March 11, 2025 • 32 mins
Megan Vanderson is the founder and CEO of Macon Alley, a certified women-owned and -led business specializing in designing retail spaces for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. With a focus on creativity, collaboration, and efficiency, Macon Alley has quickly become a trusted partner to leading Fortune 500 companies, delivering high-quality retail environments while streamlining the design process to accelerate store openings.Under Megan’s leadership,
Macon Alley has seen remarkable growth, expanding by 280% over the past three years - a testament to the company’s expertise and the strong relationships built with its clients. An impressive 98% of clients return for future projects, a reflection of the trust, collaboration, and results that define Macon Alley’s approach. In 2024, Columbus CEO magazine recognized the firm as the Best Commercial Design Firm, further validating its growing reputation for excellence.Megan’s journey from designer to entrepreneur exemplifies the power of vision, adaptability, and leadership. She holds a bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture from Ohio University and is NCIDQ-certified and LEED AP accredited. Beyond her professional achievements,
Megan is a devoted wife and mother of three, balancing the demands of a thriving business with the joys of family life. She continues to lead Macon Alley with the same passion that sparked its creation, working to leave a lasting impact on both her industry and the clients she serves.
Macon Alley has seen remarkable growth, expanding by 280% over the past three years - a testament to the company’s expertise and the strong relationships built with its clients. An impressive 98% of clients return for future projects, a reflection of the trust, collaboration, and results that define Macon Alley’s approach. In 2024, Columbus CEO magazine recognized the firm as the Best Commercial Design Firm, further validating its growing reputation for excellence.Megan’s journey from designer to entrepreneur exemplifies the power of vision, adaptability, and leadership. She holds a bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture from Ohio University and is NCIDQ-certified and LEED AP accredited. Beyond her professional achievements,
Megan is a devoted wife and mother of three, balancing the demands of a thriving business with the joys of family life. She continues to lead Macon Alley with the same passion that sparked its creation, working to leave a lasting impact on both her industry and the clients she serves.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Columbus in Central Ohio have a rich history of companies
being headquartered here, everything from technology, manufacturing, retail, insurance, and more.
But what about the leaders behind these companies? What makes
them tick? How do they get their start? This is
where you get to meet the captain of the ship.
Welcome to CEOs you should know and iHeartMedia Columbus podcast
For CEOs you should know and iHeartMedia Columbus podcast. It
(00:23):
gives me great pleasure to bring in someone who, by
the looks of things, between community and just you know,
the things that she has done early on to what
she has built now nothing short of aspiring. I want
to welcome Megan Vanderson to the show. She is the
CEO of Megan Ellie. Meghan, welcome, Hi, thank you for
(00:44):
having me. It's great to have you. You are full
of energy. You've got a great smile.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
So I like caffeinated. This is going to be a
great podcast. I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Hey, First and foremost, let's go through what I like
to call somewhat of the basics with someone listening to
the podcast. Let's start with what is Macon Alley.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, so we're a retail design firm. We found ourselves
really focusing on the retail sector. You know, we make
beautiful spaces that are also really functional, and the key
to that is the easy rollout, having them being able
to roll out at scale. You know, we've worked really
hard to position ourselves as trusted partners to multiple Fortune
(01:27):
five hundred companies. But you know what we do for
them is become partners, you know with their internal design teams,
helping them get stores open faster without sacrificing quality. You know,
we found ourselves really thriving in this retail rich environment
where Columbus plays this massive role on the global stage.
And I don't really know if people even realize that
(01:48):
people in Columbus, but you know, some of the biggest
and best brands are headquartered right here and being part
of the city and it's shaped who we are.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Yeah with maconn Alley. How many people do you employ?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, so we have seven people when we're growing hopefully.
You know, they're incredibly talented team members who bring, you know,
a human touch to every project that we do. And
something that I'm really proud of is that we have
one hundred percent employee of retention.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Rate right now.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Wow, knock on wood Yeah. You know, it humbles me
every day to know that this group of people trusts
me and you know, believes in what we're building together,
you know, in their creativity, passion, and I would say
dedication to the company, and you know, I feel so
fortunate to work alongside them.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Megan. That says volumes about you that no one has
ever turned around to you and said take this job
and shove it, Megan, No one has ever said that.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Now, if you're listening, don't take notes.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Team Megan Vanderson is with us. She's the CEO of
make An Allen. Of course, this week's guest on CEOs.
You should know you most importantly do a lot for
the community. What kind of things you involved in?
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Sure, so, we.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Most recently started partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters across Ohio, Cleveland, Cincinnati,
and Columbus. We we've spent some time as a team
reflecting on what sparked our creativity as kids and recognizing
that maybe the pipeline foreignterior designers is not as diverse
as it should be. So how do we spark that creativity?
(03:23):
Were trying to go right to the source and get
kids interested in these kind of fields. Stem projects, creative things. Yeah,
you know, helping them explore these possibilities, giving them.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Resources to explore it.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
We hope to inspire the next generation of architects, planners,
and problem solvers.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Yeah. I always like to ask this of all of
our guests, Megan, and I'm going to ask you this too,
Any words of wisdom when it comes to specifically an
aspiring entrepreneur that wants to do either what you're doing
or just wants to start any kind of business.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, well, I guess I was never an aspiring entrepreneur,
but I will speak of my experience.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
You know, I don't think you can ever underestimate the
power of creativity and adaptability I think is.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
The key word there.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Like I said, I never planned on starting my own business,
but when the stars aligned, you know, I took a
leap of faith and here we are today. You know,
we were just named best Commercial design Firm by Columbus.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I saw that. Congrats, thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yeah, and you know, we're so honored and and it
just feels like further solidification of the reputation that we're
trying to build.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah, Megan, We're going to pull back the curtain now
on this because well, because it's something I like to ask,
and it's it's the journey. It's that CEO, it's that
leader's journey, and it's kind of a you know, get
to know you a little bit. I know you went
to owe you at one point, right, so you're Bobcat right.
Oh yeah, but before that, we're just so things like
(05:00):
where were you born and raised?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I grew up in Finley, Ohio. Okay, never left Ohio
really until till I got married and traveled with my husband.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
But yeah, I grew up in Finley.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I played sports, but my parents were always very open
to if sports aren't for you, what else is for you?
