John Ray, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Don Morron on AI Agents vs AI Assistants for Business

December 10, 2025 by John Ray

Don Morron, HighlandTech, on AI Agents vs AI Assistants, Custom Business Automation, and When to Build vs Buy AI Solutions (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 921), with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Don Morron on AI Agents vs AI Assistants for Business

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Don Morron, HighlandTech, on AI Agents vs AI Assistants, Custom Business Automation, and When to Build vs Buy AI Solutions (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 921)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Don Morron, Founder and CEO of HighlandTech. HighlandTech’s AI automation agency builds custom AI agents that help businesses eliminate repetitive work and unlock new levels of productivity. In barely a year of business, Don has earned recognition as the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Solopreneur of the Year, which demonstrates the rapid impact his work is having in the business community.

Don explains the distinction between AI assistants and AI agents, highlighting their role as digital workers capable of automating business processes from beginning to end. He shares his journey from enterprise sales at Fortune 100 companies to founding HighlandTech and how his commitment to education has made him a leading voice in the physical security industry through his podcast, AI PHYSEC TODAY. Don emphasizes that successful AI adoption requires leadership conviction, starting with identifying the right use cases and understanding when to buy versus build AI solutions.

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

While AI assistants merely provide information or suggestions without taking action, AI agents are digital workers that can automate entire business processes.
Businesses should begin their AI journey by identifying repetitive, manual tasks that consume significant time and resources and then evaluate whether existing products can address these issues before investing in custom solutions.
Successful AI implementation requires leaders to have conviction and a willingness to make calculated bets, taking the initiative themselves rather than expecting employees to drive adoption.
HighlandTech built an AI agent for a firm that manages security risks in 2,000 schools, which increased productivity by 400%, enabling consultants to complete more safety assessments and better protect students.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 Host John Ray introduces Don Morron and HighlandTech
02:16 Don Morron explains what HighlandTech does with AI automation
03:13 Don’s career journey from telecom sales to enterprise sales and entrepreneurship
05:13 How Don got into AI three years ago and started his podcast
07:07 How companies should approach AI and avoid common pitfalls
09:15 The difference between AI assistants and AI agents
11:47 Understanding when AI agents are the right solution for a business
14:20 The importance of focusing on business problems rather than chasing AI trends
17:16 How to identify the right AI use cases in your business
19:42 Questions businesses should ask before investing in AI solutions
22:33 When to buy an existing AI solution versus building a custom agent
25:54 The importance of leadership conviction in AI adoption
29:38 Don’s success story helping a security risk management firm quadruple productivity
31:42 How to connect with Don Morron and HighlandTech

Don Morron, Founder and CEO

Don Morron is the Founder and CEO of HighlandTech, an AI automation agency that builds custom AI agents to help businesses eliminate repetitive work and unlock new levels of productivity. Don has become one of the leading voices in the physical security industry about the future of AI agents, hosting the industry’s top podcast, AI PHYSEC TODAY, where he interviews CEOs, innovators, and thought leaders shaping the next generation of security technology.

Don brings more than a decade of leadership experience across cloud sales, enterprise solutions, and AI-driven automation. He previously held senior roles at Fortune 100 and high-growth technology companies, earning multiple industry awards and consistently leading record-breaking sales teams. He holds an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and a certification in Artificial Intelligence from MIT Professional Education.

HighlandTech has gained national recognition for its innovations in AI agents, including the company’s flagship product Electra, and was honored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce as the 2025 Solopreneur of the Year. Don is also known for his commitment to community, education, and upskilling. He leads AI training workshops for SMBs, advisors, chambers, and security professionals, helping organizations build the foundation for their new digital workforce.

When he is not advising companies on AI strategy or building next-generation agent systems, Don continues to study AI daily, create thought leadership content, and help leaders understand how to adopt AI responsibly and effectively.

HighlandTech

HighlandTech is an AI automation agency that builds custom AI agents to replace repetitive work and streamline business operations. Most companies lose time and money to manual processes, scattered data, and workflows that depend on constant human follow up. These bottlenecks slow growth and create errors.

HighlandTech solves this by designing AI agents that take full ownership of tasks from start to finish. Their agents read, write, decide, integrate with tools, and handle real operational work with speed and accuracy. The result is a reliable digital workforce that reduces manual effort, cuts costs, and frees teams to focus on higher-value work.

At HighlandTech, they build practical automation that helps businesses work smarter and grow faster.

Website | Company LinkedIn

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.

Avi Pinsky on Tracking Value Creation in Your Financials

December 10, 2025 by John Ray

Avi Pinsky on Making Your Financials Track Client Value Creation, Five Key Business Drivers That Never Appear on Statements, and Why Smart Service Providers Still Struggle With Business Finances, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Avi Pinsky on Tracking Value Creation in Your Financials

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Avi Pinsky on Making Your Financials Track Client Value Creation, Five Key Business Drivers That Never Appear on Statements, and Why Smart Service Providers Still Struggle With Business Finances (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 155)

Smart service providers often run profitable businesses, even very profitable ones, but often do not understand the dynamics and drivers of their income statement. Avi Pinsky, the Business Finance Doctor, joins host John Ray on The Price and Value Journey to walk through the disconnect between accounting statements and business reality for solo and small firm practitioners who could benefit from answers their CPA doesn’t provide.

Avi explains five revenue levers that never appear on financial statements but determine whether your practice thrives or barely survives: leads, conversion rate, retention, billing frequency, and average sale value. For consultants, coaches, and professional service providers who’ve mastered their craft but struggle with the business side, he reveals why accounts receivable functions as an interest-free loan you’re giving clients while your bills come due, how to classify team member salaries so you actually know if you’re pricing high enough, and why paying vendors the day invoices arrive is overly generous because it’s also strangling your cash flow.

