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BRX Pro Tip: 3 Ways to Build Brand Loyalty for Professional Services Firms

May 8, 2024 by angishields

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BRX Pro Tip: 3 Ways to Build Brand Loyalty for Professional Services Firms
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BRX Pro Tip: 3 Ways to Build Brand Loyalty for Professional Services Firms

Stone Payton: [00:00:00] And we are back with Business RadioX Pro Tips. Lee Kantor and Stone Payton here with you. Lee, we have addressed through our BRX Pro Tips series the concept of branding from a lot of different angles. I’d like to take a swing at building brand loyalty.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:20] Yeah, I think it’s super important to differentiate yourself among the others that do similar things that you do in the marketplace. And so, you want to be ultimately that go-to or ideally the only person that your prospect can go to, to solve a specific problem.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:40] And ways that you can enhance that brand loyalty, especially if you run a professional service firm, is you have to be crystal clear about your secret sauce. What is it about you or your firm that makes you so special and that makes you that go-to person to solve this specific problem? You have to be able to articulate that. You have to be able to show that this is the only place to solve this problem in the marketplace. And if you want this problem solved, choose us.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:09] And in order to kind of elevate that and build the trust and reputation, a great way to do that is to emphasize case studies, testimonials, use cases, and all the social proof you can find that really illustrates that you can do what you’re promising that you can do. So, if you have this kind of niche and you own it and you’re the go-to and then you have preponderance of evidence that says you’re the go-to, it’s going to be a lot easier to get your next client.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:43] And then, once you have that stable of clients, create a strong, engaged community among them. If you can bring them all together and host events, and conferences, and education, and mixers to bring that community together so they can interact amongst themselves, you’re going to further separate yourself from everybody else. You really become that place where business gets done and that these problems get solved.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:43] So, if you can do those three things, then you will not have any more competition. You will be the only game in town and the only person or group that can really deliver these kind of results.

Jennifer Edmondson with Baby of Mine 4D Ultrasound 

May 6, 2024 by angishields

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Jennifer Edmondson with Baby of Mine 4D Ultrasound 
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FF-Jennifer-Edmondson-bannerBaby of Mine 4D Ultrasound is Dawsonville, GA’s premier ultrasound imaging center. Our 2D ultrasound allows you to see the traditional black-and-white images of your baby in the womb, while our 3D ultrasoundprovides a three-dimensional view of your baby, allowing you to see more detail and contour. And our 4D ultrasound takes it even further, providing you with real-time footage of your baby in the womb, allowing you to see their movements and facial expressions.

Jennifer-EdmondsonJennifer Edmondson, owner and founder of Baby of Mine 4D ultrasound.

Between a rock and a hard place, that’s where I found myself in 2016. Things were changing, and I needed to pursue a different career. I began my journey as a banker at the age of 17. It was a good job, but I didn’t view it as a long-term option. I knew I wanted to start a family and be able to stay at home to take care of my kids during their early years. I’m a proud mom of three! My youngest was two when I returned to banking. In 2016, lifestyle changes led me to a situation where I knew I couldn’t make enough and stay where I was.

Snowed in at the hospital, waiting for the arrival of my niece, my sister and I got to talking about it all. Being in that moment and experiencing things from the opposite side of the hospital bed, I became more excited. I knew what I wanted to do! It would be challenging, but I prayed about it and knew I had to at least try. The next morning, I called a school that offered a two-year program for ultrasound. Not only did I get in earlier than expected, but I also fell in love with sonography!

Follow Baby of Mine 4D Ultrasound on Facebook and Instagram.

Transcript-iconThis transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix

 

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: [00:00:07] Coming to you live from the Business RadioX Studio in Woodstock, Georgia. This is fearless formula with Sharon Cline.

Sharon Cline: [00:00:18] And thank you for listening to Fearless Formula on Business RadioX, where we talk about the ups and downs of the business world and offer words of wisdom for business success. I’m your host, Sharon Cline, and today in the studio, I’m very excited to speak to this founder and business owner of Baby of Mine 4D Ultrasound. She serves a bunch of different places in North Georgia. Please welcome Jennifer Edmondson. Hello.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:00:41] Hello. Thank you for having me.

Sharon Cline: [00:00:42] You’re welcome. Thank you for coming on the show. I’m excited to talk to you because I love everything about what you do, which is you are giving all kinds of patients and mothers a inside view and an early preview of what their babies could possibly look like, which is the dream. When you’re pregnant, it’s like all you think about is like, what’s this baby going to be like? And then you actually give them that.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:01:05] Yeah, it’s so much fun. Like, well, first of all, thank you for having me.

Sharon Cline: [00:01:09] You’re welcome. Of course.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:01:10] I’m a little nervous here now that we’re live, like I said, but, you know, here we go. But, um, I just want to say that I’ve been through this experience three different times, but actually never through. Did I see my kids through 3D or 4D. So this was really interesting. Whenever I saw my first 3D or 4D, like I said, when my own kids. But even the 2D is really cool. Whenever you just get to see your baby boy or your baby girl, you know for the first time and hearing their heartbeat for the first time, um, having the grandparents in there, I mean, it’s just the whole experience is is just really fun, what I do.

Sharon Cline: [00:01:42] Well, I had initially thought I would be a nurse at one point, and I, I did go to nursing school for a couple years, and I wanted to be in labor and delivery because I always considered that to be the happiest place in a hospital, you know, as opposed to people being sick. But I really had a problem. I mean, ultimately I had a problem with blood, which is a huge problem if you’re a nurse. Anyway, I didn’t wind up, but I love the notion of what you’re doing is you are giving people that like that joy that they have knowing this little family member is coming. You are part of that. Which is why I loved labor and delivery because I’m like, look, a little baby, you know? But there’s a lot of other sides to it. Of course, it’s not just all happy all the time, but in my ideal world, I thought it would be. So what I like, though, is that you really are giving those that moment, that joy to them that they’ll always remember. And do you also give them a copy of of the ultrasound that they take?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:02:33] Um, it depends. I have different packages that you can go through. Oh, cool. And so like my minimum one would be the 45 peekaboo session. Right. And that’s like for ten minutes and you get to hear a baby’s heartbeat. You get the 2D grayscale imaging. You get two prints of that. So it depends on what service that you come to. But we do the 3D and 4D. And then there’s one that you can get the flash drive. Or you’re going to always go out with, you know, at least a black and white photo or email that’s sent to me right now. I’m being open. For the last two and a half months, I’ve been doing a lot of emails, just sending them that way, and a lot of people seem to like it. And then perfect, you know? Yeah. Easy fun. Yeah.

Sharon Cline: [00:03:09] Well, when I think of ultrasounds, I think of the old school, you know, black and white fuzzy. You might know what the gender is. You might not. But tell me what it’s like to actually see if a listener doesn’t know what it actually sounds or looks like. What would what would you describe it as?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:03:25] Um, let’s see. Well, the 2D grayscale imaging part is the black and white photo, and it depends on to what you’ll see how far along you are. So I don’t usually start scanning until the woman is at least ten weeks pregnant because I just do above the abdomen. Right. And so you should wait at least 10 to 11 weeks to come in. So it all depends on the stage of the pregnancy and what you’ll get to see when you’re that early. You may just not be able to really know what you’re looking at. But a blob.

Sharon Cline: [00:03:54] Like a peanut, they call it like a little peanut in there. Oh, I got you. Well, I bet there are people that still just would love to see as much as they could from the very beginning.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:04:01] Oh, definitely. And then, you know, just like and I’ll do it for entertainment purposes. So it is just all fun. I don’t do any of the anatomy or anything like that. The scan where seeing if anything is going on, um, I don’t do anything like that, but um, but it is just for fun and entertainment and hear a baby’s heartbeat, um, get to see them in 3D, which usually that’s the stage where you want to wait until you’re about five months along, right? Six, seven months along. So that way the baby has more fat. They’re not as transparent. It’s not as scary. You don’t want to do an ultrasound or a 3D or 4D when they’re like 11, ten, 11 weeks. So even though I think it’s really cool looking, it might scare some. Um, because I do, I do that as well. But um, but usually wait until about five months and then you can wait too long as well. I don’t think a lot of people know about that. Yeah, because after a certain point, especially if the woman, you know, if they’re smaller and the baby is all crammed in there anyways, you can wait too long where you can’t see the baby’s face as well, because.

Sharon Cline: [00:04:58] They’re all kind of.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:04:59] They’re all just crammed.

Sharon Cline: [00:04:59] In there in that fetal position.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:05:01] Exactly. Or the placenta is there in their face. So if you’re even dehydrated, that could that could cause some problems too, to be able to see the 3D 4D of baby. But but yeah, there’s that certain stage that you want to come in and you can get the best pictures. We can still do it and we can still try it. Um, but you might, just might. Yeah. Yeah. So I would say about five months to about seven and a half months is the best time for the 3D, 4D.

Sharon Cline: [00:05:23] What is the difference between 3D and 4D?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:05:26] The 3D is more of a still picture, so you’ll be able to see baby’s features a lot clearer. But the 4D is just basically live, so you’ll be able to see Baby Move and everything. And there’s that loop that you can see, baby, you know, putting his her little hand up to their nose. I’ve had some that you can see. Just their feet. Both of their legs are right in their face. And that’s whenever they’re really crammed in there, you know, at that stage. But it still is really cool to see. And you can always hear baby’s heartbeat. And, you know, if nothing else, you’re there and you’re able to experience to hear that the baby’s heartbeat.

Sharon Cline: [00:05:59] That’s always such a magical thing, especially if you know you can’t hear that on your own unless you’re in that kind of like medical setting. And there is just something so amazing about hearing, you know, brand new life like that. Oh, yeah.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:06:10] I had, um, a few people come in, uh, two weeks ago with the lady that was, you know, with child, and the grandparents were there, and they just bald. Bald, you know, it made me start crying. I know. Right? She’s such a sweet moment. But yeah, they’re just like, that’s our grandbaby, you know? And being able to hear that heartbeat, it’s just really precious.

Sharon Cline: [00:06:30] So had you always wanted to be in this industry?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:06:34] Um, I could say yes, but actually this this didn’t happen until about 2016 that I decided on, um, there’s just a change that happened in my life. And I went to school for two years to do what I’m doing now. Um, all an ultrasound. I was taught every type of ultrasound, and, um, ended up going into cardiology, which I love. But my passion has always been to open up my my own place and to see, you know, these babies and welcome them into the world and have their pictures all along. And, you know, you can just see the different stages and, and just match it up. And it’s a great photo album, right?

Sharon Cline: [00:07:10] It is. And it’s like.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:07:11] For babies, even here in this world with their own breath.

Sharon Cline: [00:07:14] So it is amazing because like to be able to really see their face. And but I always thought that after I had kids is, you know, it’s all such a mystery. And then you have your baby and you’re holding your baby as you get to know them as they’re growing. There was always this wish that I could just, like, be as close to them. Like, I didn’t appreciate the different parts about them yet until after they’re born. So you can’t do anything about that. But this way you actually get a little. I love the idea of having a preview of what what they’re going to look like. I mean, I saw one recently. A friend of mine, Anna, her sister, had a baby, um, like two months ago. And her, she has, like a little cleft in her chin. That is a family cleft. And you could see it so clearly that they were just like, this is our, you know, family member, our baby. Look at it was just kind of amazing because it’s the technology has just grown so much.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:08:01] It is. I had one last week that you could see her eyelashes just as clear as day. She’s got the longest eyelashes. And so whenever she’s here in this world for everyone to see, we’ll just get to see those pretty long eyelashes.

Sharon Cline: [00:08:13] It’s amazing that you can see eyelashes like that. Yeah, that’s fascinating to me. What has technology been like as you’ve been in the sonogram world? How has it progressed?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:08:24] Um, I mean, it’s definitely progressed. Um, but, uh, the 3D, 4D images have definitely become more clear, and you can actually put the different colors. I mean, this might sound a little weird, but you can do, like the Fleshlight colors. Oh yeah, it’s just more, even more realistic and high def. So I would say that the high definition part of it, of it all, but um, but yeah, that’s amazing.

Sharon Cline: [00:08:46] I, I keep thinking about if I, if I could be in that world right now, I would want all the information, you know, just for my own peace of mind to, to be able to see things and know ahead of time. Can you also tell the I’ve heard that you can tell the gender of a baby really, really early, like ten, 12, 12 weeks, I guess. Is that something that you all do as well, or is that something that still is, like when you’re halfway through the pregnancy is when you can tell, you.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:09:11] Know, I think the, the whole gender thing now that people can tell through blood work, oh, is that how.

Sharon Cline: [00:09:17] They do it?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:09:17] I think that I think that’s mainly what’s going on now that people because you don’t find out through ultrasound until, um, safely about 14, 15, 16 even some places 18 weeks, 20 weeks because you don’t want to you want to tell them something and then, you know, not 100% sure because they still have a little bit more development or maybe their legs in the way or something like that. Something’s going on that you’re not quite 100% sure. But a lot of people have been just getting this done, like so early. Now I know it’s amazing.

Sharon Cline: [00:09:44] I’m confused even how it is amazing because, like, they don’t even look pregnant.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:09:47] Yeah, it’s it is amazing. But, um, but it’s still fun. You know, like, some people want to wait. Some people think they’re going to wait, and then they get in there and they’re like, no, I just want to go ahead and find out which is what I did with my third child, my son. Um, since we had our boy, our girl, I’m like, okay, I’m good. I’m not going to find out this time and then go in there and it’s like, no, I can’t wait. They’re like, you just want to.

Sharon Cline: [00:10:08] Know, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I think that’s so amazing. Now that we can, you really just can know as much as much about this baby. Yeah, I think it’s amazing. I want all that information for my. Myself. Yeah. Um, so I can imagine this being a really successful business for you because you are highlighting such an emotional part of someone’s life, a family’s life. So what is that side like for you? The emotion side.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:10:30] Um, well, just to back up a little bit, what you were saying was I was always interested in this. I will say I was a banker. At first, I didn’t really choose that job. It chose me. And then lifestyle changes happened and I went back to school. You know, it had been years and years since I had went to school and already had my three children. And it was it was a rough time. It was hard, but I felt led to do this. And what happened was I actually got snowed in in the hospital in January, and it was like the next morning is when I called, um, Cambridge and applied there. But my little sister had my niece, Kinley. Oh, I made it. I was the only one on my side of the family that made it to the hospital before. It was just too bad outside for them to try to come because of the snow and everything. And, um, so I got to stay in there with her all night and, well, most of the night. And, you know, they’d come in and check on her everything. And we were talking back and forth, and I just wanted to do something new. And it was always been interesting to me anyways. And I always loved the experience, getting to go in there and see my baby, you know, and, and then getting to see my niece, like right there in front of me the next morning. There she is from one place to another. And just like you said, you talked about like the joy that it brings. And it was just so much joy. And it’s fun. I just, I want to go to work, and I want to enjoy what I do and be able to help everyone else. And just to see that, you know, it’s just fun to go into work. I love it.

Sharon Cline: [00:11:49] I love that you know what feeds your soul and you. It’s like the American dream of being able to do something that you love and make money at it. And there’s obviously always going to be babies being born. Exactly right. So it’s such a good business to go into because you always are going to have clients and especially where you are. You said there really aren’t other 3D or 4D ultrasound companies that are in your area. Yeah, I’m.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:12:12] Actually other than maybe like the hospital itself, I’m I’m the only one that does the entertainment side of it. And, you know, a lot of people, they just wanted a peace of mind. And they don’t want to wait until they have to wait until the doctor says, okay, this is when you’re going to have your ultrasound, because I think that everyone has like two most insurance that only do like two. And and so some people just want to come and hear that heartbeat, you know, if they wouldn’t have a good day or if they had some doubts or whatever, just come in, get that peace of mind, you know. So it’s not just the side of the fun part about that, but also that peace of mind that you get when you come in there and say, okay, everything’s all right.

