The Small Business Horsepower Podcast www.smallbusinesshorsepower.com

Episode 13- Rob Gough

Rob Gough is an American entrepreneur, actor and investor and the current Owner and CEO of streetwear label DOPE.  As an early entrepreneur, he set up Bidaroo, an online auction site which went on to sponsor an Indy car for the season and was eventually sold to a private buyer in 2009. Gough then went to work for Finish Line (NYSE: FINL) where he grew their online marketing programs over 500% each year from $300k a year to over $30 million. Gough co-founded Eckim, an award-winning performance marketing company, in 2012. The company moved from Indianapolis to Marina Del Rey, California.  The company grew rapidly and won awards. In 2012, Eckim won "Best New Publisher" at the Golden Link Awards in New York City. Under Gough’s leadership the company continued to win prestigious awards every year. Within 3 years, the company was hitting 8-figure revenues and was eventually sold to Quotient (NYSE: QUOT), formerly known as "Coupons," in August 2014. In 2017 Gough purchased Los Angeles-based streetwear label DOPE.  In one of his first moves as CEO, Gough announced a collaboration between DOPE and BET.  In 2021, Gough acquired a rare Mickey Mantle card that was sold for a record-breaking $5.2 million, the highest price ever for a baseball card.

Episode 12 - Medha Parlikar

Medha is the CTO and one of the co-founders of Casper Labs.. She started working with technology in the early 80’s, building computers in the basement. For the past 2 decades, she has been delivering  production SaaS software for large companies like Adobe, Omniture and Avalara. Her strengths are building high functioning technical teams, and inspiring them to deliver solutions that solve customer problems.

Episode 11- Gina Marsaglia

In March of 1987 Gina and Vince Marsaglia, a pair of siblings in their 20′s, bought a struggling pizza place in the coastal town of Solana Beach, just north of San Diego. Early on, Vince took advantage of free space in the restaurant’s storage area to dabble with home brewing. The hobby took off and at the urging of friends and fans, Vince and Gina decided to go into the brewpub business. Pizza Port offered its first craft-brewed beers to patrons in 1992 and quickly gained a reputation in San Diego’s growing craft beer scene. 

Episode 10 - Alison Jordan

Alison Jordan is a host, contributor and entrepreneur. Originally from Woodinville, WA she received her M.S. in Gerontology from San Diego State University. After an unplanned turn took her to L.A. to embark on a newfound modeling career including appearing on Deal or No Deal, she went on to host various travel shows for over a decade. Her latest passion is her startup Order For Me founded with her husband Michael Jordan. Order For Me is a solution for dining out in a convenience economy with compassion and safety. Their company wants to make a positive impact on the restaurant and hospitality industry; especially now during these difficult times. The Order For Me platform is currently being offered for free to any restaurant worldwide for pick up or take out.

Episode 9 - Mario Amodeo

Rated as a master candidate in chess as a player; Mario has been teaching chess since 1997 helping children and adults develop chess skills and understanding, so they can use this understanding in life as well.

Episode 8 - Oscar Suarez

Oscar Suarez has been an Major League Baseball Players Association certified agent since 1988.  Oscar has worked in the USA and foreign baseball markets, and has negotiated  numerous contracts for his players including Armando Reynoso, Joakim Soria, and Francisco Cordova. Oscar is also Sports Management Worldwide[SMWW] Director of Baseball and currently teaching the Athlete Management Sports Agent course, grooming the baseball agents of tomorrow.

Episode 7 - JD Richey

Since 1998, full time fishing junkie and professional guide, JD Richey, has been leading fishing adventures in Northern California and Alaska. As a staff writer for several national magazines and regional newspapers, he has penned thousands of articles on fishing and outdoor sports and has written five books on the subject as well.

 

In his “spare time,” Richey writes and maintains the popular online fishing magazine, www.fishwithjd.com.

 

On the conservation end, Richey has served as a consultant on several river restoration projects that have helped boost native fish populations. 

 

JD Richey

www.fishwithjd.com

Fully guided fishing trips &

The web's best fishing magazine. 

Episode 6 - Anthony Balistreri

Anthony is owner and proprietor of Godfather Restaurant, voted San Diego's best Italian restaurant in the Union Tribune readers poll in 2020. Born and raised in San Diego, Anthony is married with 2 children, studied political science at San Diego State University, is a wine sommelier and a successful restaurateur. 

Episode 5 - Paul Marinaccio

Paul Marinaccio transitioned forty years ago from the corporate world to building and operating a small business. Paul has run personal computer assembly, computer repair, software tech support and even a stint as a stain glass designer and supplier under the banner of Strategic Global Services (1985-Present ). Previously Paul spent ten years as  President of LM Ericsson Telecom Inc

 

Episode 4 - Nayana & Tarik

Nayana, with degree is in Journalism and Creative Writing, has published four books, both fiction and non fiction. Tarik, whose first degree was in Fine Arts from Pratt Institute, is also a successful sculptor. He brings his understanding of form and structure to create kinetic sculptures in stone and metal. Their company’s work has been published in magazines and newspapers around the world, and has received many design awards and distinctions.