In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, I sit down with Sheila Carroll, Founder and Managing Attorney at Carroll & Associates and a multi-year Super Lawyer. Sheila shares critical legal insights for entrepreneurs—covering the biggest startup mistakes around equity, employees, and intellectual property. You’ll learn: • Why you should treat equity like gold, not candy • How to protect your IP from day one • Legal pitfalls around employment classification • What it means to have an "on-call attorney" in your corner • And how to avoid business divorces before they start Sheila also talks about her journey from greenhouse entrepreneur to courtroom advocate, and how Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) has shaped her as a leader. Check out the below to learn more about Shelia: Webstie: https://thecarrollfirm.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carroll-&-associates-pc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-carroll-78387b10/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecarrollfirm/ 🔥 Whether you’re launching a startup or scaling a company, this episode is packed with actionable legal wisdom. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with Sacramento’s top business minds. #Entrepreneurship #StartupLaw #SheilaCarroll #BusinessAttorney #IPProtection #EquityStrategy #TheMarkHaneyShow #SacramentoBusiness #LegalAdviceForFounders #EO #backyardadvantage ______________________________________________________________ If this episode inspires you to be part of the movement, and you believe, like me, that entrepreneurs are the answer to our future, message me so we can join forces to support building truly great companies in our region. - Subscribe to my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCom_​... - Mark Haney is a serial entrepreneur that has experience growing companies worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He is currently the CEO and founder of HaneyBiz - Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarkhaney​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/themarkhaney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markehaney​ Website: http://haneybiz.com​ Audio Boom: https://audioboom.com/channels/5005273​ Twitter: http://twitter.com/themarkhaney - This video includes personal knowledge, experiences, and opinions about Angel Investing by seasoned angel investors. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. Nothing in this video constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement. #thebackyardadvantage #themarkhaneyshow #entrepreneur #PowerOfWith #SacramentoEntrepreneur #Sacramento #SacramentoSmallBusiness #SmallBusiness #GrowthFactory #Investor #Podcast

What does it take to turn a beachside idea into one of the fastest-growing vodka brands in America? In this episode of The Mark Haney Show, I sit down with Matt Levitt, founder of Tahoe Blue Vodka, to unpack the wild entrepreneurial journey behind the brand that went from a solo hustle in Lake Tahoe to a top-10 vodka on store shelves across the West. We talk brand-building without big budgets, the power of lifestyle marketing, overcoming rejection from distributors, and the lessons Matt learned bootstrapping a nationally recognized product—all while giving back to preserve the lake that inspired it all. Now leading Compass Brand Strategy, Matt shares how he helps other entrepreneurs grow impactful, authentic brands—and the wisdom he wishes he knew earlier in the game. If you’re an entrepreneur, brand builder, or just love a good “from the beach chair to the boardroom” story, this one’s for you. Website: https://www.tahoebluevodka.com Website: https://www.compassbrandstrategy.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-levitt-9644a5b7/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matttbv/ #EntrepreneurLife #StartupStory #BuildToScale #FounderJourney #BusinessGrowth #BrandBuilding #SmallBusinessTips #StartupSuccess #TahoeBlueVodka #CraftSpirits #VodkaBrand #CPGSuccess #BeverageIndustry #DrinkEntrepreneur #LakeTahoe #TahoeVibes #MadeInTahoe #RelentlesslyLocal #SocialImpactBusiness #MarketingStrategy #BrandStrategy #BrandIdentity #StoryDrivenBranding #AuthenticBranding #InspireSuccess #FromIdeaToImpact #dohardthings ______________________________________________________________ If this episode inspires you to be part of the movement, and you believe, like me, that entrepreneurs are the answer to our future, message me so we can join forces to support building truly great companies in our region. - Subscribe to my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCom_​... - Mark Haney is a serial entrepreneur that has experience growing companies worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He is currently the CEO and founder of HaneyBiz - Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarkhaney​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/themarkhaney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markehaney​ Website: http://haneybiz.com​ Audio Boom: https://audioboom.com/channels/5005273​ Twitter: http://twitter.com/themarkhaney - This video includes personal knowledge, experiences, and opinions about Angel Investing by seasoned angel investors. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. Nothing in this video constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement. #thebackyardadvantage #themarkhaneyshow #entrepreneur #PowerOfWith #SacramentoEntrepreneur #Sacramento #SacramentoSmallBusiness #SmallBusiness #GrowthFactory #Investor #Podcast

Chris Ewing sold One Inc—a Sacramento-based payments company—for $2 billion. Now? He’s back at it, launching a bold new venture: Notty’s Italian Burrito. In this full episode, Chris reveals: - What it actually feels like to sell your company for $2B - The moments when One Inc nearly went out of business - How to pivot, raise capital, and keep investors happy - Why he walked away from tech to start a fast-food brand - His secret to spotting talent and building A-player teams This is the ultimate playbook for any entrepreneur chasing big exits—or their next big idea. Website: https://nottysburrito.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Nottys-Italian-Burrito/61574787189676/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nottysitalianburrito/ Subscribe for more stories of local legends and startup success. #StartupSuccess #BillionDollarExit #EntrepreneurLife #FounderStories #TechStartup #BusinessPodcast #StartupJourney #VentureCapital #StartupAdvice #PivotToProfit #Insurtech #SacramentoStartups #BuiltInSacramento #GrowthMindset #OneInc #NottysItalian #BurritoBoss #FromTechToTacos #PostExitLife #NextChapter #ItalianFastFood _____________________ If this episode inspires you to be part of the movement, and you believe, like me, that entrepreneurs are the answer to our future, message me so we can join forces to support building truly great companies in our region. - Subscribe to my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCom_​... - Mark Haney is a serial entrepreneur that has experience growing companies worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He is currently the CEO and founder of HaneyBiz - Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarkhaney​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/themarkhaney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markehaney​ Website: http://haneybiz.com​ Audio Boom: https://audioboom.com/channels/5005273​ Twitter: http://twitter.com/themarkhaney - This video includes personal knowledge, experiences, and opinions about Angel Investing by seasoned angel investors. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. Nothing in this video constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement. #thebackyardadvantage #themarkhaneyshow #entrepreneur #PowerOfWith #SacramentoEntrepreneur #Sacramento #SacramentoSmallBusiness #SmallBusiness #GrowthFactory #Investor #Podcast