John Ray, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Monique Russell, Clear Communication Solutions LLC

September 7, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Monique Russell, Clear Communication Solutions LLC

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Monique Russell, Clear Communication Solutions LLC (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 514)

Monique Russell is a communications authority with deep experience in both the science and the practice of communications skills. Monique joined host John Ray on this edition of North Fulton Business Radio to discuss her career journey, how her corporate experience prepared her for coaching C-suite executives, her most recent book, Intentional Motherhood, how the public speaking industry has evolved during and after the pandemic, her podcast, “Bridge to U,” and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Clear Communication Solutions LLC

Clear Communication Solutions is a global training, coaching, and consulting firm helping leaders and teams go from good to great as confident communicators. They teach effective communications and leadership skill-building strategies that enhance the quality of personal and professional relationships.

Monique Russell is a trained DiSC Facilitator and Certified Life Coach. She has served as a Public Speaking Subject Matter Expert (SME)at the collegiate level, is a licensed realtor, and a communications expert for government agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Fortune 100 corporations.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

Monique Russell, Global Communication Coach, Clear Communication Solutions LLC

Monique Russell is the communications expert you want on your team. She teaches women leaders and teams how to have positive and productive relationships at home and work using effective communication tools and strategies.

Organizations like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Verizon, Intel, Equifax, and the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International, trust Monique to guide them in implementing communication strategies that foster connection, community, creativity, and courage. You can too.

Monique has 20 years of experience in the science of Communications and leads Clear Communication Solutions – an international training, coaching, and consulting firm that focuses on confidently communicating from the inside out. She is the author of The Ultimate Speaker’s Guide: Build Your Brand and Maximize Your Global Impact and the book Intentional Motherhood: Who Said it Would Be Easy, and host of the Bridge to U podcast.

Questions and Topics in the Interview:

What are the transferrable skills between Motherhood and Leadership?
What are new ways organizations can bolster employee engagement?
How has the public speaking industry evolved over the last 5 years?
What is the biggest mistake co-founders make when starting a business?
What is a social media detox and how can it help improve productivity?

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked-from-scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

HBS Legal Trends: Mark McGivern, Construction Consulting Associates, and Joseph F. Herbert III, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

September 7, 2022 by John Ray

Hall Booth Smith Podcast Network

HBS Legal Trends: Mark McGivern, Construction Consulting Associates, and Joseph F. Herbert III, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

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HBS Legal Trends: Mark McGivern, Construction Consulting Associates, and Joseph F. Herbert III, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

When handling construction-related litigation, Joseph Herbert, Partner and Co-Chair of the Construction Practice Group at Hall Booth Smith, will often call in an independent third-party expert such as Mark McGivern, CEO of Construction Consulting Associates (CCA). On this edition of HBS Legal Trends, Joe and Mark discussed their own backgrounds and experience, how attorney and third-party experts work together on a case, why an investment in the services of an independent expert firm such as CCA lowers the overall cost of litigation, and much more.

HBS Legal Trends is sponsored by Hall, Booth, Smith, PC and is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Construction Consulting Associates, LLC (CCA)

Resolving complex problems for the built environment for legal, insurance, building owner/management, and construction industries.

At CCA, they have one goal: To become a trusted partner helping solve your architectural, engineering, construction, and health, safety, and environmental problems. Since its founding in 1990, CCA has worked tirelessly to bring comprehensive services to its clients. They identify problems and work diligently to solve them for clients, from developers, owners, and property managers who often need help when dealing with building, site, construction, and health, safety, and environmental issues; to lawyers and insurance companies who need experts to help resolve related disputes.

As a single-source provider, they bring to your problem decades of experience in every construction-related discipline including architecture, engineering, mechanical systems, construction management, project management, industrial hygiene, environmental health and safety, hazardous and materials. Their skilled experts are trustworthy and collaborative and will work with you to deliver elegant, high-quality solutions.

CCA has a 360-degree solution for the architectural, engineering, and construction industry. No matter how simple or complex the challenge, they are committed to you to get the best possible result for your problem.

