John Ray, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Sydney Dozier, Renaissance Marketing Group

May 4, 2021 by John Ray

Nashville Business Radio

Sydney Dozier, Renaissance Marketing Group

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Sydney Dozier, Renaissance Marketing Group (Nashville Business Radio, Episode 6)

Sydney Dozier moved to Nashville to pursue a music career but found her passion in digital marketing and social media. She joined host John Ray to share how her work at the Johnny Cash Museum led to starting her own firm, how her team crafts effective social media strategies for clients, and much more. “Nashville Business Radio” is produced virtually from the Nashville studio of Business RadioX®.

Renaissance Marketing Group

With offices in Nashville, Atlanta and Charlotte, RMG offers a plethora of services for its clients including social media management, influencer marketing, email marketing, photography/videography, graphic design, website design, SEO/SEM, and more.

RMG has helped hundreds of businesses, from small operations with a single owner, to corporations and even non-profit organizations. Almost all of RMG’s clients come from referrals—customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance. The ever-growing team that makes up Renaissance Marketing Group includes creatives from every end of the spectrum with an eye for all things digital.

Whether a client’s social media needs are small or feel overwhelming, RMG is here to help. They are passionate about their business and helping clients grow theirs. They love entrepreneurs and love sharing what they know and what they continue to learn about the ever-changing world of marketing in today’s digital world.

Company website | Facebook | Instagram

Sydney R. Dozier, Founder + CEO, Renaissance Marketing Group

Like so many other young people, Sydney came to Nashville at the age of 19 to pursue a career in music. After working numerous jobs to support herself, while playing as many shows as possible, she found herself working at the soon-to-be-open Johnny Cash Museum right in the heart of downtown Nashville. Starting out working in the gift shop, very soon Sydney began managing the museum’s Facebook page, creating and operating their Instagram, as well as numerous other social media platforms. After being promoted as the museum’s Marketing Director, Sydney felt she had found her dream job.

After learning everything she could about marketing, digital marketing, public relations, graphic design, and the importance of customer service, Sydney took a leap of faith. In 2014, she opened her own social media business, Renaissance Marketing Group.

Questions and Topics in this Interview

How did you get started in Social Media Marketing?
How did you have the confidence to start your company at 22 years old? What did that look like for you?
You have a team of 10, how have you built your team?
What is your favorite part about what you are doing now?
What does an ideal client look like for you and your team?

“Nashville Business Radio” is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the Nashville studio of Business RadioX®. 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.

Lauren Reed, REED Public Relations

May 4, 2021 by John Ray

Nashville Business Radio

Lauren Reed, REED Public Relations

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Lauren Reed, REED Public Relations (Nashville Business Radio, Episode 5)

Lauren Reed, Founder of REED Public Relations, joined host John Ray to share business lessons she gained from a Mt. Kilimanjaro climb, how those lessons prepared her for the pandemic, how her firm has guided clients with crisis communications needs during the economic distress of the last year, and much more. “Nashville Business Radio” is produced virtually from the Nashville studio of Business RadioX®.

REED Public Relations

REED PR is here to help brands… big global ones, local entrepreneurial ones. They don’t discriminate.

They help their clients reach their business goals through strategic campaigns, attention-grabbing events and smart messages deployed both on and offline.

They’re also here because of their core values. These are the tenets that guide their decision-making in business and in the way they see the world. Through REED’s Be the Good program, they put our money where their mouth is and invest in the changemakers who want to positively and proactively push the world forward.

REED Public Relations is little bit different than some of the players in their industry. Their senior leadership is connected to the work and remains involved and invested once a scope is signed. No matter how fast they continue to grow, that will remain a constant.

Clients come to them for many reasons. Product launches and influencer activations. Messaging strategy and content creation. Crisis communication and media relations. Ultimately, no matter the engagement, they solve a very human problem: Brands want to be known and liked.

Creating strong relationships and partnerships within a community doesn’t just make a brand successful: it’s inherent to survival. Survival starts locally in neighborhoods. Stories still travel from neighbor to neighbor, buoyed by new networks and evolving technologies.

