob Paden, a business broker and advisor, owner of Bob Paden Group, a member of Advanced Business Brokers, and a licensed Value Builder professional, to explore what succession planning actually looks like for family businesses.

Bob shares what owners need to understand to protect the value of their business and the legacy behind it.

This conversation goes beyond theory.

Through real-world scenarios, emotional dynamics, and practical steps, Todd and Bob discuss what owners can do right now, before they're forced to, or before it's too late.

Todd Rimer sits down with Rodney Wead, Strategic Partner at Schooley Mitchell, to explore a financial reality many growing businesses experience, but few fully understand.

Revenue is increasing, yet cash feels tighter.
Work is expanding, yet margins feel pressured.
Growth is happening, yet financial stress remains.

Why?

Because growth brings complexity. More employees, more vendors, more software, more contracts, more recurring costs, and more financial commitments that don't go away when sales fluctuate.

While inflation and rising prices play a role, much of the financial pressure businesses feel actually comes from inside their own operations. The systems that worked when a company was smaller often can't support the demands of scale.

This conversation explores why cost control often improves profit faster than revenue growth, how unmanaged contracts and recurring expenses quietly drain margins, and why many businesses can uncover meaningful savings without changing vendors or disrupting operations.

If your company is growing but financial pressure hasn't eased, this episode will help you understand why and what to do about it.

Podcasting isn't about going viral. It is about building relationships, credibility, and community over time.

In this episode of Up In Your (Family) Business, Todd Rimer chats with fellow host Kyle Corbin, creator of the Made In Indiana podcast, to talk about why he started the show, what problem it was built to solve, and how podcasting has become one of the most underutilized business tools for entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses.

Kyle shares the purpose behind Made In Indiana, how inviting others into the spotlight builds trust faster than traditional marketing, and why being a guest on podcasts is just as valuable as hosting one. Todd and Kyle compare notes as hosts, discussing identity, brand voice, preparation, guest experience, and how a podcast allows people to know your expertise, personality, beliefs, and values long before a sales conversation ever happens.

They also tackle a common obstacle that Kyle experiences often: convincing owners and leaders that they have something worth sharing, and why starting a podcast is not about ego, but about service. If you have ever wondered whether podcasting is worth your time, how it fits into a business strategy, or what makes a show meaningful instead of noisy, this episode will provide the insights to help you make that decision for yourself and your brand.

Business owners face a unique challenge: how to reward key employees, protect their business, and prepare for retirement, all without overpaying in taxes or relying solely on selling the company someday.

In this episode of Up In Your (Family) Business, host Todd Rimer welcomes back Alex Parrish, Financial Advisor and Director at The Spectrum Financial Group, joined by her father and company President, Dennis Parrish.

Together, they share creative compensation strategies most business owners have never heard of, from executive bonuses and deferred compensation plans to using permanent life insurance as a tax-advantaged wealth-building tool.

They will discuss why traditional benefits fall short for business owners, how these strategies can help you retain and attract top talent, and how life insurance can serve as both a protection plan and a powerful financial engine for long-term security.

If you're looking for innovative ways to grow, protect, and leverage your business and personal wealth, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Tune in to hear:

• How to use life insurance as a vehicle for compensation, retention, and key employee benefits.

• The tax-smart strategies high-earning business owners are missing out on.

• Why selling your business isn't a retirement plan alone.

• How creative planning with permanent life insurance can build tax-free wealth you can't outlive.

• Real case studies showing how strategic planning enhances both business and personal financial goals.

• The mindset shift from income now to strategic wealth for later.
  
  

If you've ever wondered how to reward your team, protect your business, and lower your tax burden, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Up In Your (Family) Business, Todd Rimer sits down with DJ Blatherwick, Director of Culture and Business Development at Brick + Ember Outfitters, for a candid and heartfelt conversation about living out faith in both the workplace and the marketplace. Not just through actions, but through honest, appropriate openness.

After spending 15 years as a pastor, DJ transitioned into the business world with a passion for building healthy teams, meaningful culture, and values-driven leadership. He shares how his faith shapes his life and work, how he came to Brick + Ember Outfitters (owned by a former pastor), and how faith and values influence the way DJ and the company serve its people, customers, and community.

Together, Todd and DJ discuss:

• Why people want to work for organizations that stand for something meaningful

• Why values are most powerful when lived out consistently

• How faith can shape leadership, decision-making, and relationships.

They also talk about why living out faith is not only about actions, but about being willing, when appropriate, to acknowledge and share the values and beliefs that shape how we live and lead. This episode invites listeners to consider what it looks like to authentically live their values, not loudly or forcefully, but through everyday actions and the quiet confidence of a life well-lived.

Whether you are a leader, an employee, or a family business owner, this conversation offers encouragement, perspective, and a reminder that faith and values don't stop at the church door. They're meant to be lived where we work and serve every day.

Selling business assets, whether equipment, inventory, real estate, an entire estate, or a lifetime's worth of merchandise, can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Up In Your (Family) Business, host Todd Rimer sits down with Zack Burgess, owner of Burgess Auctions LLC, to explore how auctions can provide a fair, efficient, and surprisingly profitable way to sell your assets and reach the right buyers — locally, regionally, and worldwide.

With more than 28 years of experience, thousands of auctions, and a deep understanding of shifting market conditions, Zack breaks down what family business owners need to know before selling anything of value. He explains why auctions can generate significantly higher returns than private sales, how technology has reshaped the auction industry, and what steps sellers can take to maximize results.

Whether you're preparing for a transition, clearing excess inventory, restructuring your business, or simply exploring your options, this conversation will help you see auctions not just as an exit, but as a strategic tool for protecting value, preserving legacy, and creating opportunity.

In this episode of Up In Your (Family) Business, Todd Rimer talks with Kyle Masengale Vice President of ASAP Payroll Service, a family-owned Indianapolis company that has thrived by staying focused on what it does best.

Kyle shares his journey stepping into the family business, the lessons he's learned from his dad, and the guardrails ASAP uses to stay true to its brand. From accurate, compliant payroll and documentable onboarding to delivering personalized, responsive service, ASAP proves that staying small in scope doesn't limit growth. It sharpens your impact.

Family business leaders will gain insight into avoiding brand dilution, protecting reputation, and making a big impact without being everything to everyone. Kyle also discusses how his family experiences, including shared sports traditions, reinforce the values that make ASAP stand out.

Family business leaders will gain insight into avoiding brand dilution, protecting reputation, and making a big impact without being everything to everyone.