Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Brad Leavitt with AFT Construction Joe Cunningham and Chris Wood with Sunny Energy and Matt Fulton with Heartbridge and The Whining Pig

June 19, 2018 by Karen

Sunny-Energy-AFT-Construction-Whining-Pig-Heartbridge-with-UImproved2

Phoenix Business Radio

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Brad Leavitt with AFT Construction Joe Cunningham and Chris Wood with Sunny Energy and Matt Fulton with Heartbridge and The Whining Pig

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LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Brad Leavitt with AFT Construction Joe Cunningham and Chris Wood with Sunny Energy and Matt Fulton with Heartbridge and The Whining Pig

As part of the “It’s Just Good Business” Series, Leadership LowDown Host Jodi Low, with U & Improved and Conscious Capitalism Arizona, catches up with Arizona’s best to talk about the winning combination between leadership, client care and community in construction and solar energy.

A Finer Touch Construction’s (AFT Construction) President Brad Leavitt has assembled a talented team of project managers, construction staff, and support personnel who share a common goal: to build quality projects that exceed the expectations of our clients. With over 80 years of combined industry experience, we’ve learned the value of quality craftsmanship, personalized service, and long-term relationships. AFT Construction was formed in March, 2013 and is based out of Scottsdale, AZ.

AFT Construction is a leader in providing the highest quality construction services at fair and competitive prices. Our pledge is to add value for our customers and clients through integrity, foresight, and innovation. We seek to establish long lasting relationships with our customers by exceeding expectations and gaining trust through delivering high levels of professionalism, timeliness, attention to detail, and service-minded customer satisfaction. Our commitment to this mission enables AFT Construction to be one of the premier construction firms in the Arizona region.

AFT Construction rises above the competition because of our quality, values and customer service. Utilizing our vast subcontractor base and material purchase power, we are committed to offering our customers top services at affordable prices. Communication with our customers is one of our top priorities and something our company takes great pride in. While the construction industry has often suffered from the lack of proper communication, management of expectations and punctuality, we continue to excel in these areas and are certain this has contributed to our success.

Follow AFT Construction on Facebook and Instagram.

Sunny Energy is a residential solar company that is dedicated to helping homeowners save money on their electric bills. The company focuses on delivering superior performance by using the best design, installation, equipment, and financing options to ensure the best combination of value and performance. Each project is customized to provide homeowners with the most advantageous option to produce their own clean and inexpensive energy. With offices in Arizona, California and Texas, Sunny Energy provides solar installation, battery storage, energy management, financing and service and repair. The company has been named one of the top solar contractors in the United States by Solar Power World magazine for the last three years. For more information, call (480) 257-3283.

Joseph “Joe” Cunningham is a co-founder and director of operations of Tempe- headquartered Sunny Energy, one of Arizona’s largest providers of residential and commercial solar energy systems. Joe is also a founding member and president of the Distributed Energy Resources Alliance (DERA), a non-profit trade organization dedicated to the development of distributed energy resources, including solar, battery storage, active demand management, distributed grid services and smart grid solutions for a reliable and sustainable energy supply. An industry leader, Joe is active in photovoltaic (PV) standards development with The SunSpec Alliance as chairman of the Orange Button Construction working group. He has co-authored two white papers, through SunSpec, on PV System Performance Metrics and PV System Commissioning for Performance Guidelines. He is recipient of the SunSpec Open Standards Champion award for years of voluntary standards work. Along with SunSpec, Joe works closely with standards working group members from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Sandia Labs and others. Through this work he is intimately knowledgeable on the value of PV system standards and certifications.

Prior to co-founding Sunny Energy, Joe was director of operations for five years for Centrosolar, a solar energy equipment supplier. He managed operations for North American markets, overseeing logistics, system design, sourcing and purchasing, private label manufacturing and outsourcing, order fulfillment, a nationwide technical services network and online systems. Prior to Centrosolar, Joe spent three years in the PV integration business. He managed, at various times, operations, business development, maintenance programs, sales and marketing. Prior to joining the PV industry, Joe worked for more than 20 years in wireless telecommunications and cable TV, and as an entrepreneur. He has held the positions of president, chief operating officer, vice president, and business development with various companies. He helped develop advanced wireless technology and services, as well as industry standards, government regulations, hardware and software to increase wireless spectrum use efficiencies and performance. He was instrumental in forming and managing a nationwide organization of operators and manufacturers to address equipment reliability and warranty issues. He has been recognized by the Wireless Communications Association International as a Wireless Pioneer and for outstanding contributions throughout his career. Joe has a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Cornell University, where he was a four-year letterman in crew.

He lives with his wife, Resa, in Carefree, Ariz. and is an avid road cyclist, riding more than 5,000 miles annually. He is a past Arizona State Road Racing age-group champion.

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn.

