⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipe... In this episode of Marketing by Design, I sit down with @jay to unpack one of the most misunderstood forces in marketing and business: trust. We explore why trust is declining generation by generation, why people are choosing less than ever, and what marketers can do to earn trust faster—without slipping into manipulation.Jay breaks down the research-backed four traits of trustworthiness (competency, reliability, integrity, empathy), how he had to reverse-engineer why audiences trust him, and why “leaving money on the table” is sometimes the strongest trust signal you can send. We also talk transparency vs. trust, invisible selling, and how Jay uses AI to pressure-test ideas without losing his voice.If you’re building an audience, selling services, or leading a brand in a skeptical market—this episode will recalibrate how you think about trust.---CONNECT WITH JAY CLOUSE🌐 Website: (https://www.creatorhq.com/)✍️ Newsletter: https://www.creatorscience.com💼 LinkedIn: / jayclouse 🎙 Podcast: Creator Science---CONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn: / mmgdesign 📸 Instagram: / mindfulmilligan Resources Mentioned
---Timestamps00:00 — Why trust is declining (and why people choose less)01:51 — Trust, loyalty, and why Jay thinks of his wife first05:39 — Humans evolved to trust beyond family lines07:11 — The trust blind spot: 75% think they’re above average08:58 — Reverse-engineering trust with an audience10:00 — The 4 traits of trustworthiness11:22 — Leaving money on the table as a trust signal13:34 — Trust vs. manipulation15:51 — Transparency as a trust substitute21:44 — Packaging ideas: books vs. content25:58 — Why Jay’s book is ~90% net new28:01 — Using AI to steelman ideas35:21 — The fox and the scorpion story39:50 — Choice overload and decision paralysis41:42 — Soft trust signals (confidence, presentation)44:00 — Vulnerability and reciprocal trust48:02 — The “before vs. after” promise of trustTEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: / mmgdesign 🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile
In this episode of Marketing by Design, I sit down with Alex Foulkes, founder of CoLabs, to unpack how service-based and blue-collar business owners can scale without chaos. Alex shares how joining Vistage forced him into the uncomfortable rooms that accelerated his growth, how he went from restaurants to building operational infrastructure, and why the biggest wins usually come from the actions that don’t feel productive in the moment. If you’re overwhelmed, wearing too many hats, and stuck in the day-to-day — this one will hit.
CONNECT WITH ALEX
🌐 Website: www.colabshq.com
💼 LinkedIn: (add Alex’s LinkedIn URL)
CONNECT WITH ANDY
🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - How I structure intros + narrative editing
00:58 - Vistage: why Alex almost said no
03:09 - “Smallest person in the room” discomfort
04:30 - The Vistage speaker that changed Alex’s AI thinking
06:24 - The real value: confidence, exposure, and perspective
10:08 - The unexpected ROI: Vistage paid for itself
17:52 - Why storytelling is the underrated skill
21:19 - From restaurant chaos to structured operator
25:34 - Buying a $600K restaurant with $10K down
31:12 - How CoLabs started (no site, no logo, just proof)
37:26 - The skill behind clarity: poker + strategy
47:06 - Tactical: how Alex finds bottlenecks with data
TEAM
🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/
🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile
Adriana Tica built her business almost entirely through content—but not the “post every day and hope” kind. In this episode, Adriana breaks down how to design content with intention, why newsletters outperform social posts for trust and sales, and how to build a marketing system that compounds instead of burns you out.
If you’re a marketer, consultant, or founder who wants content to actually support your business goals, this conversation will reset how you think about publishing.