Sharon Cline: [00:12:45] Yeah. You know, you see the baby, the baby’s moving. I remember at 1.1 of my babies was not moving very much, and I had a complete panic attack because, you know, at a certain point, you keep track of the movements, right? Um, and it had been several hours and I was like, oh, no, but my insurance would not actually cover another ultrasound unless there was something clinically wrong. And so they kept telling me to eat things that were like, high in sugar or just try to wake the baby, like, smack the side of my belly to wake my baby up. And yeah, it was so stressful. It was a horrible feeling. So I can imagine if I had another option, I would have gone for it. Because that peace of mind, it’s priceless. Exactly. You know, when you have such precious cargo. Yeah.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:13:25] Especially if you’ve gone through something like that before and you just just like I said, it’s just a really good thing to go to. And I’m opened, um, basically five days a week. Amazing. Yeah. So. And I’ve been trying to since I am a new business, just come in when I can. You know, I try to work around everybody. Like I had one lady that came in last Monday, a week ago Monday, because she couldn’t make it on Tuesday and Thursdays in the evening times when, you know, I would be open for her. And so I just worked it in there and she just felt so much better. She just had that relief, you know. And that right there is another part that I love about my job. Just them leaving, you know, you can see them come in how they look and then they leave out like that happy.

Sharon Cline: [00:14:06] Yeah. I would want to be part of that too. Like just knowing that I had a little hand in someone’s peace and joy. I mean, that’s kind of a why wouldn’t you want that in your life? So what was it like to become a business owner to, to start, you know, even find a name and a logo and all of that. What was that like?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:14:23] Um, overwhelming. Yeah. I think it is exciting. Very exciting, but overwhelming as well. Um, connections. You know, it’s really nice to have connections. Yeah. Um, I have my little sister. She actually knows a lot of the people that I got my logo done, the door done. Um, and that that has helped a lot. Just being able to trust the person that you have all this in your faith in, because this is something that is hopefully going to work out at the end, but you just don’t know. And so you have to have the people that you trust to make it a little bit less overwhelming.

Sharon Cline: [00:14:58] Everyone that I’ve had on the show, that is a universal theme. Um, and I’ve been doing this show almost two years. They all say to surround yourself with good people. That is like the actually crucial to your business success, which I, I mean, I get it, especially when you’re, you don’t know all of the ins and outs of business. So it’s like you’re it’s wonderful to. Have resources, of course, like Google or whatever, but to be able to have someone in your corner that’s helping to guide you, it’s pretty invaluable. Yeah.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:15:24] And a lot of people that that I ended up, you know, that did help me is local, like the person that did my business cards. He’s got his own, um, own place. And we went to school together, you know, and so it’s nice seeing them succeed. And you win.

Sharon Cline: [00:15:40] They win, you know.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:15:41] Exactly, exactly. And I try to, like, go to different avenues and to help, like I had the logo done, I had my business cards done. I had the logo put on the door all by three different people. Um, just, you know, just to help each other out and to spread the word. That’s what we got to do.

Sharon Cline: [00:15:55] You help each other? Exactly right. I love it because you’re also a native of Dawsonville, I saw. So how is it? How have you seen Dawsonville change? I’m just curious. I know it’s a little side note, but.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:16:06] Don’t get me started on that. Oh, no. Really?

Sharon Cline: [00:16:08] No.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:16:09] I mean, it’s good. It’s growing. It’s growing a lot, which is great for business owners. Exactly right.

Sharon Cline: [00:16:13] Yeah, that’s exactly right.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:16:14] But it’s different than than what I remember and what I grew up in for sure. There’s there’s just a lot more population, a lot more going on, which some people like that life, you know. But I’m more of a small town, right.

Sharon Cline: [00:16:25] Especially if that’s what your normal. But it’s kind of cool to think that, you know, as more people are going more north, you know, and it’s going to be considered an outskirt of Atlanta, I guess. Um, yeah. You’ll have more people having babies that are. That’s right.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:16:37] It’s a double edged sword there. Right? Yeah. Because the traffic is like, oh, it took me five minutes. It’s now taking me 15 minutes. Oh wow. So you know the ups and downs of that. But but no but it’s definitely growing. It’s growing fast. Dawson County is growing very fast.

Sharon Cline: [00:16:50] Well I mean what I love though is that, um, what you’re doing is and I always think of this with people who are business owners is having you’re creating a legacy for your family, too. So as you start your business and get going and get more clients, people will always say, oh, I had my ultrasound at that place, you know? Or I just love the notion of that. Like such a champion for people who want to live a life like their their choice, they want to live a life that they find the most satisfying to them. And that’s like what you’re doing. Exactly.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:17:19] It’s funny you said that because, um, my daughter and my sister, my big sister, they’ve already been fighting over the receptionist job. I’m like, listen, it’s just me, myself and I. It’s just me. But, um, but maybe one day, you know. So. Chloe, my daughter. Yeah. She’s already talked about that. My son Reece, my youngest one, he’s like, mama, I can scan. I’m like 20 hours of schooling and all this other stuff, and, you know, a little bit of age and height, and we’ll get there. But. But it is. It’s sweet to see them so interested. And they are my, my biggest, you know, warriors. My I love I love my kiddos. And that’s why I think I love what I do too. Just because, you know, being around just giving life, you know, birth to to. Yeah.

Sharon Cline: [00:17:56] Just all those emotions are so high and heightened and so I’m it must be a challenge to, to kind of keep yourself in that mindset of professional when you’re seeing people all around you. So emotional. And it is joy, of course. Um, but I also was wondering if there’s something that, as you got started in your business or now that you’re, you know, a few months in, is there something that you sort of wish you knew before you got started? Is there anything that’s happened where you’re like, wow, I had to learn that the hard way.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:18:23] Um. I guess, uh, being a little bit more patient, um, making sure that you have everything laid out. And, um, the biggest thing, of course, starting anything is finances. Right? So, you know, just know that sometimes things take a little time to, to ignite. And it’s not going to happen overnight unless it’s like a really good sushi place. I heard the other day that the one that opened up in Dahlonega is just, is just packed, like every night, you know? I’m sorry, I don’t have food. I mean, I can get food if that’s going to draw you forward. I’ll even get sushi, which I don’t really like. But, you know, I’ll do that. Um, but no, that just to just to realize that it does take time. I guess that would be another thing, is just that it patience and time. Um. And just keep on, keep on going. Yeah.

Sharon Cline: [00:19:11] Faith of knowing that what you’re doing is what you really believe you should be doing, you know, and that the joy that you have with it, there’s like an energy around something that I believe that you really love to do, and you’re doing it for all the right reasons. Um, whatever is supposed to happen will happen.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:19:25] And if you want it bad enough, you’ll get it. It just might take that time. But if you want it bad enough, you just work hard.

Sharon Cline: [00:19:31] Do you have any mentors or people that you sort of look to to say, okay, this is how I would want to model my business.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:19:39] Um. Mentors would be. I mean, more of who I look up to would be my dad. His work ethic, he’s always going, always going. He’s almost 71 years old and he’s just just all the time. So you got you got to, you know, have that work ethic for sure, because it does take a lot of work to to be able to have your own business. And so my dad would be one. Um, well, Presley would be another one. Um, common friend that we have, um, he opened his own business, and you actually had him on here a few months ago. I know, and that’s someone that I would go to and talk to, because I know he knows the struggles of a newly opened business. And, um, so actually, you know, we were talking the other day and he’s just like, keep going, you know, so people that also in kind of along the lines of entrepreneurs. Right. And um, just kind of getting advice from them and everything.

Sharon Cline: [00:20:28] So yeah, I love that. It’s because it’s like a community, you know, it’s a collective. You all are trying to help each other, right? You know, and I think there’s enough room for everyone. One of the things that is really cool about some of the networking groups that I go to is like, if I need a plumber, I know who I’m going to call. If they need someone to do voiceover work, they ask me, it’s like we get to help each other, just try to succeed because it’s so hard when you just by yourself doing so much.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:20:53] And then I also have, um, my brother in law, he’s had his own business for years and years and years, and I know how stressful that that can be. I’ve seen from an outside view, both sides of it, where it can bring a lot of joy and it can bring a lot of, you know, downside the heartaches and everything. So but again, it all goes back to if you want something bad enough, you got to stay with it through even the hard times.

Sharon Cline: [00:21:17] So but I think that’s important for anyone who has a dream, a potential business that they would like to open. Yeah, is that they really need to have that belief, that work ethic, surround themselves with really good people and have faith that what they’re doing, they really believe in, it’ll go where it’s supposed to go. Um, I think a lot of business owners don’t, or people who would like to own their own business don’t follow that dream because it is so scary. You know, it’s like a huge leap of faith. What was it about you that kind of made it okay? This is a real thing that I’m going to do. I’m not going to dream about it anymore.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:21:51] Funny you should ask that. I’ll maybe I’ll give you a little insight on that. Um, so I’ve been working at this one place for quite a while. Um, after I graduated and something happened there that kind of pushed started me. But I knew that when I went to school in 2016 that this is what I wanted to do.

Sharon Cline: [00:22:06] Ultimately, you had this in your mind already. Oh, interesting.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:22:09] And I blinked and it’s like, all this time’s gone by and I just needed a push. So I got that push and I was just in the car one day, and, um, I just felt like the Lord was telling me this is not what you’re supposed to do anyways. Jennifer, this is not what you went to school for, and it’s time to just step out and have that faith.

Sharon Cline: [00:22:30] So we were talking yesterday just briefly about coming on the show and everything. I was saying to you that so many people get their life structured around what they make in whatever current job they have. And oftentimes, like you said, something will choose them as opposed to them choosing because it’s just life. This is how you’re building your your whole life around what you’re making, and that they stay because they know how much they’re making. They know the job or something comfortable. Comfortable. It’s familiar and normal. Um, but yes, I guess it does sometimes take a moment where you are at a crossroad, you know, and that’s what happened to you. Yeah.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:23:03] That’s what happened to me. Yeah. So here we are, I know.

Sharon Cline: [00:23:06] So what is what is a normal schedule like for you? Like you said, you will work around other people’s schedules, which is awesome because. Right, if you can’t come during the day, you could do something in the evening, right?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:23:16] Exactly. Yeah. So, um, I still work at a place in cumming just about two and a half days a week. And so that’s the only reason why I’m not open every single day. I want to get to the point where I’m open every single day, and that’s the only thing that that I do. But right now, you know, I’m still working there. And that’s why I try to work around when I can, because I have noticed that more people are more interested in coming whenever their husband or, you know, their boyfriend, when they get off their partner gets off from work. Yeah. And so it’s in the evening time.

Sharon Cline: [00:23:46] It’s smart to do that. Yeah. Because it is like it’s such a sacred moment, you know, that you want to share it with someone. Yeah. Or family.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:23:53] Yeah. So and then there’s also those times where maybe, um, the grandmas in just visiting from somewhere else and it’s like she’s here and it’s just her and her daughter. I just want to let mom hear, you know, the baby’s heartbeat. Just see the baby have had that, you know, and and so, yeah, it’s just whatever I can do if I’m, if I’m not working, then I’m going to be there working.

Sharon Cline: [00:24:15] I like because you’re doing kind of what I’m doing where I have my voice over business, but I can’t quit my normal job yet. But at some point I’m hoping there’ll be a little balance where it’s like 5050 and then I can like do, do a leap of faith, like what you’ve done at some point, but you’re just trying to make it work.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:24:30] Right? Exactly.

Sharon Cline: [00:24:31] So how do you advertise your business now that you have your logo, you’ve got your Facebook page. What are the different ways that you get the word out?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:24:38] It did start mainly with. Facebook with my business page, and then I’m now on a couple of other sites, social medias. Um, Instagram. I think I have Twitter or X or whatever. Actually, actually, um, I’m not the one doing all of those. I’m the one that’s over the Facebook business page. But I have Google right now working for me, and they’ve put out a website where it takes you to the main website, and they are supposed to be posting different things for me here and there. And I have actually had friends screenshot through Facebook ads that Google has has run for me. And oh my gosh. So that’s really exciting when I first got the first one. Yeah. Um, yeah. That’s amazing I love that. So hey, you know, keep it going. And um, but that that’s what I’ve got going is, is just me. And then Google’s helping me some.

Sharon Cline: [00:25:27] I heard a statistic on NPR this morning that, um, Google, uh, covers 90% of all search engine searches, which is a ginormous. Oh, yeah. So if you are investing in getting advertisement with Google, that would be the way to go. I mean, you have every reason to know that it would actually work. We actually talked a little bit about this yesterday with this media company that I had, um, I guess about a year and a half ago, their Google Analytics. And there are people that have their degree like Google degree, um, which is amazing to me. It’s actually very difficult for, for that to, for you to have that certification. But that’s why.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:26:03] I don’t that’s why they do it for me. I know.

Sharon Cline: [00:26:04] Right? I pay somebody it’s like confusing in my brain. But I’m so glad that there are smart people out there that can handle that. But it’s it’s interesting to me how they can really advantageously put your ad, you know, during a, during a time where people are driving or whatever time would work best for moms, you know, if it’s a preschool or something. Exactly. I love that they can kind of put all of those analytics together and make it so easy for you to be found. Yeah.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:26:30] And to, um, family and friends. I mean, word of mouth is a big thing. And, um, since growing up in Dawsonville, you know, we do know a lot of people and we don’t know all the pregnant women, especially as much as Dawsonville has grown. Right. But, um, but that that’s helped a for sure. And, um, just friends spreading the word and family. Family spreading the word and appreciate it, by the way.

Sharon Cline: [00:26:52] Oh, of course. And you know, what’s so nice is you don’t have to have a billboard out there. You don’t have to put an ad in a magazine like a paper magazine. Can you remember the last time I actually looked through one? I mean, I know there are important still, but it’s just not the same thing as opening up your Facebook and seeing that ad. Um, so how did did you actually go on to Google ads and figure out how you wanted that all to work?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:27:12] Yeah. And then eventually I just got in contact with them and just talked to a person, and we talked for quite a while. You know, it’s a process for sure at the beginning. But, um, again, if you’re not really that savvy on it or have time to do it. Yeah, because it takes time to do all this. Um, then that’s it’s a great way to go because.

Sharon Cline: [00:27:32] Any, any business owner that’s listening, you know, would want to know exactly what your steps were. If it’s working for you and you are getting business this way. Well, that’s the.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:27:41] Dream I have. I’ve gotten I got two from last week that actually through through Google. Um, so yeah, I’m just I’m giving a try. It’s worth it. I’ve done it for about three weeks now. So two out of three weeks, I mean, again, it’s new and and it takes a little bit, but with their help it’s going to speed it up a little bit too I.

Sharon Cline: [00:27:59] Think it’s an investment isn’t it.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:28:01] Yeah for.

Sharon Cline: [00:28:01] Sure. It’s hard I’m sure it’s hard to part with money like that.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:28:04] That’s what you have to do though. That’s the thing about any business owners, they know that it is going to take some. Some businesses may not take as much as other businesses do. But I tell you that ultrasound machine is not cheap.

Sharon Cline: [00:28:15] So I bet I can’t even imagine. Yeah. So of course all of the money that you’re investing in the beginning, but as you’re obviously getting clients, then it all kind of pays itself out. And when I have.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:28:26] Good scans, man, I’m the happiest in the world. You know, everybody’s happy when they’re bad scans. It’s like the horrible it’s like one of my doing, you know? But you have to come realize that again, it’s like it depends on there’s different factors that go on. So it could be a really good one. It could be a bad one. But um, hopefully the majority will go out smiling and laughing and we’ll all have a good day.

Sharon Cline: [00:28:47] So if you were going to tell anyone who’s listening, sort of your your service area that you would like to draw from you, we were talking just briefly before the show, you were saying coming obviously Forsyth County.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:28:58] South County, um, Dahlonega, um, Gainesville, white, white County. Yeah, I mean anybody heck, you can be in Atlanta if you want to just come see me, I’ll scan your baby. You know I will do it. I will come in at 5 or 6:00 in the evening. 7:00, I don’t care. It’s fun.

Sharon Cline: [00:29:15] I really love that you’re talking about something that’s so joyful. Because I feel like if more people loved what they did, you know, and did it for that joy and not I mean, obviously you’re making money, but the the idea of doing something that you love so much and find such satisfaction out of, it’s like such a beautiful thing.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:29:32] Oh yeah. Because I’ve had it where when I was in the banking banking business, it wasn’t that it was bad, it was all horrible, but I just that wasn’t what I wanted to do. And so there would be a lot of mornings. It would just be hard to get up out of the bed just to go into work. And, you know, I’m fortunate, thankful, and I’m very thankful and blessed that that I get to do what I do. Now that I was able to go back to school because I had the family support to, you know, it’s a big thing. And when you have children. Yes, exactly. And I had a lot of family support and I’m just I’m really thankful and blessed for sure.