You’ll learn to shift from “I need more sales” to “I need to create more value” and understand why your financial statements should track value creation for clients, not just satisfy reporting requirements for accountants who bill you and then disappear until next tax season.

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

Track five revenue levers your accountant never measures: leads, conversion rate, retention rate, billing frequency, and average sale value. These numbers drive your business but don’t appear on financial statements, so you have to track them yourself.
Profit on paper doesn’t equal cash in the bank. Your P&L might show a million-dollar profit while your bank account is overdrawn because accounting statements are theoretical, not actual cash flow.
Classify employee salaries by value creation. Put client-facing team members (associates, therapists, consultants) in cost of goods sold, separate from overhead staff, so you can see if you’re pricing services high enough to cover what you’re actually selling.
Accounts receivable is an interest-free loan you’re giving customers. Every invoice you let sit unpaid ties up cash you need to pay vendors who won’t give you the same courtesy.
Stop paying vendors faster than your terms require. If your payment terms are 30 days, paying on day one might be generous, but it’s also draining cash your business needs to operate.
Build a value scoreboard, not just financial statements. Track the health metrics that tell you which part of your business needs attention in the next 30, 60, or 90 days rather than just looking backward at what already happened.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to The Price and Value Journey
00:15 Avi Pinsky’s Background and Business Philosophy
01:57 Challenges Faced by CPAs and Business Owners
04:35 The Transition from Operator to Owner
07:03 Understanding Business Development and Financial Dynamics
09:17 The Five Revenue Levers
12:18 Value Creation and Price Justification
13:55 Building a Value Scoreboard
18:13 Mindset Shift: From Sales to Value Creation
25:57 Understanding Revenue and Profit
26:33 The Importance of Cash Flow
27:15 The Disconnect Between Profit and Bank Balance
28:21 The Role of Accountants and Bookkeepers
30:14 Key Revenue Levers for Business Owners
30:47 Setting Realistic Business Goals
33:27 Common Cash Flow Killers
36:50 Classifying Costs Correctly
41:23 Cash Flow Forecasting for Non-Numbers People
44:30 Practical Cash Preservation Strategies
46:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Avi Pinsky, Pinsky Consulting

Avi Pinsky is the founder of Pinsky Consulting and is known as the “Business Finance Doctor.” After more than a decade as a public accountant, Avi realized that small business owners don’t just need someone to crunch numbers; they need a financial partner who can diagnose hidden issues and prescribe practical solutions that actually grow the business.

He helps entrepreneurs get clear on what’s really driving (or draining) their revenue, profit, and cash flow. Through his signature “Business Wellness Checks,” he pinpoints operational blind spots and delivers simple, results-focused “treatment plans” that business owners can act on immediately.

His specialty is helping service-based small businesses stop guessing, start tracking, and scale with confidence. Avi offers a fresh, down-to-earth approach to financial clarity and sustainable growth.

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, 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

Stephanie Richards on PR, AIO, and B2B Visibility Strategy

December 8, 2025 by John Ray

Stephanie Richards, SowGrow Public Relations, on Building B2B Visibility Through PR and AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization)

North Fulton Business Radio

Stephanie Richards on PR, AIO, and B2B Visibility Strategy

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Stephanie Richards, SowGrow Public Relations, on Building B2B Visibility Through PR and AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 920)

Stephanie Richards, founder of SowGrow Public Relations, joins North Fulton Business Radio host John Ray to discuss how B2B companies can break through growth plateaus and adapt to the rapidly changing search landscape. SowGrow Public Relations is a Metro Atlanta-based agency that helps mid-market companies increase visibility and credibility through strategic PR combined with Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO).

Stephanie discusses how B2B companies often hit a wall after exhausting their referral networks, watching competitors appear everywhere in media, at conferences, and in searches while they remain invisible. She introduces the concept of Artificial Intelligence Optimization, the practice of ensuring companies show up in AI-powered search results as decision-makers increasingly turn to platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini instead of traditional Google searches.

The solution combines old-school PR fundamentals with modern content strategy, building credibility through third-party media placements, thought leadership articles, and podcast interviews that AI engines recognize as verified and trustworthy. Stephanie shares a compelling case study of a food packaging company that transformed a mundane plant opening into industry leadership by challenging their entire sector on pharmaceutical-grade standards.

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

B2B companies often hit a growth plateau when they rely solely on referrals and personal networks, missing opportunities to reach new audiences through strategic visibility efforts
Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO) is becoming essential as decision-makers increasingly use AI search engines like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini instead of traditional Google searches
Companies need to create high-quality content that establishes expertise while ensuring it appears across multiple third-party sources like trade publications and podcasts, since AI engines prioritize verified, credible information over self-published website content
Finding what makes a B2B company newsworthy often requires outside perspective to uncover innovative angles that the company itself overlooks in day-to-day operations

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:21 John Ray introduces the show and guest Stephanie Richards
02:12 Stephanie Richards introduces SowGrow Public Relations
02:37 Stephanie’s career arc and why PR work is gratifying
03:21 Why B2B companies can stumble along without visibility
04:09 The importance of third-party validation and education
05:09 Problems created when B2B companies lack visibility
05:59 Common misconceptions about PR and media
06:07 Public relations as reputation management and visibility
07:24 How B2B companies know they’re in pain from lack of visibility
08:38 Conducting a brand audit to find what’s newsworthy
10:19 Why PR needs an executive seat at the table
11:12 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO)
12:36 What B2B companies need to do about AI search
14:09 How AI platforms score credibility and expertise
15:48 Why AIO strategy brings back old-school PR fundamentals
16:31 Practical steps for adapting to the AI search environment
18:12 Defining content production beyond social media
19:54 Finding what’s newsworthy in a prosaic B2B business
20:11 Case study of food packaging plant and pharmaceutical standards
22:08 How initial conversations with SowGrow unfold
23:22 What to do if you don’t think you have anything newsworthy
24:09 Symptoms indicating you need PR help
25:15 Success story with packaging company and brand managers
26:36 Balancing CEO visibility with broader organizational PR
28:00 Contact information for Stephanie Richards

Stephanie Richards, Founder & Director

Stephanie Richards, M.A.P.W., is a business-to-business (B2B) public relations expert. She is the founder of SowGrow Public Relations, which specializes in increasing the visibility of B2B companies with complex or high-investment products or services through strategic PR and Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO) / Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

Clients have been featured by prestigious media outlets including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, CNN, Fox Business News, Entrepreneur, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Inc.com, Wall Street Journal, and a myriad of trade publications.