It's more important about staying busy, staying active versus being athletic.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, you know, I played volleyball.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
I loved that. I was in travel teams. But they
also gave me art lessons. So I was one of
the few kids I ever knew to take art lessons
as a kid. It's just something that they noticed at
a really young age that I really gravitated. Yeah, and
you know, when it came time to pick a major,
you know, everyone freaks out, what should I do?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Should I be a lawyer? A doctor? Yeah, you know
all these things.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
You know, I stumbled across the definition of an interior
architect and OU has an interior architecture program, and it
seemed to fit my album solving. I guess love for
problems and puzzles and creative side. I didn't think I
could be just a fine artist. It's I'm not going
to be Pablo Picasso.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Or you know any you know by any means.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Yeah, so, you know, figuring out what kind of career
I could take that and actually get benefits was the
the genus rice, right that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, So I went to OU.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I loved it there, the Harvard on the hockey, so
many good memories and I'm actually thinking now of like
Big Old Street, all.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
These yeah, the great places.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
It's a beautiful campus. It really is.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Honestly, my parents dragged me there. I'm like, I'm not
going I'm going to Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Oh was that your first choice?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Yeah? You know, I got into there and I got
into UC.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
I got a scholarship to you see, and those are
the obvious outside first choices.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, And I went to OU.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I fell in love with the campus. I fell in
love with the staff, the faculty, and it was just
a great fit for me. Yeah, and it was.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
It's you're close, but you're still far enough away where
you know, if if you needed something from mom and dad,
they're there, but you're you know.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah, yeah it is. So we did that made the
best friends ever. Still have you know them in my life,
which I'm so fortunate. But I graduated during the two
thousand and eight downturn economic downturn. Oh yeah, so it
was an interesting time to try to start your career
(07:34):
and really flourish. I was really lucky the place I
got an internship hired me on. So I started off
with a with a great job, a locally an architecture
firm that focuses on educational design.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Oh wow, okay, so it was.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Really great to understand the whole pie, the whole piece,
you know pie as because we started at pitching to
the clients and it ended with doing ribbon cutting after construction,
so you know everything in between. I got experience with
getting your hard hat, going out on site, doing the
drawings like it was all.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
It was all citing for my first job.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
So it sounds correct me if I'm wrong, Megan, It
sounds like you you were part of the entire process
from A to Z christ right, yeah, though it sounds
like fun. And that was your first entrance into Columbus, right,
that was your first time here this internship.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
So I worked there for a couple of years and
I started to realize what Columbus is known for in
the design community, which is is retail.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
There was an opportunity at a local one of the
big four retail design firms and Columbus. I applied and
I got it. Uh so exciting. You know, they they
were obviously skeptical. I didn't have retail experience, like you
need to work hard and you know, figure out this industry,
which obviously you know need to do goes without being said.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah right, Megan was was it a learning curve getting
into retail?
Speaker 3 (09:01):
The pace is certainly different educational design. I mean we
had projects at my first job that lasted five years.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh wow, there would.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Be you know, occupied phased runnos, new builds, something like that.
Some projects in the retail world are a couple of days.
So the pace was almost refreshing after working in an
industry that was a little bit more I don't want,
I don't want to say relaxed, but there was that
the projects were better, they were longer, they lasted longer.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So with retail, am I getting this straight? The turnaround
for a project like what you're working on is extremely fast.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
It can be right, yes, yeah, and for good reasons.
You know, you look at the metrics on the other side.
They need to open a store, they need to make money,
they need you know, there's a reason they want to store.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, well that's fascinating. And so at that point, when
did I guess the light bulb go off with your
with make an alley with need for this.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Even so at that job at the retail design firm,
I was really blessed. I got the opportunity to build
a studio out of nothing. I guess it started with me,
and you know, it ended up being this great, big studio,
most profitable studio in the company. Uh, you know, I
(10:22):
kind of golfed. They were like, oh yeah, you can
hire staff Like wait, wow, Like I.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Get to hire them and interview them.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
So really, young age, I got really lucky to, you know,
fall into that opportunity. And I never really saw myself
doing that, you know, it was just kind of picking
up those opportunities that came towards me, and I guess
that's where I kind of got the spark of well,
(10:51):
I really like leading these people, like I really like
mentoring these people and being in the trenches with them.
I also really like like client relationships. I think that's
where it kind of sparked.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
You know. I went off and did some things on my.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Own a little bit after that, and then, like I said,
the stars aligned and I had this group of people
that I wanted to work with and these clients that
I wanted to work with, and I was like, well,
why don't I just put them together? So really that's
the antithesis of the company.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Megan Vanderson is with a CEO of Make and Alley.
So eventually you got to a point, Megan, where you're like, Okay,
I want to go out of my own here, start
my own business. Clearly, the first employee was you What
did you do? Okay? You you open your doors, You
got the sign that says, okay, we're open, open for business.
(11:47):
Where did you go next? What's what was the first
thing you did?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
First?
Speaker 3 (11:51):
I went back and I contacted my closest former colleagues,
you know, the ones that I really loved working with,
the ones that I wanted to be in the trenches with. Yeah,
and I've slowly collected them.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
For the years. That sounds creepy, collected them.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
But collected or oh my little collectibles.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
No, but I've you know, felt incredibly fortunate to earn
their trust and have them join me on this journey.
And I feel like we're all kind of working towards
the same the same goal, you know, hopefully I'm a
I hate seeing CEO, but I guess I am a CEO.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
You are a CEO. We're that proud that.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
You know, people can trust. I want to build a
business that puts people first. Yeah, people want to work
for you know, we're a small business, so we don't
have to have certain things.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
We don't have to have benefits, but we do. We
have four one k, we have mos amazing, we have
all these things.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
So you know, I don't want I want people to
be taken care of at work and at home.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Good for you. Okay, So Megan, after you rated your
former employer, I'm not I just totally totally I got
to edit that out now too. I'm just trying to
get a laugh out of you. So you you open
up for business Megan, I don't know if you can
talk about your first client, but what how long did
(13:16):
it take after you opened your doors to land someone?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
We were incredibly fortunate, like I said, the stars aligned
and we landed a very large client. They're on the
Fortune five hundred list.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Okay, and they're based here in Columbus.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
No, oh, they're not. Wow, they're West coast Okay.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
So yeah, we we've really been fortunate to land that
big client and kind of build off of that.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Did you can I just ask, did you pitch them?
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Did you like previous relationship with Okay?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
And I think that the retail community really is relationship driven.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Not that I am the expert, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
I think there's people that have obviously been in the
industry long than myself. But it really does seem like,
you know, somebody, you do a good job, you get referred,
they keep coming back for work.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
You're saying, Megan, with retail, it does happen where sometimes
it's who you know, is my experience your experience?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Oay? Yes? Yes?