Sharon Cline: [00:30:04] Well, this is like such a beautiful story of perseverance, belief in yourself. Um, knowing what’s the most important thing to you in the end, which a lot of people I don’t even, you know, you can just get up and go to work and go to go home and you don’t really have that sense of satisfaction. But I like that you really had a real clear vision and knowledge about yourself enough to know that this is what’s going to satisfy my heart at the end of the day, right?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:30:29] Right. And it’s taken a while. Oh yeah, it’s a journey. I’m not a spring chicken, but I know it’s taken a while and it’s still going to be a while too. Um, but hopefully, hopefully it will all pay off in the end. And, um, you know, get over that hump of being a new business and just have it every day. Like I said, that’s what my goal is, is just to be open every day and to be busy every day.

Sharon Cline: [00:30:52] I was going to say, like, do you have do you think far ahead, like three years, five years or something? Like, what would you love to see happen?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:30:59] Oh, definitely. Um, I’d like to see maybe in about two years, um, hiring somebody else, you know, young stenographers and having them scan and be able to, you know, see what I see. And the joy that that I get to have to go into work. And, um, I would love to have that to be able to have an office that has maybe three people going at one time. And, um, because, you know, it’s not only like I love my job, I also know that to have more job opportunities for other people, because I was in that position one time where I was in school, but I didn’t know if I was going to have a job when I got out of school or not. School is not cheap. No, college is not cheap. But as long as you’re going there with that goal and you’re not just going there and being like, oh, I might do this, I might do that, you have to be set on it for it to be worth anything. And so I’m very thankful that I was able to get through those two years. It was hard, but it’s definitely been worth it if, I mean, even the past six years, seven years that I’ve been working, um, I have loved what I’ve done, you know, but now I just get to hopefully continue to be my own boss. And yeah.

Sharon Cline: [00:32:01] I love the idea of being my own boss. There’s something so nice about that. I know. I just love that at some point I think I will be. I hope so if I put it out there in the universe.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:32:09] There you go. That’s what you have to do too. That’s right. Put it out there.

Sharon Cline: [00:32:12] What do you think? That, um, women who are pregnant don’t know about, um, 3D and 4D ultrasound? That would be really important for them to have an appreciation for.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:32:23] Um, probably what we talked about a little bit earlier. Um, just how well you can see your baby and the different stages that if you go in and, and at 12 weeks, at 20 weeks, at 28 weeks, they grow so much within the nine months, you know, and and just to have that appreciation of having that little photo album because you don’t you used to not get to do this. You used to not get to go in there and be like, okay, I’m going to get to see my baby this week and ultrasound is safe. You can you can go in there. You don’t have to worry about anything. Um.

Sharon Cline: [00:32:54] Safe technology a lot of people have. I remember at one point they were saying, yeah, we only do two ultrasounds because there’s a potential of it’s not the radiation, but there’s some kind of wave or whatever that can affect their ears or something. Right.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:33:07] And it’s all through. It’s all through sound waves. Um, that’s that’s what ultrasound, 3D, 4D is. It’s all through sound waves. But, yeah, it’s safe technology. You don’t have to worry about that. Um, and my sessions, they last from five minutes to up to 30 minutes. Um, recommendation, I believe is like 35, 40 minutes. But even so, I mean, they they say it’s safe, so, um, but yeah, it’s just a fun thing to do. And, um, also just to, to make sure that you go in knowing that to drink water like that is a big thing that people don’t really think about just to stay hydrated, because that does really help get the better pictures, because the sound waves, how they hit and they hit through the fluid like that. That’s what projects off and brings back the reflections of the images. And if it’s not there, if the placenta is right on the baby’s face, that’s again what we went into. If they’re like eight and a half months, it’s just so crammed in there. The legs are in the face, so there’s no fluid in between. And that could just really hinder the picture. So just make sure that you stay hydrated because that’s you’re going to get a lot better pictures that way.

Sharon Cline: [00:34:06] My last baby. I was dehydrated and I went into labor early, and I didn’t even know that that was something that could happen. So yeah, I definitely could. Imagine if that’s how you can see a baby, you would want them to be drinking as much as they could, right?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:34:19] Right. And when you come in, maybe you know, before, if you want the baby to be moving some, just drink a little bit of orange juice or something. Just eat a little bit before you come in as well. But, um, but yeah.

Sharon Cline: [00:34:28] This is the dream, I love it. I’m excited for you because just knowing that you’re doing something that you really love and believe in and know that you’re giving a service to people who who just will eat it up because that’s like the best thing they could possibly have in the moment. It’s all the good things of life, you know.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:34:45] It’s the fun part of life, right?

Sharon Cline: [00:34:47] It’s all the fun.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:34:47] And it’s before baby comes. It’s the safest place that baby’s going to be.

Sharon Cline: [00:34:51] You know it is. What a good thought. I never thought about that. Yeah. Oh, that’s so sweet. Well, I can’t thank you enough, Jennifer, for coming to the studio. I know it was kind of a trek down here, but I’m so excited to to be able to talk about all the good things that you’re doing for and services that you’re offering people, and the fact that you’re one of the only ones in North Georgia. I just I’m going to tell everybody all about you and hopefully help to grow your, your business. Like I said, there’ll always be babies. Yeah.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:35:20] So come see me. You know, if you’re not pregnant yet, you know, I can see you in 3 or 4 months, ten, 12 weeks from now, you come see me.

Sharon Cline: [00:35:28] Where is your office located?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:35:30] It’s in Dawsonville. Um, it’s actually right behind the urgent care. So there’s an OB right there. And basically in front of our in front of our office. So any ladies that are going there definitely stop by and I’ll get a picture of your baby there. But it’s 135 Providence Court suite 140 and that’s in Dawsonville.

Sharon Cline: [00:35:49] And if someone wanted to schedule an appointment with you or find out more about you, how can they do that?

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:35:55] Um, definitely check out the Facebook page. It’s like I said, that’s the one that I’m personally running myself. So I put specials on there all the time. You know, like right now you can, um, come in for one service and the next service that you have, the next package is going to be half off. So that’s pretty cool, especially like one of our bigger packages of 110. So if you come in for the peekaboo session for 45, you get half off of the 110. So you get to see baby twice, right? Yeah. But um, but what was the other question? Oh, my website baby of mine 40.com. So check out baby and monforti.com. And that’s where you can actually schedule your appointments. And you can see all of our different packages that we have. And I just want to mention the sweet lady that goes to church with me, Miss Janna. She’s actually the lady that’s on my website. She took the pictures, but she’s also was my first client.

Sharon Cline: [00:36:43] Oh no kidding.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:36:43] Yeah, and little Johnny’s here now. He was born, I believe, a week or two, maybe ago. Time flies. Oh, wow. But he’s here now with us. But she was my first client, and she’s the one that you see actually on, on that website.

Sharon Cline: [00:36:55] So you got to see his little face. Yes. And now he’s got a real little face out in the world.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:36:59] That’s right.

Sharon Cline: [00:36:59] Oh, sweet. Jennifer Edmondson, thank you for coming into the studio. And I’m so excited to see where you go. And if you ever want to come back and talk about your journey some more as life goes on. I always think these lessons that you learn are very important for anyone out there who has a dream and would like to follow it as well, because the more you know, you know, um, it’s like I was saying, we’re all helping each other to just try to succeed. I think that’s just a very important for people to feel like they’re not alone on their journey. So when we share like that, that’s what the whole show is about.

Jennifer Edmondson: [00:37:29] That’s right. Thank you for having me once again. Welcome.

Sharon Cline: [00:37:31] And thank you all for listening to Fearless Formula on Business RadioX. And again, this is Sharon Cline reminding you with knowledge and understanding we can all have our own fearless formula. Have a great day!

 

Tagged With: Baby of Mine 4D Ultrasound

BRX Pro Tip: 4 Places to Look for Your Next Networking Event

May 6, 2024 by angishields

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BRX Pro Tips
BRX Pro Tip: 4 Places to Look for Your Next Networking Event
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BRX Pro Tip: 4 Places to Look for Your Next Networking Event

Stone Payton: [00:00:00] Welcome back to Business RadioX Pro Tips. Stone Payton and Lee Kantor here with you. Lee, where do you look for upcoming networking events that you feel like are going to be productive for you?

Lee Kantor: [00:00:14] I subscribe to a lot of newsletters. I go online a lot to see what’s out there. But I think that if I was brand new into a community or I just maybe was working in a corporate job and I was like, “Okay. I want to plug into the business community here,” some of the places I’d look, first, I would go to the Chamber of Commerce. I think that’s an obvious one. If you go to the Chamber of Commerce, they do events all the time.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:36] I would also check out some of the general business associations in the niche, whatever I am working in, to see what kind of events that they’re putting together. Another place to look are kind of co-working spaces and startup incubators. Those are always doing events and they’re a great place to plug into a community. A third place to look would be any industry specific associations and groups that are out there. There’s a lot of those and you’ll find events happening there throughout the year.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:07] And lastly, and probably younger people are better at this than I am, but there are so many online directories and groups out there that you can plug in online, and then a lot of them do in-person events as well, like meetup.com or Reddit or LinkedIn groups or Facebook groups. Find a group that kind of matches your interests there, and then see if they’re putting together in real life events. And if they’re not, maybe you should be the one that’s organizing that event for them because that’s a great way to put yourself at the center of these groups.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:36] So, that’s something that I would think about if I was new to networking in a community. I would want to plug in in-person and meet some folks that might help me grow my business.

Attorney Howard Abrams

May 6, 2024 by angishields

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Chicago Business Radio
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In this episode of Chicago Business Radio, Stone Payton interviews Howard Abrams, a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney, about his journey in the legal profession and the mission of his law firm. Abrams shares insights into the complexities of personal injury cases, emphasizing the importance of building trust and establishing a personal relationship with clients. He discusses the evolving landscape of personal injury law, including changes in courtroom procedures and the challenges posed by insurance companies. Abrams also provides valuable advice for individuals involved in accidents, emphasizing the significance of seeking legal counsel and avoiding common pitfalls. 

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Howard-AbramsHoward S. Abrams is the founding partner, specializing in personal injury, at the Howard Abrams Law in Chicago, Illinois, where he handles and oversees a wide variety of plaintiffs’ personal injury and professional negligence matters, both pre-litigation and through trial.

Howard has been the lead trial attorney in over 50 jury and bench trials, successfully resolving numerous cases through mediation and arbitration. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, and his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago, Howard was a trial attorney at various Chicago-based law firms for nearly a decade before opening his own firm in 2016, where he has dedicated himself to serving all of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs with passionate legal representation.

Connect with Howard on LinkedIn.

Transcript-iconThis transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix

 

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: [00:00:05] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Chicago, Illinois, it’s time for Chicago Business Radio. Now, here’s your host.

Stone Payton: [00:00:18] Welcome to another exciting and informative edition of Chicago Business Radio. Stone Payton here with you this afternoon. Please join me in welcoming to the broadcast with Howard Abrams Law, the man himself, Mr. Howard Abrams. How are you, man?

Howard Abrams: [00:00:36] Good. Thanks for having me, Stone.

Stone Payton: [00:00:38] Oh, delighted to have you on the show, man. I got a ton of questions. I, I know we’re not going to get to them all, but I, I think maybe a good place to start is if you could give us just a little bit of an overview, mission, purpose. What are you and your team really out there trying to do for folks, man.

Howard Abrams: [00:00:56] Well, I mean, I’ve been a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney since 2006. And, you know, I started my career like everyone else did in, uh, you know, law firm law clerking, learning how things go, and then realized there’s two worlds to, you know, being a lawyer. There’s the courtroom, uh, where I spent the first ten plus years of my career. And then there’s the claims side where you try to resolve cases outside the courtroom. And I took a sort of hybrid approach when I started my law firm in 2016 of handling both prelate and litigation files. And I found that, you know, the litigation skills don’t go away as long as you keep going to court. But there is a different area of the law and practice of handling these claims outside the court when the clients first got injured. So my focus has been since Covid, when things kind of came a little bit of a halt in the litigation arena on helping clients really at the beginning of the cases, which in turn helps them at the end of the case.

Stone Payton: [00:01:58] So what prompted you to go out on your own?

Howard Abrams: [00:02:03] Uh, it’s a good question. I didn’t it wasn’t one exact moment. It was sort of a domino effect of like. Things happening in my career and the law firms I was at while I had good relationships there. Didn’t really have anywhere for me to like, advance or be promoted. You know, there’s partners and. There could be an equity or non-equity or, you know, you can pay people more and all those types of things. But once you. Uh, develop a clientele or way to get cases. It’s hard to stay somewhere that doesn’t, you know, value that. And so the firms I was at at the time, while they valued my skills as an attorney, I didn’t think valued, you know, the business I was bringing in. And after talking to other colleagues who had went out on their own, it seemed like that was at least a no brainer approach to my next step. Instead of just trying to find another law firm that might value me that I had no relationship with besides, you know, knowing who each other were.

Stone Payton: [00:03:06] So after all those years of practicing and now particularly out on your own, what’s what’s the most rewarding man? What’s the most fun about the work for you?

Howard Abrams: [00:03:17] The fun part is, while it’s usually the hardest part on the clients is giving them, not always. It’s not necessarily legal advice where it’s about the law, like you get in a car accident. It’s not rocket science to figure out right and wrong, right? Like we know what the traffic laws are. We can kind of, you know, use common sense approaches to who was at fault or, you know, it’s the little games that the insurance companies like to play in the beginning. And it’s amazing. Even though people know the answers, they’re just not expecting that, like they’re being put to a test by the insurance companies. And when I give them this, you know, introductory or free consult, and then they become my client, you know, they’re like, oh, all that stuff you told me was true. And like, because it happens to them. Because even though insurance companies technically aren’t supposed to call clients, once they know they’re retained by attorneys, they still do. And, you know, it’s only, you know, for the benefit of the insurance company, not for the injured party.

Stone Payton: [00:04:17] So how does the whole, I guess, the whole sales and marketing thing worked for a law practice? Because you don’t really need a personal injury attorney until you need one, right?

Howard Abrams: [00:04:29] Oh, that is something that I’ve been trying to figure out, you know, especially since I’ve been out on my own and there’s sort of two schools of thought. There is, you know, the good old fashioned advertising. You used to see it, you still see it, but billboards, TV commercials, it used to be the good old Yellow Pages, which not many people even know what those are anymore. Um, then, you know, the internet era of Google is still the. Traditional way to advertise, which you know is only increasing. Um, but then there’s this good old fashioned marketing where there’s a lot of lawyers, there’s a lot of professionals that are lawyers that get in touch or people that get injured have contact with, and it’s knowing how to market to them or being able to be a leader or a presence. Um, so those people seek you out when they are recommending attorneys to somebody who was injured. So I take the latter approach.

Stone Payton: [00:05:33] Got it. So I bet there’s been a lot of changes in your in your tenure as an attorney. Has a lot changed over the years.

Howard Abrams: [00:05:44] Yes. Um. Too many to count or too many to talk about. But, you know, the biggest changes are that, you know, things used to be done, you know, the old fashioned way on typewriters and mail and, you know, you would go to court and come back and write up a whole summary where now with technology and apps, you know, I can communicate with my clients via text or, uh, email, obviously the court system. Until Covid, I would say didn’t go through a lot of changes. I mean, yes, they have increased the use of technology, but you still had to go to court in person. Um, zoom didn’t really come into play at all. I didn’t even know what it was until Covid hit. Mhm. Um, they knew what a video call was, but I don’t think I ever did one besides maybe Skype, you know, which I’m not even sure if that still exists. Uh, but what has happened now is the ability for remote proceedings has allowed one attorney’s to branch across multiple jurisdictions where you usually just practice where you, you know, your office is. And two, I’ve seen a lot of law firm growth in terms of these we could call mega firms. I don’t know how you would define it, but these firms that are starting to go nationwide. And while that’s not to discount that they are they have quality lawyers. You just don’t know unless you do your research as a client, if that attorney is even, you know, present in the state, which I think has some downside, if you are, you know, considering a court case.

Stone Payton: [00:07:22] Yeah. I’ll bet. All right. Let’s talk about the work a little bit. And, um, I guess the only way I know to attack this is from my perspective, if if I think I might have a claim or I’ve been in an accident or something, I reach out to you or I’ve been referred to you because I have another trusted advisor in some other capacity that says, oh, for that, you need to talk to Howard. Um, I come to your office, we sit down and chat. What? What is that? Especially the early stages of that engagement or process look like?

