Insightful Conversations with Business Owners Big & Small Helping to Build American Industry

Building America showcases Americans who are willing to put everything on the line to help build America and American industry. We believe that small businesses are the drivers of everything American.

We highlight the successes of business owners, as well as how they fail forward, overcoming amazing and difficult trials and how they inspire others to start their own businesses in pursuit of the American Dream.

Did you know?

  • Small businesses represent 99.7% of all employer firms?*
  • Small businesses employ about half of all private-sector employees*
  • Small businesses pay 43% of total U.S. private payroll*
  • Small businesses have generated 65% of net new jobs over the past 17 years*

Do you want to hear inspiring stories of mid-western entrepreneurs who are helping America and Americans live the American Dream?

Listen to Building America on AM 560 The Answer, Sundays at 4:30 PM!

* SBA.gov/advocacy

About David Bolanos

Meet the Host

David Bolanos is a Managing Director at Wealth Management Group and host of Building America. David is passionate about helping Build America by teaching entrepreneurial skills through storytelling to empower his fellow Americans to start and run successful businesses. He grew up looking up to those business owners in his family and his community and now not only interviews them for the show but helps them manage their entire financial life. David is focused on his growing family with his supportive and wonderful wife.

Check the background of investment professionals associated with this site on FINRA’s BrokerCheck

