Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Lloyd Hopkins with Million Dollar Teacher Project E37

October 23, 2023 by Karen

Arizona Good Business

Lloyd Hopkins with Million Dollar Teacher Project E37

00:00 /

Lloyd Hopkins with Million Dollar Teacher Project E37

Local First AZ is back with another epsiode of Arizona Good Business with nonprofit leader and Executive Director of Million Dollar Teacher Project, Lloyd Hopkins. Thomas and Lloyd discuss their passion and care for teachers, why businesses who care about the well-being of our teachers, and how to get more deeply involved so we can build a better Arizona.

Million Dollar Teacher Project is also bringing back the TAP Program for businesses to treat teachers “like a million dollars” this Fall. This episode is for businesses who have a care for education, and making sure we’re prioritizing the well-being of teachers in Arizona.

Million Dollar Teacher Project is a nonprofit focus on teacher retention and recruitment across the valley. We partner with Title I schools that serve marginalized communities on creating community centered programming geared towards helping them increase how their teachers are recognized, drive more support directly into classrooms and creating innovative ways to impact how their teachers are compensated.

Lloyd Hopkins is an author, philanthropist and organizational leader with extensive experience in community and nonprofit work. He has worked in and around education for 18 years.

He graduated from Arizona State University with his degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership and took his passion for ensuring quality education for all to launch the teacher recruitment and retention program, Million Dollar Teacher Project.

As a philanthropist he has been a member of Real Engagement through Active Philanthropy (R.E.A.P), which is a fund under the Arizona Community Foundation, that supports programs making positive impacts on African-American Youth, for 6 years and the Chairman for 2. He has also led taskforces with Achieve60AZ and the Department of Education on improving attainment for the African American community in Arizona.

For his efforts he was recently a finalist for the Phoenix Center of the Arts Mayor’s Arts Awards for his Million Dollar Teacher Tree program, was honored by the East Valley NAACP with the Malala Yousafzai Equity in Education Award and received the “Living the Dream” award by the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee. He is also an alum of Valley Leadership’s Class 40.

In 2023 he was recognized as one of Phoenix’s Most Admired Leaders by the Phoenix Business Journal and nominated to the Governor of Arizona’s Educator Retention Taskforce.

Follow Million Dollar Teacher Project on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Arizona Good Business

What is good business? What are local businesses doing to build a better Arizona?

Join Arizona Good Business to hear from local companies who are:

Centering purpose at the forefront of business
Creating social well-being for the community
Prioritizing sustainability and positive environmental practices
Growing strong company cultures through building authentic teams
Ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion are involved in all business decisions

Arizona Good Business features local business leaders that are redefining what it means to do good business.

About Your Host

Thomas Barr is the Executive Director for Local First Arizona, the largest coalition of local businesses in North America. He advocates for a strong local business community that contributes to building vibrancy, equity, and prosperity across the state. A proud Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University, Thomas leads the business coalition of Local First Arizona by advocating for the economic and cultural benefits provided by building strong local economies.

Thomas steers the strategic direction of LFA’s major programs and initiatives as well as the engagement of over 3000 businesses across Arizona. As Executive Director, Thomas guides a team of statewide senior directors overseeing the execution of LFA’s communication strategy, major initiatives and key partnerships, as well as the collaboration of over 30 staff implementing work in entrepreneurship programs, small business advocacy, local food initiatives, sustainability, urban development and community building. He frequently speaks to groups locally and nationally, presenting the impact of Local First Arizona and the importance of local economy work in building prosperity.

Outside of Local First Arizona, Thomas has participated in volunteering his time to many causes and organizations throughout the Valley including Young Nonprofit Professionals – Phoenix, Equality Arizona, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Heritage Square Foundation and Phoenix Legal Action Network. Additionally, Thomas is a 2018 Phoenix Magazine 40 Under 40 honoree, alumni of Arizona Leading for Change, and current participant in Valley Leadership Institute’s 40th cohort.

Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Matt Blanton and Corwin Smith with Culture to Cash

October 19, 2023 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Matt Blanton and Corwin Smith with Culture to Cash

00:00 /

Matt Blanton and Corwin Smith with Culture to Cash

Culture to Cash is a top-tier Business Coaching and Consulting Firm that provides expert guidance to clients across multiple industries.

Their dedicated team assists businesses in managing, scaling, and building company operations effectively through their 3S System (Source, Sync, Success)

They commit to cutting the day to day time put in by the business owner by 50% within the first 90 days and double net profit within 24-36 months.

They build successful exit strategies that align with the retirement goals of the business owner. Their focus is on maximizing enterprise value of companies through building successful cultures, proven systems and strong people.

Matt Blanton has built, sold and acquired multiple companies over the past 17 years. Coaching for the #1 transformational program for men, he’s developed the bridge of coaching the whole CEO from personal to professional.

Matt carries the belief that business can be a joyous endeavor if built the right way.

Corwin Smith believes many CEOs are frustrated because it feels like they’re dragging their team uphill and they’ve hit an invisible growth ceiling. And the latest “hacks” or best practices have given short term relief and only a few weeks of improvement then back to chaos.

As a coach, he has a proven system to get CEOs team aligned & on fire driving the company forward; so they can grow the company of their dreams, without burning out, and ultimately leave a legacy in the world.

Corwin comes with the experience of building and selling his own company and 7+ years of business consulting.

Follow Culture to Cash on Instagram.

Arizona Credit Union Coalition

October 19, 2023 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Arizona Credit Union Coalition

00:00 /

Arizona Credit Union Coalition

TruWest® Credit Union is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona and operates as a cooperative providing its members with a lifetime of quality financial services and a culture of caring for its organization, employees and communities.

TruWest is a strong and sound financial institution with more than 90,000 members and assets totaling more than $1.5 billion. TruWest Credit Union has 11 branch locations—eight in metro Phoenix and three in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit truwest.org/.

Jennifer M. Kimmell is the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for TruWest Credit Union. Jennifer began her career in the credit union movement over 20 years ago, with the last 18 at TruWest, where she has held roles in Branch Operations, Member Services, and Strategy.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Masters of Business Administration, and Graduate Marketing Certificate from the University of Phoenix. In addition, she successfully graduated from the Western CUNA Management School in July 2013

Jennifer’s dedication extends beyond her professional accomplishments. She plays a pivotal role as the Chair of the CUNA Operations and Member Experience Executive Committee, demonstrating her commitment to the credit union community and its ongoing growth and success.

Follow TruWest Credit Union on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Landings Credit Union, based in Tempe, AZ, provides financial services for a wide range of members in the state of Arizona.

Originally founded by teachers at Tempe High School in 1953, Landings has served its members and community for 70 years.

Brian Lee is the President/CEO of Landings Credit Union in Tempe, AZ. He is a graduate of Arizona State University and a Valley native.

He is active in both the community and credit union industry, serving on several boards and committees. He is dedicated to helping to create a stronger financial future.

Follow Landings Credit Union on LinkedIn and Facebook.

OneAZ Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution serving over 161,000 members and over 11,000 businesses with 20 branch locations across Arizona. As a credit union with over $3.3 billion in assets, OneAZ is owned by its members, who benefit from better rates, lower fees for service and improved technology.

Since 1951, OneAZ has strived to help Arizonans meet their financial needs through a full suite of personal and business banking solutions. OneAZ’s mission is to truly improve the lives of its members, its associates, and the communities it serves.

Liza Buchanan currently serves as SVP Marketing Operations for OneAZ Credit Union. Liza’s experience includes over 20 years in marketing, strategic planning, business management, and community development.

Before joining OneAZ in 2022, Liza served as Director of Rural Programs for Local First Arizona and Founder of Ignite Brand Marketing.

Additionally, Liza serves on the Multicultural Advisory Board for One Community.

