angishields, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Is $17,000 ++ waiting for you to change your career landscape?” Veterans Upward Bound Program

July 23, 2012 by angishields

Career Advancement Radio

Is $17,000 ++ waiting for you to change your career landscape?” Veterans Upward Bound Program

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On the July 23, 2012 edition of Career Advancement Radio, the show’s topic was Educational Opportunities for Veterans “Is $17,000 ++ waiting for you to change your career landscape?” Our panel of speakers included: Jacquelyn Willis-Walker, Educational Program Specialist Georgia State University, Marvin Hall –Acting Director Veterans Upward

Bound, Georgia and Bill Garvey Academic Advisor, Georgia Upward Bound Program. We discussed the Veterans Upward Bound Program and the most frequently asked questions.

The common theme throughout the discussion was the wonderful program opportunities available for Veterans interested in training and educational opportunities available to enhance their career possibilities in the employment arena. We especially touched on the high demand careers for veterans to choose from.

Dr. Marilyn Carroll, Bill Harvey, Marvin Hall, Jacquelyn Willis-Walker, and seated, Dana Barret, Producer

Throughout the show the panel provided information on Veterans educational benefits including Yellow Ribbon Participants, SOC Colleges and how to find them, Using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Veterans Upward Bound Program, State Approving Agencies, as well as other important information including the top 10 fastest growing occupations for 2008-2018.

Marvin Hall – Acting Director Veterans Upward Bound Program, Army Veteran, MOS Medical Specialist. BA in Psychology, and presently am working on a Masters in dministration .As a medic I was attached to an infantry unit that stayed in the field. As I was about to exit the military, I was told that all the necessary people that needed to sign off on my paperwork were in the field. I was advised to sign a blank form but told that someone would get in touch with me and inform me of what benefits I was eligible for. Twenty years went by and I am still waiting for someone to call me. That is why I like my job. This program provides information and assistance about college options. I have nworked for TRIO for a number of years and I am able to provide Veterans with information about getting into college.

Dr. Marilyn Carroll, Bill Harvey, Marvin Hall, Jacquelyn Willis-Walker, and standing Elizabeth Gordon, RadioX Manager

The Veterans Upward Bound program is designed to motivate and assist veterans in the development of academic and other requisite skills necessary for acceptance and success in a program of post-secondary education. The program provides assessment and enhancement of basic skills through counseling, mentoring, tutoring, and academic instruction in the core subject areas. The primary goal of the program is to increase the rate at which participants enroll in and complete postsecondary education programs.

www.gsu.edu/oeo/veterans_upward_bound.html

www.vetsguide.com

Chris Hendley with Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Aaron Zucker with LevelUp. Jason Hennessey with Everspark Interactive. Micah Porter with Minerva Planning Group

July 19, 2012 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

Chris Hendley with Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Aaron Zucker with LevelUp. Jason Hennessey with Everspark Interactive. Micah Porter with Minerva Planning Group

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Chris Hendley/Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau

Established in 1913, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is a private, nonprofit organization created to favorably impact the Atlanta economy through conventions and tourism. ACVB is the liaison between meeting planners, tour operators and its 1,200-plus member organizations.

As the director of membership, Chris Hendley leads recruitment and retention programs for current and prospective ACVB members while managing the membership department.

Hendley brings 11 years of sports experience in sales, marketing and management to the ACVB, including positions with Georgia Force of the Arena Football League, The Arena at Gwinnett Center and Philips Arena.

In his time at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Hendley served most recently as business and community development manager, responsible for implementing the sponsorship sales program. In addition, he functioned as arena manager, director of arena booking and marketing and media manager.

Chris was a founding member and the first President of Right to Hike, Inc., a non-profit organization started to celebrate the memory of Meredith Hope Emerson. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Sports Marketing Department of Gwinnett Technical College as well as the Advisory Board for the Hercules Council at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

Chris grew up in Knightdale, NC, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has been a proud Atlanta resident for 11 years and has been married to his wife, Leslie, for six years.