Company Website |LinkedIn

Mark McGivern, CEO, Construction Consulting Associates, LLC (CCA)

As a founding partner of CCA, Mark McGivern works tirelessly to give clients what they need: successful projects, expert opinion, and comprehensive investigations. He has the extraordinary ability to grasp an abundance of details while providing clients with simple solutions to some of the world’s most complex design and construction situations.

With more than 30 years of experience managing construction and design professionals, Mark is principally responsible for the planning and management of CCA’s technical investigations, particularly cases involving complex litigation. He is also CCA’s senior construction specifier for design projects and plays an active role in CCA’s architectural design process.

Mark has extensive practice and knowledge in the fields of design, construction, estimation, and analysis of building systems, and construction methods and practices. His project planning and management experience ranges from small- and large-scale residential, industrial, and commercial construction projects, to complex, in-depth investigations into the causes and origins of building failures—as well as cost estimation and analysis of appropriate methods of remediating such failures.

Mark has qualified as an expert in countless construction and design failure cases in courts and arbitration matters throughout the country – judges and arbitration panels have consistently held that his qualifications and testimony met all Daubert-type standards. In trials, mediations, and arbitrations, he has given expert testimony regarding building codes, construction methods, standard of care, industry standards and practices, cost estimation, and apportionment of responsibility.

Mark has given numerous lectures and presentations, with particular emphasis on comparative construction and performance analyses of various methods and products utilized in the field.

He holds affiliations with the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), The Community Associations Institute (CAI), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and ASCE Construction Council.

Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

Established in 1989, Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is a full-service law firm with six regional offices strategically located throughout Georgia, as well as offices in Birmingham, AL; Little Rock and Rogers, AR; Denver, CO; Jacksonville, Miami, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Tampa, and West Palm Beach, FL; Missoula, MT; Asheville and Charlotte, NC; Saddle Brook, NJ; New York, NY; Oklahoma City, OK; Charleston, SC; and Memphis and Nashville, TN.

Experienced across a wide range of legal disciplines, HBS prides itself on providing knowledgeable, proactive, client-specific counsel to individuals, domestic and international corporations, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

At HBS they possess the legal knowledge, skill, and experience to meet our clients’ needs wherever they do business. HBS maintains the highest commitment to serve clients ethically and professionally by providing the highest quality legal representation.

Company Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Joseph F. Herbert III, Partner, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

Joseph F. Herbert III is a Partner in our Red Bank, New Jersey office and the Co-Chair of the Construction Practice Group. As a practicing litigator since the mid-90s, Joe has participated in and supervised all facets of a civil litigation caseload, as both defendant’s and plaintiff’s counsel, in both state and federal court.

He has extensive experience in high value, high profile cases, including multi-million dollar construction defect cases, wrongful death/murder, sexual molestation defense, premises security, fire, Dram Shop, catastrophic and high-value personal injury, property damage, contract, lease review and negotiation, and some medical malpractice cases through all phases of litigation including case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement, trials, and appeal.

He joins HBS after spending the last 8 years as a managing partner in a New Jersey law office where he prepared and implemented firm procedures and budgets and hired and oversaw attorneys and staff. Joe was included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for construction litigation.

Joe earned his J.D. from New York Law and graduated with a B.S. in Communications Arts and Sciences with a Minor in Business Administration from St. John’s University. During law school Joe served as an intern/clerk for the Honorable Harold Baer in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York.

Outside of practicing law, Joe’s interests include golf, sports, travel, and photography.

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Shuntel Beach, King’s Ridge Christian School

September 7, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Shuntel Beach, King’s Ridge Christian School

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LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Shuntel Beach, King’s Ridge Christian School (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 513)

Shuntel Beach is the Director of Admissions at King’s Ridge Christian School. While attending the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration, Shuntel sat down with host John Ray to discuss the work of King’s Ridge, the value of Chamber membership for the school, how and why King’s Ridge hosts the Chamber’s annual luncheon devoted to education, and much more.

This show was originally broadcast live from the Grand Opening celebration and ribbon cutting of the new offices of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce at the 10000 Building at Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia, on August 18, 2022.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

King’s Ridge Christian School

King’s Ridge Christian School is an exceptional place. But, among their strengths, several things set them apart.

First, this is a place of great intellectual activity and academic rigor. They seek to be the best in the world at providing a Christian college-preparatory program for students in grades Pre-K – 12, teaching students to view all learning through a Biblical template.