Follow OneAZ Credit Union on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Arizona Financial is a $3.3 billion not-for-profit financial cooperative providing consumer and small business banking services and expertise to more than 165,000 member/owners.

Founded in Arizona in 1936, the credit union empowers members to take hold of their financial future through the delivery of leading-edge self-service tools and mobile apps, competitive rates on loans and deposits, robust home loan solutions, identity protection services, and SBA and commercial loans.

Arizona Financial has a history of local community involvement and is the sponsor of the Live Nation Theatre venue and exclusive credit union partner of the Phoenix Rising FC. The credit union has 20 locations across Metro Phoenix and Western Arizona and is part of the CO-OP network that provides members nationwide account access at 5,000 credit union branches and 30,000 ATMs.

Deposits are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

Jason Paprocki is the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Arizona Financial Credit Union. He started at Arizona Financial in 1992 and after several staff roles, he moved into the executive management team in 1999.

In his time at Arizona Financial, the organization has grown from under $200 million in assets, to over $3.3 billion and has successfully acquired the assets & liabilities of two community banks.

Jason is also an aspiring author and speaker.

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn and follow Arizona Financial on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Josie Kohlan with Goodmans and Emily Kingman with Architectural Resource Team

October 18, 2023 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Josie Kohlan with Goodmans and Emily Kingman with Architectural Resource Team

00:00 /

Josie Kohlan with Goodmans and Emily Kingman with Architectural Resource Team

Goodmans is a 69-year-old, people-centered, commercial furniture and interior construction company representing MillerKnoll and DIRTT. Our vision is to Change the Community by leveraging our talent and resources and fostering a commitment to conscious capitalism. Goodmans is proud to be the first Benefit Corporation in the state of Arizona.

As the first sustainability director of Goodmans, Josie Kohlan created and executed a sustainability vision that fosters a circular economy and empowers individuals through knowledge and approachability. She has led Goodmans to set a Net Zero Target and looks forward to the coming years of innovations.

She enjoys working in a creative and dynamic network of big thinkers and problem solvers – orienting toward the next generation of innovation. She seeks out opportunities to develop personally, explore new ways of doing business, and create solutions that serve the greater good of all beings.

Follow Goodmans on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

A|R|T is an architecture firm in Phoenix, AZ. They have a vision that focuses on building community, innovation in sustainable design and making the journey of design and construction as seamless and enjoyable as possible with their partners. Working as innovators and designers, they are also volunteers, advocates and stewards to the community and the environment.

A|R|T works primarily in housing and healthcare and recognizes the immense need for sustainable and affordable housing in local communities, as well as the importance of behavioral health facilities. Through active engagement in dialogue, reflection, and design demonstration, we support the development and exchange of pioneering concepts by helping designers and clients become more knowledgeable, by challenging assumptions, and by testing ideas.

Currently in the process of building Arizona’s first certified Living Building. Called the Sonoran Studio, the structure will serve as the architecture firm’s new home—and an example for others to emulate. The studio is inspired through its work with incredible organizations and feels extremely privileged to help build stronger, more resilient communities.

With a background in Sustainable Construction, Emily Kingman is focused on working to help keep the economy and infrastructure growing while encouraging the implementation of sustainable building methods and renewable energy in not only the buildings, residential and commercial but also the production and transportation of materials.

She performs the Living Building Challenge material vetting and construction coordination for the first full Living Building in the Sonoran Desert.

Connect with Emily on LinkedIn.

About Our Guest 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.

Things You Can’t Do at Home, the Importance of Community and Networking at Your Workspace S2E2

October 10, 2023 by Karen

Things-You-Cant-Do-at-Home-the-Importance-of-Community-and-Networking-at-Your-Workspace-feature

Phoenix Business Radio

Things You Can't Do at Home, the Importance of Community and Networking at Your Workspace S2E2

00:00 /

In this episode of the Future of Work Podcast, Kyle McIntosh and Al Loveland are joined by Ben Johnson and Austin Miller. The episode discusses various aspects of work, entrepreneurship, and the role of community at Mac 6.