Howard Abrams: [00:07:54] Yeah. I mean, a lot of it is fact finding. I mean, usually if, you know, we’ll use automobiles because those are the bread and butter and personal injury. Although I do every type of personal injury case from, you know, slip and falls premises, uh, animal attacks. Uh, you know, medical malpractice, which is, you know, a very complicated field. There’s construction, I mean, but, you know, the the, the majority of cases do fall in the automobile, uh, arena. Um, in this day and age, I mean, people don’t even usually have the police report. I mean, they get, like a report number, which is then uploaded to a site like LexisNexis or some, depending on the the size of the county or town that you get the accident in. You have to do a FOIA request, but it’s getting the accident report that’s, you know, the starting point of any good consult. Mhm. Um, you know, obviously you’re going to get the version that the driver or a passenger that they have. And but a lot of times they come in and they don’t even necessarily, you know, know they just know they got hit like they don’t know where the person came from or what speed they were going. So you know, the police reports, the big part, I then, you know, still believe in good old fashioned investigative work where, you know, not on every case, but I will tend to take my client to the scene of the accident, because you will find that when you bring someone to the scene of any sort of trauma, no matter big or small, things come back to them. They remember certain things that you, you know, there’s just, you know, it’s one thing if you’re stopped at a red light and you get rear ended, it’s another thing if the driver’s coming from, you get T-boned.

Howard Abrams: [00:09:39] And you said you had a green light and the police report says, you know, both drivers said they had the green light. We both know that’s not possible, but somebody’s not telling the truth. Right. So I tend to, you know, sometimes I just meet them initially at the scene if it’s convenient because the sooner I can get there with them in time, as opposed to going out there six months later, you’d be amazed on the information that I can get from a client, and it’s a free consult in the beginning. Or even if they’re signed up, I’m not charging them an hourly rate or contingency fee, so we only get paid at the end of the case if we collect for them. So all these things we’re doing is for their benefit. And why would I do something that wasn’t, you know, the further the prospects of the case, you know, and I find that the clients that want to meet me in person or want to go to the scene, you know, they have a vested interest and are probably, you know, injured to the point where, you know, there’s things going on there. We don’t know the extent, but they have a real injury. They’re not just, oh, I got bumped and bruised and yes, you have a case, but do you really need a lawyer? You know, for some bumps and bruises you should probably handle, you know, talk to the insurance company on your own.

Stone Payton: [00:10:47] Uh, so these scenarios, um, any of them that you describe strike me as a, a good opportunity to shoot yourself in the foot if you don’t, um, if you don’t at least consult with someone like you first, or do you run into some of the same mistakes over and over, or or do you find yourself, you know, like very quickly saying, okay, do this, do this. Whatever you do, don’t do that till we talk, that kind of thing.

Howard Abrams: [00:11:13] Yeah. I mean, there’s some golden rules that any attorney who’s been, you know, actually does this type of practice and not just, you know, represents them. Because once you’re an attorney, you can, you know, there’s no like it’s not like medicine where you get, you know, you get a subspecialty in orthopedics or anesthesiology or, you know, ear, nose and throat. Any lawyer can do personal injury. Just like I could hold myself out as a criminal lawyer, you know, there’s nothing that all I need is a license. I don’t need anything else. What? You know what separates, I think, myself or others that have had the experience I have, and I have almost 20 years of plaintiffs personal injury work, having started off as a litigator in the courtroom doing jury trials. You see the end of the case, right? And the end of the case, good or bad? Mostly good in my world. Um, you’re prepared for anything then, right? You know, so talking to somebody now, 15 years later or 14 years later, when I went out on my own talking to people at the beginning of the case, I was already thinking about the end of the case, what jurors told me, what mistakes clients made and what the you know, all those things help, you know, separate. I think the attorneys that actually, you know, do more than just file an insurance claim for the plaintiff, uh, or potential plaintiff. And, um, you know, I think that shows when I meet with a client, right.

Howard Abrams: [00:12:37] Like, anyone can tell you anything over the phone, anybody can. You know, everyone can be a salesman for something. Um, but where I, where I remind people, is what those conversations they have at the beginning about. Hey, you’re going to get a call from the insurance company, you’re going to get a call from, you know, four other lawyers looking for your business. That’s fine. You know, that’s just the world we work in. You don’t just get, you know, one lawyer recommendation these days. Um, and if you go on Google, you can get a thousand. Um, it’s telling them the things up front that they’re going to experience or what they’re not going to experience. I can tell sometimes just from talking to a potential client, I guarantee you I had one the other day I signed up, uh, he’s out of state in Maryland, but he was here for work in a rental car. Right. Which nothing wrong with that. He gets rear ended, he returns the Hertz rental car, um, for property damage. He was going home three days later. He didn’t think he was seriously hurt. So he’s like, I’ll see how I feel. He went home. He wasn’t feeling well, so he went to the, you know, urgent care at home and his family doctor at home. And he got my name from a prior client. And when I talked to him, I go it had been almost a week, right. Which doesn’t sound like a lot of time, but in automobile world, that’s a lot can happen in a week.

Howard Abrams: [00:13:53] I go, well, have you heard from XYZ Insurance Company? You know, um, and he goes, no. And I go, well, you’re never going to hear from them. And he goes, why not? I’m like, because you’re in a Hertz rental car with no reported injury from Hertz, because they probably didn’t even ask you. And Hertz is only concerned about getting the car fixed. And, you know, I said, you know, he signed my paperwork, but I haven’t even sent out my letter rep to the insurance company because I wanted to get some medical records in. It’s been now two weeks, and he called me the other day. He’s like, yeah, I haven’t heard anything. I was like, you won’t. They’re gonna they’re gonna get a letter from me as their first knowledge because insurance companies aren’t. You know, actively looking for claims, right? You know, but they’re looking at this as a property damage only claim they’re not going to even ask for it if the other party was injured. They want to wait for you to make the claim. So you know that that gentleman, had he not had his friend who I represented successfully, might have waited a month. And that doesn’t necessarily mean he does he still have a claim? Yes. But had he not sought medical treatment, had he not taught, you know, then they’re denying the case just because they don’t believe he’s injured.

Stone Payton: [00:15:04] In the path to take can can vary. When you take all that into account, you do your investigation. You get the information. You may very well go. My whole frame of reference for this is watching stuff on TV. So forgive me, but you, you, you might go to a courtroom, or you might take a whole different path and settle and settle it out of a courtroom environment. Yes.

Howard Abrams: [00:15:28] Of course. And listen, I don’t avoid court. I mean, that’s. Silly, for lack of a better word. I’m not trying to think of a better word to put out. You know, uh, put on it. But port is long. It is exhausting. And the insurance companies know that, and they are built to withstand the time. Right. It’s not their you know, they are a business corporation. You know, they have X, you know, millions of dollars, you know, otherwise they’d be out of business. Um, they don’t care if a case lasts three, 4 or 5 years. But in Illinois, for example, it’s a two year statute of limitations for personal injury. So you have up to two years. You don’t have to wait that long. And most attorneys don’t. But you don’t also want to rush off and file a lawsuit, because in Cook County, where the city of Chicago is, where my office is, is, you know, the. You know, third largest media market. And I think it’s I think besides Los Angeles County, the highest volume of um, cases are filed. Wow. Statistics. So, yes. Does everybody get their day in court under our legal system? Of course. But it’s going to take longer than in a smaller town or where there’s only so many files or cases.

Howard Abrams: [00:16:52] Do we have more judges? Yeah, we do, but there’s always, you know, short judges or short staff or short jurors, and you wait and wait and wait. I tell any client from the beginning that if we can’t resolve their case outside of court, you plus and you have to file a lawsuit on average, you will wait. I tell them 2 to 3 years, and I can probably count on one hand the amount of cases. I got the jury trial in two years. Wow. It is much closer. Three and that was before Covid. Covid then had a backlog. Depending on who you ask, they will tell you that that backlog has cleaned up. I, I am skeptical of that belief, but you know it doesn’t. It is still 2 to 3 years minimum as opposed to 2 to 3 years in your case will be resolved. Um, and that’s in addition to the one, you know, six months, a year, 18 months, up to two years that you might try and resolve it outside of. So you’re talking 4 to 5 years to go to jury trial from when the accident actually happened.

Stone Payton: [00:17:55] Wow. This is a very sobering conversation. Okay, let’s go back to the one where the guy got rear ended or anything like that. What if I’m the guy that did the rear ending? Should I still also maybe be in touch with a with some legal counsel as well, just in anticipation of what might be coming down the pike?

Howard Abrams: [00:18:15] Uh, yeah. I mean, I tell every client or potential client, I should say, or any referral source, they’re like, oh, so and so I said, have them call me. I tell them, or call somebody, right. Like one. It’s free. I mean, like, I know that’s like silly and that’s like a line on every advertisement. Like, no, you know, it is literally a free consult. It doesn’t cost you anything but your time. And sometimes you don’t know what may or may not be coming down the pipeline. That’s what talking to an attorney does, is it gives you one free advice and help you. Sometimes I call clients and I tell them, yes, you have a case, yes, I can help you, but it’s really not worth your time and energy to hire a lawyer because you told me you went to the emergency room only you’re not going to seek follow up treatment. It’s been 45 days since the accident. Your car has been fixed by the insurance company. You just don’t know what to settle for.

Stone Payton: [00:19:13] Right.

Howard Abrams: [00:19:14] And you don’t want an attorney for that situation. But calling an attorney, someone like me and will still give him a five minute talk and I say, hey, what’s your er bill? And I’ll, I’ll be like, I would demand something like this. Do I get paid on it? No. Will that person ever call me again? No, no, but it doesn’t hurt. Um, you know, from a marketing standpoint, that person might know somebody or think of something like helping people out is, you know what I’m in the business of doing? I would always say, even if you don’t think it’s the case, or even if you’re not sure, you should always call an attorney, because even the ones that will charge you the initial consult or initial call isn’t going to cost you. They don’t charge you 500 bucks just to get on the phone. They do go running. Um, it can’t hurt. It can only help. So, you know, that’s my my, you know, long and winded answer to that is I would always call an attorney if you’re concerned whether from a defendant or a plaintiff side. Okay.

Stone Payton: [00:20:09] So from either side. Yeah that’s okay. So like even if I think or know that it’s pretty sure it’s my fault, then at least have a conversation.

Howard Abrams: [00:20:17] I’d have a conversation and you call your insurance company because that’s what you’re paying them for.

Stone Payton: [00:20:21] Gotcha. And then I guess I and maybe the maybe, you know, good counsel. I don’t have to worry about it too much, but I gotta I gotta say, I’m a little intimidated at this point. Like, I don’t even know what to ask or or what red flags are like. If if I were to hire a consultant, I came from that world. I know some things to look for, but I don’t know what to red flags, you know, yellow flags and or green flags. And talking to a potential engaging an attorney.

Howard Abrams: [00:20:50] Yeah. I think, you know, the good advice is that it sounds too good to be true. You know, it still rings true for anything in the sales world, right? If an attorney tells you he could do it quicker or cheaper. There’s a reason why. Because you’re not getting the same level of service. I mean, personal injury work has been, you know, around since the United States, you know, developed its legal system, right, like in some fashion. And personal injury contracts have more or less looked the same for well over 100 years. I don’t know how long exactly. I’d have to do some digging on that answer, but there’s no there’s nothing in a personal injury like retainer contract that shouldn’t tell you exactly what the fees are. You’re you’re paying that there’s no fee unless you recover. You know what costs are. You know that the attorney is fronting and can reimburse for. And then every state has like a right to in Illinois, it’s like up to five days after you sign a contract, you can null and void it for any reason with either side. Like if you don’t understand the document that you’re signing, then you know and the attorney doesn’t explain it to you. There’s your first red flag, right? You know, I always when I get on the phone and I explain what I do, I, you know, I give them a short version, the legal documents longer it’s one page because they’re not going to look at anything longer than that. And I always tell them, read it.

Howard Abrams: [00:22:15] Any questions, let me know you know, and we’ll go through it line by line if you want. But you know the attorneys or. People that you know are just looking to make a quick buck. As I like to say to clients, they’re the ones rushing in to sign the paperwork, rushing you to settle the case, doing everything just what seems like very quickly, which again, you know, I believe I know people get frustrated with the length of a case sometimes and like you are hearing me talk about and I’m not saying longer is better, but you have to take into account a timeline, right? If you get into an accident. And you’re hurt. At a minimum, it’s usually a 2 to 3 month acute injury phase where you’re getting treatment or therapy or seeing specialists. Right. And any good lawyer is going to. Even if you sign up the client from day one, I don’t evaluate a case for settlement until I see a discharge from therapy. The specialist, wherever, because that tells me that the client has healed right? And then I still wait another 30 days because people have setbacks. So you’re talking about at a minimum from date of accident, six months is what I tell clients before I’m even talking to the insurance company about a settlement, because I don’t know what your injury is. How can I evaluate or make a demand or make any sort of suggestion about what your case is worth if you’re still in treatment or you’re still hurting?

Stone Payton: [00:23:51] Sounds to me like rushing it is probably. There must be several mistakes and pitfalls, but like the biggest mistake you could possibly make and in trying to in filing a claim is just getting in a hurry.

Howard Abrams: [00:24:06] Correct. I always tell clients like the consult, and if you and the other benefit of what I’ve learned from the prelate phase, what I call outside accord is, you know, luckily I do get a lot of clients relatively soon to the accident, which isn’t an easy thing to do, is they get this free advice. And I said, listen, you can sign with me six months from now, right? But you’re still going to pay me the same attorney’s fee. I don’t reduce my attorney’s fees because I work for me less. It’s contingency by signing with me on, you know, day one or day seven, whatever day it is after the accident. Now you get to call. I mean, I don’t want you to call me every day, but you get to ask me whatever questions you want because you hired me as your attorney, and that’s my job. And I walk them through this, you know, step by step. And there’s a lot of, you know, a lot of attorneys just want to go to court. Um, and that’s okay. But there’s a lot to work to do before you go to court. And that’s where I’ve sort of specialized the last few years, is walking these clients through these steps in anticipation that if I can settle it with the insurance company. You don’t have these red flags or pitfalls in your case in the courtroom that, you know, the defense attorney is going to try and wave the wave, the flag about that, why you’re not as injured as bad as you say you are.

Stone Payton: [00:25:25] I’ll tell you something that’s coming to light for me during the course of this conversation, I guess I in my mind, I was thinking that your relationship with the attorney would be more transactional. But it seems to me like you’ve got to establish so much trust and that, I mean, your work is really pretty heavily grounded in relationship, everything from the sales and marketing aspect of it, but actually trying to work with and get the best set of results for a client. I mean, it’s really pretty heavily grounded in relationship, isn’t it?

Howard Abrams: [00:25:57] I think, you know, I think you nailed it right on the head. And that’s the service that I’m trying to offer my clients is there are a lot of good litigators out there. I would not pretend then to, you know, say that who’s the best? And there’s a lot of, you know, media or marketing or advertising that says that, you know, this attorney is the best here, this one. There’s a lot of us, you know, who can litigate. And yes, some, I guess, you know, it’s subjective, some objective. Who’s the best one. And, you know, I’m not even gonna, you know, pretend to say that that’s who that is or why that is. What I think is important is again. It’s not. We’re not talking a you know, there are complex personal injury cases. Okay. There’s product liability and things like that where, you know, people have developed specialties and that’s why it’s good to, you know, be in the industry for a while. You can refer cases to other attorneys if you think it’s something outside your wheelhouse. But for your standard personal injury case or for an auto case, um, I think the personal level of service is something that is missing, you know, and it’s not required. It’s not something that is, you know, you’re required to do to handle the case. But it’s personal injury. It’s personal. I’m like, I’m not trying to make a joke, but it is personal. So I mean, you got hurt like you lost time from work or all those different, you know, areas of damages.

Howard Abrams: [00:27:21] But, you know, those are the main ones. It’s very personal to the client. And yes, it’s a transactional, you know, relationship. But, you know, someone told me a long time ago, you almost like, you know, a therapist for the client to, you know, I would recommend they see, you know, factual help if they really need it. But they’re going through a lot. Their car needs to get fixed and they need it for work. They, you know, their job won’t give them time off to seek medical treatment. All these things that they have to deal with because someone else caused an accident or caused them an injury that they’re not, you know, necessarily going to get compensated for. Because at the end of the day, an insurance claim is a loss for the insurance, right? They’re in the business of writing underwriting policies and collecting premiums and investing that money for their business. The claims department is where they lose money. So their goal at the end of the day is not to just pay you off. Their goal is to pay you as little as they can or not at all, because it’s better for their business. Bottom line. So, you know, taking those two things into account if you don’t establish some sort of personal relationship, I don’t know how you can best represent a client in this business.

