Podcast
Banking on Integrity
Hosted by Hazem Ahmed · EN
Explore the heart of Houston's business community with Banking on Integrity, brought to you by Integrity Bank. Join founders Hazem Ahmad and Mack Neff as they interview local entrepreneurs, sharing their journeys of success, overcoming challenges, and driving Houston forward.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Where Families Come First: Serving Houston's Immigrant Community With Integrity
1w ago00:31:47Tap to summarizeJustice is built one relationship at a time. Hazem and Mack sit down with Houston immigration attorney and Mendez Law Office founder Matthew Mendez. They trace how a middle-class upbringing, a mentor-driven pivot into immigration law, and an entrepreneurial spark ignited by his father-in-law led to building a 41-person firm in one of the country's most competitive legal markets, exploring faith in clients, the complexity of immigration, marketing in a billboard city, and what it means to serve Houston's most vulnerable families. Learn more about Mendez Law Office at mendezlawoffice.com or in Spanish at abogadomendez.com. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Matthew's entrepreneurial drive didn't come from his upbringing. Both parents held traditional jobs, but he was awakened by watching his father-in-law run multiple businesses and by his wife Ginny's steady encouragement to bet on himself. 2. He launched Mendez Law in January 2017 after consistently outperforming the firms he worked for, starting with just him and Ginny handling everything from client intake to assembling furniture, and growing quickly by prioritizing marketing in a saturated field. 3. Houston is arguably the epicenter of immigration law in the nation as the largest city in the largest border state. It has the density of courts, judges, and diverse immigrant communities that make it uniquely demanding and important for the practice. 4. Mendez Law distinguishes itself by offering free consultations, operating with radical transparency about what the law can and cannot do, and serving clients who have all come through government-vetted processes. Not individuals who have evaded legal scrutiny. 5. With 11 attorneys and 41 staff, Matthew is now expanding into personal injury law, with an eye toward blending the high-volume, billboard-style visibility of Houston's most recognizable legal brands with the deep client respect of elite, results-driven firms. Timestamped Overview 00:31 Hazem introduces Matthew Mendez and Mendez Law Office00:52 How Matthew launched the firm in 2017 and Ginny's foundational role03:20 The entrepreneurial spark: his father-in-law's example and a shift in mindset04:54 Deciding to become an attorney, writing skills, and finding a passion for immigration07:51 Mentor Juan Reyes and the mentor-shaped path into immigration law08:14 Is Houston the epicenter of immigration law in the U.S.?09:13 Estimating Houston's immigration attorney population (1,500–3,000)10:23 What most people misunderstand about immigration law's complexity12:30 How most Mendez Law clients are government-vetted and legally present13:56 What draws immigrants to Houston: economy, opportunity, and no barriers to entry18:06 Growing to 41 employees and 11 attorneys, and overcoming the fear of hiring20:11 Expanding into personal injury law and the competitive marketing landscape22:23 Houston's "billboard attorney" culture — Mattress Mack, Jim Adler, and brand-building25:05 Plans for marketing, persona-building, and standing out in a short-attention-span world27:07 The business side of running a law firm — cash flow, accountants, and banking relationships28:58 How to contact Mendez Law: free consultations, social media, phone, and bilingual website30:44 Closing thanks, reflections on serving Houston's communities, and final remarksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Houston Tex‑Mex Legacy, Part Two: Domenic Laurenzo
2w ago00:34:28Tap to summarizeSecond acts can redefine a family. Hazem and Mack sit with Houston native and El Tiempo Cantina Executive Chef and President Domenic Laurenzo, grandson of Mama Ninfa, to trace how a Tex‑Mex legacy, bankruptcy, and a detour into professional golf led to building El Tiempo, exploring faith, design, risk, and what it takes to lead a thousand‑person restaurant family in Houston today. Learn more about El Tiempo Cantina here. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Domenic grew up in a multigenerational restaurant family that helped popularize Tex-Mex in booming 1980s Houston, watching his grandmother lead Ninfa’s and greet lines of guests while his father crisscrossed Texas running stores. 2. Before returning to the family business, he pursued professional golf, even running a mini tour sponsored by Ninfa’s, until the restaurant’s bankruptcy forced a hard pivot back home and a move from Tanglewood to the East End. 3. The loss of Ninfa’s through bankruptcy and a perceived hostile takeover left deep resentment, but a small operation called Dom Burger became a crucible for resilience, quality, and a renewed focus on faith and family. 