John Ray, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Helen Panos on K-12 Tutoring and Executive Functioning

December 23, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Helen Panos on K-12 Tutoring and Executive Functioning

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Helen Panos, Dynamis Learning, on K-12 Tutoring, Executive Function Coaching, and Educational Advocacy (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 925)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Helen Panos, Founder and CEO of Dynamis Learning, a K-12 tutoring company serving students nationwide. Helen, who spent 25 years in Fulton County schools as a middle school teacher, gifted program lead, and 504 chair, launched Dynamis Learning 10 years ago to address gaps she witnessed in traditional classroom settings.

The conversation explores how Dynamis Learning differs from large tutoring companies through three key services: one-on-one virtual tutoring across all subjects, executive function coaching for students who struggle with organization and time management, and educational advocacy to help families navigate 504 plans and secure necessary accommodations. Helen shares compelling success stories, including a student who improved her SAT score by 300 points after receiving extended time accommodations, and she explains how executive functioning skills help students manage ADHD, working memory issues, and the demands of accelerated coursework.

Helen discusses the rise of ADHD diagnoses, the pressures of accelerated math programs in middle school, and why early intervention with executive functioning strategies prevents frustration and academic struggles. She also announces her podcast, Smart Parents Successful Students, which addresses common challenges parents face supporting their children’s education.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Dynamis Learning offers three core services that set it apart from large tutoring companies: personalized one-on-one tutoring, executive function coaching to teach organizational and time management skills, and educational advocacy to help families secure 504 accommodations for students with ADHD and learning disabilities
Executive functioning skills address common challenges like task initiation, working memory, organization, and emotional control, which are particularly critical for students with ADHD who face demands from accelerated coursework, sports, and extracurricular activities
Early intervention with executive function coaching helps students develop lifelong skills they’ll need in college and careers, while advocacy services connect tutors directly with teachers to identify specific student needs and secure appropriate accommodations like extended test time
Helen identified concerning educational trends before COVID, including the rapid expansion of accelerated math programs that push students through algebra and geometry in a single year, often requiring tutoring support just to survive the pace

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Helen Panos
02:02 Helen Panos introduces Dynamis Learning and its nationwide K-12 tutoring services
03:13 How COVID enabled virtual tutoring to become 95% of the business
03:41 Helen’s background: 25 years in Fulton County schools as a gifted lead and teacher
04:43 Educational issues Helen identified before COVID, including curriculum acceleration
06:50 Different levels of giftedness and diagnostic challenges in schools
07:59 Helen explains educational advocacy and 504 plans for students with disabilities
10:06 Success story: Student gains 300 points on SAT after securing extended time accommodations
12:18 How Dynamis Learning differs from large tutoring companies
13:27 Executive function coaching: definition and core skills
16:01 Strategies and tools executive functioning coaches use with students
18:36 Success stories from executive function coaching clients
21:33 Why executive functioning skills are lifelong, not tied to specific subjects
22:26 Benefits of early intervention with executive functioning skills
23:35 Helen’s podcast: Smart Parent Successful Students
24:32 Signs that indicate parents should reach out for tutoring or coaching support
25:53 Success story: Addressing reading gaps before gifted program testing
27:55 How to contact Dynamis Learning

Helen Panos, Founder and CEO, Dynamis Learning

Helen Panos is an accomplished educator with over 25 years of experience in a public school system. She began Dynamis Learning, her K-12 nationwide tutoring/SAT/ACT and parent advocacy business, 10 years ago. She is passionate about helping children reach their potential. She listens to what a parent needs and matches them with the right type of tutor. This tutor helps customize a program that will motivate and move the child forward in their academics with ease. Helen is a part of the business and currently has 20 tutors on the Dynamis Learning staff, which can help with a variety of subjects.

You can find Helen regularly on her Dynamis Learning Facebook page, where she does Facebook Lives. The topics are those that she has heard most parents struggle with when it comes to their kids being successful in school and in life! She also hosts her own podcast, Smart Parents Successful Students, which can be found on Spotify and her YouTube channel.

Dynamis Learning

Dynamis Learning is a K-12 nationwide tutoring/SAT/ACT prep/advocacy and executive function company. Our team of 20 tutors mainly work virtually, and they encompass a variety of subject matter knowledge from reading to math/science and study skills. They are also able to tutor students in person in the metro Atlanta area, whether at a library or in their home. Advocacy is a big part of what Dynamis offers families; thus, they are pleased to provide resources and specialized support for a child when needed. In 2025, their service offerings grew to add individualized executive function coaching for 6th-12th graders and college essay writing. Soon, Dynamis will also provide small-group executive function coaching for 3rd–5th graders.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Podcast

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Bank has humble roots, having started in 1904 as a $100,000 bank located in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown into one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, boasting over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 offices offering banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which in turn helps them better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their respective markets, communities, and professions. There is no discrimination based on company size, and there is never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors — **John Ray, host of *North Fulton Business Radio* and Owner, Ray Business Advisors**

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, which is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the author of the five-star rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.

GNFCC Leadership Transition: 2025 Highlights and 2026 Priorities

December 22, 2025 by John Ray

GNFCC Leadership Transition: Kali Boatright Talks 2025 Highlights and 2026 Priorities with Outgoing Chair Dean Collins and Incoming Chair Laura Madajewski, on the GNFCC 400 Insider podcast

BRX National

GNFCC Leadership Transition: 2025 Highlights and 2026 Priorities

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GNFCC Leadership Transition: Kali Boatright Talks 2025 Highlights and 2026 Priorities with Outgoing Chair Dean Collins and Incoming Chair Laura Madajewski (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 111)

Host Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber, marks a year-end leadership transition by reflecting on 2025 accomplishments and previewing 2026 priorities with outgoing Chair Dean Collins (Axis Infrastructure) and incoming Chair Laura Madajewski (HLB Gross Collins).

Dean looks back on a strong Chamber year, including continued momentum around regional collaboration and economic development, plus the Strategic Leadership Visit that took investor-level members to Mesa and Scottsdale to learn from innovation, redevelopment, and the role of arts, culture, and sports as economic drivers.

Laura shares her 2026 theme, “Forging Our Future,” and outlines what comes next: revisiting strategic planning, moving through the Chamber’s reaccreditation process, and revamping the NextGen (Young Professionals) program with stronger engagement, expanded programming, and an enhanced mentor match.