Stone Payton: [00:28:33] Well said. So what’s next for you? You’re going to try to grow the firm and expand what’s on the horizon for you.

Howard Abrams: [00:28:43] Um, expansion is definitely a consideration. I think I’d like to continue to focus on the early stages. I know how to litigate, and I can teach other attorneys how to do that. So I’m happy to sort of push some of that work onto, you know, other attorneys or, uh, as I grow my law firm and continue to focus on, like, the early stages, I can always go. I mean, I’m never going to stop going to court. Uh, it’s time consuming. And, you know, I find lately that I’m better service of my clients in the beginning. And as long as my law firm can offer every stage, whether it’s me, you know, the whole time or other people taking over, if we go to court, I’m comfortable with that. And, you know, I think I could do the best for my clients by being involved, um, early on and staying involved early on and not being like, oh, can I call you later? Because you can get stuck in court all day. And the client. Yes. You know, their question may might not have been urgent, but it was important to them.

Howard Abrams: [00:29:49] And it’s hard for me to be able to, you know, have a full conversation with them because the judge is, you know, yelling at me to get in the courtroom. So, yeah, I mean, that is the plan is to continue, you know, to expand so that I, you know, because when you’re in pre-suit there, besides the statute of limitations to file the claim, there’s no deadlines. You know, the insurance company might make you think there are or that you have to get them something or they’re not going to. That’s just, um, you know, trying to make you do things that you don’t want to do is I can take the time, whether it’s a five second conversation or a five hour conversation, I hope not with my clients, I can I can give that level of service because the other attorneys in my firm are handling the court calls and the court cases, and if I need to go to court, I will, but it won’t be. You know, I used to spend every day of my life in court, and it can be exhausting.

Stone Payton: [00:30:47] I’ll bet. All right, man, what’s the best way to contact you? Have a conversation with you or someone on the team. Whatever you feel like is appropriate website, email, LinkedIn, whatever.

Howard Abrams: [00:30:58] Yes, it’s all pretty easy. It’s Howard Abrams Law.com is the website, uh, phone number (312) 985-7368. And if you want to reach me by email Howard at Howard Abrams Law com.

Stone Payton: [00:31:13] Well, Howard, it has been a real delight having you on the program. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for your insight, your perspective. We sure appreciate it, man. You’re doing important work.

Howard Abrams: [00:31:26] I appreciate your time today. This was a lot of fun.

Stone Payton: [00:31:28] My pleasure. All right, until next time. This is Stone Payton for our guest today, Howard Abrams with Howard Abrams Law, and everyone here at the Business RadioX family saying, we’ll see you again on Chicago Business Radio.

 

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2 Ways to Create User Generated Content to Attract More Clients

May 6, 2024 by angishields

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Katie Bowling and Ethan Davis with LGE Community Credit Union

May 6, 2024 by angishields

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In this episode of Atlanta Business Radio, Stone Payton chats with Katie Bowling and Ethan Davis from LGE Community Credit Union. They discuss the credit union’s growth and commitment to community involvement, highlighting their upcoming branch grand opening in Roswell.

Ethan talks about their member-focused approach, showcasing unique offerings like high rewards checking accounts and free business checking. Katie shares the importance of building trust through active participation in local events and supporting charities. Their genuine dedication to serving the community shines through, making it clear that LGE is more than just a financial institution—it’s a partner in community development.

LGE-Community-Credit-Union-logo

LGE Community Credit Union is dedicated to the health and advancement of members’ financial lives and its communities. They are a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution with a strong commitment to the local community. Profits made by LGE are returned back to the members in the form of better rates and lower fees. LGE is governed by a volunteer board of directors who are also members of the credit union.

Follow LGE Community Credit Union on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Katie-BowlingKatie Bowling

Business Development Officer at LGE Community Credit Union.

 

 

Ethan-DavisEthan Davis

Financial Center Manager

 

 

Transcript-iconThis transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix

 

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: [00:00:02] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for Atlanta Business Radio, spotlighting the city’s best businesses and the people who lead them.

Stone Payton: [00:00:17] Welcome to another exciting and informative edition of Atlanta Business Radio. Stone Payton here with you this afternoon, and today’s episode is brought to you in part by our Community Partner program, the Business RadioX Main Street Warriors Defending Capitalism, promoting small business and supporting our local community. For more information, go to main street warriors.org and a special note of thanks to our title sponsor for Main Street Warriors, Diesel David Inc. Please go check them out at diesel. david.com. You guys are in for a real treat this afternoon. Please join me in welcoming to the broadcast and back to the Business RadioX microphone, Business Development Officer with LGE Community Credit Union in Roswell, Ms. Katie Bowling, how are you?

Katie Bowling: [00:01:11] I’m great. How are you?

Stone Payton: [00:01:12] I am doing well. I’m refreshed. I’m rested. Got a little bit of jet lag. Just got in from Paris yesterday, but I knew that we were going to get a chance to visit and have you guys in studio. I’ve really been looking forward to this conversation. I got a ton of questions. I know we’re not going to get to them all, but maybe a good place to start is to just get caught up with what’s been happening since I talked to you last. Seems like every time I turn around, you guys are opening new branches, offering new services. So maybe mission purpose of LGE in general and what’s going on here more recently?

Katie Bowling: [00:01:45] Yeah, sure. So last time I was here, we were talking about Sandy Springs and got that branch up and running and it’s doing great. And now we have our Roswell location that has recently moved, and we’re having a big grand opening in May that we’re really excited about. It’s at Holcomb Bridge. And Alpharetta Highway gets much better visual than where it was previously. So that’s something we’re really looking forward to because this is actually our ten year anniversary being in the Roswell City. So now that we have a better spot, we’re excited and hoping to see, uh, more members come in and join us in celebrating.

Stone Payton: [00:02:23] And so we’re going to have tropical punch Katie cakes. Yeah, balloons.

Katie Bowling: [00:02:27] Well, we’ll always have our Nothing Bundt Cakes, Bundtinis®, because we’re a big fan of them. Um, and then we’ll have some charcuterie, a lot of fun things going on. Giveaways. Just be a big celebration.

Stone Payton: [00:02:40] Neat. So Background on LGE started out as a credit union for the folks out there building airplanes.

Katie Bowling: [00:02:45] That’s right. Yes. So we were Lockheed Martin in 1951 is when they started Lockheed Credit Union. And um, over the years, we started opening up our field of membership and went to the acronyms LGA for Lockheed Georgia employees. And we can now it was more focused on what businesses that you worked with, like if you were lucky, Cobb EMC, whereas now it’s where you live or even where you work. Um, you can join LGE. Uh, we are in eight counties and we have 16 branches in Georgia. Wow. Yeah. So we’re really growing, doing a lot of work to get our name out and, uh, let people know that we want to be a community partner.

Stone Payton: [00:03:32] Well, the bar is low and the service is great. I say the bar is low because I’m a customer and everybody has what really attracts them. Right. And some of it’s, you know, fees or not, fees, access, location, all that stuff for me here locally at the, uh, one here in Town Lake that, uh, my buddy Wesley works at. It’s the coin thing because. Yes. Oh, it just irks me to go to the grocery store and pay the extra fee, right, to count the coins. And we’ve got this Folgers coffee can, and that’s, you know, we put our change in it all the time. I just, I that’s what got me. Well that and Wesley’s personality. So shout out to Wesley.

Katie Bowling: [00:04:08] That definitely helps. I will say when I was a branch manager I several years ago, the coin machine goes nonstop. I a lot of people love the coin machine. You don’t have to roll the coins, you just drop them in. So that makes it very convenient.

Stone Payton: [00:04:21] Oh it’s awesome. All right. Who’d you bring with you today?

Katie Bowling: [00:04:24] So I have Ethan here. He’s our Roswell branch manager, and, uh, I know he’s got a lot of exciting news to talk about with the Roswell location and, um, a promotion that we’re having. All right.

Stone Payton: [00:04:35] So, Ethan, before we dive into that, I got to know the backstory. How does one find themselves in this line of work, doing this kind of thing for these kind of people? Like when everybody else was playing cowboys and Indians were you’re like, I’m going to be a branch manager.

Ethan Davis: [00:04:51] Actually, Stone, sometimes the business chooses you instead of you choosing the business. Because honestly, when I moved here 21 years ago, I was working for an enterprise, rent a car, and picked up customer. Um, she was wowed by my customer service, so she said, how about you trying to do something a little bit different? So I applied for a, uh, one of the big banks. I’m not going to say the name. Um, and that’s how my career got started in banking. So I’ve been here ever since. And then I just love helping members, uh, taking care of their financial needs. And, you know, just seeing how we can truly impact customers and members throughout the community.

Stone Payton: [00:05:33] All right. So give us your perspective on LGE in general and this this branch that you that you’re managing.

Ethan Davis: [00:05:41] Great company, great company, great people. Um, it’s founded on people helping people. And it’s truly that’s what they truly do. And, you know, we had the grand opening next Thursday, so we expect a big turnout. Yeah. Beautiful facility. So if you got a chance to come by there, come out and see it. Um, and you’ll be you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Stone Payton: [00:05:59] So you’ve been doing this for how many years now?

Ethan Davis: [00:06:02] Actually been in banking. Almost 20 years. Almost 20 years. Yes. Combined.

Stone Payton: [00:06:07] So now that you got a little bit of time under your belt, what’s the what’s the most rewarding, man? What’s the most fun about it for you?

Ethan Davis: [00:06:14] Um, most fun about it. Just you meet you meet different people every day, and you build those relationships with the members that come in. But you also build relationships with your team members as well. Um, like Katie, um, um, me and Katie, we go out through the community. Uh, she asked me, Ethan, hey, are you available to do this? Hey, my schedule is open. Let’s do it. So, you know, whenever you whenever you have that good partnership. Uh, that’s what makes the job a lot less tedious.

Stone Payton: [00:06:38] So I got to say, I enjoy going to the branch and visiting, and I, you know, I feel like Norm in that old. You’re not old enough to remember this, but there used to be. Okay. Yes.

Ethan Davis: [00:06:46] Norm and Cliff.

Stone Payton: [00:06:46] Right. Norm.

Ethan Davis: [00:06:47] Right there. Right. Sit there. Right there at the edge of the bar as soon as they walk through the door.

Stone Payton: [00:06:50] That’s right. Okay, so you are, uh. But I feel that way when I go into the branch. But I’m around the community a lot, you know, being the radio guy in the community, I know a lot of the small business people and that kind of thing in the local community leaders. And I see large people at every thing, every thing. So you guys, it’s not just a slogan or a poster. It’s, uh, I mean, it is the it’s it’s a key part of your culture or your ethos is to genuinely invest in and be part of the community day to day. Yeah.

Ethan Davis: [00:07:23] Absolutely. That’s what we’re about. We’re about the community, um, because we support the school, the local schools where we have our branches, um, we support, support local charities. Um, we have our special. No holiday celebration in December, where we highlight those different charities and let them come up and speak and tell, uh, what they’re about and what we do for them to help them stay, um, in the place of where they are. And they truly appreciate what we do for them. And we appreciate, uh, what they do for us as well.

Stone Payton: [00:07:57] So banking strikes me as a very competitive arena. So so these things surely would help you distinguish yourself. But I, I asked this almost in every interview, but I’ll ask you guys to maybe get a little bit from both of you on this, the whole sales and marketing thing. I mean, how how does that work? Because you’re talking about for most of us anyway. You’re talking about my money, right? How does the whole you don’t just pick up the phone and say, you know, would you like to come bank with or do you I don’t know.

Ethan Davis: [00:08:29] Well, with credit unions, um, we’re a member owned, so we don’t have stockholders. So whatever we do generate, we give that back to the members and dividends and interest rates. So we don’t compete with other banks and things like that. We just focus on taking care of the member and giving those benefits back. That’s the reason why you see us out in the community, because I worked on both sides. So I worked for the bank for almost 15 years, and plus I worked for a credit union. So pretty much everything you do for a bank, you know, there’s something tied to it. So it’s always stockholders that you got to take care of. So when you talk about generating money, we don’t we you know, we’re not for profit, but we’re not for loss either. So.

Stone Payton: [00:09:08] Oh I’m going to use that. So good.

Ethan Davis: [00:09:10] Point. Yeah. So great. Uh, yeah. So with with that being said, we, you know, we get we pass those benefits on to our members.

Stone Payton: [00:09:18] I like it. So, uh, anything to add to that, Miss Katie? On on just I guess it’s being out in the community, building real relationships. That’s the that’s the core of this whole thing, isn’t it?

Katie Bowling: [00:09:29] Right? The more they see you, the more top of mind you are, the more they become to trust you that you’re out sponsoring events, and they see that you really have that connection with the community and the people there. They see that you care about them, you care about what they care about, and they want to come and see you because they know you’re going to take care of them personally, their finances. And that’s what we want. We want to build that trust.

Stone Payton: [00:09:51] And that same value system that you’re speaking to. It also starts at home. You touched on it a moment ago, I think, Ethan, uh, the people inside the branch, your your team, you’ve, uh, uh, talk to me from a leadership perspective. Uh, how do you live into, you know, the stuff that is on the poster and is in the manual and is like. But how do you. Well, I would back up all the way to recruiting and selecting to developing, to sustaining. Speak to that a little bit if you would.

Ethan Davis: [00:10:22] Well, whenever you have a team and if you’re familiar with sports, everyone has a role. But you also when you’re in a leadership position, you have to manage personalities. You can’t have all of the same type of person in a branch. So it’s it’s about blending that unique group of people and leading them to a common goal. And some days it’s easy. Some days it’s hard because, you know, you’re dealing with personalities. So some personalities are easy to deal with, some personalities are harder to deal with. But the goal is to just to find, uh, find a way to, to take care of making sure your team is taken care of first. And if your team is taken care of, they got a positive attitude, positive vibe. Then whenever someone walks through the door, they’re going to feel it. They’re going to know it, and then they’re going to enjoy coming in. Then. All the great things. That’s when the magic happens then. So it’s easier to ask them to open up an account, do a loan, um, open up a, you know, maybe a Christmas account for you, for your kids, a vacation account, things like that. So you want to make sure you got the right people there in the right environment, and which will produce those results that are desired.

Stone Payton: [00:11:32] I got to believe just sitting here, hanging out with you in the studio, some of this was just born in you. I could I just I feel that and I sense that this behavior, this value system, this ethos was also modeled really well for you somewhere along your career. Is that accurate?

Ethan Davis: [00:11:50] Very accurate. I’m the oldest of three, so I had a younger brother and sister, but both of my parents, my dad worked for Southwestern Bell, AT&T, Bell South for like 35 years. My mom worked for Sanyo Manufacturing Company for 40 years. So while they were at work, I had to make sure I had to take care of my younger brother and sister then. Plus, my dad was a Sunday school teacher. So, um, there were certain things that, uh. We’re not going to fly in his house. Easy way to put it. So, um, when you’re the oldest, a lot is put on your plate, a lot is put on your table, and you just rise to the occasion.

Stone Payton: [00:12:26] You spoke about roles, so you guys are in a different roles. Kind of make the distinction for me, Katie.

Katie Bowling: [00:12:33] Sure. So with me doing business development, I have a region and, um. Roswell is part of my region. I do North Fulton and East Cobb. And so my job is to go out in the community, be active and involved, build these relationships. And when that person is looking for an auto loan, looking for a mortgage, wanting to switch over their main accounts for a new checking account, I will send them to our branches. They build that trust, I build their trust up and I will set them up with whichever location is nearest to them. So that’s my job is just to really bring the business to the branches. Whereas Ethan being the branch manager, his main focus is Roswell because that’s his office. It’s the Roswell location. So he’ll go out with me to different Roswell events and the branch manager for Alpharetta, she’ll go with me to the Alpharetta events. But, um, it’s it’s actually a very fun role because I do a lot of lunches and meeting and just talking with people, and I’m like, wow, I never thought this was going to be a career for me. It’s fantastic.

Stone Payton: [00:13:42] If I had your job, I’d weighed 300 pounds.

Katie Bowling: [00:13:44] Yes, that happens very easily. You have to be very, in control or have a good mindset like, okay, we don’t want to go there. Dessert. Every meal is not a good idea.