Chris Wood is a co-founder and business development director for Tempe- headquartered Sunny Energy, one of Arizona’s largest providers of residential and commercial solar energy systems. He is responsible for all of the company’s business development needs including recruiting, hiring and training of the sales team, as well as conducting financial analysis of the products Sunny Energy creates and sells. He also oversees Sunny Energy’s vendor relations.

Prior to co-founding Sunny Energy, Chris was the director of North American sales for Centrosolar, an international solar energy equipment supplier. As Centrosolar’s second U.S. employee, he was responsible for taking the company from a garage start-up to a successful U.S. operation. During his seven-year tenure with the company, he built a network of 720 solar contractors spanning from New Jersey to Guam. His professional career includes work in land development, commodities trading and the food and beverage industries. Chris is a Florida native who grew up in Montreal. Fluent in English and French, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from McGill University in Montreal.

He enjoys playing tennis and poker. He and his family reside in North Scottsdale.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn and follow Sunny Energy on Facebook and Twitter.

Heartbridge builds great communities for deserving families. Founded by Matt Fulton and Steve Coburn, they acquire lower income, multi-family apartments in need of repair and transform them into conscious living communities. In addition to substantially updating existing apartments, HeartBridge provides vital tools to residents including financial literacy seminars and other helpful programs. HeartBridge Communities touches the lives of very real people – not through handouts, but with a helping hand up.

The Whining Pig was established in 2013 and currently has 5 locations in the Greater Phoenix Area. It is your neighborhood beer & wine bar. Offering a friendly environment for all, they specialize in craft beer, great wines and wonderful service. Their stock is constantly rotating and continues to surprise even the most loyal patrons. The Pig is locally owned and operated with knowledgable bartenders; serving the locals and any other friends that would like to join them.

Follow The Whining Pig on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow their other locations on Facebook in Phoenix, Gilbert, Arcadia and Ahwatukee and Instagram in Phoenix, Gilbert, Arcadia and Ahwatukee.

The Leadership Lowdown was created to share the REAL story behind valley leaders’ rise to the top, and the truth about what it takes to TRULY succeed in life and business. Hear the raw stories of these leaders’ journeys…the pitfalls, the victories, and all of the heartaches and triumphs in between.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Jodi Low is an accomplished corporate trainer, inspirational speaker, and the Founder and CEO of U & Improved. Jodi has trained thousands of entrepreneurs and executives on how to build a booming business, master a mindset for success, and achieve the lifestyle they desire through heart-fueled leadership.

Through U & Improved—an award-winning personal and professional leadership development company based in Scottsdale—Jodi has redefined traditional leadership training by creating a sustainable and actionable model that is personal, challenging and meaningful to each and every individual who enrolls in any of the two-and-a-half-day experiential training classes. She and her elite training team have advanced the charge in heart-based leadership
development and empower U & Improved graduates with knowledge, tools and awareness to immediately be more effective and responsive leaders at work, home and within their communities.

Among her many accomplishments as a Valley leader, Jodi launched a teen leadership program in 2014 to empower young adults to become more confident, motivated and focused stewards of our future. In 2016, she founded a non-profit arm of the company—the U & Improved Leadership Foundation—that makes the program more accessible to deserving teens.

Jodi has been recognized by industry publications and organizations for her work in leadership development and serves as a source of inspiration within the community. In 2015, she was honored as an “Outstanding Women in Business” by the Phoenix Business Journal and by the Phoenix Suns and National Bank of Arizona with the “Amazing Women” award. She has received both the prestigious “Diversity Leader of the Year” and the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce’s “Sterling Award.” She was also awarded a Silver Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 and was a finalist for the Junior League of Phoenix’s Valley Impact Award. Jodi is a devoted single parent who volunteers her time at her daughters’ school programs and with organizations such as Angel Mamas, where she’s served on the board for three years.

RHINO NATION Olenka Cullinan with Discovery Education West and Zach Faust

June 19, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

RHINO NATION Olenka Cullinan with Discovery Education West and Zach Faust

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RHINO NATION Olenka Cullinan with Discovery Education West and Zach Faust

On this episode, Rhino Nation host Michelle Faust interviews the future and it is bright! Join young entrepreneur Zach Faust and Olenka Cullinan, Director STEM West at Discovery Education, as they discuss the incredible potential of Generation Next. Get a fresh perspective from a budding entrepreneur and a seasoned perspective from Olenka who has counseled and educated high schoolers towards the path of business leadership. This show will inspire hope and great anticipation for what’s to come.

Discovery Education is the global leader in standards- based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award- winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development, and the largest professional learning community of its kind.

Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are in half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the U.K., and more than 50 countries.

Olenka Cullinan is a speaker and is the STEM Director WEST for Discovery Education, founder of #iStartFirst, and former founder of Rising Tycoons. She is an Amazon bestselling author as well as Bossbabes and Millennial success coach. Olenka has developed a “Backbone of Success”™ method that helps leaders to up-level their business and mindset. Her work as a startup venture mentor nationwide, combined with humor and personal experiences, led to her two TEDx talks, Phoenix Business Journal 40Under40class of 2017, global exposure and made her into one of the nation’s premier consultants.