Stephanie earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in marketing. She also earned a master’s degree in professional writing with a concentration in applied writing and support areas in composition and rhetoric, as well as creative writing. Stephanie is also the director of the SowGrow Marketing Council, a membership organization for executive-level marketers who want to stay ahead of developments in multiple areas of marketing.

SowGrow Public Relations

SowGrow Public Relations is a B2B PR agency based in Metro Atlanta that specializes in elevating visibility, credibility, and market influence for high-investment and complex business-to-business mid-market companies.

Founded in 2006, the firm blends strategic PR and Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO) / Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) for a full visibility strategy that grows your “Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness” (EEAT) factor. With the rapid rise of AI-powered search, including platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Bing Copilot, SowGrow has developed a proprietary B2B Visibility Strategy that integrates media relations with AIO. This approach ensures that clients not only earn coverage in traditional media but also appear in artificial intelligence search results where decision-makers increasingly seek information.

SowGrow PR has secured placements for clients in leading outlets such as CNN, Fox Business News, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal and a myriad of trade publications, strengthening brand authority and supporting long-term business growth. Guided by the belief that marketing requires intention and consistency, a company that does not invest in marketing is like a farmer that expects a crop without planting a seed, SowGrow helps organizations proactively cultivate the visibility needed to stand out in competitive markets.

Website | Facebook | 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

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

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.

Insurance Extravaganza 2026: Essential for Dental Professionals

December 5, 2025 by John Ray

Previewing Insurance Extravaganza 2026: Patrick O’Rourke, Colleen Huff, Kevin Henry, and Tracy Butler on the Future of the Dental Revenue Cycle, on Dental Business Radio with host Patrick O'Rourke

Dental Business Radio

Insurance Extravaganza 2026: Essential for Dental Professionals

00:00 /

Previewing Insurance Extravaganza 2026: Patrick O’Rourke, Colleen Huff, Kevin Henry, and Tracy Butler on the Future of the Dental Revenue Cycle (Dental Business Radio, Episode 62)

Patrick O’Rourke, the host of Dental Business Radio, welcomes dental industry veterans Colleen Huff, Kevin Henry, and Tracy Butler for a preview of Insurance Extravaganza 2026, the national conference focused on the dental revenue cycle. They explain why payer changes, coding updates, compliance requirements, and medical billing pathways are accelerating, and how this year’s event is designed to help dental professionals stay ahead of these shifts.

The guests discuss what makes the conference unique, including its focused learning environment, hands-on courses, and real access to speakers who stay involved throughout the event. They share why insurance knowledge can no longer sit with one person at the front desk and how communication, personality awareness, and stronger team collaboration can improve the patient experience and practice performance.

Patrick is the MC of this year’s event, and Colleen, Kevin, and Tracy are just three of the outstanding array of speakers. Insurance Extravaganza 2026 will be held February 27 and 28 in Orlando, Florida. The event brings together experts across dental and medical billing, coding, payer relations, compliance, and team communication. For more details and to register, follow this link.

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

Insurance Extravaganza is built for deep learning, not casual browsing. Attendees come for concentrated education on dental and medical billing, coding updates, payer shifts, and compliance, delivered in a focused environment where experts remain accessible.
The pace of change in dental insurance continues to accelerate. Network leasing, payer consolidation, Medicare Advantage, and policy updates require continual learning and practice-wide awareness, not one-off training.
Patient expectations have shifted toward transparency and clarity. Tracy Butler highlights how dentistry now serves informed consumers who expect clear explanations, early detection, and stronger communication from the entire team.
Personality awareness improves communication inside the practice. Kevin Henry explains how DISC styles shape the way team members and patients process information, influencing case acceptance and teamwork.
The conference encourages a genuine community spirit. Speakers stay engaged before and after their sessions, sponsors provide tools directly connected to the revenue cycle, and attendees gain access to conversations that continue well beyond the classroom.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Acknowledgements
01:26 Introducing Insurance Extravaganza 2026
01:43 Meet the Speakers: Kevin Henry
02:11 Meet the Speakers: Colleen Huff
02:48 Meet the Speakers: Tracy Butler
03:51 Event Highlights and Unique Features
04:21 Deep Dive into the Insurance Extravaganza
14:10 The Rapid Evolution of Healthcare and Insurance
23:21 Weather and Regional Differences
23:55 Insurance Extravaganza Highlights
24:57 Sponsors and Exhibitors
26:26 Orlando Attractions and Activities
26:53 Personal Interests and Hobbies
28:46 Conference Networking and Learning
36:50 Medicare and Dental Insurance Trends
41:37 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Colleen Huff, FAADOM

Colleen has been in the dental field for 27+ years. Starting as a dental customer service representative, she has worked/managed dental offices for 27+ years. Her experiences range from managing multi-location practices to building a practice from its inception. Colleen began full-time speaking and consulting in 2021. She helps dental practices across the country improve their knowledge of dental insurance and administrative systems, and she also travels nationwide to speak at national conventions and local AADOM chapters on various dental insurance topics. You can find her Insurance Mastery course at Front Office Rock.