REED is here to help you tell your story and turn neighborhoods into nations.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Lauren Reed, President and Founder, REED Public Relations

Lauren Reed, APR is the founder and president of REED PR. She earned her Accreditation in Public Relations designation in 2010 and has been a long-standing member of the Public Relations Society of America, serving as president of the Nashville chapter in 2017. She is a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization and serves on the board for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

Lauren has been named to the Nashville Business Journal’s (NBJ’s) 40 Under 40, received a Nashville Emerging Leader Award, and was on the NBJ’s Most Admired CEOs lists the past two years. Lauren was also recently named to the Nashville Post’s InCharge list and has been featured in publications such as StyleBlueprint, Bizwomen and The New York Times. She co-hosts the Relentless Marketing & PR Podcast.

But Lauren would say her crowning achievement is establishing REED PR’s Be The Good program in which the company uses a portion of their annual revenue to provide funding for volunteers to go on service trips both at home and abroad.

Questions and Topics in this Interview

How to take a failure and extract lessons for business and life
Resilience in business
The state of small business in Nashville
Crisis communications in 2021
Cultivating great company culture during difficult times

How I Research Clients’ Brands to Build More Effective Websites, with Lance Finley, Firehouse Design

May 3, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

How I Research Clients' Brands to Build More Effective Websites, with Lance Finley, Firehouse Design

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How I Research Clients’ Brands to Build More Effective Websites, with Lance Finley, Firehouse Design

Lance Finley: [00:00:00] One of my first steps before we ever designed a website is, I can design a nice looking site, but the point is we want to make sure it’s effective. And I’ve had people that don’t know their brand. They think they do, but they have to understand that a brand is not a logo or a website and you can’t create a brand. A brand is discovered.

Lance Finley: [00:00:22] So, I will sit down with a client and say, “Tell me your good points. Tell me what you think. Okay. Now, let me talk to some of your clients. And let’s figure out what they think of you. Let’s hear what they say is your good points.” Because, John, if you like hot pink and I like hot pink, but your customers don’t, we don’t like hot pink. It’s got to be relevant to that client.

John Ray: [00:00:47] Now, this is fascinating to me. So, dig into that a little more in terms of when you get permission from your client to go talk to their clients, how do those conversations unfold? And how do you get to the answers you’re looking for?

Lance Finley: [00:01:06] Well, I try to keep it positive. It’s not a complaining session. They tell me everything that’s going wrong with the client. It’s more like, tell me what is good about this client. Tell me why you would refer them. If they wouldn’t, I’d say, “Well, what would it take for you to want to refer them to someone else?” I want to find out, like, through analogy. I’ll sometimes say, “If they were a car, what kind of car would they be?”

Lance Finley: [00:01:35] I have a client, you know, “What kind of car are you?” And they said, “We’re an F150 Ford truck. We’re utilitarian and we’re dependable and blah, blah, blah.” But their industry sees them more like a chassis, not even a full car. They have a software that you can add components on top of.

Lance Finley: [00:01:58] So, we assume that if it’s familiar, it’s correct. But not always. We’ve got to sometimes dig and see. It’s uncomfortable sometimes, but that’s the only way that we grow and reach our destination is by asking those questions where we might not like the answer. Or to find out what that value is perceived from someone else.

Lance Finley, Owner, Firehouse Design, Inc.

Firehouse Design are Online Rescue Specialists who deliver clients from an ineffective website and free them from site maintenance. Firehouse becomes an extension of a client’s company. They ask the right questions, determine significant challenges, and project the client’s ideal corporate image through website design, email marketing, SEO, online advertising, online promotions, social media strategies, and graphic design.

Lance Finley, owner of Firehouse Design, Inc., has been a successful matchmaker since 03; marrying a love of technology and creativity. After graduating from Lipscomb University in 1990 with a B.S. in marketing, this father of four has served in advertising, publishing, prepress, and now digital marketing.