Speaker 3 (14:18):
But you know, once we've gotten these clients, it's been
really great. Like we have a ninety eight percent of
our clients choose to come back and do another part.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So you know, I think that we're doing something right.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
It reflects you know, the trust and collaboration and you know,
we work really hard to build a partnership.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
With those people.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Megan, I'm curious with this ever increasing time in our
life where it seems like corporations, corporate America. The bottom
line is everything. Do you factor that in? Do you
keep that in mind when you're pitching them ideas of
I don't want to use the word cost cutting, but
just things that are efficient and economically friendly for this sure, yeah, of.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Course you do have to take that into consideration when
you're designing the space. You know, is the product durable,
but it can't be super expensive depending on the project.
You know, is it sustainable? You know, we believe in
doing sustainably friendly designed, so really taking that into consideration
as well.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
You know, what is the life period of this store?
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Are they going to tear it down in five years
or do they want it to stand for forty I
think all of those things you have to take in consideration. Obviously,
at the same time, they want their store open tomorrow,
right like, they want to start making money off of
this store. So how can you do it in an efficient,
fast way, but not sacrificing quality, not making it chaotic.
(15:53):
How do you get their team to cross the finish
line and open that store.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, when it comes to opening a store, I know
there's a lot of pressure. We've we've kind of hit
that a little bit, Megan, Is there is Has there
ever been a point where one of your clients has
been like, Megan, we really need we needed to open
this story yesterday. Do do you pour on extra people,
extra you know, sources to get this the job done?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Of course there's roadblocks along the way. Maybe it's no
one's fault. Maybe there's a product that's late. You know,
there's a thousand things that could infect affect the timeline
you know, of a store opening.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
But our team has has really been great.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
We try to be proactive as much as possible and
avoid fire drills, you know, but if there is a
fire drill, we'll jump in and put it out.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
So, yeah, Megan, I would imagine every project just getting
to know you is probably a baby for you. So
you you know, I'm not going to ask for your favorites,
but is the is there one is there one that
stands out that you know, you'll always have a lasting
memory of like, wow, this that was a tough one,
but we achieved it. We got it done, and I
(16:59):
love it.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Some of my teammates and I recount some of our
past traumas frequently, but I would say that it's more
of the whole account.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
That's the most memorable.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Okay, I'm working with a brand that is so nationally known.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
And getting to see.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Behind the curtain a little bit what goes into the
operations and respecting that. You know, all of the things
that go into a really great store you don't see. Yeah,
so really earning a greater appreciation for that.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Yeah, Megan Vanderson is with us. Who is the CEO
of Macon Alley. By the way, I'll jump back to
that in just a second. But the name Macon Alley?
Where did that come from?
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah? It is a street in German Village, it is. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Like I said, I didn't really plan on starting a
company with multiple people and bigger clients. It was really
just something for me. And our garage was off of
make An Alley.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
So there you go. It sounded great. It's my initials.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Can you tell me tell me about the day that
it went into your head that this is what we
were going to call the company. Tell me where you were,
what you're doing, if you remember. I just I love
to hear this.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Oh gosh, I mean this is gonna sound corny.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Not at all.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Most people, I guess, in my opinion, started or start
a company and they use their own name. And I
didn't want that. I want the company to be about myself.
I don't really like talking about myself, so I wanted
to avoid that. But I used that as a jumping
(18:52):
off point. My initials are M A V and Make
An Alley Ventures, so m AV it kind of together.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Yeah, and that's how it works.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Not the most inspiring story, but.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Hey, someone is taking notes right now. Someone's taking notes.
Megan Vanerson is with a CEO of Macon Alley. Back
to your projects for a sec just out of curiosity,
because I was reading I forget what business magazine, but
it was it was about a contractor who was giving
(19:30):
suggestions and pointers of hey, he's got these government contracts
and this is what he does to try to retain business.
Just out of curiosity. Do you have any secret sauce
when you're done with the project. Obviously you would love
to continue having that client in the future. What kind
of things do you do can a business do to
(19:51):
retain I mean, does it go further than just a
thank you card?
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Oh, it starts at the onset of the relationship. I mean,
it starts at the project.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
He off.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
You know, I think that everything needs to go smoothly.
You need to prove yourself as a partner. Yeah, you
build those relationships, like I said, And our team is
so great, so great at doing that. You know, we're
celebrating our client's birthdays and we're you know, you know,
we're very close to them after you work with them
for so many years. And so I think once you
prove yourself that you can really be ingrained in their
(20:23):
brand and really be trusted to bring up issues, yeah,
or be proactive about solving a problem, like really be
a partner, it almost sells itself. You know, they want
to work with you again. So I think our best
marketing strategy is to just do a good job every time.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah, do you You work for some very big companies
and there's a lot of I mean I'm saying this,
it would appear from the outside, there's a lot of
cooks in the kitchen. So when you start a project,
do they give you like an exit amount of people
to communicate with? Because this is probably any industry and
(21:04):
you know this, a lack of communication gets people in trouble.
When you just don't communicate, it upsets people. And so
how do you how do you do that to make
sure the communications are not crossed? Everything is you know,
crossed and dotted.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I think.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
That that can really be a tripping hazard in projects.
You know, like I said, we've since we're established with
these clients, we do have some points of contact, okay, or.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
We know who to go to for what question?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Sure, you know, I think that as you get up
and running with a new client, that's key to figure
that out. So you're not spinning your wheels, you're not
running in circles.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
You know.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
I think a lot of.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Times, by the time we get involved in a brand
or with a client, the design concepts kind of ironed out. Yeah,
they're not still cooking in the kitchen, I would say
to your point, Yeah, so at that point it's more
on us to understand how they got there, okay, and
how that.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Needs to show up in unique spaces. You know, we
work with.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Clients that have obviously the same concept, but it's ruled
out into specific sites, and you know each site has
its own problems, its own issues. You know, how do
we navigate that per site while still keeping the brand,
the operations, all of that intact.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Megan h not to your fault at all, but just
out of curiosity, because I just I've worked for big
companies almost all my life, So this is probably why
I asked this. When you started a project, have you
ever had something where you're almost done, you can see
the finish line.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Yes, I'll cut you off. Yes, we know.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Each other already, like we've known each other for years.
So they've come back and said, scratch it, we're done.