Second, they have a passion for bringing every student into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ while equipping our students with all excellence God calls them to do.

From its founding in 2001 until now, its enduring mission has been to be a Christian community providing a college preparatory education equipping students to know, to serve, and to believe in Christ.

Third, the school is preparing young men and women not just for college but also for life. They aim to educate, not indoctrinate. As a result, students have not only the freedom but also the encouragement to pursue knowledge and their giftedness and calling to the fullest extent possible.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Shuntel Beach, Director of Admissions, King’s Ridge Christian School

Shuntel Beach is the Director of Admissions for King’s Ridge Christian School.

She is also a board member for the REACH Georgia Foundation, whose mission is to be the most effective champions for Georgia’s children in need and unlock the full potential of our future workforce.

Shuntel holds an MBA from Kennesaw State University and lives in Alpharetta, Georgia with her husband, Senator Brandon Beach.

Questions and Topics in the Interview:

King’s Ridge Christian School
Shuntel’s experience with GNFCC
Annual celebration of education in North Fulton

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Rory Robichaux, Sciera

September 6, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Rory Robichaux, Sciera

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LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Rory Robichaux, Sciera (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 512)

Rory Robichaux of Sciera joined host John Ray LIVE from the Grand Opening Celebration of the new offices of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce at Avalon. Rory discussed the work of Sciera, why he and his company are so involved with GNFCC, their sponsorship of Chairman’s Circle activities, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Sciera, Inc.

In late 2007, with the rapid explosion of publicly available information, Sciera’s two founders wondered, “What if this can be harnessed to answer the question, What Changed?” Using the then-nascent AWS (Amazon cloud), unstructured text mining, and advanced analytics, they set about creating a scalable framework to capture changes…which when combined with known client data, identifies triggers that initiate a buy journey.

Today Sciera is a team of Strategists, Analysts, Data Scientists and Technologists who provide answers to the most important marketing questions – Who, When, Where & Why.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Rory Robichaux, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Sciera, Inc.

Rory Robichaux has been at the forefront of each technology revolution of the past 40+ years. He has led technology, strategic planning, design and development, data analytics, and sales and marketing teams across the technology industry. He has held leadership positions in major firms such as Coca-Cola, Sun Microsystems, and Deloitte Consulting, as well as created and built successful start-ups in industries ranging from transportation and entertainment to technology and financial services. He currently leads the sales and marketing functions of a global market intelligence firm headquartered in Atlanta.

Outside of his responsibilities with Sciera, Mr. Robichaux belongs to the Chambers of Commerce across the Atlanta region and is very involved in helping to lead and mentor a number of Rotary Clubs across the Atlanta area.

Questions and Topics in the Interview:

What Sciera does
Sciera’s involvement in the Chamber
The Chairman’s Circle

LIVE from HAVEN 2022: Nathan Logsdon, Logsdon Woodworking

September 6, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

LIVE from HAVEN 2022: Nathan Logsdon, Logsdon Woodworking

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LIVE from HAVEN 2022: Nathan Logsdon, Logsdon Woodworking (Organization Conversation, Episode 36)

Nathan Logsdon of Logsdon Woodworking joined host Richard Grove LIVE from HAVEN 2022. They chatted about how Nathan’s started in woodworking while in the military, his custom work, how he stays organized with Wall Control products, and more.

This show was originally broadcast live from the 2022 HAVEN Conference held at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia.

Organization Conversation is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Nathan Logsdon, Logsdon Woodworking

Nathan Logsdon began DIY projects with his parents as a teenager. He then started woodworking to improve his homes as he traveled with the Coast Guard and began to create custom pieces for others.

He now creates small pieces for sale, does affiliate work, and is a content creator.

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

About Organization Conversation

Organization Conversation is hosted by Richard Grove and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

About Richard Grove

Richard Grove, Host, *Organization Conversation*

Richard Grove‘s background is in engineering but what he enjoys most is brand building through relationships and creative marketing. Richard began his career with the Department of Defense as an engineer on the C-5 Galaxy Engineering Team based out of Warner Robins. While Richard found this experience both rewarding and fulfilling, he always knew deep down that he wanted to return to the small family business that originally triggered his interest in engineering.

