On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Stan Adams, Executive Director of Sports at Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports, to discuss effective ways to promote and market an area that may only be known to a group of people with specific interests. Stan shares what makes Tuscaloosa unique, beyond great college football, and how those things can be promoted. He and Roger also discuss the benefits of using a mobile app and AI to attract and assist visitors.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Lee Marcum, CEO of Jack’s Donuts, to discuss the keys to successfully franchising a small restaurant brand and breaking into new markets. Lee talks about the history of Jack’s Donuts since its inception in the early 60s, why he decided to expand through franchising, and how grassroots tactics won customers in new communities. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Jeremy Gursey, President of Coffee Manufactory, to discuss the importance of adhering to your core values when growing your brand. Jeremy shares how his company’s principles are the business' pillars and have been integral to its growth. He also discusses his time as a coffee chef to Tom Cruise and the cast of Seinfeld, describes what makes a great cup of coffee, and points out what separates Coffee Manufactory from its competitors. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Allison Brown, Director of Marketing at Discover Long Island, for a conversation about how Discover Long Island is impacting tourist travel. They discuss how a mobile app, artificial intelligence, and ChatGPT can be used to enhance a visitor’s experience. Allison also shares why people should want to travel to Long Island and what she would recommend to do there. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni talks with Nicholas Falcone, CEO of NDM Hospitality, about how he's combined the luxuries and indulgences of resorts with the benefits of vacation homes offered by Airbnb and Vrbo. Nicholas shares where he got the idea, NDM's roots in the restaurant industry, effective marketing strategies, and how he uses technology to enhance and simplify the consumer experience.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Andrew Jaffe, Chief Marketing Officer at Snooze an A.M. Eatery, to discuss reasons for the restaurant concept’s remarkable growth and rise to prominence over the past half-decade. Andrew emphasizes that Snooze’s core values are guideposts that have proven particularly valuable during times of adversity. He also talks about the effective use of the Snooze mobile app and how utilizing Yelp has helped keep guests happy.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Ryan Lynn, Senior Vice President of Brand Development and Marketing at The Dirty Buffalo, to chat about marketing a small, growing restaurant business. Ryan shares why experiencing The Dirty Buffalo in person is valuable for the customer, how the brand survived on delivery and carry-out during the pandemic, and the benefits of community engagement. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Jarrett McGovern, the Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of RISE Brewing Co., to discuss the marketing and product placement of its Nitro Cold Brew Coffee. Jarrett talks about the humble beginnings of RISE, the struggle to get the brand on store shelves, the importance of flexibility and willingness to innovate and expand a product, and his vision for RISE over the next decade. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Venae Watts, a fifth-generation Owner of Minerva Dairy, to discuss the most effective ways to market a brand that has been in business for well over a century. Venae talks about the benefits of being a family-owned business for multiple generations and why word-of-mouth has been the brand’s most effective marketing channel. She explains why Minerva Dairy has evolved in some ways but remains strategically old-fashioned in others.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni is joined by Kathryn Moos, Co-founder of OWYN, for a conversation about staying focused on consumer behavior when establishing a brand. Kathryn talks about starting OWYN, determining the most effective venues for product sales, observing which products generate brand loyalty, and using education to attract and retain subscribers. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni is joined by Steve Kraus, Founder and Partner at Press Coffee, for a conversation about effective growth versus rapid growth. Steve talks about the challenges of continuous growth and why labor is the hardest aspect to manage. They discuss the most effective ways Press Coffee can use its mobile app and how AI can help extend the customer experience beyond the store.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni is joined by Steve Greer, Chief Marketing Officer at Urban Plates, for a conversation about how restaurants can use mobile apps to provide a high level of service to its guests. Steve discusses how to align the app experience with a personal visit to the restaurant, his ultimate goals for Urban Plates' app, why restaurants should develop their own apps, and the benefits of having a custom app to compete in a saturated market.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes David Eha, Director of National Accounts at Restaurant Technologies (RT), to discuss how a restaurant can improve customer service by making behind-the-scenes operations more efficient. David explains how RT’s oil system works, the solutions RT offers, and how RT enhances customer service by making things easier for restaurant employees.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni is joined by Mindy Riesenberg, Director of Marketing and Communications at Grand Canyon Conservancy, for a conversation about keeping all generations interested in the Grand Canyon and its social and environmental impact. Mindy explains why maintaining long-term engagement is essential, the challenges she faces, what excites her the most, and what she’s learned as a professional singer. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Zach Hempen, Director of Digital Marketing at Your Pie Franchising, to discuss the benefits of product personalization and how digital marketing can be used to target your customers. Zach talks about what excites him most about his work with Your Pie, why product personalization has been so valuable, the advantages provided by the brand’s mobile app, and the worst advice he has ever received. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni discusses the launch of adidas Outdoor with an icon in the outdoor sports industry, Greg Thomsen, who recently retired as Managing Director at agron, Inc., the exclusive licensed dealer for adidas products. Greg talks about why adidas decided to join the crowded outdoor sports apparel market, its targeted audience and marketing efforts, the people and channels used to promote the products, and the value of ignoring naysayers. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Jeff Grogg, Founder and Managing Director of JPG Resources and Founder and President of Snackwerks, to discuss practical ways his companies prepare for adverse changes in the economy. Jeff shares the lessons JPG learned during the pandemic, how it pivoted, what organizational growth looks like, how JPG attracts new clients, and more. Don’t miss it!

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Micha Magid, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue, to chat about operating, scaling, and marketing a digital-first restaurant. Micha talks about how Mighty Quinn’s got started, the ways the brand leverages data to make menu decisions, how it uses its mobile app, and what gives him the most excitement and the most anxiety. He also discusses his new ghost kitchen, Sugar Wing. Don’t miss it!