angishields, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

BRX Pro Tip: Work With Those Who Work With You

October 7, 2024 by angishields

BRX Pro Tips

BRX Pro Tip: Work With Those Who Work With You

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BRX Pro Tip: Work With Those Who Work With You

Stone Payton: [00:00:00] Welcome back to Business RadioX Pro Tips. Stone Payton and Lee Kantor here with you. Lee, let’s talk a little bit about a discipline – you and I have practiced it over the last 15 years, but we’ve gotten quite serious and diligent about it in more recent years – work with those who work with you.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:21] Yeah. Having a small business or a service based business is hard. And it’s so important to have the folks around you be supporting you and you supporting the folks around you. So, everybody knows that you have to believe in your product and service to be successful. Absolutely. That’s a must have.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:44] I’ll take it a step further and say your vendors and partners should also be believing in your product and service enough that they should be clients or users of whatever it is you’re selling. It’s too hard to do this by yourself. If you don’t have your banker and your lawyer kind of using your service, find another banker or lawyer or accountant. Everybody should be working together. And you need these folks around you because they can help you more because they’re going to fully understand what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. And they should want to help you. That’s who you need to find when you’re just starting out.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:24] So, I am a big proponent of finding vendors and partners that do business with you. You should be doing business with them. Everybody should be helping each other. Because it’s hard to do this by yourself. So, you got to have kind of a team around you and that team should be your vendors and partners, too, not only the people that work for you.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:44] So, I think that everybody wins when you’re all working together and you can kind of create this little close-knit mafia of everybody helping each other. You’re going to think of them more when the opportunities come. They’re going to think of you more when the opportunities come. And you’ll all have a better chance of succeeding and you can all grow together. So, if your partners aren’t using your service or helping you get more clients, then find new partners.

GWBC POP 2024: TeKay Brown-Taylor with Brownstone Mediation Services

October 4, 2024 by angishields

GWBC Radio

GWBC POP 2024: TeKay Brown-Taylor with Brownstone Mediation Services

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The Power of Partnering (POP) is a half-day event where women entrepreneurs, business leaders, corporations and procurement professionals come together to train, network and create matchmaker opportunities to help create and reach procurement and business goals.

Each agenda includes educational resources from thought leadership and subject matter experts and the opportunity to showcase your capabilities statements in a meet the buyer setting or matchmaker sessions.

TeKay Brown-Taylor MBA, CMT, CDP, PHR, SHRM-SCP is the Owner/President of Brownstone Mediation Services (BMS), a human relations (HR) consulting firm intent on helping organizations fix work while fixing “their own stuff” through strengthening workplace conflict capacity.

She is a PROUD St. Louisian and native of the “Show Me State” having relocated to beautiful Augusta GA in 2012. Prior to starting her own business, she held the role of HR Business Partner with one of Fortune 500s leading human capital management firms; while there received the “Women Making a Difference” peer and staff-selected company award.

As a self-proclaimed “Conflict Mechanic” with assumed superPOWERS as a gifted and experienced authority on human relation issues, TeKay has coached and advised thousands of employees and leaders on workplace related issues. She has developed and delivered innovative interventions for organizations of all sizes and disciplines across both academic, non-profit, corporate, and military settings.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Organizational Behavior and an MBA in Human Resource Management; along with certifications in human resource management, diversity, equity, and inclusion, military equal opportunity, equal employment opportunity (EEO), and as a conflict coach, among others.

TeKay is a high-energy and forward-thinking HR Architect with more than 18 years of successful experience helping organizations leverage human capital and diversity to create and strengthen inclusive workplace environments. She is a long-time SHRM National member, past Chapter Board member, and current SHRM GA District Director responsible for fostering state council leadership and HR support to SHRM Chapters across the state.

She prides herself on the unique perspective she brings set out to dismantle the outdated “that’s the way we’ve always done it” thinking and challenge leaders and HR professionals to create new ways to drive better workplace experiences.

Connect with TeKay on LinkedIn.

This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open For Business. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, broadcasting live from GWBC Power of Partnering event at the Georgia Power Headquarters. I’m so excited to be talking to my guest, Tekay Brown Taylor with Brownstone Mediation Services. Welcome.

Tekay Brown Taylor: Hi. How are you, Lee?

Lee Kantor: I am doing well. Tell us about Brownstone Mediation Services. How are you serving folks?

Tekay Brown Taylor: How we’re serving folks? Well, we are an HR, Human Relations, and ADR, Alternative Dispute Resolution, management and consulting firm. And we help organizations by identifying where conflict is showing up to help them drive better workplace experiences. And so, that’s how we’re going into organizations and helping them work through and grow their people, their processes, their policies, and their practices, how are they doing things to identify where conflict is showing up.

Lee Kantor: So, now, is your work kind of triaging situations where there is a disagreement and they need mediation? Or is it kind of proactive in that you’re teaching people how to communicate clearly and more effectively?

Tekay Brown Taylor: It’s both, and.

Lee Kantor: It’s an and.

Tekay Brown Taylor: Correct. We want them to be proactive, and so that’s the people, the policies, the practices. So, if we can get in and do some work around those things, our idea is to prevent them from needing mediation, but ideally doing mediation as an alternative to doing things like the grievance process and litigation.

Lee Kantor: So, what’s your backstory? How’d you know you’d be good at something like this?

Tekay Brown Taylor: Well, I’ve been an HR 18 years exactly, and so I’ve been doing this work for other organizations for quite a long time, whether corporate, military, nonprofits, serving on many boards.

Lee Kantor: Always in mediation and always —

Tekay Brown Taylor: In HR.

Lee Kantor: In HR.

Tekay Brown Taylor: My background is in HR. And working across those mediums, one thing I identified is conflict being the consistent theme, and most leaders and most employees, individuals being conflict averse and not comfortable with conflict. And so, oftentimes, we don’t know what conflict is costing us because it’s usually not tangible. We can’t see that the person that is taking leave is taking leave because they don’t want to work with Tekay. And we automatically equate it is because we think they’re sick.

Lee Kantor: Now, is conflict really communication?

Tekay Brown Taylor: I love that, Lee, because that’s what I say often, is that conflict is a great thing because conflict says that Lee cares about it, he values it, it’s important to him as well as Tekay. And so, we just have to identify how we can use conflict in meaningful ways. But too often we use it – well, we’ve been conditioned to think of it in very harmful ways. And so, it really boils down to the human relations, the interaction, all that is really just communication, how individuals communicate and interact with each other.