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

Key Takeaways from This Episode

This is a true handoff episode: what 2025 proved, what 2026 will prioritize, and what continuity looks like when leadership changes without losing momentum.
“Forging Our Future” is not a slogan; it’s an operating stance: Laura Madajewski’s theme is about building forward, not maintaining.
2026 is a “systems year,” not a “more events” year: strategic planning refresh, reaccreditation work, and tightening how the Chamber measures and delivers impact.
NextGen is being rebuilt with intention: stronger engagement, refreshed programming, and a more meaningful mentor match approach.
The Chamber’s regional work keeps expanding: continued collaboration and economic development focus that goes beyond any one city.
Chair advice you can steal for your own leadership role: clear the calendar, show up, stay close to members, and ask the questions you need to ask.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to the GNFCC 400 Insider podcast
00:41 Meet the 2025 and 2026 Chairs
01:42 Dean Collins Reflects on 2025
03:08 Laura Madajewski’s Journey and Vision
05:28 Accomplishments and Goals for the Chamber
08:47 Forging the Future: 2026 Plans
13:03 Public-Private Partnerships and Community Impact
17:41 Advice for the Incoming Chair
20:46 Leadership Styles and Final Thoughts
24:21 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Laura Madajewski, 2026 Chair, and Principal, HLB Gross Collins P.C.

Laura E. Madajewski, CPA, MBA, is a Principal in the Audit and Advisory department at HLB Gross Collins P.C., bringing more than 16 years of public accounting experience with a focus on audits and financial statement preparation. She is known for helping clients strengthen internal controls, enhance governance and oversight, and streamline operations, approaching each engagement as a trusted advisor who tailors assurance and accounting solutions to the client’s specific needs.

Laura leads the firm’s Manufacturing, Distribution and Supply Chain Practice as well as its Employee Benefit Practice, and she has significant experience serving nonprofit organizations, including private schools, religious organizations, trade associations, and foundations.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys charitable and volunteer work throughout the Atlanta and North Fulton communities. She serves on the advisory board of Golf for The Kids, is Treasurer and a volunteer on the Board of Directors of The Drake House, has served as President and Secretary of the Song of Atlanta Show Chorus Board, and is President of the Sanctuary at Rivermont Homeowners’ Association Board of Directors.

She earned both her BBA and MBA in Accounting from Kennesaw State University.

Dean Collins, 2025 GNFCC Chair, and Founder & President, Axis Infrastructure

Dean Collins is the Founder and President of Axis Infrastructure, a firm he established in 2016 to address critical needs in the transportation and site development industries. With over 25 years of experience, Dean has cultivated a deep understanding of the complexities involved in land development projects, positioning Axis as a leader in the field. Under his leadership, Axis Companies has developed a comprehensive “Development Suite” that offers tailored services in land development, project management, and construction management, enabling clients to choose between individual services or complete turnkey solutions.

Before founding Axis, Dean served as Vice President and Director of Facilities at TYLIN International for nearly 23 years. In this role, he successfully led business development and design efforts for vertical projects across the Americas, managing a diverse team of architects, engineers, and construction managers. His extensive background in project management and design has been instrumental in shaping Axis Companies’ innovative approach.

Dean holds an Associates degree in Engineering from the State University of New York at Delhi and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast

Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) — **Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce**

The GNFCC 400 Insider is sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC), and the host of the show is 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 1,400 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.

As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.

GNFCC promotes the interests of their 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, follow this link.

North Fulton Voices 2025 Recap: Attainable Housing

December 19, 2025 by John Ray

2025 Year-End Roundtable: What Moved the Needle on Attainable Housing and Missing Middle Housing in North Fulton (North Fulton Voices, Episode 16)

North Fulton Studio

North Fulton Voices 2025 Recap: Attainable Housing

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2025 Year-End Roundtable: What Moved the Needle on Attainable and Missing Middle Housing in North Fulton (North Fulton Voices, Episode 16)

In this 2025 year-end edition of North Fulton Voices, Nancy Diamond, Jack Murphy, Kathy Swahn and John Ray look back at a momentous year for the North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN) and the region’s attainable housing conversation. They ground the recap in two sobering realities: metro Atlanta lost 230,000 low- and mid-income homes from 2018 to 2023, and in many municipalities it can take seven years to go from concept to occupancy for new housing.

The panel explains how the conversation moved from awareness to influence, with NFIN’s framing and data showing up more consistently in planning discussions and public meetings. They point to a broader shift in how leaders and residents are talking about housing, including its connection to quality of life, workforce stability, and long-term economic health.

They also point out key factors from 2025 that helped build momentum, such as the need for people to get involved in comprehensive planning, a clear change in local election discussions, and a North Fulton Forum that gathered banks, employers, schools, nonprofits, and federal partners to discuss funding and practical ways to implement solutions.

In 2026, the group identifies three key areas of focus: enhancing public understanding of zoning, normalizing solutions that people can visualize, and maintaining high participation in comprehensive plan processes. The message is unambiguous; this work moves when everyday residents and employers show up, learn the language, and keep asking better questions.

North Fulton Voices is presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network. The show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Metro Atlanta lost 230,000 low- and mid-income homes (2018–2023), and the timeline for new housing can stretch to seven years from concept to occupancy.
NFIN frames the issue as financial vulnerability, not a narrow poverty category. Many households are one expense away from needing help.
The conversation is shifting from awareness to influence, with more traction in planning and leadership dialogue.
Comprehensive plans are a major leverage point because they shape housing and infrastructure decisions upstream.
We now clearly link attainable and unaffordable middle-class housing to workforce stability and local competitiveness.
Capital matters if solutions are going to scale. Partnerships with banks, employers, nonprofits, and government are part of the path forward.
A practical next step for listeners is to engage locally, understand zoning basics, and participate in comprehensive plan processes.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Voices
00:52 Reflecting on a Momentous Year
01:32 Data Insights on Housing Crisis
02:45 Mission and Goals of the Network
04:56 Connecting Stakeholders and Community
06:36 Influence and Public Awareness
08:10 Comprehensive Planning in Alpharetta
12:21 Challenges in Workforce and Attainable Housing
23:05 Impact on Schools and Enrollment
27:05 Bankers and Housing Solutions
27:22 North Fulton Forum Highlights
27:59 Community Redevelopment Act and Challenges
28:48 Workforce Housing and Bankers’ Role
29:11 United Way’s ALICE Model
30:45 Impact of Workforce Housing on Businesses
31:20 Shoutout to April Atkins
31:54 Public-Private Partnerships in Attainable Housing
33:40 Innovative Housing Solutions in Metro Atlanta
35:46 Mark Murphy’s Housing Efforts
36:55 Brian Goldstone’s Book and Community Impact
38:41 Sponsorship and Community Support
40:01 Looking Forward: Zoning and Community Engagement
46:57 Call to Action: Get Involved
49:38 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

Jack Murphy

Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network. He is also in his 21st year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to the Chamber, Jack worked for and with Fortune 500 companies in operations, human resources, training, and quality areas. Jack was a senior adjunct professor for Quality & Operations Management at Keller Graduate School for 14 years.