4. El Tiempo Cantina emerged from this rebuilding period, with its name inspired in Monterrey and captured in a poem about welcoming guests into a Mexican house where past, present, and future meet, paired with a deliberate “romantic industrial hacienda” atmosphere. 5. Today Domenic focuses on leading almost a thousand employees, protecting culture while navigating franchising, delivery, and changing consumer behavior, emphasizing human relationships, training, and his father’s mantra to first be a man of God. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro and restaurant chapter framing 00:31 Hazem introduces Domenic and the interconnected Houston restaurant families 01:38 Early memories of Houston, childhood freedom, and neighborhood moves 03:10 Grandmother’s opening of Ninfa’s locations and Tanglewood upbringing 05:18 How Ninfa’s helped make Tex-Mex mainstream comfort food 06:30 Watching his grandmother work the floor and build a beloved brand 07:57 Stories of her travels, blessings, and public recognition 08:38 Discovering golf, becoming a four year letterman, and turning pro 09:27 Running the Ninfa’s Texas golf tour and life on the mini tour circuit 10:26 News of Ninfa’s bankruptcy and sudden return to the East End 12:30 Reflections on his father’s work ethic, depression, and family fears 13:55 Launching Dom Burger and rebuilding during a two year revival period 15:12 Resentment over the bankruptcy outcome and non-compete constraints 17:54 Opening El Tiempo, the Canal Street phase, and defining “pura calidad” 21:29 Searching Houston for a new site and finding the Richmond location 22:50 Trip to Monterrey and the moment the El Tiempo name was born 24:12 Antonio’s poem about time, home, and carrying the past forward 25:33 Hazem’s reflections on El Tiempo’s dining room feel and time slowing down 26:15 Domenic’s design role and coining “romantic industrial hacienda” 27:45 Atmosphere versus food and why both matter in great restaurants 28:07 Mack on margaritas, memorable nights, and guest experience 28:45 Hazem asks about the future, Galveston franchising, and the Post location 29:24 Adapting to delivery, training staff, and preparing to succeed his father 31:01 Challenges of franchising, culture transfer, and protecting the brand 33:08 Closing appreciation for the family’s contribution to Houston and final thanksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Houston Tex‑Mex Legacy, Part One: Phyllis Mandola
3w ago00:31:35Tap to summarizeLegacy starts at the table. Hazem and Mack walk with longtime Houston restaurateur Phyllis Mandola, daughter of Tex‑Mex pioneer Mama Ninfa, through their family’s journey from political exile and a tortilla and pizza factory to Ninfa’s, seafood concepts, and El Tiempo, exploring neighborhood change, grief, generosity, and how hospitality and education continue her mother’s impact on Houston across generations. Learn about The Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Phyllis grew up with entrepreneurial parents shaped by exile from Mexico, a grandfather who built the original Ninfa’s building, and a mother who started as a teenage hairdresser before moving into tortillas, pizza, and eventually tacos. 2. The first Ninfa’s on Navigation began as a small tortilla and pizza factory, then added a ten table restaurant in 1973 that introduced tacos al carbon and fajitas to Houston, relying heavily on neighborhood loyalty and family labor. 3. Waiting tables while painfully shy pushed Phyllis into people work, and she came to see front of house roles and host stands as critical points of welcome where guests are treated as entering a home, not just a business. 4. The Mandola seafood restaurants, including the River Oaks move and later building on Waugh Drive, reflect both the upside of owning real estate and the risk of misjudging customer migration, reinforcing how location and neighborhood change can make or break a concept. 5. After losing her mother, husband, and brother, Phyllis channeled grief into the Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund, extending her mother’s spirit of feeding and uplifting people by funding students and reminding donors that generosity returns many times over. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro and welcome 01:19 Phyllis describes her parents’ personalities and early entrepreneurship 02:32 Family history as political exiles and her grandfather’s construction work 03:12 How tortillas, pizza, and Italian influence came together 04:27 The tortilla machine, early distribution, and delivering pizzas as a teen 05:51 Origin stories around nachos and family restaurant folklore 07:06 Transition from factory to 10 table restaurant and 1973 opening 09:04 Phyllis’s shyness and learning hospitality through waiting tables 11:33 Neighborhood support, Catholic school networks, and early growth 13:36 East End’s evolution into EaDo and reflections on the old barrio 16:46 Meeting and marrying Tony, first restaurants, and seafood pivot 19:03 Shepherd and River Oaks eras and building community around celebrations 20:24 Hospitality philosophy, “mi casa es su casa,” and long term employees 23:11 Mack’s reflections on people contact versus screens for young entrepreneurs 25:09 Building on Waugh Drive, owning dirt, and the realities of customer behavior 26:29 Grief, resilience, and lessons taken from her mother’s example 28:22 Creating the Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund and its origin story 29:48 Reading student essays, selecting recipients, and the emotional impact 30:07 Mack’s call to give and closing appreciationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →The Huynh Restaurant Story: Houston Hospitality with Vietnamese Roots
