Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesdays at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Atlanta Business Radio is sponsored by Fast Pitch! Networking which is a one-stop shop for networking and marketing your business online. Please go to their website www.fastpitchnetworking.com and when you mention you were referred by Lee Kantor when you sign up you will be helping the show! Thanks.

On this morning’s show Amy Otto and Lee Kantor started out by discussing some of the upcoming networking events happening in the Atlanta area. We mentioned the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and their website www.metroatlantachamber.com. We also gave a shout out to our friend Sandy Richardson from the Gwinnett Chamber and her website www.gwinnettchamber.com.

We talked a little about Powercore, a closed contact business networking group. For more information about them please go to their website www.powercore.net. And for a pretty comprehensive listing of all kinds of Atlanta Events including Business Networking events please check out www.AtlantaEvent.com

Our guest today was Don Rigby founder of Integrated MarCom. Integrated MarCom was launched in February 2006 in order to help emerging companies achieve sustainable organic growth.

Don has been in Atlanta for 15 years. His background is extremely diverse. Don has done everything from performing on Broadway, to working in Radio to being the Head of Marketing for a software company. He has lived through 9 mergers and acquisitions and shared some of what he has learned on the way.

Don spoke about the 4 Pillars of Structured Growth which are: Strategy, Messaging, Execution and Sustainability. He shared examples of how his process has helped clients in a variety of industries including: financial services, mortgage and staffing.

Some of the specific issues Don has helped companies with are: positioning companies as the go-to resource in their space; improving conversion rates from lead-to-prospect-to-client; and enhancing the lifetime value of the client.

Don helps emerging companies dig deep within themselves and analyze what has worked in the past, what is working now and what will work in the future. Once he has uncovered the hidden potential of a company, he then gets buy-in from the top to the bottom of the organization and then he integrates his proven business development processes seamlessly into the company. And he is so confident in his ability and his processes he guarantees their effectiveness.

For more information about Don Rigby and Integrated MarCom please check out their website www.integratedmarcom.com. You can reach Don by phone at 770.552.6028 or by email at don @ integratedmarcom.com.

If you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one anothers successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

Erik Wolf with Zero-G Creative was kind enough to guest host for Amy this morning. Check out Erik’s website at www.ZeroGCreative.com

Our guests this morning were serial entrepreneur Brian Cork founder of brian cork Human Capital. Brian is a leader in executive recruiting and executive coaching. He explained the difference between an entrepreneur, an intrapreneur and a corporate employee. He also explained his philosophy about business and success, You can learn more about Brian and his firm at www.bchcroi.com or on his personal blog www.briancork.blogspot.com

You can check out Brian at the Vinings Club for a Catalyst Magazine sponsored talk on Raising Capital on September 11. Go to www.catalystmag.com to register. Brian is also speaking at Radford University’s Economic Summit in October – go to Brian’s website for more information on that. Also a big congratulations to Brian for in inclusion on the Inc magazine Top 500 companies list and also to being named one of Catalyst Magazine top 25 Entrepreneurs…both honors are for the second year in a row.

We also had on Holly Green is the CEO and Managing Director of THE HUMAN FACTOR, Inc. based in San Diego, California. She has over 20 years of executive level and operations experience in FORTUNE 100, entrepreneurial, and management consulting organizations.
Her book, More Than A Minute: How To Be An Effective Leader & Manager In Today’s Changing World lends voice to her corporate experience and goes beyond the theory of leading and managing by providing practical action oriented information to those aspiring for greatness in business. For more information about Holly and her firm please go to her website www.thehumanfactor.biz or www.morethanaminute.com Holly will be in Atlanta speaking about Bursting Your Bubbles on October 10. Check out her website to register and to get more information.

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one anothers successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

This morning we had our social media special featuring Teo Graca with NetTeams and LinkedIn Specialist Sean Nelson with Acuity Benefits Solutions.
We started off with Teo explaining his company’s turnkey membership management system and how it bridges the gap between face to face online networking. The idea was developed by President and CEO Teo Graca who has over 25 years of design research including experience with the State Department, the Military, Fedex, Lockheed Martin and other Fortune 100 companies. Mr. Graca has leveraged this intensive background to develop the Net-Teams community solution to customer relationship management. His burning passion to develop a single networking platform for multiple networks has produced an easy-to-use and intuitive system. It is focused on users in the small to mid-sized business market, but can be used within larger companies too. For more information please go to Teo’s website www.net-teams.com

