Joel first met Phil Sanders, Founder & CEO of Multiply, after hearing him speak at a conference—and instantly knew they were wired the same way. In this episode of Making the Brand, Phil gets real about what entrepreneurship actually looks like (and what it definitely doesn’t). No fluff. Just honest, hard-earned insights on building, scaling, and staying sane along the way. Tune in for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, growth, and the mindset it takes to build something that la...

What does it take to lead a woman-owned precision machining company in a male-dominated industry, and win while doing it? Debbie Sommers, President of Lakeview Precision and client of Fortress, joins Joel Mathew to share how she’s built a powerhouse shop known for integrity, innovation, and outworking the competition. In this episode, Debbie talks candidly about her leadership journey, the values that drive Lakeview’s success, and how they continue to earn business from some of the world’s b...

In this episode of Making the Brand, Andy McDermott shares his remarkable journey from professional soccer player to law enforcement officer, full-time actor, and now a leader in youth sports and community development. He discusses his passion for using sports to positively impact underserved communities, particularly through his work with Intentional Sports, located in Chicago's west side, where he oversees a world-class sports facility that offers much more than just sports training. Intent...

In our first episode of Making the Brand featuring Chad Swieca as a full co-host, he and Joel go way back to not only the roots of Fortress Consulting Group, but also Joel's life roots and the influences that led to the agency as we know it today. There are as many stories of struggle as there are of success, and Joel and Chad don't shy away from discussing them all. Want to know what's next for Fortress? Listen to the end and you'll hear. Check back for more episodes on a monthly basis.

Meet Chad. Chad Swieca is the owner of River Light FC, a new USL soccer club that's based in Aurora, Illinois. He is a former collegiate and international professional soccer player who has turned that love of the game into an entrepreneurship journey that has touched many. He and Joel share a lot of valuable inspirations on the podcast that they've learned over the years in their respective career paths, as well as a compelling breakdown of the state of soccer in the United States. We ...

Listen to a new episode of Making the Brand as we sit down with the visionary entrepreneur, Carl West. Carl, a prominent figure in media and leadership development, is the mastermind behind Chicago's first and only hip-hop awards, a groundbreaking initiative that propelled local artists into the limelight, as well as many other projects and initiatives over the years. In this conversation, Carl shares his inspiring journey, from the inception of the hip hop awards to his unwavering commitment...

For this special episode of Making the Brand, we welcomed Cheryl Scott, meteorologist for ABC7 in Chicago and friend of Fortress. While you may know Cheryl's face from the TV as she forecasts the ever-unpredictable Chicago weather, now is your chance to learn a little bit more about her story of discovering and re-discovering her calling to be a weather reporter, as well as her favorite things about living and working in Chicago. PLUS: a special cameo with Cheryl's dog, the famous Lola! For...

For this special episode of Making the Brand, host Joel Mathew was joined by friend of Fortress and CEO of The Holy Post. Joel and Jon talk about the big vision for the Holy Post to become a media conglomerate that is unafraid to think Christianly and face all topics head-on. Unlike many other personalities and outlets in today's day and age, Holy Post is unconcerned with "hot takes" and aiming for nuance simply for the sake of nuance. There is something for everyone with The Holy Post, not j...

Author, nationally-syndicated host, and financial trailblazer, Terry Savage, has been on a quest to demystify personal finance for decades. Now, she’s in the giving back stage, looking for ways to help anyone get on track to reach their financial goals and retire on their own terms. Terry is a longtime client and friend of Fortress, and we were thrilled to have her back in our office for a sit-down. Terry has advice for everyone, so if you are someone wanting to buy a home, a car, or build a ...

Looking for motivation? You won't want to miss this one. Making the Brand is back with a continuation of last week's conversation with our friends at Give'r. This time however, it is less about the brand itself and more about big picture life lessons that Bill Watkins, Chief Operations Officer at Give'r has learned throughout his incredible life that led him to where he is now. Bill answers tough questions regarding need for balance between being data-driven and instinctive in business, what ...

Give'r and Fortress have built a strong relationship over the past year or mutual motivation. With countless hours of strategy and execution, all tailored toward the goal of solidifying their brand identity and increasing their sales, it has proven to be a perfect match of personality and drive. Joel sat down with Bubba Albrecht, the founder of Give'r, to talk about his journey, the company's journey, and what the future holds for him and for the brand.

Jill Cotton is the President of IROL, a software company specializing in Fire Prevention and Risk Reduction Services. We sat down with Jill to ask her a few questions about building her business and then making a name for it, something that's a lot harder than it sounds, especially as a woman in technology. Talking to Jill, you can instantly detect her strength as a leader, as well as her sense of humor, which makes Episode 6 of Making the Brand both fun and inspiring.

Marlene McCallum is a skilled executive coach who works with Fortress CEO Joel Mathew. The two sat down together to discuss life’s most important lessons; among these are that humans are not fixed and can evolve and change to become better leaders, better business owners, and better people. Listen to this episode in full to hear what advice Marlene would give people who are interested in the work that she does. The moral of the story is to do the hard work, get uncomfortable, and take respons...

In episode four of Making the Brand, Joel sat down with Aleksandar Zafirovski of Northwestern Medicine. He is an entrepreneurial mind within the healthcare industry, making him the perfect Fortress partner. Over the past several years, Fortress has worked with Aleksandar to create Breast Cancer Patient Connect, an online space where patients and survivors of breast cancer can go to feel supported, informed, and empowered. Listen to this episode for some insightful storytelling and positive le...

The marketing journey is never a straight line. David Adam, friend and client of Fortress and leader at MidAmerica Orthopaedics, sat down with Joel to talk about their philosophies on marketing after having worked together for multiple years. They agree on one main core principle: that in marketing, you have to play the long game if you want to see real growth. And MidAmerica Orthopaedics knows transformative growth, having seen 800% increase in patient visits and clientele during David Adam'...

Jon Walner is an energetic and passionate lawyer who channels this spirit into achieving justice for his clients. Fortress has developed a strong relationship with his firm, Walner Law, having worked on their website, branding, and many many other projects. Hear Jon and Joel talk about what gets them out of bed every day, and the importance of bringing good people together to reach a common goal.

Summary: Guest Ryan Weldon is all about community and culture. In other words, he’s the kind of guy to wear sneakers to his own wedding. In this first episode of Making the Brand, Joel Mathew sits down with his good friend and business partner to talk about motivations, shared influences, and what sets 13th Bridge Games Studio and Fortress apart. Timestamps: 0:00 - 14:02 → Introductions & Origins of 13th Bridge Games Studio 14:02 - 28:03 → Ryan and Joel’s Biggest Influences &...