We can't.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Well, it's more like we've changed directions. We need to
go back and redo everything. So that's usually what it is.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, So on your end as a small business, how
does how does that work? Because you poured a lot
of resources in time, do you I don't know how
else to say this, do you do you make sure
that you're taken care of as you know?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
Yeah, as best we can, you know, And I think
that that's where that's where I come in and maybe
play the bad guy, I would say, I don't know. Yeah, yeah,
you know, you obviously need to work together and figure
this out. And you know, again, knock on wood, our
clients have been fantastic and beyond reasonable about things like that,
and so I think that we were so lucky to
(23:36):
partner with such great people.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
And I know that not everyone.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Everyone's not lucky, but yeah, it's it's something you just
have to manage it. You know, It's not rainbows and
holding hands all the time. But sure, at the end
of the day, you know, I'm I'm responsible for payroll,
so I need to make sure that there's enough to
support my team.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
So, Megan, what as as the owner, as the founder
and CEO of Make and Alley, what do you oversee
this business that you've started from scratch? What keeps you
up at night? Is there anything that keeps you up
at night?
Speaker 2 (24:11):
What doesn't keep me up at night?
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Really? So this is for real because every CEO, every
leader has said the same thing, that there is something
that keeps them up.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
You know, I think.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
I think that I am always thinking of what could
we do better or what could we change? And then
you know, the wheels start spinning on on. How would
we make that happen. You know, Once we accomplish a goal,
it's kind of well, what's what's the next goal? You know,
what's the next thing that we do? So and you know,
(24:47):
I guess I'm somewhat new to owning a business, you know,
I've I've owned this for six years. But I think
there's a lot of other people who are much more seasoned.
I think I'm still in the excited to learn phase
of things and trying to implement them. So that's kind
(25:08):
of where I am. It's hard to turn things off
at night.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
But a compliment to you. You you strike me as
someone who is always wanting to learn. There's always something
to learn. I can't ever see you, even though we
just met, I can't ever see you going, ah, I've
learned it all. I've seen it all.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
No, no, yeah, you got me.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
You know. I guess I keep doing professional creditations, you know,
wanting to learn, be up to date on what's the
latest and greatest in the industry.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
I love to travel.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
That that changed with the pandemic, you know, kind of
put the brakes on things. Yeah, and then our kids,
you know, but you know, traveling and seeing the world.
I think brings you a new perspective. It's definitely interesting
for the creative industry to see those things and bring those.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Do you go to trade shows to get ideas?
Speaker 3 (26:03):
You know, we have not recently, and I don't know
because a lot of stuff went online with the pandemic.
You know, a lot of conferences and stuff are now online.
So I think those industries are starting to go back
in person, and I think that's something that would be
energizing for the team to go to and see those things.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Yeah, when you're designing a space, are there are there?
Because I know nothing about your industry, but are there?
Are there? Some things that are just you know, spoken wheel,
spoken hub, Some things just won't change and they are
your basic building blocks of a space or is everything
down to you know, the very first building block change
(26:48):
all the time?
Speaker 3 (26:50):
You know. I think with a lot of the projects
that we work on, we work really hard upfront to
create that base and understand what is what cannot change,
what has to stay the same to make this place operate,
to make it work, defining that and then really going
and being creative outside of that. So you're not recreating
(27:12):
the wheel necessarily those things at the time because you
know that works, and you know that's that's what they
need to function. And then figuring out what other points
in the customer journey can you be creative?
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Sure? Like, for example, when you walk into a retail space,
if you if you've ever I mean, you know, but
if you've ever talked to someone who works in retail,
they'll tell you why this stand is right here or
why this rack is over here. That kind of stuff,
I would imagine just doesn't change. But when you I
imagine you have tons of meetings and you get their
notes on what they do, the dos and don'ts.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Yeah, yeah, and you know, I think again a lot
of times you don't see the back of house, uh
to a retail space or a restaurant that impacts the
front of house. You know, a lot of stuff that
the customer doesn't see, but they would feel if it
didn't work. Wow, those kinds of things are important to us.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Yeah. How many different industries Megan, have you have you touched?
Have you you know, specialized and worked in with your company?
Speaker 3 (28:14):
Well, we're, like I said, we're heaviest in retail and
you know, taking inspiration from Columbus. Uh, it's it's it's
just amazing how many top retail does it really is
in Columbus, Ohio. Respect for all of those companies out here.
I'm probably crazy for starting our retail design company in Columbus,
(28:35):
but you know, it's, uh, it's interesting to do different projects.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
You know.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
We we've done some hospitality, Okay, We've like I said,
I used to do education. We've done some grocery, which
is a really unique beast to get.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Into differences from retail and grocery.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Yeah, okay, yeah, I think they're more concerned about different things.
You know, there's a different hierarchy when you're looking at
those stores, different timetable, different budgets.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
Yeah, it sounds the same like you're just designing a space.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Uh, the logistics are very different.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Sure, sure anything outside of grocery and retail, do you
did you say restaurants as well.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
We've dabbled in some restaurants. We've done some country clubs. Wow,
clubs are on the rise now in the US.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
I think, what do you think that is? It's I
don't know.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
If I can put my finger on it, but you know,
it was a decline in the golf culture, and I
think that a lot of people weren't golfing, you know,
it wasn't cool anymore to golf.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
They're at the bar in the good.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
Yeah, exactly right, and so we designed very nice bars. No,
it just seems like the community. I think, especially after
the pandemic, people want to be part of a community
and have a space to go, space to socialize. And
I think that there's a great opportunity for country clubs
to kind of reimagine what their spaces can do for
(30:05):
their members.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
That's such a great point because I tell everyone all
the time. I'll get asked, Hey, you want to go golfing?
Or I'm like, I have three kids, a demanding job,
I'm married, I don't have any time to golf. However,
could I make time to have a membership at a
country club and have a couple of drinks catch up
(30:27):
with someone?
Speaker 3 (30:28):
Yeah? Sure?
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Much more management?
Speaker 1 (30:29):
Yeah yeah absolutely, I like that. Well, look, Megan, as
we wrap up here, what what are some what's your
vision for the future for Macon Alley.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
You know, I think we just want to continue to grow,
obviously at a responsible pace. I don't want to ruin
the culture that we've worked so hard to create. Internally,
I think that's my number one thing when we're growing.
But we in the last three years we grew over
two hundred and eighty percent.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
So wow, it's kind of.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Mind boggling that that that's the pace of our growth.
But it's really exciting. It's been really fun, and we
would love to impart our knowledge to some other brands,
you know, work with them and understand how they operate.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Yeah, I know you're a very busy woman. You have kids,
you're married. What what do you like to do if
you get any downtime at all? What is it? I
know we talked about travel earlier, but what is it
for you?
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Used to be travel? You know what?
Speaker 3 (31:32):
It's probably just sitting on the couch watching something on
Netflix that my team recommended. I watched five years ago
and I'm just getting around to now watching it, so
so I'm like late to the party. I'm like, oh
my gosh, did you guys see Breaking Bad?