The conversation touches upon the journeys of both guests, who transitioned from corporate roles to entrepreneurship. Austin shares his experiences in software engineering and the transition to starting his own company, Pager Tree.
Ben talks about his journey from being an employee of a company, to working as remote employee to starting his own company at Mac 6, Arizona Web Pro.

The episode highlights the importance of community and networking in MAC6. Both guests emphasize the value of connecting with others, learning from their experiences, and building trust within the community. They discuss how being part of a co-working space has provided opportunities to collaborate, solve problems, and grow their businesses.

Overall, this episode of the Future of Work Podcast delves into the different aspects of work, entrepreneurship, and the significance of community in shaping one’s professional journey.

PagerTree – On-Call. Simplified. Intelligent alert routing for the DevOps team. PagerTree empowers teams to share on-call responsibility and respond faster when incidents occur.

Austin Miller is highly motivated and passionate about software, reliability, and DevOps. One of his most significant career achievements was the successful development of PagerTree (https://pagertree.com) into a profitable and thriving SaaS business that supports over 3000 users and 100+ companies (Small businesses to Fortune 500).

He believes collaboration is critical to achieving greatness and thrives in environments where diverse perspectives come together to drive innovation and solve complex challenges.

Connect with Austin on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Ben Johnson is a seasoned data engineer and software developer with 20 years of experience.

He takes complex problems and solves them with simple and elegant solutions.

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn.

ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WORK

Welcome to Future of Work Radio Show and Podcast – where business leaders share how they integrate humanity and technology through innovative approaches, healthy culture, flexible workspaces and seamless virtual technology.

ABOUT YOUR CO-HOSTS

With a focus in marketing and a background in various for profit and not for profit companies, including much professional and volunteer work, Kyle McIntosh wondered, “How can I pair the passion and commitment to community progress of a non-profit with the sustainability and reach of a for profit company?”

From this question and perspective a mission evolved to tear down the false distinction between the two sectors and to promote companies with Conscious Capitalism® business models through MAC6.

Albert Loveland has joined the MAC⁶ Team full-time. Al will be helping us to takeMAC⁶ to the next level as Vice President of Operations(and, for all of you who are familiar with EOS, as the MAC⁶Integrator).

Al brings over 25 years of experience in leadership and operational efficiency, first working for JPMorgan Chase for fifteen years and then, for the past decade, with his own consulting business working with small businesses, non-profits, and entrepreneurs.

Al has been working from MAC⁶ as a community member for five years now, acting as the unofficial ‘Mayor of MAC⁶’and helping every day to make this community a great place to be. Please join us in congratulating him as the now Official Mayor of MAC⁶ and as an integral new part of our team!

To learn more about MAC6 Communities, call 480-293-4075 or find them on LinkedIn and Facebook.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

MAC⁶ offers flexible spaces and programs to help your team grow, and a community of thriving businesses, just like yours. Advocating Capitalism as a Force for Good, MAC6 is Accelerating the shift to Conscious Capitalism (where Purpose and Profit Unite) through Creativity, Collaboration, Community and Change.

Law and Finance E4

October 10, 2023 by Karen

Financial Footsteps

Law and Finance E4

00:00 /

Law and Finance E4

In this Episode of Financial Footsteps, Joseph Udall talks about his family’s generational history of lawyers and attorneys and how he charted a different course for himself. He decided to study finance.
This choice led to landing a job with an upstart SaaS company and a meteoric rise to a Director title. He talks about what he attributes to his success in this role and in life. It is worth a listen to hear his great advice.

Who should listen to this podcast? Anyone who wants to learn how to quickly rise in the ranks and be given more responsibility. Joe goes into detail of how he approaches his work, how his supervisors took notice, and how they ended up rewarding him.

Keap serves consultants, marketing agencies, coaches, startups and countless other growth-focused small businesses that are striving to unlock their potential through the power of sales and marketing automation.

Joe Udall is the Director of Finance at Keap with seven years of experience helping business partners make strategic decisions driven by data.

Joe is naturally curious which leads him to search out the “why” when making decisions. Combining that innate curiosity with data allows him to creatively find solutions to most problems. He is a key business partner and seeks feasible solutions for difficult goals.

Joe resides in Queen Creek, Arizona with his wife and three children.

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn.

About Financial Footsteps

Financial Footsteps is dedicated to providing insider access to successful accounting and finance leaders thereby providing ideas, insights, and ‘secrets to success’ to those aspiring to be leaders themselves.

Interactive conversations with guests will reveal the genesis for a career in accounting and finance, the great (and not so great) decisions that were made along the way, and the advice that these leaders would give to their younger selves.

About Your Host

Chad Dean has been an executive recruiter since 1996. He currently is owner and CEO of a top-ranked national recruiting firm with a 33 year history servicing the Finance disciplines.

Chad Dean’s relaxed and authentic recruiting style combined with a relentless work ethic and dedication to ethical recruiting has propelled him to the highest levels of success in recruitment and career counseling. He has been sought after by CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, and numerous other publications for his expertise.

Chad Dean is a proud Arizona native, married for 21 years, with two second-generation native teenage sons. He has an MBA from Arizona State University and a BS in Biology from FHSU.

About Our Sponsor

Integrated Management Resources was founded in 1990 in Tempe Arizona. Starting with clients like Goldman Sachs (first client and still a client today) and top Wall Street hedge funds, IMR built a robust recruiting process that digs out the most desirable ‘passive’ candidates from our client’s competitors.

IMR’s Phoenix Accounting and Finance practice services large and medium sized organizations for mid-senior level full-time placement and interim staffing.

Dr. Brenda Combs and Sandra Cue with BRC Media Group and Elena Thornton with Arizona Consortium for the Arts

October 3, 2023 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Dr. Brenda Combs and Sandra Cue with BRC Media Group and Elena Thornton with Arizona Consortium for the Arts

00:00 /

Dr. Brenda Combs and Sandra Cue with BRC Media Group and Elena Thornton with Arizona Consortium for the Arts

BRC Media Mission: To deliver exceptional presentations on all aspects of Dr. Brenda Combs tailored to your unique media needs. We believe that every brand has a story to tell, and we are passionate about helping you craft that narrative in a compelling and impactful way. Through our strategic approach and creative expertise, we strive to achieve measurable results that exceed your expectations.

Who We Are: The Brainchild of Dr. Brenda Combs. BRC Media Group is composed of BRC Theatre Group, BRC Publishing, and BRC Media AZ. We are fully equipped to create long-lasting relationships with our clients, based on open communication, transparency, and exceptional service.

We are here to support you every step of the way. We truly believe in the power of collaboration and value your insights. We work closely with you to understand your vision, objectives, and target audience, ensuring that our strategies align with your goals.
Your success is our success.

Making Things Better Sober Living Homes:
Providing supported sober living homes that provide a transition of services that Increase independence and support long-term goal planning for financial and independent success. We use a unique level-up program that provides supports and services as they level-up in the program and gain more independence.

Finding My Shoes Foundation: To empower and restore some dignity to those impacted by homelessness by providing immediate essential supplies needed on a daily basis as well as resources to end homelessness.

Dr. Brenda Combs’ story is beyond remarkable. Overcoming 10 years of homelessness and addiction, she persevered. She found her way back into society to become Dr. Brenda Combs.

Dr. Combs is currently one of the most sought after motivational speakers, best-selling authors, entrepreneur, playwright, and actress. She’s now the Founder of BRC Media Group, which has created a much needed creative outlet and resource for her peers through the same concept she fell in love with when she was a child and now as an adult; she found the art of acting, singing writing, and eventually directing.

Dr. Combs has always been fiercely determined to battle against homelessness and substance abuse in her community. She’s the CEO and Founder of Making Things Better Sober Living homes, with 7 operating in Phoenix, AZ. She also started the Finding My Shoes Foundation, in which she collects blankets, care packages, socks and shoes for the homeless.

She is absolutely captivating and her story of resilience and survival is breathtaking, including that the key to education was the paramount component that restored and created the woman we now know as Dr. Brenda Combs. She is limitless, immeasurable, and boundless.

Connect with Dr. Combs on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sandra Cue is the Executive Director of BRC Media Group. She is an experienced Director Of Media Relations with a demonstrated history of working in the broadcast media industry. Skilled in Advertising, Event Management, Public Speaking, Marketing, and Public Relations.

Strong media and communication professional with a Bachelor’s Degree focused in Forensic Science and Technology from University of Connecticut.

Connect with Sandra on LinkedIn.

Arizona Consortium for the Arts, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, all volunteer, community organization. The consortium’s vision is to establish a multicultural, multidisciplinary arts space/center with an open door policy.

The center will provide a home for all activities and foster artistic growth for people of all ages through the participation in the arts. It will be a home for many wonderful community organizations and groups, creative and innovative activities and projects representing and celebrating our diverse community.

We are dedicated to creating a connection with our community and provide a platform for social bridging through artistic, cultural and educational events. We inspire, engage, involve, give voices and visibility, celebrate, and connect our communities by providing innovative programs, activities and publications.

Our programs help nurture and support underserved and economically challenged populations through the transforming power of the arts. We are reflecting and representing the distinctive character of our region and explore, share and provide opportunities for the compelling expressions of arts and culture.

The consortium provides support for emerging and established Arizona artists spanning all disciplines and offers free access to the arts for the general public by hosting cultural, arts and performance arts events. We aim to advance, unite, collaborate, partner, connect, and engage individuals and community organizations in all aspects of arts, performing arts, literary arts and cultures in Arizona. We publish three online arts and literary magazines. The Blue Guitar, The Blue Guitar Jr. and Unstrung. It is free to submit.

Elena Thornton, Founder/CEO, Arizona Consortium for the Arts Charity is originally from Moldova, one of former Soviet Republics. Elena’s formal education is in the Secondary Education, she holds both a B. A. and M.A from the University at Albany, NY.

Elena has more than 30 years of hands-on experience in the education, business and the nonprofit sector. She also held positions as a Director of an after school program and a Director of Training for a Phoenix based company and traveled throughout the US and abroad.

Elena’s education and career experience combined with real-life experience makes her the successful organizational leader she is today. Currently, together with the Arizona Consortium for the Arts Board of Directors, volunteer coordinators and advisors, she is spearheading the efforts in developing relationships through networking and partnering with local Non-Profit organizations that will bridge resources and forge collaborations with individuals, public, private and government organizations and agencies, educational institutions, business community to reach their goals, objectives and ultimately build and sustain a multicultural arts and performing arts center facility.

Working closely with all the entities, she is confident they will have the resources, skills and knowledge that will enable them to continue on their path to success, grow and leave a legacy for the next generation.

Elena is also a Best Selling Author. She is one of the contributing authors in the 1 Habit For Success – SmartFem Special Edition book. The day it was published it ranked #2 for Business Leadership on Amazon Best Seller list.

Elena is a Photographer. Since 2010, together with her husband Jim Thornton, they covered many social and nonprofit events in the valley. Their works have been published in magazines and are covers of several books. Elena is an artist and exhibited her works in galleries as a solo artist and in group exhibitions through arts groups.

She has won 2 art awards. Some of her works are in private collections in the US and abroad. She is a Published poet. The Freedom to Journey On, a collection of poems, two short stories and artwork and is available on Amazon.

In 2022, Elena and Jim filmed a short comedy in Hawaii, directed by Kimber Leigh, written by John Kestner and won for best cinematography in one of the film festivals.

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

Arizona: A Growing Leader in International Trade E42

October 3, 2023 by Karen

Arizona-A-Growing-Leader-in-International-Trade-feature

AZ TechCast

Arizona: A Growing Leader in International Trade E42

00:00 /

Arizona: A Growing Leader in International Trade E42

No longer just a flyover state, Arizona is rapidly gaining more and more attention globally for its business-friendly environment and interest in international trade opportunities.

The September 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Representative David Cook of the Arizona House of Representatives; Leandro Solorzano, director at the U.S. Commercial Service; and Tina Waddington, executive director of the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations. These leaders joined Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Council, and Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, in sharing plans that are already underway to deepen Arizona’s international alliances.

In this hour-long episode, the panel of three experts discussed how Arizona has become “open for business” and an attractive partner for international trade opportunities. They highlighted the key changes that have contributed to this evolution, why international trade is important to Arizona’s continued growth and which organizational stakeholders are most involved in expanding Arizona’s global presence. Finally, they touched on Arizona’s statewide strategy for creating foreign trade offices in various cities and countries around the world and bringing foreign dignitaries to Arizona to create new international alliances.

The Arizona State Legislature is a bicameral body with 30 members in the Senate and 60 members in the House of Representatives. One Senator and two House members serve each district. They are responsible for making laws in the state of Arizona. Each legislature lasts two years and consists of a first regular session and a second regular session. Regular sessions begin the second Monday in January and generally last 100 days.

Representative David Cook has been a member of the Arizona State Legislature since 2017. Originally from Ponca City, Oklahoma, he moved to Arizona in 1985 and graduated from Miami High School. David has attended several community colleges here in Arizona but is most proud to be a graduate of Arizona State Universities’ Certified Public Manager Program.

In 2000, he and his wife started their own ranching company called DC Cattle Company, located in his hometown of Globe, AZ. Prior to starting his own ranching company, David has also served as a Sergeant in the Department of Corrections. David has served on many different associations as a board member and past president and is still involved in them to this day.

He is a strong advocate for the availability of dual enrollment programs for all rural students and on many other issues affecting rural AZ.

The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Their global network of experienced trade professionals, located throughout the United States and in U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide, connect American exporters with foreign business opportunities.

Leandro Solorzano is the Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Arizona where he oversees the agency’s programs. He leads a team of International Trade Specialists who work with Arizona companies to increase their exports helping them develop and implement their export strategy. He works with local, state, and federal agencies to provide companies with a full suite of programs designed to help them enter foreign markets.

Mr. Solorzano began his career with the U.S. Commercial Service in Philadelphia, PA, and later transferred to Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was awarded the Department of Commerce’s Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medal Awards for his work in promoting U.S. exports around the world.

He has been in the international trade field for over 15 years and holds a Master’s of International Administration degree from the University of Miami and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Florida International University.

Follow The International Trade Administration on LinkedIn.

The Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (PCFR) is dedicated to growing Arizona’s global prominence by providing forums that explore critical foreign policy issues and build enduring international connections.

They offer monthly programs year-round and bring renowned speakers to share candid insights. This provides PCFR members with intriguing and intellectually challenging, interactive experiences as they participate in the Q & A following the speakers’ remarks.

For more than 40 years PCFR has welcomed a variety of distinguished guests; US and foreign ambassadors, cabinet ministers, policy-makers, economists, analysts, journalists, authors, renowned educators and heads of state.

Tina Waddington is the Executive Director of the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (PCFR). She has been a PCFR member since 2016. Prior to joining PCFR in a leadership capacity, Tina was the Public Affairs committee co-chair and served on the Board of Directors. Tina started her career as a political intern at the U.S. Embassy in Rome before going into the private sector, where she helped Arizona companies expand across the nation and around the globe.