Next up we had on Sean Nelson, author of Got LinkedIn, From Clueless to Connected in 6 Days. He is also President of Acuity Benefits Solutions. Sean shared some of his best tips to maximize the powerful networking tool LinkedIn. He believes the vast majority of people who have a profile on LinkedIn are not using it to its fullest potential. He also explained how he uses linked in while networking offline as well as online. For more information about his book or his company please go to his website www.linked101.com or www.acuitybenefits.biz

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.
Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one another’s successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

This morning we were fortunate to interview former Olympic level decathlete Spud Alford. Spud has founded an innovative game compnay called Zelosport. Zelosport creates products that put families back together again in the kitchens and living rooms playing wholesome games and building lasting memories. And with Finger Football, as well as all the games that have followed, the playing field is level…regardless of age, size, shape, athletic skills or ability, everyone has the same chance at winning. This game is licensed by the NFL and many collegiate teams as well.

Starting in the Fall of 2008, you’ll begin to see and hear about the Finger Football national tournament holding local, state and a national championship. They’ll provide a structured league format so that anyone wanting to compete on a national level will have that opportunity.

Spud hopes you will give Zelosport and one of their many games like: finger baseball, finger golf, finger soccer and of course the game that started it all finger football the chance to be a part of your family and the many memories you will carry with you throughout your life. For more information about buying your own game please go to their website www.zelosport.com or www.fingerfootball.com
We kicked off the show with Brent Brooks and Michale Harper from Blank Stage Productions.

Brent began his career performing as an actor fifteen years ago, and was a founding member of the Atlanta based “Comedy Response Unit” improvisation troupe. Brent began working behind the camera as well, and started his current production company, Blank Stage Productions, three years ago. Brent’s first feature-length film, “Art of Suicide,” was an Official Selection in the 2007 Asheville Film Festival and won “Best Underground Film” at last year’s Indie Fest USA Film Festival.

Michael began creating his own stories at the age of eight. After years working as a freelance comic book writer and illustrator, he made the move into animation, and finally, to screenwriting. He is currently the Head Writer for Blank Stage Productions, and leads The Blank Page Screenwriters’ Group.

The Blank Stage is unique among Atlanta-based production companies in its multifaceted approach to client needs. Blank Stage is a full-spectrum video production company, with a functional “black box” theatre space for live performances, and an instructional component, offering classes and workshops on a variety of aspects of the performing arts. For more information about their upcoming performances like Mr Right Enough and all of their video production and improvisation workshops please go to their website www.blankstageproductions.com

We closed the show with master networker Chi Chi Okezie. She is the author of the top selling book SIMPLEnetworking. She shared some of her best tips on netwroking, business etiquette, cultural awareness and image consulting. For more information about netwroking, Chi Chi, her book and all of her upcoming appearances please go to her website www.snseminars.com

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.
Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one another’s successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

Our first guest this morning was Elizabeth Gordon, Author of the Amazon Best Seller The Chic Entrepreneur and President of Flourishing Business. Elizabeth told us all about her work with The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta and how she is able to help women owned businesses flourish. For more information please go to her website www.flourishingbusiness.com

Next we had on Dr Andrea Robbins and Brent Darnell co-hosts of The Total Leadership Conference, a four-day kickoff of to a yearlong program that will create fundamental behavioral change by focusing on individuals’ mind, body and life. The conference will take place from Sept. 25 – 28 in fabulous Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.

Hosted by Brent Darnell International, a training and consulting company that teaches people skills to technically trained professionals, and Naturally Balanced, a natural healthcare provider headed up by Dr. Andrea K. Robbins, DC, ND, The Total Leadership Conference will offer a myriad of interesting classes on improving communication, self-awareness, and wellness.

Prior to the conference, participants will be given emotional intelligence and health evaluations in order to assess their particular needs. During the conference, participants will create personal development and wellness plans and be given all the tools that they need to improve their leadership skills, improve their health, and reach their goals both personally and professionally. .

After the four-day kickoff, participants will be contacted by a health/wellness coach and a life/leadership coach throughout the year to encourage them, motivate them and give them what you need to become the best that you can be. Space is limited to the first 100 people. For more information, visit www.BrentDarnell.com or www.NaturallyBalanced.com.