4w ago00:31:03Tap to summarizeFamily changes everything. Hazem and Mack sit down with Bryan Hucke and his daughter Reagan to trace an 18 year run of a Huynh Restaurant in EaDo, the shock of eminent domain, the realities of Houston’s restaurant economics, and how ownership, education, and hospitality shape the next chapter for their business and their lives. Learn more about Huynh Restaurant here. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. A corporate career in telecommunications turned into restaurant ownership when Bryan fell in love with a small Midtown spot, its food, and eventually his waitress, whose family recipes became the heart of their Vietnamese restaurant. 2. Locating in EaDo near Houston’s stadiums created opportunity but also long term risk, and after 18 years of operations the family must now relocate because of a long anticipated eminent domain taking. 3. Being an owner operator with family in the kitchen and at the front door has been central to their success, reinforcing consistency, accountability, and a guest experience that feels more like visiting a home than a transaction. 4. Reagan’s journey from four year old hostess to hospitality student at the University of Houston shows how early responsibility, formal education, and exposure to industry leaders can position the next generation to scale beyond a single location. 5. Their approach to hospitality blends value, ambiance, customization, and genuine gratitude, and they see travel, new locations, and careful expansion as ways to grow while protecting culture during a pivotal year of change. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro and host setup 00:31 Bryan and Reagan introduced and current EaDo location described 02:12 Eminent domain timeline and the need to relocate 05:08 Reagan’s early roles in the restaurant and growing responsibilities 07:34 How Bryan met his wife and the origin of the restaurant concept 08:52 Family involvement, second location plans, and dynasty potential 10:28 Keys to surviving 18 years in a tough industry 11:57 Employee tenure, turnover, and building long term staff relationships 13:37 Customer relationships, remembering guests, and becoming part of their lives 16:51 Balancing food, ambiance, cleanliness, and value on the guest’s check 18:06 Mack’s view on execution, hot food, and service discipline 19:19 Bryan’s hopes for Reagan’s career and her post graduation options 21:54 Fertitta’s influence on UH and Reagan’s view of global hospitality 23:24 Houston as a base with global possibilities for a hospitality career 25:18 Matching guests to dishes and curating the menu experience 26:37 Traveling for food and drink, and how trips shape their perspective 28:43 Mexico City as a nearby culinary playground for inspiration 29:11 Houston’s cultural mix, fusion of stories, and closing reflectionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →A Million‑Dollar Spin and a Lifetime of Relationships
Apr 2100:38:41Tap to summarizeRelationships outlast trends. Hazem and Mack talk with Jayne Edison of OFI about growing a furniture business on loyalty and referrals, a 27‑year banking relationship that started on day one, navigating the Stanford Financial collapse, and how Houston’s “big city, small town” feel shapes her approach to risk, giving back, and big opportunities. Learn more about Office Furniture Innovations here. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways Long‑term relationships with clients and bankers can power a business across decades, companies, and market cycles, turning professional contacts into deep friendships. A trusted banker who understands your history, risk, and character can be a stabilizing force through both growth and crisis. In moments of sudden disruption, like the Stanford Financial collapse, quick decisions to protect inventory and cash can make the difference between survival and significant loss. Houston’s “large city, small town” character connects entrepreneurs, bankers, and vendors through shared networks, charity work, and mutual trust. A belief that “numbers don’t pay you back, people do” reinforces the importance of character, integrity, and relationship‑driven business practices. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro00:44 Welcoming OFI’s Jayne Edison02:21 A 27‑year relationship with banker Judy Budnick03:34 “Numbers don’t pay you back, people do”04:05 Entering furniture in 1989 and loving design variety04:58 A first client who’s stayed for four decades05:32 Trucks on the road during the Stanford Financial shutdown06:52 Recovering high‑value rugs and managing losses08:30 Meeting Bobby, a contractor who understands her world09:18 Winning a million dollars on a slot machine in Las Vegas10:41 Using the windfall to buy Tiki Island property, not toys11:41 South Texas roots and parents’ work ethic13:01 Planting palm trees at the hometown school in their honor15:21 OFI’s commitment to community and women‑owned business leadership17:25 Discovering and supporting A Place for Peanut horse rescue19:41 Hundreds of horses saved and rehomed25:55 Seeing her work across Houston, from the Fed to courthouses28:20 Vendors backing her to start OFI and working from a hall closet30:02 Winning major justice center projects and fixing problems head‑on33:44 Landing the Federal Reserve Bank with a creative showroom gambit36:57 Executing large clinic and title‑office rollouts during COVID37:57 Jayne, Hazem, and Mack reflect on family‑style banking and Houston’s spiritSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Borderless Banking for Small Business
Apr 1400:33:24Tap to summarizeBanking is changing. Hazem and Mack sit down with Banpay Group’s Fernando Ibarra to explore how a Mexico‑born digital bank serves global small and mid‑sized businesses, why Banpay treats payments as seriously as lending, and how focus, culture, and 24/7 access help it compete with the world’s largest financial institutions. Learn more about Banpay here. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Banpay began as a money transmitter in Mexico and evolved into a regulated digital bank focused on serving small and medium enterprises rather than traditional consumer banking. 2. Digital banks can specialize in payments, collections, and connectivity instead of trying to replicate every service offered by large commercial banks. 3. Trying to offer too many products becomes “kryptonite” for banks; sustainable success comes from focusing on a few services and delivering them with exceptional quality. 4. Lowering transaction costs, speeding up processes, and improving customer attention are critical differentiators in the future of banking. 5. Hiring local teams and respecting regional cultures—from accents to business customs—helps global organizations build trust and significantly grow revenue in each market. Timestamped Overview 00:44 Introducing banker and founder Fernando Ibarra01:51 Career building banks in Mexico and looking global03:25 Origins of Banpay as a money transmitter04:10 Choosing to serve small and medium enterprises, not retail05:32 Treating payments and collections as equal to lending07:10 Banpay’s mission: reliable, disruptive service and strong returns09:07 Multi‑currency accounts and real‑time global payments11:32 Technology, global data centers, and 24/7 uptime14:52 Cybersecurity strategy, liquidity, and layered protection19:39 “Kryptonite for banks” and the danger of doing everything21:56 Hiring local teams and honoring culture in each region25:27 Early push into real‑time payments across Mexico27:29 Vision to lead real‑time cross‑border trade flows30:22 Strict compliance and saying no to the wrong business31:05 Partnership and shared perspective with Integrity BankSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →The “Career Loan” That Built a Chemical Powerhouse
Apr 700:28:42Tap to summarizeEntrepreneurship takes time. Hazem and Mack talk with David Hatcher about turning a high school dream into a major chemical company, why he left engineering to learn sales and finance, and how Houston rewards integrity, grit, and steady, decades‑long effort more than quick wins or flashy ideas. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. A clear decision to become an owner, made as early as high school, can quietly guide education choices, job moves, and the skills you prioritize over decades. 2. Learning to sell and to read financial statements, especially cash flow, is often more important to entrepreneurial success than technical expertise alone. 3. Entrepreneurship rarely produces quick wins; it requires long periods of hard work, resilience, and a willingness to confront and solve problems as they arise. 4. Houston’s culture rewards integrity, hustle, and a good story, making it a uniquely accessible city for entrepreneurs who want to build lasting businesses. 5. Mentorship and generosity amplify an entrepreneur’s impact, allowing lessons learned over a lifetime to benefit the next generation of business owners. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro00:44 Meeting David and his 40‑year friendship with Mack02:27 High school decision to own a company03:40 Leaving engineering to learn sales and finance as a stockbroker05:02 Buying Sanford Chemical with heavy leverage06:32 Navigating regulation and moving production to Mexico09:11 Mack’s “career loan” and trusting the borrower over the balance sheet13:51 Building a board smarter than the founder and avoiding bad deals15:42 Going public, steady growth, and a 1.6 billion sale18:41 Pride in independent children and a strong marriage22:24 Why David will never leave Houston24:51 Encouraging the next generation of Houston entrepreneurs27:09 Mentoring, giving back, and closing reflectionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Service, Discipline, and the Long Game of Financial Freedom