Aaron Zucker/LevelUp

Aaron Zucker is the Marketing & Public Relations manager for LevelUp in Atlanta. In addition to media appearances on behalf of the company, Aaron also handles event opportunities for LevelUp in the area. Aaron is originally from Charlotte, NC and received both his undergraduate and masters degrees from the University of Alabama. He can be reached via email at Aaron@thelevelup.com.

Jason Hennessey/Everspark Interactive

As CEO of Everspark Interactive, Jason oversees search marketing campaigns for companies in a wide variety of fields when they want to rank for extremely competitive terms in short periods of time. He is continually learning, teaching, and practicing all that goes into a successful SEO campaign.

Micah Porter/Minerva Planning Group

Micah Porter is President and CEO of Minerva Planning Group, a CFA charterholder, and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER practitioner. He began work at Minerva in 2003 with extensive experience in business planning and corporate finance. Micah enjoys working together with individual clients to formulate, implement and update their comprehensive financial plans. Additionally, as a CFA charterholder, he is responsible for establishing and implementing Minerva’s overall investment strategy. Micah is a NAPFA Registered Financial Advisor.

Dion DeLoof, Kelley Hafer, Anteo Group, Atlanta’s Best and Brightest Co

July 19, 2012 by angishields

Good People

Dion DeLoof, Kelley Hafer, Anteo Group, Atlanta's Best and Brightest Co

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Today on Good People, Elizabeth chats with Dion and Kelley from Anteo Group about being one of Atlanta’s Best and Brightest Companies to work for. “We feel strongly that to do the best work for our clients we need to have the best employees who are valued, respected, engaged and happy. Our philosophy is to hire thoroughbreds and let them run.”

Anteo Group is a technology consulting company that delivers effective solutions that enable clients to enhance business performance, maximize revenue, increase productivity and mitigate risk.Using a hybrid model for project execution that combines the best of clients’ internal resources with the most appropriate assets from their vast network of industry experts they are able to deliver technology solutions with a deep understanding of the operational, technological and human issues that organizations face.

Meet the guests:

Dion DeLoof co-founded Anteo Group in August of 2002. Dion is responsible for over-all day-to-day responsibilities at Anteo Group. Prior to Anteo Group, Dion completed 10 years with Allegis Group Inc. His tenure with Allegis Group included a six-year term in Europe where he led Allegis’ first integration of an acquisition, as Director of European Operations for Andlock, The Hague, Netherlands; as well as roles including European Division Director, Engineering Services, Allegis Group, London, England and Director of U.K. Operations, IT Services, Allegis Group, London, England. DeLoof earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Hope College.

Kelley Hafer is responsible for partnering directly with clients’ senior leadership to determine strategic consulting direction for critical business initiatives. Additionally, as Social Media and Marketing Director, Hafer is responsible for providing tactical thought leadership on the expansion of Anteo Group into local and national marketplaces, leading and implementing social media and marketing campaigns. Prior to joining Anteo Group, Hafer worked for Sutherland Asbill & Brennan where she was responsible for assisting on special projects involving strategic planning, client presentations, pitches/proposals, RFPs, competitive intelligence, and various practice group management projects. Hafer is an active member of Women in Technology, Technology Association of Georgia and other professional organizations in the Atlanta IT community. Hafer earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Finance, with honors, from Clemson University and attended business analysis and leadership training at the Consortium Institute of Management and Business Analysis in Italy.

To find out more about Anteo Group visit www.anteogroup.com

Bob Amick, Founder and Owner of Concentrics Restaurants

July 19, 2012 by angishields

Southern Hospitality

Bob Amick, Founder and Owner of Concentrics Restaurants

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Robert Amick, award-winning restaurant entrepreneur, joins Dana and Elizabeth in the studio this week on Southern Hospitality.

Bob shares about his journey, from his career with the Peasant Restaurants, to opening ONE. MIDTOWN KITCHEN, TWO URBAN LICKS, TAP, PARISH: FOODS & GOODS, and his most recent venture, THE SPENCE with Top Chef All-Stars Winner Richard Blais in Midtown Atlanta.

