Tired of pitches that fall flat? Ready to become the ONLY choice instead of just another option?

In our next episode from the Startup Grind Global Conference 2025, host Julie Holton Smith sits down with Rajiv ‘RajNATION’ Nathan, the Chief Pitch Artist and mastermind behind the Que PASA Elevator Pitch Formula® that’s helped founders raise as much as $20 million and crush their sales quotas.

What You’ll Master:
✅ Why “Don’t be the best, be the ONLY” transforms how investors see you
✅The fatal mistake 90% of startups make in their pitch decks (hint: it’s not about features)
✅ How to make your audience feel SEEN instead of sold to
✅ The secret to turning skeptical listeners into co-creators of your vision
✅ Real examples from NavFlex and other winning pitches that raised millions

Raj reveals why successful founders stop positioning against competition and start creating their own category. This isn’t theory — these are actual strategies.

About Our Host:
Julie Holton Smith is a marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and communications expert who helps businesses and nonprofits amplify their impact. As the founder of mConnexions and host of Expert Connexions, she brings insightful conversations with industry leaders to help you grow and lead with intention.
www.mconnexions.com

About Our Guest:
Rajiv ‘RajNATION’ Nathan is a Chief Pitch Artist, Startup Hypeman, and Startup Grind Chicago Chapter Director. For nearly a decade, Raj has perfected the art of storytelling for startups, helping visionaries raise capital, improve sales close rates, and build market-leading brands.
www.startuphypeman.com

Located on Lansing’s north side, the Capital City Family BMX facility is the perfect location for next your BMX event.

It offers the only USABMX sanctioned track in the region and a newly added pump track. Amenities include convenient access to water, restrooms, electronic scoreboard system, concessions and more.

Joseph Yang’s path to becoming President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing reads like a modern success story—one that weaves together technology, law, and an unwavering commitment to community service. His journey demonstrates how diverse experiences can converge to create decisive leadership in the nonprofit sector.

Yang’s story begins in an unlikely place for a future nonprofit leader: hunched over a computer in the early days of DOS commands and dial-up modems. Growing up in a computer lab, he developed a deep appreciation for technology that would later influence his approach to youth programming. After earning a degree in telecommunications from Michigan State University in 2003, Yang worked in tech support, troubleshooting everything from networking issues to the frustrating dial-up connections that defined the early internet era.

But Yang’s interests extended far beyond circuit boards and code. Inspired by mentors who made a difference in Lansing, he took an unconventional detour into law school, attending Western Michigan University Cooley Law School’s nights-and-weekends program while working full-time. Graduating in 2013, he focused on criminal law, particularly representing indigent clients who couldn’t afford legal representation—a calling that reflected his deep commitment to serving underserved communities.

What makes Yang’s story particularly compelling is his full-circle return to the Boys & Girls Club. He grew up across the street from the organization in a public housing complex called Lareroo, participating in programs as a child before eventually joining the staff as Education Director. This personal connection runs deep—his current office overlooks the very basketball courts where he learned to play as a kid.

“I love the community. I literally come home every day when I go to work,” Yang reflects on his unique perspective as both former member and current leader.

As Director of Operations, Yang wore virtually every hat imaginable—managing finance and HR, driving the van for field trips, organizing sports camps, and ensuring every donated dollar was spent efficiently. His approach was always mission-first, working behind the scenes to help others shine while keeping the organization running smoothly.

When longtime President Carmen announced her retirement, Yang insisted on an open, nationwide search process, prioritizing what was best for the Club over personal ambition. After a thorough evaluation, he emerged as the top candidate—a testament to his dedication and the trust placed in him by the board and community.

Now as President and CEO, Yang is modernizing the Club while honoring its traditions. Understanding that today’s kids are different from those of 20 years ago, he has introduced innovative programs, such as an esports corner with high-spec computers, bridging traditional recreation with digital interests. His tech background proves invaluable as he meets kids where they are, rather than expecting them to adapt to outdated programming models.

The Boys & Girls Club of Lansing serves youth ages 7-17 with after-school programming that includes homework help, arts and crafts, STEM activities, and physical fitness—all for just $10 per year, a membership fee that has remained unchanged for over two decades.

