Buying Local S3E38: The Power of Belief in Business with Tim Suprise

In this episode of the Buying Local Podcast, host Mike Nelson talks with Tim Suprise, longtime entrepreneur, brewery founder, and employer engagement leader at SUNY Adirondack. Tune in as they discuss his journey from Army ROTC and law enforcement to launching Arcadia Brewing Company, creative ways to raise capital, the importance of trades education, and how pig roasts and British ales built lasting community connections.

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Connect with Tim on LinkedIn or send him an email today at [email protected].

00:00 Intro and mission behind the Buying Local Podcast
01:07 Tim’s take on offering an alternative to mindless scrolling
02:12 Why small business is the purest path to freedom
03:40 How job security has changed over generations
05:11 The moral imperative of acquiring new skills
06:38 Tim’s return to college at age 65
08:52 AI’s impact on jobs and opportunity in the trades
09:20 The trades shortage and SUNY Adirondack’s role
12:25 SUNY Adirondack’s agricultural program and opportunities
13:56 Regulatory barriers for small farms and producers
17:13 Positive legislative changes for brewers in New York
18:32 Tim’s Army ROTC and Ranger School experience
23:40 Lessons from military training and teamwork
24:47 Tim’s career in law enforcement and politics in hiring
25:50 Transition from policing to professional football and corporate work
31:11 Entering the craft beer business in the mid-1990s
33:12 Raising capital through a Michigan-only stock offering
38:52 Plan B: securing loans and winning investor support
43:08 The power of belief and selling an idea before it exists
46:44 The hidden challenges of entrepreneurship
48:18 How industry changes and staffing shortages impact small business
49:17 Returning to New York to care for family
52:27 Joining SUNY Adirondack and reflecting on its community role
54:33 Looking ahead to the next chapter
56:21 Brewers grain, pigs, and creating a legendary BBQ event