Eric Joern

Author profile for Eric Joern of Kaizen CPAs + Advisors. On this page you can see all the blog posts that Eric Joern has written.

Podcast CTA Apple
Podcast CTA YouTube
Podcast CTA Spotify
Podcast title “Crafting a Culture of Excellence in Automotive Repair” with boxing gloves image, featuring Brin Kline of Assured Auto Works.

Brin Kline on Culture, Diagnostics, and Leadership in Auto Repair

Brin KlineofAssured Auto Worksjoins Blood, Sweat & Business to share what makes his shop stand out in a crowded industry. From diagnostic precision...

Podcast title “Navigating the Automotive Business Landscape” with boxing gloves image, featuring Colten Ramsay of Ramsey Repair sharing his startup journey and growth strategies.

Colten Ramsay on Growing an Auto Repair Business from Scratch

In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, Colten Ramsay, founder of Ramsey Repair, shares the honest truth behind building an auto repair business...

Podcast title “Crafting a Business Legacy” with boxing gloves image, featuring Tom Jiaras of International House of Wine and Cheese and ForWineLovers.com.

Tom Jiaras on Building a Wine & Cheese Brand That Lasts

Tom Jiaras, owner of International House of Wine and Cheese and founder of ForWineLovers.com, joins Blood, Sweat & Business to share the story...

Podcast title “Business Owners Harnessing the Power of AI” with boxing gloves image, featuring Rob Stoner and Mike Sokolski on using AI in business operations.

How Business Owners Are Using AI to Drive Smarter Growth

AI isn’t just for big tech—it’s reshaping how small and mid-sized businesses operate. In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, Rob Stoner and...

Podcast title “The Power of Networking in Your Industry” with boxing gloves image, featuring Kim Hickey of Automotive Training Institute (ATI).

Kim Hickey on Industry Networking and the ATI SuperConference

Get ready to feel inspired! In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, we talk with Kim Hickey, Director of Client Fulfillment at Automotive...

Podcast title “Finding Your Speciality in Business” with boxing gloves image, featuring Diane Yetter, accountant and business owner, discussing the power of niche expertise.

Diane Yetter on Finding Your Niche and Building a Thriving Firm

In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, we sit down with Diane Yetter, a seasoned accountant and founder of her own firm. With more than 26...

Podcast title “How to Implement Profit First Strategies Into Your Business” with boxing gloves image, featuring guest Ron Saharyan of Profit First Professionals.

Ron Saharyan on Profit First: How to Build a More Profitable Business

Ron Saharyan is a co-founder of Profit First Professionals. Based on the book by Mike Michalowicz, Profit First is a methodology for running a...

Podcast title “Finding Your Ideal Customer” with boxing gloves image, featuring Rob Stoner and Mike Sokolski of Horizon Managed Services on targeting and systems.

Rob Stoner & Mike Sokolski on Finding Your Ideal Customer

Do you have trouble finding your ideal customer? This week on Blood, Sweat & Business, we sit down with Rob Stoner and Mike Sokolski, co-owners of ...

Podcast title “The Power of Referrals” with boxing gloves image, featuring Gus Harris of Flex & Burn Fitness on growing a brand through word of mouth.

Gus Harris on Turning Referrals Into a Growth Strategy

The best marketing technique also happens to be free: referrals. But that doesn’t mean they’re automatic. In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business,...

Podcast title “Running a Woman-Owned Business” with boxing gloves image, featuring Sue Dickson, an auto repair shop owner, discussing industry growth and leadership.

Sue Dickson on Running a Woman-Owned Auto Repair Shop

This week on Blood, Sweat & Business, we’re joined by Sue Dickson, owner of a woman-owned auto repair shop in a male-dominated industry. Sue shares...

Podcast title “Setting Up Your Chiropractic Business for Growth” with boxing gloves image, featuring Jeff Turnbull discussing patient experience and business expansion.

Jeff Turnbull on Growing a Chiropractic Practice That Stands Out

You want your chiropractic business to grow—but how? It’s not just about seeing more patients. It’s about creating an experience that keeps them...

Introducing: Blood, Sweat & Business

Introducing: Blood, Sweat & Business

A business needs to grow – but no two businesses grow the same way. Welcome to the Blood, Sweat & Business podcast with Eric Joern and John...

Meet Your Hosts

Eric Joern

Eric Joern

Eric is a graduate of Columbia College of Missouri with a degree in accounting and joined the firm in 2013. He is a licensed CPA and a key business advisor at Kaizen. Coming from generations of entrepreneurs, small business is in his blood.

He has spent his working career getting his hands dirty with concrete, increasing profits and efficiency, managing an automotive service department, and currently is a key resource for many small business owners. Eric is currently the lead on our Automotive concentration, with years of experience as an Automotive Service Advisor and connections in the industry to better serve his clients.

Eric enjoys live music, working with his hands, and spending time outdoors with his wife and their two pooches. A big fan of the Chicago Bears, Cubs, Bulls, and Blackhawks, he jumps at the chance to catch ‘em live and in person when he can.

John Chiappetta bw (1)

John Chiappetta

John is a graduate of Carthage College in Kenosha, WI and the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul in Chicago, IL. In 2003, John purchased a small tax practice in Antioch IL. He continued his entrepreneurial adventure, purchasing and merging with multiple accounting firms, and in 2022, merged his firm with Kaizen CPAs + Advisors. John has predominantly focused on tax planning and compliance. He also has his CFP® and is a licensed financial representative. John enjoys helping clients plan for a healthy financial future.

John enjoys spending time with his family. His wife Helen also has the entrepreneurial spirit, running a family diner in Antioch, IL. John and Helen have two children, Nico and Gianna. On John’s days off, he likes playing pickleball, golf, and the occasional pickup game of football. John appreciates Kenosha’s lakefront and frequently takes long walks on the beach. (He takes some amazing pics of the sunrises over Kenosha’s HarborPark!)