Next up we had on small business marketing expert and web design guru Erik Wolf with Zero-G Creative. Erik has leveraged his corporate experience in several diverse industries like packaged goods, information technology and journalism into a thriving small business marketing consulting business. Heading the marketing communications department of a global manufacturer helped prepare Erik for his work with small business owners at Zero-G Creative.
Working in the corporate sphere and tasked with the job of managing traditional advertising, marketing and design agencies as well as freelance designers, Erik quickly learned that the system was flawed – and that very few companies were well-suited to serve the small and medium-sized businesses that he worked for. Realizing that his experience made him uniquely qualified to help small business owners market their products and services. For more information about Erik and Zero-G Creative please go to his website www.zerogcreative.com

We closed the show with Darrell Rodgers, President of Emerald Data Networks. Darrell explained that he helps align his clients technology with their business objectives. In order to best determine the right solution Emerald takes the time to thoroughly understand their clients’ business and goals. Darrell shared that Emerald has just been awarded the 2008 Community Service Award from the Better Business Bureau for their help in wiping clean and finding new homes for old computers. To learn more about Emerald Data Netwroks and Darrell please go to his website www.emeralddata.net

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one another’s successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

<!–[endif]–>Our first guest this morning was Stone Payton a Sales & Marketing Troubleshooter who specializes in helping Training & Consulting firms Solve Their Sales Problem.
Affectionately known as “The Most Candid Consultant On The Planet,” and widely recognized as the man who literally wrote the book on SPEED®, Stone is no theorist. He works exclusively in the “No Bull” Zone, and has a real job just like you and your team. Several actually . . . serving as Chief Sales Officer, Trusted Advisor, Sales Troubleshooter, and Top Producer for some of the world’s most respected Training & Consulting firms.

For over 20 years, Stone has been helping organizations drive their business strategies more effectively. His unusual candor and energetic style provide a refreshing and much needed perspective to clients striving to improve their organizational SPEED (the ratio of results to time invested).

Mr. Payton is an accomplished speaker, published author, and co-founder of MarketMateTM a unique network of consulting firms and individual specialists solely dedicated to helping clients Grow Their Business Fast. He is speaking at a Growth Answers event on Wednesday August 20 at 7am at the Georgian Club for more information please go to www.growthanswers.com. For more information about Stone please go to his website www.marketmate.org or blog www.stonesells.blogspot.com
Next we had on Procurement Guru Norman Conway with Prorizon. Norman was just named the Pro to Know from Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine. Norman explained that if your company issues more than 500 POs per month, his Web-based e-procurement system can streamline and automate your processes, cutting costs by 45-75%, an average of $60 per PO. It”s so easy to implement you can go live on their Web services platform within 45 days without having to buy and implement software or overhaul your current systems. Prorizon helps you Streamline procurement processes; Maximize resource utilization; Standardize user-controlled buying; Track assets and Audit performance. For more information please go to Norman’s website www.prorizon.com

Next we had on Michael Thomas National President of the CRM Association. Michael explained that Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is now part of the mainstream. Customer strategy is “ordinary” and something that is a day-to-day concern for all enterprises, large or small. The business universe has shifted its focus from the company at its center to the customer at its hub.

As a result, the CRM industry has matured. More than ever, firms that do nothing but work involving the analysis and enrichment of customers abound. CRM as an industry has not just practitioners, but vendors, integrators, management consultants, boutique specialists, evangelists, analysts, pundits, bloggers, authors and even detractors!

As the industry has matured, so has the customer – not just the industry’s customer but the customer that CRM was created to support. The customer experience, formerly an art and a gut check, is now a cutting edge science that is necessary for business growth and differentiation in an era where customers are fully empowered and highly volatile.

CRM Association represents the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) industry and all its constituents. CRM represents what is now becoming an organized body of knowledge and strategy to be reckoned with. The CRM Association aims at representing the industry as not just a purveyor of knowledge and information, but an action-oriented association that will protect and promote the interests of customer relationship management and its institutions and provide the members with the tools that it needs to enrich and improve that customer experience – be it the member’s direct customers or the customers of the members customers. Please learn how to join Michael at his association’s big Return to Customer event August 26-27. For more on the CRMA please go to www.crmassociation.org or to learn more about Michael and his company Neighborhood America please go to www.neighborhoodamerica.com

