Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Adam Goodman President and CEO of Goodmans Interior Structures

June 5, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Adam Goodman President and CEO of Goodmans Interior Structures

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BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Adam Goodman President and CEO of Goodmans Interior Structures

As part of the “Shine a Bright Light” initiative of Conscious Capitalism AZ, we capture stories about how companies have incorporated the tenets of Conscious Capitalism into their leadership and culture. In this segment, Host Jon Deiter speaks with Adam Goodman about his journey as President and CEO of Goodmans Interior Structures – a third generation family business.

Goodmans has led the industry in training and employee development. Their team members are trained in design principles, construction codes, project management procedures and the latest product innovations. Goodmans’ clients and colleagues appreciate the expert knowledge and professionalism Goodmans delivers at every stage of a project and well after installation.

Under Adam Goodman’s leadership, Goodmans has developed many innovative programs to give back to the community. These programs include Office Chair Hockey, Goodmans Eye for the Good Guy, AIM to Make a Difference, Rooted in Good, GoodInc, GoodART, GoodTHREADS and more. In 2009, Goodmans won the first-ever ACE Award for Community Impact and in 2011 Goodmans became the third certified B Corp in Arizona. In 2012, Goodmans won the overall Impact Company of the Year Award from the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. In 2013, Goodmans was the Better Business Bureau’s Ethics Award winner for Arizona and then Goodmans was honored with the BBB’s International Torch Award for Ethics. In 2014 Goodmans was named to the Game Changers 500 list as one of the top 500 companies in the world using business as a force for social change. In 2015 Goodmans became the first Benefit Corporation (B Corp) registered in the State of Arizona.

Adam has held leadership positions with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Phoenix, Phoenix Country Day School, Young Presidents Organization, Conscious Capitalism, Independent Newsmedia, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, the Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Phoenix Symphony, CEO’s Against Cancer, University of Arizona Cancer Center, the State of Arizona Secretary of State’s Commerce Council, First Place AZ, ASU Herberger Institute Dean’s Creativity Council, WP Carey School of Business Economic Club of Phoenix, the National Dealer Alliance and the Herman Miller Certified Dealer Network.

Adam has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of Texas at Austin. He resides in Paradise Valley with his wife Stephanie and their three children.

Adam’s Talk on Sum and Substance Conscious Capitalism with Adam on TedX

Follow Goodmans on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS SOLUTIONS RADIO HOST

In 2014, Jon Deiter was working on the leadership team of a company which began implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®). Jon experienced first-hand the value and power of EOS and its simple tools to establish a clear vision, gain traction toward that vision, and grow a healthy team.

He also came to realize his true motivation and passion ….. to help many more companies achieve great things through implementing EOS! He was trained as a Professional EOS Implementer and since 2015 has been working with organizations to help them implement EOS. He offers his implementation/coaching services through his company, Jon Deiter Solutions, LLC.

EOS is a people-centric management system that embodies successful, proven ways of working with people and a team. In addition to company growth and achieving the life you desire, implementing EOS has positive impacts to employees, culture and team health.

Jon has worked for over 30 years in leadership/management positions in privately held and family owned entrepreneurial businesses as well as smaller divisions of public companies. He earned an MBA in Finance from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois and he has worked as a licensed CPA with Accreditation in Business Valuation and Certified Global Management Accountant. He has held positions in a variety of industries as Tax Advisor, Consultant, Controller, Vice President, CFO, and President.

His leadership career in manufacturing, distribution and service businesses, along with experience as both a user and implementer of EOS, give Jon a unique perspective to pursue his passion of helping business owners and leadership teams achieve all they want from their business.