His refusal to blend in and creative approach to online opportunities have increased demand for his company’s work. Lance is driven to make each site better than the last – having built sites for country artists like Shania Twain, George Strait, and Johnny Cash, Hooters restaurants, email marketing for a national chain, Swaggerty’s Sausage, community banks, insurance, and medical companies to bring them all online success. Feeding off customer satisfaction, he seeks to develop long-term relationships rather than the typical “smash and grab” of some of the web design industry.

Furthermore, Lance enjoys sharing his knowledge of the internet and its possibilities ad nauseam to any who will listen.

Company website | LinkedIn

You can find the complete Nashville Business Radio interview here.

The “One Minute Interview” series is produced by John Ray and in the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.

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.

Susan Otten, Indie Do Good

April 30, 2021 by John Ray

Minneapolis St. Paul Business Radio

Susan Otten, Indie Do Good

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Susan Otten, Indie Do Good (Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Radio, Episode 3)

Susan Otten of Indie Do Good joined host John Ray to discuss why businesses should be doing good in their communities, how Indie Do Good supports their clients with logistics, supply chain, and marketing services, and much more. Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Radio is produced virtually by the Minneapolis St. Paul studio of Business RadioX®.

Indie Do Good

Indie Do Good is a storage facility, distribution, and fulfillment center. They offer fulfillment services for e-commerce and retail fulfillment including DTC, B2B, Amazon, and more.

They are passionate about supporting businesses, freeing up your time, and giving clients the flexibility to handle more orders. Indie Do Good shares a vision to help through collaboration, believing the more successful clients are, the more successful they all are.

Indie Do Good’s fulfillment and distribution services are strategically located in the Midwest, and our team of fulfillment experts ensures your product gets picked, packed, and shipped in a fast, affordable, and accurate manner.

In addition, they offer business planning, product engineering, and marketing.

Company website | Facebook | Instagram

Susan Otten, MBA, ABC*, Founder and CEO, Indie Do Good

After a successful, 15 year corporate career at Apple, plus global roles at two agriculture companies, COO at a behavioral health consulting company and as a strategic sales & marketing consultant supporting small as well as global businesses, Susan and her husband Ron founded Indie Do Good, a services/consulting company, and Otten Associates as the investment arm. With the purpose of investing in and helping entrepreneurial companies who do good, both as non-profits and profit-based companies, Susan’s passion is helping businesses grow by driving engagement through relationships, logistics, marketing, engineering, process and delighting (not just “satisfying”) the customer. An award-winning, accredited business communicator, marketer, and business development strategist, Susan helps entrepreneurs achieve success faster and with more impact.

On a personal note, Susan is an avid well-being enthusiast, from advocating and teaching the importance of balancing all dimensions of well-being with her family, friends, and clients, to eating planet-forward foods, such as crickets for their sustainability and health benefits, she seeks ways to mitigate stress, improve health and lead a happier/more impactful life. Susan recently completed the Chicago Marathon, beating her time when she ran it previously (22 years ago).

*ABC = Accredited Business Communicator

Questions and Topics in this Interview

What Indie Do Good does
What is doing good?
The services they offer
Success stories

Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the Minneapolis St. Paul studio of Business RadioX® . 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.

Matt Foltz, Champion Physical Therapy

April 30, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Matt Foltz, Champion Physical Therapy

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Matt Foltz, Champion Physical Therapy (Episode 55, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow)

Matt Foltz, owner of Champion Physical Therapy, joined Dr. Jim Morrow to discuss his award-winning practice, why patients with back and neck pain make up such a sizable proportion of his business, newer therapies such as needling and cupping therapy, swing assessment for golfers, and much more. “To Your Health” is brought to you by Morrow Family Medicine, which brings the care back to healthcare.

Champion Physical Therapy

Champion Physical Therapy, a locally owned private practice, services the North Atlanta region with two offices in Alpharetta and Cumming.

Injuries and pain can keep individuals from what they enjoy and keep them sidelined in sports and life. Champion Physical Therapy’s mission is to deliver the most up-to-date therapeutic care by highly trained caring physical therapists. They utilize treatments such as dry needling, manual techniques, therapeutic exercises, and advanced devices such as mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy, isokinetics, anodyne therapy, and anti-gravity treadmill.

Champion Physical Therapy will get its patients back in the game, whether they are pro athletes, weekend warriors, or someone who wants to enjoy life again. Live, play, and rehab like a Champion.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Matt Foltz, CEO, MPT, Champion Physical Therapy

Matt is a native of Roswell, Georgia, and has been practicing physical therapy for over 25 years in the Atlanta/North Metro, specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine.

Matt received his undergraduate degree in Exercise Sports Science from the University of Georgia and his Master of Physical Therapy degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Dry Needling Certification in 2011 from the American Dry Needling Association in Boulder Colorado.

During Matt’s 25 years in the field of physical therapy, he has assisted in numerous sports medicine venues including the SEC football championship, SEC basketball championship, ACC basketball championship, SEC gymnastics championship, World Wrestling Entertainment, Peach Bowl, Sarazen PGA tournament and area high school programs. Matt previously served as a vice president of operations of one of the nation’s largest outpatient rehabilitation corporations.

When Matt is not working, he is serving in his community and continually active with his family.

About Morrow Family Medicine, A Member of Village Medical

Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, is an award-winning, state-of-the-art family practice with offices in Cumming and Milton, Georgia. The practice combines healthcare information technology with old-fashioned care to provide the type of care that many are in search of today. Two physicians, three physician assistants, and two nurse practitioners are supported by a knowledgeable and friendly staff to make your visit to Morrow Family Medicine, A Member of Village Medical one that will remind you of the way healthcare should be. At Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, we like to say we are “bringing the care back to healthcare!” The practice has been named the “Best of Forsyth” in Family Medicine in all five years of the award, is a three-time consecutive winner of the “Best of North Atlanta” by readers of Appen Media, and the 2019 winner of “Best of Life” in North Fulton County.

Village Medical offers a comprehensive suite of primary care services including preventative care, treatment for illness and injury, and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. Atlanta-area patients can learn more about the practice here.

Dr. Jim Morrow, Morrow Family Medicine, and Host of “To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow”

Dr. Jim Morrow is the founder and CEO of Morrow Family Medicine. He has been a trailblazer and evangelist in the area of healthcare information technology, was named Physician IT Leader of the Year by HIMSS, a HIMSS Davies Award Winner, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Steve Bloom Award Winner as Entrepreneur of the Year and he received a Phoenix Award as Community Leader of the Year from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Peggie Morrow and together they founded the Forsyth BYOT Benefit, a charity in Forsyth County to support students in need of technology and devices. They have two Goldendoodles, a gaggle of grandchildren and enjoy life on and around Lake Lanier.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorrowFamMed/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/7788088/admin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toyourhealthMD

The complete show archive of “To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow” addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics, and can be found at www.toyourhealthradio.com.

Stephen Weed, Interior Contract Services and Georgia Office Interiors

April 30, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Stephen Weed, Interior Contract Services and Georgia Office Interiors

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Stephen Weed, Interior Contract Services and Georgia Office Interiors (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 353)

Stephen Weed, CEO of Interior Contract Services and Georgia Office Interiors, believes in the power of building personal relationships, and he and his team show that it works in the office furniture business. He joined host John Ray to discuss his company, how they work with clients across the U.S. and internationally, recent innovations in office future, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Interior Contract Services, Inc.

Interior Contract Services is a full-service, one-stop resource for a fresher, brighter office space. They offer project management, furniture reconfiguration, planning support, installation and professional delivery, warehousing, and a green initiative.

Interior Contract Services has a 4 “D” design development process. During the Discovery phase, the business development team together with the in-house design team will begin collaborating with the client. During the Design & Development phase, the sales & design team will offer to work closely with the client to evaluate the office space and can assist in coming up with the most effective space/furniture plan. Prior to and during the Delivery & Installation phase, their project manager will issue an electronic bill of materials to manufacturers, work closely with the manufacturers to coordinate delivery dates, direct shipments to the job site, and assign a team of factory-trained installers with full background checks.

DONE! As they work to complete the Process, their installation supervisor will:

Walk through the facility with the client to note any punch list items which may need to be addressed
Work to complete any punch list items and make any necessary adjustment
Request approval and final sign-off
After substantial completion, ICS will submit an invoice for all furniture products and services

Company website | Facebook

Georgia Office Interiors

North Georgia’s Premier Office furniture dealer, interior design specialist, commercial construction/renovations, commercial cleaning, and corporate moving & relocation services.

GOI partners with many corporate clients to provide a unique blend of knowledge and technology to solve many of the challenges we face in our changing workplace environment. The culture has shifted from individual, closed workstations to a more open and collaborative workstation.

They offer healthcare furniture that adapts to their customer’s ever-changing needs by providing the knowledge and expertise of healthcare furniture products. From administrative to clinical environments, they will provide solutions that exceed customer objectives.

They also offer Higher Education and Government Office furniture.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Stephen Weed, CEO and President, Interior Contract Services Inc. & Georgia Office Interiors

**Stephen Weed, CEO, Interior Contract Services**

Stephen Weed currently serves as CEO of Interior Contract Services Inc. & Georgia Office Interiors, both being recognized as full-service, office furniture providers, with over 40 years in the office furniture market. The company prides itself on being one of the most established, knowledgeable and respected contract furniture companies in the Southeastern US.

Since taking over as CEO in early 2019, ICS was selected to provide installation services to one of the world’s largest logistics companies. In addition, in 2020, Google ranked ICS as one of the highest in overall customer satisfaction compared to peer, furniture dealerships in the region.

Prior to transitioning to the CEO role, Weed worked in local, state and federal government & Global Security for several, Fortune 100 companies conducting internal and external investigations.

Weed’s primary focus involved FCPA, SOX, Anti-Trust, Conflict of Interest, Executive Protection, and Physical/Data Security.

In addition to his CEO role, Weed continues to consult for private & government clients along with serving as an Adjunct Professor in Psychology (Interpersonal Relations)

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

What his companies do and who they serve
The power of a family-owned and operated business
How they navigated the pandemic

“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.

All Things Johns Creek, with Chris Cannon, Director of Economic Development, and Stacey Gross, Johns Creek CVB

April 30, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

All Things Johns Creek, with Chris Cannon, Director of Economic Development, and Stacey Gross, Johns Creek CVB

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All Things Johns Creek, with Chris Cannon, Director of Economic Development, and Stacey Gross, Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 62)

Stacey Gross and Chris Cannon joined host Kali Boatright to share the city’s vibrant qualities which attract new business and residents, exciting developments such as the Town Center Master Plan, 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®.

Chris Cannon, Director of Economic Development, City of Johns Creek

Johns Creek has become the 10th largest city in Georgia through well-planned growth. Not the biggest city in the state, but tactically one of the most inviting, 2016 marked the tenth anniversary of incorporation and cityhood. In such a short span, the city has continued to strengthen its foundation and reputation with its exceptional and highly ranked school system, highly acclaimed medical facilities and a large, diverse international population. Public Safety delivers the highest level of quality service to more than 80,000 residents and nearly 2,000 businesses.

Johns Creek is meeting its mission of being an exceptional city, not only in Georgia but in the entire country.

City website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Chris Cannon LinkedIn

Stacey Gross, Executive Director, Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau

**Stacey Gross, Executive Dir., Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau**

The Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau (JCCVB) is the official destination marketing organization of Johns Creek, Georgia. Their mission is to serve as an economic catalyst by marketing the city as a destination for business and leisure travel.

The JCCVB is a501(c)(6) nonprofit, enacted on January 22, 2008 by Resolution 2008-01-05 by the Mayor and Council to promote tourism in the city.

Check-out 2020 JCCVB Tourism Fact Sheet for more information about how JCCVB is funded and how tourism is economic development for Johns Creek.

The JCCVB is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised fully of volunteers who work or live in Johns Creek and have expertise in hospitality, arts, marketing and business.