Listen Now

Listen to the Latest Episode of Building America

Andrew Hays, Principal and Founder of Hays Firm LLC
Justin Breen, Founder and CEO of BrEpic
Chanay Walton, Founder & CEO of A Better Weigh, Inc.
Jessica Litman, Founder and CEO of The Organized Mama
Shalom Klein, Author and Commissioned Officer of the U.S. Army Reserves
John Noyes, President of CABENO Environmental Field Services
Natasha Trenev, Founder & President of Natren Probiotics
Jim Cox, President and Founder of Besco Air, Inc.
Whitney Basin, Founder and Lead Designer at the Wild Collective
Erica Hornthal, Founder and CEO and Chicago Dance Therapy
Aaron Del Mar, CEO and Founder of Adrenaline Special Events
Jim Boswell, Founder of DRYVE
Dr. Jeremy Warner of Warner Plastic Surgery
Mike Sobel, CEO/President of Mark Your Space, Inc. - Part 1
Mike Sobel, CEO/President of Mark Your Space, Inc. - Part 2
Todd Somers, President & CEO of Somers Family Specialties - Part 1
Todd Somers, President & CEO of Somers Family Specialties - Part 2
Lance Bell, President of AJ Sliders - Part 1
Lance Bell, President of AJ Sliders - Part 2
Dr. David Williamson, Founder and Partner of Advanced Physical Medicine of St. Charles - Part 1
Dr. David Williamson, Founder and Partner of Advanced Physical Medicine of St. Charles - Part 2
Patrick Emmons, Founder of DragonSpears - Part 1
Patrick Emmons, Founder of DragonSpears - Part 2
Paul Krappman, Founder of Krappman & Associates - Part 1
Paul Krappman, Founder of Krappman & Associates - Part 2
Eric Schildkraut, CEO of SAE Group - Part 1
Eric Schildkraut, CEO of SAE Group - Part 2
Dr. Jim Lopez, Universal Wellness Source - Part 1
Dr. Jim Lopez, Universal Wellness Source - Part 2
Vince Mazza, CEO of Guard Street Partners - Part 1
Vince Mazza, CEO of Guard Street Partners - Part 2
Amy Winter and Tom Supplitt, Inspyr Studios - Part 1
Amy Winter and Tom Supplitt, Inspyr Studios - Part 2
Deirdre Van Nest, Founder of Crazy Good Talks - Part 1
Deirdre Van Nest, Founder of Crazy Good Talks - Part 2
Irina Freeman, CEO at CEO at Chicago Signature Limo - Part 1
Irina Freeman, CEO at CEO at Chicago Signature Limo - Part 2
Suzanne Loafman and Lynzee Krohne, Co-founders of ThinkBar Coworking - Part 1
Suzanne Loafman and Lynzee Krohne, Co-founders of ThinkBar Coworking - Part 2
Erica Bishaf, President & Founder of CampfireSocial - Part 1
Erica Bishaf, President & Founder of CampfireSocial - Part 2
Joe Irick, Owner of Station 34 Pizza Pub in Mt. Prospect, IL - Part 1
Joe Irick, Owner of Station 34 Pizza Pub in Mt. Prospect, IL - Part 2
Achour Esho, Founder of FLO Fitness & Martial Arts in Palatine, IL - Part 1
Achour Esho, Founder of FLO Fitness & Martial Arts in Palatine, IL - Part 2
DJ D. Jones, Founder Of Spark Entertainment Group - Part 1
DJ D. Jones, Founder Of Spark Entertainment Group - Part 2
Brian Barkowski, Vice President of The Ironbank Mortgage Group - Part 1
Brian Barkowski, Vice President of The Ironbank Mortgage Group - Part 2
Chris Lain, Creator and Founder of Three Business’ and Mayor of Savanna Illinois - Part 1
Chris Lain, Creator and Founder of Three Business’ and Mayor of Savanna Illinois - Part 2
Lynzee Krohne, Founder and Creative Director of Leo and Lane - Part 1
Lynzee Krohne, Founder and Creative Director of Leo and Lane - Part 2
Matt Halloran, Partner and Co-Founder of Top Advisor Marketing - Part 1
Matt Halloran, Partner and Co-Founder of Top Advisor Marketing - Part 2
Michael Drelicharz from Precise Fleet Tracking - Part 1
Michael Drelicharz from Precise Fleet Tracking - Part 2
2020 Recap - Part 1
2020 Recap - Part 2
Leader in Reusable Electronics and Fragile Device packaging - Darren Eason, president of Starcase Manufacturing - Part 1
Leader in Reusable Electronics and Fragile Device packaging - Darren Eason, president of Starcase Manufacturing - Part 2
Katrina Markoff, Founder and CEO of Vosges-Haus Chocolate - Part 1
Katrina Markoff, Founder and CEO of Vosges-Haus Chocolate - Part 2
Roberto Delli and Arnold Thorstad from Invico Worldwide - Part 1
Roberto Delli and Arnold Thorstad from Invico Worldwide - Part 2
Marc Fienberg, Author of the book “Dad’s Great Advice for Teens” - Part 1
Marc Fienberg, Author of the book “Dad’s Great Advice for Teens” - Part 2
Lindy Camardella and Sara Hess owners of Integrate Medicine - Part 1
Lindy Camardella and Sara Hess owners of Integrate Medicine - Part 2
Ken Rogalski, CEO and owner of White Racker - Part 1
Ken Rogalski, CEO and owner of White Racker - Part 2
Stan Valiulis, CEO of High PSI - Part 1
Stan Valiulis, CEO of High PSI - Part 2
Larry Salani, CEO of Salani Design - Part 1
Larry Salani, CEO of Salani Design - Part 2
Kieron Hales, executive chef and partner of Zingerman’s Cornman Farms - Part 1
Kieron Hales, executive chef and partner of Zingerman’s Cornman Farms - Part 2
Robert Richmond, CEO and Co-Founder of Lisa - Part 1
Robert Richmond, CEO and Co-Founder of Lisa - Part 2
Phil Horn of the Phil Horn Insurance Agency
Paul Szemplinski, CEO and Founder of Integrated Document Technologies
Dr Kara Nance of Wellessence M.D.
James Mackiewicz, owner if Do More Consulting
July Cousins, Owners and President of OMG it’s Gluten Free
Matt Halloran, owner Top Advisor Marketing
Collin Corbett, Founder of COR Strategies
Leah Chavie, founder of Leah Chavie Skin Care
Mila Furman, founder of Girl and the Kitchen
Travis Heberling, owner of Visual Filmworks
Paul Szemplinski, CEO and Founder of Integrated Document Technologies
Michelle Mekky, founder of Mekky Media Relations
Amy Diamond of the Deal with Diamond Realty Group
Building America, June 28th, 2020
Michelle Mekky, founder of Mekky Media Relations
Steve Diebold, founder of On the Mark Demos
Jean Llamas, president of Care Navigators
Andy Migacz, co-owner of AM Woodland Outdoor Design
Joe Calabrese of the Calabrese Restaurant Group
Building America, May 10th, 2020
Building America, May 3rd, 2020

Become A Builder

Learn How You Can Be Featured on Building America

Do you own or operate one of America’s burgeoning small businesses? Would you like to share your own personal story which may help other small businesses succeed? We would welcome the opportunity to sit down with you and chat. Whether you employ 2 people or 200 people, everybody starts somewhere. We look forward to hearing your story soon!

• David Bolanos

• Phone: (847) 907-9600, Ext. 212


• Email: david.bolanos@lpl.com

Our Partners

As part of our commitment to Building America, we feel it’s important to give back to the community and the individuals who allow us the freedoms to pursue our passions and business opportunities. We have partnered with Hire Heroes USA and hold events throughout the year in which you can engage with a charitable endeavor that we feel passionate about. Should you have additional interest in participating in one of these events, we ask that you contact us using the information on this page.

About Hire Heroes USA

Hire Heroes USA is a veteran service organization dedicated to empowering US military members, veterans, and their spouses as they seek civilian employment. Services include one-on-one coaching, professionally revised resumes, mentoring, workshops, a job board, career fairs and more. Hire Heroes USA is funded exclusively through public donations and private grants, allowing services to be provided at no cost to clients. Hire Heroes USA has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and also holds the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information about our mission, services and how to get involved, please visit hireheroesusa.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.