In this episode of the cityCURRENT Show, Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Rob Baughman of Ironsmith Fire to break down one of the most overlooked — yet critical — aspects of running a business: fire protection and safety compliance.

From sprinkler systems and fire pumps to inspections and NFPA regulations, fire protection is more complex than many business owners realize — and missing key requirements can lead to costly surprises, failed inspections, or even serious safety risks.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What fire protection really includes beyond alarms and sprinklers

• Key requirements for commercial buildings and business owners

• What to look for before buying or leasing a property

• How building use changes can impact fire code compliance

• What annual inspections actually involve — and why they matter

• Common mistakes business owners make when it comes to fire safety

Rob also shares insights on building trust in a relationship-driven industry, growing a service-based business, and balancing the technical side of work with creativity and personal passions.

Whether you’re a business owner, property manager, or entrepreneur, this episode offers practical, real-world guidance to help you protect your building, your team, and your investment.

To learn more, visit ironsmithfire.com or connect with Rob Baughman online.

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Eric Jackson, founder and CEO of Element 47, who highlights his Nashville, Tennessee-based creative branding agency that helps clients align their core messaging and grow through effective marketing strategies. Eric explains their three-meeting process that helps organizations discover and articulate their unique value proposition, using the example of how Dew Tinnin from Skillway communicates that they help people "crush their sales goals and love what they do." The conversation then shifts to AI's role in branding and marketing, where Eric discussed the CRIT prompting method (Context, Role, Interview, Task) for getting better responses from large language models like ChatGPT and Claude. Eric shares how Element 47 uses AI to automate repetitive tasks, creating a blog writing system that can produce 500-5,000 word posts in 10 minutes while maintaining brand voice and sourcing accurate information, allowing the team to focus more on strategic client conversations rather than administrative work.

Visit https://element47.co to learn more about Element 47 and to connect with Eric Jackson.
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Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Marissa Chaney, Executive Director of Speedway Children's Charities – Texas Chapter, who discusses the organization's efforts to support children in need through collaborative partnerships and strategic grant funding, sharing that they have distributed $12.6 million since 1997 in the North Texas area. Marissa explains their grant application process, which includes thorough review by trustees and site visits to selected organizations. She highlights several upcoming events including the NASCAR Tripleheader Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway in May, Laps for Charity in June, a new Hearts in High Gear benefit concert in July, and a December grant ceremony. The interview covers their support of nonprofits serving children with the most critical needs, their partnership with corporate sponsors like Premier Truck Group and GoVision, as well as the impact of volunteer support on their mission.

Visit https://www.speedwaycharities.org to learn more and to get involved with Speedway Children's Charities and the Texas Chapter.