Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Short Term Rentals with the Investresses E13

October 10, 2022 by Karen

Short Term Rentals with the Investresses E13

In just a few short months, the Phoenix valley will experience a monster weekend hosting both the Superbowl AND the WM Phoenix Open! This means an extreme demand for lodging and short term rental properties. Carla dishes with fellow Investress members Chianne Gething and Carey Shindler who both have first hand experience and a wealth of knowledge on how this process works. They discuss everything from local regulations to cleaning up glitter!

Have you ever considered investing in a short term rental property? Wondering how the process works and what it really takes to be successful? Or if it’s even worth it in Arizona? Listen in as these local experts share their best tips and knowledge.

Chianne Gething with Real Estate In Real Life is a passionate REALTOR® servicing the Phoenix and East Valley, as well as Rim Country and Payson, Arizona.

As an investor, Chianne brings real life experience to serve her clients. Named Real Estate in Real Life, she has made it her business to advocate for the ‘real life’ side of real estate – not just the pretty stuff we see on TV!

She first entered into homeownership at 18 years old, experiencing the recession and housing crash and short selling several years later. Determined to dust it off and get back up, she purchased again in 2015 what soon after became her first furnished vacation rental.

Since then, she and her mortgage broker husband, Brian have added several short term, mid and long term rental properties to their portfolio. Most properties have undergone small to large size renovations, design, styling and branding which is also a management service she offers to her clients.

Servicing both Scottsdale and East Valley, Payson, Strawberry and Pine – her real estate clients range from first time buyers to investors alike.

Chianne sits on the board of the Scottsdale Short Term Rental Alliance and is a member of the Arizonans for Responsible Tourism Coalition, advocating for healthy and reasonable regulations on short term rentals now that the industry has taken the state and city over by a storm.

Follow Real Estate in Real Life on Instagram.

Collectively, we’ve traveled to over 80 countries and know what matters most – an authentic experience. Far too often, rental homes feel like any other backdrop and hosts fall short on providing a first-class experience.

AvantStay is here to change that by setting the new standard for the short-term rental industry. We believe the best accommodations are designed to enhance every aspect of a guest’s travels, which is why we transform beautiful homes into incredible experiences and unforgettable memories.

Our team is incredibly passionate about real estate, technology and travel. We came together to build a revolutionary hospitality brand through the power of tech automation in the short-term rental market.

With employees around the country and headquarters in Los Angeles, we currently operate homes in 60+ destinations across the United States. We can’t wait to host you at one of them soon!

For more than 16 years, Carey Shindler has called Phoenix home (a transplant, by way of Chicago). A hospitality enthusiast, she spent most of her career in the luxury resort business, selling some of the Valley’s best group-centric hotel properties.

In 2017, Carey secured her real estate license and ventured into the vacation rental space, assisting owners with their property management needs and growing a hugely successful portfolio of revenue maximizing homes, on behalf of a national firm.

Today, Carey is the Regional Sales Director, Team Lead, at AvantStay, overseeing the growth efforts of organic supply in both Arizona and Colorado.

Connect with Carey on LinkedIn.

About the Show

Smashing Through Walls is geared toward a guide through complex commercial real estate and finance topics while adding humor and anecdotes along the way. Discover what is going on in the valley and beyond with host Carla Magee, broker at MHG Commercial.

About Our Host

Carla Magee’s background is designed with the investor in mind. After obtaining her finance degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, she worked for large corporations like Boeing and Microsoft. With a critical eye and flair for analytics, she was able to shave millions in lost profits, managing cross-functional teams by utilizing her Green Belt in Six Sigma and Masters Certification in Project Management.

Ultimately she realized that she couldn’t be contained in an office environment working for the corporate world. Being an investor herself, she came into real estate as an investment & multifamily property specialist, effectively applying her education & skillset. Carla excels in helping investors make sound decisions for their financial goals, in real estate negotiations, and takes deep pride in educating homebuyers and sellers.

On a personal note, Carla is a busy wife & mother to two daughters. In addition to an ever growing career and podcast, she also enjoys volunteering and being active in the community. She has a deep love for Arizona and although she travels whenever possible, she always finds her way back to the beautiful Sonoran Desert.

Connect with Carla on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

MHG Commercial emerged from the highly successful and innovative residential brokerage: My Home Group. MHG Commercial’s vetted and experienced advisors have a wide range of complementary professional expertise that span over 100 years of cumulative experience.

Encompassing every aspect of commercial real estate from office to industrial development, raw land to luxury commercial, and multifamily to subdivision development. We excel at out of the box thinking and transactions that require a more hands-on approach and ingenuity.

No matter the property type or service need, our commercial advisors are committed to your objectives. Combined with business finesse and unsurpassed market intelligence, MHG Commercial brokers help you determine and surpass your business goals.

Follow MHG Commercial on Facebook and Instagram.

Selfless Leading to Improve Culture E28

October 7, 2022 by Karen

Selfless Leading to Improve Culture E28

From first glance and the start to the podcast, you may not see the amazing alignment and similarities between Jonathan and April. We see them though!

Jonathan and April are both very aligned with growing conscious businesses and supporting people in a very selfless manner. What they do helps people and companies grow; Whether it is Jonathan giving advice to other business leaders about how to grow a business and not being ruthless, or April going into the company to guide and coach them to growing their business through the principles of Generosity Culture. They are both supporting the growth of great conscious and caring leaders.

It was great to hear about their backgrounds getting them to this point where they are now. Jonathan grew up and went into the Real Estate business thinking that he had to be ruthless to make money. April gained experience and knowledge from her time in the military that she is now able to put into place with the work that she does helping companies and leaders.

When asked about the favorite part of her own company’s culture, April said, “My favorite part of my company’s culture is it’s all about helping and empowering others. Everything we do is in service to others’ success.”

When Jonathan was asked about his company culture he told us, “Keyser was built off of 15 core operating principles. We are very clear about that during the hiring process, and because of that, I am confident that each of my team members buys into those beliefs. In fact, many of the current members have joined Keyser because they believed in the principles. This bleeds into how we interact with one another and how we serve our clients.”

If you are looking for a podcast with a few passionate individuals that have a strong stance on improving company culture, being selfless, supporting others- then this is it. The two of them discuss the passion to lead selflessly, the importance of being forthcoming and honest, and building a workplace that is safe and provides courage to disagree. There are stories and examples to listen to in this podcast that are great for all levels of leaders to learn from.

Driven Outcomes is a consulting firm that helps accelerate the revenue growth and culture creation of businesses across industries using the principles of The Generosity Culture.

Working with company CEO’s, Leaders and Entrepreneurs, Driven Outcomes drives unprecedented success by modeling the power of pouring into people, clients and the community.

April Shprintz is a Business Accelerator, Speaker, host of the Winning Mindset Mastery Podcast and the Author of Magic Blue Rocks, the Secret to Doing Anything, a book about the life changing impact of a winning mindset.

After spending 20 great years in a variety of industries solving problems, driving growth, and accelerating companies, April realized helping people is who she is, not just what she does. Generating over $1 Billion dollars in combined revenue, April left corporate America after her highest earning 7-figure year to form her own company and expand her impact.

The creator of The Generosity Culture®, April lives her dream helping innovators and leaders grow their businesses through a combination of pouring into their people, their clients, and their community.

A proud veteran, April served for nearly 7 years in the Air Force as a Television News Anchor and Executive Producer. She’s a graduate of the University of Maryland and holds an MBA from the University of Texas.

Connect with April on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Keyser is one of the country’s most innovative and trustworthy technology-enabled occupier services commercial real estate firms. Keyser’s advisors assist occupiers of space with their commercial real estate needs, including leasing, purchasing, constructing, or disposing of facilities.

Keyser specializes in helping tenants leverage A.I. and market expertise to secure commercial real estate incentives and attract today’s workforce while reducing cost & risk. Whether it’s managing, negotiating, or assisting with commercial real estate strategy, our advisors take pride in serving our clients.

Jonathan Keyser is the founder of Keyser (http://www.keyser.com/), one of the most innovative and trustworthy technology-enabled occupier services commercial real estate firms in the country. Along with their international partners, they have over 560 people worldwide.

Jonathan is a #1 Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author for his book, “You Don’t Have to be Ruthless to Win”, and he was named “The Commercial Real Estate Disruptor” by USA Today. He has also been named a “Top Social Capital CEO” by the International Business Times, is a highly sought after keynote speaker, a thought leader featured in over 150 articles, publications, and podcasts, and during the pandemic was recognized as one of the “Top 20 Virtual Keynote Speakers” in the country.

As an entrepreneur himself, Jonathan has built Keyser into an eight-figure firm named recently as one of the Top 50 Most Trustworthy Companies in America by The Silicon Review.

Today through his 6,7,8 Selfless Leadership workshop series, he helps other business leaders activate the three levels of reinvention to boost profits while increasing client and employee retention. Jonathan’s efforts to change the business world through selfless service manifest in his content, thought leadership, and the level of excellence he holds his team to within Keyser.

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Culture Crush

Culture is not just a tag word to be thrown around. It is not something you throw in job descriptions to draw people to applying for jobs within a company.

According to Marcus Buckingham and Ashely Goodall in their book Nine Lies About Work, “Culture is the tenants of how we behave. It’s like a family creed. This is how we operate and treat each other in the family.”

As a growing company- Culture Crush Business Podcast is THE culture improvement resource that supports companies and leaders. Our Mission is to improve company cultures so people WANT to go to work. Employees and leaders should like where they work and we think this is possible.

Within the company: Culture Crush has Vetted Resources and Partnerships with the right people and resources that can help improve your company culture.

On this podcast: We focus on everything surrounding businesses with good company culture. We will talk with company leaders to learn about real-life experiences, tips, and best practices for creating a healthy work environment where employees are finding joy and satisfaction in their work while also striving and growing within the company. We also find the companies that offer resources to help improve company culture and showcase them on the show to share their tips and tricks for growing culture.

About the Host

Kindra Maples is spartan racer, past animal trainer, previous magician’s assistant, and has a weakness for Oreo cookie shakes. Her journey working with people actually started working with animals as a teenager (don’t worry we won’t go that far back for her bio).

She worked for over 15 years in the zoo industry working with animals and the public. Her passion of working with animals shifted into working with people in education, operations and leadership roles. From there her passion of leadership and helping people develop has continued to grow.

Then came the opportunity for leading the Culture Crush Business Podcast and she jumped on it. Leadership, growth, and strong company cultures are all areas that Kindra is interested in diving into further.

Shout Outs

We want to thank a few people for their behind the scenes effort in helping this relaunch to come to life. James Johnson with Tailored Penguin Media Company LLC.– It is a small, but powerful video production company with a goal to deliver the very best by articulating the vision of your brand in a visually creative way. Gordon Murray with Flash PhotoVideo, LLC. -Flash Gordon has been photographing since high school and evolving since then with new products that will equip, encourage, engage, and enable. Renee Blundon with Renee Blundon Design – She is not only one of the best free divers (that’s not how she helped with the podcast) but she is great with graphics design and taking the direction for the vision that you have while also adding creative ideas to bring to your vision to life.

These are just a few of the folks that supported the relaunch of the podcast. If you would like to be part of the Culture Crush team or would like to support underwriting the show- please reach out: info@culturecrushbusiness.com

Building a Future E125

October 6, 2022 by Karen

Building a Future E125

Georgie Marquez joined Tycoons and delivered a structurally sound podcast. It’s obvious after hearing her story and her successes why they are such a sought after Architectural company!

Georgie emphasizes the importance of Architects designing safer, healthier spaces. It’s always a great learning lesson hearing what entrepreneurs wish they knew then what they know now.

Andre + Marquez Architects (AMA) is a woman-owned, SWaM certified Architecture and Interior Design firm in Norfolk, VA.

For the past 30 years, AMA has served commercial, hospitality, and industrial clients and federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security, the General Services Administration (GSA), and the Department of Defense (DoD).

Their portfolio includes extensive Design/Build projects for new construction, additions, renovations, space planning, interior design, and the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. They are proficient in using and facilitating Design Workshops/Charrettes to develop programming and schematic design documents for small and large projects.

AMA is committed to excellence as they serve both the private and public sectors. They also commit to listening and creatively responding to the building design needs of each client and their team.

Georgie Márquez is Principal Owner at Andre + Marquez Architects, Inc., a SWaM and DBE certified Architecture and Interior Design firm in Norfolk, VA. The firm was started by her and her husband, Joel André, in June of 1993.

Ms. Márquez obtained her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. She relocated to Virginia in 1987 and is licensed to practice Architecture in the Commonwealth and Washington, DC. Her certifications include CPTED Practitioner, VA DEB Construction & Professional Services Manual, NCI Charrette System Training, and NCI Charrette Management and Facilitation Training.

She is involved with several local and national organizations, including the Hampton Roads Chapter of Women in Transportation and HRACRE. She served as the 2020 Chair for the Hampton Roads Chamber’s Norfolk Division Board and is the 2022 Vice-Chair of Diversity for the Chamber’s Executive Board.

She volunteers with the Hampton Roads chapter of the American Institute of Architects, serving on the statewide Disaster Assistance Committee. She graduated from the LEAD HR Class of 2006 and the LEAD VA Class of 2021. Currently, she is Project Architect for various Support Buildings in the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion project.

In 2018 Ms. Márquez was appointed by the Norfolk City Council to the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. She was selected as an honoree for Inside Business’s 2018 Women in Business Achievement Awards.

In 2021, she was appointed as an Invited Member of Virginia Governor Northam’s Technical Advisory Committee to support developing a Coastal Adaptation and Protection Master Planning process. More recently, in July of 2022, she was appointed by Governor Youngkin to the Secure and Resilient Commonwealth Panel under the Secretariat of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Connect with Georgie on LinkedIn and follow Andre + Marquez Architects on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Show

Tycoons of Small Biz spotlights the true backbone of the American economy, the true tycoons of business in America… the owners, founders and CEO’s of small businesses. Join hosts, Austin L Peterson, Landon Mance and the featured tycoons LIVE every Tuesday at 1 pm, right here on Business RadioX and your favorite podcast platform.

About Your Hosts

Austin Peterson is a Comprehensive Financial Planner and co-founder of Backbone Planning Partners in Scottsdale, AZ. Austin is a registered rep and investment advisor representative with Lincoln Financial Advisors. Prior to joining Lincoln Financial Advisors, Austin worked in a variety of roles in the financial services industry.

He began his career in financial services in the year 2000 as a personal financial advisor with Independent Capital Management in Santa Ana, CA. Austin then joined Pacific Life Insurance Company as an internal wholesaler for their variable annuity and mutual fund products. After Pacific Life, Austin formed his own financial planning company in Southern California that he built and ran for 6 years and eventually sold when he moved his family to Salt Lake City to pursue his MBA.

After he completed his MBA, Austin joined Crump Life Insurance where he filled a couple of different sales roles and eventually a management role throughout the five years he was with Crump. Most recently before joining Lincoln Financial Advisors in February 2015, Austin spent 2 years as a life insurance field wholesaler with Symetra Life Insurance Company. Austin is a Certified Financial Planner Professional and Chartered Life Underwriter. In 2021, Austin became a Certified Business Exit Consultant® (CBEC®) to help entrepreneurs plan to exit their businesses.

Austin and his wife of 23 years, Robin, have two children, AJ (21) and Ella (18) and they reside in Gilbert, Arizona. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in French and of Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management with a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in sales and entrepreneurship.

Connect with Austin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Landon Mance is a Financial Planner and co-founder of Backbone Planning Partners out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He rebranded his practice in 2020 to focus on serving small business owners after operating as Mance Wealth Management since 2015 when Landon broke off from a major bank and started his own “shop.”

Landon comes from a family of successful entrepreneurs and has a passion and excitement for serving the business community. This passion is what brought about the growth of Backbone Planning Partners to help business owners and their families. At Backbone Planning, we believe small business owners’ personal and business goals are intertwined, so we work with our clients to design a financial plan to support all aspects of their lives.

In 2019, Landon obtained the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation through the Exit Planning Institute. With this certification, Backbone Planning Partners assists business owners through an ownership transition while focusing on a positive outcome for their employees and meeting the business owner’s goals. Landon is also a member of the Business Intelligence Institute (BII) which is a collaborative group that shares tools, resources and personnel, and offers advanced level training and technical support to specifically serve business owners. In 2021, Landon became a Certified Business Exit Consultant® (CBEC®) to help entrepreneurs plan to exit their businesses by counseling owners about exit options, estimating the value of the business, preparing the business for exit and tax considerations.

Landon enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, stepson, and new baby twins. He grew up in sunny San Diego and loves visiting his family, playing a round of golf with friends, and many other outdoor activities. Landon tries to make a difference in the lives of children in Las Vegas as a part of the leadership team for a local non-profit. He regularly visits the children that we work with to remind himself of why it’s so important to, “be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Landon received his B.S. from California State University Long Beach in business marketing and gets the rest of his education through the school of hard knocks via his business owner clients.

Connect with Landon on LinkedIn.

Aspire to do More Than Your Share with James Murphy with Willmeng E20

October 4, 2022 by Karen

Aspire to do More Than Your Share with James Murphy with Willmeng E20

Industry leader and mentor, James Murphy, CEO of Willmeng shares the holistic dream of his organization whereby the personal development is equally as important as the professional development. James and JJ dive into organizations such as NAIOP and ABA and discuss their roles and benefits in growing the local construction environment. They top off the conversation with a discussion on attracting and developing talent in our industry.

Willmeng places nothing more important to the organizational health of the company than their overall focus on culture. By bringing different personalities together and embracing their individual contributions, the culture is rich, strong and uniquely different.

With a true family feel and the opportunity to participate in building a genuine place of purpose for clients and employees, Willmeng has the distinct advantage of something exceptional and special in the culture.

Their strategic vision focuses on three fundamental aspects: supporting prelease transactions; maintaining the ability to competitively bid projects small and large, and fostering the “altruistic service” corporate culture established by recruiting highly talented individuals of great character.

James Murphy joined Willmeng in 1999 as a project manager and spent time in every position in the firm, as he brought leadership to the most technically and time-challenged projects the firm had built to date. In January of 2006, he purchased the company and became President and CEO.

In his current role as CEO, James heavily focuses on the business needs in a growth market, initiatives for diversity in service offerings, and developing teams for the future. James selectively adds to the team based on cultural, workplace assessments, and critical internal growth opportunities.

By growing a team based on client needs and a highly driven mindset, James has directly built a team of over 300 employees who can convey a solid culture while possessing complementing skill sets.

Follow Willmeng on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Your Hosts

Meet JJ Levenske

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial and industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service.

JJ’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike. JJ does not believe in mediocrity and strives to see the “end at the beginning” for each project, effectuating a higher return on investment for the entire team.

Early on in his career, JJ worked as a cost engineer conducting feasibility estimates, strategic capital estimates, cost planning, and analysis of value engineering for the technology, petrochemical, and food industries. He went on to develop and implement a variety of systems for estimating, scheduling, resource management, and cost tracking while holding Project Manager and Senior Management Positions.

During his tenure, JJ has been involved in $1 billion worth of construction services. A strong entrepreneurial acumen allows him to be the perfect advocate for your facility based business solutions.

Meet Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson is a knowledgeable construction professional with over 40 years of experience. His experience ranges from residential to the commercial and industrial sectors.

Robert began working in the trades immediately out of high school and quickly advanced to Journeyman status. Robert went on to estimating, operations, senior level management and then business development.

Robert is consistently building relationships and networking with those associated with all aspects of development and construction. Robert has become a respected source for prefabricated construction solutions.

Robert enjoys spending time with Pam, his wife of 42 years, their 3 children, and 10 grandchildren.

About Our Sponsors

Bleuwave is a Phoenix-based general contractor with a specialty in land development & site improvement, pre-construction, design build, remodel and renovations, construction management, and post construction.

Bleuwave is passionate about what they do and takes pride in their partner’s success.

When you need it done right the first time, call Bleuwave.

Follow Bleuwave on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tori Contracting’s smaller, cohesive structure results in superior workmanship and economical solutions.

The Tori Contracting team has construction experience acquired by performing highly successful work for hotels and casinos, restaurants, retail stores, healthcare facilities and a wide range of commercial and themed projects.

We provide design assist capabilities from start to finish…from schematic design and development through construction documents with the aid of our full-time AUTOCAD staff.

Katie Mann with Curated Medical

October 4, 2022 by Karen

Katie Mann with Curated Medical

Curated Medical was founded with the goal of not only providing incredible results but also being a source to help you navigate the world of aesthetics. With so many treatments available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start and who to trust.

We have “curated” the top treatments that we truly believe in and consistently see great results and happy clients! We are not here to sell you a service and send you on your way, our goal is to create a long-lasting, trusting relationship. You will find that we have considered the efficacy, safety, and long-term results of all of our treatments.

Natural results mean that we want you to look like a better version of yourself- most clients request to look well-rested, to have clear skin, and to look good for their age. A common misconception is that natural results are not impactful, which is definitely not the case. Natural means that other people won’t guess that you have filler (or other treatments), they will just notice how incredible you look!

Dr. Katie Mann DNP, FNP-C, Founder and Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner with Curated Medical, first earned a Bachelor of Science in dietetics from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. She went on to earn a second Bachelor of Science in nursing from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

She continued on this path to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice and her Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington in 2019. She has also completed extensive training in advanced injectables, PDO threads, laser, other treatments and continues to attend aesthetic conferences, seminars, and cadaver labs every year where she is able to learn from other world-renowned experts.

Her favorite procedure to perform is full face restoration using a combination of Botox/Dysport, filler (Juvederm, Restylane, Sculptra), PDO threads, laser, and skin care. This creates her signature natural yet impactful results and will help you feel like the best version of YOU.

Katie will work directly with you to come up with an individualized plan that results in the most effective results taking into account your preference for downtime, longevity, and desired results.

Follow Curated Medical on Instagram.

Strategic Analysis: Using Technology to Stay Adaptable E30

October 4, 2022 by Karen

Strategic Analysis: Using Technology to Stay Adaptable E30

In a constantly changing world, businesses must stay adaptable by performing periodic strategic analyses. Through this process, company leaders can review historical data to not only inform their long-term strategy but identify the technology solutions to stay ahead of the curve.

The September 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Julie Gable, CEO and founder of BusinessWhys; Bob Interdonato, general manager at Lumen; and Melati Lee-Parker, founder and CEO of Macroscope Studios. These leaders joined Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, and Bianca Buliga, director of marketing and communications at the Arizona Technology Council, in discussing how to successfully conduct strategic business analysis and prepare for an unpredictable business environment.

Throughout this hour-long episode, the panel of three experts convened at the Phoenix Business RadioX studio at MAC6 in Tempe to define what strategic business analysis looks like and explain why it’s important for companies of all sizes to get familiar with, particularly in today’s day and age. Although they all play a direct role in helping companies determine how to use technology to stay future-proof, each one has a distinct theory of change that set them apart from the others.

Macroscope Studios partners with companies and teams to Host, Facilitate, and Produce business retreats and off-sites, engineered with kindness and focused on value.

Modeled after the Nashville recording studio industry, MacroScope Studios offers their clients access to premium facilitation, IT Product Design and Development consulting, along with a suite of beautifully designed turn-key studios that accommodate teams from 2 – 100.

If you need help planning and running your next (or first) Board Retreat, Strategic Planning Meeting, Product and Sales Strategy Meeting, or Company Meeting, Macroscope Studios will give YOU time back and YOUR TEAM the tools they need to succeed.

Melati Lee-Parker started designing simple tools for herself back in the late 1900s to make her financial and actuarial analyst jobs easier. She then discovered the joy of sharing those tools and coded solutions with her teammates in workshops so they could all go to happy hour at 4pm.

The solutions got more complicated and the workshops got bigger until she moved from building solutions, to building and scaling Product Management organizations, which she most recently did at DaVita, leading Product Management, Product Operations, and Business Analysis teams.

Throughout Melati’s entire career, she found that facilitating collaborative sessions was a force multiplier in getting stuff done, and also her most favorite days at work – which led her to come up with the concept of making every day her favorite day at MacroScope Studios.

When she’s not designing kick-ass sessions for her clients, you can find her learning new 80’s power ballads on the piano or cooking her favorite Indonesian dishes for her family.

Connect with Melati on LinkedIn.

BusinessWhys is a woman-owned consultancy focused on helping their clients solve complex business problems and drive meaningful and sustained traction toward their goals.

All BusinessWhys consultants possess deep expertise as well as broad versatility that comes from working in strategic business and technical roles across industries with start-ups, mid-size, and Fortune 100 companies. They leverage industry-leading frameworks and relentlessly focus on the WHY to drive ROI.

Julie Gable brings over 20 years of IT and business consulting experience to her role as CEO and founder of BusinessWhys.

Passionate about innovative and accountable problem solving, she has a proven track record of helping companies drive meaningful and sustained traction toward their goals. In addition to her BusinessWhys responsibilities, she is a proud mother of two amazing girls and sits on multiple non-profit boards.

Julie is a firm believer that a diverse team is a strong team and is proud to have received awards from two separate publications for her commitment and contributions to recruiting and developing women into technical and leadership positions.

Follow BusinessWhys on LinkedIn.

Lumen is a multinational technology company that enables companies to capitalize on emerging applications and power the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). This revolution is redefining how we live and work, creating an unprecedented need for an advanced application delivery architecture—designed specifically to handle the complex and data-intensive workloads of next-gen technology and businesses.

We integrate network assets, cloud connectivity, security solutions and voice and collaboration tools into one platform that enables businesses to leverage their data and adopt next-generation technologies.

Lumen brings together the talent, experience, infrastructure and capabilities of CenturyLink, Level 3 and 25+ other technology companies to create a new kind of company—one designed specifically to address the dynamic data and application needs of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Personal relationships are very important to me and that is true of my professional life. As Lumen’s General Manager of the Southwestern US region, my passion also includes my customers’ success.

Bob Interdonato works with companies from Arizona to Nevada and New Mexico. These areas are incredibly economically diverse, and Lumen has participated in the region’s massive growth with healthcare providers, major retailers, manufacturing and Nevada’s gaming and hospitality industries.

The recent pandemic has accelerated their evolutions within their business environments and how they serve their customers. My team helps them navigate those challenges and opportunities utilizing the Lumen Platform of Adaptive Networking, Edge Computing, Connected Security and Collaboration Services. Their success is our passion.

Businesses are passionate about what they do and what makes them unique. Our customers do not come to us looking for a specific piece of infrastructure, product, or service anymore. They are reimagining their businesses and want help with both strategy and implementation.

Together we focus on the most important aspects of their business, which is servicing their clients. Helping them envision the possibilities and showing them the roadmap to make it a reality requires sharing their passion.

Bob believes that in today’s ever-changing technology landscape, it is important to be nimble, fast, and agile. The Lumen Edge Platform enables that agility.

Follow Lumen on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About AZ TechCast

AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.

Through the art of connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s guests will share their expertise, success stories, news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling the state’s growing technology ecosystem.

About Your Hosts

Steve Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona.

Zylstra serves on numerous councils, committees and boards, was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, and “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.

Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.

In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bianca Buliga is a trilingual first-generation American of Romanian ethnicity. A marketing professional with experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Bianca currently works as Director, Marketing & Communications for the Arizona Technology Council.

Previously, Bianca worked as Marketing Communications Lead at Proctorio, a learning integrity platform that offers remote proctoring software ensuring exam integrity for learners around the world.

Bianca also worked as Senior Marketing Manager at SEED SPOT, a social impact incubator that educates, accelerates, and invests in impact-driven entrepreneurs creating market-based solutions to social problems. In January of 2020, Bianca was selected as an awardee of the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange Program and traveled to the African island of Mauritius to run entrepreneurship programming for 15 impact-driven ecopreneurs on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Bianca has also completed comprehensive consulting projects for IBM, ESAN Business School, and the Peruvian government, and interned at the Arizona House of Representatives and U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.

Bianca earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Northern Arizona University in 2014 and her Master’s degree in Global Affairs and Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2017. She is an avid reader, yogi, and world traveler always planning her next trip.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Jennifer Meyers with Earth Sugar

September 29, 2022 by Karen

Jennifer Meyers with Earth Sugar

EARTH SUGAR is a first-of-its-kind Superfood Confectionary based in Phoenix, Arizona that specializes in raw organic desserts, energetic snacks, clean label confections and adaptogenic pantry items.

We handcraft each product with fruits, plants and purpose, and never use natural flavors, additives, preservatives, or chemicals. Our mission is to minimize our environmental footprint, inspire culinary creativity and ensure our own human health by doing dessert differently!

Our products are suitable for a vegan, gluten-free, and paleo diet, accommodating a wide variety of allergies and dietary requirements.

Jennifer Meyers (27) is the Founder & Chief Confectionist of Earth Sugar™, a Superfood Confectionary based in Tempe, AZ that creates delicious & nutritious plant-based snacks that deliver the quality, taste and visual appeal of traditional desserts and baked goods… without compromising on ingredients, flavor, environmental impact & the nature of human well-being.

Inspired by her passion for food writing, digestion and nutrition, Meyers set out with the mission to create a safe and happy space for people of all ages, allergies and health backgrounds to find pure products they love and trust.

When Meyers turned 13, she began developing IBS and from 13-25, Meyers lived with chronic stomach pain, severe IBS and battled with multiple relapses of SIBO- Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth that continuously left her riddled with depression, food phobias, diet & life restrictions and emotional & physical pain.

Meyers started to realize that her digestive issues were a byproduct of Ultra Processed Foods and the corporate profit motives that shape our food environment.

She was charged to find a way to bring this knowledge to the masses. Thus.. Earth Sugar was born.

Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn and follow Earth Sugar on Facebook and Instagram.

Caring for Employees Through Self Care E27

September 29, 2022 by Karen

Caring for Employees Through Self Care E27

Culture is a hard thing to measure but that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be an area that companies continue to focus priority on. It might be hard to track culture with metrics (and things like self care for employees) but it is possible and your company will see the long term shifts in the revenue, retention, and overall company improvements when focusing on company culture.

Kathleen and Neville have such amazing backgrounds and experiences in the space of self care, meditation, and human centered leadership support that it led the conversation to a deeper level. Self care and mental health directly relates and connects to the culture of the company and the employees that work there.

Culture is the web that connects and fuels everything that is part of the company; feelings, values, mission, people, and more. We discussed the need to create a visual map or web that might show this, but even then we might be able to add in everything that matters in culture.
Retention
Success
Customer support
Balance

There are companies out there that are successfully starting to incorporate self care and mental health into the workplace (such as Banner Health and EvolvedMD), but we are hoping that others can start to find these ways as well.

If you are searching for a conversation about bringing self care into the workplace and hearing about the importance behind it- this is your podcast. Kathleen’s company focuses on growing culture through supporting the employees with the self care journey (we talk about the science behind this too). Neville is an executive with his company but very focused on the deeper levels of people and shows this through the conversation.

By the end of the show, they discussed that there was a need for another episode. It wouldn’t be a part two that would extend the conversation, it would be a part two that would give folks tangible steps on dealing with stressful situations, breathing techniques, and meditation practices. We will keep everyone updated, but this follow up show will be in the works soon!

Mission Federal Credit Union is a $5.5B not-for-profit, and the largest financial services organization exclusively serving San Diego.

Mission Fed received Consumer Reports highest rating for all national banks or credit unions in 2015 and 2018, the BBB Torch Awards for Ethics in 2015 and 2017, Forbes rating as one of the best State Credit Unions and highest ranked local credit union in 2018 and best in the state in 2019, the Union Tribune’s Top Workplace Award for 2020 and the highest ranked local credit union on the Forbes America’s Best Credit Unions for 2022.

Neville Billimoria is an effective communications and values leader, growing organizations through external marketing, media, and sales effectiveness, as well as internal organizational alignment, corporate communications, and leadership development. He brings experience, energy, and empowerment to his leadership role as SVP Membership/Marketing and Chief Advocacy Officer at Mission Federal Credit Union.

After graduating from UC San Diego, Neville has remained involved on the UCSD Alumni Board since 2008, as well as teaching martial arts, yoga, and meditation on campus for the last 40 years. Other current Board service includes the North County Philanthropic Council Executive Committee, Real World Scholars Board, and was recently appointment to the Girl Scouts San Diego Board.

Prior board and volunteer service includes serving on the Ackerman Foundation Board, the Alliance 4 Empowerment Board, AFP- National Philanthropy Day Honorary Committee, Mission Fed Community Foundation Secretary, San Diego Nonprofit Association Board, Cause Conference Co-Chair 3 times, Advisor to the Conscious Capitalism SD Board & Founder of the Chamber of Purpose SD.
He is a frequent speaker on topics including brand as culture, purpose-driven leadership, social capital optimization and civic engagement for maximum impact.

Connect with Neville on LinkedIn.

Kinessage LLC supports performance, culture, and wellness-conscious organizations, empowering leaders, managers, and teams to live more productively, confidently, and collaboratively.

Self-empowered health is taught through interactive self-activated body/mind programs that neutralize stress, release chronic tension and pain, and increase mental resiliency and long-term health for greater overall well-being.

Kathleen Gramzay is the Founder and CEO of Kinessage LLC. She is a Body/Mind Resilience & Self-Care Expert, Speaker, Developer of Kinessage® Mindful Resilience, and the Kinessage® Release Your Pain Virtual Self-Care System.

Kathleen applies assessment skills to business helping companies solve people issues at their root cause – chronic stress, pain, and tension. She is passionate about providing leaders and teams with self-activated body/mind skill sets that restore and build mental and physical resilience to be and do their best.

Connect with Kathleen on LinkedIn.

About Culture Crush

Culture is not just a tag word to be thrown around. It is not something you throw in job descriptions to draw people to applying for jobs within a company.

Within the company: Culture Crush has Vetted Resources and Partnerships with the right people and resources that can help improve your company culture.

About the Host

Shout Outs

Design On The Mind! E124

September 29, 2022 by Karen

Design On The Mind! E124

Tycoons welcomed Sarah Walker, Principal Designer and Founder of Nuance Interior Design Showroom to the show.

Sarah’s background and where she was raised is intriguing enough let alone her business ethics and success story!

Sarah explains how her business degree and tech saavy skills have led her design company to be so successful!

You’ll want to listen in to get helpful hints on how to get your business more technologically advanced!

Nuance Interior Design clients are busy professionals looking for full-service interior design for new construction and large renovation projects from foundation to furnishings. For time-pressed professionals, a turnkey design studio with a comprehensive showroom is a revolutionary approach to the most complex phase of any residential project – the design phase. Nuance’s discerning clients enjoy the latest innovations for cabinetry, sustainable materials, and smart features for an inspirationally beautiful home that reflects their individual style with elegance and sophistication.

Through their signature process, Nuance connects with clients to deeply understand their needs. Nuance’s seasoned experts pride themselves in managing all design decisions and communicating the clients’ tailored vision clearly to the construction team through specific construction documents, renderings, shop drawings, and material schedules. Their luxury showroom differentiates them as the go-to resource for unique architectural interior finishes, fixtures, and furnishings. Nuance is the most experienced boutique design team for clients that want quality custom products and an enjoyable, stress-free experience to save time and money.

The Nuance team believe everyone deserves inspirationally beautiful spaces that enhance your quality of life. They understand trust you place in them when building or remodeling the home of your dreams deserves the utmost integrity in return. When you choose to work with Nuance, you are working with an outstanding turnkey, full-service interior design studio with top-quality artisans and products resulting in beautiful solution-driven designs. They distill your vision to create inspirationally beautiful, sustainable homes with a commitment to creativity and excellence.

Sarah Walker, the Principal Interior Designer, was born and raised in Dubai and has traveled extensively around the world. She followed a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Business, and Art with over 15 years of experience in all phases of residential and corporate interior design, including designing stores nationwide directly with Nordstrom corporate executives for seven years. Sarah appreciates this community where people want their homes to tell their stories through their art, collections, and representations of their cultures.

Her background allows her to connect with discerning clients to provide invaluable insights to increase functionality and beauty of clients’ homes. Sarah Walker’s expertise is in combining beauty with functionality in unique ways that reflect the individual requirements and personalities of her clients. She is renowned for seamless coordination, attention to detail, and impeccable taste. She is committed to an excellent home building experience for our clients through her optimized processes, elevated products, and skilled team.

What sets her apart is her holistic take on design as a gateway to health and well-being starting with sustainable, healthy materials in her luxury showroom. She is passionate about sustainable design and living in place because she has always loved the outdoors so green design is the best way to reduce construction waste and improve clients’ quality of life. She enjoys traveling to study innovations in materials, art, and architecture to create more timeless, sustainable designs.

Outside the showroom, Sarah loves spending time outdoors with her husband, three kids, and spoiled King Charles Cavalier. She is a founding partner in non-profit organization committed to conservation of wildlife and habitat (ridgewalkers.org). Sarah has always aspired to be the next Martha Stewart (minus the embezzling) and then her love of cooking evolved into mastering kitchen design.

Follow Nuance Interior Design on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

About the Show

About Your Hosts

Connect with Austin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Landon received his B.S. from California State University Long Beach in business marketing and gets the rest of his education through the school of hard knocks via his business owner clients.

Connect with Landon on LinkedIn.