Amick provides full service restaurant consulting from concept to development and spends much of his time these days traveling around the country bringing innovative food experiences to life. He has a long list of successful clients here in Atlanta and has made a huge impact on the food and wine scene in the ATL, not to mention St Louis, Orlando, Montgomery, Birmingham…

Find out more about restaurants, consulting and happenings at

www.concentricsrestaurants.com

Atlanta Entrepreneurs Access Capital, ACE, SmartFunding, Etra Advisory

July 19, 2012 by angishields

Good Morning Atlanta

Atlanta Entrepreneurs Access Capital, ACE, SmartFunding, Etra Advisory

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This morning on Good Morning Atlanta, Dana and Elizabeth host a panel discussion on Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.

Kevin McGee, Ron Hutcheson, and Barry Etra are in the studio to discuss where to get money to grow a business when the bank says no (or before you even bother to apply at the bank). These days without mezzanine financiers many successful, profitable, growing companies need access to growth capital, and their best source maybe somewhere they never thought to look.

First up, your business report and stay-tuned for the insiders guide to intown ATL happenings, here on Good Morning Atlanta.

Meet the guests:

Kevin McGee currently works as a Business Consultant for Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs or (ACE). ACE provides loans to small businesses who lack access to traditional forms of credit. Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs works in partnership with banks to meet “credit gaps”. The personalized underwriting, flexible terms and ongoing assistance gives businesses the support and capital they need to grow and thrive. Beyond the financial bottom line, ACE also offers “green” programs to help businesses become sustainable, operate efficiently and tap into new market opportunities.

Since 2000, ACE has loaned more than $9 million to hundreds of North Georgia businesses, helping create or retain more than 2500 jobs! Ace serves 68 counties, including metro Atlanta. Prior to that Kevin McGee served as Director of Business Development for ACCION USA, a nationally recognized leader in U.S. microfinance working with small businesses and entrepreneurs to provide financing that assists small businesses and entrepreneurs in growing and strengthening the communities they serve. ACCION USA is an affiliate of ACCION International, a global microfinance organization founded in 1961.

Kevin’s passion for helping entrepreneurs developed over the past decade as he lead the hospitality and food service contracting firm he founded in 1999, Horn of Plenty Hospitality. As President and CEO, Kevin grew this company to become a multi-faceted hospitality company with operations in food service management, single and multi-unit franchise consulting, and corporate event management with an array of corporate and institutional clients across the country.

Kevin is President of the Morehouse College National Alumni Association, the Atlanta chapter’s Alumnus of the Year, and a trustee of Morehouse College. He joined the board in 2010 and serves on the Executive, Athletics, Development and Student Affairs committees. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Morehouse School of Medicine as well.

www.aceloans.org

www.georgiagreenloans.org

Ron Hutcheson

President, Smart Funding Solutions

www.smartfundingsolutions.com

Ron and his company provide non traditional funding programs to under-served and under-capitalized small businesses. He has 7 years of experience in the non traditional lending industry and has helped small businesses obtain over $70 million in working capital. Recently, Ron partnered with private investors to develop Consultant Financing™, an exclusive alternative financing program that provides entrepreneurs capital to contract private business development services that will help grow their revenues. In addition to this program, his “Thinking Outside the Banks” seminars and “Where’s the Funding for Small Businesses” workshops are poised to educate over 10,000 entrepreneurs a year about local and national non traditional lenders. Ron and his team are currently working on a cloud based platform where business owners can upload their loan package to be viewed only by the non traditional lenders.

www.smartfundingsolutions.com

Barry Etra has over 30 years business experience, having worked in Sales and Marketing, Operations, and General Management. He has been a factory worker, salesperson, sales manager, customer service manager, VP of sales and marketing, and Chief Operating Officer. He has been in charge of sales teams, customer service groups, design departments, graphics departments, IT groups, production control, manufacturing, die rooms, purchasing and warehousing. He has a BA and an MBA from Columbia University; his MBA is in marketing and finance. Currently he runs the Etra Advisory Group; he specializes in helping companies find funding if they can’t get funded traditionally, or have been turned down by traditional sources. He serves as an active intermediary in transactions to move deals through and gets them done!

www.etraaadvisory.com

July 24th – Blogging Your Way to a Book: Is It a Good Thing to Do?