Jon is active in the Conscious Capitalism movement and is a founding member and Treasurer of the Arizona Chapter of Conscious Capitalism. Jon lives in Chandler, Arizona with his wife Julie, having moved to Arizona from Chicago suburbs in 2003.

www.linkedin.com/in/jondeitereosimplementer
www.eosworldwide.com
www.consciouscapitalismaz.com
Jon’s Direct Line: 480-760-5809

NAWBO Phoenix Business Impact Award Finalists

May 30, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

NAWBO Phoenix Business Impact Award Finalists

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NAWBO Phoenix Business Impact Award Finalists

In this segment of Phoenix Business Radio, Host Karen Nowicki, sat down with incoming NAWBO Phoenix President, Ronit Urman, and the “Business Impact Award” Finalists to talk about their journeys to success, the challenges they’ve faced along the way and their untiring commitment to help others. While each of these leaders represent different industries and have their own unique perspective, talent and skill set, you’ll hear the shared enthusiasm, joy and mutual respect that quickly developed as their stories unfold.

The NAWBO Phoenix Business Impact Award is presented to a woman business owner who has built a successful and prosperous enterprise in spite of obstacles or challenges. This individual demonstrates innovation in her or his industry, gives back to the community, and has had a positive impact within her or his industry, community and economy of the metro Phoenix area. The Business Impact Award is one of several distinguished awards acknowledged by NAWBO each year.

Join NAWBO Phoenix for the 2018 “Desert Diamonds” Awards Gala honoring these women and many others who positively impact our community. The event will be emceed by Susan Casper, host of ABC15 TV’s Sonoran Living.

Wed, June 13, 2018
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM MST

The Clayton on the Park
7343 E. Scottsdale Mall
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

The National Association Of Woman Business Owners chapter (NAWBO) is the voice of America’s 10.6 million women-owned businesses. Since 1975, NAWBO has helped women evolve their businesses by sharing resources and providing a single voice to shape economic and public policy. NAWBO is the only dues-based national organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs in all types of businesses. There are chapters of NAWBO in almost every metropolitan area. NAWBO is represented in 33 countries across the world through its affiliation with Les Femmes Chefs d’ Enterprises Mondiales (World Association of Women Entrepreneurs). NAWBO’s strength comes from the diversity of its membership – all sizes from sole proprietorship to hundreds of employees; every industry from construction, importers, retailers to service providers – and in all areas of the country. Membership is open to sole proprietors, partners and corporate owners with day-to-day management responsibility. Active members who live in a chapter area automatically join both chapter and national. There is an At-Large Chapter for the women business owners outside the chapter areas

The Phoenix chapter is one of the top 10 chapters in US and has been around for 33 years.

Ronit Urman is the Designated Broker and CFO for Urman Enterprises, LLC, a family owned and managed real estate firm in Scottsdale, Arizona. Ronit began working in real estate in 1987 in Montreal, Canada, and has a lengthy background in accounting.

She and her husband Eitan have been working together for 31 years and have 2 grown children.

Follow NAWBO and Urman Enterprises on Facebook.

Arizona Sunrays provides the highest quality programs for children of all ages, abilities and needs. Programs include: recreational and competitive gymnastics, dance, yoga, aerial arts, Ninja Zone, Supercamp, Active Preschool, field trips, birthday parties and adult classes. Arizona Sunrays’ mission is to offer a variety of high quality programs to our community as well as to empower individuals through fun and fitness! We are families serving families!

For 28 years Julie Witenstein has provided children’s movement activities that are the highest in safety, quality, fun, and inclusiveness. The generations of family support and long time connections are the wonderful bonus’s that have come from years of nurturing the dancers, gymnasts, campers and staff of Arizona Sunrays. Julie has employed hundreds of enthusiastic, caring people over the years, while maintaining a dedicated, core staff that has remained for decades! Arizona Sunrays, through Julie’s direction, developed a successful community outreach class program that lead to the opening of their first, brick and mortar satellite location in Arcadia last January.

Julie strives to use local businesses and vendors for cleaning supplies, equipment, cafe food and drinks, and the realtor, architect and builder for Arizona Sunrays’ new building. Julie has elevated Arizona Sunrays to be a leader in their industry by continually adding programs, such as year-round camp, a licensed Active Preschool, cafe, gift shop, affordable staff childcare, continuous training, education, and certifications for their staff and much more. Most recently, she spearheaded the building of their dream facility that opened in September of 2017. Mayor Stanton stated, “Arizona Sunrays’ building is the crown jewel of North 32nd Street!”

