America: Open for Business

About America: Open for Business

This is "America: Open for Business," where we talk with high-growth Entrepreneurs and Leaders, who have found success in one of the world's most important markets.

Publisher

Cameron Heffernan

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Feb 2024

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

30 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   People First Leadership and AI Search Strategies for Modern Marketing With Kerry Guard

   Kerry Guard is the Founder and CEO of MKG Marketing, a B2B SaaS and technology marketing agency that helps companies build pipeline through search visibility, digital advertising, and strategic marketing leadership. She founded MKG Marketing in 2011 and has grown the agency by helping technology companies develop measurable marketing strategies that support business growth. Kerry is also the host of Back on T-R-A-C-K, where she shares conversations with founders and marketing leaders about building sustainable growth. In this episode: B2B buyers are changing how they research, evaluate, and choose brands. As AI search reshapes how people discover information, companies can no longer rely only on traditional SEO tactics to get found. How can businesses build the visibility and trust needed to become the brands customers and AI systems recommend? Kerry Guard, a B2B marketing expert focused on helping technology companies improve their market visibility, believes companies need to return to the fundamentals of positioning, messaging, and customer understanding. She highlights the importance of creating a consistent digital footprint through content, search, reviews, and third-party validation so brands can clearly communicate who they help and why they are the right choice. By aligning brand messaging with customer needs and external signals, businesses can strengthen visibility, credibility, and long-term growth. In this episode of America: Open for Business, Cameron Heffernan is joined by Kerry Guard, Founder and CEO of MKG Marketing, to discuss B2B visibility and AI search strategies for modern marketing. They explore positioning, digital footprints, and AI-driven search. Kerry also shares how people-first leadership and AI tools shape modern agency growth.

2. 

   2 Sept 2026

   A Modern Approach to Forklift Safety and Worker Protection With Dave Knight

   Dave Knight is the CEO of SEEN Safety, a workplace-safety technology company that develops pedestrian detection systems for forklifts and other material handling equipment. He leads the company as it works to prevent accidents and help people get home safely, using detection technology and data-driven safety insights. Dave's background includes B2B sales, coaching, and advisory work through HearSayDo, as well as sales experience at Gartner, where he earned Club 300 recognition in 2015. He draws on this experience to promote practical, proactive approaches to reducing pedestrian risk around mobile machinery. In this episode: Forklifts and other material handling equipment are essential to industrial operations, but the risks they pose to workers can be severe. With many incidents caused by blind spots, noisy environments, and unreported near misses, how can businesses take a more proactive approach to protecting people around moving machinery? For Dave Knight, a longtime technology sales leader and workplace safety advocate, the key is focusing on risks that are both predictable and preventable. He highlights how pedestrian detection systems can identify workers entering critical risk zones and alert operators only when intervention matters, helping reduce nuisance alarms that workers may otherwise ignore. This targeted approach gives businesses an opportunity to address dangerous interactions before they become serious incidents. Dave also stresses that the true cost of an accident extends far beyond downtime or damaged equipment, affecting injured workers, their families, colleagues, and the wider organization. By combining practical safety technology with better visibility into near misses, companies can make more informed decisions about workplace risk. In this episode of the America: Open for Business, host Cameron Heffernan sits down with Dave Knight, CEO of SEEN Safety, to discuss modern forklift safety and worker protection. They explore pedestrian detection, the human and financial cost of workplace accidents, and global approaches to industrial safety. Dave also shares how SEEN Safety is expanding in the US and building customer value.

3. 

   5 Aug 2026

   The Smarter Way for Global Brands to Enter the US Market With Kevin Dunne

   Kevin Dunne is the Co-founder and CEO of Valet Seller, a U.S.-based Seller of Record platform helping global brands enter U.S. retailers and marketplaces. He leads the company's efforts to simplify importing, fulfillment, compliance, and retailer integrations for cross-border growth. An e-commerce entrepreneur since high school, Kevin has scaled businesses ranging from private-label startups to established designer brands. A SUNY Geneseo graduate with a degree in business management, he combines hands-on operating experience with a mission to make selling in the United States simpler and more accessible for brands worldwide. In this episode: Expanding into the US can open enormous opportunities for global brands, but the operational demands often create costly delays and unnecessary risk. From customs compliance and warehousing to retailer onboarding and order management, how can international companies build a smoother path into the American market? According to Kevin Dunne, a seasoned e-commerce entrepreneur with firsthand experience building multichannel retail infrastructure, global brands can simplify US expansion by using an established partner that combines importing, fulfillment, and marketplace access. He highlights the importance of Seller of Record services, which allow international companies to sell through major retailers without immediately creating their own US entity, tax infrastructure, or warehouse network. This integrated approach reduces operational friction and enables brands to focus more closely on their products, customers, and growth strategy. Kevin also recommends confirming demand and securing interest from retailers before committing significant resources to expansion. Once that demand is established, brands should prioritize trustworthy importing and logistics partners that can protect inventory, manage compliance, and support reliable fulfillment. In this episode of America: Open for Business, host Cameron Heffernan sits down with Kevin Dunne, Co-founder and CEO of Valet Seller, to discuss a smarter path for global brands entering the US market. They explore Seller of Record services, importing and fulfillment, and retail marketplace integrations. Kevin also shares advice on validating demand and choosing reliable logistics partners.