Greg Milligan on Serving Community Through Habitat for Humanity
In this special giving-season episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, we’re joined by Greg Milligan, affiliate director of Habitat for Humanity of...
Dave Hinz on Leading a Business After 17 Years as a Technician
After 17 years as an automotive technician, Dave Hinz made the leap into entrepreneurship—and never looked back. In this episode of Blood, Sweat &...
Erik Vega on Running a Business Without a Formal Education
In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, we sit down with Erik Vega, owner of R.E. Burke Roofing and Sheet Metal, to talk about navigating...
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...
Mike Hagi on Hiring Smart and Growing a Family Business
There’s a fine line between modernizing your business and staying true to what made people love it in the first place—especially in a family-run...
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 ...
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,...
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...
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...
Dino Katris on Leading a Multi-Restaurant Business with Vision
Family-owned restaurants are nothing new—but running several of them successfully? That’s something else entirely. In this episode of Blood, Sweat &...
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...
Eric Joern
Eric is a graduate of Columbia College of Missouri with a degree in accounting and joined Kaizen in 2013. He is a licensed CPA and business advisor.
Small business runs deep for Eric. Coming from generations of entrepreneurs, he understands what it takes to build, run, and grow a company because he’s lived it.
Before stepping fully into accounting, Eric spent years getting his hands dirty. From working with concrete to managing an automotive service department, he’s been on the front lines of business. That experience shapes how he approaches his work today, helping business owners improve profitability, tighten operations, and make smarter decisions.
Eric now leads Kaizen’s automotive focus, working with top auto repair shops across the country. His background as an Automotive Service Advisor, combined with strong industry relationships, allows him to bring practical, real-world insight to his clients.
Outside of work, Eric enjoys live music, hands-on projects, and spending time outdoors with his wife and their two dogs. He’s also a dedicated Chicago sports fan and will take any chance he can get to see the Bears, Cubs, Bulls, or Blackhawks live.
John Chiappetta
John is a CFP® professional and licensed financial representative who focuses on helping clients plan for a strong, sustainable financial future. He works closely with individuals and families to think through long-term decisions, weigh tradeoffs, and build plans that actually hold up in real life.
Family is a big part of John’s world. His wife, Helen, shares that entrepreneurial drive and runs a family diner in Antioch, IL. Being part of a small business household gives John a firsthand understanding of the challenges and rewards that come with it. Together, they have two children, Nico and Gianna.
On his days off, John stays active with pickleball, golf, and the occasional pickup football game. He also makes the most of Kenosha’s lakefront, often taking long walks along the beach and catching sunrises over HarborPark.