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

There are simply too many things to pin down as what is being said as a standard company description. From management of eCommerce companies ranging from watches to welding supplies, to working in real estate as a broker.

Over the last few years Zach Faust has delved deep into the depths of business. From what started as selling used items to classmates in high school, Zach has really taken off in business. Currently, Zach is working on creating a printer that never needs refills on the black “ink” in order to create a more sufficient product. There is much more to come.

Zach is currently an incoming Freshmen at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California. He will be majoring in Business Management- Entrepreneurship.

He, as mentioned before, has experience in many fields of business that allow him to be more flexible with his capabilities and allows success to come at a larger quantity.

Connect with Zach on Instagram.

ABOUT RHINO NATION

Rhino Nation is a growing community of influential entrepreneurs and small business owners that share a common trait, they don’t walk, they don’t run, they CHARGE to their destiny. We acknowledge and celebrate their business expertise, leadership and fearless attitude to be victorious in their goals. Rhino Nation is committed to making powerful connections and providing enhanced exposure to broaden the reach and promote the extraordinary talents of our community members.

ABOUT YOUR SPONSOR

Rhino Online Strategies & eCreativity helps you free up your precious and limited time, as a business owner, to do what you do best….running and growing your business. Michelle Faust and her team partner with you to identify your content and marketing needs and provide you with fresh, innovative, dynamic copy that will effectively reach your target market, leading to increased customer engagement, a higher conversion rate, and increased sales.

Great content becomes the seeds of a bountiful business harvest, so you can cultivate and grow your business. We take the time to personally understand you and your company’s purpose, so your marketing message reflects who you are and speaks directly to your target market. Let us join you as part of your team. We’ll partner with you to develop powerful messaging strategies.

We strive to create an expansive mindset through education, marketing content and access to a talented team of business consultants. Our mission is to deliver cutting edge entrepreneurial support by providing engaging targeted messaging along with online business education, ancillary business services, and enhanced exposure.

Michelle has an extensive background in sales, marketing and public speaking, primarily in the pharmaceutical industry. When she left her corporate career, she shifted into the entrepreneurial world, combining her experience, talents and passions to reinvent herself. As a marketer and copywriter, Michelle thrives on discovering what motivates people into action and what their key emotional triggers are. Michelle and her team create powerful and targeted messaging that improve conversion rates and increase sales. Michelle loves to connect people through the power and beauty of the written word. her passion is helping people create a road-map to success, so they can fulfill their dreams and live their destiny.

For more about Rhino Online Strategies & eCreativity find them at www.rhinostrategy.com, on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Outsourcing Professionals as an Integral Part of Your Team with Paul Quinn Chris Yap Neil Chitel and Chris Curley

June 18, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Outsourcing Professionals as an Integral Part of Your Team with Paul Quinn Chris Yap Neil Chitel and Chris Curley

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Outsourcing Professionals as an Integral Part of Your Team with Paul Quinn Chris Yap Neil Chitel and Chris Curley

Running a successful business requires your attention on so many levels. Outsourcing lets you focus on core activities and helps you stay in your lane when it comes to your area of expertise. Finding the right outside support can help you gain a competitive edge and promote efficiency while, at the same time, saving you time and money! Listen in as we discuss the benefits of outsourcing with four professionals who have a wealth of knowledge, expertise and success stories in their respective businesses.

RKPE provides businesses with simplified staffing solutions especially in the fields of Engineering, IT, Sales-Marketing, and Financial Service. RKPE is one of the the only staffing companies owned and operated by an Engineer, nationwide. o remain competitive in today’s economy, Companies must have the best talent available, in a tight labor market. We simplify this process for our clients. We have a clear understanding of their requirements and source, recruit and interview on our clients behalf, saving them time and money. the best talent within Engineering, Information Technology and Finance, and unlimited recruiting resources, the process is simplified and affordable.

Paul Quinn started his career as a CNC Machinist, returned to post education to earn his degree in Engineering-CAD/CAM Technology. Paul has designed several bridges in the US and Taiwan. Paul moved into a role with an engineering outsourcing company which he and his colleagues built up from 1 Million in revenue to 25 million in revenue in a 5 year time frame. Paul’s expertise in engineering allow him to fully screen and interview applicants prior to the client meeting them. Over the past 2 decades Paul has become a professional in the areas of Engineering, IT, Finance and Sales-Marketing. In mid-2015 Paul placed his 10,000th professional.

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn and follow RKPE on Facebook.

Gabtech is the brain-child of Chris Yap, a global business developer, a seasoned sales and marketing professional. From multi-million dollar, IT and BPO deals to commodity trading, capital raising to consumer branding, Chris Yap has been at the forefront of market development, project management, product and brand development. With 20 years of experience in strategic business development, Chris has been known to his peers and clients as a man of integrity, strategic thinking, getting things done and being tenacious in achieving every business objectives.