Website | LinkedIn

Kevin Henry

With more than 20 years in the dental publishing industry, Kevin Henry is the former group editorial director for Dental Products Report and managing editor for Dental Economics. Currently, he is the editor-in-chief for DrBicuspid.com. He has spoken to dental assistants throughout the world, in person and through the Dental Assistant Nation podcast series, reminding them of the important role they play every day in their practice. He is also certified as a DiSC trainer, helping dental practices learn how to understand each other better through personality assessments and training.

Website | LinkedIn

Tracy Butler, EFDA, CRDH, MFT

Tracy Butler is a multi-talented business leader who is passionate about education and believes in compressing decades into days. She boasts over 35 years of experience from chairside and beyond. Strategic problem solver and change agent. Visionary executive mentor and strategic coach. Tracy possesses key expertise in talent optimization, oral-systemic link, regenerative dentistry, implant dentistry, function/relation, and service excellence.

Tracy believes in building leaders at all levels.

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)

Working Yet Homeless in North Fulton

December 4, 2025 by John Ray

Nesha Mason, The Drake House, and Joy Monroe, SPARC, on Attainable Housing, Working Families Experiencing Homelessness, and the Economy Hotel Evacuation, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Working Yet Homeless in North Fulton

00:00 /

Nesha Mason, The Drake House, and Joy Monroe, SPARC, on Attainable Housing, Working Families Experiencing Homelessness, and the Economy Hotel Evacuation (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 919)

Nesha Mason, President of The Drake House in Roswell, and Joy Monroe, founder of the Single Parent Alliance and Resource Center (SPARC), join host John Ray to discuss the crisis of working families experiencing homelessness in North Fulton and the broader Metro Atlanta region. The conversation explores the challenges facing single mothers and their children who are living in extended-stay motels, the barriers to attainable housing, and the impact on the local workforce and business community.

The discussion highlights the May 2025 evacuation of the Economy Hotel in North Fulton, which displaced over 100 families, and the book There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America by Brian Goldstone. Nesha and Joy explain why families become trapped in extended-stay motels despite working full-time jobs, the devastating effects on children living in these conditions, and the urgent need for more attainable housing solutions in North Fulton.

They also discuss the Motel to Home Alliance, the North Fulton Improvement Network, and practical ways community members can get involved, including participating in comprehensive planning processes, listening to the North Fulton Voices podcast, and supporting nonprofit collaboration to address this growing crisis.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Single mothers and families experiencing homelessness in North Fulton are often employed full-time but cannot afford the security deposits and first month’s rent required to move from extended-stay motels into apartments, creating a trap that keeps them homeless despite working.
Extended-stay motels were originally built for traveling salesmen, not families, yet they now house families in 200–250 square feet with no kitchens, inadequate sleeping arrangements, and exposure to crime, violence, and other adverse childhood experiences that impact children’s health, education, and well-being.
The May 2025 evacuation of the Economy Hotel displaced over 100 families, and none could be relocated within North Fulton, disrupting their jobs, children’s schools, and entire support systems while removing essential service workers from the local workforce.
North Fulton’s attainable housing shortage affects the entire community, as CNAs, home health aides, daycare workers, teachers, servers, and other essential workers cannot afford to live where they work, reducing workforce availability and increasing costs for businesses and residents alike.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guests, Nesha Mason and Joy Monroe
02:21 Nesha Mason introduces The Drake House and its mission to support single mothers experiencing homelessness
03:12 Joy Monroe introduces SPARC and its housing stability and economic mobility programs
04:54 Joy Monroe shares her personal experience as a single parent living in an extended-stay motel
06:41 The federal classification of families in motels as homeless
08:12 How extended-stay motels become traps for working families
09:07 SPARC’s motel-to-home program and the Motel to Home Alliance
10:42 Barriers to qualifying for apartments, including evictions and credit scores
13:00 The book There Is No Place for Us by Brian Goldstone and the Drake House book club
15:09 The May 2025 evacuation of the Economy Hotel in North Fulton
21:50 The trauma of relocating families outside of North Fulton and its impact on their jobs and children’s schools
23:27 Dispelling myths about families experiencing homelessness
26:39 Effects on children living in extended-stay motels
29:39 Principals allowing children to sleep in class because motels prevent adequate rest
31:08 Extended-stay hotels were never designed for families
33:27 The lack of attainable housing as the root cause of working homelessness
36:02 The cost to North Fulton businesses of losing service workers
39:02 A teacher who cannot afford to live in North Fulton on her salary
40:22 The need for creative housing solutions beyond just apartments
43:16 How community members can get involved through comprehensive plans and the North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN)
45:35 The importance of engaging at the local level in zoning and comprehensive plans
46:15 How to connect with The Drake House and SPARC

Nesha Mason, President, The Drake House

Nesha Mason brings a diverse skill set with more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Nesha worked as an operations director in the private sector before transitioning to public service, serving as Mayor for the City of Abilene, Kansas. After her tenure as an elected official, Nesha served as program director for a county-wide nonprofit developing programs that united the medical and early childhood communities. Upon relocation to the Atlanta area in 2013, she served as a Fulton County educator and then transitioned to executive director of a statewide educational foundation focusing on unifying education and workforce development.

In her current role as President of The Drake House, Nesha Mason combines her leadership skills, educational expertise, and commitment to community welfare to lead and support initiatives that empower families and create lasting positive change. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded from housing and support to offering a comprehensive pathway from homelessness to stability. She has enhanced programming, upgraded facilities, and forged vital partnerships to create a community of support for families in need. Nesha also spearheaded the North Fulton Housing Collaborative, uniting nonprofits for greater impact. Her fiscal expertise has grown The Drake House’s budget by 78.5%, ensuring quality care and lasting change for vulnerable families.