Tina volunteers with multiple organizations with the goal of increasing Arizona’s prominence internationally, including Phoenix Sister Cities Business Relations Committee, USGLC Arizona Advisory Committee and the Diplomatic Corps of Arizona. Through her community engagement, Tina works to advocate for Arizona and increase economic development opportunities through international trade and diplomacy. In 2022, Tina was selected by City of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego for the Phoenix Sister Cities Global Citizen Award.

Tina received her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Italian Studies from the University of Arizona and her master’s degree in Social Justice and Human Rights with a focus on Nonprofit Management from Arizona State University. She was born in Kosovo and immigrated to the United States with her family as war refugees in 1999. Tina is committed to giving back to her country of birth and recently joined Project C.U.R.E. on a volunteer mission to provide medical supplies to hospitals and medical centers in Kosovo.

Follow PCFR on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

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.

Abilities not Disabilities E18

October 3, 2023 by Karen

Changing the Perception of Blindness

Abilities not Disabilities E18

00:00 /

Abilities not Disabilities E18

On this episode of Changing the Perception of Blindness: One Conversation at a Time, Blake Steinecke and David Steinmetz talked about the importance for Hiring Managers to recognize the challenges people who are blind have to overcome in education, previous work experience and everyday life when evaluating candidates who are blind. “These challenges have made me a better problem solver and creative thinker,” said Blake.

Over half of working-age people who are blind or visually impaired are not in the labor market, meaning they are not working and not seeking work, compared with fewer than a quarter of people without disabilities.

For employers and job seekers we have to change our perception of what having a disability means. “Sometimes you need to point your handlebars downhill and go for it. You have to trust your experience and training to get you to the bottom of the hill safely,” said David Steinmetz

Blake Steinecke grew up with perfect vision and at the age of 16 a condition called LHON caused him to go through severe central vision loss and become legally blind. This created many new challenges of relearning how to do school, navigating college, employment and more.

Blake has a degree in marketing from Cal State San Marcos and has worked in software sales, marketing in the mountain bike industry, accessibility testing and training, and now leads marketing for Clusiv as the Growth Manager.

Through Blakes work, he is able to connect his educational and professional background, his experience navigating the challenges of education and employment being blind, and his passion to serve the blind community through the work he does with Clusiv.

Outside of work Blake plays blind hockey for the US Blind Hockey Team, enjoys spending time with his wife, Amanda, and making videos, some of which you can find on his YouTube channel Adapting Sight.

Connect with Blake on LinkedIn and follow Clusiv on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn.

About Your Host

As the manager of Community and Public Relations, David Steinmetz uses his expertise, education, and personal experiences to “change the perception of blindness.”

Diagnosed with RP, a blinding retinal disease, at the age of 19, David uses his personal story to drive change that leads to improved employment outcomes and community integration for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Mr. Steinmetz graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Economics. Additionally, Steinmetz has continued his education by graduating from the Business Management Training (BMT) program provided by Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.

In 2008, David was the national recipient of the National Industries for the Blind Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement award. This prestigious award recognized Mr. Steinmetz for his career achievements and community service work.

David Steinmetz is a member of the Governors’ Council on Blindness & Visual Impairments, is a Board Member at the Arizona Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (ACBVI) and serves his community through the Chandler Lions Club.

Connect with David on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About the Show

Changing the Perception of Blindness; One Conversation at a Time is dedicated to breaking down barriers, de-mystifying blindness and promoting real world solutions that empower people who are blind to live a full and inclusive life.

Host, David Steinmetz connects with organizations, industry professionals and thought leaders who are working to bridge the gap that creates a world accessible for all.

About Arizona Industries for the Blind

Arizona Industries for the Blind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating employment opportunities for people who are blind. It’s employees, more than half of whom are blind, deliver a variety of products and services, including a full-service Warehousing and Distribution Center, confidential Digital Data Scan (DDS) services for private businesses and government and the operation of Base Supply Centers located at each of Arizona’s three military bases under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Labor’s AbilityOne program.

Follow AIFB on LinkedIn and Facebook.