Stone Payton: [00:13:59] Oh my goodness. All right, Ethan, talk to me about products, services. There’s probably an awful lot I suspect, that is available to a customer of LG that they don’t. It’s not on their radar necessarily. Oh, yeah. I hadn’t thought about this or that.

Ethan Davis: [00:14:15] Right. So we have our specialty product. Our main product is our high rewards checking account. Okay. Um, and so with that particular account you can earn up to 3%.

Stone Payton: [00:14:25] But I didn’t know you could earn percent anymore. I thought I thought those days were gone.

Ethan Davis: [00:14:29] And see, that’s the difference between a credit union and a bank. See, we won’t charge you just to put your money in the account with a monthly maintenance fee.

Stone Payton: [00:14:39] Another old show. You remember Beverly Hillbillies, where Drysdale was so nice to the clampetts because he didn’t charge. Right? Right.

Ethan Davis: [00:14:45] So we’re going to give you money if you put money in the account and meet certain criteria. So that’s the difference we don’t want we’re not going to charge you a monthly fee. We’re just going to give you some money, a certain percentage, if you bring your money to us and and do certain criteria. So that’s the reason why you should come to LG.

Stone Payton: [00:15:02] I like it it sounds like he’s said that before. Maybe.

Katie Bowling: [00:15:06] Yeah, I think he’s well trained.

Stone Payton: [00:15:10] And so, uh, the small business owner, that’s a lot of the folks who tap into our work. Uh, what are some things they should be on the lookout for or see in their environment that says, you know what? I really ought to go talk to the LG folks. You know, I’m I’m I don’t know what it might be. You know, I’ve got this line of credit over here. I’ve got these kind of account. I what are some things I should be looking for that say, you know, I probably ought to have a conversation with Ethan or somebody on this team.

Ethan Davis: [00:15:37] One word, four letters. Free, free business checking account.

Stone Payton: [00:15:42] Oh, wow. That’s a very attractive word.

Ethan Davis: [00:15:45] Very attractive word. Free. So we just rolled that out maybe a month or so ago.

Stone Payton: [00:15:51] Oh, okay.

Ethan Davis: [00:15:52] Yeah. So if someone has a small business and they want to, you know, see what it’s like, see what we have to offer, just come in and sit down with one of our financial service specialists and enroll in our free, free business checking account.

Stone Payton: [00:16:06] Got it. And you guys are very, uh. What’s. Take technologically adapted. Or you can do a lot on a computer, correct? Right. With and move money around and set stuff up online banking. You can see how fast all I am.

Ethan Davis: [00:16:21] Yeah, yeah. Our online banking plus uh, the mobile banking and online banking so you can be able to transfer in between accounts. Nice. Um, also we have a snap deposit where you can do your mobile deposits from your phone. Do you have a ATMs? Uh, some branches have multiple ATMs where you can make your deposit at ATM after hours. If we’re not open to make sure you know your cash and deposit checks and get into the account, then you also do withdrawals as well.

Stone Payton: [00:16:45] All right. There was something that I needed signed. Not signed, um, notarized the other day. And I went in and harassed Wesley and, uh, or somebody in there, and they got that done for me, too. There’s a lot you can get done.

Ethan Davis: [00:16:59] A lot, a lot. So, yes, we offer notary services. Uh, we also offer medallion services as well. So whenever you have stock, which you can’t use a notary for, you set an appointment and then want to more than likely to be the branch manager financial center manager. And we’ll take care of that notary service, uh, that medallion service for you as well.

Stone Payton: [00:17:16] See, I guess you got to have a certain amount of money to even know what medallion service is. But that’s not.

Ethan Davis: [00:17:21] Necessarily as long as you have some stock and you want to do some transfers and move something around or redeem something, yes, we can take care of that.

Stone Payton: [00:17:26] For you. Well, that’s good to know. So what is the plan? Are we going to keep opening branches and keep doing it? Because you guys just seem like you’re on fire? Katie.

Katie Bowling: [00:17:36] Yeah, absolutely. That is the plan is to keep growing. And we have, uh, like we are looking at Douglasville. That’s been another area that we are looking to put a branch, uh, wherever we see the need, where we see that our members are going and like, we have to constantly have reports coming to us, showing us where our members are, where they’re going, where they’re shopping because we want to be convenient to them. And, I mean, there is most things you like to do in the comfort of your own home or be able to bank up through your computer. But when they need a branch, we want to be there for them. So as many branches are not as big as what you would normally think, like a bank branch would look like. Mhm. Um, because there’s just not really a need for the big bank branch anymore, having a long line of tellers. Um, back when I was a branch manager, I had four tellers and they were twiddling their thumbs because most people have direct deposit, snap deposit or go to ATM or use their debit card. So it’s just we felt that it’s better suited to have smaller branches but have more locations.

Stone Payton: [00:18:47] I love it and I do. We didn’t mention it earlier, but I have a large beer card. Um, that’s because I well, it’s just reformation here. Here in Woodstock. You got reformation in Queens in that same space, and Queens doesn’t take cash. Okay. And so, um, so I always make sure I have plenty of change deposited over there. And then that card, that’s my reformation slash queens card. So I go get beer and barbecue.

Katie Bowling: [00:19:11] Oh, that’s a good plan. We like it.

Stone Payton: [00:19:13] So why the focus? Why the interest in local charities? I understand enlightened self-interest, maybe to a point of, you know, being out there with the business people. You know, Ashley is, uh, always at the Young Professionals of Woodstock meeting here locally. But, yeah. Um, what is the impetus? What is the the driver for being so invested in supporting, um, charities?

Katie Bowling: [00:19:37] Well, as being a nonprofit ourselves, we want to support a nonprofit. And it’s, you know, sometimes these smaller charities or foundations are forgotten about, and we don’t want them to feel forgotten about. We want to take care of them. They are a big part of our community, and what they do for our community is huge and supporting the less fortunate. Just different things for the schools, for public safety. It’s all of that is so important for everyone to feel supported and we want to do our part. And I mean not just because we want to see business in return. We want them to feel like they really have someone that has their back, whether that is on a financial level or just on a personal level. We’ll take it whatever way we can get it. Just it’s, um, we got to help each other out, be like a true community together.

Stone Payton: [00:20:32] Well, you’re certainly seeing in my song. From a media perspective, my observation is that traditional media is not typically knocking their door down to cover their stories. And that’s one of the things that we enjoy with our community Partner program is to give these folks an opportunity to share their story and promote their work. And it sounds like you’re very invested in that as well.

Katie Bowling: [00:20:52] Absolutely. And we love that you all do that too. Thank you. Yeah.

Stone Payton: [00:20:55] No, it’s our pleasure. Beats the hell out of working.

Ethan Davis: [00:20:59] That it does.

Stone Payton: [00:21:00] Speaking of which, when you’re not working outside the scope of your work and serving the community interests, passions, hobbies, my listeners know I like to hunt, fish and travel. How about anything you have a tendency to nerd out about? Well.

Ethan Davis: [00:21:18] And when you’re married, you have, uh. Was it what did it called? Honey do list. So. So I spend most of my weekend doing doing things like that. So. Okay. Um, painting rooms or putting together a swing or.

Stone Payton: [00:21:31] Oh, my.

Ethan Davis: [00:21:32] Building a fire pit, anything. Anything that anything that she says that needs to be done, that I can actually do and not pay someone for it. I will do it.

Stone Payton: [00:21:41] So it’s like a Home Depot, Lowe’s brand ambassador. I’m the exact opposite. I have no I have two tools at my house, even a telephone and a checkbook. I will write important tools.

Katie Bowling: [00:21:53] We all need those.

Stone Payton: [00:21:54] Oh, good for you. So, Katie, what do you get into when you’re not out in the community or you just are you or do you manage to do it while you’re in the community? You just do both.

Katie Bowling: [00:22:04] Yeah, I mean, definitely with my position with LG, I do a lot of community events on the weekends as well. Oh yeah, which I love. I really, truly enjoy it. Uh, but I also have two daughters that, um, one in elementary and one in high school, so they keep me pretty busy as well. Um, but my husband and I, we also like to play golf together, so when we get some free time, we’ll go out and play 18 holes, or maybe nine, depending on how we feel.

Stone Payton: [00:22:31] I don’t think I have the temperament for golf or the budget because I would I would have to buy a lot of balls.

Katie Bowling: [00:22:37] Yeah, well we do that. We definitely have to, uh, go searching for mini balls and it’s fine.

Stone Payton: [00:22:44] All right, let’s talk about this event again because it’s coming up great.

Ethan Davis: [00:22:49] Uh, May 9th. At 1:00.

Katie Bowling: [00:22:52] That’s right.

Ethan Davis: [00:22:53] 655 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, Georgia 30076. All right.

Stone Payton: [00:22:58] And let’s talk about that cake company again so I can send them an invoice. No I’m kidding.

Katie Bowling: [00:23:04] Nothing Bundt Cakes. They are the best.

Stone Payton: [00:23:05] They are. Yeah. They do some good work over there. All right. What’s the best way for our listeners to tap in. Is it to swing by, stop in their local, uh, branch there in in Roswell? Is it, uh, reach out and connect with you on a on a LinkedIn or what’s the best way? I’ll website whatever.

Ethan Davis: [00:23:22] Yes. You can go to the LG website. And then, um, there’s a tab at the top where it says locations, and you’ll see a picture of myself and a branch, and it gives our address plus the email address. You can drop by any time. And if it’s and if it’s not convenient for you to drop by, you can always schedule an appointment and we’ll we’ll take care of you or.

Stone Payton: [00:23:40] Just go to some community event and people are going to be there. Right?

Ethan Davis: [00:23:43] Right. Yeah. And pretty much if you go to any, any community event, uh, in those uh, eight counties that we’re in, you will see someone from LG there.

Stone Payton: [00:23:52] Just look for the LG e blue right.

Ethan Davis: [00:23:54] Look for the LG blue.

Stone Payton: [00:23:56] Katie, thank you so much for coming back to the studio and introducing us to Ethan. You guys are doing such important work and we we sure appreciate you.

Katie Bowling: [00:24:04] Well thank you. We really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us.

Stone Payton: [00:24:07] Yeah Ethan man, just keep doing just keep it up. I am I’m inspired by what you’re doing. And, uh, we really do sincerely appreciate your your contribution, your commitment to community and your change machine.

Ethan Davis: [00:24:22] All right. Not a problem. Great meeting you. So.

Stone Payton: [00:24:25] Oh, it’s my pleasure. Alright, until next time. This is Stone Payton for our guest today, Katie Bowling and Ethan Davis and everyone here at the Business RadioX family saying we’ll see you again on Atlanta Business Radio.

 

Tagged With: LGE Community Credit Union

Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Marketing: Insights from the American Marketing Association

May 3, 2024 by angishields

Association Leadership Radio
Association Leadership Radio
Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Marketing: Insights from the American Marketing Association
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In this episode of Association Leadership Radio, Lee Kantor interviews Bennie F. Johnson of the American Marketing Association (AMA). Bennie discusses the AMA’s mission to support marketers in their career development and the organization’s long-standing history and global reach. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding customers and market opportunities in association leadership. The conversation covers the AMA’s proactive stance on AI in marketing and the need for ethical guidelines, and Bennie touches on the broad nature of marketing skills and the challenges young marketers face in the job market, advocating for personal branding and authentic connections.

American-Marketing-Association-logo

Bennie-F-JohnsonBennie F. Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Marketing Association (AMA). AMA is the largest community-based marketing association in the world, trusted by marketing and sales professionals to help them discover industry trends.

AMA’s community of local chapters spans more than 70 cities and 320 college campuses throughout North America. AMA is home to award-winning content, PCM® professional certification, five premiere academic journals, and industry-leading live and virtual training events.

He most recently served as the Executive Director of AIGA, the largest professional association for design. AIGA grows the power of design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, business driver and catalyst for positive impact. While at AIGA, Bennie hosted the acclaimed Design Adjacent podcast and the design leadership fireside chat series from 2020 to 2022.

Currently, he serves on the Board of Overseers for Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, as a Trustee of the Smithsonian Archives of American Art and is a former Board Chair of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum. Bennie is also a special advisor to the People’s Graphic Design Archive. Additionally, he was recently named to the Board of the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC.

Bennie thrives on the connections between marketing, technology, education and innovation. With experience in strategic and consumer marketing, brand management and innovation management, he is drawn to opportunities that allow him to lead and create new modes for business engagement.

He has broad experience growing brands, businesses and organizations with a special focus on venture launch and brand relaunch business environments.

Bennie graduated from Yale University with a B.A. and from Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies with a M.S., Strategic Communications.

Connect with Bennie on LinkedIn.

Transcript-iconThis transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix

 

Intro: [00:00:02] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for Association Leadership Radio. Now, here’s your host.Lee Kantor: [00:00:20] Lee Kantor. Here, another episode of Association Leadership Radio. And this is going to be a good one. Today on the show, we have Bennie F. Johnson with the American Marketing Association. Welcome, Bennie.Bennie F. Johnson: [00:00:33] Hey, welcome. Thank you. Thank you for being here. And thank you all for listening.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:37] Well, I am excited to learn what you’re up to. For folks who aren’t familiar, can you share a little bit about American Marketing Association? How you serving folks?

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:00:45] You know, we are, as we like to say, and work towards our mission. We are the essential community for marketing, and that really sums up kind of our world. We represent all of the development points, career, personal, professional that marketers need in order to be successful. In our current world. We are the oldest marketing association we’ve been around for almost 100 years. We have 75 professional chapters across the US, another 330 collegiate chapters, and we have membership covering the entire globe. We are also the publishers of five of the world’s most renowned journals, dealing with marketing, marketing, research, and global marketing. So that that’s where we are at at AMA. It’s an incredibly rich community. Professionals and practitioners, students, entrepreneurs who are all committed to advancing marketing.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:41] So what’s your backstory? How’d you get involved with the association? Did you come from marketing? You come from the association world.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:01:48] You know, a little bit of both. I am I am the marketing kid who grew up and has the enormous task and humble opportunity to be CEO of the Marketing Association. So my background in training was entrepreneurship and marketing. As a part of that, I’ve worked in startup brands, relaunches, uh, you name it, and global marketing and strategic roles. And a few years ago, I had someone who became a mentor who actually tapped me to rebuild a global marketing function for an association. And it was the first time that I had really kind of stepped in the association space. And that kind of opened up a new door career wise. So always still with marketing being my first business language, but over the last 15 years, having the chance to lead and grow in contemporary associations. That leads me here.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:35] So how does somebody with a marketing bent, like you have kind of attack a role as leading an association?

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:02:44] You know, I think it starts one of the beautiful things about having a marketing background is you always start with understanding the customer, understanding the marketplace, understanding the business and the opportunity. And I think those are incredibly good ways to start to think about leadership and strategic leadership as an executive, as a chief executive officer.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:06] So when you think about the customer in your case, who is that customer? Is it that young person who is aspiring to be a marketer? Is it kind of that corporate person that is just trying to keep things, you know, moving and, and just kind of withstand all the turmoil that seems to be around it. Uh, it seems like you have different constituents.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:03:27] You really do. And the answer to that is yes, yes and yes. Right. When you think about, uh, the beauty of professions or they’re made up of all those parts and pieces, right. That’s it’s the person who’s just starting the career, the one who is pivoting in the career, and those who are starting executive leadership that make up a full fabric of a profession. And we offer resources and training connections and really kind of, uh, a comprehensive approach to helping marketing professionals grow and excel, both for their own careers, for their teams, for their organizations, for their missions. And so we see a broad mix of backgrounds and, uh, experience levels in our membership community. And it’s really dynamic to see, you know, we have executive marketers, CMOs working in networking with each other in safe spaces where only the executives are kind of connected to each other. We’re a growth area for them. But those same executives may serve as mentors to younger students who are coming up or may serve as subject matter experts. For those who are thinking of making career or functional changes, you know, likewise, some of the great kind of innovation that you see in marketing is happening with younger participants in our profession who are coming in with unique backgrounds and opportunities and are really pushing the profession forward. So I see at times where a member of our community can be both an expert in a novice at the same time, and I think that’s the beauty of a contemporary profession where there’s there are things that you learn that are part of how you excel. And grow. But there’s also these opportunities to shape new technologies, new learnings and new opportunities. And so our goal is to continue and to create a space within AMA in which all those things are possible starting middle, you know, executive level, your career. This is a space for you.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:18] Now, you mentioned new technologies and one of them is AI. And that is something that is affecting or at least uh, could be affecting soon or if it’s not already impacting and disrupting a lot of different industries. How does an association like the AMA kind of lead in this regard? Are we at a stage right now where we’re just still learning and we don’t really know what it is, so it’s a little premature to make recommendations? Or are we at a point where we can kind of understand some of the, um, trade offs that might be kind of coming down the road?