The Drake House

The Drake House provides a short-term crisis and an affordable housing program for single mothers and their children experiencing homelessness in North Metro Atlanta. Their educational, empowerment and mentoring programs assist families in becoming financially self-sufficient and contributing members of the community. The Drake House is the only agency in the area offering an emergency residential program, serving approximately 50 families with 100 children per year. The Drake House envisions a community where every family has the opportunity to recover quickly with dignity from their homeless situation.

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn

Joy Monroe, Founder, Single Parent Alliance and Resource Center (SPARC)

Joy Monroe is the founder of the Single Parent Alliance and Resource Center (SPARC). Joy started SPARC after moving to Georgia from New York and realizing that her support system had been essential to her success as a single parent. When she relocated to Atlanta with what she thought was a solid plan, she discovered that Atlanta requires employment before securing housing, unlike New York, where cash payments are accepted. The situation led to Joy and her sons living in an extended-stay motel while she secured employment and housing.

On the morning they were scheduled to move into their new apartment, Joy and her sons were hit by a truck. Though they only stayed in the motel for an additional week, that experience galvanized for her how precarious life is for families at extended-stay motels. Even when doing everything right with a solid plan, one unexpected event can trap families in a cycle they cannot escape. Joy also learned that families living in extended-stay motels are federally classified as homeless, even though she did not feel homeless at the time. This personal journey inspired her to create SPARC, which began as a support group in her living room and has grown into an organization serving single parents throughout Metro Atlanta with programs focused on housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being.

Single Parent Alliance and Resource Center (SPARC)

The Single Parent Alliance and Resource Center (SPARC) helps single parents, strengthens families, and builds futures through programs that focus on housing stability, economic mobility, and family health. SPARC’s Motel to Home program helps families transition from extended stay motels into stable, permanent housing through outreach, housing assistance, and aftercare support. Families receive help overcoming barriers such as deposits and moving expenses with ongoing guidance to maintain stability. The Motel to Home Alliance, a coalition of partner agencies, ensures that 88% of families receiving housing assistance maintain stable housing after a year.

The Financial Achievement Club is offered as part of SPARC’s aftercare services, where families that have been housed participate in a program to encourage savings and build an emergency account to guard against future homelessness. SPARC also brings programs and services directly to where families live and play, including free afterschool programs at apartment complexes and community events like SPARC in the Park where single parents can participate in educational workshops and build their support networks.

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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.

Ben Benson on M&A Pitfalls That Cost Sellers Millions

December 4, 2025 by John Ray

Ben Benson, Apexion Advisors, on M&A Advisory, Transaction Pitfalls, and Preparing Business Owners for Successful Exits, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Ben Benson on M&A Pitfalls That Cost Sellers Millions

00:00 /

Ben Benson, Apexion Advisors, on M&A Advisory, Transaction Pitfalls, and Preparing Business Owners for Successful Exits (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 918)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Ben Benson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Apexion Advisors, to discuss the flaws in the traditional M&A advisory model and how these issues can cost business owners millions of dollars. BBen explains the information asymmetry trap, which gives sophisticated buyers, who regularly execute transactions, a significant advantage over business owners who may only sell once in their lifetime.

Ben shares specific examples of how buyers use working capital adjustments to claw back value after closing, sometimes recapturing a million dollars or more through accounting mechanisms that sellers don’t fully understand. He discusses how legal structures like reps and warranties shift risk back to sellers and reveals the hidden costs of deal fatigue, where buyers strategically extend timelines to wear down sellers and create leverage for price reductions.

Ben explains how Apexion takes a different approach by building relationships with business owners years before a transaction, helping them prepare in advance, and creating flexible pricing models that align incentives properly. He covers when business owners should start thinking about M&A preparation, the benefits of alternative structures, like the European lockbox method, and why starting early can help retain significantly more value in a transaction.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

The traditional M&A advisory model creates misaligned incentives where bankers are motivated to close deals regardless of whether they serve the seller’s best interests, and sellers subsidize failed transactions through higher fees
Information asymmetry heavily favors institutional buyers who execute transactions professionally while most business owners go through the process once in a lifetime, allowing buyers to use mechanisms like working capital adjustments to recapture millions in value post-closing
Hidden costs include deal fatigue from extended timelines and data requests, which buyers use strategically to wear down sellers and create leverage for price reductions
Starting M&A preparation early, using alternative structures like European lockbox methods, and understanding reps and warranties in advance can help business owners retain significantly more value in transactions

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Ben Benson
02:13 Ben Benson introduces Apexion Advisors and their M&A advisory services
03:18 Ben’s career journey from CPA to private equity to M&A advisory
05:57 Why the traditional M&A investment banking model is broken
08:36 Misaligned incentives in traditional M&A advisory
09:17 How Apexion builds relationships early to create better outcomes
12:30 The information asymmetry trap in M&A transactions
16:02 How working capital adjustments are used to shift value to buyers
21:21 Legal structures, reps and warranties, and risk allocation
23:26 Hidden costs, including deal fatigue and advisory sprawl
26:18 How Apexion does M&A advisory differently
29:49 When business owners should engage with M&A advisors
31:02 Success stories, including partnership buyouts and debt refinancing
33:16 Contact information and closing

Ben Benson, Co-Founder / Managing Partner

Ben Benson combines extensive experience in finance, strategy, and M&A, shaped by hands-on experience in private equity, investment banking, and corporate strategy & development. After launching his career at PwC, he later managed financial operations and led investment analysis at a $250 million private equity fund. Afterwards, he executed M&A mandates at KeyBanc Capital Markets and Harris Williams. Most recently, he spearheaded strategic initiatives at Corpay and Agilysys, including the $150 million acquisition of Book4Time, Inc. Ben holds a BS in Accounting and an MBA from the Marriott School of Business at BYU and is a licensed CPA in California.