Lee Kantor: Now, do you find that just people haven’t been taught kind of these basic communication skills on how to listen and not talk for a second and let the person express themselves, and then say something, rather than just immediately kind of knee jerk react to whatever is being said?

Tekay Brown Taylor: That is a huge part of it. It’s also the confidence because, again, most are adverse because we haven’t been taught. You don’t see human relations, interactions, interpersonal, intrapersonal skills being taught in primary school. Unless you focus on that in communication in the collegiate level, it’s not being taught. And so, we – because I’m a part of it as well – having acquired those skills through formal education, and so that’s a big part of it. But the other piece of it is the confidence, and the other piece of it is the capacity, and then certainly the skills. So, I always say, when we do any type of conflict, work the skills, capacity, and confidence.

Lee Kantor: Now, why was it important for you to become part of the GWBC community? Where did you see the opportunity there?

Tekay Brown Taylor: Oh, wow. You said the key word opportunity. When I learned of the GWBC as well as the WBE and all the work that they were doing not only for women, but specifically for small business, and myself as a growing small business and a woman-owned small business, the work that they’re doing in connecting and collaborating, I have been in business six years and I am only where I am as a small business competing at the statewide level – we took us two years to get there – we are competing with organizations like Huron Consulting, Ernst and Young, Deloitte and Touche as a small business owner. And I’ve only been able to do that because of relationships and teaming, and I’ve only been able to do that because of programs like GWBC.

Lee Kantor: Now, any advice for our listeners or maybe some low hanging fruit on communication and conflict, any kind of do’s and don’ts you can share?

Tekay Brown Taylor: Ooh, I can go a ways. The first I would say is silent because you mentioned the word listen, and that’s a big part when we start talking about conflict. Listen is spelt silent backwardly. And oftentimes, when we start talking about conflict, I would really say what I said first, is, being reconditioned about how we think about conflict. Conflict is a good thing. But when we get into the skill side of it, some of the practical things, that one is huge, is just being listening.

Tekay Brown Taylor: Individuals are not willing to do any work until they feel like they have been listened to. And so, disagreement is always going to be your perspective, my perspective, your interest, my interest, your position, my position. And we’re always going to have a barrier or something preventing us to get to an agreement because of the listen word. You’re not going to listen to me until you feel listened to.

Lee Kantor: So, it’s something that if you do that well, you might be saving yourself some conflict, or even if you have conflict, it would be handled more effectively.

Tekay Brown Taylor: Handled more effectively, and also know that it’s a muscle. It’s something that has to be —

Lee Kantor: Right, you got to practice.

Tekay Brown Taylor: You have to practice, build it, develop it, grow it. And don’t be afraid of the professional. Oftentimes, we think professionals have to even continue to do work on that. We do a lot of group work with other professionals, learning, training, development. And so, if we’re doing all this work as professionals, as skilled experts, we don’t expect for just the general employee or leader to automatically have these skills without the training practice in hyper focus on conflict resolution, skill capacity, and confidence building.

Lee Kantor: So, if somebody wants to learn more, connect with you or somebody on the team, what’s the website? What’s the best way to connect?

Tekay Brown Taylor: Our website is brownstonemediation.com. We are also on two social platforms, that’s LinkedIn and Facebook. And you can also contact me directly and or my team at info@brownstonemediation.com.

Lee Kantor: Well, Tekay, thank you so much for sharing your story. You’re doing important work and we appreciate you.

Tekay Brown Taylor: Thank you for allowing me to spend time with you. Thanks so much. I appreciate it.

Lee Kantor: You got it. All right. This is Lee Kantor with GWBC Power of Partnering.

GWBC POP 2024: Ceata Lash with The Puff Cuff

October 4, 2024 by angishields

GWBC Radio

GWBC POP 2024: Ceata Lash with The Puff Cuff

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Ceata Lash is the Founder and CEO of The Puff Cuff. After a childhood of chemically straightening her hair, Ceata decided to make the big chop and transition to her natural hair.

Little did she know that going back to her naturally thick and curly hair would mean she’d be faced with the impossible task of finding a hair accessory to hold and style her hair. That is, until she came up with the idea of the PuffCuff.

Ceata is the winner of GWBC’s Perfect Pitch competition.

Connect with Ceata on LinkedIn and follow The Puff Cuff on Facebook and Instagram.

This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open For Business. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, broadcasting live from GWBC Power of Partnering event at the Georgia Power Headquarters. I’m so excited to be talking to the Perfect Pitch winner, Ceata Lash with The PuffCuff. Welcome.

Ceata Lash: Thank you for having me.

Lee Kantor: Well, I do not know what The PuffCuff is, but I’m sure you can tell me all about it.

Ceata Lash: All about it.

Lee Kantor: So, tell us about The PuffCuff.

Ceata Lash: The PuffCuff is the alternative to elastic hair ties. So, in order for me to style my hair in its natural texture, I would always have to be using hair ties or altering using shoe strings or whatever, because I couldn’t find anything to accommodate the thickness and texture of my hair. But no matter what tool I used, it was always causing me to have a headache, like a blazing headache. And not only that, the breakage from the tension and everything else.

Lee Kantor: Because you were kind of just rigging stuff, right? There was no kind of solution. You were just trying to make it work.

Ceata Lash: Totally rigging. Just rigging it. My go-to was boot size shoestrings from Walmart. Just going and buying them by the case.

Lee Kantor: Just buying a bunch of it.

Ceata Lash: Right. And I would tie it around my neck and then cinch it to, like, get all my hair up.

Lee Kantor: The way you wanted it, right?

Ceata Lash: Yeah. And just pray that it stayed there all day.

Lee Kantor: And just hope that it would last all day.

Ceata Lash: Right. But even if it lasted all day, I was an ugly acting person by the time.

Lee Kantor: You weren’t happy.

Ceata Lash: No. Hungry and angry, because that’s when we lived in Chicago. At least people in Chicago have Drive With The Purpose. Here, it’s a whole different story.

Lee Kantor: So, now, you have a problem, obviously, and now you are just trying to figure out a solution. What kind of compelled you, did you have the skills, “Okay. Let me solve this problem for everybody here. Let me just invent something that’s going to solve this problem”?