CONNECT WITH ADRIANA
🌐 Website: https://adrianatica.com
CONNECT WITH ANDY
🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – How Adriana built her business through content
01:00 – Strategy vs writing: where the leverage really is
02:13 – Why every piece of content needs a goal
06:00 – “Consistent garbage is still garbage”
10:31 – Why long-form content builds real trust
14:41 – Newsletter growth expectations (100 → 1,000 subs)
16:31 – Making your newsletter the center of your business
19:30 – Big ideas, content pillars, and offers
22:57 – Tool stack + AI as a thinking partner
26:11 – Collaborations as trust accelerators
33:43 – Building a business aligned with your values
TEAM
🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/
🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org
⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile
In this episode, I down with Martin Cristaldo, the creator-focused designer behind some of the internet’s best-known sales pages. Martin shares how he went from a traditional agency background to building a lean studio serving top creators like Jay Clouse – designing sales pages that are instantly recognizable and built to convert.
You’ll hear how a single unsolicited redesign changed his career, why he refuses to act like a traditional agency, and how he uses a simple three-step process to turn messy offers into clean, high-performing pages.
TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Intro00:40 – From delivery job to graphic design in Uruguay02:30 – Moving from UX and visuals into conversion-focused work03:45 – The design roast series that started it all04:40 – Rebuilding Jay Clouse’s Creator Lab page in Framer06:25 – Why creators became his perfect niche10:30 – Creator-first onboarding and telling clients “no”12:00 – Martin’s questionnaire and async process explained13:40 – Why he skips wireframes and goes straight into design17:20 – Using adjectives and references to lock in style21:20 – Time spent designing vs everything else23:10 – Being tool-agnostic and building in the client’s platform27:20 – Websites vs sales pages: home vs one room
CONNECT WITH MARTINWebsite: https://martincris.com/Sales Page Crash Course: https://cristaldo.notion.site/Sales-Page-Crash-Course-Martin-Cris-10ae777603df803a8d04f0460374297aLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martincris/?originalSubdomain=uy
Host: Andy Milligan – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/Production by MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
⚡️ Highest Converting Websites Swipe File (Steal The Best Designs on the Internet):
https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile
In this episode, Brian Ondrako breaks down the real reason most people quit too early: the emotional plateau between “starting” and “seeing results.”
We cover Brian’s journey from years of avoiding the first episode to building a 400-episode archive, interviewing legends like Seth Godin and Jason Fried, and teaching founders how to sell with confidence, empathy, and presence.
CONNECT WITH BRIAN🌐 Website: https://brianondrako.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/📰 Newsletter: https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/
CONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/
TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Intro02:20 — The myth of “starting is hardest”06:40 — Brian’s 3-year delay before episode one12:00 — Comparing yourself to giants online15:31 — Action creates mood20:45 — The evolution of Brian’s hosting style27:10 — Seth Godin on imposter syndrome34:10 — The mindset of asking big guests40:49 — Why founders struggle with sales47:32 — The messy middle of entrepreneurship56:30 — Where to find Brian online
TEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org
⚡️High-converting websites swipe file (steal the best designs on the web): https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile
Chris Norton, Founder and Managing Director of Prohibition PR, shares how he went from burnt-out freelance PR consultant working 70-hour weeks to leading a 28-person agency built on focus, crisis comms, and campaigns people actually talk about. He breaks down how to use cultural insight, behavioral science, and a strong “gut check” to choose better clients, protect your energy, and design PR work that drives real behavior — not just headlines.
Listen to this episode to learn how to rethink PR, set better boundaries as a marketer or founder, and build campaigns your audience genuinely wants to share.
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MMG Design is my web design studio that's helped 80+ businesses clarify their offer and design a website they are proud to share.
Marketing by Design is my podcast where we learn how high-performing marketers and founders built their success, and told their stories...by design.
Newsletter: https://mmgdesign.kit.com/mbd
Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
⚡️High-converting websites swipe file (steal the best designs on the web): https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile
Chris Silvestri breaks down how he blends copywriting, UX, and psychology to help B2B teams communicate clearly and convert more customers. He walks through the research-first process behind his Conversion Alchemy framework and explains why most teams hit a message–market fit problem long before a copy problem. If you want to write clearer, understand user behavior, and build messaging that actually moves people, this episode is loaded.