Apexion Advisors

Apexion Advisors is a boutique M&A advisory firm with a clear mission: to guide businesses through pivotal moments and drive strategic transformation.

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.

MicroLife Institute and Attainable Micro Homes In Atlanta

December 4, 2025 by John Ray

Good2Give Podcast

MicroLife Institute and Attainable Micro Homes In Atlanta

00:00 /

Inside MicroLife’s Micro Home Communities: Attainable, Connected Housing For Metro Atlanta (Good2Give Podcast, Episode 19)

On this edition of the Good2Give Podcast, Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia president and CEO DePriest Waddy talks with Will Johnston, founder of the MicroLife Institute, about how micro homes and cottage courts are reshaping what home means in metro Atlanta. Johnston recounts his journey of abandoning a prosperous corporate career, embarking on a fresh start in New Zealand, and returning home with a pressing question: why are we still constructing large houses for small households in the face of increasing loneliness, cost, and car dependency?

From the award-winning Cottages on Vaughan in Clarkston to new projects in Union City and unincorporated DeKalb, Johnston explains how right-sized homes clustered around shared green space can create what he calls “cup of sugar communities” where neighbors look out for one another, not just wave from the driveway. He also highlights the focus of their work on permanent, small-footprint homes that assist individuals in establishing roots and accumulating wealth. He and DePriest also unpack the mismatch between one- and two-person households and today’s housing stock, how walkability and third places reduce isolation, and why MicroLife’s nonprofit developer model is focused on attainable homeownership that builds generational wealth.

The conversation closes with a look at MicroLife Institute’s partnership with the Community Foundation, their holiday “wish list,” and the kind of catalytic philanthropy it will take to bring more first-time buyers and downsizing seniors home to these small-footprint, high-connection neighborhoods.

The Good2Give Podcast is presented by the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX® produce the show. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

The episode highlights Will Johnston’s journey from leaving corporate life, selling everything at the age of 33, and eventually channeling his curiosity about housing into the nonprofit development work of the MicroLife Institute.
Why 60 percent of American households are one to two people, yet most new construction is still large, three-bedroom “McMansions,” and what that means for affordability.
Cottage courts and micro home communities utilize shared green space and intentional design to combat loneliness and foster positive relationships among neighbors.
The Cottages on Vaughan pilot in Clarkston demonstrated a significant demand, with 1,500 interested buyers vying for just eight homes on a half-acre plot.
Such communities provide practical pathways for first-time buyers and downsizing seniors, such as down payment assistance, area median income targets, and public-private partnerships like tax allocation districts.
The partnership between the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia and MicroLife Institute enables donors to subsidize units, expand projects such as Midway Cottages, and foster generational wealth through homeownership.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to the Good2Give Podcast
00:21 Meet the Guest: Will Johnston of MicroLife Institute
00:51 Will Johnston’s Journey to MicroLife Institute
03:06 The Impact of the Pandemic on Housing
04:54 The Concept of Community in Housing
07:55 Challenges and Opportunities in the Housing Market
15:16 Financing and Affordability in Housing
19:14 Partnerships and Nonprofit Initiatives
25:14 Conclusion and Contact Information

Will Johnston, Executive Director, MicroLife Institute

The MicroLife Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, dedicated to transforming housing options through innovative, sustainable, and affordable solutions. Specializing in “pocket neighborhoods,” the Institute develops small-scale, community-focused housing projects that reduce environmental impact and promote inclusivity. It combines education, advocacy, and research to address zoning reforms and expand housing choices, particularly for underserved populations. Notable projects include the award-winning Cottages on Vaughan and the Hope Springs Townhomes, which provide affordable housing while fostering community connections. Through workshops, consulting, and outreach events, the MicroLife Institute empowers individuals and municipalities to embrace micro-living principles for stronger, more equitable communities.

Will’s LinkedIn | MicroLife Institute: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

The Good2Give Podcast celebrates the work of donors, nonprofits, and the causes they care about. DePriest Waddy is the show’s host, and the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is the presenting sponsor.

The Good2Give Podcast is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. You can also find the show on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many others.

At the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, everything they do centers around one purpose: improving the world through the power of philanthropy.

On a fundamental level, they do that through managing funds held in trust, donated by individuals, organizations, and businesses. Most funds are donor-advised funds, similar to savings accounts. These funds are pooled for investment purposes, and their income is used to make grants for a wide variety of charitable purposes.

But the Foundation’s goals extend far beyond managing funds. They desire to strengthen the communities they serve in Gwinnett, Northeast Georgia, and beyond by providing leadership, addressing community needs, and assisting individuals and organizations with their charitable giving.

Connect with CFNEG:
Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Bill Cates on How Your Money Story Shapes Your Pricing

December 3, 2025 by John Ray

How Your Money Story Shapes Your Pricing: Bill Cates on The Hidden Heist, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Bill Cates on How Your Money Story Shapes Your Pricing

00:00 /

How Your Money Story Shapes Your Pricing: Bill Cates on The Hidden Heist (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 154)

Many expert-service pros quietly carry money worries into every pricing decision they make. They undercharge, hesitate to raise fees, or avoid looking too closely at their finances, even while they help clients make sound business decisions. In this episode of The Price and Value Journey, John Ray talks with referral and money-story expert Bill Cates about how the stories you absorbed about money early in life still shape your business today.