July 19, 2012 by angishields

Write Here Write Now

July 24th - Blogging Your Way to a Book: Is It a Good Thing to Do?

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You blog regularly. You share ideas or reflect on the world. You offer your unique perspective on your business or profession. You made a pilgrimage or extended journey and blogged about it. Followers of your blog have encouraged you to make a book out of your blogs. You like the idea but is it a good idea? From the Write Here, Write Now/Write Choice Services perspective the answer is a resounding “Yes but . . .!” Michele Sharp and her husband, Wayne, sailed their boat from Bayfield, Wisconsin through the great lakes, the St. Lawrence River/Seaway, into the Atlantic Ocean around the Maritime Provinces and down the east coast of the United States to Punta Gorda, FL. Michele blogged the entire way. Her book – Adventures of a Once Reluctant Sailor: A Journey of Guts, Growth, and Grace – is in the final stages of editing prior to publication. Jeff Sheehan is an integrated marketing and social media consultant, hosts Sheehan Marketing Blog and has over 92,500 followers on Twitter. Jeff has begun work on a book based upon his social media knowledge and experience with blogging and twitter. Michele and Jeff will share their insights and experiences around blogging and creating a book.

Craig Smith, Owner of Vest Properties

July 18, 2012 by angishields

Eugeria

Craig Smith, Owner of Vest Properties

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As the weather starts to heat up, Craig and Carol Smith, Owners of Vest Properties, are hoping for indoor remodeling jobs! Craig has always been around the construction industry. His father was a general contractor, and one of the first to specialize in insurance repair. Craig spent his summers working these construction jobs. Having been born & raised in DeKalb County, he has spent 35 years in construction in Atlanta.

Craig earned his Bachelors Degree in Architectural Engineering Technology from Southern Tech in Marietta. Upon graduation, he joined his father in business on a full-time basis. In addition to the insurance work, they also started doing remodeling. After the birth of their daughter, Craig and Carol wanted for Carol to be able to work from home. To do this, they started Vest properties.

A few years ago, the National Association of HomeBuilders (NAHB) offered a program called Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). This program intrigued Craig and Carol, as they had already observed that the majority of their customers were over 55. Serving the home improvement needs of Atlanta’s aging population has become a very significant part of their business.

To find out more, visit Vest Properties’ website at www.vestproperties.com, or call them directly at (770) 466-4699.

We want to thank Griswold Home Care for sponsoring today’s show. Griswold Home Care has been a preferred provider of high quality, affordable in-home senior care in Atlanta for 20 years.

Beacham and Company Realtors®: Stewart Hammond, Erin Yabroudy, Joseph and Jane Cross, and Blayne Beacham

July 18, 2012 by angishields

Real Estate Atlanta

Beacham and Company Realtors®: Stewart Hammond, Erin Yabroudy, Joseph and Jane Cross, and Blayne Beacham

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Glennis Beacham founded Beacham & Company, REALTORS® in November 2006 after more than 13 years as the top real estate agent at one of Atlanta’s largest real estate companies. She realized the need for a boutique Atlanta real estate firm that specialized in luxury properties and was committed to producing the highest quality marketing materials in the business.

The Beacham office is among many draws that bring Atlanta’s top producing agents to Beacham & Company. From the beginning however, Beacham has insisted on maintaining a boutique feel to the company. Thus, she has been extremely selective about the agents she has invited to join the firm. Along with a host of other criteria, she insists on hiring only agents who share her dedication to professionalism and integrity. As a result, the agents who work for Beacham & Company are among the most experienced and productive in the business.