Gabtech was established to help fellow entrepreneurs leverage the power of outsourcing, may it be for a lead generation, telesales, customer service, appointment setting, data entry or bookkeeping. Gabtech has helped numerous companies grow its revenue and profitability through outsourced processes since 2009. Over the years, Gabtech has evolved to helping small to medium-sized companies get financing for working capital, equipment acquisition, and real estate acquisition.

At present, Chris is very passionate in helping start-up and growing companies achieve hyper growth while also helping the lesser fortunate break the vicious cycle of poverty. Chris established his success in the discipline of business development through hard work, dedication, perseverance and relentless pursuit of continuous personal development.

Chris Yap is a dedicated father to his 3 fine young boys Gabby, Nico and Noah and a devoted husband to his amazing wife of 14 years, Eizel. Chris and family currently reside in Peoria, Arizona.

Connect with Chris at 602-882-821 and follow Gabtech on LinkedIn

ManageStaff, Inc. is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) providing over a decade of Human Resource knowledge and expertise to a variety of industries, large and small. The difference between a good PEO and an excellent PEO is measured by the efficiency of its staff.

ManageStaff, Inc. strives to establish unique partnerships with its clients, promising accuracy, confidentiality and exceptional client service, while managing the responsibilities associated with Human Resources for today’s industrious business owner.

Neil Chitel has worked for Managestaff for the past 15 years. He started as an Account Executive and has worked up the ranks to Sr. Business Development.

Neil has a Bachelors of Science in Business Marketing Degree from University of Phoenix.

Connect with Neil on Twitter, and follow ManageStaff on Twitter and Facebook.

Triple Helix Investigations offers hiring solutions for all industries. Triple Helix can provide background screenings, drug testing and aptitude assessments for potential and current employees.

The background screenings are FCRA compliant and can be completed electronically making the process faster and more efficient. There are no annual fees you only pay for what you search. Triple Helix provides all categories of background checks including those to assist property managers.

Drug testing is completed at a lab and they offer both 5 and 10 panel tests.

Aptitude assessment testing assists employers in getting the right person in the right position the first time. These industry specific test take approximately twenty minutes to complete and give the employer a plethora of information about their applicants.

Chris Curley, CEO of Triple Helix Investigations, began his professional career in law enforcement. Chris was first a member of the San Diego Police Department where he worked patrol. After a year and a half, Chris decided to move closer to family and joined the Phoenix Police Department. During his 22 years with the Phoenix Police Department, Chris worked patrol, school resource, property crimes and metal theft investigations.

From 2001 to 2014, Chris was a detective on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Chris conducted both proactive and reactive online investigations involving the luring and sexual exploitation of a minor. Chris received numerous commendations during his time with the task force and was an important part of creating the investigative process for these types of cases.

In 2015, Chris retired from law enforcement. In 2016, Chris started Triple Helix Investigations in an attempt to help businesses and property managers with their employee concerns.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn, and follow Triple Helix on Twitter and Facebook.

RHINO NATION Phoenix Speaking Academy with David Bryson and Ken Adams

June 16, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

RHINO NATION Phoenix Speaking Academy with David Bryson and Ken Adams

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RHINO NATION Phoenix Speaking Academy with David Bryson and Ken Adams

On this episode, Rhino Nation host Michelle Faust has an engaging and spirited discussion with Ken Adams and David Bryson, Co-Founders of Phoenix Speaking Academy. Join in the fun of learning about breathing techniques, voice preparation, and where NOT to put your hands. Studies show that great presentation skills can increase your salary as much as 10%. You can’t afford to miss this one.

Phoenix Speaking Academy was founded to simply take the fear, anxiety and uncomfortableness out of speaking to people. We operate from one on one clientele to large group sessions of 1/2 day, full day and 2 day seminars. We have helped small businesses and individual speakers get over some of the hurdles holding them back. PSA works to take the “um’ out of your speech. This may be when you speak one on one to somebody or to large crowds of 100’s or 1000’s. At the end of the session our goal is to create a confidence in you by teaching you physical traits that can help you speak freely. Are you a person that hates to hear yourself talk? We can fix that.

The founders of PSA – Ken Adams and David Bryson met at a networking group and founded the Phoenix Speaking Academy after noticing how many people struggled when speaking in public. They have been in the entertainment business for over 30 years and now combine their skill, knowledge and expertise into workshops and seminars tailored to helping people become more confident in their public speaking abilities and grow as individuals and professionals. Their mission is to help you overcome stage fright and provide you with the tools and techniques you need to become a dynamic speaker, empowered with confidence and skills to prepare, present and deliver powerful speeches and presentations that educate, inform, and engage audiences of all sizes.

Follow PSA on Facebook.

ABOUT RHINO NATION

ABOUT YOUR SPONSOR

For more about Rhino Online Strategies & eCreativity find them at www.rhinostrategy.com, on Facebook and LinkedIn.