Speaker 4 (31:47):
And they're like, everyone, yeah, I saw that five years
ago before it it went off the air, So you're
not alone.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
By the way, there's there's.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Still it's really painfully honest.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
It's it's funny though, when you're younger, you have more
time where you can go before kids, you can go
out have fun. But now it's like that couch is
one of the most appealing things in the house.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
So sacred, isn't it? The quiet? Yes, I'm control of
the remote.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Oh, there you go, the control of the remote. That's
the secret to life, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
That's the advice I would like to leave with everybody.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Megan Vanderson, CEO of Macon Alley, I have to tell
you this has been a real pleasure. I hope you'll
come back. Maybe we can kickstart this brand new drinking podcast.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
I don't know. I'm in Holland. Thanks Megan, thank you
so much.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
CEOs You Should Know is hosted and produced by Brandon Boxer,
a production of iHeartMedia, Columbus
Columbus in Central Ohio have a rich history of companies
being headquartered here, everything from technology, manufacturing, retail, insurance, and more.
But what about the leaders behind these companies? What makes
them tick? How do they get their start? This is
where you get to meet the captain of the ship.
Welcome to CEOs you should know and iHeartMedia Columbus podcast
For CEOs you should know and iHeartMedia Columbus podcast. It
(00:23):
gives me great pleasure to bring in someone who, by
the looks of things, between community and just you know,
the things that she has done early on to what
she has built now nothing short of aspiring. I want
to welcome Megan Vanderson to the show. She is the
CEO of Megan Ellie. Meghan, welcome, Hi, thank you for
(00:44):
having me. It's great to have you. You are full
of energy. You've got a great smile.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
So I like caffeinated. This is going to be a
great podcast. I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Hey, First and foremost, let's go through what I like
to call somewhat of the basics with someone listening to
the podcast. Let's start with what is Macon Alley.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, so we're a retail design firm. We found ourselves
really focusing on the retail sector. You know, we make
beautiful spaces that are also really functional, and the key
to that is the easy rollout, having them being able
to roll out at scale. You know, we've worked really
hard to position ourselves as trusted partners to multiple Fortune
(01:27):
five hundred companies. But you know what we do for
them is become partners, you know with their internal design teams,
helping them get stores open faster without sacrificing quality. You know,
we found ourselves really thriving in this retail rich environment
where Columbus plays this massive role on the global stage.
And I don't really know if people even realize that
(01:48):
people in Columbus, but you know, some of the biggest
and best brands are headquartered right here and being part
of the city and it's shaped who we are.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Yeah with maconn Alley. How many people do you employ?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, so we have seven people when we're growing hopefully.
You know, they're incredibly talented team members who bring, you know,
a human touch to every project that we do. And
something that I'm really proud of is that we have
one hundred percent employee of retention.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Rate right now.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Wow, knock on wood Yeah. You know, it humbles me
every day to know that this group of people trusts
me and you know, believes in what we're building together,
you know, in their creativity, passion, and I would say
dedication to the company, and you know, I feel so
fortunate to work alongside them.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Megan. That says volumes about you that no one has
ever turned around to you and said take this job
and shove it, Megan, No one has ever said that.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Now, if you're listening, don't take notes.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Team Megan Vanderson is with us. She's the CEO of
make An Allen. Of course, this week's guest on CEOs.
You should know you most importantly do a lot for
the community. What kind of things you involved in?
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Sure, so, we.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Most recently started partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters across Ohio, Cleveland, Cincinnati,
and Columbus. We we've spent some time as a team
reflecting on what sparked our creativity as kids and recognizing
that maybe the pipeline foreignterior designers is not as diverse
as it should be. So how do we spark that creativity?
(03:23):
Were trying to go right to the source and get
kids interested in these kind of fields. Stem projects, creative things. Yeah,
you know, helping them explore these possibilities, giving them.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Resources to explore it.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
We hope to inspire the next generation of architects, planners,
and problem solvers.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Yeah. I always like to ask this of all of
our guests, Megan, and I'm going to ask you this too,
Any words of wisdom when it comes to specifically an
aspiring entrepreneur that wants to do either what you're doing
or just wants to start any kind of business.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, well, I guess I was never an aspiring entrepreneur,
but I will speak of my experience.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
You know, I don't think you can ever underestimate the
power of creativity and adaptability I think is.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
The key word there.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Like I said, I never planned on starting my own business,
but when the stars aligned, you know, I took a
leap of faith and here we are today. You know,
we were just named best Commercial design Firm by Columbus.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I saw that. Congrats, thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yeah, and you know, we're so honored and and it
just feels like further solidification of the reputation that we're
trying to build.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah, Megan, We're going to pull back the curtain now
on this because well, because it's something I like to ask,
and it's it's the journey. It's that CEO, it's that
leader's journey, and it's kind of a you know, get
to know you a little bit. I know you went
to owe you at one point, right, so you're Bobcat right.
Oh yeah, but before that, we're just so things like
(05:00):
where were you born and raised?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I grew up in Finley, Ohio. Okay, never left Ohio
really until till I got married and traveled with my husband.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
But yeah, I grew up in Finley.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I played sports, but my parents were always very open
to if sports aren't for you, what else is for you?