Richard came to work for the family business, Dekalb Tool & Die, in 2008 as a Mechanical Engineer. At the time Wall Control was little more than a small ‘side hustle’ for Dekalb Tool & Die to try to produce some incremental income. There were no “Wall Control” employees, just a small warehouse with a single tool and die maker that would double as an “order fulfillment associate” on the occasion that the original WallControl.com website, which Richard’s grandmother built, pulled in an order.

In 2008, it became apparent that for the family business to survive they were going to have to produce their own branded product at scale to ensure jobs remained in-house and for the business to continue to move forward. Richard then turned his attention from tool and die to Wall Control to attempt this necessary pivot and his story with Wall Control began. Since that time, Richard has led Wall Control to significant growth while navigating two recessions.

Outside of Richard’s work at Wall Control he enjoys helping other business owners, operators, and entrepreneurs along their own paths to success by offering personal business coaching and advising through his website ConsultantSmallBusiness.com. Richard has developed an expansive and unique skillset growing and scaling Wall Control through a multitude of challenges to the successful brand and company it is today. Richard is happy to share his knowledge and experience with others who are looking to do the same within their own businesses.

Connect with Richard:

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Richard’s Website

About Wall Control

The Wall Control story began in 1968 in a small tool & die shop just outside Atlanta, Georgia. The first of three generations began their work in building a family-based US manufacturer with little more than hard work and the American Dream.

Over the past 50+ years, this family business has continued to grow and expand from what was once a small tool & die shop into an award-winning US manufacturer of products ranging from automobile components to satellite panels and now, the best wall-mounted tool storage system available today, Wall Control.

The Wall Control brand launched in 2003 and is a family-owned and operated business that not only produces a high-quality American Made product but sees the entire design, production, and distribution process happen under their own roof in Tucker, Georgia. Under that same roof, three generations of American Manufacturing are still hard at work creating the best tool storage products available today.

Connect with Wall Control:

Company website | Facebook | Instagram

Kyle Waide, Atlanta Community Food Bank

September 2, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Kyle Waide, Atlanta Community Food Bank

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North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 511)

Kyle Waide, President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, joined host John Ray on this edition of North Fulton Business Radio to discuss ACFB and its work across 29 Georgia counties. Kyle shared his background and the passion he developed at an early age for fighting food insecurity, the widespread support ACFB receives from corporate, small business, and individual donors, news of a $200,000 grant from Kroger to improve the organization’s technology capabilities, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Atlanta Community Food Bank

Atlanta Community Food Bank works with more than 700 nonprofit partners—including food pantries, community kitchens, childcare centers, shelters, and senior centers—to distribute over 67 million meals to more than 1 million people estimated to be food insecure due to COVID-19 in 29 counties across metro Atlanta and north Georgia.

They are a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

Atlanta Community Food Bank partners with food pantries, community kitchens, childcare centers, night shelters, and senior centers that receive food and goods from us. In turn, these partners provide food and other critical resources for the more than 1 million people estimated to be food insecure due to COVID-19 in their service area who suffer from hunger and food insecurity.

Atlanta Community Food Bank’s mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating, and empowering its community. While their core work is food distribution, their efforts extend far beyond that. Their mission is lived out every day by engaging, educating, and empowering both people in need and those who want to help. From volunteering to assisting people in finding economic security, the Atlanta Community Food Bank covers a wide range of opportunities for people to learn and get involved.

Company website |Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Kyle Waide, President and CEO, Atlanta Community Food Bank

As President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Kyle Waide oversees the distribution of nearly 75 million pounds of food and grocery products each year through a network of 700 local and regional partner non-profit organizations that feed those in need across 29 Georgia counties.

Prior to being named CEO in June of 2015, Kyle served for three years as the Food Bank’s Vice President of Partner Operations, leading the organization to record-breaking years of food distribution to the hungry. Prior to joining the Food Bank, Kyle held several management roles at The Home Depot Inc. in disaster relief, corporate responsibility, community affairs and store operations. He also previously served as part of the management team that created and launched Charity Navigator, the nation’s premier charity evaluation service. Kyle is a graduate of Harvard University.