Mar 3100:34:46Tap to summarizeHazem Ahmed and Mack Neff sit down with longtime friend and mentor Paul Nick to trace an extraordinary life spanning wartime service, aviation, and a distinguished insurance career. Paul recounts his early years between New Orleans and Southern California during World War II, the culture shock of segregated buses in New Orleans, and the dyslexia that made academics difficult. He explains how college ROTC and a Marine Corps officer program led him into flight school, carrier landings, and helicopter training. Paul shares vivid stories from flying H 46 helicopters in Vietnam, including a crash on a hillside and a day when enemy fire pierced his helmet inches from his head. After returning home, he chose life insurance over airline flying or corporate marketing, ultimately joining Northwestern Mutual and moving from New Orleans and Baton Rouge to Houston. Paul describes building a major general agency covering half of Texas, using small overrides on many policies to retire at 59 and a half and spend decades enjoying family life. He closes with advice for younger generations on saving early, buying a home, and using financial flexibility to choose their own paths. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Despite severe dyslexia and academic struggles, Paul leveraged grit and relationships to build a highly successful career in life insurance and become financially independent relatively young. 2. His Marine Corps service included carrier qualifications, helicopter combat missions in Vietnam, a major crash, and a near fatal incident where rounds penetrated his helmet on the ground. 3. Paul deliberately chose insurance over airline flying or corporate marketing because he wanted to sell something almost everyone needs and values. 4. Houston’s relatively open business culture compared to New Orleans and Baton Rouge helped Paul grow a Northwestern Mutual general agency that benefited from the city’s rapid expansion. 5. Paul urges younger people to save consistently, invest early, and buy a home as soon as practical to gain options, security, and the freedom to leave unsatisfying jobs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Rethinking Risk, Ownership, and Legacy in Entrepreneurship
Mar 2400:32:09Tap to summarizeEntrepreneur Markus Nassar joins Hazem and Mack to share his journey from a multicultural upbringing and international travel business to building a multi unit Jimmy John’s empire in Texas. From Jordan and Germany to Boston and Dubai, Markus traces his path through a family travel company that expanded across several countries before he sold it after 9/11 due to extreme volatility. He explains why he turned to franchising, how he evaluated brands, and how he settled on Jimmy John’s to secure strong A locations. Markus details buying underperforming stores from absentee owners, developing long tenured teams, and granting equity to key operators so they think and act like owners. He also introduces his work in funeral funding, where purchasing life insurance assignments from funeral homes helps families cover costs during an emotionally difficult time. The conversation closes with his growing supplement brand Pump Sauce, his reflections on younger generations, and the deep work ethic and curiosity that keep him learning new industries. Learn more about Jimmy Johns Houston, Pump Sauce, and Link Funeral Funding. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Markus shifted from a volatile global travel business into franchised restaurants, carefully selecting Jimmy John’s to gain access to strong locations and a proven model. 2. He grew by buying existing units from absentee owners and building a core team of long term operators who hold equity, aligning their incentives with store performance. 3. Through a funeral funding company, Markus helps funeral homes and families bridge the delay between death and life insurance payouts by purchasing assignments on policies. 4. Funeral practices and funding needs vary widely across cultures and faiths, from quick, low cost burials supported by community to lavish services financed through pre need insurance. 5. Markus continues to diversify into supplements, catering, and other ventures while emphasizing work ethic, character, and a lifelong commitment to learning over rigid plans. Timestamped Overview00:56 Hazem welcomes Markus to share his background and path to Houston.01:14 Markus recounts being born in Jordan to a Palestinian Armenian father and German mother, moving to Germany for school, and later studying at Boston University.01:40 He describes returning to Germany to join the family travel business, expanding offices into Dubai, Indonesia, and Spain, and experiencing the sector’s sensitivity to geopolitical shocks.02:30 Markus explains selling his travel company after 9 11 and moving back to the United States intending a short stay that turned permanent in Texas.02:53 He shares how a romantic dream of owning restaurants led him into franchising and eventually into Jimmy John’s after evaluating multiple brands.03:24 Markus recalls reviewing SBA statistics on restaurant failure rates and deciding franchising offered better odds for an inexperienced owner.04:03 He explains why