It's more important about staying busy, staying active versus being athletic.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, you know, I played volleyball.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
I loved that. I was in travel teams. But they
also gave me art lessons. So I was one of
the few kids I ever knew to take art lessons
as a kid. It's just something that they noticed at
a really young age that I really gravitated. Yeah, and
you know, when it came time to pick a major,
you know, everyone freaks out, what should I do?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Should I be a lawyer? A doctor? Yeah, you know
all these things.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
You know, I stumbled across the definition of an interior
architect and OU has an interior architecture program, and it
seemed to fit my album solving. I guess love for
problems and puzzles and creative side. I didn't think I
could be just a fine artist. It's I'm not going
to be Pablo Picasso.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Or you know any you know by any means.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Yeah, so, you know, figuring out what kind of career
I could take that and actually get benefits was the
the genus rice, right that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, So I went to OU.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I loved it there, the Harvard on the hockey, so
many good memories and I'm actually thinking now of like
Big Old Street, all.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
These yeah, the great places.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
It's a beautiful campus. It really is.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Honestly, my parents dragged me there. I'm like, I'm not
going I'm going to Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Oh was that your first choice?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Yeah? You know, I got into there and I got
into UC.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
I got a scholarship to you see, and those are
the obvious outside first choices.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, And I went to OU.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I fell in love with the campus. I fell in
love with the staff, the faculty, and it was just
a great fit for me. Yeah, and it was.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
It's you're close, but you're still far enough away where
you know, if if you needed something from mom and dad,
they're there, but you're you know.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah, yeah it is. So we did that made the
best friends ever. Still have you know them in my life,
which I'm so fortunate. But I graduated during the two
thousand and eight downturn economic downturn. Oh yeah, so it
was an interesting time to try to start your career
(07:34):
and really flourish. I was really lucky the place I
got an internship hired me on. So I started off
with a with a great job, a locally an architecture
firm that focuses on educational design.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Oh wow, okay, so it was.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Really great to understand the whole pie, the whole piece,
you know pie as because we started at pitching to
the clients and it ended with doing ribbon cutting after construction,
so you know everything in between. I got experience with
getting your hard hat, going out on site, doing the
drawings like it was all.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
It was all citing for my first job.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
So it sounds correct me if I'm wrong, Megan, It
sounds like you you were part of the entire process
from A to Z christ right, yeah, though it sounds
like fun. And that was your first entrance into Columbus, right,
that was your first time here this internship.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
So I worked there for a couple of years and
I started to realize what Columbus is known for in
the design community, which is is retail.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
There was an opportunity at a local one of the
big four retail design firms and Columbus. I applied and
I got it. Uh so exciting. You know, they they
were obviously skeptical. I didn't have retail experience, like you
need to work hard and you know, figure out this industry,
which obviously you know need to do goes without being said.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah right, Megan was was it a learning curve getting
into retail?
Speaker 3 (09:01):
The pace is certainly different educational design. I mean we
had projects at my first job that lasted five years.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh wow, there would.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Be you know, occupied phased runnos, new builds, something like that.
Some projects in the retail world are a couple of days.
So the pace was almost refreshing after working in an
industry that was a little bit more I don't want,
I don't want to say relaxed, but there was that
the projects were better, they were longer, they lasted longer.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So with retail, am I getting this straight? The turnaround
for a project like what you're working on is extremely fast.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
It can be right, yes, yeah, and for good reasons.
You know, you look at the metrics on the other side.
They need to open a store, they need to make money,
they need you know, there's a reason they want to store.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, well that's fascinating. And so at that point, when
did I guess the light bulb go off with your
with make an alley with need for this.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Even so at that job at the retail design firm,
I was really blessed. I got the opportunity to build
a studio out of nothing. I guess it started with me,
and you know, it ended up being this great, big studio,
most profitable studio in the company. Uh, you know, I
(10:22):
kind of golfed. They were like, oh yeah, you can
hire staff Like wait, wow, Like I.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Get to hire them and interview them.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
So really, young age, I got really lucky to, you know,
fall into that opportunity. And I never really saw myself
doing that, you know, it was just kind of picking
up those opportunities that came towards me, and I guess
that's where I kind of got the spark of well,
(10:51):
I really like leading these people, like I really like
mentoring these people and being in the trenches with them.
I also really like like client relationships. I think that's
where it kind of sparked.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
You know. I went off and did some things on my.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Own a little bit after that, and then, like I said,
the stars aligned and I had this group of people
that I wanted to work with and these clients that
I wanted to work with, and I was like, well,
why don't I just put them together? So really that's
the antithesis of the company.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Megan Vanderson is with a CEO of Make and Alley.
So eventually you got to a point, Megan, where you're like, Okay,
I want to go out of my own here, start
my own business. Clearly, the first employee was you What
did you do? Okay? You you open your doors, You
got the sign that says, okay, we're open, open for business.
(11:47):
Where did you go next? What's what was the first
thing you did?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
First?
Speaker 3 (11:51):
I went back and I contacted my closest former colleagues,
you know, the ones that I really loved working with,
the ones that I wanted to be in the trenches with. Yeah,
and I've slowly collected them.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
For the years. That sounds creepy, collected them.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
But collected or oh my little collectibles.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
No, but I've you know, felt incredibly fortunate to earn
their trust and have them join me on this journey.
And I feel like we're all kind of working towards
the same the same goal, you know, hopefully I'm a
I hate seeing CEO, but I guess I am a CEO.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
You are a CEO. We're that proud that.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
You know, people can trust. I want to build a
business that puts people first. Yeah, people want to work
for you know, we're a small business, so we don't
have to have certain things.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
We don't have to have benefits, but we do. We
have four one k, we have mos amazing, we have
all these things.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
So you know, I don't want I want people to
be taken care of at work and at home.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Good for you. Okay, So Megan, after you rated your
former employer, I'm not I just totally totally I got
to edit that out now too. I'm just trying to
get a laugh out of you. So you you open
up for business Megan, I don't know if you can
talk about your first client, but what how long did
(13:16):
it take after you opened your doors to land someone?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
We were incredibly fortunate, like I said, the stars aligned
and we landed a very large client. They're on the
Fortune five hundred list.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Okay, and they're based here in Columbus.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
No, oh, they're not. Wow, they're West coast Okay.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
So yeah, we we've really been fortunate to land that
big client and kind of build off of that.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Did you can I just ask, did you pitch them?
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Did you like previous relationship with Okay?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
And I think that the retail community really is relationship driven.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Not that I am the expert, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
I think there's people that have obviously been in the
industry long than myself. But it really does seem like,
you know, somebody, you do a good job, you get referred,
they keep coming back for work.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
You're saying, Megan, with retail, it does happen where sometimes
it's who you know, is my experience your experience?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Oay? Yes? Yes?
Speaker 3 (14:18):
But you know, once we've gotten these clients, it's been
really great. Like we have a ninety eight percent of
our clients choose to come back and do another part.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So you know, I think that we're doing something right.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
It reflects you know, the trust and collaboration and you know,
we work really hard to build a partnership.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
With those people.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Megan, I'm curious with this ever increasing time in our
life where it seems like corporations, corporate America. The bottom
line is everything. Do you factor that in? Do you
keep that in mind when you're pitching them ideas of
I don't want to use the word cost cutting, but
just things that are efficient and economically friendly for this sure, yeah, of.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Course you do have to take that into consideration when
you're designing the space. You know, is the product durable,
but it can't be super expensive depending on the project.
You know, is it sustainable? You know, we believe in
doing sustainably friendly designed, so really taking that into consideration
as well.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
You know, what is the life period of this store?
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Are they going to tear it down in five years
or do they want it to stand for forty I
think all of those things you have to take in consideration. Obviously,
at the same time, they want their store open tomorrow,
right like, they want to start making money off of
this store. So how can you do it in an efficient,
fast way, but not sacrificing quality, not making it chaotic.