E8 Roy Bell from Thriveforce and Rob Loy from Avnet

June 16, 2018 by Karen

Joe-Pusz-with-Rob-Loy-and-Rob-Bell-on-Business-RadioX

Phoenix Business Radio

E8 Roy Bell from Thriveforce and Rob Loy from Avnet

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E8 Roy Bell from Thriveforce and Rob Loy from Avnet

In this episode of Project Management Office Hours, PMO Joe and his guests, Roy Bell President at THRIVEFORCE and Rob Loy from Avent discuss a wide range of Project Management topics including, AI and the role it is playing in project management, advice for junior PMs, Project Management career for Veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce and so much more.

Joe begins the show welcoming new show sponsor, TALAIA! TALAIA is a European based PPM Software solution provider which is entering the US market. To sign up for a free 30-day trial and learn more about this PMBOK aligned solution visit – http://en.talaia-openppm.com

As an Air Force Veteran, Roy Bell brings a set of core values to THRIVEFORCE with Integrity First, Service before Self and Excellence in All We Do! Roy shares with us what separates THRIVEFORCE from other consulting firms. Roy and Rob have a great exchange on Project Management certifications, career advice for junior Project Managers and how Project Management doesn’t have to be “by the book” to make an impact.

Rob Loy has diverse professional experiences including time as a college Instructor, working in Agencies, and now as the PMO Communications Manager at Avnet. Rob provides insight into what may be coming next for our industry – Artificial Intelligence. AI and Machine Learning help us to make informed data-based decisions. Rob, Roy and PMO Joe have an in-depth discussion on the value of using Project Management Consultants and the differences from Staffing Agency PMs.

Tune in for upcoming shows with Project Management leaders from Sensei Project Solutions, TSYS, Talaia Software, and many more!

Avnet operates at the heart of the technology supply chain and is one of the world’s largest distributors of electronic components and embedded solutions. It began by inspiring a generation of tinkerers more than 95 years ago on Manhattan’s Radio Row. Expansion boomed during WWII – and continues to this day – with Avnet on the leading edge of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Recent acquisitions of Premier Farnell and Hackster.io are bridging the worlds of makers and manufacturers like never before. Avnet combines the agility needed to get to market first with nearly a century of close-knit relationships with technology’s most trusted global companies, allowing companies to turn ideas that no one’s heard of into products everyone knows.

The Avnet culture is founded on new ideas and emerging technology, and supported by 15,000+ team members in 125 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Rob Loy is a director with 17 years of industry and agency experience specializing in project management, vendor management, Software Life Development Lifecycle(SDLC), change management, and business process improvement.

He has extensive experience managing departments and people for international companies, executing cross-functional initiatives and overseeing and planning multimillion-dollar department budgets. One of his strongest skills is developing teams and team members to reach their potential or learn new skills, and providing communication planning, change management, and project implementations. His experiences allowed him to develop skills building collaboration between business and technical resources to deliver projects on time and budget.

In addition to his corporate and agency work, Rob also has been teaching at Scottsdale Community College in the computer information systems department since 2003. He has been part of bringing new technology to the students and has been on the front line of education moving from on-ground campus and classes to online

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn, and follow Avnet on Twitter.

THRIVEFORCE is an organizational improvement and project management consulting firm. They specialize in helping growth focused leaders accelerate performance and unlock explosive business value.

Roy Bell, PMP, President of Thriveforce, transforms leaders’ vision and ideas into reality. He has 15 years’ experience as an accomplished business leader and technologist, most recently serving as the VP of Enterprise Project Management Office at Reverse Mortgage Solutions. He is known for his achievements in change facilitation, strategic enablement and delivery execution.

Roy is a proud veteran of the United States Air Force and carries on the proud tradition of exemplifying the core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do…in business and in life.

Connect with Roy on LinkedIn and Twitter.

ABOUT PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE HOURS SERIES

Project Management Office Hours is intended to provide Project Management professionals a place to drop in and discuss Success Stories, Best Practices, and Lessons Learned. Project Management Consultant Joy Gumz has shared with us, “Operations keep the lights on, strategy provides the light at the end of the tunnel, but project management is the train engine that moves the organization forward.”

Each of us has a unique story to tell, but collectively we share a message that organizations who embrace Project Management Best Practices perform better than those which don’t. Organizations which align Projects to Strategy perform better. Organizations with Engage Executive Sponsors deliver better results. Organizations which measure Project Management performance outperform those which don’t.

During our Project Management Office Hours, we hear directly from Industry leaders how to make an impact in our profession. How we, collectively, will Advance Project Management Best Practices, One Listener at a time!

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Joe Pusz started THE PMO SQUAD to bring real world PMO Leadership experience to the consulting space and to advocate for Project Management through his blog PMOJOE.com. The old saying is “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Following this mindset Joe left Corporate America in 2013 to start THE PMO SQUAD and work with fellow Natural Born Project Managers to advance Project Management Best Practices.

