This episode cuts through the polished success narrative and gets real about what it actually takes to build something from nothing. Marisa Sergi, CEO of L’uva Bella Winery, walks through the uncomfortable parts most people avoid: rejection, burnout, identity hits, and making hard business decisions when your emotions are tied to the brand. From launching a wine company as a college project to scaling multiple businesses across wine, RTDs, and craft beer, this conversation is about resilience, adapting to a shifting market, and having the guts to keep going when the data (and the world) doesn’t make it easy.

About Our Guest

Marisa Sergi is the CEO of L’uva Bella Winery and a multi-brand operator in the beverage industry. She started her entrepreneurial journey with Redhead Wine as a college capstone project, eventually turning it into a real business through relentless cold outreach and persistence. Since then, she has helped scale L’uva Bella into a national beverage company, expanded into RTD products like Hartzler boozy cocktails, and played a key role in repositioning brands like The Brew Kettle. Known for her hands-on approach and ability to spot opportunity in shifting markets, Marisa blends grit, adaptability, and real-world execution to build and grow companies in highly competitive industries.

About Success Stories

Welcome to Success Stories, the podcast where Steve Cross sits down with the sharpest minds in business to unpack what it really takes to grow.

From scrappy upstarts to category leaders, each conversation reveals the mindset, strategies, and personal stories behind bold decisions and breakthrough moments. No fluff. No gurus. Just real founders, real operators, and real results.

If you're a growth-obsessed entrepreneur, marketing leader, or future founder, this playlist is your shortcut to hard-earned wisdom from those who've built it, scaled it, and lived to tell the tale.

👉 Subscribe to the channel and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.

👉If you think you can hang, this link is for you. https://stevecross.wtf

👉 For more about iSynergy and how we help brands grow through strategic digital marketing, visit https://isynergy.io/connect/.

#Entrepreneurship #StartupStory #BusinessGrowth #FounderLife #WomenInBusiness #SuccessStories #Leadership #BuildInPublic #Hustle #Mindset #StartupJourney #BusinessPodcast #ScaleUp #NoExcuses

In this episode of Success Stories, Steve Cross sits down with Tim Petrey, CEO of HD Growth Partners. Tim breaks down the moments that actually changed his trajectory, from getting called out by a high school guidance counselor to finding a mentor who pushed him to think bigger than the limits he had set for himself. They talk about building a company the hard way, why mentorship matters, how one client interaction changed the direction of the firm, and why HD Growth Partners moved beyond transactional tax work into deeper advisory relationships. The conversation also gets into leadership, culture, growth, and why businesses that refuse to evolve (especially with technology and AI) won’t survive the next decade.

About Our Guest

Tim Petrey is the CEO of HD Growth Partners and the kind of operator who built his career the hard way: through pressure, responsibility, relationships, and learning from people who were willing to tell him the truth. In this episode, he shares how early loss, lack of a safety net, and the right mentors shaped the way he leads today. Tim’s perspective on leadership, accountability, culture, AI, and the future of accounting is sharp, practical, and earned the old-fashioned way: by getting punched in the face by business and getting back up anyway.

About Success Stories

Welcome to Success Stories, the podcast where Steve Cross sits down with the sharpest minds in business to unpack what it really takes to grow.

From scrappy upstarts to category leaders, each conversation reveals the mindset, strategies, and personal stories behind bold decisions and breakthrough moments. No fluff. No gurus. Just real founders, real operators, and real results.

If you're a growth-obsessed entrepreneur, marketing leader, or future founder, this playlist is your shortcut to hard-earned wisdom from those who've built it, scaled it, and lived to tell the tale.

👉 Subscribe to the channel and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.

👉If you think you can hang, this link is for you. https://stevecross.wtf

👉 For more about iSynergy and how we help brands grow through strategic digital marketing, visit https://isynergy.io/connect/.

#SuccessStories #TimPetrey #HDGrowthPartners #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Mentorship #BusinessPodcast #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupLessons #FounderJourney #BusinessAdvice #EntrepreneurLife #BuildInPublic #BusinessLeadership #AIinBusiness #ScalingBusiness

In this episode of Success Stories, Steve Cross sits down with Josh and Christina Mikels, the husband-and-wife team behind Mr. Electric of Winter Garden. They walk through how Josh went from engineering and corporate leadership to betting on a franchise, why they chose a proven playbook instead of building from scratch, and what it actually took to grow the business while raising five kids. It’s a straightforward conversation about risk, long nights, slow growth, and the reality that building a business will test your family just as much as your work ethic.

About Our Guest

Josh and Christina Mikels are the co-owners of Mr. Electric of Winter Garden. Josh brought an engineering mindset, operational discipline, and a strong drive to build something of his own. Christina helped shape that path by prioritizing family, flexibility, and long-term stability. Together, they built the company from a small startup into a multimillion-dollar electrical service business focused on strong customer service, steady growth, and a clear plan for the future.

About Success Stories

Welcome to Success Stories, the podcast where Steve Cross sits down with the sharpest minds in business to unpack what it really takes to grow.

From scrappy upstarts to category leaders, each conversation reveals the mindset, strategies, and personal stories behind bold decisions and breakthrough moments. No fluff. No gurus. Just real founders, real operators, and real results.

If you're a growth-obsessed entrepreneur, marketing leader, or future founder, this playlist is your shortcut to hard-earned wisdom from those who've built it, scaled it, and lived to tell the tale.

👉 Subscribe to the channel and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.

👉If you think you can hang, this link is for you. https://stevecross.wtf

👉 For more about iSynergy and how we help brands grow through strategic digital marketing, visit https://isynergy.io/connect/.

#SuccessStories #MrElectric #WinterGarden #Entrepreneurship #FamilyBusiness #SmallBusinessGrowth #FranchiseBusiness #HomeServices #BusinessOwnership #Leadership #FounderStory #MarriageAndBusiness #WorkLifeBalance #BusinessPodcast