(15:53):
How do you get their team to cross the finish
line and open that store.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, when it comes to opening a store, I know
there's a lot of pressure. We've we've kind of hit
that a little bit, Megan, Is there is Has there
ever been a point where one of your clients has
been like, Megan, we really need we needed to open
this story yesterday. Do do you pour on extra people,
extra you know, sources to get this the job done?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Of course there's roadblocks along the way. Maybe it's no
one's fault. Maybe there's a product that's late. You know,
there's a thousand things that could infect affect the timeline
you know, of a store opening.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
But our team has has really been great.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
We try to be proactive as much as possible and
avoid fire drills, you know, but if there is a
fire drill, we'll jump in and put it out.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
So, yeah, Megan, I would imagine every project just getting
to know you is probably a baby for you. So
you you know, I'm not going to ask for your favorites,
but is the is there one is there one that
stands out that you know, you'll always have a lasting
memory of like, wow, this that was a tough one,
but we achieved it. We got it done, and I
(16:59):
love it.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Some of my teammates and I recount some of our
past traumas frequently, but I would say that it's more
of the whole account.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
That's the most memorable.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Okay, I'm working with a brand that is so nationally known.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
And getting to see.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Behind the curtain a little bit what goes into the
operations and respecting that. You know, all of the things
that go into a really great store you don't see. Yeah,
so really earning a greater appreciation for that.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Yeah, Megan Vanderson is with us. Who is the CEO
of Macon Alley. By the way, I'll jump back to
that in just a second. But the name Macon Alley?
Where did that come from?
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah? It is a street in German Village, it is. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Like I said, I didn't really plan on starting a
company with multiple people and bigger clients. It was really
just something for me. And our garage was off of
make An Alley.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
So there you go. It sounded great. It's my initials.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Can you tell me tell me about the day that
it went into your head that this is what we
were going to call the company. Tell me where you were,
what you're doing, if you remember. I just I love
to hear this.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Oh gosh, I mean this is gonna sound corny.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Not at all.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Most people, I guess, in my opinion, started or start
a company and they use their own name. And I
didn't want that. I want the company to be about myself.
I don't really like talking about myself, so I wanted
to avoid that. But I used that as a jumping
(18:52):
off point. My initials are M A V and Make
An Alley Ventures, so m AV it kind of together.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Yeah, and that's how it works.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Not the most inspiring story, but.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Hey, someone is taking notes right now. Someone's taking notes.
Megan Vanerson is with a CEO of Macon Alley. Back
to your projects for a sec just out of curiosity,
because I was reading I forget what business magazine, but
it was it was about a contractor who was giving
(19:30):
suggestions and pointers of hey, he's got these government contracts
and this is what he does to try to retain business.
Just out of curiosity. Do you have any secret sauce
when you're done with the project. Obviously you would love
to continue having that client in the future. What kind
of things do you do can a business do to
(19:51):
retain I mean, does it go further than just a
thank you card?
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Oh, it starts at the onset of the relationship. I mean,
it starts at the project.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
He off.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
You know, I think that everything needs to go smoothly.
You need to prove yourself as a partner. Yeah, you
build those relationships, like I said, And our team is
so great, so great at doing that. You know, we're
celebrating our client's birthdays and we're you know, you know,
we're very close to them after you work with them
for so many years. And so I think once you
prove yourself that you can really be ingrained in their
(20:23):
brand and really be trusted to bring up issues, yeah,
or be proactive about solving a problem, like really be
a partner, it almost sells itself. You know, they want
to work with you again. So I think our best
marketing strategy is to just do a good job every time.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah, do you You work for some very big companies
and there's a lot of I mean I'm saying this,
it would appear from the outside, there's a lot of
cooks in the kitchen. So when you start a project,
do they give you like an exit amount of people
to communicate with? Because this is probably any industry and
(21:04):
you know this, a lack of communication gets people in trouble.
When you just don't communicate, it upsets people. And so
how do you how do you do that to make
sure the communications are not crossed? Everything is you know,
crossed and dotted.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I think.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
That that can really be a tripping hazard in projects.
You know, like I said, we've since we're established with
these clients, we do have some points of contact, okay, or.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
We know who to go to for what question?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Sure, you know, I think that as you get up
and running with a new client, that's key to figure
that out. So you're not spinning your wheels, you're not
running in circles.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
You know.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
I think a lot of.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Times, by the time we get involved in a brand
or with a client, the design concepts kind of ironed out. Yeah,
they're not still cooking in the kitchen, I would say
to your point, Yeah, so at that point it's more
on us to understand how they got there, okay, and
how that.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Needs to show up in unique spaces. You know, we
work with.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Clients that have obviously the same concept, but it's ruled
out into specific sites, and you know each site has
its own problems, its own issues. You know, how do
we navigate that per site while still keeping the brand,
the operations, all of that intact.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Megan h not to your fault at all, but just
out of curiosity, because I just I've worked for big
companies almost all my life, So this is probably why
I asked this. When you started a project, have you
ever had something where you're almost done, you can see
the finish line.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Yes, I'll cut you off. Yes, we know.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Each other already, like we've known each other for years.
So they've come back and said, scratch it, we're done.
We can't.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Well, it's more like we've changed directions. We need to
go back and redo everything. So that's usually what it is.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, So on your end as a small business, how
does how does that work? Because you poured a lot
of resources in time, do you I don't know how
else to say this, do you do you make sure
that you're taken care of as you know?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
Yeah, as best we can, you know, And I think
that that's where that's where I come in and maybe
play the bad guy, I would say, I don't know. Yeah, yeah,
you know, you obviously need to work together and figure
this out. And you know, again, knock on wood, our
clients have been fantastic and beyond reasonable about things like that,
and so I think that we were so lucky to
(23:36):
partner with such great people.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
And I know that not everyone.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Everyone's not lucky, but yeah, it's it's something you just
have to manage it. You know, It's not rainbows and
holding hands all the time. But sure, at the end
of the day, you know, I'm I'm responsible for payroll,
so I need to make sure that there's enough to
support my team.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
So, Megan, what as as the owner, as the founder
and CEO of Make and Alley, what do you oversee
this business that you've started from scratch? What keeps you
up at night? Is there anything that keeps you up
at night?
Speaker 2 (24:11):
What doesn't keep me up at night?