He has served on both the National and Georgia Boards of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, responsible for Diversity, Advocacy, & Systemic Change. Jack is currently the national SVDP chair of Systemic Change and Advocacy.

Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and a M.Ed. from UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife, Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Nancy Diamond

Nancy Diamond is a Project Manager with Schmit & Associates, a real estate development firm, creating town center revitalization in communities all around the metro area.

Nancy served 8 years as a Roswell City Council Member, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem, with liaison positions with Community Development, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and Public Safety.

In addition to her work with the North Fulton Improvement Network, Nancy has been active in area non-profit organizations, including board leadership positions in the STAR House Foundation, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and the Roswell Rotary Club.

A native of Atlanta and a 42-year North Fulton resident, Nancy worked at Turner Broadcasting in the early years of CNN, then became a freelancer in sports television graphics. While raising her two daughters, she worked from home, first developing a corporate gift service and later as a mortgage loan originator.

Nancy and her husband, Glenn, now relish the role of grandparents to Owen.

Kathy Swahn

Kathy has resided in the North Fulton area for almost 45 years. She has watched the community evolve from what was “unincorporated Fulton County” to a six-city bustling suburban community. Her history has been marked by a strong emphasis on children: she raised two daughters as a stay-at-home mother, held leadership positions in school PTAs and Girl Scouts, participated in the National Charity League and the North Fulton Council of PTAs, and held the position of chair of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.

Kathy resumed her career by entering the nonprofit sector. She joined the team at North Fulton Community Charities, running their holiday program, becoming Development Director and successfully managing the $3 million capital campaign for their Elkins Road location. Along the way, she also served on the DFACS Board and chaired the board of the Fulton County Continuum of Care for four years.

After having the opportunity to join in the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, Kathy was surrounded with a dynamic group of folks who worked to create The Drake House. Since 2004, she served as board chair for the first four years, executive director for nine years, and is now retired. Over those years, The Drake House served over 500 single mothers with over 1,000 children and grew the assets of the organization to over $4 million.

Kathy continues to serve The Drake House on the Advocacy Committee, along with her work for NFIN.

She spends much of her time traveling to the DC area, where her children and grandchildren reside.

Sponsor for North Fulton Voices: John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC

The North Fulton Voices show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

John Ray is a podcast show host and producer and owns North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, the North Fulton (Georgia) affiliate of Business RadioX®.

John also operates his own business advisory practice, Ray Business Advisors. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the author of the #1 nationally best-selling book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

John is the host of North Fulton Business Radio and The Price and Value Journey. North Fulton Business Radio, the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton region of Georgia, features a wide range of business and community leaders. The Price and Value Journey is devoted to solo and small-firm professional services providers and covers issues such as pricing, value, and business development.

Adam Hatcher and Greg Silberman: The Inner Family Business

December 17, 2025 by John Ray

How the “Inner Family Business” Protects the Operating Business, Adam Hatcher, Twenty One Clear, LLC, and Greg Silberman, Ritterband & Co. (Family Business Radio, Episode 71), with host Anthony Chen

Family Business Radio

Adam Hatcher and Greg Silberman: The Inner Family Business

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How the “Inner Family Business” Protects the Operating Business, Adam Hatcher, Twenty One Clear, LLC, and Greg Silberman, Ritterband & Co. (Family Business Radio, Episode 71)

On this episode of Family Business Radio, host Anthony Chen welcomes Adam Hatcher of Twenty One Clear LLC and Greg Silberman, Ritterband & Co., to explore what it really takes for family businesses to work together and stay together across generations. Adam shares lessons from 13 years inside his own multigenerational family company and introduces the idea of the “inner family business,” the separate system inside the operating company that requires intentional attention, not just good intentions.

Adam outlines practical governance moves that prevent predictable blowups, including a cadence of dedicated family business meetings and clear ways to handle tension points like compensation, hiring family members, and what happens when a family member exits the business. He also explains why families need to decide, explicitly, how they will balance the interests of the company, the clients, and the family, because different priority orders create conflict in everyday decisions.

Greg brings the tax, accounting, and advisory perspective from his work leading Ritterband & Co., a unified firm identity formed by integrating multiple legacy practices under one structure. He discusses the industry’s shift from compliance-only work toward proactive planning, ongoing guidance, and long-term strategy. He also shares how values and giving practices can show up in wealth decisions and why his firm is building Ritterband Stewardship Plans™ designed around monthly dashboards, quarterly reviews, and audit-readiness.

Family Business Radio is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. The show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

The “inner family business” is a real system inside the company, and it will not stay healthy by accident.
A steady cadence of family business meetings prevents small issues from turning into permanent fractures.
Clear rules are necessary for compensation, hiring, and exit decisions, held together by trust and follow-through.
Families need to agree on the priority order of company, clients, and family, because misalignment quietly poisons decisions.
Accounting firms are moving beyond compliance toward proactive planning and ongoing advisory relationships.
Ritterband Stewardship Plans™ reflect the market’s demand for clearer visibility, audit-readiness, and consistent decision support.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to Family Business Radio
00:38 Guest Introduction: Adam Hatcher of Twenty One Clear
00:48 Adam Hatcher’s Family Business Journey
01:54 Balancing Family and Business
03:55 Joining the Family Business
07:08 Deciding to Step Back
10:53 Helping Family Businesses Thrive
14:09 Common Mistakes in Family Businesses
17:39 Contact Information and Resources
18:20 Guest Introduction: Greg Silverman
19:36 Exploring Family Dynamics in CPA Practices
19:52 Acquiring and Integrating CPA Practices
20:40 Challenges and Strategies in Modern CPA Firms
23:03 The Evolution of CPA Services
27:10 The Future of CPA Practices and Personal Reflections
32:01 The Importance of Giving and Legacy Planning
33:55 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Adam Hatcher, Twenty One Clear, LLC

Adam Hatcher is the founder of Twenty One Clear, LLC, a family business consultant with deep experience in scaling family-owned enterprises. He grew up in his family’s staffing and recruiting firm (MAU Workforce Solutions), where he established the legal office, modernized human resources, led strategic planning, served as general counsel, and sat on the board of advisors and family council for over 13 years.

Under his leadership, the company expanded from a regional $100 million firm to a nationwide $500 million organization, securing major clients like BMW, Chick-fil-A, Kimberly-Clark, Southern Company, and Truist while managing three generations of family dynamics. Hatcher drove key initiatives, including $50 million in acquisitions, performance management systems, cost reductions, and a major reorganization ahead of the company’s 50th year.