Ceata Lash: So, to be completely transparent, I was solving the problem for me.

Lee Kantor: Right. Exactly. That was that bonus that everybody else got to solve the problem, too.

Ceata Lash: Figured that, you know, maybe some girlfriends, maybe I’d sell it on Amazon or eBay.

Lee Kantor: So, you weren’t really looking at it as this is a thing.

Ceata Lash: No, not at all. I literally was just like, I’m not going back to chemically straightening my hair. I just need to be able to put it up.

Lee Kantor: And it’s just ridiculous this problem hasn’t been solved yet.

Ceata Lash: Exactly. And then, it took me a long time to believe that it wasn’t being solved.

Lee Kantor: But because you kept searching everywhere.

Ceata Lash: I kept searching.

Lee Kantor: And asking friends, I’m sure.

Ceata Lash: No.

Lee Kantor: No? You were just trying to —

Ceata Lash: Because it was one of those things before curly hair was a thing. So, all of my girlfriends, mom, dad – I mean, not dad – moms, aunties, grandmas, they were straightening their hair. I was like a fish out of water.

Lee Kantor: So then, you have an idea, okay, maybe this will work, and then you just start iterating and trying different things.

Ceata Lash: Yeah. The idea first came from a little clip that my grandmother and mother had that actually was by Goodie a thousand years ago, and it was about the size probably about a-half-dollar, if people even know what a-half-dollar is nowadays.

Lee Kantor: Is that some new crypto thing?

Ceata Lash: Right, some crypto and it’s a half what? Is it paper? But the teeth went all the way through, and I was like, okay, the only thing getting through teeth like this that are so close are straight hair. I need something just with the teeth shorter and much larger.

Lee Kantor: But at least that gave you an idea.

Ceata Lash: It did give me the concept.

Lee Kantor: Right. So, now you have that, and then it kind of evolved. Were you actually like —

Ceata Lash: Whittling out? Yeah. Yeah, I did. No, literally I did. I had a friend, one of our good friends from college, he was a carpenter. So, I was like, “You know what? Can you make me one of these?”

Lee Kantor: Make me one of these?

Ceata Lash: Make it out of wood.

Lee Kantor: Did you sketch it out?

Ceata Lash: So, I’m a graphic designer by career.

Lee Kantor: So, you can draw things like that.

Ceata Lash: I could draw it, but I couldn’t make it flat.

Lee Kantor: Three dimensional.

Ceata Lash: You know, flat from 3D to 3D. So, yes, he carved it out of wood for me. And then, at that time, I was working for a community college outside of Chicago, and, of course, that was when community college adjunct professors work at night, so I cataloged stocked when the catalog actually was a catalog book. And I just wanted somebody to meet me for lunch to discuss it and finally someone did, and that’s how it kind of went from there.

Lee Kantor: So then, it went from this wooden prototype and then you just started kind of —

Ceata Lash: Went from a wooden prototype to a 3D print, one of the first ones ever.

Lee Kantor: You were probably excited about 3D printing, right?

Ceata Lash: I was. I was. Like, this is cool. Not that everybody’s going to have one at home now.

Lee Kantor: Right, but it works for me.

Ceata Lash: But it works. Yeah. So, the adjunct professor and the engineering department that met with me, he connected me to a CAD engineer, and then the CAD engineer did my 3D prototype for me. We worked through the different iterations there.

Lee Kantor: How many iterations?

Ceata Lash: Maybe four.

Lee Kantor: Really? So, you were pretty close?

Ceata Lash: I was very close. The thing that kept tripping us up was how to do the teeth on it and how to do the hook, because it was hard for them to understand how much density and pressure thick hair could put on a tool. And they were like, “Yeah, you should just be able to use a little plug and stem for that rivet part.” Like, I know where.

Lee Kantor: You’re not understanding this.

Ceata Lash: Right. This is this is serious hair. And I don’t even have the most hair —

Lee Kantor: That somebody could have.

Ceata Lash: Right.

Lee Kantor: So, they were just putting it right into your hair? Were you kind of the guinea pig of this?

Ceata Lash: I was the first, of course. But then, I tried it on everybody on campus that would let me, and then my church members, and my family.

Lee Kantor: And then, like, you were trying to break it, right?

Ceata Lash: I was trying to break it. And we kept breaking the hooks. And then, finally, the manufacturer of my injection molder, he was able to help me come up with the design of the hooks.

Lee Kantor: Because they were thinking, “No, we got this.” And then, you were like, “No, you don’t got this.”

Ceata Lash: No. I have several of the broken prototypes left at home.

Lee Kantor: Be part of the museum, right?

Ceata Lash: Exactly. That’s why I kept them, like this is going to be worth something someday.

Lee Kantor: So then, what compelled you to get involved with GWBC?

Ceata Lash: Because I had every mentor say you really need to get certified as a woman-owned business. And I’m like, I don’t even know if I’m a business yet.

Lee Kantor: It didn’t feel like a business?

Ceata Lash: You know what? It felt like a business. But I had everybody telling me it’s not a business. It’s a product. I was like, yeah, well, this sure as hell feels like a business.

Lee Kantor: Exactly. I’m feeling the pain of a business.

Ceata Lash: Right. Feeling it, right. So then, like I said, I didn’t start on this path to build any business.

Lee Kantor: You were just solving your own problem.

Ceata Lash: I was just solving a problem and figure, like, there’s probably a couple other folks that could use this, too. But it’s grown.

Lee Kantor: So, what have you learned, that there’s a lot of people that can use this solution?

Ceata Lash: There are more people than I know that I didn’t even realized. Because in the very beginning, I’m an African-American woman, I figured it was just going to be African-American women using this. But then, the more I put myself out in different situations, it was, no, this is a curly hair problem. Curly hair is not a problem. I don’t want to say that. But this is a solution for those with curly hair, and curly hair comes across all ethnicities. And then, it was like, “Oh, by the way, it works with locks, it works with braids, it works with wigs if the wig is curly.” There’s so many different applications.

Lee Kantor: That you didn’t even think about it at the time?

Ceata Lash: I had no clue. Like, even right now, we’re partnering with the University of Rochester Medical Systems because their nurses have realized that there is a gap in being able to take care of their patients that have textured hair, and they don’t teach you how to care for hair during nursing school.