THE PMO SQUAD focuses exclusively on PMO and Project Management consulting. Corporate America is full of Accidental Project Managers running projects who haven’t been trained to be PMs. To help solve this problem THE PMO SQUAD is on the Leading Edge with PMO As a Service. PMO As a Service allows our clients to focus on their respective core competencies while THE PMO SQUAD delivers Project Management expertise. Contact Joe at 678-591-7868. Follow The PMO Squad on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Mitch Pisik with Pisik Consulting Group

June 16, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Mitch Pisik with Pisik Consulting Group

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Mitch Pisik with Pisik Consulting Group

The Pisik Consulting Group is a multi-faceted Executive Consulting and Business Consulting firm substantially focused on entrepreneurs. They are devoted to successfully assisting business owners and senior executives achieve and exceed their professional and personal aspirations.

For both companies and individuals to achieve their full potential, having a highly experienced Consultant and Coach who is solely focused on their success is invaluable. The Pisik Consulting Group, led by Mitch Pisik, is honored and humbled to have been selected by such a multitude of companies and executives over the past eighteen years.

Mitch Pisik has worked as an Executive Coach, Business Consultant, International Speaker and Facilitator for the past twenty years; doing so in a full- time practice since 2016.

He leverages the award-winning successes of turning-around and substantially growing four diverse Private-Equity portfolio businesses as CEO over fifteen years; and previously for seventeen years as a Senior Executive in strategy, business development, operations, finance, mergers and acquisitions, consulting, and finance at several of the world’s largest global companies – including Kraft, Newell-Rubbermaid, Novartis, and KPMG. He has conducted business in over three dozen countries.

He is, and has been, an active Board Member of numerous public, private, and not-for-profit organizations – including the Tucson Metro Chamber.

A partial list of recent awards includes: – In 2016 winning the “Innovation in the Workplace” Award from the Society of Human Resource Management. – Finalist for the Copper Cactus “Business Leader of the Year” Award in 2016 and 2015. – In 2014 winning the Copper Cactus Award for the “Best Place to work in Southern Arizona”.

Connect with Mitch on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Deb Caron with Anahata Marketing and Adrian McIntyre with StoryProfit

June 16, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Deb Caron with Anahata Marketing and Adrian McIntyre with StoryProfit

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Deb Caron with Anahata Marketing and Adrian McIntyre with StoryProfit

Storytelling has become a buzzword in a lot of business circles lately. What’s it all about? In this episode of Phoenix Business Radio, we hear from Deb Caron with Anahata Marketing and Adrian McIntyre with StoryProfit about how important it is to craft the right messages (aka stories) as a leader and business owner. Listen in to learn about the art and science behind this fantastic and natural form of influential communication and weigh in on the conversation. We’d love to hear from you.

Anahata Marketing is a Phoenix-based marketing and strategic communications consultancy, providing brand awareness, public relations and content marketing strategies for clients offering products and services that help people live, work, and feel better. The team has been promoting clients in the Valley for more than 15 years landing features locally and nationally in many top-tier publications including Entrepreneur, Inc., Fast Company, Shape, Men’s Health, Refinery29, The Today Show, CNN, Redbook, The LA Times, KTLA, AZ Family, ABC 15, 12 News, CBS 5, Fox 10, and much, much more. In addition, they work with clients to establish industry expertise with contributed content, blog and website content and thought leadership pieces.

Anahata is a Sanskrit word for the heart chakra and its meanings include: infinite, unstruck, unbeaten, and boundless. Anahata Marketing works with clients on a heartfelt mission to find what’s meaningful to their audiences and craft messages and strategies that enable them to resonate with and engage with customers so they become brand evangelists. The team is made up of people people — they love to uncover what motivates others and moves them to action, and do so with an approach of seeking first to understand, and then to spark curiosity and conversation.

Deb Caron is the owner and principal consultant at Anahata Marketing. She has worked with wide array of clients spanning nearly every industry, both in B2B communications and B2C. She’s also a registered yoga teacher and holds a special passion for working health, fitness, wellness and beauty brands. She has a unique ability to harness her empathic nature to help companies see themselves from their customers’ perspective and create connections with their marketing. Deb is also fascinated by company culture and how fostering a people-first workplace helps companies prosper. She’s taking this passion to the Phoenix Business RadioX airwaves later this month as the host of the new show Culture Crush Rx. She’ll be chatting with local thought leaders, CEOs and motivational experts to highlight the companies we’re crushing on for great culture right now and uncover the secrets to crush it in your own business.

Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow Anahata Marketing on Facebook.

Dr. Adrian McIntyre is a cultural anthropologist, media personality, and internationally recognized authority on human communication. He has worked in over 30 countries and spent nearly a decade in the Middle East and Africa as a researcher, journalist, educator, and media spokesperson for two of the largest humanitarian relief agencies in the world.