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Really? So this is for real because every CEO, every
leader has said the same thing, that there is something
that keeps them up.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
You know, I think.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
I think that I am always thinking of what could
we do better or what could we change? And then
you know, the wheels start spinning on on. How would
we make that happen. You know, Once we accomplish a goal,
it's kind of well, what's what's the next goal? You know,
what's the next thing that we do? So and you know,
(24:47):
I guess I'm somewhat new to owning a business, you know,
I've I've owned this for six years. But I think
there's a lot of other people who are much more seasoned.
I think I'm still in the excited to learn phase
of things and trying to implement them. So that's kind
(25:08):
of where I am. It's hard to turn things off
at night.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
But a compliment to you. You you strike me as
someone who is always wanting to learn. There's always something
to learn. I can't ever see you, even though we
just met, I can't ever see you going, ah, I've
learned it all. I've seen it all.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
No, no, yeah, you got me.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
You know. I guess I keep doing professional creditations, you know,
wanting to learn, be up to date on what's the
latest and greatest in the industry.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
I love to travel.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
That that changed with the pandemic, you know, kind of
put the brakes on things. Yeah, and then our kids,
you know, but you know, traveling and seeing the world.
I think brings you a new perspective. It's definitely interesting
for the creative industry to see those things and bring those.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Do you go to trade shows to get ideas?
Speaker 3 (26:03):
You know, we have not recently, and I don't know
because a lot of stuff went online with the pandemic.
You know, a lot of conferences and stuff are now online.
So I think those industries are starting to go back
in person, and I think that's something that would be
energizing for the team to go to and see those things.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Yeah, when you're designing a space, are there are there?
Because I know nothing about your industry, but are there?
Are there? Some things that are just you know, spoken wheel,
spoken hub, Some things just won't change and they are
your basic building blocks of a space or is everything
down to you know, the very first building block change
(26:48):
all the time?
Speaker 3 (26:50):
You know. I think with a lot of the projects
that we work on, we work really hard upfront to
create that base and understand what is what cannot change,
what has to stay the same to make this place operate,
to make it work, defining that and then really going
and being creative outside of that. So you're not recreating
(27:12):
the wheel necessarily those things at the time because you
know that works, and you know that's that's what they
need to function. And then figuring out what other points
in the customer journey can you be creative?
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Sure? Like, for example, when you walk into a retail space,
if you if you've ever I mean, you know, but
if you've ever talked to someone who works in retail,
they'll tell you why this stand is right here or
why this rack is over here. That kind of stuff,
I would imagine just doesn't change. But when you I
imagine you have tons of meetings and you get their
notes on what they do, the dos and don'ts.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Yeah, yeah, and you know, I think again a lot
of times you don't see the back of house, uh
to a retail space or a restaurant that impacts the
front of house. You know, a lot of stuff that
the customer doesn't see, but they would feel if it
didn't work. Wow, those kinds of things are important to us.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Yeah. How many different industries Megan, have you have you touched?
Have you you know, specialized and worked in with your company?
Speaker 3 (28:14):
Well, we're, like I said, we're heaviest in retail and
you know, taking inspiration from Columbus. Uh, it's it's it's
just amazing how many top retail does it really is
in Columbus, Ohio. Respect for all of those companies out here.
I'm probably crazy for starting our retail design company in Columbus,
(28:35):
but you know, it's, uh, it's interesting to do different projects.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
You know.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
We we've done some hospitality, Okay, We've like I said,
I used to do education. We've done some grocery, which
is a really unique beast to get.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Into differences from retail and grocery.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Yeah, okay, yeah, I think they're more concerned about different things.
You know, there's a different hierarchy when you're looking at
those stores, different timetable, different budgets.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
Yeah, it sounds the same like you're just designing a space.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Uh, the logistics are very different.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Sure, sure anything outside of grocery and retail, do you
did you say restaurants as well.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
We've dabbled in some restaurants. We've done some country clubs. Wow,
clubs are on the rise now in the US.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
I think, what do you think that is? It's I
don't know.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
If I can put my finger on it, but you know,
it was a decline in the golf culture, and I
think that a lot of people weren't golfing, you know,
it wasn't cool anymore to golf.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
They're at the bar in the good.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
Yeah, exactly right, and so we designed very nice bars. No,
it just seems like the community. I think, especially after
the pandemic, people want to be part of a community
and have a space to go, space to socialize. And
I think that there's a great opportunity for country clubs
to kind of reimagine what their spaces can do for
(30:05):
their members.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
That's such a great point because I tell everyone all
the time. I'll get asked, Hey, you want to go golfing?
Or I'm like, I have three kids, a demanding job,
I'm married, I don't have any time to golf. However,
could I make time to have a membership at a
country club and have a couple of drinks catch up
(30:27):
with someone?
Speaker 3 (30:28):
Yeah? Sure?
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Much more management?
Speaker 1 (30:29):
Yeah yeah absolutely, I like that. Well, look, Megan, as
we wrap up here, what what are some what's your
vision for the future for Macon Alley.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
You know, I think we just want to continue to grow,
obviously at a responsible pace. I don't want to ruin
the culture that we've worked so hard to create. Internally,
I think that's my number one thing when we're growing.
But we in the last three years we grew over
two hundred and eighty percent.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
So wow, it's kind of.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Mind boggling that that that's the pace of our growth.
But it's really exciting. It's been really fun, and we
would love to impart our knowledge to some other brands,
you know, work with them and understand how they operate.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Yeah, I know you're a very busy woman. You have kids,
you're married. What what do you like to do if
you get any downtime at all? What is it? I
know we talked about travel earlier, but what is it
for you?
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Used to be travel? You know what?
Speaker 3 (31:32):
It's probably just sitting on the couch watching something on
Netflix that my team recommended. I watched five years ago
and I'm just getting around to now watching it, so
so I'm like late to the party. I'm like, oh
my gosh, did you guys see Breaking Bad?
Speaker 4 (31:47):
And they're like, everyone, yeah, I saw that five years
ago before it it went off the air, So you're
not alone.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
By the way, there's there's.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Still it's really painfully honest.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
It's it's funny though, when you're younger, you have more
time where you can go before kids, you can go
out have fun. But now it's like that couch is
one of the most appealing things in the house.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
So sacred, isn't it? The quiet? Yes, I'm control of
the remote.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Oh, there you go, the control of the remote. That's
the secret to life, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
That's the advice I would like to leave with everybody.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Megan Vanderson, CEO of Macon Alley, I have to tell
you this has been a real pleasure. I hope you'll
come back. Maybe we can kickstart this brand new drinking podcast.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
I don't know. I'm in Holland. Thanks Megan, thank you
so much.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
CEOs You Should Know is hosted and produced by Brandon Boxer,
a production of iHeartMedia, Columbus
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