Listen to this episode to learn how to write better, convert faster, and build a repeatable process for high-performing messaging.
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MMG Design is my web design studio that's helped 80+ businesses clarify their offer and design a website they are proud to share.
Marketing by Design is my podcast where we learn how high-performing marketers and founders built their success, and told their stories...by design.
Newsletter: https://mmgdesign.kit.com/mbdWebsite: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
289 founders+marketers learn about web from my newsletter:
Fix that homepage of yours:
https://www.mmgdesign.net/free-audit
This week I'm resharing my recent interview on the Fueled by Progress podcast with Mark Szymanski.
🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YT
🔗 Connect with Andy Milligan:Website: https://www.mmgdesign.netFacebook: / mindulmilligan Instagram: / mindfulmilligan LinkedIn: / mmgdesign X: https://x.com/mmg__designYouTube: / @mmgdesign
269+ Marketers + Founders Learning From My Newsletter: https://mmgdesign.kit.com/mbd
Designer and creator Luks Margerie found a completely new way to get attention: by turning his content into his portfolio.
After quitting his agency job in Germany and moving to Miami, Lukas started posting his learning process on YouTube every day. Within three months, he went from just two freelance clients to full-time work with Magic Path, collaborations with Framer, and a thriving No Code United community.In this episode, Lukas shares how building in public opened every door: from clients to career-changing opportunities.TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Hook: from two clients to booked solid02:50 — Quitting the agency, hitting upload04:20 — Learning live: pause, learn, resume07:57 — 90-day pipeline shift09:29 — A creator’s daily cadence12:45 — Speed over polish (why he self-edits)16:47 — No Code United: help-to-hire loop24:38 — Ten videos = client-ready proof30:57 — The future: creator tool belts39:27 — Magic Path: design brainstorm superpower45:04 — Start messy, stay consistentCONNECT WITH LUKAS💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukas-margerie-99196118a/📹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lukas-margerie👥 Discord (No Code United): https://discord.com/invite/vZxn6wZrDDCONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/TEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.orgTop links:Highest Converting Websites Swipe File: https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefileMarketer's Essential AI ToolKit: www.mmgdesign.net/aiMarketer's Essential Reading List: https://www.mmgdesign.net/books
Watch my Monthly Recap Playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlh2CSTVNn7zEbgJQp4AlbUQL5Xembsgs
In this episode, I walk you through my September 2025 business recap—real numbers, real decisions, and the actions I’m taking next. I break down recurring vs. project revenue, where expenses went (including a special studio session), and how I’m using testimonials, systems, and better habits to drive margin and momentum. If you like transparent ops and takeaways you can steal, this one delivers.
Resources I Mention
Notion • Google Sheets • Moxie • Monarch Money • Senja • Webflow • Framer • Riverside • Brick House Blue • Creator Science (The Lab) • Google Workspace • Adobe • Shutterstock • Podmatch • OpenAI
Timestamps
00:00 – Why I publish monthly, publicly01:25 – My retro format + goals03:10 – Revenue snapshot: $19,440 topline05:35 – Recurring vs. project work: where my margin lives08:05 – Expense breakdown & studio investment11:20 – Contractor hours, Moxie workflow, and margin14:45 – Reading cash-flow in Monarch Money18:00 – Spinning up a testimonial flywheel with Senja21:40 – The Jay Klaus session and why it mattered26:10 – Wins: revenue, AMA site kickoff30:55 – Losses: follow-ups, double work, procrastination36:30 – Personal notes: stress, solitude, discipline41:20 – 33 episodes in the queue—publish faster46:05 – October plan: ops, cadence, 3 launches51:10 – Closing mindset + accountability
If you found value in this episode, please rate and review Marketing by Design on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It helps us reach more high-performing marketers.
Follow Me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/
In this episode, Brad Griffith, Founder of Buckeye Innovation, shares how he works with nonprofits and civic partners who aren’t always a budget fit — by reducing scope, not standards. He explains how curiosity, consistency, and creativity help him deliver impact while protecting the integrity of his team’s work.