Follow Arizona Sunrays on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Rose Law Group pc is a full-service real estate and business law firm practicing in land use, zoning, renewable energy, government relations and lobbying, administrative law, family law, transactional real estate, employment law, water law, Native American relations, ADA compliance, infrastructure finance, special districts taxation, business formation/corporation transactions, business litigation, school law, cyber-defamation, cyber-privacy, drone law, cannabis law, intellectual property, estate planning, asset protection, private litigation, class actions and DUI’s.

Rose Law Group pc values “outrageous client service.” We pride ourselves on hyper-responsiveness to our clients’ needs and an extraordinary record of success in achieving our clients’ goals. We know we get results and our list of outstanding clients speaks to the quality of our work.

Jordan Rose started Rose Law Group pc, leasing space for just herself in another lawyer’s storage room and has, in eighteen years, grown the firm to the largest woman-owned law firm in Arizona history.

Jordan’s passion is adding value to her client’s business propositions – her goal being “to make my clients more money”. The Phoenix Business Journal once asked Jordan what she enjoys most about the practice of law and she responded, “the ability to help people solve their problems.”

Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn and follow Rose Law Group on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

AMS Renatus Investing is an investment company focused on value add single family and multifamily investments. Strength in management and an emphasis on customer service has led to strong tenant retention and maximized ROI.

POTER Inc, is a 501C3 non-for-profit that provides over 50 support programs and outreach to various families, primarily focusing on refugees. The programs target infants, children, adults and seniors on a holistic level to help them become integrated and self-sufficient New Americans.

The combination of the for-profit and supporting non-profit leads to the success of the resident value as well as turning long time residents into vested homeowners within the immediate community, leading to the increased broad reaching neighborhood revitalization.

As the managing member of AMS Renatus Investing LLC since August 2011, Anna Sepic focuses on renovating homes with a specialty in the repositioning of large multi-family properties facing mismanagement and blight across the Greater Valley, with expertise in West Phoenix and Glendale. She has several other investment companies with her partners, all with the same mission and vision. Her oversite includes acquisitions, repositioning, management and dispositions for her companies. Grassroots community organizing is also a critical component that leads to such tremendous success of the housing projects and leads to overall large-scale community revitalization of the surrounding neighborhoods.

Anna is extensively involved in community work with refugees and the Hispanic communities. A firm believer in education, both formal and informal, she has seen the need for a multi-faceted approach at addressing complex social issues. As a result, POTER INC. was created back in 2013, whose vision focuses on formalizing the critical components necessary for empowerment and true raising up of the entire community. POTER INC takes a comprehensive approach to providing necessary tools to engage and empower the disenfranchised and marginalized. Its success lies in the extensive public-private partnerships with churches, schools, government agencies, businesses and other non-profit entities to provide trainings, orientations and various supportive programming for children, adults and seniors. POTER Inc. is officially active 501 (c) (3) since November 2015.

With a heavy community service attitude, Anna is very active in various community programs and boards. She has gone through several leadership and development programs as the youngest graduate at the time, including the DPS Citizens Academy, the Phoenix PD Citizens Academy as well as the FBI Citizens’ Academy, and most recently the MCAO Citizen Academy (2016). She also received the 2014 City of Phoenix “Volunteer Impact Award” from Mayor Stanton and Councilwoman Laura Pastor.

Anna also participated in the first two consecutive years of the St. Luke’s Health Initiative’s (now Vitalyst Foundation), invitation only, “Fellowship Cohort” that was established in 2013. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Maryvale Revitalization Corporation and working with various community groups in the Canyon Corridor as well as the North Mountain Redevelopment area, and was a graduate of the Valley Leadership Advance, Class #2 (2016).

A graduate from the W.P. Carey School of Business from Arizona State University with a Masters of Real Estate Development (MRED), she is now a “double devil” having previously completed her undergraduate degrees in just two and a half years (2011) with a double major and minor: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies and Social Inquiry, and a minor in English. She stays in close contact with her Xavier/Brophy alumni as well (2008). In her spare time, she continues her passion for volunteer work by mentoring refugee youth, tutoring in English and writing and speaking at various engagements about refugees, innovative housing, and a young business leader, most notably to the recent Mandela-Obama scholars visiting Phoenix in June 2017.