Jimmy John’s appealed as a young system that still offered A locations, unlike mature franchises that would push him to weaker markets.04:32 Markus notes opening his first store around 2007 and eventually building a network of units concentrated in Austin and across Texas.05:00 He details a strategy of acquiring stores from absentee owners, often professionals living out of state, and turning them around with a committed internal team.05:58 Hazem highlights that Markus now owns about 35 locations and asks why he grants equity to five key leaders rather than only raising their salaries, a question that resonates with Hazem and Mack.06:16 Markus explains that equity creates emotional ownership, deeper commitment, and long term alignment, even if salary alone could exceed their profit share.07:00 Mack notes how equity changes mindset and behavior and praises Markus for mentoring team members who started as drivers and sandwich makers.09:34 Hazem personalizes the point with his neighborhood Jimmy John’s, pointing out long tenured staff and a manager who has been there since 2008.09:57 Hazem asks how Markus identifies the next generation of employees with potential and what traits he looks for in rising talent.10:28 Markus says his approach is organic, relying on quickly sensing work ethic, caring, and character, then moving those people up as the business grows.11:26 Hazem likens that intuition to a sixth sense and notes how small actions like punctuality and picking up trash signal deeper commitment.11:49 Mack invites Markus to discuss ventures beyond Jimmy John’s and Markus mentions involvement in a supplement company, a catering firm, and a funeral funding company.12:24 Hazem asks to start with funeral funding and Markus explains average funeral costs, common reliance on life insurance, and payment delays tied to death certificates.13:32 Markus walks through how funeral homes take assignments against life insurance policies and then sell those assignments to funding companies like his for immediate cash.14:34 Hazem shares a personal story about navigating an unexpected death in his circle and reflects on the pressure families face when unprepared.15:19 Mack notes how many people avoid planning for a guaranteed event like death and how that avoidance cuts across ages.15:23 Markus agrees and observes that people often prepare for many certainties except death due to fear and discomfort discussing it.16:11 Markus explains that some lower cost religious funerals rarely require funding while others, such as elaborate weekend long services with catering and security, can reach 50,000 dollars.17:33 Hazem notes how cultural precedent and family burial patterns can drive expectations that may exceed present financial realities.18:05 Markus likens funeral decision making to weddings, where families often avoid skimping at emotional moments even when it is not economically rational.18:35 Hazem urges listeners to preplan and communicate wishes, sharing a conversation he had with his children about types of death and preparation.19:35 Markus offers a lighthearted reflection on seeing death certificates with birth dates close to his own and how that reminder pushes him to enjoy each day.21:10 Hazem transitions to Markus’s supplement venture and asks how it helps keep people out of funeral homes a bit longer.21:19 Markus recounts partnering with professional bodybuilders who created a novel liquid pump product and how he invested and helped grow the brand.23:13 He outlines the product line including Pump Sauce, liquid L carnitine, caffeinated pre workouts, sleep gummies without melatonin or THC, and protein gummies, plus learning Amazon, Shopify, TikTok, and export channels.24:03 Hazem notes younger generations seem more engaged with supplements than nutrition and asks why that shift is happening.24:28 Markus admits struggling to understand what drives younger people, oscillating between confusion and appreciation of trends like reduced alcohol use.25:33 Markus points out data showing younger people drinking and partying less and spending more time in smaller groups, which he views as a positive development.26:02 Mack comments on how constant exposure to content and short attention spans drive rapid shifts in focus, contrasting that with older generations’ emphasis on deep relationships.26:57 Markus shares that he prefers returning to the same restaurants, building bonds with staff, and worries that younger people interact differently but still seem to be doing fine.27:23 Hazem notes it is unfair to expect younger generations to replicate their parents’ behaviors given radically different tools and environments.27:55 Hazem observes that Markus constantly mentions learning and asks where his drive to keep learning new businesses comes from.27:55 Markus credits his father and grandfather’s work ethic, shares his 83 year-old father’s new tourism contract in Saudi Arabia’s Neom, and describes deriving joy from building and learning across multiple ventures.29:50 Mack compares that mindset to banking as a profession that allows learning across industries and says he is jealous of Markus’s vantage point as a serial entrepreneur.31:01 Hazem warmly invites Markus to explore that path and closes by praising his grace in business, dedication to his teams, and friendship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Building Community and Belonging Through the YMCA