Ceata Lash: So, if you have textured hair, if you’re admitted to the hospital, most likely you’re going to be there for at least five days. So, if you’re five days laying on a pillow, all of the matted up hair, most likely, usually you end up having to get your hair cut off. And it’s like that does something different to your dignity, your self-esteem, even the amount of care that you get because you have maybe a nurse or a doctor, or whatever, who has a different race than you.

Lee Kantor: Right. It’s not even in their radar.

Ceata Lash: Right. It’s not in their radar. And it’s like not trying to be feeling any type of way about it. But it’s just in your nature, you know, if you’re looking disheveled, it’s like —

Lee Kantor: It’s going to impact your recovery.

Ceata Lash: Yeah. Exactly.

Lee Kantor: So, now you’ve learned a lot just going through this process.

Ceata Lash: I’ve learned so much. It’s overwhelming. Totally.

Lee Kantor: Right. So, now, what do you need more of? How can we help you?

Ceata Lash: Money.

Lee Kantor: Money? Are you looking for investors or are you looking for clients? What kind of money? Because there’s smart money —

Ceata Lash: Right, there’s smart money and there’s dangerous money and there’s bad money and there’s fast money, and that’s the stuff that you learn along the way.

Lee Kantor: That’s right.

Ceata Lash: I’m looking for a strategic investor because I want to scale and there’s so many different applications for this. In the climate that we’re in now, people aren’t spending money the way they used to, but there’s so much of the market that I haven’t tapped yet.

Lee Kantor: And the problem hasn’t gone away.

Ceata Lash: The problem’s not going away. Because COVID really, I think, sparked it, but it’s a unisex hair tool. You have so many more men growing out their hair, and y’all’s hair is better than ours because you haven’t destroyed it with chemicals and stuff for the past 20 years or 30 years of your life. So, when you do have curls, the guys curls are way much better than ours.

Lee Kantor: So, if somebody wants to learn more and connect with you, is there a website, social media? I would imagine this does really well on social media your product.

Ceata Lash: Yes. So, we are everywhere on social. You can purchase The PuffCuff at thepuffcuff.com. We’re also on Amazon. But of course, I get more money if you purchase it directly from me and not Amazon. And on social, on every single channel, we are @-T-H-E-P-U-F-F-C-U-F-F, @thepuffcuff.

Lee Kantor: Well, congratulations on all the success and the momentum. You just have to be over the moon proud of what you’ve accomplished so far.

Ceata Lash: I so needed it.

Lee Kantor: A big achievement.

Ceata Lash: Thank you. Thank you very much.

Lee Kantor: Well, thank you again for sharing your story. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Ceata Lash: I appreciate y’all. This is great. Thank you.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor, back in a few at GWBC Power of Partnering.

GWBC POP 2024: Rashmi Hudson with Alltimate Luggage

October 4, 2024 by angishields

GWBC Radio

GWBC POP 2024: Rashmi Hudson with Alltimate Luggage

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Rashmi Hudson with Alltimate Luggage is an experienced, award-winning marketing executive with a demonstrated history in innovation, management, and strategic planning.

Rashmi is a GWBC Perfect Pitch finalist.

Connect with Rashmi on LinkedIn and follow Alltimate Luggage on Facebook and Instagram.

This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open for Business. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, broadcasting live from GWBC Power of Partnering event at the Georgia Power Headquarters. I’m so excited to be talking to another Perfect Pitch finalist, Rashmi Hudson with Alltimate Luggage. Welcome.

Rashmi Hudson: Thank you.

Lee Kantor: So, tell us about Alltimate Luggage. Is this the ultimate luggage?

Rashmi Hudson: It is. Every house should have one, just like a car in every driveway.

Lee Kantor: There you go.

Rashmi Hudson: And here’s why. There is so much wrapped up around how we feel about ourselves based on how we look, and we are the only ones that can help you unpack wrinkle-free and get out the door in four seconds flat.

Lee Kantor: Four seconds? You have timed this?

Rashmi Hudson: No. It’s probably more like three seconds.

Lee Kantor: So, how did you get into the luggage business?

Rashmi Hudson: It actually came out of a need for my son was going off to med school in a couple of years, and I wanted him to concentrate on his interview and not how he looked. As much as people don’t want to be judged, the minute somebody sees you, they’ve made an opinion already. And it shows a lot of respect when you show up for the job, whatever it may be, dressed appropriately. And I didn’t want him to worry about that.

Rashmi Hudson: And so, it was you can have a garment bag, but there’s not a great way to carry it. We invented a way to be able to carry it wrinkle-free so that, you know, kids don’t have to worry about it when they go off to interviews, adults don’t have to worry about it when they have their big, important events.

Lee Kantor: So, it’s a garment bag, or it’s a duffel bag, or it’s a carry-on, or it’s all of those things?

Rashmi Hudson: It’s all of those things. The beauty is that we are a three-piece travel set. It’s three individual pieces, a garment bag that wraps around a duffel, and the way it connects, it counts as one piece of carry on luggage that easily fits into the overhead bin. And simply disconnect the garment bag and you are out the door in four seconds.

Lee Kantor: So, now, what was it like prototyping this? How did you just kind of build the first iteration of this?

Rashmi Hudson: That was the difficult part. It wasn’t easy trying to find somebody to do the prototype and to protect your intellectual property at the same time. And so, it took a while to be able to get a factory, to find one took me more than a year. And we intended on buying the product from them, but it didn’t work out because of cost purposes. But you go through iterations. It’s important to get the prototype the way that you want it. Otherwise, the factory sample is going to be flawed and you’re going to end up with a flawed product in the end.

Lee Kantor: But you could picture it in your head. You were just having trouble of getting it manufactured at first.

Rashmi Hudson: I actually am from India, and I have been sewing since I was four years old, made my wedding dress, made my gowns and everything. So, I sewed a sample, but it certainly didn’t have the structure. And God led me to a luggage designer who knew what to do to make my dream come true. So, all the features are in it are things that I wanted and things that he contributed to it as well.

Lee Kantor: So, why was it important for you to get involved with GWBC? What were you hoping to get out of that relationship?

