In this special birthday edition of BAM BizTalk, host Tina Townsend sits down with Angel Garcia, founder of BAM Ventures, to reflect on his journey as an entrepreneur, mentor, and community leader.
From his humble beginnings to building businesses that create impact, Angel shares personal stories, lessons in leadership, and his vision for the future of entrepreneurship in Midland and beyond. This intimate conversation dives into resilience, purpose, and the power of giving back—all while celebrating a milestone birthday.
Topics Covered:
1. Angel’s early beginnings and what sparked his entrepreneurial mindset
2. The pivotal experiences that led to founding BAM Ventures
3. The influence of family and mentors on his personal and professional growth
4. Lessons learned from challenges and setbacks along the journey
5. Building BAM Ventures into a “business sidekick” for entrepreneurs
6. The importance of community involvement and collaboration in business success
7. Insights on leadership, resilience, and long-term vision
8. The role of faith, values, and purpose in guiding his decisions
9. Celebrating milestones and personal achievements throughout his career
10. What’s next: Angel’s vision for the future of BAM Ventures and the local business ecosyste
#BAMBizTalk #AngelGarcia #entrepreneurship #leadershipjourney #businesspodcast #midlandtx #BAMVentures #foundersjourney #communityimpact #businessgrowth
01:49:00
#68 Building Trust in Business | How Devin Benavides Connects, Leads & Serves
In this episode of BAM BizTalk, host Angel Garcia sits down with Devin Benavides, Director of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of the Permian Basin, to explore how transparency, community trust, and proactive leadership drive business success in West Texas.
From reshaping outdated perceptions of the BBB to discussing entrepreneurial values, nonprofit partnerships, and digital reputation management, Devin shares real-world insight on serving the business community and fostering integrity in a rapidly evolving market.
Topics Covered:
00:00 – Intro & Meet Devin
03:25 – Why BBB still matters in a digital-first world
08:40 – Rebuilding trust & reputation after bad reviews
12:55 – The most common complaint categories at BBB
17:30 – Ethics in entrepreneurship & leadership
21:40 – Empowering small business owners with resources
25:00 – What to do if your business is wrongly targeted online
30:10 – Partnering with nonprofits & workforce development
35:55 – Local impact: How the BBB serves the Permian Basin
41:20 – What integrity looks like in business today
46:00 – Advice for new entrepreneurs in West Texas
#BAMBizTalk #BetterBusinessBureau #WestTexasBusiness #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #SmallBusinessSupport #BusinessIntegrity #LeadershipMatters #PermianBasinBusiness #BBBInsights #BusinessGrowthTips
01:12:44
Founders Focus: IKEA’s Roots, Resilience & Radical Cost Control
In this episode of Founders Focus, host Angel Garcia sits down with Gina Lewis to explore the extraordinary entrepreneurial legacy of Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA. More than just a deep dive into IKEA’s success story, this conversation draws powerful parallels between cost control, founder mindset, and navigating adversity with intentional leadership.
Topics Discussed:
How cost control unlocks long-term scalability and impact
Lessons from IKEA’s early growth and global expansion
The value of resilience, even from childhood trauma
Emotional leadership and measured decision-making
The Testament of a Furniture Dealer (IKEA's internal manifesto)
Creating customer-centric experiences through innovation
Why selling with care makes the difference in business relationships
If you're a founder, leader, or simply love entrepreneurial stories of grit and growth, this one will leave you inspired—and possibly rethinking your business model.
#FoundersFocus #LeadershipJourney #EntrepreneurMindset #FaithInBusiness #BusinessGrowth #StartWithPurpose #BAMBizTalk
01:21:16
#67 Owning the Pivot | How Karina Johnson Rebuilt Her Business with Grit & Grace
In this episode of BAM BizTalk, host Angel Garcia sits down with Karina “KJ” Johnson — entrepreneur, cancer survivor, and co-owner of Fuego Resto & Bar — to unpack her fearless approach to business ownership, resilience, and reinvention. From acquiring two businesses on the same day to launching an online party shop while undergoing chemotherapy, Karina’s journey is packed with bold pivots, lessons in mindset, and the power of betting on yourself.
Topics Covered
00:00 - Grounding Yourself & Introducing Karina Johnson
01:10 - Rebranding Fuego & Owning a Restaurant
18:00 - Returning to College as a Single Mom
25:00 - Finding Your Strengths as a “Generalist”
46:00 - Selling Posh Party Play & Starting Over
50:00 - Acquiring a Second Business in One Day
59:00 - Cancer Diagnosis & Launching New Ventures
1:04:00 - Nursing School, Chemo & Entrepreneurship
1:13:00 - Event Planning for Permian High Prom
1:19:00 - Karina’s Final Message: Move the Orange Cones
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or in the thick of growing your brand, this episode delivers real talk on building a legacy business — even in the face of the unimaginable.
#BAMBizTalk #KarinaJohnson #EntrepreneurLife #CancerSurvivor #BusinessPodcast #WestTexasBusiness #WomenInBusiness #BusinessResilience #StartupStories #OdessaTX #MidlandTX #FuegoResto #Happyish #BAMVentures
01:24:46
#66 Building Community & Opportunity in West Texas | Victoria Santiago on BAM BizTalk Podcast
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
01:00:23
#65 Marketing Live Events | Building Backstage Event Marketing | BAM BizTalk Podcast
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
01:28:48
#64 Abundance in Business | Darien Smith - How Faith Elevates Vision | BAM BizTalk Podcast
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
49:26
#63 Carving a Legacy | How Ty Caffey is Reviving Ski Skeller Sports | BAM BizTalk Podcast
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
BAM BizTALK is a podcast that forges an on-demand personal connection to benefit local communities, business owners, clients, and students. Its mission is to provide meaningful dialogue that advances highly interactive entrepreneurial conversations and discussions on various topics with like-minded individuals. The goal is to motivate solutions by weighing evidence, characterizing impacts, evaluating alternatives, and developing actionable strategies.
The principles driving this podcast are to deliver critical information that optimizes success, maintains growth opportunities through introductions to others who have walked a similar entrepreneurial path, leverages robust knowledge from materialized practical experiences, and establishes successful methods. By bringing together knowledgeable guests and an engaged audience, BAM BizTALK aims to be an invaluable resource for the business community to learn, connect, and propel their ventures forward.