Adrian grew up in his dad’s radio station and has been storytelling on stages and in the media since he was five years old. He reported for Newsweek during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, then traveled to Baghdad as a member of the crisis response teams for Mercy Corps and Oxfam.

When extreme violence forced aid agencies to withdraw from Iraq, Adrian moved to Sudan to work as a media officer and communication strategist. For 14 months he was Oxfam’s field-based spokesperson on the crisis in Darfur, helping to make that conflict the biggest news story of 2004. His hundreds of media appearances reached millions of people via major news outlets such as the BBC, CNN, National Public Radio, FOX News Online, and the New York Times, as well as regional newspapers and radio stations throughout North America and Europe.

Dr. McIntyre earned a PhD in cultural anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a Fulbright scholar and National Science Foundation research fellow. He remained there an adjunct professor until 2012, when he left the university to teach and train in the private sector and online.

Today, Dr. McIntyre delivers speeches and workshops on high-performance communication and culture. He also trains entrepreneurs, executives, and corporate teams to harness the power of personal storytelling, digital marketing, and media to build their personal leadership brand, boost their visibility, and accelerate the growth of their business.

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

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jay Feitlinger Founder and CEO with StringCan Interactive and Charlie Hess President of St Clair Technologies

June 11, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jay Feitlinger Founder and CEO with StringCan Interactive and Charlie Hess President of St Clair Technologies

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LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jay Feitlinger Founder and CEO with StringCan Interactive and Charlie Hess President of St Clair Technologies

StringCan Interactive, located in Scottsdale, Arizona is a growing online marketing agency that has twice earned the “Best Places to Work” award in Phoenix. They are passionate about helping grow businesses that sell products and services to families, such as swim schools, gymnastics facilities, and fitness clubs.

Consumers live in a busy world, filled with millions of messages from billions of people. It’s easy for businesses to get lost and even lose contact with their customers. While connecting the right people at the right time may be difficult, it can be done. At StringCan, they believe in simplifying and focusing on building valuable and meaningful relationships between businesses and their customers.

They know customers want to be heard as much as they want to communicate with them. So they keep communication as simple as two cans and a string. Multi-location businesses in particular understand the importance of presenting a seamless brand experience and consistency in communication. They step in to help discover and resolve online company obstacles and fine tuning the brand experience by personalizing for each local market. They specialize in creating a strategy that connects the company with their localized customers and connecting brands with their ideal customers through strategic inbound marketing.

Jay Feitlinger, serial entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of StringCan Interactive, his 8th company, which is a strategic online marketing agency in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since StringCan’s launch in 2010, Jay oversees strategy and vision, building culture that makes going into work something his team looks forward to, recruiting additional team members to help exceed clients’ goals, leading the team and allocating where StringCan invests time and money. One of Jay’s proudest accomplishments is earning Phoenix’s Best Places To Work award, on two occasions, recognizing StringCan for its dedication to its staff personal and professional development.

Practicing what he preaches around helping companies stay focused, Jay has positioned StringCan to help grow businesses that cater to families, such as health clubs, swim schools and gymnastic schools, frequently multi-location companies with their inbound marketing and online advertising needs. This commitment has earned multi-year contracts with large family-oriented companies such as The Little Gym with over 250 locations and GameTruck with over 175 locations.

Through years of experience, trial and error, success and failure, heartache and joy, Jay has found that our professional and personal lives are not in fact separate entities. In fact, it’s only when our home lives thrive that our businesses can be free to thrive too. And this is a truth that every entrepreneur deserves to hear. In 2015, Jay took the lessons he has learned from his last 8 businesses and created a 4-day family retreat to help entrepreneurs and business executives who desire more out of their family lives. The results of this process helped Jay with his own family issues and as he shared the process with others, he was inspired to have his first book published, FAMILY 2.0: Harness Business Principles to Reboot your Family in 4 Days, which focuses on helping entrepreneurs strengthen their families – and in turn strengthen their businesses.

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn and Twitter, and follow StringCan Interactive on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

At St. Clair Technologies, we take pride in listening to our customers’ needs and how they want to do business. “Full Service” and “Partnership” are not just jargon or buzz-words to us. We realize your success depends on our ability to respond to change, to deliver quality and reliability and to reduce manufacturing costs. From a simple connector to a complete wire harness system, let us put our ability and experience to work for you.

Charlie Hess was born in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, and enjoyed playing Canada’s 2 national sports: hockey and lacrosse, growing-up in the small town where St. Clair Technologies Inc. (SCT) originated. He graduated from The University of Waterloo, Ontario, in 1994 with degrees in Business, and Environmental Science & Resource Management. He began his career in the family business after graduation, with plans to continue his education focusing on Environmental Law. Before he could return to a post-graduate program, SCT requested a volunteer to relocate to Mexico in order to greenfield the company’s first international division. Charlie answered this call, and while his ability to speak Spanish was non-existent, his background in manufacturing had been developed over several years of employment in numerous positions working for the company he now partly-owned.