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:05:55] Well, I will say this. It’s never too premature to lead. You know, when you think about the role as a profession in the space, in there as things are being written, developed, imagined, there is always a role for the profession and leaders within the profession to help shape what that reality is. So are there component parts of what is AI in terms of technology and platform that’s ever evolving? Uh, we had a panel discussion recently, and we talked about the fact that the contemporary version, the version of AI that you see today is the dumbest AI you will ever encounter. Right. And that’s that statement is really about how advanced and how dynamic the growth space will be. You know, so as a profession and as professionals, we need to understand how to harness the tool and what are the things that we can do. You know, machine learning, algorithmic learning, AI and generative form have all been a part of marketing for the last few years. If you know, if you look at digital marketing spaces, we were using AI in other ways, um, that will continue to grow and evolve and there’ll be places in there. But there’s also a space as a profession where we have a role in shaping the practice and the policy that goes around it. You know, I’m a fond of saying just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it. So where are the ethical guide rails? Where are the practice standards that come in? That’s a role for the profession and the professional association to help, you know, our members in the industry start to shape that. Will it evolve? Yes. Will it be a work in progress? Absolutely. Should we step in and be a part of this work? We must.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:32] But is it also should we let it just kind of. Grow to see what’s what before we hamstring anything, or before we start pruning something, we don’t even know how it’s going to be. I don’t think.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:07:46] It’s a question of pruning, right. But I do think it’s a question of being involved in the growth. So if we were to wait, you know, then I would be happening to us, not us. Harnessing the potential of AI. Right. There’s there’s guidance and rules that are being structured right now that marketing should have a conversation in a place at that table. You know, there’s no value in the profession waiting to not help to shape this. You know, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be perfect. And I’m not saying that we offer kind of false regulations and guardrails in that sense, but we need to be a part of the conversations of understanding how this evolves in our professional space, because we’re being discussed whether we step up in that space or not. You know, you look at AI, their ethical concerns, their structural concerns, their privacy regime concerns. These are all things that are actively happening in the marketing space. And so as a profession, can we sit back and wait? Yes. And we’ll wait ourselves out of a leading space.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:47] But sometimes when large institutions get involved early on in the technology, um. They might not be open to having some sorts of this disruption that might impact them as a whole, that sometimes they’re kind of territorial about, um, kind of limiting the opportunity when it comes to allowing something like this to grow a little bit before making moves to constrain it.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:09:18] Yeah. This I, you know, my conversation or my approach to this isn’t about a constraint, but it is about the fact that we as a profession need to be involved. Right? And I’m not pre-scripting any one way in which we’re involved. But I am saying that we should be there’s, you know, we’ve seen from past technological innovations, there is not value in opting out right in the space in there and the transformative moment in there, you know, because these are when I listen to our community and our members and the scholars. These are questions that they’re dealing with every day. It is very real. It’s not I it’s happening in the future. This is happening now. Right.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:55] And I know, like, I, I think that it’s one of those things like I mean, I’m sure you’re old enough and I’m old enough to remember when we first when calculators came into the scene, there was a hubbub about should we allow kids to have calculators? Um, because they’re never going to learn math if there’s calculators. And then the same was with the the internet, you know, like Wikipedia can’t replace encyclopedias, which obviously it has. So sometimes the, the status quo, um, is wants to pump the brakes and not let things just kind of go and then prune. They’d rather start making kind of changes, uh, before we even know what it’s going to be.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:10:44] Right. Well, that is the nature and definition of the status quo. Right? So the status quo defends what has existed, what we have enough to see in terms of looking at history and looking at more recent history, is that disruption is real, and it shows up in unexpected creative ways in which we have a community. We’ve talked about this as well that sometimes definitions getting your own way right, definitions seek to control and curate, and sometimes before understanding the creative space. We have a lot of new people coming into marketing who never would classically consider themselves marketers, but the techniques and tools that they’re using and the the function that they are is all about marketing. You know, our language has to expand because there are things that our profession is learning from new entrants, and also things that the established profession can teach in order to continue the profession to grow in a healthy way. So yeah, we’re gonna the fallacy is that anybody in any one of us can control these innovations. That’s not what we’re discussing, right? It’s not about the controlling of innovation, but it is positioning us to understand and adapt, to change right positioning, to understand and say, hey, there should be a voice that we raise as a marketing profession about what things are valuable in terms of protecting, you know, our access to customers and consumers and our business organizations. We are keepers of the brand and customers, and all of those success measures that can be adversely impacted by this. So we should have a role in shaping the way that our organizations, our tools and our strategies show up.

Lee Kantor: [00:12:21] Yeah, I mean, you definitely have to be part of the conversation. That goes without saying. I mean, because, um, you know, there’s a saying about branding, your branding, whether you’re being proactive about it or not, you know, you’re you’re leaving an impression, uh, in the consumer’s mind, whether you’re investing a minute of thought into it or not.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:12:41] It really is. And to think that, you know, new technological advances that are happening today or planned for tomorrow or next week won’t have a critical impact on what you’re doing. And your audience is really kind of a naive space. And so what we’re trying to encourage as a profession is facing there is how do we step in fully into these dynamic spaces, you know, because that’s what our members are asking. That’s what they’re looking at. You know, some of the things we’ve talked about in AI are changing the very tools that marketing marketers use, but they’re also policy changes that are happening that are then on top of that, changing the tools. So where do we show up as marketers who have these devices to use to delivering against our goals for our organizations and our missions?

Lee Kantor: [00:13:26] Now, are you finding that the marketing as a as a career has, um, is just kind of growing and growing because, like you said, it’s now permeating almost every aspect of business. You know it even if you’re an engineer, you’ve got to be a marketer, too, nowadays.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:13:47] You really do? I mean, you see, marketing’s expanding. Kind of like our solar system, right? It continues to grow and expand on itself. The beauty of it and what I get excited about marketing is the profession is very different than it was 25 years ago when I started. Right. And it’s going to be very different 25 years from now. There are constant new ways and approaches and new entrants. You know, there are things that may be established, principles that we kind of remix and, and look at again today because as our consumer audience changes and its behaviors and needs changes, so does marketing. As our toolsets change, so does marketing as the future of business and work change. Guess what? Marketing changes as well. And so there are students who we have coming into profession. Some are coming in with PhDs in specialized market research fields, and they have a phenomenal path ahead of them. We have some who are coming out of college who didn’t study marketing, but find that this is a space that makes sense and and it’s an incredibly robust space. We also have students coming in from two year programs, or influencers or creators who have no formal education, but have something to say about how companies and organizations shape their marketing practice. I mean, we’re a really dynamic profession in which you can enter in all these points. You know, we don’t have licensure, but our organization offers certification and training for just in time resources and more, you know, long tail critical skill sets as well. And we have members, as I mentioned, who range from PhDs and CMOs to new creators who are using some of the great platforms and doing more socially driven connection points to, you know, traditional strategic marketing managers who are coming in with MBAs or masters in marketing management. All of them have a place in a contribution to our profession.

Lee Kantor: [00:15:36] Now, are you seeing a blurring of the lines of all kind of the industries within the industry, like marketing is kind of now a catch all for what used to be advertising or PR or media. Now there’s kind of a blurring of the lines, like, where does one of those end and another one begin? Or is everything marketing now?

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:15:55] I think it it always was right. I think sometimes the definitions get in our own way, right. When you look at the purview, especially if you look at organizations as you ladder up, each of these items end up influencing and tying in. So if you have a really strong marketing leader, they’re going to understand branding. They’re also going to understand marketing analytics. They’re going to understand content marketing and digital. They’re going to get paid media and advertising but also own created media. You know, now you can argue that any of those fault that I mentioned fall into somebody else’s budget line or category. But when you step back, these are all skills that successful marketers need to understand, hone and be able to deliver against. You know, our business and organizations are requiring, you know, that the marketing leader be in an expert or have a facility with technology, understand data, understand good business management practices, while also honing creativity of brand and social engagement. You know, the marketing role requires all of those things in service to delivering against the brand and the company and organization mission.

Lee Kantor: [00:17:02] Now, um, what is kind of the the job market look like nowadays for a young marketer? I’ve been hearing local. I’m in Atlanta and I’ve been hearing some, uh, I don’t want to say horror stories, but some frustrations by, uh, candidates where they’re being ghosted by some companies, they apply. They it feels like they’re not getting any, you know, they’re having a difficult time getting their foot in the door. Sometimes they get asked to do, um, you know, projects without getting paid as a way to kind of, um, you know, see if they’re a worthy candidate and then they their fear or some people say this has happened where they’re taking their materials and then using them and not hiring them. Uh, how would you, if you were a young person, navigate the world if you were trying to get in, uh, get a job in marketing?

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:17:53] Yeah. Well, I will say that some of the things you’re describing are some of the horrors of contemporary job market. So they’re not unique to marketing or that space in there. Sadly, you’re seeing that, as, you know, companies and organizations pursue job markets. And this is where we talk about what are your kind of ethical responsibilities and spaces in there and understanding how you build out an organization, you know, so those are some bad practices that we see across the board. Um, what you’re describing in terms of the work in my last organization, we took some very harsh stances on that. That’s the category of spec work in which you would do things on spec to kind of prove in space in there. And it’s not a really it’s not a great practice. And it leads to exactly what you just described, a feeling of vulnerability or exploitation. If you’re in the market space in there, you know, if I if I’m advice to a young person working in marketing space in there is to really work on strengthening your personal brand. Work on strengthening your connection points that allow you to distinguish yourself in authentic ways from others who are in the marketplace. We see a lot of success in terms of working through networks and organizations like your professional association, the AMA, both at a local, regional and national level is a great way to continue that network. We just had our major collegiate event, and a big part of it was an open house for employers looking to hire, train and grow marketing professionals. And so as a professional association, we can provide that kind of entry point, um, to help people move along in that, you know, it’s you want to be cautious before you put out your work in the marketplace in there because you want to, you know, protect yourself against that risk. But I think going into established organizations, as you said before, um, really distinguishing your value and experience and building on your ongoing network are important things that serve you well, whether it’s your first job or your 10th.

Lee Kantor: [00:19:48] Yeah, I agree 100%. That’s my advice to any young person is join your associate, the local association, for whatever industry or niche that you’re working in, and lean in. And don’t just pay money and join and think you’re done, but then volunteer, take leadership positions, demonstrate so so the people that can hire you will see with their own eyes what you can and can’t do. And that’s your best chance of standing out and getting a job. I mean, by throwing your name in the hat in one of these kind of algorithm driven, you know, uh, search engines, you know, good luck. That, to me, is a lottery ticket.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:20:24] Yeah. But to your point, it’s a great way to think about your engagement with a professional association. It’s not just membership sign and done. It is being actively involved in that. I know in this organization, in the past, organization, volunteer leadership is one of the things that people use to distinguish themselves for advancement, promotion and distinction at their 9 to 5, if you will. Right? Because often you may not get an opportunity to lead a robust project that has impact at work, but you get a chance to be a part of a robust project in your professional association, and that allows you to work with other peers. It allows you to be seen and noticed and how often if you are. I have this now and the Professional Association of Marketing. So people in my network reach out to me and say, hey, we need to hire marketers, right? And that gives you an opportunity both locally, regionally and nationally to connect with resources where people are going. First. If I want to hire a quality marketer, um, it’s a great assumption to assume they’re connected with the high quality Marketing Association.

Lee Kantor: [00:21:23] Now what do you need more of? How can we help you?

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:21:27] Well, we always need more championing the fact that being a part of an association matters, that being able to grow both personally and professionally, but also to network and help others grow, is essential to associations, right? It’s essential to how we push the profession forward. It’s an incredibly dynamic time period to be in marketing, and it’s a fun space to be. We want to spread that word for those who are considering marketing or are marketing adjacent, right? Because marketing, as you said before, it’s such a part of success. Any successful organization, campaign for profit nonprofit has marketing at its heart.

Lee Kantor: [00:22:06] It should. Because if people don’t know who you are, that’s not going to help. And you better be delivering value to your constituents or you’re not going to grow. I mean, so.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:22:17] And it’s got to be an ongoing conversation and exchange, right? It can’t be. Rest on who we’ve been and who we were, but it has to be that ongoing, what we represent and what value we show up in your professional personal lives as we think about brands for all spaces, I mean, we’re marketing missions, we’re marketing ideas, we’re marketing services and products, but it all comes back to that relationship.

Lee Kantor: [00:22:42] And and you’ve been around for 100 years, and that doesn’t happen. Uh, by accident or mistake, I mean, to be around for 100 years shows that you’re providing value and you’re you’re growing an organization that’s doing important work.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:22:56] Yeah, it does, but it also gives us a challenge that in order to be around for the next ten years or 20 or 30 years, we still have to be intentional of understanding how our profession grows and evolves and being able to provide support as we navigate that as well.

Lee Kantor: [00:23:11] Good stuff. Well, thank you so much for sharing your story today, Bennie. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:23:17] Well, thank you for having me. And I thank everyone for listening. And once again, uh, Bennie Johnson, CEO of the American Marketing Association and the.

Lee Kantor: [00:23:25] Website, if somebody wants to connect with you or learn more about the association.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:23:29] We are AMA. Org and you can follow us and connect with us on LinkedIn as the heart of our professional space. And if I may give a plug, you can also listen to my new podcast, which is marketing. And and we’re talking to unexpected marketing leaders about the impact and future of the profession.

Lee Kantor: [00:23:48] Good stuff. And is that started or that’s coming?

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:23:51] It is started. It is. We are well into season three recording and season one just dropped.

Lee Kantor: [00:23:58] Well congratulations on that. And um, and they can find that I’m sure on any podcast platform.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:24:04] Any place you get your podcasts you can find it. Uh, AMA marketing and with Bennie Johnson.

Lee Kantor: [00:24:10] All right, Bennie, thank you.

Bennie F. Johnson: [00:24:13] Thank you so much.

Lee Kantor: [00:24:13] All right. This is Lee Kantor. We’ll see you all next time on Association Leadership Radio.

TRANSCRIPT

Tagged With: American Marketing Association

How Associations Are Impacting the Evolving HR Landscape

May 3, 2024 by angishields

Association Leadership Radio
Association Leadership Radio
How Associations Are Impacting the Evolving HR Landscape
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In this episode of Association Leadership Radio, Lee Kantor is joined by Jason Cline from SHRM-Atlanta. They discuss the role of SHRM-Atlanta in serving the HR community by providing education, resources, and benefits. Jason talks about the unique challenges in HR, the impact of AI on confidentiality and data handling, and the importance of best practices in AI use. They also cover the value of human connections in HR, the engagement of young people in the field, and the growth of the association industry. Jason emphasizes the importance of persistence in job hunting and the benefits of networking.

SHRM-Atlanta-logo

Jason-ClineJason Cline has over 23 years of association management and leadership experience. Prior to serving as CEO of SHRM-Atlanta, Jason was the President & CEO of the Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia. There, Jason spearheaded the development and execution of a strategic plan and led a highly profitable insurance arm of the organization.

Before that role, he was the Strategic Initiatives Executive at the Association of College Unions International and served in membership roles at both the American Bar Association and the Roller Skating Association International.

Jason earned both his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University. He also holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership. Currently, Jason serves as chair-elect for the Georgia Society of Association Executives.

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn.

Transcript-iconThis transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix

 

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: [00:00:02] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for Association Leadership Radio. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:20] Lee Kantor. Here, another episode of Association Leadership Radio. And this is going to be a good one. Today on the show we have Jason Cline with SHRM-Atlanta. Welcome, Jason.

Jason Cline: [00:00:32] Hi there. Thank you. Lee will be here.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:34] I’m so excited to learn what you’re up to. For folks who aren’t familiar can you talk a little bit about SHRM-Atlanta. How are you serving folks.