Bill shares ideas from his new parable, The Hidden Heist: Stop Robbing Yourself of Lasting Wealth, and explains why so many professionals operate from scarcity, money anxiety, and what he calls “money denial.” He and John connect those mindsets to common pricing traps, like discounting by reflex, staying in “satisfied” territory instead of becoming truly remarkable, and quietly resenting clients while never asking for referrals.

Listeners will hear how to think of money as something that flows toward value, why you cannot become someone you secretly resent, and how inherited beliefs about “people with money” can cap your earning potential. Bill also talks about building “business friendships” that lead to advocacy and why curiosity and empathy are the best tools you have to uncover a client’s own money story.

If you want to strengthen your pricing, feel more grounded talking about fees, and stop letting old money narratives run your firm from the shadows, this conversation will help you start that work.

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

Notice the money messages you grew up with and how they still show up in your pricing, discounting, and growth decisions.
Shift from a fixed-pie view of money to seeing it as something that flows toward genuine value and outcomes.
Move from “my clients are satisfied” to “my clients love me” and then to being truly remarkable and referable.
Build “business friendships” with clients, where strong results and genuine personal connection sit side by side.
Use curiosity and follow-up questions to surface a client’s hidden money beliefs so you can serve them better and avoid false assumptions.
Stop money denial by taking responsibility for your own financial clarity instead of abdicating everything to advisers.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Bill Cates
01:59 Bill Cates’ Background and Adventures
03:05 The Hidden Heist: A Unique Approach to Financial Literacy
04:56 Understanding Money Stories and Limiting Beliefs
07:31 The Scarcity Mindset and Its Impact
10:47 Getting into the Flow of Money
17:41 Inherited Money Stories and Their Effects
22:32 The Power of Awareness and Money Stories
22:45 Basic Financial Principles
22:59 Working with Financial Professionals
23:16 Understanding Money Mindsets
24:53 The Importance of Masterminds and Advisory Boards
27:05 Money Denial and Its Impact
32:17 The Role of Financial Advisors
37:04 Empathy and Client Relationships
41:15 Conclusion and Resources

Bill Cates, Referral Coach International

Bill Cates is an internationally recognized expert in relationship marketing and referrals, serving as the president of Referral Coach International and the founder of The Cates Academy for Relationship Marketing, where he assists financial advisors and other professionals in achieving exponential growth by multiplying their best clients through warm introductions rather than traditional prospecting. He is a Hall of Fame keynote speaker and bestselling author of books such as Get More Referrals Now, Beyond Referrals, Radical Relevance, and The Language of Referrals. Additionally, he hosts the Top Advisor Podcast, interviewing top performers about client acquisition and growth strategies.

Referral Coach International is Bill Cates’ consulting and training firm dedicated to helping advisors, teams, and organizations build a referral‑driven, relationship marketing culture based on how clients actually prefer to meet new advisors: through recommendations and introductions from people they already trust. The firm’s unique Bill Cates Relationship Marketing System and the “3 R’s of Relationship Marketing” focus on identifying a specific target market, clearly communicating valuable information, building a strong reputation in a niche area, and then using that reputation to generate a steady stream of suitable client referrals and introductions.

RCI delivers its work through video-based training, one‑on‑one and team coaching, live workshops, and consulting, with a particular emphasis on financial advisors and advisory firms that want to increase revenue without increasing their marketing budget. Across these programs, the aim is to help professionals become “super referrable,” systematize how they ask for and receive introductions, and create a business where high-trust, high-conversion referral opportunities are a primary engine of growth.

Website | LinkedIn | YouTube

John Ray, Host of The Price and Value Journey

John Ray is the 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

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.

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

Connect with John Ray:

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The Music Studio Atlanta Opens in Johns Creek

December 2, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

The Music Studio Atlanta Opens in Johns Creek

00:00 /

Cecilia Rowe, The Music Studio Atlanta, on Music Education and Opening a Third Location in Johns Creek (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 917)

North Fulton Business Radio host John Ray welcomes Cecilia Rowe, CEO of The Music Studio Atlanta, one of Georgia’s largest privately owned music schools, serving more than 1,500 students across Metro Atlanta. The company offers instruction in piano, voice, guitar, drums, strings, and select woodwinds through both studio locations and in-home lessons.

Cecilia discusses her family’s four-generation musical legacy, the company’s rigorous hiring process for educators, and how performance opportunities like open mics and recitals build student confidence. She shares a transformation story of a young student who went from crying at her first recital to confidently performing at The Strand theatre, illustrating how music education develops discipline, perseverance, and self-confidence that benefit children throughout their lives.

The Music Studio Atlanta currently operates studios in Vinings and East Cobb and is opening its third location on State Bridge Road in Johns Creek in December 2025. Cecilia also discusses her book, Don’t Miss Your Child’s Musical Window, which addresses when to start music education, how to choose the right instrument, and how to make music a lifelong love.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Starting music education early creates stronger neural pathways similar to learning a second language, increasing the likelihood of a lifelong musical journey
The relationship between student and teacher is the most critical factor in sustained engagement with music lessons, more important than temporary motivation lapses
Performance opportunities in family-friendly, low-pressure environments help students develop confidence that translates to presentations, public speaking, and other areas of life
Music education builds foundational life skills, including self-confidence, discipline, commitment, and perseverance, that benefit children in all aspects of their development

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:19 John Ray introduces the show and guest Cecilia Rowe
02:20 Cecilia Rowe introduces The Music Studio Atlanta and its locations
02:38 Cecilia’s family musical legacy from 1920s UK to present day
04:11 How Cecilia transitioned from corporate work to teaching music
05:41 What music education brought Cecilia as a student: confidence, discipline, and risk-taking
07:38 Cecilia’s love of teaching beginners and starting the family business
08:35 Instruments offered: piano, voice, guitar, drums, strings, and woodwinds
09:18 How parents choose the right instrument for their child
10:08 Discussion of Cecilia’s book Don’t Miss Your Child’s Musical Window
11:14 The studio experience: homey, safe, and child-friendly
12:10 The rigorous hiring process for educators who are musicians
13:52 Matching students with the right teacher for their style and goals
14:32 Open mics at Cecilia’s husband’s pizzeria and their purpose
16:05 Recitals as “fancier open mics” with themes and formal performances
17:30 In-home music lessons: 30 years of service to Atlanta families
18:34 How parents decide between studio and in-home lessons
20:04 Service radius for in-home lessons in Johns Creek area
21:37 Signs that a student needs to change teachers or programs
23:23 The importance of not quitting: commitment and perseverance in music
24:40 Who should engage with The Music Studio Atlanta
26:18 Success stories: improved reading skills and confidence transformation
28:59 New Johns Creek location details and ribbon-cutting event

Cecilia Rowe, CEO, The Music Studio Atlanta

Cecilia is a seasoned marketing and child-focused business professional with over three decades of experience and the owner of the multi-award-winning company, The Music Studio Atlanta. One of Georgia’s largest privately owned music schools, currently teaching more than 1,500 students both in-studio and at-home, the Music Studio Atlanta currently has locations in the Vinings and East Cobb areas and has expanded to open a third location in December 2025, in Johns Creek/Alpharetta.

After moving to Atlanta in 1989, Cecilia and her family started an in-home music lessons business, Courtnay & Rowe In-Home Music Academy, and spent 20 years teaching piano, voice, and guitar. She later became sole owner, and she merged it with the studio locations of The Music Studio Atlanta to create its current multi-location model. The Music Studio Atlanta is proud to have received five community awards last year, and this year the company has already been honored with four more.

Cecilia is passionate about creating safe spaces and family-friendly experiences for music education and aims to inspire children of all ages to build self-confidence, experience joy, and learn valuable life lessons through music. She recently was honored by the Cobb County Chamber with Women’s Owned Business of the Year as well as her third year in a row being awarded with Top 25 Business in Cobb.

In addition, Cecilia wrote a book as a musical resource for families, but also highlighting her musical journey and her family’s musical legacy. The book, Don’t Miss Your Child’s Musical Window, is also the motto of Cecilia’s life.

The Music Studio Atlanta

The Music Studio Atlanta is one of Georgia’s largest privately owned music schools, teaching more than 1,500 students both in-studio and in-home across Metro Atlanta. The company believes that music lessons should be fun while encouraging self-confidence, self-expression, and proficiency through performance opportunities. Students learn to focus, take risks, and persevere when the going gets tough and are rewarded for these efforts with an exclusive proprietary reward system as well as recognition for recital and other performance achievements. The Music Studio Atlanta sets goals like recitals and open mics to inspire students to practice more, learn faster, and gain self-confidence through performance opportunities. The company currently operates studios in Vinings (the flagship location since 2011) and East Cobb/Marietta (since 2022) and is opening a third location in Johns Creek/Alpharetta in December 2025 at 10945 State Bridge Road.

The Music Studio Atlanta offers comprehensive music education in piano, voice, guitar (including bass, ukulele, acoustic, and electric), drums, strings (violin, viola, and cello), and select woodwinds, with approximately 85 teachers across the organization. The Music Studio Atlanta has received multiple community awards and is proud to be affiliated with the National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, and Music Teachers National Association.

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Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s 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 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, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

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

You can find the complete 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, and many others.

Don Morron, HighlandTech, on AI Agents vs AI Assistants, Custom Business Automation, and When to Build vs Buy AI Solutions (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 921)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Don Morron, Founder and CEO

HighlandTech

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Avi Pinsky on Making Your Financials Track Client Value Creation, Five Key Business Drivers That Never Appear on Statements, and Why Smart Service Providers Still Struggle With Business Finances (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 155)

Key Takeaways You Can Use from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Avi Pinsky, Pinsky Consulting

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:

Stephanie Richards, SowGrow Public Relations, on Building B2B Visibility Through PR and AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 920)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Stephanie Richards, Founder & Director

SowGrow Public Relations

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Previewing Insurance Extravaganza 2026: Patrick O’Rourke, Colleen Huff, Kevin Henry, and Tracy Butler on the Future of the Dental Revenue Cycle (Dental Business Radio, Episode 62)

Key Takeaways in This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Colleen Huff, FAADOM

Kevin Henry

Tracy Butler, EFDA, CRDH, MFT

About Dental Business Radio

Practice Quotient

Connect with Practice Quotient

Nesha Mason, The Drake House, and Joy Monroe, SPARC, on Attainable Housing, Working Families Experiencing Homelessness, and the Economy Hotel Evacuation (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 919)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Nesha Mason, President, The Drake House

The Drake House

Joy Monroe, Founder, Single Parent Alliance and Resource Center (SPARC)

Single Parent Alliance and Resource Center (SPARC)

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Ben Benson, Apexion Advisors, on M&A Advisory, Transaction Pitfalls, and Preparing Business Owners for Successful Exits (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 918)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Ben Benson, Co-Founder / Managing Partner

Apexion Advisors

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Inside MicroLife’s Micro Home Communities: Attainable, Connected Housing For Metro Atlanta (Good2Give Podcast, Episode 19)

Key Takeaways from this Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Will Johnston, Executive Director, MicroLife Institute

About the Good2Give Podcast

Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia

How Your Money Story Shapes Your Pricing: Bill Cates on The Hidden Heist (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 154)

Key Takeaways You Can Use from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Bill Cates, Referral Coach International

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:

Cecilia Rowe, The Music Studio Atlanta, on Music Education and Opening a Third Location in Johns Creek (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 917)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Cecilia Rowe, CEO, The Music Studio Atlanta

The Music Studio Atlanta

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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