He currently serves as the Chair of the Southeast Regional Cooperative and the Vice Chair of the Georgia Food Bank Association. Kyle also is a member of the National Affiliate Council and the Policy, Education and Advocacy Committee for Feeding America, for which he also chairs the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. He serves on the boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Goodwill of North Georgia. He is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2015, the Rotary Club of Atlanta, the Community Advisory Board for The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc., the Super Bowl LIII Host Committee Advisory Board, and the Committee For A Better Atlanta.

Kyle resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife, Christina, and their three children.

Questions and Topics in the Interview:

Who ACFB serves
The demand on the Food Bank as need increases
Kyle’s journey to ACFB
How the Food Bank and regional organizations intersect
Kroger’s involvement and their recent contribution
Georgia Accounting Food Fight

Plan Ahead! HR National Legislative Update

September 2, 2022 by John Ray

Advisory Insights Podcast

Plan Ahead! HR National Legislative Update

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Plan Ahead! HR National Legislative Update (Advisory Insights Podcast, Episode 7)

Massachusetts is about to become the 18th state in the country to ban discrimination based on hairstyle. It’s just one example of how laws and regulations affecting the workplace can start in one or two states and spread across the country. Stuart Oberman offers an HR national legislative update in this episode of Advisory Insights, and cautions employers to stay alert and plan for changes which might otherwise trip them up.

Advisory Insights is presented by Oberman Law Firm and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. The series can be found on all the major podcast apps. You can find the complete show archive here.

About Advisory Insights Podcast

Presented by Oberman Law Firm, Advisory Insights Podcast covers legal, business, HR, and other topics of vital concern to healthcare practices and other business owners. This show series can be found here as well as on all the major podcast apps.

Stuart Oberman, Oberman Law Firm

Stuart Oberman is the founder and President of Oberman Law Firm. Mr. Oberman graduated from Urbana University and received his law degree from John Marshall Law School. Mr. Oberman has been practicing law for over 25 years, and before going into private practice, Mr. Oberman was in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 Company. Mr. Oberman is widely regarded as the go-to attorney in the area of Dental Law, which includes DSO formation, corporate business structures, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, advertising regulations, HIPAA, Compliance, and employment law regulations that affect dental practices.

In addition, Mr. Oberman’s expertise in the healthcare industry includes advising clients in the complex regulatory landscape as it relates to telehealth and telemedicine, including compliance of corporate structures, third-party reimbursement, contract negotiations, technology, health care fraud, and abuse law (Anti-Kickback Statute and the State Law), professional liability risk management, federal and state regulations.

As the long-term care industry evolves, Mr. Oberman has the knowledge and experience to guide clients in the long-term care sector with respect to corporate and regulatory matters, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). In addition, Mr. Oberman’s practice also focuses on health care facility acquisitions and other changes of ownership, as well as related licensure and Medicare/Medicaid certification matters, CCRC registrations, long-term care/skilled nursing facility management, operating agreements, assisted living licensure matters, and health care joint ventures.

In addition to his expertise in the health care industry, Mr. Oberman has a nationwide practice that focuses on all facets of contractual disputes, including corporate governance, fiduciary duty, trade secrets, unfair competition, covenants not to compete, trademark and copyright infringement, fraud, and deceptive trade practices, and other business-related matters. Mr. Oberman also represents clients throughout the United States in a wide range of practice areas, including mergers & acquisitions, partnership agreements, commercial real estate, entity formation, employment law, commercial leasing, intellectual property, and HIPAA/OSHA compliance.

Mr. Oberman is a national lecturer and has published articles in the U.S. and Canada.

Oberman Law Firm

Oberman Law Firm has a long history of civic service, noted national, regional, and local clients, and stands among the Southeast’s eminent and fast-growing full-service law firms. Oberman Law Firm’s areas of practice include Business Planning, Commercial & Technology Transactions, Corporate, Employment & Labor, Estate Planning, Health Care, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Privacy & Data Security, and Real Estate.

By meeting their client’s goals and becoming a trusted partner and advocate for our clients, their attorneys are recognized as legal go-getters who provide value-added service. Their attorneys understand that in a rapidly changing legal market, clients have new expectations, constantly evolving choices, and operate in an environment of heightened reputational and commercial risk.