CONNECT WITH BRAD🌐 Website: https://www.buckeyeinnovation.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradgriffith/🏢 Brick House Blue (New Albany): https://www.brickhouseblue.com/locations/new-albany-waters-edge
CONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/
Listen to this episode to learn how to protect your craft, serve your clients well, and still say “yes” — without selling yourself short.
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MMG Design is my web design studio that's helped 80+ businesses clarify their offer and design a website they’re proud to share.
Marketing by Design is my podcast where we learn how high-performing marketers and founders built their success... by design.
To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net
Jason VanDevere—founder of Goal Crazy and author of Dream Driven—shares how to stop guessing and start validating.
He walks through his two-step process (focus groups + presell), the daily systems that make discipline automatic (scorecard day, alarm stacking, junk-drawer blocks), and his mindset shift: discomfort is what growth feels like.
You’ll learn how to design your ideal day, take real signals from your network, and build something that lasts.
📘 Dream Driven → https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CYQQZBW8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
🗓 Goal Crazy → https://goalcrazy.com
Fire&Spark founder Dale Bertrand explains zero-click search and why GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) changes how we win attention. He shares the shift from SEO’s performance focus to GEO’s brand-visibility advantage, plus concrete tactics to research longer, more complex queries using niche communities and real customer language.
Listen to this episode to learn how to adapt your content strategy for AI-driven search, reset traffic expectations, and build visibility where your buyers now look.
CONNECT WITH DALE🌐 Website: https://www.fireandspark.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalebertrand/📹 Speaking: https://dalebertrand.com/
CONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/
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MMG Design is my web design studio that's helped 80+ Businesses clarify their offer and design a website they are proud to share.
Marketing by Design is my podcast where we learn how high-performing marketers and founder built their success, and told their stories...by design.
To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net
TAS Bober—founder of The Scroll Lab and co-host of Notorious B2B—shares how one year in sales made her a far better marketer, why she productized landing pages, and how she designed a three-day workweek without sacrificing quality.
We cover the in-house → solo transition (insurance, runway, expectations), her comments-first LinkedIn strategy, and the “time–money–quality” triangle that guides her decisions.
Listen to this episode to learn how to use sales insights to build better marketing, structure a productized service, and ship imperfectly without imposter syndrome.
Resources Mentioned:
The Scroll Lab https://thescrolllab.com/#about Tas's Sass Playground (aka Linkedin)https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasbober/Notorious B2B (TAS & Tim)https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-notorious-b2b-shows-podcast/id1806951823Exit Five Communityhttps://www.exitfive.com/Columbus AMAhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/3736263/TAS’s “TAS” Spotify playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QpUdJqY1jAbVJ2ojbG4Ov?pi=V-fe_DkkRc2y6&nd=1&dlsi=d170e7eff9864e8e
Host (Andy Milligan): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/
Website & Production: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
Hey Friends!
Recently I made an appearance on the "Just Get Started" Podcast with Brian Ondrako.
Brain is an amazing host and literally gave me my hall of fame interview on this show. Be sure to check out the Just Get started Podcast and all of Brian's links below:
Shownotes Page for This Episode: https://brianondrako.com/podcast/andy-milligan
Just Get Started Podcast: https://brianondrako.com/podcast
Work With Brian: https://brianondrako.com/sales-coaching
Follow Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/
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MMG Design is my Web Design Strategy Studio that has helped 80+ founders and marketing teams design a website that they are proud to share.
Marketing By Design is my podcast that interviews high performing founders and marketers and discover how they built their discuss and told their stories, by Design.
For more, go to www.mmgdesign.net
⭐️ Discount Treat: AMAPALS25
Nick Brunker (VML) and Jessica Guido (St. Elizabeth Healthcare) join us to preview AMA Cincinnati’s Ignite Conference 2025.