Rashmi Hudson: I wanted to have the certification of being women-owned. I thought, “Oh. Well, hey, I’m the one that owns my business. I run it. Why do I need a certification?” But it’s important to have that, and they are very thorough and I am very much interested. I come from a corporate world, and I was actually in charge of sales promotions for Aflac for a long time. And it’s hard to break it into a business as a vendor, and they give you the certification that lets people know, “Hey, I am a woman-owned business, do business with me.”

Lee Kantor: There you go. And so, what do you need more of? How can we help you?

Rashmi Hudson: Please help spread the word. One of the things that I think is most difficult for small businesses, and we’re all in the same loop, is to get that organic growth. And the only way to get that organic growth is for everybody to share their social media and to follow you so that they can like, and those algorithms are crazy. And so, in order to make it work on Meta, you really have to engage with your audience, so engage with us, please.

Lee Kantor: So, you’re looking for individual travelers or people that might use this individually but also corporate clients?

Rashmi Hudson: Yes, absolutely. Corporate clients, they will help make break, because our business might be seasonal otherwise, and this is a very good avenue for us. One thing I also wanted to mention about being certified through WBENC is that it also gives you that WOSB certification to do business with government.

Lee Kantor: And if somebody wants to learn more and connect with you on social or on your website, what’s the website? What’s the best way to connect?

Rashmi Hudson: The easiest is alltimateluggage.com. It’s a play on the word ultimate, so it’s A-L-L-T-I-M-A-T-E-luggage-.com. And there’s a contact form there, that’s an easy way to get hold of me.

Lee Kantor: All right. Well, congratulations on all the success. And thank you so much for sharing your story. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Rashmi Hudson: Thank you so much.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor, back in a few at GWBC Power of Partnering.

GWBC POP 2024: Olivia Amyette with Infinite Energy Advisors

October 4, 2024 by angishields

GWBC Radio

GWBC POP 2024: Olivia Amyette with Infinite Energy Advisors

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Olivia Amyette is the owner of Infinite Energy Advisors. She developed a passion for solar energy at Georgia Tech, where she engaged in research projects relating to environmentalism and energy conservation.

With more than 4 years of experience as a Technical Program Manager & Facilitator for the Georgia Tech Grand Challenges LLC, Olivia has facilitated upwards of 53 cross-functional interdisciplinary research projects examining the energy space among other sectors.

Olivia is well-versed in project management and has optimized the solar purchasing/installation process to be seamless. Olivia holds a BS from the Georgia Tech College of Computing and is currently working to get NABCEP certified.

Olivia is a GWBC Perfect Pitch finalist.

Follow Infinite Energy Advisors on Facebook and Instagram.

This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open For Business. Now, here’s your host.

Olivia Amyette: Thank you so much. I’m happy to be here.

Lee Kantor: So, what kind of energy advising are you doing?

Olivia Amyette: Well, you name it, we do it. Actually, one of our taglines is your solar one-stop-shop, so we specialize in doing all things renewable, whether it be installing solar panels, doing off grid systems, grid tied systems, batteries. Anything you want, anything in your heart’s desire, we can make it happen.

Lee Kantor: So, if I have an electric car and I need a charger at my house, I can call you and make that happen.

Olivia Amyette: We do, absolutely. We do EV chargers as well.

Lee Kantor: So, how did you get into this line of work?

Olivia Amyette: Yeah. Well, you know, I drew a lot of inspiration from my grandpa. He was an immigrant from Ecuador, and I often tell the stories of how he learned English by candlelight because he couldn’t afford electricity. And so, for me, when I took some classes at Georgia Tech – I’m a Georgia Tech graduate and proud Yellow Jacket – my degree was actually in computer science.

Olivia Amyette: But I had a couple different jobs on campus, and one of them was with the Grand Challenges Living Learning Community, and that community, there was basically 110 students, and we would get into groups of five to seven and tackle one of the world’s grandest challenges. So, I saw lots and lots of projects as I facilitated in that role centered around sustainable energy, and solar was kind of something that was pitched to me. But, of course, at that time it really wasn’t a bunch of that in Georgia. So, that’s kind of how it started.

Lee Kantor: Now, are you doing work in a residential setting where you’re helping houses decide, “Oh, is solar right for me?” or are you working in a commercial setting?

Olivia Amyette: We actually do both, so we do residential solar and commercial solar, and we do a lot of that energy advising. That’s why we kind of wanted that in the name Infinite Energy Advisors, because what we do is if solar is not a right fit for somebody, we’ll absolutely tell them and maybe pitch some other possible options for them.

Lee Kantor: So, now, are you seeing more and more businesses kind of look into these type of renewables?

Olivia Amyette: Absolutely. We’re actually helping a business now, it’s a rural small business doing a farming operation. And combined with tax credits and actual grants that our team has helped him to secure, he’s getting over 80 percent of his total project cost reimbursed or funded through tax credits.

Lee Kantor: And then, I would imagine that even once it’s going, it’s going to be saving money down the road.

Olivia Amyette: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And it provides some great resilience, especially for farmers. We have a lot of folks who are like, “Hey, we really can’t have these extended power outages,” so that’s where our services really kick into play for those folks.

Lee Kantor: So, now, do you have an avatar of that ideal customer?

Olivia Amyette: Really not so much. Our customer is really anybody who’s a homeowner who has a home or a business or something of the sort, a piece of land that’s not impeded by shade. So, that’s really our best customers.

Lee Kantor: That’s how you eliminate people.

Olivia Amyette: Yes. Shade is the deciding factor.

Lee Kantor: Oak trees.

Olivia Amyette: It used to be in the solar industry, we would also look at things like credit scores. But we’re actually proud to be one of only five companies in the entire state chosen to partner with the nonprofit called Capital Good Fund to release the Georgia BRIGHT program, which is a solar lease, one of the first of its kind, if not the first of its kind in Georgia. And in that initiative, we focus on providing solar leases that have a money saving guarantee for low and moderate income families. So, that’s a really good option, too.

Lee Kantor: So, now, why was it important for you to get involved with GWBC?

Olivia Amyette: Oh. I think supporting other women-owned businesses is the name of the game. I mentioned during my pitch that we also opened the Solar Knowledge Institute, which is a workforce development initiative that we kind of stemmed out of our company. And in that, we really focus on serving underserved communities, so helping other females who want to get in this industry, other minorities who want to get in this industry. Because traditionally we typically see, you know, people who don’t look like us in these sort of C-suite roles and in the more executive roles, so I really wanted to make sure that there was some good representation of folks who looked like me and break through that glass ceiling.