Oberman Law Firm’s strength is its ability to solve complex legal problems by collaborating across borders and practice areas.

Connect with Oberman Law Firm:

Company website | LinkedIn | Twitter

2022 GNFCC Non-Profit and Small Business Award Winners: Tanya Morris, Senior Services North Fulton, and Tom Burgess, Christian Brothers Automotive, Cumming and Jones Bridge

September 1, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

2022 GNFCC Non-Profit and Small Business Award Winners: Tanya Morris, Senior Services North Fulton, and Tom Burgess, Christian Brothers Automotive, Cumming and Jones Bridge

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2022 GNFCC Non-Profit and Small Business Award Winners: Tanya Morris, Senior Services North Fulton, and Tom Burgess, Christian Brothers Automotive, Cumming and Jones Bridge (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 78)

On this edition of the GNFCC 400 Insider, host Kali Boatright celebrated the 2022 Chamber Non-Profit and Small Business Award recipients. Senior Services North Fulton, represented by Tanya Morris, Client Services Director, was the Non-Profit Award winner, and Christian Brothers Automotive Cumming & Jones Bridge, owned by Tom Burgess, was named Small Business of the Year. Tanya and Tom each shared some of the work they are most proud of, the people who help make it happen, the clients they serve, and much more.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

2022 Nonprofit Award Winner:

Tanya Morris, LMSW, Client Services Director, Senior Services of North Fulton

For over 30 years, Senior Services North Fulton has been at the forefront of efforts to eliminate senior hunger and provide additional care and support to the region’s growing population of older adults.

• Meals on Wheels – Delivers nearly 50,000 meals a year to seniors who are food insecure.

• TOPS – Facilitates free rides to and from important medical appointments.

• Senior Centers – Operation of seven senior centers located in Atlanta and North Fulton which helps the lonely and isolated build community and enhance wellbeing.

• Care Management – One-on-one emotional and relational support to the lonely and vulnerable.

• Meals on Wheels for Pets – Free pet food delivered to the furry companions of our seniors!

Their agency is a resource for all senior-related needs in the community.

Tanya Morris, LMSW, has been with Senior Services of North Fulton since 2011 and the Client Services Director since 2016.

Company website | Facebook | Tanya Morris LinkedIn

2022 Small Business of the Year:

Christian Brothers Automotive Cumming and Jones Bridge

Christian Brothers Automotive Comming’s expert, ASE-certified technicians care about every car that visits the shop, and they offer you a complimentary Courtesy Inspection on every visit. No work is ever performed without your permission and you will always be informed about your car in language that’s easy to understand. Bring your newer vehicles under warranty in for routine service and save on dealership prices!

For a car repair experience that’s clean, courteous and caring, choose your neighborhood Christian Brothers Automotive. Take a look at reviews from real customers at nearby shops and those around the country. Every visit to Christian Brothers should end in a happy car and a happy customer.

Christian Brothers Automotive offers auto repair service and maintenance for every vehicle. Gas or diesel, foreign or domestic, car or truck – no matter the vehicle, they have the expertise and experience to fix it right the first time. They have the same manufacturer-recommended equipment and diagnostic tools as the dealerships, but the local ties and industry partnerships so they can often offer better prices.

All locations are independently owned and operated and the owner is on-site. Speak directly with the owner about your car repairs. We know you have a choice in car care – thanks for considering Christian Brothers Automotive. Schedule an appointment today or send your questions to our experts.

Company website

Tom Burgess, Owner, Christian Brothers Automotive Cumming and Jones Bridge

Tom Burgess received his undergraduate BS Degree from Syracuse and an MBA from Oklahoma City University. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 23 years in the US Air Force. He has over 900 combat flying hours in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). He spent three years as an Associate Professor at US Air Force Academy and 1 year as a Squadron Commander there. He spent 3 years in Counter Drugs and one year in Korea.

Following his time in the Air Force, he was with Northrop Grumman Corporation as a Systems Engineer for six years, and he currently owns Christian Brothers Automotive in Cumming and Jones Bridge.

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events such as this North Fulton Mayors Appreciation Lunch, follow this link.