Twenty One Clear, LLC provides strategic consulting and fractional executive services to “chaos-proof” family businesses, emphasizing trust, communication, and clarity across family roles as owners, employees, and relatives. The firm helps startups and small- to mid-sized companies address challenges like hiring family members, daily collaboration, ownership transitions, and exits.

Website | LinkedIn

Greg Silberman, Ritterband & Co.

Greg Silberman, CPA, CFA, CAIA, is Managing Director of Ritterband & Co. in Atlanta, Georgia. He advises high-net-worth individuals and growing businesses on tax planning and structuring, accounting, and long-term wealth strategy, with added depth in investments, private equity and debt, and M&A advisory. Greg brings more than 20 years of global financial experience across Europe, Asia, and North America, including senior investment leadership and alternative investment portfolio management.

Ritterband & Co. is a tax, accounting, and advisory firm formed by bringing three legacy firms under one unified identity: SJ Gorowitz, Reed Quinn & McClure, and Van Huss, Hogan, McCurry & Associates. The firm’s approach is anchored in clarity, precision, and purpose, helping clients make informed decisions across tax, accounting, and financial matters while supporting long-term planning. Beginning in early 2026, the firm expects to introduce Ritterband Stewardship Plans™, featuring monthly dashboards, quarterly reviews, and audit-readiness, along with expanded tax and accounting capabilities, an upgraded client portal, and new strategic and long-term planning services.

Website | LinkedIn

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

Family Business Radio is sponsored and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. Securities and advisory services are offered through OSAIC, member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned, and other entities and/or marketing names, products, or services referenced here are independent of OSAIC. The main office address is 575 Broadhollow Rd., Melville, NY 11747. You can reach Anthony at 631-465-9090, ext. 5075, or by email at anthonychen@lfnllc.com.

Anthony Chen started his career in financial services with MetLife in Buffalo, NY, in 2008. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, he considers himself a full-blooded New Yorker while now enjoying his Atlanta, GA, home. Specializing in family businesses and their owners, Anthony works to protect what is most important to them. From preserving to creating wealth, Anthony partners with CPAs and attorneys to help address all of the concerns and help clients achieve their goals. By using a combination of financial products ranging from life, disability, and long-term care insurance to many investment options through Royal Alliance, Anthony looks to be the eyes and ears for his client’s financial foundation. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid long-distance runner.

Follow this link to access the complete show archive of Family Business Radio.

Bill Ellis: Your Brand is The Value Clients Perceive in You

December 17, 2025 by John Ray

Bill Ellis on Client-Perceived Value, Staying Teachable, and Why Questions Matter More Than Answers (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 156), with host John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Bill Ellis: Your Brand is The Value Clients Perceive in You

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Bill Ellis on Client-Perceived Value, Staying Teachable, and Why Questions Matter More Than Answers (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 156)

Bill Ellis, brand strategist and host of the What’s the Point? podcast, joins host John Ray on The Price and Value Journey to discuss how professional service providers can build sustainable practices by understanding a fundamental truth: your brand is the value clients perceive in you, not what you think you offer.

With 24 years at Anheuser-Busch before launching his consulting practice in 2004, Bill shares challenging lessons about translating corporate expertise to small business clients. He explains why his corporate approach initially failed with solo practitioners and small firms and how learning to “remain teachable” transformed his practice. Bill discusses how client feedback led him to add “confidant” to his service offerings when clients kept seeking someone they could trust completely to discuss sensitive business and personal decisions they couldn’t share elsewhere.

Bill introduces his “ladder of success” framework, explaining how he realized his own ladder was leaning against the wrong building at Anheuser-Busch. He discusses the importance of asking the question “What’s the point?” to help clients move past assumptions and discover what they’re truly trying to accomplish, why better communication beats more communication, and his formula for culture: core values times behavior equals culture. Throughout the conversation, Bill emphasizes that questions are more valuable than answers and that staying flexible as your practice evolves is essential for long-term success.

The Price and Value Journey is presented by John Ray and produced by North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of the Business RadioX® podcast network.

Key Takeaways You Can Use from This Episode

Your brand is client-perceived value, not what you think you offer. Success comes from understanding where clients see value, not convincing them to see it where you think they should.
Remain teachable throughout your career. Bill’s mentor gave him this two-word advice 40 years ago, and it remains central to his practice—admitting you don’t have all the answers is essential for growth.
Corporate expertise doesn’t translate directly to small business clients. Bill learned he had to “soften his corporate approach” and translate what makes corporations successful into language that relates to solo practitioners and small firms.
Questions are more valuable than answers. Asking, “What’s the point?” helps clients examine whether they’re pursuing the right goals before building plans to achieve them.
Your ladder may be leaning against the wrong building. Recognizing fundamental misalignment in your career or practice—not just working harder—is essential for fulfillment and success.
Client feedback shapes your positioning. Bill became a “confidant” because clients kept seeking that more profound relationship, not because he decided to add it as a service line.
Better communication beats more communication. When people say, “We need more communication,” they actually need clearer, more effective communication tailored to how different people receive information.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to Bill Ellis
01:52 Bill’s Transition from Corporate to Coaching
05:04 Evolving as a Coach and Consultant
07:49 The Importance of Branding and Value
14:01 Defining the Role of a Confidant
22:12 The Power of Asking the Right Questions
26:07 The Role of a Confidant
27:22 Empathy and Confidentiality
29:56 Communication and Culture
35:43 Core Values and Behavior
38:21 Finding Your Purpose
40:25 Bill’s Podcast Journey
45:11 Conclusion and Contact Information

Bill Ellis

Bill Ellis

Bill Ellis is a business confidant who works with senior leaders across the United States and the Middle East. His clients range from founders and corporate executives to lawyers, psychologists, and owners of fast-moving service businesses. He helps them think clearly, manage pressure, and reconnect to what truly matters in their work.

Bill’s career includes many years in branding and purpose advisory, which has shaped his belief that clarity is one of the greatest strengths a leader can develop. He brings this same curiosity to his podcast, What’s The Point?, where he explores how people find direction, meaning and resilience through their own stories.

He is also the author of Women Who Won, a collection of stories celebrating remarkable women and the achievements, large and small, that still motivate him. He wrote the book for men and women alike, including his grandchildren, as a reminder that courage often starts with a single step.

Alongside his advisory work, Bill speaks to audiences about leadership, purpose, and the power of clear thinking.

He divides his time between the US and Dubai, where his wife is based, and this cross-cultural perspective informs the way he understands leadership and purpose today.