Connect with Anna on LinkedIn and follow POTER, Inc. on Instagram.

Crystal Hollman with Crystal Clear Photography and Professional Stylist and Personal Shopper Loren North E3

May 30, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Crystal Hollman with Crystal Clear Photography and Professional Stylist and Personal Shopper Loren North E3

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Crystal Hollman with Crystal Clear Photography and Professional Stylist and Personal Shopper Loren North E3

Crystal Clear Photography was designed to provide photography services for the creative solopreneur or small business owner. In an effort to do so Crystal Clear Photography provides many options to support the business owners in achieving a look that fits their brand, personality and helps them reach their audience in a new and fun way. Crystal Clear Photography does this through lifestyle business images, headshots, workshops and styled stock photography.

Crystal Hollman is a professional, fun and real life Mom Boss. She’s raising 2 little girls, while wearing many hats including Cancer Mom. Crystal manages to do it all while running her photography business that she designed to help others like herself get the branded photos they need. As Crystal’s business has grown and changed over the years, she has found new and fun ways of getting images in the hands of the Solopreneur or Small Business Owner while educating them on how, when and where they can use them. She has gone as far as creating fun hands-on workshops, mentoring, free do-it-yourself worksheets, and writing instructional and informative blogs. Crystal dreams of her business reaching all of the creative business owners in the Phoenix community and empowering them to grow through their images.

Follow Crystal Clear Photography on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Personal fashion stylist Loren North is a former geologist who traded in her steel toed boots for high heels to pursue her passion for saving the planet by changing how we style, care and shop for our clothes.

She works with women and men who are frustrated with what’s in their closets, feel like they have nothing to wear, and usually don’t like to shop or don’t have time to go shopping. Loren teaches her clients what works for their bodies, restyles their clothing in new ways allowing them to extract value from what they already own and shows them how to shift their shopping habits so they are more sustainable.

After working with Loren, her clients look pulled together, feel more confident and comfortable, and dress with ease. Her company is a personal styling consultancy focused on helping professional men and women show up powerfully each day looking confident and comfortable because their style and clothes work for them. Visit Loren’s website LorenENorth.com to learn more about how she can help you.

Loren’s personal journey to becoming a personal stylist started with shopping at thrift stores and consignment stores. She used to shop at typical retail stores but realized nothing in these stores was inspiring, but it was easy. She was in a style and shopping rut.

After a few years of casually shopping secondhand and increasing the amount of clothing she purchased from secondhand sources, Loren realized the huge amount of surplus clothes and accessories that are available. She also noticed that her style started to evolve and improve, as she wore the secondhand items to experiment and upgrade her style. The ah-ha moment came when she started to receive compliments on her outfits from strangers. The best part? Most of these clothes were from thrift stores.

She decided she wanted to bring that experience to her clients. She wanted them gain the confidence that comes from having the “right” outfit to wear, feel good about their bodies, and she wanted to show them how shopping at consignment stores is better for their style and the planet.

Loren’s mission is to change the way people think about their clothes, where they buy them, and make more conscious shopping decisions.

Follow Loren on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

About 3C Amplified

3C Amplified is a space to highlight businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals collaborating to amplify their impact in the community. We share real world examples for how partnerships allow for growth both within our businesses and our communities. Listen in as we share how others are connecting, creating and collaborating and how you can be part of something greater.

About Jacqueline Destremps

Jacqueline Destremps is a creative marketing strategist and founded Another Hand Advantage, LLC in 2014 to help community minded small business owners and nonprofit professionals move forward more confidently with their marketing strategy. After graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in Psychology, she has spent her professional career working in both the nonprofit and for-profit sector.

She now enjoys being self-employed and the flexibility it provides to allow more time to volunteer, serve on nonprofit boards, choose pro-bono projects, run 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun (which she co-founded in 2014) and travel the world. Jacqueline believes in creating connections between businesses and nonprofits in the community to stimulate growth and collaboration.

Follow AHA on Twitter and Facebook.

RHINO NATION David Hash with Continuum Consulting and Kendall Jones with Local First Arizona

May 30, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

RHINO NATION David Hash with Continuum Consulting and Kendall Jones with Local First Arizona

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RHINO NATION David Hash with Continuum Consulting and Kendall Jones with Local First Arizona

Continuum Consulting was founded in 1997 by high-end IT specialists working for contract companies. There was a need and opportunity to improve IT specialist and contractor relationships. Continuum was founded on the principles of delivering high quality service and products to ensure a successful experience for both the clients and contractors. As an Arizona IT recruiter and software producer, our client base includes national corporations and local small businesses. With our integrity, professional attitude and commitment to service, we sustain happy clients and employees.

It’s often said that entrepreneurs are born and not made, and that certainly holds true for David Hash. Starting when he was a teenager, David has been a visionary, creating customized solutions for businesses to improve efficiencies and increase revenue opportunities. Across his career, he has spearheaded three business ventures covering a range of expertise areas including manufacturing, project management, product development, e-commerce, and staffing and recruiting. His longest-running success story is Continuum Consulting, whose staffing specialists adeptly match IT and finance professionals with leading companies to build win-win relationships.

A true leader, David is not one to be tied down by conventions – or even a desk. He is often spotted across the Valley at networking events, constantly creating new partnerships and alliances to advance his business development efforts. When he assumed presidency of Continuum Consulting in 2005, moving from his position as board member and owner, he began to inject his energy and management style into the company. By forecasting the upcoming shift in economic conditions, David was able to craft a strategic plan to weather the storm and emerge even more successful on the other side. Keenly aware of his strengths and limitations, David surrounds himself with a talented team that is able to interpret, support, and execute his initiatives. If there isn’t a picture in the dictionary next to the definition of entrepreneur, there should be – of David Hash.

Follow Continuum Consulting on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization that celebrates independent, locally owned businesses. They support, promote and advocate for a strong local business community and raise public awareness of the economic and cultural benefits provided by strong local economies. Local businesses contribute to a sustainable economy for Arizona and build vibrant communities we’re all proud to call home.

Kendall Jones is the Community Outreach Manager for Local First Arizona. She is an ASU Alumna, Public Allies Alum, and bridges the two communities of education and social justice through her work everyday. Kendall sees strength in collaboration and is committed to bringing equity to every Arizonan.

Follow Local First Arizona on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and 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.

Co-Op THINK18 The Race to Excellence at Sheraton Grand at Wildhorse Pass

May 23, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Co-Op THINK18 The Race to Excellence at Sheraton Grand at Wildhorse Pass

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Co-Op THINK18 The Race to Excellence at Sheraton Grand at Wildhorse Pass

CO-OP’s 11^th annual THINK conference gathered over 750 credit union leaders from around the U.S. They met at the Sheraton Grand at Wildhorse Pass in Chandler, AZ to collaborate and learn strategies to achieve excellence through digital transformation. With the theme of the “Race to Excellence”, there was a strong focus on navigating the complexities of rapid evolution and revolution in order to meet the growing needs of financial consumers. Technology is changing faster than ever, presenting new challenges and opportunities for credit unions; but one thing is for certain, together through strategic partnership and collaboration our industry is well-positioned to thrive.

Phoenix Business RadioX‘s President, Karen Nowicki, along with Co-Hosts, Jodi Low, President & Founder with U & Improved, and Arizona Small Business Association‘s Director of Business Development, Ryan Reyes, got to sit down with a few of CO-OP THINK18’s Speakers, Executive Leaders, “Crashers” and movers & shakers to hear first-hand what’s trending in the industry and how impactful CO-OP THINK Conferences continue to be for credit union leaders and their communities.

