In episode #66 of BAM BizTalk, we sit down with Victoria Santiago, Dean of Continuing Education at Midland College, to explore how education, equity, and entrepreneurship intersect in West Texas. Victoria shares her inspiring journey from ESL instructor to leading one of the region’s most impactful community education programs. From helping families build better futures to creating inclusive opportunities for immigrants, women, and underserved communities, her story is a testament to what’s possible when you lead with heart and purpose. Whether you’re a business owner, educator, student, or advocate for change, this episode is filled with value. 💡 Topics Covered: 00:00 Why education transforms families 03:00 Victoria’s path from Venezuela to Odessa 08:00 Building ESL and workforce programs 14:00 CDL programs and empowering women 20:00 Serving underserved communities 25:00 Partnering with nonprofits like Casa de Amigos 32:00 Creating equity in education 38:00 The impact of AI on productivity 44:00 Community partnerships at Cogdell 52:00 Final thoughts on life, growth & leadership 👤 Guest: Victoria Santiago — Dean of Continuing Education, Midland College #podcast #midlandtx #odessatx #bambiztalk #podcasting #westtexas #businesspodcast #business #entrepreneurship #education #ai #artificialintelligence #youthempowerment

In episode #65 of BAM BizTalk, host Angel Garcia sits down with Ginny Van Doren-Truong, founder of Backstage Event Marketing, to dive into the dynamic world of live event marketing. Ginny shares how her passion for the arts and entertainment industry turned into a thriving business helping venues, nonprofits, and communities bring audiences back to live experiences. From teaching others how to market live events, to fostering community through initiatives like First Friday ODTX, this conversation is packed with insights for entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone working in events. Whether you're looking to sell more tickets, market smarter, or turn passion into impact — this is the episode for you. Topics Covered: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Ginny’s journey to Midland and Wagner Noel experience 06:00 Founding Backstage Event Marketing 12:00 Odessa’s Texas Music Friendly designation 18:00 Marketing live events vs. other industries 25:00 Building a creative brand with intention 35:00 Why teaching & sharing resources matters 42:00 How to stay focused and avoid shiny object syndrome 48:00 Building community through First Friday ODTX 55:00 How to connect with Backstage Event Marketing and access resources Guest: Ginny Van Doren-Truong – Founder, Backstage Event Marketing #BAMBizTalk #BackstageEventMarketing #LiveEventMarketing #OdessaTX #FirstFridayODTX #TexasMusicFriendly #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #EventMarketingTips #CreativeEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenBusiness #SupportLocalTX #SmallBusinessMarketing

In episode #64 of BAM BizTalk, host Angel Garcia sits down with Darien Smith, founder of The Abundance Photography, to unpack a powerful journey of purpose, creativity, and community. From a career in law enforcement to becoming one of Midland’s most sought-after photographers, Darien shares how he transformed a personal need into a thriving, faith-led business — rooted in servitude, creativity, and a deep commitment to giving clients more than expected. This is not just a conversation about photography. It’s about building a mission-driven brand, rebranding for growth, and how staying true to your story can set you apart in a crowded industry. Topics Covered: 00:00 The mindset behind “Expect More” 02:00 Why “The” in The Abundance Photography matters 04:15 From Police Officer to camera: How Darien started during COVID 07:40 Turning creativity and faith into a career 10:30 Building a business around family and freedom 13:50 Why branding and rebranding really matters 19:00 Growing a team and staying true to your identity 25:00 Word of mouth vs. marketing: What really builds a business 30:00 Pricing with purpose and discernment 35:00 How to stand out in a saturated industry 39:00 Staying humble, focused, and impact-driven Guest: Darien Smith – Founder, The Abundance Photography 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep-dive conversations with purpose-driven entrepreneurs, creatives, and community leaders across West Texas. 📲 Follow us: Website: ⁠www.bamconsulting.com/bam-biz-talk-podcast⁠ Instagram: ⁠@bam_ventures_business_sidekick⁠ Facebook: BAM Ventures - Your Business Sidekick #BAMBizTalk #AbundancePhotography #MidlandTX #odessatx #CreativeEntrepreneurs #FaithDrivenBusiness #PhotographyBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RebrandingSuccess #TexasCreatives #PurposeOverProfit #SmallBusinessGrowth #StartupStory #BusinessWithHeart