Mar 1700:29:48Tap to summarizePresident and CEO of the Greater Houston YMCA, Stephen Ives, joins Hazem and Mack to explore how the Y strengthens community far beyond treadmills and weight rooms. From youth sports and senior programs to refugee resettlement and anti human trafficking work, Stephen shares how 175 locations across Greater Houston are building belonging, connection, and opportunity. He explains why only a fraction of adults will ever join a gym and how the Y’s family centered model and social services fill that gap. Stephen also discusses navigating Hurricane Harvey recovery, COVID closures, major portfolio restructuring, and federal funding swings while keeping mission at the center. He reflects on data from the Kinder Institute showing just how disconnected 18 to 29 year olds feel and why belonging is more predictive of life satisfaction than income or education. The conversation closes with Stephen’s personal journey from lifeguard to CEO, his love for Houston, and how a bike ride from Canada to Mexico shaped his vocation. To learn more about the YMCA of Greater Houston, go here. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. The YMCA’s core impact is building relationships and a sense of belonging, not simply operating gyms and pools. 2. Only about a quarter of adults ever walk into any gym, so the Y’s family based programming and social services reach people far beyond traditional fitness users. 3. Data from the Kinder Institute shows 18 to 29 year olds are the most lonely and disconnected group in Greater Houston and that connection and belonging correlate more strongly with life satisfaction than income or education. 4. The Greater Houston YMCA has navigated Harvey recovery, COVID shutdowns, real estate consolidation, and sharp swings in federal refugee resettlement funding while refocusing on sustainable, mission aligned work. 5. Stephen’s career grew from part time lifeguarding to leading a 100 million plus association, illustrating how the Y develops leaders, workforce skills, and community minded careers. Timestamped Overview00:00 Hazem and Mack introduce Banking on Integrity and welcome Greater Houston YMCA CEO Stephen Ives.01:00 Stephen explains his role overseeing programs across roughly 175 locations and 10,000 square miles in the Houston metro.01:40 The hosts ask what the YMCA should mean to the average Houstonian and Stephen shares that people never mention equipment, they talk about friendships and community.03:10 Mack asks about usage patterns at the downtown Y and Stephen describes morning and afternoon peaks plus daytime programming for seniors and youth.03:40 Hazem recalls coaching youth sports and his father’s Silver Sneakers experience as Stephen explains the Y’s focus on community and not just the gym.05:33 Stephen outlines the Y’s social work roots, from mentoring and health equity to housing, refugee resettlement, immigrant support, and anti trafficking services.07:32 Mack asks about Ys across Texas and immigrant integration as Stephen details how a few thousand new Americans annually engage in formal Y programs.09:12 Stephen shares new research with the Kinder Institute on loneliness, belonging, and how connection strongly predicts life satisfaction and self efficacy.11:23 Stephen reflects on how Houston uniquely welcomes newcomers and empowers fresh ideas compared with other large coastal cities.13:18 Mack connects that openness to Integrity Bank’s mission as Stephen defines integrity as consistency between words and actions in community.14:35 Hazem asks how Stephen first entered the Y and Stephen describes starting as a lifeguard in Portland, Maine before discovering YMCA career paths.16:56 Stephen walks through arriving in Houston post Harvey, reopening flooded branches, then rapidly pivoting through COVID closures and a real estate reset.19:28 He explains growing and later sharply reducing federal refugee and immigration contracts as elections and funding priorities shifted.21:40 Hazem asks about funding mix as Stephen breaks down the association’s heavy reliance on fee for service revenue like memberships and after school care.23:06 Mack is surprised by the size of the childcare business as Stephen emphasizes trust, safety, school partnerships, and educational enrichment for thousands of kids daily.24:38 Hazem invites listeners to give back and Stephen describes supporting the Y through traditional giving, joining, or impact oriented membership models.26:14 Mack asks who should consider a Y career and Stephen frames the organization as a hospitality and workforce development training ground for young workers.27:05 Hazem turns to Stephen’s personal life as he talks about his marriage, two daughters in Boston and LA, and one daughter working in the Y system.27:31 Stephen shares the story of biking from Canada to Mexico and how that adventure preceded his first lifeguarding role at the Y.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →