Business RadioX ®

Nonprofit Fundraising Made Stronger with Mark Wilkison

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Nonprofit Fundraising Made Stronger with Mark Wilkison, on the Good2Give podcast
Good2Give Podcast
Nonprofit Fundraising Made Stronger with Mark Wilkison
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Nonprofit Fundraising Made Stronger with Mark Wilkison, on the Good2Give podcast

Nonprofit Fundraising Made Stronger with Mark Wilkison (Good2Give Podcast, Episode 18)

In this episode of The Good2Give Podcast, hosted by DePriest Waddy and underwritten by the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, fundraising veteran Mark Wilkison, Principal and Partner at Columns Fundraising, shares timeless lessons on nonprofit fundraising, governance, board engagement, and major gift strategy.

With over three decades advising nonprofits across the Southeast, Mark explains why the right board can make or break an organization and how clear expectations, donor relationships, and legacy planning sustain long-term success. From practical end-of-year fundraising advice to insights on planned giving, this episode offers invaluable guidance for nonprofit leaders aiming to strengthen both their boards and their bottom line.

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

  • Why governance and board recruitment come before fundraising—and how to find the “three Ws”: work, wisdom, and wealth.
  • How smaller nonprofits can attract high-caliber board members through clear expectations and written commitments.
  • Why organizations should never rely on Giving Tuesday alone.
  • Practical year-end fundraising strategies every nonprofit should be implementing before Thanksgiving.
  • How legacy gifts, IRA distributions, and planned giving can sustain mission impact for generations.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Host DePriest Waddy with Mark Wilkison, Columns Fundraising,, on the Good2Give podcast00:00 Introduction to the Good To Give Podcast
00:22 Meet Mark Wilkinson: Fundraising Expert
00:58 The Changing Landscape of Fundraising
01:16 Board Governance and Membership
04:26 Strategies for Small Nonprofits
12:46 Year-End Fundraising Tips
18:33 Planning for 2026: Key Considerations
26:47 The Importance of Planned Giving
33:03 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Mark Wilkison, Principal & Partner, Columns Fundraising

Mark Wilkison, Principal & Partner, Columns Fundraising, on the Good2Give podcast
Mark Wilkison, Principal & Partner, Columns Fundraising

Mark has extensive expertise in major gifts, planned giving, feasibility studies, execution of capital campaigns, strategic planning and visioning for organizations, and executive search.

A graduate of the University of Vermont, Mark has more than 35 years of consulting and fundraising experience, including serving as Vice President – Development for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Chief Development Officer at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Chief Development Officer for the International Life Sciences Institute, and Executive Vice President of the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation. Mark’s additional Phi Gam work included serving as a field secretary for the fraternity and as Director of Graduate Services.

Mark has served as President of the Atlanta Peachtree Rotary Club and has also been involved with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Georgia Education Advancement Council (GEAC), the Georgia Association of Development Professionals (GADP), and the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (PPP).

Mark enjoys spending time with his wife, Shari, and his two grown children, and playing an occasional round of golf.

LinkedIn

Columns Fundraising

Columns Fundraising is a strategic business and organizational development firm composed of senior executives with extensive experience in both nonprofit and private-sector leadership. The firm helps clients identify challenges, uncover opportunities, and execute customized strategies that deliver measurable results. Columns specializes in creating and implementing strategic plans for areas like healthcare, education, and community organizations, focusing on things like fundraising campaigns and studies to assess project viability.

Its integrated services encompass executive search, interim advancement staffing, nonprofit mergers, brand positioning, marketing and communications, public-private partnerships, and grant writing. Columns also provides leadership coaching and training for boards, executives, and development teams. What sets the firm apart is its commitment to senior-level involvement in every engagement. Columns’ leaders have “walked in their clients’ shoes,” bringing the insight and experience needed to accelerate growth and strengthen mission-driven organizations.

Website | LinkedIn

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

Jody daSilva, Leaders Team, on Breaking Growth Barriers

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Breaking Growth Barriers, with Jody daSilva, Leaders Team, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
Jody daSilva, Leaders Team, on Breaking Growth Barriers
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Breaking Growth Barriers, with Jody daSilva, Leaders Team, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Jody daSilva, Leaders Team, on Breaking Growth Barriers (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 907)

Early in her career, when a McDonald’s location she managed flooded with a foot of water, Jody daSilva didn’t shut it down. She fixed it, reopened it, and never looked back. That same instinct to figure things out has powered her entire career.

Now with Leaders Team, Jody helps executives do the same inside their companies: fix what’s really broken. In her conversation with host North Fulton Business Radio host John Ray, she explains why so many mid-market firms stall out: not because of weak systems or bad hires, but because of the stories leaders tell themselves.

Jody and John dig into how those hidden beliefs shape culture, create silos, and kill growth. She shares what “ontological coaching” really means, why it’s not just pep-talk psychology, and how companies transform when leaders stop managing content and start changing who they are being.

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

  • Why leadership transformation starts with who you’re being rather than what you’re doing
  • How personal stories and limiting beliefs can cap organizational growth
  • The role of ontological coaching in reshaping leadership effectiveness
  • How to recognize when a company culture or structure is holding back performance
  • Simple ways to begin dismantling silos and building alignment across teams

Topics Discussed in This Episode

00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Business Radio
01:52 Meet Jody daSilva: Leadership Insights
02:57 Jody’s Eclectic Career Journey
05:56 The Importance of Being in Business
07:32 Ontological Training and Its Impact
11:32 Transforming Company Culture
16:07 Exploring Company Silos
18:26 Identifying Symptoms of Dysfunction
21:38 Addressing Women Leaders’ Challenges
25:39 Success Stories and Transformations
27:50 Contact Information and Closing Remarks

Jody daSilva, Leaders Team

Jody daSilva, Leaders Team
Jody daSilva, Leaders Team

Jody daSilva is a senior manager and leadership consultant with more than 30 years of experience leading and advising across Fortune 500 companies and start-ups. Her career is defined by a track record of improving profitability, productivity, and organizational performance. Drawing on that experience, she now helps companies identify the unseen barriers that stall growth and performance.

Jody combines sharp business acumen with deep ontological training in the study of being and human nature to offer a distinctive approach to leadership development. Through her work with Leaders Team, she helps executives and teams uncover limiting beliefs, shift culture, and create alignment that drives sustainable results. Her clients credit her with breakthroughs that include doubling revenue, strengthening leadership teams, improving customer satisfaction, and building more cohesive, purpose-driven organizations.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

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 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, 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, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 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.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn 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.

How Randy Hain Built a Coaching Practice Rooted in Values

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How Randy Hain Built a Coaching Practice Rooted in Values, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray
North Fulton Studio
How Randy Hain Built a Coaching Practice Rooted in Values
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How Randy Hain Built a Coaching Practice Rooted in Values, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray

How Randy Hain Built a Coaching Practice Rooted in Values (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 150)

What does it take to build a thriving executive coaching and leadership firm that reflects your values as much as your ambition?

In this episode of The Price and Value Journey podcast, host John Ray talks with Randy Hain, founder of Serviam Partners, about how he built his coaching practice from the ground up after decades as a senior executive. Randy shares how his corporate career at companies like Waffle House and a national search firm prepared him to launch Serviam, what he learned about risk, client trust, and discernment, and why his guiding principle is to create independence, not dependence, in every coaching relationship.

The discussion covers everything from building a values-based business, forming a long-term partnership with Brandon Smith at The Leadership Foundry, writing twelve books, managing time intentionally, and integrating faith, family, and work.

For anyone building a service-based business, Randy’s story offers a clear model for doing meaningful work without losing yourself in the process.

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

  • You don’t need a certification to start if you have experience, credibility, and a track record of results.
  • The best marketing is client advocacy; Randy’s 285 LinkedIn recommendations drive his business.
  • Clarity, candor, and customization build lasting client trust.
  • True coaching helps clients become independent, not reliant on you.
  • Partnerships work when they’re built on shared values, clear structure, and mutual respect.
  • Time management is a leadership discipline—intentional scheduling makes balance possible.
  • Writing sharpens thinking; journaling fuels content that attracts ideal clients.
  • Legacy isn’t built with resume lines. It’s the ripple of impact you leave in others.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome to The Price and Value Journey podcast
00:48 Introducing Randy Hain: Founder of Serviam Partners
02:27 Randy’s Career Journey: From Retail to Executive Coaching
04:39 The Decision to Pursue Coaching Full-Time
05:59 The Importance of Experience Over Certifications
09:52 The Secret Sauce of Effective Coaching
16:21 The Leadership Foundry: A Unique Partnership
23:09 The Role of Great Virtual Assistants
24:46 Randy’s Writing Journey
28:53 Reflecting on Assumptions and Writing Process
30:03 Journaling and Stimulating Creativity
31:34 Prolific Writing and Publishing Strategies
32:23 Challenges with Traditional Publishing
33:02 Reverse Engineering Content for Books
36:38 The Role of an Editor
38:19 Concerns and Uses of AI in Writing
42:59 Intersection of Faith and Business
46:07 Advice for Younger Professionals
49:22 Legacy and Eulogy Virtues
53:31 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Randy Hain, Serviam Partners and the Leadership Foundry

Randy Hain, on The Price and Value Journey podcsat with host John Ray
Randy Hain

Randy Hain is the founder and president of Serviam Partners and the co-founder of the Leadership Foundry.

With a successful 30-plus-year career in senior leadership roles, corporate talent, and executive search, Randy is a sought-after executive coach for senior leaders at some of the best-known companies in the U.S. and globally who are seeking candid and expert guidance on how to overcome obstacles to their success or develop new leadership skills.

Randy is also an expert at onboarding senior executives, as well as coaching senior leadership teams to improve trust, alignment, collaboration, and candid communication. His deep expertise as a former senior executive and his years as a proven and successful executive coach for leaders around the world are true areas of differentiation for him and Serviam Partners.

Randy is a husband, father, and active community leader and serves on the boards of the causes he cares about most. He is particularly passionate about elevating autism awareness and investing in the next generation of leaders.

Randy has earned a reputation as a creative business partner and a generous thought leader through his books, articles, and speaking engagements. Randy is the award-winning author of 12 books, including the brand new Practical Virtue: An Actionable Guide to Help You Become a Leader Worth Following.

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 at Barnes & Noble with his book, The Generosity MindsetJohn 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 | Twitter

Business RadioX®:  LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Protecting Dentists and Their Practices, Jack McKinney, TDIC

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Protecting Dentists and Their Practices, Jack McKinney, TDIC, on Dental Business Radio with host Patrick O'Rourke
Dental Business Radio
Protecting Dentists and Their Practices, Jack McKinney, TDIC
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Protecting Dentists and Their Practices, Jack McKinney, TDIC, on Dental Business Radio with host Patrick O'Rourke

Protecting Dentists and Their Practices, Jack McKinney, TDIC (Dental Business Radio, Episode 61)

Patrick O’Rourke welcomes Jack McKinney, Vice President of Sales and Service for The Dentists Insurance Company (TDIC) and TDIC Insurance Solutions, for a practical conversation about how dentists can protect their livelihoods before problems strike.

Jack explains how TDIC’s carrier and agency work together to give dentists comprehensive protection, from professional liability and property coverage to cyber, disability, and long-term-care plans. He also shares why dentists should never treat insurance like a one-time purchase, how business model changes such as teledentistry can affect coverage, and why TDIC’s peer-review process for nonrenewals is so unusual in the industry.

This episode is a reminder that running a successful practice isn’t just about clinical skill. It’s about understanding risk, staying proactive, and partnering with advisors who know the dental world as well as you do.

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

  • By dentists, for dentists: The Dentists Insurance Company (TDIC) was created by the California Dental Association to address rising malpractice costs and now provides a full range of coverage options.
  • Two entities, one purpose: TDIC is the carrier, while TDIC Insurance Solutions acts as the agency distributing TDIC and other carriers’ products to ensure dentists have the right fit for their practice.
  • Comprehensive protection matters: Beyond professional liability, practices should consider property, cyber, EPLI, workers’ comp, disability, and long-term care coverage to fully protect their business and income.
  • Be proactive, not reactive: Dentists should schedule regular insurance reviews, especially before acquisitions, relocations, or business model changes like teledentistry.
  • Unique peer review process: TDIC’s nonrenewal appeals are reviewed by a board of dentists, allowing for real-world context and fairness that’s rare in the insurance industry.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to Dental Business Radio
01:11 Meet Jack McKinney: Insurance Industry Veteran
03:13 Understanding TDIC and Its Services
10:27 Insurance Needs for New Dentists
13:03 The Importance of Disability and Life Insurance
19:01 Buy-Sell Agreements and Other Insurance Considerations
21:33 Understanding Insurance Ownership and Risks
21:56 When to Revisit Your Insurance Policies
22:33 Teledentistry and Insurance Implications
25:34 The Role of Underwriters and Actuaries
26:45 Unique Appeals Process for Non-Renewals
27:41 The Rapid Evolution of Healthcare and Insurance
29:42 Cyber Insurance: Costs and Necessity
33:41 Long-Term Care Insurance: What You Need to Know
39:25 The Importance of Regular Insurance Checkups
41:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Jack McKinney and The Dentists Insurance Company (TDIC)

Jack McKinney is Vice President of Sales and Service for The Dentists Insurance Company (TDIC) and TDIC Insurance Solutions, where he leads teams that help dentists protect their practices through comprehensive risk management and coverage solutions. With more than 35 years of experience on both the agency and carrier sides of the insurance industry, Jack is known for his expertise in professional liability, property, and casualty insurance, as well as his commitment to educating dental professionals on proactive protection for their businesses. Based in Sacramento, he continues to advance TDIC’s mission of serving the dental community with integrity and practical insight.

TDIC is a specialized insurance company founded in 1980 by a group of dentists to provide professional liability insurance and related coverage tailored specifically for dentists. It focuses exclusively on protecting dentists and their practices with comprehensive insurance products, including professional liability, employment practice liability, commercial property, workers’ compensation, and cyber liability, among others. TDIC serves a community of more than 24,000 dentists across 15 states, has earned an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best for over 30 years, and holds endorsements from several state dental associations.

The company emphasizes personalized service delivered by experts who understand the dental profession and offers risk management resources, continuing education, and claims support designed specifically for dentists. TDIC also provides online account management to simplify policy handling and bill payments. The company aims to offer exceptional protection at a fair price, backed by its longstanding history and commitment to the dental community.

Website | LinkedIn | Jack’s LinkedIn

Patrick O'Rourke
Patrick O’Rourke, Host of Dental Business Radio

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 QuotientPractice 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)

Elevating Spaces with Ashley Sasher, Bloomin’ Blinds

by

Barron Segar
North Fulton Business Radio
Elevating Spaces with Ashley Sasher, Bloomin' Blinds
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Elevating Spaces with Ashley Sasher, Bloomin' Blinds, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Elevating Spaces with Ashley Sasher, Bloomin’ Blinds (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 906)

From corporate marketing to becoming North Fulton’s “Shady Lady,” Ashley Sasher has built a thriving local business that helps homeowners and companies transform their spaces. As the owner of Bloomin’ Blinds, Ashley shares how her background in branding and storytelling shaped her approach to building a service business focused on beauty, efficiency, and trust.

In this conversation with North Fulton Business Radio host John Ray, Ashley talks about her transition from 22 years in corporate marketing to entrepreneurship, why window treatments are about more than just aesthetics, and how they improve comfort, energy efficiency, and productivity. She explains the rise of motorized and smart-home coverings, what sets Bloomin’ Blinds apart through its repair services and personal touch, and how small design details can make a big difference in how a room feels and functions.

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

  • Ashley Sasher shares her transition from 22 years in corporate marketing to entrepreneurship with Bloomin’ Blinds.
  • She explains how window treatments enhance comfort, energy efficiency, and home value while offering aesthetic appeal.
  • Ashley discusses the rise of smart-home and motorized options and why repairs help set her company apart.
  • She highlights how Bloomin’ Blinds’ family ownership, personal service, and community connection have fueled its local success.
North Fulton Business Radio host John Ray with Ashley and Keith Sasher, Bloomin' Blinds
North Fulton Business Radio host John Ray with Ashley and Keith Sasher, Bloomin’ Blinds

Topics Discussed in This Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:50 Bloomin’ Blinds: Services and Offerings
02:58 Ashley’s Journey: From Corporate Marketing to Entrepreneurship
03:49 The Importance of Window Treatments
04:31 Choosing Bloomin’ Blinds: Unique Selling Points
05:31 Trends and Innovations in Window Treatments
08:30 Commercial Solutions and Benefits
19:14 Customer Success Stories and Testimonials
20:04 Conclusion and Contact Information
21:11 Final Announcements

Ashley Sasher, Bloomin’ Blinds of Cumming and Johns Creek

Ashley Sasher, Bloomin’ Blinds of Cumming and Johns Creek
Ashley Sasher, Bloomin’ Blinds of Cumming and Johns Creek

Ashley Sasher is the owner of Bloomin’ Blinds of Cumming and Johns Creek, Georgia, proudly serving residents and businesses across Cumming, Alpharetta, Ball Ground, Dawsonville, and Johns Creek.

She launched the business in August 2025 with the goal of bringing premium window treatment solutions, repairs, and motorization directly to customers through convenient in-home and in-office consultations. With more than 20 years of executive-level experience in marketing, brand building, customer experience, and community relations, Sasher has a proven track record of driving growth for organizations ranging from entrepreneurial ventures to complex enterprises. She has led initiatives in brand storytelling, product integrations, and partner and vendor relationships, all skills that uniquely position her to deliver a personalized, professional experience for her customers.

By combining her business expertise with her love for design and creating beautiful spaces, Sasher helps families and businesses enhance their environments with custom blinds, shades, shutters, draperies, and patio solutions from trusted brands such as Hunter Douglas, Alta Window Fashions, Norman Window Fashions, Carole Fabrics, Horizons Window Fashions, Insolroll, Graber, Eclipse, Universal Screens, and Sol-Lux.

Deeply rooted in the North Atlanta community for more than two decades, Sasher is passionate about serving her neighbors through a family-owned, female-led business that values quality, integrity, and customer care.

She is a member of the Window Coverings Association of America and actively involved in the Forsyth County, Dawson County, and Johns Creek Chambers of Commerce. Sasher and her husband of 19 years live in Cumming with their three children, where they enjoy being part of the vibrant local community.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If 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 market, community, and profession. 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, 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, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

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

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

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn 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.

Parita Kuttappan on Redefining Success for Professional Women

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Parita Kuttappan on Redefining Success for Professional Women, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
Parita Kuttappan on Redefining Success for Professional Women
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Parita Kuttappan on Redefining Success for Professional Women, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Parita Kuttappan on Redefining Success for Professional Women (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 905)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Parita Kuttappan, founder of Awarify Coaching. Parita works with executive women and working parents who are striving to balance ambitious careers with demanding personal lives. She shares insights on how mindset, confidence, and resilience intersect to help women redefine success on their own terms.

From navigating corporate culture and setting healthy boundaries to reframing “no” as “next opportunity,” Parita offers actionable advice for professionals who feel stretched thin or stuck in self-doubt. She also discusses how to build confidence by taking action instead of waiting for it, and why rest and reflection are essential ingredients of true resilience.

Whether you’re leading a team, managing a household, or both, this conversation will challenge how you think about ambition, burnout, and fulfillment.

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

  • Boundaries are essential, not optional. Many professional women were never taught how to set or enforce them, and learning to do so can transform both career and personal life.
  • Confidence comes from doing, not waiting. Action builds confidence—waiting until you “feel ready” keeps you stuck.
  • “No” means next opportunity. Reframing rejection as redirection creates new opportunities and decreases self-doubt.
  • Resilience requires rest. True resilience isn’t grinding harder; it’s allowing space to feel, reflect, and recover before moving forward.
  • Mindset determines fulfillment. Shifting from self-criticism to self-choice empowers women to take ownership of their path and redefine success on their own terms.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:34 Guest Introduction: Parita Kuttappan
01:58 Parita’s Coaching Journey
02:19 Challenges Faced by Professional Women
12:42 The Importance of Mindset
18:58 Building Confidence
20:39 Coaching Process and Success Stories
25:49 Conclusion and Contact Information
26:46 Final Remarks and Sponsor Message

Parita Kuttappan

Parita Kuttappan is a certified and professional mindset and confidence coach for executive and professional women and working parents.

She has 16 years of experience in strategic human resources in both the professional services and defense industries. Parita earned her Certified Professional Coach (CPC) certification through iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching) coaching, an ICF-Accredited Coaching Training Program.

Parita truly believes her coachees are the experts in their lives, while she is the expert in the coaching process. She uses powerful questions and tools to help her clients overcome unhelpful blocks, manage their energy, and understand how to create thoughts and feelings that lead to fulfillment and joy. Regardless of who she is working with, Parita’s core mission is to empower working women and parents everywhere to unlock their inner goal-getters, bring awareness to what is most important to them, and live more joyful and confident lives.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If 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 1,300 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 market, community, and profession. 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, 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, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

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

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

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn 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.

Larry Levine on Selling in a Post-Trust World

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Larry Levine on Selling in a Post-Trust World, on The Price and Value Journey with host John Ray
North Fulton Studio
Larry Levine on Selling in a Post-Trust World
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Larry Levine on Selling in a Post-Trust World, on The Price and Value Journey with host John Ray

Larry Levine on Selling in a Post-Trust World (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 149)

Trust is in short supply. Clients today are more skeptical than ever, which makes trust the real differentiator for professional service providers. In this episode of The Price and Value Journey, host John Ray welcomes Larry Levine, best-selling author of Selling from the Heart and Selling in a Post-Trust World.

Larry challenges us to ask what trust really means in an age when the word itself feels frayed. He explains why authentic relationships and meaningful value form the foundation of his “Trust Formula,” and why price pressure intensifies when trust is absent. The conversation explores how service professionals can move beyond surface definitions to uncover how clients themselves describe trust and value. Larry also shares insights on why creating true value insulates professionals from what he calls the “price hammer,” and what the Japanese philosophy of Omotenashi can teach us about service that anticipates client needs.

If you’re an expert-service professional navigating client skepticism, this episode will help you see how to define, build, and protect trust in ways that deepen relationships and sustain your business.

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

  • Ask your clients directly how they define trust and value, rather than relying on canned definitions.
  • Recognize that trust speeds up conversations and decision-making, while lack of trust slows everything down and raises price sensitivity.
  • Understand that “meaningful value” is defined by the client, not by the provider.
  • Align relationships and value: when both are in sync, trust and long-term sustainability follow.
  • Use intentional service, such as the principle of Omotenashi, to demonstrate attentiveness that builds credibility and trust.
  • Remember that clients buy confidence and trust more than they buy expertise.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to The Price and Value Journey
00:55 Introducing Larry Levine and His Work
02:24 Defining Trust in a Post-Trust World
04:17 Building Trust in Sales
05:38 Challenges in Defining and Building Trust
09:18 The Role of Self-Perception in Sales
11:22 Meaningful Value and Business Acumen
25:34 The Power of Thought-Provoking Questions
26:36 Breaking the Salesperson Mold
27:54 The Importance of Asking Questions
29:09 Overcoming Sales Fears and Insecurities
30:55 The Art of Listening and Clarifying
34:43 Creating Value and Avoiding the Price Hammer
35:32 Personal Story: Learning the Value of Experience
39:32 The Japanese Philosophy of Omotenashi
43:34 Closing Thoughts and Resources

Larry Levine, Selling From The Heart

Larry Levine, Selling From The Heart
Larry Levine, Selling From The Heart

Larry Levine is the co-founder and a key figure at Selling From the Heart, renowned for his dedication to transforming the sales profession through authenticity and trust-building. As the best-selling author of Selling from the Heart and co-host of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry brings over 30 years of in-field sales experience within the B2B technology space. His mission is to help sales teams grow revenue, develop personally, and enhance their clients’ lives by leveraging the power of authenticity.

Larry coaches sales professionals worldwide, from seasoned representatives to new millennials, leading a movement focused on authenticity, integrity, and substance. His philosophy underscores that people prefer doing business with genuine sales professionals rather than those who are inauthentic.

In addition to his foundational book, he has written Selling in a Post-Trust World, addressing the challenges of selling in an era of skepticism. Since starting Selling From the Heart in March 2017, Larry has been actively involved in providing resources such as books, podcasts, and training to help sales professionals build trust faster and close more sales. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Talent Champions Council, a private community focused on innovative talent strategy. Through his work, Larry continues to champion authenticity and genuine relationships in sales practices.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

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 at Barnes & Noble with his book, The Generosity MindsetJohn 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 | Twitter

Business RadioX®:  LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Shawn Yates on Smarter Processes and Team Building

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Shawn Yates on Smarter Processes and Team Building, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
Shawn Yates on Smarter Processes and Team Building
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Shawn Yates on Smarter Processes and Team Building, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Shawn Yates on Smarter Processes and Team Building (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 904)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Shawn Yates, founder of Predaxis Leadership Solutions. Shawn shares his unique journey from engineering and military service to coaching leaders and teams on how to optimize processes, develop leadership, and build stronger organizations. He explains why small businesses should not delay putting processes in place, how Lego Serious Play helps leaders and teams uncover hidden insights, and why AI will only magnify the processes you already have, good or bad. Shawn also discusses the eight wasteful activities that leaders should watch for, how to right-size process for the stage of a business, and why building blocks today save costly rescues tomorrow.

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

  • Small businesses often delay creating processes, but putting structure in place early saves costly fixes later.
  • The eight wasteful activities from Lean methodology give leaders a practical lens for spotting inefficiency.
  • AI magnifies whatever process you already have—good or bad—so optimization must come first.
  • Lego Serious Play, a facilitation method using LEGO bricks, helps leaders and teams surface hidden insights and improve collaboration.
  • Strong delivery requires balancing three pillars: process optimization, leadership development, and team building.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
02:05 Guest Introduction: Shawn Yates
03:08 Shawn’s Background and Career Journey
07:38 The Importance of Process in Business
14:00 Lego Serious Play: A Unique Facilitation Technique
16:51 Leadership Development and Team Building with Legos
17:26 Discovering Insights Through Lego Models
18:35 Team Building Exercises and Dynamics
20:29 Addressing Team Conflicts with Legos
20:57 Understanding Lean Methodology and Waste
21:39 Digital and Physical Waste Examples
24:09 AI and Process Optimization
26:03 Symptoms of Poor Processes
28:10 Success Stories and Measuring Improvements
29:33 Contact Information and Final Thoughts

Shawn Yates, Predaxis Leadership Solutions

Shawn Yates, Predaxis Leadership Solutions, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
Shawn Yates, Predaxis Leadership Solutions

Shawn Yates gets things out the door. His mission is to empower teams and companies to deliver products and services faster and more predictably without sacrificing quality. He focuses on three pillars: process optimization, leadership development, and team building.

With more than 25 years at global companies such as Philips and Siemens, Shawn has built leaders and teams from the ground up and turned around underperforming groups. He draws on Lean, Agile, and Six Sigma to design solutions tailored to where a team is and where it needs to go. A certified co-active leadership coach and Lego Serious Play facilitator, Shawn brings a strong people focus and creative energy to his work, engaging leaders and teams at a human level to prototype problems and solutions together.

Born in Delaware and raised in Georgia, Shawn graduated from Duluth High School in 1990 and served six years in the U.S. Air Force. He went on to help launch Care Technologies, where he was VP of Engineering for a decade before the company was acquired by Philips. After 15 years there as an internal consultant, including 12 years living in Worcester, MA, Shawn returned to Georgia and today leads Predaxis Leadership Solutions.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If 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 1,300 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 market, community, and profession. 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, 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, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

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

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

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn 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.

Use AI, Stay Human with Alastair McDermott

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Alastair McDermott, HumanSpark.ai, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray
North Fulton Studio
Use AI, Stay Human with Alastair McDermott
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Alastair McDermott, HumanSpark.ai, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray

Use AI, Stay Human with Alastair McDermott (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 148)

AI is changing how expert-service professionals work, but it does not change what clients ultimately value. In this episode of The Price and Value Journey, host John Ray welcomes consultant, strategist, and author Alastair McDermott to discuss his book Use A.I. Stay Human: The Survival Guide for Experts Who Want to Stay Relevant, Authentic, and Indispensable in the Age of AI.

Alastair explains why AI should be considered a force multiplier rather than a threat, and why doubling down on human judgment, relationships, and trust is the key to staying indispensable. He shares practical ways experts can use AI for productivity, smarter decision-making, and accelerated learning while avoiding the trap of overestimating its capabilities.

John and Alastair also dig into the implications for pricing and value: how AI compresses tasks but not the client’s perception of value, why hourly billing is especially vulnerable, and how service providers can reframe their offers to emphasize the outcomes and confidence clients are truly buying.

If you have wondered how to balance productivity with authenticity in the age of AI and how to protect your pricing integrity, this conversation will give you both perspective and actionable ideas.

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

  • Why “staying human” is not just a slogan but a competitive necessity in the AI era.
  • How to use AI to expand capabilities and speed learning without diluting expertise.
  • A practical way to codify your unique knowledge so AI reflects your voice and frameworks.
  • The role of judgment in separating useful AI outputs from flawed or misleading ones.
  • How client trust and perceived value anchor your pricing integrity when technology changes fast.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to The Price and Value Journey
01:19 Alastair McDermott’s Background
02:47 Transition to AI and Rebranding
04:57 Impact of AI on Professional Services
07:31 Leveraging AI for Value-Based Pricing
08:40 AI’s Role in Enhancing Human Skills
11:56 AI’s Limitations and Ethical Considerations
13:32 Practical Applications and Tools
24:51 Privacy and Security in AI Usage
27:58 Human-Centric Approach to AI
31:08 The Value of Wellbeing and Less Stress at Work
32:13 Leveraging AI in Writing and Editing
33:31 Four Core Opportunities for Experts
36:44 AI as a Strategic Advisor
38:51 The Importance of Context in AI
40:40 Pricing in the World of AI
43:53 Adoption of AI Among Authority-Based Businesses
45:55 Using AI for Content Creation and Feedback
50:49 Building AI Tools for Business Efficiency
53:51 Final Thoughts and Resources

Alastair McDermott, HumanSpark.ai

Alastair McDermott, HumanSpark
Alastair McDermott, HumanSpark.ai

Alastair McDermott is the author of the recently released book Use A.I. Stay Human.: The Survival Guide for Experts Who Want to Stay Relevant, Authentic, and Indispensable in the Age of AI. He is known for helping business leaders and subject-matter experts implement effective, human-centered AI strategies that increase efficiency while preserving the value of people.

As founder of HumanSpark.ai, McDermott draws on more than 18 years of experience in technology and consulting, guiding organizations to use artificial intelligence responsibly and successfully. He leads AI transformations that streamline operations, improve productivity, and deliver measurable ROI without compromising workforce stability or creativity.

Through his work as a consultant, author, and host of several podcasts such as The Recognized Authority, McDermott provides actionable guidance for independent consultants and firms in building real authority, growing their audience, and attracting high-value clients. He is committed to demystifying AI and ensuring its adoption augments human potential rather than replacing it.

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 at Barnes & Noble with his book, The Generosity MindsetJohn 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 | Twitter

Business RadioX®:  LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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