Lee Kantor: So, if somebody wants to learn more and connect, what is the website? What is the best way to do that?

Olivia Amyette: Absolutely. So, on all of our social media, we’re @infiniteenergyadvisors. You can call me personally at 678-933-8324. Our email is info@infiniteenergyadvisors.com. And our website is also infiniteenergyadvisors.com.

Lee Kantor: Well, thank you so much for sharing your story. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Olivia Amyette: Absolutely. Thank you so much. I appreciate you having me back.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor, back in a few with GWBC Power of Partnering.

GWBC POP 2024: Tia Robinson with Vertical On-Demand

October 4, 2024 by angishields

GWBC Radio

GWBC POP 2024: Tia Robinson with Vertical On-Demand

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Tia Robinson is CEO and Founder of Vertical on Demand. Vertical On-Demand was born out of a passion for revolutionizing the fashion industry. We envisioned a one-stop, subscription-based platform that simplifies fashion design, development, and production.

Our mission is to empower brands to build sustainable e-commerce businesses from design to shipping, all without minimum order requirements or wasted inventory. By eliminating these barriers, we make it possible for brands to focus on creativity and innovation while promoting environmental responsibility.

Tia is also a GWBC Perfect Pitch finalist.

Follow Vertical on Demand on Facebook and Instagram.

This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open For Business. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, broadcasting live from GWBC Power of Partnering event at the Georgia Power Headquarters. I’m so excited to be talking to the first Perfect Pitch finalist, Tia Robinson with Vertical On-Demand. Welcome. So, tell us about Vertical On-Demand.

Tia Robinson: So, we are a smart and sustainable subscription-based apparel manufacturer that makes clothing on-demand here in Atlanta, Georgia.

Lee Kantor: And then, what’s your backstory? How’d you get involved in this line of work?

Tia Robinson: Yeah. So, I actually launched my very own line, Vertical Activewear, right before the pandemic, and had some difficulty with getting apparel manufactured due to a lot of manufacturers focusing on creating PPE materials and things of that sort. So, yeah, I was getting a lot of press and attention at that time, but couldn’t fulfill orders. And I said, never again will I allow my destiny to be placed in the hands of some other organization.

Lee Kantor: That’s right. Control what you could control.

Tia Robinson: Exactly. So, I brought my manufacturing in-house, and we’ve been manufacturing for our brand as well as others since then.

Lee Kantor: So, now you’re doing your own kind of design and own brand as well as doing the work for other manufacturers?

Tia Robinson: Correct. We have Vertical Activewear, which is one of our subsidiary brands that people can purchase product from at www.verticalactivewear.com. But Vertical On-Demand is our service-based portion of the business, where companies, emerging brands, corporations, even folks that are looking for sustainable apparel from a government contracting standpoint can visit us and learn more.

Lee Kantor: So, why was it important for you to become part of GWBC?

Tia Robinson: Well, definitely to be able to help us with our reach, with reaching, customers that are actually looking for our products and services.

Lee Kantor: So, has that been the case? Have you been able to kind of grow your business through these relationships?

Tia Robinson: It has. And I’ve gotten the most unique and great opportunities. We worked with MassMutual this year in terms of staffing, providing their staff at national conference with T-shirts and sweatshirts that they can wear at their booth. And they also sponsored us at their booth to be able to showcase our capabilities. So, we had quite a bit of folks come and ask about the connection between MassMutual and Vertical and why we were there, but it was great thought and conversation starters in terms of being able to talk about our services and what we can offer.

Lee Kantor: And you’re demonstrating it as you’re showing it.

Tia Robinson: Exactly.

Lee Kantor: It’s a double win.

Tia Robinson: Exactly. They’re like, “MassMutual and clothes? Wait a second.”

Lee Kantor: “I don’t get it.”

Tia Robinson: Yeah.

Lee Kantor: So, how do you kind of see the future? What’s on your roadmap?

Tia Robinson: Yeah, the future is bright. I really am working to revolutionize the sustainable apparel industry, starting here in Georgia, first and foremost. But I look at Vertical On-Demand as a company that has the ability to be national, with fulfillment centers throughout the U.S. Being able to help companies align with their ESG goals, reducing waste, both textile and financial, and doing on-demand manufacturing for other companies that are interested in offering that as a sustainable service.

Lee Kantor: So, what do you need more of? How can we help? Do you need more clients? More investors?

Tia Robinson: Do you have some money?

Lee Kantor: So, you need investors.

Tia Robinson: You know, as a business, being able to get funding is always a part of my job, first and foremost, but also getting customers into the queue. There’s a lot of waste financially when it comes to producing textiles and garments. Over $100 billion is lost each year due to merchandise not selling. And so, we have a solution to be able to help companies mitigate that by transferring some of their e-commerce sales over from actually buying product in bulk to manufacturing on-demand. And so, yeah, getting more customers and clients into the fold and making them believers as it relates to on-demand manufacturing is key.

Lee Kantor: So, if somebody wants to learn more, have a more substantive conversation with you or somebody on the team, what is the website? What’s the best way to connect?

Tia Robinson: The best way to connect is visit us at www.verticalondemand.com. You can also find us on LinkedIn. You can find me on LinkedIn at Tia Robinson, or you can email me directly at info@verticalondemand or tia@verticalactivewear.com.

Lee Kantor: Well, congratulations again on all the success. You’re doing important work and we appreciate you.

Tia Robinson: Thank you much.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor, back in a few at GWBC Power of Partnering.

GWBC POP 2024: Jacquette Lowery with Secure Logistics Solutions LLC

October 4, 2024 by angishields

GWBC Radio

GWBC POP 2024: Jacquette Lowery with Secure Logistics Solutions LLC

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Jacquette Lowery, owner, Secure Logistics Solutions, LLC.

This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open For Business. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, broadcasting live from GWBC Power of Partnering event at Georgia Power Headquarters. I’m so excited to be talking to my guest, Jacquette Lowery with Secured Logistics Solutions. Welcome.

Jacquette Lowery: Hi. How are you?

Lee Kantor: I am doing well. I’m so excited to learn what you’re up to. Tell us about your firm. How are you serving folks?