Website | LinkedIn

John Ray, Host of The Price and Value Journey

John Ray, Author of The Generosity Mindset and 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 business coaching and advisory work, as well as advising solopreneurs 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 expertise, such as attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, consultants, coaches, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is a podcast show host and the owner of North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®. John and his team work with B2B professionals to create and conduct their podcast using The Generosity Mindset® Method: building and deepening relationships in a non-salesy way that translates into revenue for their business.

John is also the host of North Fulton Business Radio. With over 900 shows and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in its region like no one else.

John’s book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices

John Ray is the author of the five-star rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.

If you are a professional services provider, your goal is to do transformative work for clients you love working with and get paid commensurate with the value you deliver to them. While negative mindsets can inhibit your growth, adopting a different mindset, The Generosity Mindset®, can replace those self-limiting beliefs. The Generosity Mindset enables you to diagnose and communicate the value you deliver to clients and, in turn, more effectively price to receive a portion of that value.

Whether you’re a consultant, coach, marketing or branding professional, business advisor, attorney, CPA, or work in virtually any other professional services discipline, your content and technical expertise are not proprietary. What’s unique, though, is your experience and how you synthesize and deliver your knowledge. What’s special is your demeanor or the way you deal with your best-fit clients. What’s invaluable is how you deliver outstanding value by guiding people through massive changes in their personal lives and in their businesses that bring them to a place they never thought possible.

Your combination of these elements is unique in your industry. There lies your value, but it’s not the value you see. It’s the value your best-fit customers see in you.

If pricing your value feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar to you, this book will teach you why putting a price on the value your clients perceive and identify serves both them and you, and you’ll learn the factors involved in getting your price right.

The book is available at all major physical and online book retailers worldwide. Follow this link for further details.

Connect with John Ray:

Website | LinkedIn | Email

Business RadioX®: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Kevin Johnson on Building a Sustainable Oral Surgery Practice

December 16, 2025 by John Ray

Dental Business Radio

Kevin Johnson on Building a Sustainable Oral Surgery Practice

00:00 /

Kevin Johnson, Leverage Consulting, on Building an Oral Surgery Practice That Grows Without Burning You Out (Dental Business Radio, Episode 63)

Host Patrick O’Rourke welcomes Kevin Johnson, founder and CEO of Leverage Consulting, for a live, on-location conversation recorded in Orlando during the Florida Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons meeting. Kevin shares how he works with oral surgeons and high-performing dental specialists to move beyond surface-level practice management and build practices that support both profitability and quality of life.

The discussion explores why many practices stall despite strong clinical skills and how issues like inconsistent scheduling, weak new patient processes, overwhelmed practice managers, and lack of team accountability quietly limit growth. Kevin explains why real improvement starts with clarity of purpose, disciplined focus on a few priorities, and creating systems that allow the team, not just the doctor, to drive consistent results.

Kevin also addresses the personal side of practice ownership, including burnout, work-life imbalance, and the unique challenges faced by married entrepreneurs and partners working inside the same business. The conversation highlights why strategic planning, communication, and intentional leadership are essential to building a practice that works as an engine for both financial success and a sustainable life outside the office.

Dental Business Radio is underwritten and presented by Practice Quotient: PPO Negotiations & Analysis and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Key Takeaways in This Episode

Practice growth requires more than clinical excellence. Strong production comes from systems, accountability, and team alignment, not just surgical skill.
The team, not the doctor alone, creates consistency. Scheduling, new patient processes, and role clarity allow practices to move beyond feast-or-famine production days.
Burnout is often a leadership and structure problem. Without clear priorities and boundaries, even high-performing practices can drain energy and purpose.
Focus beats overload. Progress accelerates when practices commit to a small number of high-impact priorities instead of chasing dozens of fixes at once.
A healthy practice supports a healthy life. Financial success, time away from the office, and personal fulfillment are connected, not competing goals.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome to Dental Business Radio
00:46 Introducing Our Sponsor: Practice Quotient
01:42 Meet Kevin Johnson: CEO of Leverage Consulting
03:26 Kevin’s Journey from Accounting to Consulting
05:50 The Importance of Work-Life Balance
08:20 Strategies for Practice Growth
12:22 The Role of a Good Practice Manager
15:23 Challenges in the Dental Industry
20:53 Interactive Q&A Session
23:27 Discussing the Audience Composition
24:25 The Challenge of Firing a Spouse
25:21 Balancing Family and Business
26:33 The Importance of Communication
31:31 Focusing on Common Goals
33:10 The Role of Practice Quotient
41:20 Concluding Remarks and Acknowledgements

Kevin Johnson, Founder and CEO, Leverage Consulting

Kevin Johnson is a recognized leader in the dental and medical communities, with a successful track record of helping practices transform into more profitable, more effective businesses. Over the past 17 years, Kevin has worked with hundreds of practices, ranging from startups to well-established multi-location and multi-doctor practices. Kevin has developed a series of innovative best practices tailored to each client to achieve optimal results.

Kevin provides insightful, experience-supported guidance on the clinical, administrative, marketing, and business issues affecting today’s medical and dental practices. He brings substantial experience working with various dental and medical office systems, which helps him improve operations from the inside out while using resources that are already in place. Kevin also brings a unique perspective to the office dynamics that affect staff performance and inter-office relations. He is able to provide instant feedback, based on real-world experience, so that clients can move forward quickly with new initiatives.

A professional speaker with experience in team building, tailored consulting solutions, and problem-solving, Kevin offers clients individualized training sessions, team-building seminars, and customized business consulting. He is results-driven and passionate about helping practices grow to their full potential and providing a better life at work for owners and staff along the way.

Leverage Consulting

Leverage Consulting is a boutique advisory firm that helps dental and medical professionals turn clinically strong practices into high‑performing businesses. It focuses on bridging the gap between medical training and entrepreneurship by installing customized systems for leadership, growth and profitability, reduced stress, and a more empowered team culture. Using their vast experience with many practices, from new ones to larger groups with multiple locations and doctors, the company focuses on practical solutions that can be applied directly in the office instead of just theoretical ideas, helping to make.

Founded and led by Kevin Johnson, a recognized leader in the dental and medical communities, Leverage Consulting combines strategic business coaching with hands‑on training for doctors, managers, and teams. The firm provides personalized consulting, workshops, and customized training that focus on improving clinical processes, office management, marketing, and teamwork, all aimed at achieving clear results like higher production, better collections, more new patients, and less daily stress for owners and staff.

Website | LinkedIn

Dental Business Radio covers the business side of dentistry. Host Patrick O’Rourke and his guests cover industry trends, insights, success stories, and more in this wide-ranging show. The show’s guests include successful doctors across the spectrum of dental practice providers, as well as trusted advisors and noted industry participants.

Dental Business Radio is underwritten and presented by Practice Quotient and produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®. You can find the show on all major podcast apps and access the complete show archive here.