For the complete show archive of GNFCC 400 Insider, go to GNFCC400Insider.com. The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Corporate Buyers Can Be Driven By Emotion, Too

September 1, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Corporate Buyers Can Be Driven By Emotion, Too

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Corporate Buyers Can Be Driven By Emotion, Too

You might assume, if you’re a consultant or some other professional services provider looking to do business with a major corporation, that that corporate buyers make decisions based on “logic,” not emotion. You might assume that the decision always comes down to price. If that’s what you assume, then listen to this story behind the phrase “nobody ever got fired for hiring IBM.”

The Price and Value Journey is presented by John Ray and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

TRANSCRIPT

John Ray: [00:00:00] Hello. I’m John Ray on The Price and Value Journey. Years ago, there were two major mainframe computer manufacturers. Those were in the days when mainframe computers were a big deal. IBM and Amdahl were the two players in the market. Of course, IBM was the market leader by far and away. And Amdahl was the upstart competitor.

John Ray: [00:00:28] Well, in those days there was a mantra among chief information officers of major companies that said, No one ever got fired for hiring IBM. You see, even if as a CIO, you believe that an Amdahl mainframe offered faster performance at a lower cost than the IBM equivalent. As a CIO, you were reluctant to propose a multimillion dollar corporate commitment to what was regarded as the upstart.

John Ray: [00:01:00] A choice for IBM was the safe, understandable decision. If you advocated Amdahl, on the other hand, your own decision making ability might be questioned. If something went seriously wrong, that Amdahl decision you’d promoted might necessitate an updated resume.

John Ray: [00:01:22] Decisions in favor of Big Blue were routinely made in corporate America in those days, even though IBM was invariably the more expensive choice. Why then, professional services provider, would you assume that enterprise buyers of your services are “more logical” than individuals and that with big companies it’s all about “price”?

John Ray: [00:01:48] I’ve heard this one more than a few times from professional services providers, like consultants, who work with major corporations. Corporate buying decisions, folks, are no different in this regard than choices of individuals. They are driven by both tangible and intangible considerations. In the IBM/Amdahl case, the intangibles of fear and risk avoidance routinely overcame “logical” price considerations.

John Ray: [00:02:22] For you as a professional services provider, it’s not a question of right or wrong or that big companies are dumb. Understand that uncertainty and fear are powerful emotions, which are invariably a factor in every buying decision, whether individual or corporate.

John Ray: [00:02:42] The question you need to answer objectively is whether you’re a safe choice or a risky choice. Is what you offer that buyer one that’s easier to justify if something goes wrong later? Is there a smaller downside? Do you help that buyer avoid or minimize risk? If so, you’re offering value. And that value, as IBM routinely proved in the salad days of mainframes, is worth a premium price.

John Ray: [00:03:16] I’m John Ray on The Price and Value Journey. Past episodes of this series can be found at pricevaluejourney.com. And feel free to email me if you’d like, john@johnray.co. Thank you for joining me.

About The Price and Value Journey

The title of this show describes the journey all professional services providers are on: building a services practice by seeking to convince the world of the value we offer, helping clients achieve the outcomes they desire and trying to do all that at pricing which reflects the value we deliver.

If you feel like you’re working too hard for too little money in your solo or small firm practice, this show is for you. Even if you’re reasonably happy with your practice, you’ll hear ways to improve both your bottom line as well as the mindset you bring to your business.

The show is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® and can be found on all the major podcast apps. The complete show archive is here.

John Ray, Host of The Price and Value Journey

John Ray The Price and Value Journey — **John Ray, Host of “The Price and Value Journey”**

John Ray is the host of The Price and Value Journey.

John owns Ray Business Advisors, a business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneur and small professional services firms on their pricing. John is passionate about the power of pricing for business owners, as changing pricing is the fastest way to change the profitability of a business. His clients are professionals who are selling their “grey matter,” such as attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, consultants, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

In his other business, John is a Studio Owner, Producer, and Show Host with Business RadioX®, and works with business owners who want to do their own podcast. As a veteran B2B services provider, John’s special sauce is coaching B2B professionals to use a podcast to build relationships in a non-salesy way which translate into revenue.

John is the host of North Fulton Business Radio, Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Radio, Alpharetta Tech Talk, and Business Leaders Radio. house shows which feature a wide range of business leaders and companies. John has hosted and/or produced over 1,500 podcast episodes.