Company website | Stacey Gross LinkedIn

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

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

Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: Georgia Legislative Update, with Sam Olens and Edward Lindsey of Dentons and Tharon Johnson of Paramount Consulting Group

April 30, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: Georgia Legislative Update, with Sam Olens and Edward Lindsey of Dentons and Tharon Johnson of Paramount Consulting Group

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Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: Georgia Legislative Update, with Sam Olens and Edward Lindsey of Dentons and Tharon Johnson of Paramount Consulting Group (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 61)

Today’s guests were Sam Olens and Edward Lindsey of Dentons US, LLP Law Firm and Tharon Johnson, CEO of Paramount Consulting Group. Ed Lindsey moderated the session, while Sam and Tharon offered their perspectives of their year’s legislative session and more. The Gold Sponsor for this luncheon was AT&T. John Ray and North Fulton Business RadioX® served as the media sponsor for this event.

Sam Olens, Dentons

Samuel S. Olens is a counsel in Dentons’ Public Policy practice and is a member of the firm’s State Attorneys General group, based in the Atlanta office. His practice focuses on state attorneys general and local government affairs matters.

Sam was twice elected attorney general of Georgia, in 2010 and 2014. In that role he worked to strengthen the penalties for and protect the victims of sex trafficking, guided a comprehensive revision of Georgia’s sunshine laws and led the effort to stem the epidemic of prescription drug abuse. Olens also served as vice president of the National Association of Attorneys General in 2016, having previously served as chair of the 13-state Southern Region both in 2013 and 2015.

Prior to being elected attorney general, Olens was chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, serving from August 2002 through March 2010. He previously served as a county commissioner from 1999 through June 2002.

Sam was chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission board as well as a member of the Board of the Department of Community Affairs. Sam has a history of taking a regional approach to problem solving. During his time at the Atlanta Regional Commission, Sam Olens was awarded the Tom Bradley Leadership Award by the National Association of Regional Councils. The award recognizes leadership excellence an elected or appointed official has made in advocating regional concepts, approaches, and programs at any level of government.

Sam also served as Vice-Chair of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, a 16-county planning entity dedicated to developing comprehensive regional and watershed-specific plans for the district and as a board member of the National Association of Counties Transportation Steering Committee.

Sam is a registered mediator/arbitrator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. He has been admitted to practice law in Georgia and the District of Columbia.

Company website

Tharon Johnson, Paramount Consulting Group

**Tharon Johnson, CEO, Paramount Consulting Group**

Tharon Johnson is the founder and CEO of Paramount Consulting Group, LLC, a firm specializing in media relations, government affairs and electoral strategy. Tharon has advised elected officials including President Barack Obama, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Congressman John Lewis, Congressman John Barrow, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. As the National Southern Regional Director for the 2012 Obama For America campaign, Tharon led the presidential re-election campaign effort for 11 Southern states — including Florida and North Carolina — two key battleground states. Mr. Johnson also served as Senior Advisor to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

Following his time in government, he advised private sector clients on their public policy strategies as a partner at a leading government affairs firm. Politics Magazine named Tharon as one of the “Top 10 Democrats in Georgia” and a “Campaign & Elections 2010 Rising Star.” He also received “40 Under 40” Awards from both Georgia Trend Magazine and The Atlanta Business Chronicle. Named by James Magazine as one of the “Top 25 Most influential Georgians,” Mr. Johnson was the youngest and the first African American to receive The American Association of Political Consultants’ distinction of “Campaign Manager of the Year.”

As a regular key contributor on CNN, MSNBC, Fox 5’s “The Georgia Gang,” WSB-TV and Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “Political Rewind,” Tharon provides insights and analysis of political and policy developments. Johnson is also a permanent contributor to WABE’s “Political Breakfast” podcast with Denis O’Hayer and is frequently quoted in publications such as The New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Post, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Politico, The Hill and Roll Call.