Practice Quotient

Practice Quotient is the sponsor of Dental Business Radio. Practice Quotient, Inc. serves as a bridge between the payor and provider communities. Their clients include general dentists and dental specialty practices across the nation of all sizes, from completely fee-for-service-only to active network participation with every dental plan possible. They work with independent practices, emerging multi-practice entities, and various large ownership entities in the dental space. Their PPO negotiations and analysis projects evaluate the merits of the various in-network participation contract options specific to your practice’s patient acquisition strategy. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Connect with Practice Quotient

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | X (Twitter)

Sue Yeh Johnson on Using AI for Team Trust and Alignment

December 15, 2025 by John Ray

Sue Yeh Johnson, Yeh and Johnson Consulting, on Using AI to Decode Trust Breakdowns, Team Alignment, and Relational Intelligence (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 923), with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Sue Yeh Johnson on Using AI for Team Trust and Alignment

00:00 /

Sue Yeh Johnson, Yeh and Johnson Consulting, on Using AI to Decode Trust Breakdowns, Team Alignment, and Relational Intelligence (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 924)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Sue Yeh Johnson, Founder of Yeh and Johnson Consulting, to discuss Relational Intelligence (RI) and how leaders can decode the hidden dynamics that stall decisions and erode trust. Sue shares how her proprietary AI tool, built on 25 years of consulting experience with Fortune 500 companies, helps leadership teams spot early warning signs like silent resistance, power shifts, and trust breakdowns before they become costly problems. She explains the concept of the “shadowstack,” the unofficial power structures that run organizations but don’t appear on org charts, and how leaders can avoid “techno-feudalism” by keeping humans at the center of decision-making.

Sue discusses practical ways to surface friction inside teams, including one powerful question leaders can ask this week to expose hidden misalignment. She also shares her work as co-founder of Atlanta Women in AI, creating community and support for women navigating AI-driven workplace changes. Throughout the conversation, Sue emphasizes that performance breakdowns are rarely about technology—they’re about relationships and alignment.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Relational Intelligence helps leaders decode trust signals, power shifts, and silent resistance before they escalate into costly decision delays and misalignment.
The “shadowstack” represents the unofficial power structures and influence networks that actually run organizations but aren’t visible on org charts.
Billions of dollars are wasted when teams nod in agreement during meetings but silently disagree and fail to execute decisions.
One simple question to surface hidden friction: “What’s something we keep revisiting that should already be resolved?”

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Sue Yeh Johnson
02:13 Sue Yeh Johnson introduces Yeh and Johnson Consulting
02:49 Sue’s career arc and passion for Relational Intelligence work
03:06 What is Relational Intelligence (RI) and how it works
03:56 Common relational issues inside companies
04:23 Defining misalignment with real-world examples
05:28 Volatility, velocity, and communication challenges in today’s business environment
06:35 Decoding power shifts, trust breakdowns, and silent resistance
09:04 How Sue’s proprietary AI tool decodes relational signals
11:14 What Relational Intelligence reveals that dashboards and reports miss
13:50 The “shadowstack” and techno-feudalism in leadership
16:44 How relational breakdowns actually show up inside teams
19:56 One relational move leaders can make this week
21:38 Sue’s background and 25-year career journey
25:39 Atlanta Women in AI and building community
27:21 Success stories in mentoring and developing leaders
28:20 How Sue’s platform works and future scaling plans
29:47 Contact information for Yeh and Johnson Consulting

Sue Yeh Johnson, Founder

Sue Yeh Johnson on North Fulton Business Radio — **Sue Yeh Johnson, Yeh and Johnson Consulting**

Sue Yeh Johnson is a strategist, advisor, and expert in reading the room—especially when the most important dynamics go unspoken.

As co-founder of Yeh & Johnson Consulting, she partners with leadership teams, boards, and founders to surface and resolve the relational friction that slows decisions, erodes trust, or quietly stalls momentum. Her specialty is Relational Intelligence—a strategic discipline that translates trust signals, power shifts, and unspoken dynamics into clear insight leaders can act on.

With 25 years in systems strategy and a decade in executive coaching, Sue brings both depth and precision to high-stakes moments. Whether supporting a founder transition, navigating board dynamics, or aligning a fast-scaling team, she helps ambitious organizations move faster—by naming what others avoid.

She is also a founding voice for Atlanta Women in AI, where she advocates for human-centered technology, inclusive leadership, and putting relational signals at the core of innovation.

Sue is known for making sense of complex rooms, surfacing what’s unsaid, and helping leaders move with clarity and integrity. Based in Atlanta, she’s an avid pattern-watcher and a firm believer that the most powerful insights show up between the bullet points—not in them.

Yeh & Johnson Consulting

Yeh & Johnson helps leaders act on what others avoid. They specialize in Relational Intelligence (RI)—a strategic toolkit for uncovering the hidden dynamics that slow decisions, erode trust, and stall execution across teams and leadership groups.

In an era of volatility and constant change, traditional tools often miss the mark. The firm equips leaders to navigate uncertainty by decoding human signals—power shifts, trust breakdowns, and silent resistance—and translating them into clear, actionable strategy.

Their work is grounded in a core truth: today’s biggest performance losses aren’t operational—they’re relational. Research shows that poor communication can waste up to $75 million per $1 billion spent, and 75% of cross-functional teams underperform due to misalignment. Yeh & Johnson helps clients address these breakdowns before they cost time, talent, or traction.

They work with growth-stage tech firms, public sector innovators, and mission-driven CEOs navigating high-stakes decisions—where trust and alignment are critical.

Website | Company LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John is the author of the five-star rated book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.

John Hall on AI in Healthcare and Writing Legal Thrillers

December 11, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

John Hall on AI in Healthcare and Writing Legal Thrillers

00:00 /

John E. Hall, Jr., Hall Booth Smith, on Healthcare Litigation, AI in Medicine, and Writing Legal Thrillers (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 923)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes John E. Hall, Jr., Founding Partner at Hall Booth Smith, a full-service law firm with a national footprint and deep expertise in healthcare litigation. John shares insights from over 40 years representing hospitals and doctors across the country, including his perspective on how AI is revolutionizing healthcare by improving predictions, medication checking, and diagnostic alternatives while restoring the doctor-patient connection that electronic medical records disrupted.