In this episode of BAM BizTalk, Angel Garcia sits down with Ty Caffey, the owner of Ski Skeller Sports, to talk about building a thriving outdoor gear business in a place where snow is rare and passion runs deep. This conversation dives into the unique challenges and creative strategies behind running a seasonal, niche business in West Texas — from managing ski and snowboard inventory to adapting during COVID and connecting with both college students and families. Ty shares what it’s like taking over a 60-year-old brand and building trust across generations while keeping things fun, local, and true to its roots. Whether you're into outdoor sports, niche retail, or small-town entrepreneurship, this episode delivers practical insights for building a business that lasts. Topics Covered: 00:00 Intro 02:15 The history of Ski Skeller Sports 06:40 Why a ski shop works in West Texas 10:20 How Ty transitioned into ownership 14:00 Serving seasonal markets and pricing for different customers 18:45 Marketing to both families and college students 22:10 Navigating COVID closures and pivoting strategies 28:35 Wake surfing, snowboarding, and trending gear 32:50 Community involvement and partnerships 37:20 What it takes to revive a legacy brand 40:00 Founders Blend and the power of local connections Guest: Ty Caffey – Owner, Ski Skeller Sports 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep-dive conversations with innovators and entrepreneurs from across Texas. 📲 Follow us: Website: ⁠bamconsulting.com⁠ Facebook: BAM Ventures - Your Business Sidekick Instagram: @bam_ventures_business_sidekick #BAMBizTalk #SkiSkeller #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #SmallBusinessSuccess #MidlandTX #WestTexasBusiness #SeasonalBusiness #OutdoorRetail #SkiGear #WakeSurfing #LocalLegacy #SmallBusinessOwner #BusinessPodcast #FoundersBlend #RetailSuccess

In this episode of BAM BizTalk, Angel Garcia sits down with Eric McManus of the Space Force Association to explore how *West Texas* is becoming a major player in the global space economy. From launching rockets to 3D printing organs in zero gravity, this conversation reveals how *Texas* is driving space innovation, education, and national security through local grit and global vision. **Topics Covered:** 00:00 Intro 01:50 Why Texas is leading the commercialization of space 06:30 How Midland supports space testing and innovation 10:15 Oil & gas meets space exploration 14:20 U.S. space dominance – the real story 20:10 Space domain awareness and national security 28:00 Printing organs in space: Healthcare revolution 35:40 The future of STEM and space education 42:00 Tech, robotics & getting kids involved 48:30 The Space Force Cadet Corps 54:00 How everyday West Texans can shape the future of space 👨‍🚀 **Guests:** Eric McManus – Space Force Association 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep-dive conversations with innovators and entrepreneurs from across Texas. 📲 Follow us: Website: [⁠bamconsulting.com⁠] ⁠Facebook⁠ BAM Ventures - Your Business Sidekick ⁠Instagram⁠ @⁠bam_ventures_business_sidekick⁠ #SpaceEconomy #TexasInnovation #SpaceForce #STEMEducation #Entrepreneurship #SpacePodcast #MidlandTX #BAMBizTalk #podcast #odessatx #nationaldefence #Texas #exceptionalism

In this episode of BAM BizTalk, host Angel Garcia sits down with John Brenner, founder of West Texas IT Consulting, to dive deep into what it really takes to grow an IT business from scratch. From working solo with 60 clients to leading a certified MSP with a full team, John shares his journey of long nights, hard lessons, and big wins. They discuss the mindset behind evolving from break-fix support to managed services, how to price services for sustainability, why culture and training matter more than ever, and how AI is transforming the future of small businesses. It’s an honest, insightful look at growth, grit, and leading with purpose. 10 Key Topics Discussed: 1. The shift from break-fix to Managed Service Provider (MSP) model 2. Starting a business from zero — with no clients or money 3. Lessons from undercharging and pricing for value 4. Building client trust and long-term service relationships 5. Why small business owners need to embrace AI now 6. Creating internal training systems for tech teams 7. Using peer groups to scale smarter and learn faster 8. Promoting from within: technician to TAM and VCIO roles 9. How to build a company culture that drives retention 10. Structuring business entities and planning for long-term growth

In this #Cybersecurity60 episode of BAM BizTalk, host Angel Garcia sits down with David Gonzalez, Jaime Gonzalez, and Joshua D. Hansen — senior team members from Tall City Cyber — to unpack what small business owners really need to know to stay secure in a digital world. This isn’t a tech lecture — it’s a straight-talking, real-world conversation designed for entrepreneurs, operators, and community leaders who know cybersecurity matters, but don’t know where to start. From phishing scams to password mistakes, insider threats to cloud safety, these experts bring insights from their experience in military, IT, and business operations to help you take control of your digital security. What you'll learn in this episode: Why small businesses are prime targets for cyberattacks The most common mistakes that open the door to hackers What a cybersecurity-first mindset looks like in daily operations Simple, low-cost actions you can take immediately How to get your employees on board with safe practices Tips for choosing the right cyber partner for your business Stories from the field: what local businesses are facing today The truth about antivirus, firewalls, and “set it and forget it” security Why military discipline translates well to cybersecurity The first 3 steps to strengthen your business security this week If you own a business — or help run one — this 60-minute episode could save you more than just money. It could save your reputation.