Yang’s leadership philosophy centers on empowering his team and expanding the Club’s reach throughout Lansing, taking services directly to schools and housing complexes. His vision extends beyond the facility’s walls, aiming to serve 185 kids daily while building new partnerships across the community.

Through his unique blend of technical expertise, legal knowledge, and genuine passion for youth development, Yang exemplifies how diverse professional experiences can create exceptional nonprofit leadership.

Imagine AI agents booking your restaurant reservations, scheduling home repairs, and making purchases — all without you needing to browse websites or make calls.

In this fascinating episode recorded live at Startup Grind Conference 2025, host Julie Holton Smith explores the next evolution of websites with Jesse Flores, Chief Web Pro of SuperWebPros.

Jesse’s revolutionary “Super Sites” represent a fundamental shift in how the internet works.

What You’ll Learn:
✅ The coming shift from human-dominated to AI-dominated internet traffic
✅ How Super Sites eliminate the need for traditional web browsing
✅ Why this technology is a must-have for every webpage
✅ The business model disrupting service provider platforms
✅ How Michigan innovators are leading this technological revolution
This conversation offers a rare glimpse into the infrastructure being built for tomorrow’s internet, where AI agents will handle routine tasks while humans focus on higher-value activities.

About Our Host:
Julie Holton Smith is a marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and communications expert who helps businesses and nonprofits with their impact. As the founder of mConnexions and host of Expert Connexions, she brings insightful conversations with industry leaders to help you grow and lead with intention.
www.mconnexions.com

About our Guest:
Jesse Flores is the innovative founder of SuperWebPros, developing next-generation websites optimized for AI agent interaction. Operating from Lansing, Michigan, Jesse is at the forefront of the internet’s evolution toward AI-driven commerce.
Learn more at www.superwebpros.com

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The Grand Opening of Child and Family Charities at their Greenlawn Campus brought out all the movers and shakers to cap off a long process of development, partnership, and community building. Enjoy this visual recap of how the day went and felt.

In an era where funding challenges and post-pandemic recovery continue to test nonprofit organizations, one medium has emerged as particularly powerful for conveying mission and impact: video storytelling. Drawing from insights shared in a recent presentation to nonprofit leaders, the key to effective organizational communication lies not just in having a compelling story, but in showing that story through authentic visual narratives.

## The Funding Reality and the Story Solution

Today’s nonprofits face an increasingly competitive landscape for donor attention and foundation support. Federal funding cuts, combined with lingering effects from the pandemic, have made individual donors, corporate sponsors, and private foundations more crucial than ever. Organizations that have survived these challenges have done so because their stories are strong and their core values remain clear. Video provides the perfect medium to demonstrate this resilience and communicate these values effectively.

As one landscape services professional from MSU recently noted, “We can throw stats, we can throw pictures, but what we can’t do as an organization is really tell our story through video.” This shift in perspective—from trying to prove worth to having others seek help in demonstrating value—signals a fundamental change in how organizations approach their communications strategy.

## Collaboration as a Storytelling Strategy

One of the most effective approaches to nonprofit video storytelling involves showcasing collaborative efforts. When organizations partner with each other, they create opportunities to reach multiple audiences while demonstrating community impact. For example, Catholic Charities’ collaboration with the Greater Lansing Food Bank during the pandemic created a powerful narrative that benefited both organizations while serving their shared community.

These collaborative stories work because they show real solutions to real problems. They demonstrate how organizations can leverage their unique strengths—one partner’s kitchen facilities, another’s food distribution network—to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

## Making Clients the Heroes

Perhaps the most important shift in nonprofit storytelling involves repositioning who serves as the story’s hero. Rather than making the organization the central character, effective video narratives position clients, volunteers, or community members as the heroes of their own transformation stories. The organization becomes the guide—like Yoda in Star Wars—providing tools and support while the individual takes center stage.

This approach humanizes the organization’s impact in a way that statistics cannot. When a Habitat for Humanity participant shares their journey from cramped living conditions to homeownership, complete with their children’s excited reactions, viewers see tangible change happening in real time. These stories resonate because they show people overcoming challenges with the organization’s support.