We closed the show with Susan Knox Founder of Corporate Connections. Corporate Connections provides direct Access & Highly Targeted Introductions to individuals helping fill your Pipeline & Accelerate the growth of your business. Susan explained that People Do Business with people they Know, Like and Trust. The challenge is it may takes weeks, months and often years to get connected to the Right Relationships. Being a native Atlantan, Susan has spent the last 10 years of her career building Trusted Relationships which helps others expedite their business development initiatives. Corporate Connections Accelerates your opportunity to meet the right people at the right time at the right place. For more information about how you can tap into Susan’s Golden Rolodex please go to her website www.corporateconnections.us

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Remember if you want a pretty comprehensive listing of all kinds of Atlanta Events including Business Networking events please check out www.AtlantaEvent.com.
Before we got started we had big news from one of our recent guests, Bart Foster with SoloHealth. Remember Bart created that innovative EyeSite^TM self-service vision testing kiosk. Well, SoloHealth has been selected as a semi-finalist for the $100,000 entrepreneurial contest from a list of more than 1,500 entries. SoloHealth is the only Georgia company to make it to this stage of the competition. Online voters will select the top five finalists by going to www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/boostyourbusiness/, watching the finalists” 30-second videos, and voting for their favorite entrepreneur between now through Sept. 30. Winners will go to New York later in the fall to compete in the finals. So please support Bart by going to the Forbes website and voting for him.
Our first guest this morning was Blake Hauger with Waterford Loan Consulting, a fully licensed and professionally certified mortgage consulting firm. His compnay is not a mortgage broker or a lender. At Waterford they do the mortgage shopping for you.

They help eliminate the shopping headaches, last minute changes, and offer security during the mortgage process. They are making sure their clients get the best rates and terms from the mortgage brokers and lenders.
Who better to determine the mortgage rates, and closing cost than the person that works as a fiduciary for you? He has extensive experience in the industry and uses that insider knowledge to get his cleints the best deals. His service will not increase your closing cost. Instead on average he saves people $1000 to $2500 plus per loan. For more information please go to Blake’s website www.waterfordlc.com

Next up we had James Galloway with Intown Healthy Hound & City Kitty. This innovative retail store helps you feed, wash and treat your pet the natural way.
Owned by James and his wife Bridget, Intown Healthy Hound’s mission is to provide products and services to keep our community’s pets safe, happy and healthy. The store’s products and practices are designed to be environmentally-friendly as well.

Located in the heart of Grant Park, Intown Healthy Hound & City Kitty is also a great neighborhood gathering place after a romp in the park. For more information about James’ store as well as his home pet food delivery servie please check out his website www.intownhealthyhound.com
Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Remember if you want a pretty comprehensive listing of all kinds of Atlanta Events including Business Networking events please check out www.atlantaevent.com.
Today we talked to Debbie Shannon COO of Action Secure Shredding. She started the business in October 2007 after a battle with identity theft. She and her partners have continued to grow the business to a thriving new company. All materials that the company shreds are recycled and shredded securely. She drives the truck as well as doing sales and marketing. She enjoys helping her community and looks forward to community shreds.

She has been in Atlanta for 9 years and calls Atlanta, Georgia home. She is a member of PowerCore and the Atlanta Downtown Express Network of the American Business Woman’s Association. In her spare time she is a plus model here in Atlanta as well as being a beauty queen with the Miss Plus America Pageant. For more information please check out her website www.actionsecureshredding.com

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Remember if you want a pretty comprehensive listing of all kinds of Atlanta Events including Business Networking events please check out www.AtlantaEvent.com.
Today we talked toDavid Cohen, founder of Equation Arts, the place to go for Whole Brand Thinking.
David is a creative start-up veteran experienced in defining technology vision and product strategy for software and service companies in a wide range of industries. His entrepreneurial mindset and practical approach have led to the successful launch of numerous products and services including: unified messaging, web-based access to personal health-care information, alerting and notification applications, content transformation for wireless devices, mobile applications for CRM and SFA, VoiceXML-based IVR infrastructure services, and ruggedized solutions for field service. He is experienced in fund-raising, business planning, market strategy, product launches, pricing, brand creation, search engine optimization, differentiation analysis, product definition, and start-up coaching.
David also brings an artist’s eye and creativity to his work. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Atlanta. His award-winning web design and user interface work has been displayed in articles in PC Magazine and Internet World and used as an example in the book Dynamic HTML Black Book for his innovative use of dynamic content. He has led creative teams on co-branded projects with CompuServe, The Weather Channel, Erols, Bigfoot, USA.net, Polygram, and American Express.
For more information about David, his blog, his art and his firm please go to his website www.equationarts.com
Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.