Jacquette Lowery: Yes, we are Secured Logistics Solutions, we are a freight brokerage where we cover the southeast region. What we do is we communicate with shippers, large shippers and customers, and we give their work to guys that either have small trucking companies or either guys that are owner/operators that operate their own trucks. So, basically, Secured Logistics, we are the middleman with the big companies and the big shippers and the guys that have their own operating trucks.

Lee Kantor: So, is this an issue that some people, they have something that needs to be moved and they don’t have the right ability to do it so they would partner with a firm like yours to help them get the stuff they need to the place they need it to be?

Jacquette Lowery: Yes, that is correct. So, most of the time big companies, like let’s say Coca-Cola or let’s say Georgia Power, so they focus on, you know, the products and the services. That’s why they use us to see how are they going to get their products moved, and that’s when we come into play to make sure that we have the resources and we have enough of what they need to get the job done.

Lee Kantor: And then, a lot of times, you’re kind of cobbling together different resources to help them move the stuff? And that’s where it gets tricky, right? You can’t just go on the internet and go, “Hey, make this go.” It takes a lot of coordination.

Jacquette Lowery: Yes. Yes, it does. It takes a lot of coordination. So, what we do is, let’s say for an example, a trucking company, we make sure that they have enough trucks or enough equipment to move whatever it is that that big shipper, that big customer needs to be moved in adequate amount of time.

Lee Kantor: Right. And I’m sure that’s a key part of your business, is keeping those lines of communication so that everybody’s on the same page of, okay, if you think this is going to be there by Tuesday, it’s got to be there by Tuesday, and you got to get the right resources in place to make that happen.

Jacquette Lowery: Yes, that’s correct. If you tell me that you want your products there by Tuesday, it’s going to be there by Tuesday. If you tell me you want it there by 5:00, 4:00, I will make sure that it’s there by 4:30 or by 3:30.

Lee Kantor: Right. And that’s the hard part, right?

Jacquette Lowery: That is the hard part. Especially so right now, we have a big hurricane coming in, so we have to make sure the loads that we’re supposed to get there by tomorrow, they needed to get there by today because the weather —

Lee Kantor: These things change, right?

Jacquette Lowery: That’s right. That’s right.

Lee Kantor: And that’s why they need a partner like you to help them make sure that nothing kind of slows down.

Jacquette Lowery: That is correct. You can never go wrong with Secured Logistics Solutions. We’re very dependable.

Lee Kantor: Now, why was it important for you to get involved with GWBC?

Jacquette Lowery: It’s very important, because GWBC, they do businesses with the people that I would like to do businesses with. They open up that point of contact for me and those big shippers and those big customers. They make it easy for me.

Lee Kantor: Because they become like kind of the matchmaker and help you get in front of the right people.

Jacquette Lowery: That is correct.

Lee Kantor: So, now, who is your ideal customer? Do you have an ideal customer?

Jacquette Lowery: My ideal customer —

Lee Kantor: Is it the kind of Coca-Colas of the world, these huge people who ship huge amounts of product or is it smaller businesses or a combination?

Jacquette Lowery: A combination. Sometimes it will be big customers. Like you said, Coca-Cola would be a really, really big customer. You can never have enough Coke, right?

Lee Kantor: That’s right.

Jacquette Lowery: Yes, sir.

Lee Kantor: So, now, if somebody wants to learn more about your firm, have more substantive conversation, is there a website? Is there a way to connect with you?

Jacquette Lowery: Yes. They can go to the website at securedlogistics.com, and we also have our contact link and our email as well.

Lee Kantor: Good stuff. Well, congratulations on all the success. And you’re doing important work and we appreciate you.

Jacquette Lowery: Yes. Thank you so much. Pleasure to be here.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor, back in a few with GWBC Power of Partnering.

GWBC POP 2024: Sylvia Muwallif with My Mom’s Pie

October 4, 2024 by angishields

GWBC Radio

GWBC POP 2024: Sylvia Muwallif with My Mom's Pie

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Sylvia Muwallif is head baker and owner of My Mom’s Pie. Her journey started over 25 years ago, as a single mom raising two boys who loved sweet potato pie. They would tell people “ My Mom makes the best sweet potato pie, you’ve gotta try one”.

As a result of their persistence, Sylvia started making and selling pies for family and friends, their teachers, and colleagues for the holidays and dinners, which helped her support her family.

Over the years, people have shared their stories of eating sweet potato pie and the warm memories they felt surrounding the delicious dessert. Sylvia realized that her sweet potato pie was more than just a pie, but it shared a history with others and that grew her desire to leave a legacy for her family and others to enjoy.

Follow My Mom’s Pie on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open For Business. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, broadcasting live from GWBC Power of Partnering event at Georgia Power Headquarters. I’m so excited to be talking to my guest, Sylvia Muwallif with My Mom’s Sweet Potato Pie. Welcome.

Sylvia Muwallif: Thank you. Hi.

Lee Kantor: I am so excited to learn about your business. Tell us about My Mom’s Sweet Potato Pie.

Sylvia Muwallif: Well, My Mom’s Sweet Potato Pie started about maybe five, six years ago. I started out making pies for my sons, and it just grew into this business because people liked my pies. So, we started, like I said, about five years ago initially in farmer’s markets and mostly retail sales. But our focus now is to move our sweet potato pies more to the food service industry. We make our traditional sweet potato pie, and we also have one with pecans and brown sugar, in addition, we now have a vegan-friendly formula and a diabetic-friendly formula. So, we want to try to meet the needs of all of our customers dietary concerns.

Lee Kantor: So, why was it important to become part of the GWBC community?

Sylvia Muwallif: I wanted to find a group where I could connect with to help build my product. It has been very inspirational for me to be a part of a larger group of entrepreneurs who have a vision to move forward. And the purpose of my pie is to create and to leave a legacy for my family.

Lee Kantor: So, now, any advice for an aspiring home baker or a home cook, how do you transition from that thing that, you know, your family says it’s great to an actual business like you’ve done?

Sylvia Muwallif: Well, you have to have a passion and believe in your product. I tell you to research, find the environment that works best for you. I knew I wanted my product to be able to sell in every environment, so I researched and joined a shared kitchen where it allows me the opportunity to be able to produce my product on a commercial level and be able to expand into those commercial food service markets.

Lee Kantor: And if somebody wants to learn more, what’s a website? What’s the best way to connect?