## Authentic Representation Matters

In today’s diverse communities, authentic representation in video storytelling isn’t just good practice—it’s essential for credibility. Organizations serve people who may not look like their staff, and this diversity should be reflected naturally in their visual narratives. Rather than viewing this as a checkbox exercise, successful nonprofits recognize that their authentic community connections are part of their story’s strength.

The most effective nonprofit videos capture real moments with real people, avoiding artificial recreations or stock footage that can undermine authenticity. Younger donors, in particular, can quickly identify inauthentic content, making genuine storytelling crucial for long-term sustainability.

## The Path Forward

The fundamental principle remains simple: show, don’t tell. In a visual medium, demonstration trumps description every time. Whether capturing spontaneous volunteer moments on social media or producing comprehensive mission videos for websites, the goal is always to let the story speak through the people who live it daily.

Nonprofits that master this approach don’t just communicate their impact—they create compelling reasons for continued support and community engagement.

From redefining access in sports to battling social isolation with AI and revolutionizing how we carry gear in extreme environments — fresh from The Startup Grind Conference 2025 — this episode of Expert Connexions brings you three powerful stories of innovation born from purpose.

Meet the Founders:
🏀 Christine Schwarz — Co-Founder of Virtual Round Ballers
Christine is breaking barriers in sports and gaming as the creator of Virtual Round Ballers, the first VR experience designed to bring realistic, one-on-one basketball to players of all abilities. Her mission? Make athletics more inclusive, immersive, and empowering. As a tech-driven entrepreneur and accessibility advocate, Christine is carving out space for players who’ve long been left out of the game.
www.virtualroundballers.com

💙 Dan Hungerford — Founder of EverFriends.ai
Dan is the visionary behind EverFriends.ai, an app that uses digital companions to help those who combat loneliness and early cognitive decline. With a background in tech and a passion for social connection, Dan is reimagining how AI can offer empathy, comfort, and companionship — especially when real people aren’t available. His work is deeply human at its core.
www.everfriends.ai

🗺️ Kevin Burnett — Founder of Trail Eagle Packs
Kevin is the founder of Trail Eagle Packs, an outdoor gear startup building next-generation backpacks for serious hikers and professionals. Focused on real-world use, rapid access, and rugged durability, Kevin’s innovation is born from experience and built for people who need their gear to work, no matter the conditions. He’s blending engineering, design, and purpose to elevate the outdoor experience.
www.traileaglepacks.com

About Our Host:
Julie Holton Smith is the founder of mConnexions marketing agency and hosts Expert Connexions, a show that features industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are redefining success. Julie uses her platform to share real stories and insights for business leaders, creatives, and dreamers alike. She’s also a strategist, speaker, and advocate for women in leadership and business innovation.

CLIENT STORY: Communities In Schools of Michigan – Celebrating Jada Reynolds: Student of the Year

At University High School, one student stands out not just for her achievements, but for the heart and spirit she brings to every part of her life. That student is Jada Reynolds, Communities In Schools of Michigan’s (CISM) 2025 Student of the Year. A leader, a friend, and a bright light in her school community, Jada proves that real impact comes from showing up, staying kind, and helping others do the same.

**More Than a Student**

Jada wears many hats—student, volleyball player, photographer, and friend. She balances her studies and sports with creative work, taking photos at her church. But what makes her extraordinary isn’t just how much she does—it’s how she makes people feel while doing it.

Her CIS mentor described her as having a “beautiful spirit”—a phrase that couldn’t be more accurate. Whether encouraging classmates, comforting a peer in distress, or motivating others to keep going through college stress, Jada radiates warmth and support.

**A Natural Leader**

Leadership isn’t about titles for Jada—it’s about action. When another student came into the CIS office in tears, Jada immediately stepped in. Her compassion turned a difficult moment into the beginning of a real friendship. That kind of presence—thoughtful, aware, and kind—is what makes her leadership so powerful.

Jada doesn’t wait to be asked for help. Her simple motto, “If you need help, I got you,” is something she lives every day.

**Finding Strength Through Support**

Jada credits her growth to those around her, especially her CIS mentor, Ms. Gabby, whose smile alone brings comfort. These small moments of connection remind her she’s not alone, and they fuel her to be that same source of light for others.