The conversation explores John’s dual life as a trial attorney who spends 140 nights a year on the road trying cases nationwide and as a novelist writing under the pen name Everett Hall. His third murder mystery, AI, Lies and Murder, follows Georgia lawyer Jack Sutton into modern-day challenges involving artificial intelligence and healthcare. John discusses the inspiration behind his books, drawing from real stories of South Georgia legal life, and reveals he is simultaneously working on multiple novels, including one set in the country of Georgia involving a virus conspiracy and another exploring the ghost stories and history of Lake Lanier.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

John describes AI in healthcare as “an arrogant genius in the room that is sometimes wrong”: powerful for providing information and helping humans think better, but requiring careful human oversight
AI technology is revolutionizing healthcare by improving outcome predictions, medication verification, and diagnostic suggestions while helping restore doctor-patient connections that electronic medical records have disrupted.
John writes legal thrillers under the pen name Everett Hall during his extensive travel schedule, drawing from real stories about South Georgia legal practice and weaving in themes from his healthcare litigation experience.
John’s three currently published legal thrillers are Gnats, Murder and Humidity; Murder at the Yacht Club; and AI, Lies and Murder
His current work includes multiple novels in progress, including one exploring a virus conspiracy in the country of Georgia and another based on Lake Lanier’s ghost stories and flooded village history

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest John E. Hall, Jr.
02:34 John introduces Hall Booth Smith and their healthcare litigation practice
03:13 How healthcare experience influenced AI, Lies and Murder
04:00 The impact of electronic medical records on doctor-patient relationships
04:15 AI as “an arrogant genius in the room that is sometimes wrong”
04:30 How AI is revolutionizing healthcare through predictions and diagnostics
05:12 Managing a 450-lawyer firm while trying cases 140 nights a year
05:39 Hall Booth Smith’s growth from 14 to 450 lawyers since 1998
06:35 Writing novels during hotel stays while on the road for trials
07:10 The inspiration from Atlanta lawyer Jack Slover’s South Georgia legal stories
08:13 Creating the character Jack Sutton and setting books in South Georgia
10:35 The authenticity and humor in Southern small-town legal practice
12:52 Why John writes under the pen name Everett Hall
14:46 The plot of AI, Lies and Murder involving healthcare technology
17:37 How John’s healthcare litigation experience shapes his fiction
19:29 Writing process and balancing trial practice with novel writing
21:30 The three published books: Gnats, Murder and Humidity; Murder at the Yacht Club; and AI, Lies and Murder
24:40 Reading the books in order versus standalone
28:10 Character development across the series
29:01 Future books in progress, including one set in the country of Georgia
30:25 A virus conspiracy novel inspired by Hong Kong protests and COVID-19
31:37 Ghost, Murder and Lanier exploring Lake Lanier’s history and ghost stories
32:06 How to find Hall Booth Smith and the Everett Hall novels

John E. Hall, Jr., Founding Partner

John E. Hall, Jr., Hall Booth Smith, as heard on North Fulton Business Radio — **John E. Hall, Jr.**

John E. Hall, Jr., is one of the founding partners of Hall Booth Smith, and he is dedicated to making it the finest litigation firm in the Southeast. John specializes in the defense of high-exposure cases, including medical malpractice, batch claims, construction, commercial litigation, mass torts, transportation, and products liability. During his legal career, he has tried more than 125 cases to resolution.

His expertise in high-exposure birth trauma and catastrophic cases resulted in his being named National Counsel for several major insurance carriers. This National Counsel program establishes a litigation approach, which enables a team of specialized attorneys to become involved and assist local counsel on high-exposure cases at all phases of the legal process. John also serves on the HBS National Trial Counsel team and provides his experience in security, transportation, products liability, and general liability.

John also maintains a robust corporate practice in international law, international trade and finance, arbitration/mediation, business structures, health care, and commercial litigation.

John is a former member of the Board of Directors of the USLAW Network, a premier organization of independent law firms with offices throughout the United States that provides high-quality legal services without unnecessary expense to clients. He is actively involved in a number of professional organizations and is often invited to speak at industry gatherings and continuing legal education programs. In addition, he is closely involved in developing and providing educational materials to clients.

John serves as an Honorary Consul to the Country of Georgia and is Chairman of the Atlanta-Tbilisi Sister City Committee, where he actively engages in developing international relationships between the state of Georgia and the country of Georgia.

Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

Established in 1989, Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is a full-service law firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with regional offices strategically located throughout Georgia and the United States. 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.

Hall Booth Smith possesses the legal knowledge, skill, and experience to meet clients’ needs wherever they do business. The firm maintains the highest commitment to ethically and professionally serving clients by providing the highest quality legal representation.

The firm delivers quality legal services in a variety of service areas. Experience across legal disciplines combined with a focus on the unique business or personal requirements of the client is the hallmark of the firm. Clients receive the attention, expertise, and cost-effectiveness of a smaller law firm with a full-service and strong regional presence typical of a larger one.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

Keith Scott, KLSA, on Modernizing Government Operations

December 11, 2025 by John Ray

Keith Scott, K.L. Scott & Associates (KLSA), on Modernizing Government Technology, Strategic Planning, and Citizen Experience (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 922), with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Keith Scott, KLSA, on Modernizing Government Operations

00:00 /

Keith Scott, K.L. Scott & Associates (KLSA), on Modernizing Government Technology, Strategic Planning, and Citizen Experience (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 922)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Keith Scott, CEO of K.L. Scott & Associates (KLSA), a management and IT consulting firm based in Alpharetta. With over 32 years of experience, Scott helps federal, state, and local government agencies modernize their technology systems, break down operational silos, and deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve.

Scott discusses how government agencies face unique challenges, including aging technology infrastructure, workforce turnover with a third of government employees retiring in the next five years, and the need to compete with private sector organizations for top talent. He explains how KLSA helps agencies leverage data-driven decision-making, implement AI readiness assessments, and create strategic plans that survive beyond election cycles. Scott shares success stories, including helping a Maryland state agency redesign their customer call center operations and helping a Midwestern city retain talent by improving community engagement processes.