Jason Cline: [00:00:41] Sure. So I’m CEO of SHRM-Atlanta and I’ve been here about three years and we serve at the air community of the Atlanta metro area from at all levels, at all sized organizations, we provide education and resources and benefits like many other associations do, but specifically for the air space. But we’ve also realized, especially coming from my background in association management, that there are folks out there that do HR functions every single day, but they don’t call themselves an HR person. So they could be small business owners. They could be association leaders like myself that do the day out HR work. But again, they’re not HR professionals and they need the same resources and information that we provide.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:23] Now, you mentioned a background that has been in this kind of nonprofit association space historically. Is there something unique to the HR world that’s different than your other experiences in the variety of other associations you work with?

Jason Cline: [00:01:37] There is I mean, the industry itself obviously is different than the associations I’ve worked for. It’s my fifth one that I’ve worked at, but they all face the same challenges. They all have the same types of issues. They’re all working to make themselves and their organizations better. And that’s what makes associations unique or common ground is the fact that that we’re all trying to help our members accomplish whatever it is they’re trying to accomplish in their own professional space.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:02] Now, are you seeing any concern or interest in AI, and how are you dealing with kind of some of the rapidly evolving technology changes that are occurring in the marketplace?

Jason Cline: [00:02:14] Yeah, that’s certainly a hot topic in the air space, especially as it comes down to confidentiality. I think a lot of folks want to use it for to free up some of their time and their day. They might be writing policies or might be putting together presentations or things like that, but they also deal with sensitive information. And as you know, once you put something out in the world of AI, it becomes the something that could be grabbed from other entities in that space. So we certainly have many conversations about what a good use of AI is in the HR world and what isn’t. And especially as you deal with sensitive employee information and company information data.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:52] Now, is it impacting in any ways the way you kind of measure and report successes and just document things.

Jason Cline: [00:02:59] A little bit? I think you have to be careful. Like, you know, like I said, it’s AI is put out there to pull in information from a lot of different sources. And and once you enter that information into that, it becomes a part of that collection of data that could be pulled from other users. And so as you’re working with it, it’s really important to make sure that you are thinking about the end result of what you’re working on through the AI system before you start entering things into it. So it’s something that I’m sure is on the minds of all HR professionals, all business owners, or really any type of professional out there, but specifically so when you have that sensitive data about your employees.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:38] Now, um, as a leader in this space, is that something that you’re trying to just kind of are we at the stage where you’re just kind of learning what’s out there to determine what the best practice is, or is it something that you’re kind of leading and then trying to determine what. And you tell the folks what the best practice is?

Jason Cline: [00:03:57] There are certainly leaders in the AI space, specifically in HR, and we have certainly pulled in. Those professionals who have already been through the process have already learned some of the things that are do’s and don’ts in the in the world of AI. Um, we certainly I don’t think we could say safely that we are a leader, uh, in the information that’s being, uh, that we’ve developed. But we certainly have professionals in our space that are leaders, and we certainly utilize them to our best ability to inform the other members in our association that can learn from them.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:29] Uh, I probably didn’t ask this the way that I intended, but are you are we at a stage right now where everyone’s still kind of at the learning stage and just assessing kind of the best way to deal with it? Or are we are we coming to a point where we kind of have a best way to deal with it, and then you’re just sharing that?

Jason Cline: [00:04:50] Yeah, I think there are probably more on the side of still learning. I think there are plenty of people out there, um, that, you know, kind of didn’t jump on the the AI bandwagon early. And so they’re still looking a wait and see approach. So there are probably many more of those folks out there. And so in that regard, I would say that we’re still learning, um, because there aren’t the number of people that have that have adopted the practice of using AI yet within their workspace. But like I said, there are certainly those that embraced it early on and are helping us find the way and what best practices might be.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:26] Now when you’re, um, leading an organization, uh, like the folks that are in the air space. How do you kind of create engagement amongst your members and try to provide as much value to them as you possibly can, knowing that this is such a, that this space is impacted so much by technology and kind of some of the trends in hiring nowadays.

Jason Cline: [00:05:53] Sure. I mean, HR just in definition is about humans in the connection that humans make, um, specifically at work. And so as HR practitioners, um, I think they really enjoy getting together and talking with other folks that have been through the same types of things that they have and learn from them, learn from each other about the practices that they’ve that they’ve been through. So, you know, I think our members generally want to do that. So, um, we we certainly provide the number of opportunities that as many as we can for those folks to get together. We like to do that in person. And we’re and we’re getting back to, you know, hopefully a pre-pandemic status when it comes to, uh, in-person engagement. Um, we just had our annual conference two weeks ago. Um, and it was the largest one since the pandemic. And so we’re very proud about that. But we also enjoy seeing folks come out, reengage and reconnect with the community that they are in, and develop those relationships that will last, uh, in their careers and that can help them throughout many different challenges they face.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:56] Are, um, is is HR still a career that young people are, are kind of gravitating towards?

Jason Cline: [00:07:03] Absolutely. Um, in fact, we, uh, we there are student chapters of Sherm National, um, and we have a new one in the Atlanta area, um, the Atlanta University Consortium, um, which is a collection of three campuses of Clark, Atlanta University, uh, Morehouse and Spelman, um, that just started its own student chapter. Um, and those student chapters are made up of students that are in the air space. And so we do see a number of, uh, younger folks still engage with, uh, human resources and finding their way through the, the professional network that we create.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:39] And what are some of the the best ways you would recommend a young person kind of leveraging their experience at one of these associations?

Jason Cline: [00:07:49] Yeah, I would just say get involved. Um, as as professional members of our association, I hear almost after every single meeting or event that we have that somebody either found their next job because of a connection they made, or learned something about how to do something more efficiently or better at their workplace. And so that’s what we are here for, is to make those connections. And so the earlier you can do that the better. Uh, Sherm Atlanta, you know, if you’re a member of one of the student chapters, you automatically get membership in Atlanta for free because of that student chapter membership. Um, but we also offer reduced rates for those folks that don’t have a student chapter on their campus. Um, and also reduced rates for all of our programs and services. And so it’s it’s important, I would say, for them to get involved early because you never know who you’re going to meet that might help you now or might help you down the road in any aspect of your career.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:40] Now with hiring as kind of tight as it’s been lately, is there any kind of job advice that you would give somebody? Forget about just being an HR, but just trying to get a job in today’s marketplace? Is there any kind of do’s and don’ts you can share? Because I’ve heard some horror stories from individual candidates, like they’re being ghosted by companies and they’re not, or they’re asking them to do free work, or there’s been a lot of, I want to say, a difficulty for some people to kind of get their foot in the door when it comes to, um, getting hired. So is there any advice you can share for somebody that’s out in the looking for a job right now?

Jason Cline: [00:09:23] Sure. Um, I, you know, I’m sure there are examples of of employers, uh, ghosting and, uh, candidates, but I think it’s most much more prominent the other way around, uh, because there are so many options for, um, uh, job seekers out there. They have they could be more selective, um, because so many companies are looking for workers right now that they don’t feel the need to if they if they no longer want to be in the process, they just simply go away. And they don’t make them aware that they don’t make the company aware that they are no longer interested. And so the HR professional or company has to work a little bit harder to bring in a greater pool of candidates, because they know that those types of individuals are going to be in the pool and potentially go away because they found a better offer or some other opportunity that exists. So, um, you know, I think it’s always been the case that it’s about who you know. And just like I mentioned, with HR professionals being open, saying yes to things, um, taking on opportunities or, uh, participating in, in community events or things that you may not necessarily participate in normally as part of your life. You never, like I said, you never know where you where you’re going to meet somebody that might potentially influence your career or your career path down the line. So I would just say to be as active as you can in many different areas, because those opportunities can arise from anywhere.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:43] Now, is there any advice regarding kind of. When you’re submitting a resume or a cover letter into one of these systems, people are always kind of fearful that they’re going to say the wrong thing, or their their name’s not going to appear in the algorithm to be the, the, you know, the one chosen. Is there any secrets to that, or is that a myth of this kind of magic algorithm that’s picking and choosing?

Jason Cline: [00:11:11] Um, you know, that’s one of the functions of HR. You mentioned earlier, it’s largely based on technology and how how are companies use technology in their in their workplace. And that’s certainly one function that helps reduce time. Um, there are certainly, probably in every industry keywords that exist that will help get your resume or cover letter bumped to the top. But, you know, in general, I would say it’s more about persistence. Um, you know, because we’re in a we’re in an age where companies are looking for good individuals to, to work with, with them at their companies. I think persistence is the key there, because if you show you’re interested and you’re passionate about what that company does, you’re going to rise to the top and that’s going to come through on your resume.

Lee Kantor: [00:11:57] And I think the it always helps, like you mentioned earlier, is to have kind of some sort of a human connection with somebody there. And I think that’s kind of the cheat code, if there was one, is to know somebody in the company you’re trying to get a job in so that at least you have a human advocating for you.

Jason Cline: [00:12:18] Oh, absolutely. I would agree with that, and especially with social media, if you don’t know somebody at the company, I bet you know somebody who knows somebody at the company. And so doing your research and finding that finding that connection, that can that can help you in that journey is certainly going to be helpful for you.

Lee Kantor: [00:12:34] Now, getting back to your role as a leader in a variety of associations, has there been a piece of advice that you were given or a mentor that you had that has helped you in your career to, you know, be part of so many successful associations?

Jason Cline: [00:12:51] Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, you go through your career and there are always those people that, um, see something in you that maybe you don’t see or maybe you don’t see could be developed and certainly had that, uh, few jobs ago. Um, when I was at the Association of College Unions International, uh, my, my CEO then at the time was, uh, Marshall Hermann Bengtson and, uh, she still, uh, even though she’s retired now, she still serves as somebody I can talk to and bounce ideas off of. But, um, I think she probably, you know, I remember her in my interview for the job, uh, where she hired me, and she asked me what I wanted to do with my career, and I said I wanted to have her job. And so she spent her time, uh, the eight years that I was there, helping me find the skills and have the experience to make sure that I was prepared for that. So that has helped me as a CEO now in making sure I have those conversations with my employees, because it’s important to know what they want to do so that you can help them get there. Um, no employee is going to stay with you forever. It’s very unlikely these days that that people stay with the same company for a long period of time. So helping them develop that into their next role, into their next opportunity is not only going to help them, but it’s going to help you as well because you’re going to get the best out of them throughout their career, throughout their time with you at your organization.

Lee Kantor: [00:14:10] Now, is there anything about just being in the association industry like you have been? You also are, uh, you know, work with the Georgia Society of Association Executives. Are you seeing the industry as a whole kind of grow? Is this an area that you’re kind of bullish in? Is the association work happening here in Georgia and across the country?

Jason Cline: [00:14:32] Oh, absolutely. I would say so. I mean, I think when I, I fell into association management by accident, um, and that’s probably true for many of my colleagues, especially those around my same age, um, because there weren’t, uh, college programs around association management mostly was in public sector work or, um, something related to charitable organizations, but, you know, nonprofit organizations that are more membership based or that are focused on providing education and resources to a to an industry or a profession. Um, it’s not something that you grew up wanting to do because you were probably unaware that it even existed. Um, and I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, there’s an association for everything, and that is 100% true. You can find any hobby or any profession or any group gathering of people, and there’s probably an association that represents them. So I think the opportunities to work in the association space are vast. And you can really find, um, you can really find a passion not only in association, association management, but if you’re passionate about a, a thing or an idea or a topic, you can probably find an association that is, uh, that is built around helping that that group of people.

Lee Kantor: [00:15:41] Yeah. When I first started interviewing folks in the association world, I didn’t realize kind of that kind of Russian nesting doll, uh, world of association for associations, for associations. And there are some companies that all they do is manage associations. And there could be ten associations in one office.

Jason Cline: [00:16:02] Absolutely. Yes. As a matter of fact, I used to work at an organization that managed multiple associations. So you get the, you know, the scalability that comes with the, uh, opportunity to do things like that. But you also have the opportunity to learn from each other because each each organization, like I mentioned at the beginning of the program, um, each association is there for a similar reason, but they serve a different industry. And so there’s definitely ways to share information and resources.

Lee Kantor: [00:16:31] Right? Because the bottom line is it’s it’s usually about education. It’s about, you know, kind of wrangling volunteers that’s putting on events. It’s um, you know, serving this niche, uh, to, you know, create that kind of community around a niche and, and create all the best practices that are necessary for to make that industry grow.

Jason Cline: [00:16:54] Absolutely. I think that’s 100% true. And I think that’s a reason why associations are so prevalent in the United States and around the world. Uh, because there are so, so many of them and there are so many opportunities to develop new ones, because there’s always a new group of people that want to better themselves in their in their space, and they want to, um, help each other in that way. So associations seem to be the choice for those.

Lee Kantor: [00:17:17] Yeah. And it’s important because it helps it accelerates the growth of all the members. I mean, they get to learn best practices from everybody and and to be creative and find fellowship amongst people that have like minded beliefs and and objectives.

Jason Cline: [00:17:31] Yeah, absolutely. I think that’s I think that’s why they call. Associations because they’re they’re groups of people that are similar, that have similar thinking or that’s not necessarily thinking, but similar goals. And they can work together, share ideas and um, and work to achieve whatever it is they’re trying to achieve.

Lee Kantor: [00:17:48] Now, it must be such rewarding work for you. Um, is there a story you can share that maybe illustrates kind of, uh, a time where somebody told you, hey, this really impacted me, or you really helped our our company or our group grow.

Jason Cline: [00:18:05] Yeah. I think, um, you know, one that comes to mind, uh, especially at a, at a previous job, uh, I served before at Sherm Atlanta. I was the CEO of the Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia. And, um, not long after I started, um, some of our members were having issues with, uh, uh, taxes on their equipment, uh, because they were listed as one type of business. And, um, somehow they got changed to a different type of business, which caused a huge increase in their tax liability. And you know, I, I’m from the association space. I was learning about the printing industry when I took that job. So I didn’t know too much about that. Um, but, you know, I worked through the system of Georgia government. Um, I did a lot of research and at the end of the day, end up saving many of our members tens of thousands of dollars, um, by getting their tax situation figured out. And that’s not my background. It’s not something that, uh, I went to school for, nor did I have any knowledge in the area. But, uh, I think association managers and people that work in the association space are very committed to being servant leaders. And so, you know, as an, as a new CEO, as a new CEO of this association in particular, I was determined to find a solution for them. And and fortunately for for me and for them, I did. And I still hear from some of those folks, uh, today about how much money I saved them in taxes that they shouldn’t have had to pay.

Lee Kantor: [00:19:30] Right. Because that’s your role is to just help solve their problems. I mean, you’re there of service for them to help them achieve their objectives. And if they had a pain, then you were trying to alleviate that pain to the best of your ability.

Jason Cline: [00:19:43] Absolutely. And I think that’s why people again, join associations. They, they want, uh, that collective work to be done. And again, it wasn’t for one specific person. It helped the industry for that solution to be found. And and I was pleased to have been able to do that for them. Um, but it also just furthers the, the argument, the reason why having a professional association to belong to is important because, again, you never know when something like that’s going to happen to you and others may have already been through that. It can help you through it a lot easier than they did. Yeah.

Lee Kantor: [00:20:14] And that’s why it’s important for all the constituents of that niche or industry to get involved with their local association, because not only can they benefit like you help them benefit tangibly, but also they can be sharing what they’re learning to help the collective group as well. So I think it’s so important that all the that people do join these and they get involved, not just write a check to it, but just get involved and share what they know because then everybody benefits.

Jason Cline: [00:20:43] Yeah, definitely. I always say to folks that are thinking about joining, it’s not just about us providing them information, it’s about the information the collective organization gets from each new member. Um, and, you know, with each new member, the, the knowledge of the organization just grows exponentially. And so it’s more it’s it’s equally about what they can bring to us as to what we can provide to them.

Lee Kantor: [00:21:06] Yeah, I agree 100%. And I think whatever group you’re part of, you should be joining and not just joining and writing a check, but just leaning in and volunteering and doing kind of some of the leadership work too, because everybody benefits when everybody is involved. Great. So if somebody wants to learn more about Sherman Land or connect with you, what is the website?

Jason Cline: [00:21:29] Sure. Our website is Sherm Atlanta. Org and that’s H SHRM Atlanta. Org. Um, you can find me on LinkedIn at Jason Klein or under the Sherm Atlanta uh, page.

Lee Kantor: [00:21:40] Well, Jason, thank you so much for sharing your story today. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Jason Cline: [00:21:45] I appreciate that. Thank you very much for having me, Lee.

Lee Kantor: [00:21:47] All right. This is Lee Kantor. We’ll see you all next time on the Association Leadership Radio.

 

Tagged With: SHRM Atlanta

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May 3, 2024 by angishields

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