And even when things get tough—like racing toward college application deadlines—Jada stays grounded. She keeps her head up, encourages others to do the same, and doesn’t let the pressure shake her dreams.

**Big Dreams Ahead**

Jada’s goals are as bold as her spirit. She’s planning to finish high school strong, head to college, and eventually become a doctor. She’s especially interested in surgery—something fast-paced and challenging, just the way she likes it.

While she knows it won’t be easy, Jada is ready. Her drive, supported by her community, will continue to propel her forward.

**A Message for Us All**

Jada’s journey reminds us that small acts—like a smile, a few kind words, or lending a hand—make a big difference. Her story is proof that leadership is about how you treat others, especially during difficult times.

In the complex landscape of homelessness prevention, one Michigan leader is proving that systematic data collection can be a powerful weapon against a persistent social challenge. Eric Hufnagel, Executive Director of the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH), has spent decades working in nonprofit and public service roles. Still, his current position puts him at the center of a statewide effort that’s quietly revolutionizing how communities address homelessness.

MCAH operates as an umbrella organization connecting nearly 600 agencies across all 83 Michigan counties through a comprehensive data system called the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Unlike many states that rely on fragmented approaches, Michigan has achieved something remarkable: universal participation in a coordinated data collection effort that provides unprecedented insight into who experiences homelessness and what interventions work.

The numbers reveal sobering realities. While Black residents comprise only 12-13% of Michigan’s general population, they represent approximately 40% of the state’s homeless population—a disparity that has remained stubbornly consistent over time. This data not only highlights problems but also drives policy conversations and funding decisions at both the state and federal levels.

Hufnagel’s background brings a unique perspective to the role. Having worked in mental health services and currently serving as a City Commissioner in St. Johns, Michigan, he understands both the grassroots challenges and the policy mechanisms needed for systemic change. His attraction to MCAH stemmed from recognizing homelessness as the persistent issue that touched every organization he’d worked with, yet no single entity claimed responsibility for solving it comprehensively.

The coalition’s approach goes beyond simply collecting statistics. MCAH trains local agency staff, ensures data quality, and creates “data warehouses” that cross-reference information from different social service sectors. For example, comparing Medicaid usage among homeless individuals helps identify where additional healthcare support might prevent housing instability.

Federal mandates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) require agencies receiving federal funding to participate in HMIS systems. Still, Michigan’s implementation stands out for its completeness and sophistication. This comprehensive approach enables MCAH to advocate effectively for policy changes, such as recent legislation prohibiting “source of income discrimination” that prevents landlords from rejecting tenants simply because their rent comes from government vouchers or non-traditional income sources.

However, Hufnagel acknowledges the ongoing challenge of translating data into action. While numbers can make compelling cases for policy changes, elected officials often gravitate toward visible, immediate solutions, such as emergency shelters, rather than addressing root causes through mental health services, job training, or affordable housing development.

The funding landscape reflects this complexity. Most resources originate from federal sources, particularly the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), while state and local governments play supporting roles within their respective capacity constraints. MCAH’s advocacy work aims to ensure these various funding streams align with what the data shows works.

Despite the demanding nature of nonprofit leadership, Hufnagel maintains perspective through family time and comedy, simple pleasures that prevent burnout in emotionally challenging work. His message to those interested in supporting the cause is straightforward: reach out, get involved, and recognize that ending homelessness requires sustained collaboration rather than individual heroics.

Through methodical data collection and strategic advocacy, MCAH demonstrates that systematic approaches can make measurable progress against seemingly intractable social problems, one policy change and one partnership at a time.

As AI transforms industries, the law is racing to keep up. In this episode of Expert Connexions, we’re joined by Attorney Lindsey Mead of Foster Swift to explore the U.S. Copyright Office’s latest report on AI and copyright.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
✅ What “authorship” really means in the age of AI
How to protect your content if you use AI to brainstorm or create
✅ Where the legal gray areas begin (and how to avoid risk)
✅ What businesses should include in contracts & policies today
Don’t let legal gray areas become business risks, you need to know where the law stands and where it’s going.