In the summer of 1996, Charlie and a small crew from the Canadian Operation opened a plant in Empalme, Sonora, Mexico. Having only 4 direct employees in the beginning, the learning curve was steep in this developing nation, but soon a profitable 2-shift operation was growing under his guidance. SCT needed second manufacturing location to manage growth, and after 4 years a facility in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, was constructed. Through a partnership with The Offshore Group (of Tucson, AZ, USA) SCT expanded into automotive and non-automotive electrical system manufacturing in Mexico. Several US Tier 1, and OEM customers were being supplied with electrical harness system utilizing a just-in-time, and in some cases a ship-to-vin sequence process. Under the mentorship of Dave Thomas, President of SCT, and former President of Stoneridge’s harness division: Alphabet (a major competitor to SCT), Charlie expanded his management of the company to include all manufacturing operations, which totaled 4 plants through most of the 1990’s. He was responsible for many facets of the business, and became a driving force behind
the Shareholders’ decision making.

In 2005, he became SCT’s President, and took on all facets of the company’s directions, including: operations, sales, marketing, P&L, asset management and strategic plan development. Since that time, the company’s overall revenue has increased by 225%, and profitability has been successfully maintained through the automotive crash in 2009/10, and into the past 7 years of stable economic growth in the US automotive marketplace. Charlie’s vision is to continue investing in technology and developing his management team to ensure that SCT has a bright future.

Follow SCT on LinkedIn and Facebook.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Stacie Mallen with CampusLogic and Special Co-Host Kathleen Gramzay with Kinessage

June 11, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Stacie Mallen with CampusLogic and Special Co-Host Kathleen Gramzay with Kinessage

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Stacie Mallen with CampusLogic and Special Co-Host Kathleen Gramzay with Kinessage

CampusLogic’s student financial services platform enables colleges and universities to provide easy, mobile, personalized financial aid that drives student engagement and improves enrollment. More than 400 institutions—serving 1.4 million students—improve their enrollment yield, process efficiencies, and student satisfaction by better engaging students from the initial college search through graduation.

BlueRepublic is a new concept in personal fitness that shifts the focus of change to three core areas: Movement, Nutrition and Recovery. Each area is weighted evenly within programming. BlueBites is part of the Republic, providing healthy meal options for clients.

Being called a Rebel, Troublemaker and Entrepreneur all mean the same thing to Stacie Mallen: you are doing your job if you are pushing your organization toward change, growth and purpose. After spending her 20 year career in a progression of successful start-up companies as well as leading a large scale team in a Fortune 50 company, she quickly realized that she was not capable of
“blending in”. Now specializing in leading cultural revolution for high growth companies, she constantly absorbs, writes and speaks about the tangible actions that leaders can take to build a purpose driven/values based company that also drives top line growth while exhibiting bottom line stewardship. Currently Stacie is the Chief People Officer for the High Growth Ed Tech
company CampusLogic, contributor to Forbes Magazine, Published Author, and Speaker.

Leading a dual life has always been an integrated part of Stacie’s path as she has been coaching, teaching and leading fitness and wellness programs for over 25 years. In 2003, back before wellness was “hip” she was asked to combine her love of culture and wellbeing leading efforts for Caremark to lead initiatives to change habits for employees. Since that time, she has launched programs at
every organization as an element of cultural evolution. Wellbeing integrates the work of self into every aspect of the People practice making people more aware as they lead, develop and grow their organizations. Recently she and her husband launched a new concept in fitness, Blue Republic, that takes 20 years of her practical application to help achieve true integration of wellbeing in the
lives of clients.

Connect with Stacie on LinkedIn and Facebook, and follow CampusLogic on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Kinessage LLC serves wellness-conscious companies and individuals who understand that people cannot be productive or present with clients, colleagues or loved ones if they are in pain or can’t move comfortably in their bodies. Kinessage® Self-Care is a do-it-yourself solution to relieve the stress, muscular pain, and chronic tension underlying musculoskeletal conditions without drugs or need of a practitioner.

Kathleen Gramzay, BCTMB, is a 17-year Board Certified Massage Therapist, Author, Speaker, Wellness Educator, Developer and Continuing Education Provider of Kinessage® Self-Care. Her life-long passion for movement, understanding the human body, and personal challenges created the conditions that brought Kinessage® into being.

Kathleen has an engaging knack for simplifying and sharing how the body/mind works and how you can partner with it, not just for greater physical health but to a live a more joyful life. Her interactive “Lessons from the Body/Mind” speaking presentations serve as a unique platform for stress relief and experiential team building across the spectrum of industries from architectural and financial services to healthcare, sales, and manufacturing.

Not surprisingly, for fun, she loves to move whether that is dancing or out in nature hiking, biking, or rollerblading. She also enjoys travel, nature photography, and meditation.

Connect with Kathleen on LinkedIn and Facebook.