Interview with CO-OP Financial Services CEO and President, Todd Clark

DOWNLOAD HERE

Interview with Ray Lancaster, President/CEO with Pyramid Federal Credit Union

DOWNLOAD HERE

Interview with Samantha Paxson, Chief Marketing Officer with Co-Op Financial Services

DOWNLOAD HERE

Interview with Bobbi Febell, CFP and Author of “How to Be a Financial Grown-up”

DOWNLOAD HERE

Interview with Brandon McAdams, Marketing Vice President with Coastal Credit Union

DOWNLOAD HERE

Interview with Debt Free Guys, John Schneider and David Auten

DOWNLOAD HERE

Interview with Andrew Chalko, Vice President with Elements Financial

DOWNLOAD HERE

Interview with Kelly Mendenhall, Product Vice President with CO-OP Financial Services

DOWNLOAD HERE

Interview with Paul Love, Chief Information Security Officer with CO-OP Financial

DOWNLOAD HERE

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jim Mapstead with Accurate Signs and Engraving and Randy Gibb with Grand Canyon University

May 18, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jim Mapstead with Accurate Signs and Engraving and Randy Gibb with Grand Canyon University

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LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jim Mapstead with Accurate Signs and Engraving and Randy Gibb with Grand Canyon University

Accurate Signs & Engraving, Inc. is the nation’s largest supplier of laser engraved tags and decals to solar panel installers, fabricating quality decals and plastic and metal engraved tags for over 25 years.

We pride ourselves on meeting deadlines and delivering unsurpassed customer service.

Jim Mapstead has been a resident of Phoenix on and off since 1963. Shortly after graduating from Maryvale High School, Jim started the Student Suffrage League of Arizona to advocate for getting the voting age lowered to 18. In 1970, Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Once his military service was over, Jim attended the University of Arizona and then in 1976 moved to the Washington D.C. area to work on the National Campaign to Stop the B1 bomber.

After the successful completion of that issue, he started his own business in 1983 creating custom furniture. In 1985 he bought a lumberyard in Prince George’s County, Maryland. In 1987, he bought a hardware store in Alexandria, VA, and in 1988 built a hardware store in Frederick, Maryland. He subsequently lost all of his businesses and had to lay off 47 employees in the recession of the late 80’s. In 1991, Jim and his wife moved back home to Phoenix.

Since returning, Jim purchased and continues to run his own business, Accurate Signs & Engraving. Accurate is one of the nation’s largest provider of laser engraved tags and decals to solar panel installers in North America. He has also been an active member of his community. Jim is a graduate of Valley Leadership Class XXVI, and was awarded the Big Brother of the Year award in 2005. Jim is a past Board Member and Executive Committee member of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. In 2011, Jim was a Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award winner for Community Involvement. He is a former President of the Sunnyslope Village Alliance, and former President of the Sunnyslope Kiwanis Club. Additionally, Jim is the former Chair of the Paradise Valley Village Planning Committee, and has run for election to Phoenix City Council. He is the former President of the Executive Association of Greater Phoenix, for five years served as the Board Chair of Local First Arizona, and was an ASU W.P. Carey School of Business Spirt of Enterprise Finalist in 2015. Currently, Jim is the incoming Board Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, and Vice Chair of the Herberger Theater Center.

Jim and his wife of 34 years, Jill, have two daughters, Jesse and Leah. Jim and his wife currently travel extensively in search of great food and wine.

Follow Accurate Signs and Engraving on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Randy Gibb is Dean of the Colangelo College of Business at Grand Canyon University (GCU), Phoenix, AZ. Under his leadership since 2014, the business college has moved forward with the vision of Inspiring Free Markets and Purpose for Prosperity, Business as a Force for Good and Business as Ministry. He serves on the Board of the AZ Chapter Conscious Capitalism and the Governor appointed Arizona Workforce Council. Prior to GCU Randy was at Arizona State University as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Human & Environmental Systems Department.

Before transitioning to Arizona higher educational leadership positions, Randy served 26 years in the United States Air Force. His leadership experiences consisted of commanding two US Air Force flying organizations, leading the US Air Force Academy’s Behavioral Science & Leadership Department, and was a Senior Military Professor at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, OH, working human systems integration. Randy has extensive experience in operational leadership, leadership development, organizational change, business development, teaching, and coaching. Randy has published and presented in various aviation/academic journals and conferences on topics of aviation safety and human factors engineering. He completed his Air Force career in 2012 as a full Colonel and Command Pilot.

Originally from Stevens Point, WI, Randy was a Distinguished Graduate from the US Air Force Academy in 1986. Randy was team captain of the 1986 National Collegiate Boxing Association championship team and was an individual national champion at 147 lbs. He earned his PhD and Master of Science in Engineering from Arizona State University in Industrial Engineering – Human Factors. He also has a Master of Arts from the US Naval Command & Staff College in Newport, RI. Randy and his wife, Jill, have been married for 30 years and have four children.

Follow Grand Canyon University on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

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.

E7 Evalyne Cambron Project Management Consultant and Mentor

May 18, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

E7 Evalyne Cambron Project Management Consultant and Mentor

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E7 Evalyne Cambron Project Management Consultant and Mentor

In this episode of Project Management Office Hours, PMO Joe and his guest, Evalyne Cambron discuss a wide range of Project Management topics including, Remote/Virtual Project Management, Risk & Issue Management, Giving back to the Community, Mentoring, and Project Success Stories.

Joe begins the show praising Dr. James T Brown for his presentation on Change Management delivered at the PMI Phoenix Chapter May Dinner Meeting. Joe then introduces Evalyne and they discuss the Veterans Project Management Mentoring Program which is sponsored by THE PMO SQUAD, Vets2PM, and Veterans2Work. Evalyne is a Mentor in the program, and she walks us through how Mentors have been influential in her life, including Olenka Cullinan. Giving back to the community plays an important role in Evalyne’s life. She holds a Board position with the Candle Wishes Foundation Phoenix location. We also discuss Project Management Best Practices and tools such as a Risk Log, RAID Log, and Stakeholder Communication. Evalyne shares a few of her biggest career successes including leading Projects with big returns for IBM and American Express.

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

Evalyne Cambron has 20 years of experience in the field of Information Technology and has a diverse background working as a Project Manager, Program Manager, and Portfolio Manager. She began her career working for IBM and is now currently a Consultant with RGP.

Throughout her career, Evalyne built a reputation for improving business strategies and has successfully delivered multi million dollar global programs. Evalyne created a global, custom Marine & Offshore platform allowing American Express Global Business Travel the opportunity to support existing and new clients; bringing in an estimated $100M in revenue.

Evalyne developed a Project Status Reporting Package for highly visible projects in excess of $10M in funding and ROI’s over $100M for which she won an award from a Senior Vice President. She was also recognized by the CEO of IBM for delivering $19M in revenue gain by developing and implementing actionable reports addressing missed revenue opportunities in Latin America.

Evalyne holds a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University where she was awarded “Outstanding Senior” by the W. A. Franke College of Business. Helping others is important to her and she serves on the Board of Directors for the non-profit Candle Wishes Foundation which provides birthday parties for underprivileged children in Arizona. Evalyne has mentored several people over the years and is thrilled to be a part of the Veterans Project Management Mentoring Program.

Connect with Evalyne on LinkedIn and follow Candle Wishes on Twitter and Facebook.

Candle Wishes is a Christian faith based 501(c)(3) non-profit that fulfills birthday wishes and provides essential needs for underprivileged children in Rutherford County, Tennessee and Phoenix, Arizona. Candle Wishes serves 700 needy children in Rutherford County each year. And, we are thrilled to be opening a new chapter of Candle Wishes to serve the children of Phoenix!

The work of Candle Wishes is performed solely by volunteers. Daily operations are overseen by Founder and Executive Director Jenny Williams in Tennessee and Kristy Morgan in Arizona. A Board of Directors, comprised of area business people and community volunteers, assists in setting policies for Candle Wishes, orchestrates fundraising opportunities, and provides hands-on assistance at monthly parties. Hundreds of volunteers from churches, schools, community groups, and businesses contribute their time and finances each year to sponsor children and host monthly parties.