Tharon serves on the boards for Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta Beltline Partnership, Leadership Atlanta, National Kidney Foundation and Community In Schools. In addition to his political honors, he was honored with the “Unsung Hero Award” by his alma mater Clark Atlanta University for outstanding contributions in Arts & Sciences.

Company website

Edward Lindsey, Dentons

Edward Lindsey is a partner in Dentons’ Public Policy practice and serves as the head of the Firm’s Georgia State Government Affairs team. His focus is on advancing the public policy interests and objectives of clients in the transportation, infrastructure, health care and education sectors. Edward has more than 32 years of legal, political and leadership experience, including 10 years as a Georgia state representative and 3 terms as the House majority whip. He also served on the House Appropriations, Judiciary, Education, Ways and Means, and Rules Committees. In addition, he served as a member of the Uniform Law Commission and the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. James Magazine, a statewide political journal, recognized him as one of Georgia’s most influential legislators. Immediately prior to joining Dentons in 2016, Edward was a partner and head of the litigation practice at Goodman McGuffey Lindsey & Johnson LLP, an Atlanta-based firm he cofounded in 1990.

Company website

Lindsey Petrini, Board Chair, GNFCC

Lindsey Petrini is the Chief Operating Officer of WellStar North Fulton Hospital. WellStar North Fulton Hospital is a 202-bed facility located in Roswell, Georgia.

The hospital is recognized for its accredited cancer program, trauma and primary stroke center designations, and for providing a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, pain management, cardiology, women’s services, rehabilitation, surgical services, and oncology. For more information click here.

Today’s Gold Sponsor: AT&T

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

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

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

Lisa Thibault, Roswell Lifestyle

April 30, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Lisa Thibault, Roswell Lifestyle

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Lisa Thibault, Roswell Lifestyle (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 352)

Lisa Thibault joined John Ray in studio to share exciting news of the arrival of Roswell Lifestyle. This community-focused publication aims to become Roswell’s source of information, inspiration, and economic growth. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Lisa Thibault, Owner, Roswell Lifestyle

Inspired by community with 9 years focused in North Metro Atlanta, Lifestyle Publications is now expanding into Roswell. Led by Ms. Lisa Thibault, with 30 years of publishing and marketing experience, Lisa now serves as the publisher for the new Roswell Edition.

A home-grown Georgia Peach growing up in Vinings and playing basketball at Georgia State in college, she knows her way around the Atlanta marketplace very well. Lisa is still a local resident, active in the community and organizations and she promises to bring her energy and vast business network to this exciting new platform focusing on Roswell.

Roswell Lifestyle is putting its sights on best-in-class business representation, with exclusive local content, and connects our community to create an elevated new standard of luxury-style magazine, targeting the business leaders and high-end homeowners in one of the most sought-after communities here .

Lisa’s publication is raising the bar in the community to become a significant resource of information, inspiration and economic growth within Roswell! A partnership includes a variety of value-add opportunities that start with ad placements extending to various editorial features, PR, online, social media, and business networking. Their philosophy: Market local, spend local, means top-spenders STAY LOYAL and seek local places to support.

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Lifestyle Publications

Lifestyle Publications launched its flagship publication (Leawood Lifestyle) in September of 2009. The community-inspired content immediately became something that residents looked forward to receiving in their mailboxes each month. Uplifting content and good news about the community was a welcome friend to readers in the time of an economic downturn.

By mid-2011 Lifestyle produced four community-focused, monthly publications, which served nearly 60,000 homeowners in the most affluent suburbs of Kansas City. With such success in the Kansas City market, Lifestyle decided to license the rights to produce magazines around the country.

Lifestyle’s mission is to bring communities together by sharing local stories that appeal to readers. From learning about people in the community and neighborhood heroes, to introducing new restaurants and entertainment venues around town, each issue is created for the residents of the community. The goal is for readers to ‘run into’ someone they know in nearly every issue.

Company website

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Who receives the magazine?
How is it distributed? How often?
What content do you provide in the magazine?
Who is a good fit to become a partner in the magazine? What type of business?
What is the digital platform citylifestyle.com and how does it work?

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