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 ecosystem #BAMBizTalk #AngelGarcia #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessPodcast #MidlandTX #BAMVentures #FoundersJourney #CommunityImpact #BusinessGrowth

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From reshaping outdated perceptions of the BBB to discussing entrepreneurial values, nonprofit partnerships, and digital reputation management, Devin shares real-world insight on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

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

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 #GinnyVanDoranTruong #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 #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