Groups or individuals are solicited each month to sponsor the birthday children and purchase gifts and basic clothing needs for them. The sponsors are given a wish list, supplied by their child’s caregiver, to help them in purchasing the gifts. The gifts are given to the children at a monthly birthday party where they and their families are treated to dinner and birthday cake and enjoy birthday games and activities. Various organizations and groups host these monthly birthday parties. Participating children, ages 1 to 12, are identified through the Salvation Army’s approved list of Angel Tree families and through recommendations from school guidance counselors, social workers, and other philanthropic organizations.

In addition to fulfilling children’s birthday wishes, Candle Wishes strives to provide useful resources for struggling families. By connecting families with agencies that provide free health care, churches that nurture spiritual needs, and organizations that meet personal care needs, Candle Wishes works toward its mission of positively impacting the lives of children in need. Candle Wishes aims to emulate Christ’s love by making life better for children and their families in every way it can.

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.

Kendall Jones with Local First Arizona and Special Co-Host Andrea Brundage Simple Organized Solutions

May 16, 2018 by Karen

KendallJonesLocalFirstandAndreaBrundageSimpleOrganizedSolutionsonBusinessRadioX1

Phoenix Business Radio

Kendall Jones with Local First Arizona and Special Co-Host Andrea Brundage Simple Organized Solutions

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Kendall Jones with Local First Arizona and Special Co-Host Andrea Brundage Simple Organized Solutions

Follow Local First Arizona on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Professional Organizer and Bringer of Calm, Andrea Brundage, is the Founder of Simple Organized Solutions, LLC (SOS). SOS is an organizing company that serves residential clients, corporate clients, and the senior community. Andrea is also a speaker, workshop facilitator and soon-to-be author.

Connect with and follow Andrea on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Dr Gary Witt Global Gun Safety Awareness and Gerry Hills Arizonans for Gun Safety on Business RadioX

May 14, 2018 by Karen

DrGaryWittwithGlobalGunSafetyAwarenessandGerryHillswithArizonansforGunSafetyonBusinessRadioX1

Phoenix Business Radio

Dr Gary Witt Global Gun Safety Awareness and Gerry Hills Arizonans for Gun Safety on Business RadioX

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Dr Gary Witt Global Gun Safety Awareness and Gerry Hills Arizonans for Gun Safety on Business RadioX

Global Gun Safety Awareness is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity located in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was formed in 2017.

GGSA’s mission and message is to warn parents about the danger of a hidden gun, to create new dialog about better solutions, to change thinking about children and guns, to offer alternatives, and to generate new behavior which protects children and ensures their safety.

GGSA’s mission is supported by numerous gun safety organizations, pediatricians, as well as gun safety trainers, gun retailers, and gun professionals. This issue transcends politics — No one wants to see a child hurt or killed.

GGSA is led by Dr. Gary Witt, a retired professor of psychology and marketing. Dr. Witt holds a doctorate from the University of Texas in psychology and communication.

He has written both trade and textbooks, was a reporter and anchorman, and produced multi-award winning history series for Public Broadcasting.

Follow GGSA on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Arizonans for Gun Safety (AZFGS) is a non-profit community-based organization founded in 1995 which is dedicated to reducing gun deaths and injuries with common sense, prevention-oriented solutions. In partnership with community partners representing health care, public health specialists, child advocacy groups, faith communities, law enforcement, education, parent groups and others we have developed programs to educate the public on the impact of gun violence, run public information campaigns to promote safe storage and suicide Prevention. In 2016 AZFGS established the Center for Dialogue and Policy to promote civic engagement in gun violence prevention policy. They are the fiscal agent and program partner of March for Our Lives Arizona.

Gerry Hills, Founder and Vice President of Arizonans for Gun Safety, believes now is the perfect time to talk about weapon regulations. According to Hills, the rising number of shootings in the United States needs to be addressed, and the best way to do that is to revisit regulations regarding gun control. Thoughts and prayers are good, said Hills, but action needs to be taken to prevent future tragedies.