Here are a few we had the privilege of meeting with today…

Stewart Hammond / shammond@beacham.com

Stewart brings 20 years of marketing, advertising, and business development experience to residential real estate. His accomplishments include being the #2 Buckhead agent in number of homes sold at Coldwell Banker, a Buckhead Top 10 Producer, and a member of Coldwell Banker’s International President’s Elite. He was also named #1 Agent Companywide in 2011 – Transactions Closed.

Erin Yabroudy / erinyabroudy@beacham.com

Erin Yabroudy joined Beacham & Company in February 2008 and quickly established herself as one of the company’s top performers.

A resident of Ansley Park , she specializes in that area and is excited about bringing the Beacham & Company brand to her neighborhood and others such as Morningside and Virginia-Highlands.

Erin also has a significant track record of success in Buckhead, as the former Garden Hills resident was a top 15 companywide agent in the Buckhead office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage prior to joining Beacham & Company.

Among her many civic involvements, Erin was the chairperson of the 2008 Ansley Park Tour of Homes and a member of the Ansley Park Garden Club and the Cathedral of St. Philip . She is also a Morningside Elementary PTA member and a former member of the First Presbyterian School Board of Directors .

Prior to her real estate career, Erin was an elementary school teacher and worked in the corporate office of The Home Depot. She is a native of Athens, Ga. and 1992 graduate of Vanderbilt University. She and her husband, Ron, have four children.

Joseph and Jane Cross / janecross@beacham.com

Jane Cross and her husband Joseph make up Team Cross. Jane has over 22 years of experience in residential real estate and in 2011 was one of the top 5 agents in Closed Volume at Beacham & Company, REALTORS®.

Blayne Beacham / blayne@beacham.com

Blayne Beacham serves as the Director of Creator Services at Beacham and Company Realtors®. She is also Owner and Photographer at Blayne Beacham Interiors, LLC Photography.

Integrating Your Corporate Strategy with Your Client Experience: Mike Wittenstein. Social Media Today: Dorothea Bozicolona.

July 18, 2012 by angishields

BRX National

Integrating Your Corporate Strategy with Your Client Experience: Mike Wittenstein. Social Media Today: Dorothea Bozicolona.

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For two decades, Mike Wittenstein has helped business leaders around the world differentiate their brands by dramatically improving their customer experience. In the process, those clients have gained market dominance, increased their sales, and/or discovered new, unexpected revenue streams.

Now an expert in customer experience design and customer experience strategy, Mike is a sought-after designer, speaker, and consultant. He works in the hospitality, retail, technology, healthcare, and entertainment industries, as well as other service categories. He partners with both established and emerging brands. He has helped retailers like Party City, Kinko’s, Jim Ellis, Alternative Apparel and SOHO Office elevate their retail customer experience, while making it a lot more engaging – and even fun – for all involved. And his keen observational skills and plainspoken, approachable style have given clients like Apple, IBM, and iPay Technologies a new customer experience strategy so that their companies are perceived as different and better by everyday customers.

As an e-Visionary at IBM, Mike launched a consulting practice to help big brands like McDonald’s and Best Buy with customer and employee experience designs. He was also co-founder and CEO of Galileo, a technology communications company nationally recognized for innovation and creativity.

His captivating stories teach companies how to move their products and services from commodities to objects of desire. And he regularly wows audiences with his friendly, smart and witty style, as they learn how to turn everyday customers into enthusiastic brand advocates.

Dorothéa Bozicolona-Volpe is a strategic marketing executive who is fluent in 4 languages. She specializes in developing business for international brands (Fortune 500) via initiating and integrating enterprise social networking, social media and digital strategies, strategic partnerships and marketing technologies. She also teaches marketers how to measure, optimize and build current new media efforts to increase value and develop strong relationships between brands and fans. Some of her clients include: Ryan Seacrest, Ryan Seacrest Productions, Chrysler, Cingular Wireless (AT&T), Georgia Tech, InterContinental Hotels Group, Mercer, Ogilvy & Mather, Reader’s Digest, Qualcomm, Turner Network Television, Coca-Cola. She is an avid skateboarder who tweets to relax.