The conversation covers the importance of citizen feedback loops, how government agencies can attract mission-driven talent despite salary limitations, and the opportunities and challenges surrounding AI implementation in the public sector. Scott also discusses his Citizen Experience Podcast and the KLSA Academy, which provides training in AI skills, executive leadership, and workforce development for government employees.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Government agencies must establish citizen feedback loops to understand how their services are being received and identify areas for improvement, rather than relying solely on outlier complaints or praise.
The government workforce faces a critical challenge with roughly a third of employees retiring within five years, creating a knowledge vacuum that requires succession planning and strategies to attract mission-driven talent.
AI presents opportunities for government agencies to accelerate outcomes and improve efficiency, but requires proper readiness assessments and business cases beyond basic chatbot implementations.
Cybersecurity and data vulnerability represent the biggest challenge facing government today, with increasing threats from automated attacks, account theft, and voice impersonation targeting vulnerable populations.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Keith Scott
02:12 Keith Scott introduces KLSA and how the firm helps government agencies
03:07 Keith Scott’s career background from software developer to MBA to consulting
04:24 KLSA’s history serving 35-40 municipalities and federal agencies since 2013
05:12 The importance of citizen feedback loops in government service delivery
06:08 Challenges with continuity in government beyond election cycles
08:00 Why government agencies care about citizen experience and compete for taxpayer revenue
10:14 How community planning affects economic vitality, using Alpharetta’s North Point Mall area as an example
11:15 Data-driven decision-making and addressing legacy systems in government
12:35 Citizens compare government services to private sector experiences like Amazon
13:14 Breaking down silos between government departments like fire, education, and parks
15:13 Workforce challenges with government employees retiring and knowledge transfer
16:27 Attracting mission-driven talent versus competing on salary with private sector
17:17 How COVID affected younger workers’ need for mentorship and community
18:20 AI opportunities in government and building agentic AI tools
20:05 Big picture challenges facing government, including cybersecurity threats
21:20 The Citizen Experience Podcast and KLSA Academy
23:05 Symptoms that indicate a government agency needs strategic planning help
24:44 Success stories, including Maryland customer service redesign and Midwestern city talent retention
26:48 Contact information for KLSA

Keith L. Scott, Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Keith L. Scott is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of K.L. Scott & Associates (KLSA), an Atlanta-based management and information technology consulting firm that helps government agencies modernize systems, strengthen operations, and deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve. With more than 32 years of experience at the intersection of technology, strategy, and public service, he is recognized as a trusted advisor to federal, state, and local government leaders navigating complex, high-stakes transformations.

Keith began his career in consulting with leading global firms, including Deloitte and Gartner, where he refined his analytical rigor, strategic insight, and commitment to excellence. In 2013, he co-founded KLSA to bring large-firm expertise with the speed, flexibility, and personal attention of a boutique consultancy. Under his leadership, the firm has grown into a national advisory partner with offices in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., supporting more than 30 public-sector organizations and earning distinctions such as SBA 8(a) certification, ISO 9001 quality certification, and a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract.

His work centers on helping government agencies modernize technology, leverage data and AI for better decision-making, improve organizational performance, and enhance the citizen experience. Keith’s leadership philosophy reflects a balance of analytics and empathy, ensuring that every modernization effort stays rooted in people, impact, and community outcomes.

Keith also serves as the host of The Citizen Experience Podcast, where he interviews leaders, innovators, public officials, and industry experts about government transformation, technology, and the future of public service. His thought leadership has positioned him as a sought-after advisor on topics ranging from AI adoption to strategic planning to operational excellence in government.

He holds a B.S. in Computer Science, an MBA in Organizational Strategy, and certification in Business Analytics. When he is not advising clients, speaking, or recording new podcast episodes, he is committed to mentoring emerging professionals and supporting community-driven initiatives.

K.L. Scott & Associates (KLSA)

K.L. Scott & Associates (KLSA) is a management and information technology consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with an additional office in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2013, the firm helps government agencies and mission-driven organizations modernize their technology, improve operational performance, and deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve. Guided by the belief that effective government strengthens quality of life for all residents, KLSA blends data-driven insight with practical, people-centered solutions.

KLSA provides a full range of consulting services including IT modernization, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, strategy and operational improvement, organizational design, change management, workforce development, and program implementation support. The firm’s approach combines rigorous analysis with empathetic leadership, ensuring that every recommendation can be successfully executed and sustained.

KLSA holds several key federal certifications and contracting vehicles, including SBA 8(a) status, ISO 9001 quality certification, and the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract. These designations reflect the firm’s disciplined management practices and make it easy for government customers to partner with them. KLSA also supports clients through its 8(a) joint venture, K2K Ohana, which expands delivery capacity across digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI enablement, and mission-critical federal programs.

The firm has delivered successful outcomes for more than 30 federal, state, and local agencies across the country. Their work spans sectors such as human services, public safety, transportation, education, and finance, helping government leaders respond to modernization pressures, rising citizen expectations, and evolving workforce needs.

Driven by a commitment to service, ethics, and measurable impact, KLSA continues to help public-sector organizations operate more efficiently, use data more intelligently, and deliver a better citizen experience.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

Helen Panos, Dynamis Learning, on K-12 Tutoring, Executive Function Coaching, and Educational Advocacy (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 925)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Helen Panos, Founder and CEO, Dynamis Learning

Dynamis Learning

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

GNFCC Leadership Transition: Kali Boatright Talks 2025 Highlights and 2026 Priorities with Outgoing Chair Dean Collins and Incoming Chair Laura Madajewski (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 111)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Laura Madajewski, 2026 Chair, and Principal, HLB Gross Collins P.C.

Dean Collins, 2025 GNFCC Chair, and Founder & President, Axis Infrastructure

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast

2025 Year-End Roundtable: What Moved the Needle on Attainable and Missing Middle Housing in North Fulton (North Fulton Voices, Episode 16)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Jack Murphy

Nancy Diamond

Kathy Swahn

Sponsor for North Fulton Voices: John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC

How the “Inner Family Business” Protects the Operating Business, Adam Hatcher, Twenty One Clear, LLC, and Greg Silberman, Ritterband & Co. (Family Business Radio, Episode 71)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Adam Hatcher, Twenty One Clear, LLC

Greg Silberman, Ritterband & Co.

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

Bill Ellis on Client-Perceived Value, Staying Teachable, and Why Questions Matter More Than Answers (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 156)

Key Takeaways You Can Use from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Bill Ellis

John Ray, Host of The Price and Value Journey

John’s book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices

Connect with John Ray:

Kevin Johnson, Leverage Consulting, on Building an Oral Surgery Practice That Grows Without Burning You Out (Dental Business Radio, Episode 63)

Key Takeaways in This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Kevin Johnson, Founder and CEO, Leverage Consulting

Leverage Consulting

About Dental Business Radio

Practice Quotient

Connect with Practice Quotient

Sue Yeh Johnson, Yeh and Johnson Consulting, on Using AI to Decode Trust Breakdowns, Team Alignment, and Relational Intelligence (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 924)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Sue Yeh Johnson, Founder

Yeh & Johnson Consulting

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

John E. Hall, Jr., Hall Booth Smith, on Healthcare Litigation, AI in Medicine, and Writing Legal Thrillers (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 923)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

John E. Hall, Jr., Founding Partner

Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Keith Scott, K.L. Scott & Associates (KLSA), on Modernizing Government Technology, Strategic Planning, and Citizen Experience (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 922)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Keith L. Scott, Founder and Chief Executive Officer

K.L. Scott & Associates (KLSA)

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

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