Together, they highlight why Cincinnati’s marketing community deserves a bigger spotlight and what makes Ignite a can’t-miss event.
Listen to this episode to learn what sets Ignite apart, how CX leaders are rethinking brand experiences, and why being in the room creates conversations you can’t get online.
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MMG Design is my studio that’s helped 80+ start-ups drive results from website strategy.
If that’s something you’re interested in, I’d love to have a conversation.
Marketing by Design is where we interview our favorite founders and marketers andlearn how they built their success and told their stories... by design.
Start a Convo on Linkedin or Book a Free Homepage Audit (Normally $500):In this episode of Marketing by Design, I sit down with Anthony Pierri, Co-Founder of Fletch PMM, to talk about why most agencies are set up to fail — and why productized consulting is the way forward. Anthony shares how doing one service over 400 times took him from 40% client satisfaction to 95%, why public pricing builds trust, and how to make your homepage work like a product page.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – The agency model is broken02:34 – Why paid can’t fix bad packaging06:51 – Good/Better/Best = three businesses10:08 – Why productized margins rise with scale13:34 – 400 reps to 95% satisfaction19:21 – Design still matters (even in wireframes)23:29 – Make your homepage a product page26:19 – Pricing in the hero (controversial experiment)31:18 – The BOM video: pre-qualify buyers34:49 – Why Fletch shares their entire playbookCONNECT WITH ANTHONY💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonypierri/🌐 Website: https://www.fletchpmm.com/CONNECT WITH ANDY💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/TEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org
Join 211 Founders and Marketers on My Newsletter.
Maria Marchewka always heard people describe ghostwriting as “writing in the shadows.” But when she started ghostwriting on LinkedIn for busy founders and executives, she realized the truth was far more powerful — ghostwriters are building authority, credibility, and opportunity behind the scenes. In this episode, Maria shares what ghostwriting really looks like, why marketers misunderstand it, and the impact it can create when done well.
Listen to this episode to learn why ghostwriting is one of the most underrated growth levers for modern marketers.
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MMG Design is a web design studio that helps founders and marketing teams quickly explore a new design direction for their website
Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.
To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net
Vincent Grippi, Founder & CEO of Grippi Media, shares how moving from “post daily” to campaign-first content created deeper engagement and better clients. With 16+ years of experience in healthcare and tech marketing, Vincent explains how one flagship video can expand into an article, newsletter, and carousel—without burning out your team. We also dig into why smaller audiences convert better, why community is the next marketing moat, and how to measure depth instead of likes.
Listen to this episode to learn how to design fewer, better content assets that actually drive pipeline.
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MMG Design is a web design and agency working with B2B founders and marketing teams to quickly a higher-converting design direction for their website.
Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.
To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net/podcast.
Join My Newsletter To Learn More Every Week!
📚 Marketer's Essential Reading List Free Notion Database: https://www.mmgdesign.net/books
In this episode, I answer Reddit’s most popular questions about web design freelancing, lead generation, and building systems as a solo founder. I share exactly how I’ve landed clients through podcasting, how I use LinkedIn to spark real conversations, and what I do to keep my pipeline full even in slow seasons—all from my perspective running a six-figure web design studio.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Intro02:12 – What’s the fastest way to turn a podcast guest spot into a client?07:45 – How do I structure a podcast to lead to business?12:30 – What podcast format brings the best ROI?16:05 – What LinkedIn post types actually spark client conversations?21:22 – How do I grow my LinkedIn without spamming?25:50 – How do I follow up with LinkedIn engagers?30:18 – If I needed 3 clients this month, where would I start?36:42 – How do I qualify leads to avoid bad-fit projects?42:20 – How do I keep my pipeline full in slow seasons?49:05 – Why I prefer Webflow over other platforms54:40 – What tools make my client handoff process smooth and foolproof?01:01:10 – How I test new designers before giving big projects01:07:12 – My advice for scaling without full-time hires
CONNECT WITH ME
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/
TEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org