Sylvia Muwallif: Yes, you can visit our website at mymomssweetpotatopie.com. Our email is mymomspie2018@gmail.com.

Lee Kantor: And then, your ideal customer is who?

Sylvia Muwallif: Anyone. Anyone who loves to eat. Anyone who loves pies.

Lee Kantor: So, individuals as well as corporations.

Sylvia Muwallif: Corporations. Everyone. Yeah, and our focus is really trying to move more towards the food service environments, hospitals, nursing homes, you name it, schools, clinics, anywhere where people eat food.

Lee Kantor: Well, Sylvia, thank you so much for sharing your story. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Sylvia Muwallif: And thank you for this opportunity.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor, back in a few with GWBC Power of Partnering.

GWBC POP 2024: Shannon Bright with Bright Interiors Group

October 4, 2024 by angishields

GWBC Radio

GWBC POP 2024: Shannon Bright with Bright Interiors Group

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Shannon Bright is President and Founder of Bright Interiors Group. Bright Interiors Group is a full service contract office furniture dealership located in Atlanta, Ga.

With over 2 decades of experience in the office furniture industry, we take pride in what we do to provide exceptional customer care while creating an effective and efficient way for our customers to fulfill their office furniture needs.

This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open For Business. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, broadcasting live from GWBC Power of Partnering event at the Georgia Power Headquarters. I’m so excited to be talking to my guest, Shannon Bright with Bright Interiors Group. Welcome.

Shannon Bright: Thank you.

Lee Kantor: Well, Shannon, for folks who aren’t familiar with your firm, can you tell us about Bright Interiors Group? How are you serving folks?

Shannon Bright: Absolutely, I would love to. Bright Interiors Group is a small dealership, minority-owned, woman-owned by myself, Shannon Bright. We do office furniture. We specialize in government as well as commercial. No residential, just commercial and government entities.

Lee Kantor: So, have you always been involved in this kind of business?

Shannon Bright: I have. My business began two years ago, but I have been doing furniture for over 25 years. It’s my love. It’s my passion. And as Oprah says, do what you love and the money will come, so I’m just waiting on the rest of the money.

Lee Kantor: Well, if Oprah said it, it’s true.

Shannon Bright: Right.

Lee Kantor: So, now, any advice for people who are in business? You know, these are things you take for granted, like having the office furniture. And we’re in a beautiful facility right now, and we talked to the people who actually were the construction company for this space, how did they do when it comes to office furniture in this space?

Shannon Bright: This would be a dream job for me. Everything that they did in here, as I look around, it’s beautiful. And this is the type of environment, this is what I do. Being a furniture dealership is no easy task. It’s a lot of hard work and it’s a lot of product knowledge, but it’s also about relationships and just product knowledge. Because once the client tells me what they want, then I envision it, and then I also do space planning, CAD design.

Shannon Bright: So, the client tells me what they want, then I put it into a CAD, do a design, color renderings, and we’ll do the collaboration. And then, that’s the beginning of a project going beautifully well and turning out like this beautiful environment that we’re in.

Lee Kantor: So, now, what are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to an office environment in your opinion?

Shannon Bright: Being in business as long as I’ve been, I know the do’s and the don’ts. One of the do’s is do make a site visit and don’t take the client’s word saying I love this and I know that it will fit and just order it, and I trust your judgment and the colors you pick are fine. No.

Shannon Bright: So, the do is show up, do your presentation properly. And the don’t is don’t take the client’s word for it because I know better than them, even though I won’t say that. The saying the customer is always right, that is not so. They’re right after we have a collaborative meeting and get to a place to make sure that the client is happy and I’m happy as well.

Lee Kantor: Right. It’s because the client doesn’t know what they don’t know. And you know a lot of the things that they don’t know.

Shannon Bright: Right. Right. Absolutely. For example, if you’re doing a cubicle office setting, you could be off by one foot and that could destroy your entire plan. So, yes, yes, the clients rely on me to be the expert.

Lee Kantor: And measuring is important it sounds like.

Shannon Bright: Yes. It’s crucial. It’s crucial. As you look at that glass wall right there, that had to be measured precisely to make sure that that fit.

Lee Kantor: Right. It’s not something you can eyeball.

Shannon Bright: No. No.

Lee Kantor: And a lot of this stuff isn’t off the shelf, right? A lot of this stuff is custom?

Shannon Bright: Right. Everything is custom to order, which means you can’t get it and say “Oh. I don’t want that,” because everything is custom designed. If you ordered it, you own it. Yes, that’s right. Just like if you broke it, you bought it.

Lee Kantor: So, why was it important for you to become part of the GWBC community, and what did you hope to get out of it?

Shannon Bright: I wanted to just be in the room with all of these wonderful business owners, all of these wonderful women, and just do a collaboration, and just hear other people’s stories. So, it’s about networking. It’s about getting to know other people, and you never know who may be your next teaming partner. I feel like it’s enough money to go around and we can team with even our competition, because each of us has a need. One vendor may not be able to give you what I may be able to give you, and I may not be able to get what that vendor can get. So, it’s so many nuggets that were dropped today. I was glad to be in the building.

Lee Kantor: Right. And like you said, relationships are important and that’s how you’re going to build your business is through the people you probably meet in this room today.

Shannon Bright: Absolutely.

Lee Kantor: So, what do you need more of? How can we help you?

Shannon Bright: Basically, I just wanted to put the word out. And you have my business card in front of you, so read my tagline.

Lee Kantor: The tagline is, Turning empty spaces into beautiful places.

Shannon Bright: And I came up with that tagline in the shower, so nobody can tell me that you can’t come up with creative ideas in the shower. And that is my passion. I just want to know that Bright Interiors is here for your needs. Like I said, we do space planning, and we’re a one-stop-shop, so basically what I sell, which is office furniture, and like they said, so many of the people, like for City of Atlanta and other government entities, they order everything, so it takes a collaborative effort for us to get everything that the client needs.

Shannon Bright: So, basically, I would love to turn your empty space into a beautiful place. Just reach out to me, and my email is shannon@brightinteriorsgroup.com. And if you want to check out my website, it’s www.brightinteriorsgroup.com.

Lee Kantor: Well, Shannon, thank you so much for sharing your story today. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Shannon Bright: Thank you so much. My pleasure.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor, back in a few with GWBC Power of Partnering.