Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Jason Higgins with Jupiter Rings Buffalo Sauce and LaWandra Thomas with I Desire Designs

July 20, 2023 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Jason Higgins with Jupiter Rings Buffalo Sauce and LaWandra Thomas with I Desire Designs

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Jason Higgins with Jupiter Rings Buffalo Sauce and LaWandra Thomas with I Desire Designs

Jupiter Rings buffalo sauce is a sweet / spicy packed sauced filled with tons of flavor that comes in Original, Vegan, and our newest flavor ” Rings Of Death” that will be a favorite to anyone that loves a good sauce to compliment there dish. Dubbed the ” Best Sauce Around”.

Jupiter Rings Wings & More is a restaurant that is said to have the Best Wings Around but is also the 1st restaurant concept where you can have anything on the menu traditional or vegan.

From wings, loaded fries, appetizer, or are famous Fried Alaskan King Crab Legs. You will not be disappointed.

Jason Higgins is a Kentucky native who brought his brand to the Arizona area 5 years ago. Started as just a buffalo sauce company, which in 2019 developed the Worlds 1st Vegan Buffalo Sauce.

As of now he currently sells his buffalo sauce in and 4500 stores worldwide.

In May 2020, He and his son Rashaad opened there 1st restaurant Phoenix which took the area by storm with the concept of serving identical traditional/ vegan items on his menu.

Follow Jupiter Rings on Instagram.

I Desire Designs was founded in 2017 to bring bold, eclectic tastes and a high level of sophistication to the luxury residential and commercial markets. At ID we are passionate believer in branded environments, we specializes in ensuring i | D’s commercial design work is flawlessly integrated and reflects an organization’s branding and culture.

At i | Desire Designs, our goal is to get to know each one of you, enhancing the way you live by making the most out of your space. Bringing out the passion in something you once considered non functional. We are designers who are able to take your personality and transform it into well designed art.

The result of our craft is exceptional luxury that is tailored and timeless. We are here to create a one-of-a-kind portrait of who you are, how you live, and what you love. We understand the challenges of strategizing to ensure affordable design ideas for all. We will remain creative in finding ways to fit your unique design demands all within your personalized budget!

Founder and owner of i | Desire Designs, LaWandra Thomas has been enhancing the beauty in every room she’s in since she could walk. Growing up in a construction family full of builders, she was determined to figure out where a female would fit in a world designed for men.

Constantly being told by her father, “You’re not a boy and to sit down and let the guys do all the work”. In an effort to make an attempt at listening, she pursued a degree at Arizona State University in Business Administration and Biology, setting out on a journey of becoming a dermatologist.

In hopes that this would surely be more acceptable in the eyes of her male counterparts. However, the burning desire to create never stopped regurgitating itself within her. That is evidence of the creation,“i | Desire Designs.”

With so many interior designers paving the way. She finally found where she fit in the builder’s world, a design field acceptable for both men and women. Today her world revolves around design. Inspired by everything in front of her. LaWandra believes everyone is uniquely created. So, why not live an equally creative lifestyle?

Connect with LaWandra on Instagram.

Ensuring Data Privacy When Using Generative AI E39

July 13, 2023 by Karen

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AZ TechCast

Ensuring Data Privacy When Using Generative AI E39

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Ensuring Data Privacy When Using Generative AI E39

What should executives keep in mind when considering the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure their organization’s data privacy?

The June 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Rebecca Clyde, co-founder and CEO of Botco.ai; Demetrius Dillard, senior director of IS/IT at Aspire Indiana Health; and Chris Maeda, chief technology officer at Botco.ai. These leaders joined Steve Zylstra, Council president and CEO, and Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, in discussing how to maintain control over your enterprise data when using large, publicly available generative AI language models.

In this hour-long episode, the panel of three experts explained the difference between generative AI and traditional AI, why generative AI is at the forefront of so many trending technology conversations, why generative AI is an appealing prospect for many organizations and how organizations are using this technology to make their processes more efficient. Throughout this entire conversation, the experts had an honest conversation about the possible dangers of entering data into a large language model and the best practices that organizations should adopt to protect themselves, their data and their customers.

Aspire Indiana is nonprofit, financially strong – and growing. Their health centers are located in Central Indiana, but their reach extends to helping Hoosiers all across the state.
A fully integrated health care provider, Aspire offers both primary medical and behavioral health care, but also addresses social drivers of health like employment and housing.

Their support programs include addiction services, individual and group therapy, infectious disease, youth and family services, crisis management, rehabilitation, housing assistance, job placement and more.

With over 500 members of staff and locations in Anderson, Carmel, Elwood, Indianapolis, Lebanon, and Noblesville, they are changing the way that healthcare is delivered not only to their target populations, but to anyone who wants high quality integrated healthcare at an affordable price.

Today, their mission statement is “Together…Making Health and Well-Being a Reality”. That reality can only be achieved by taking healthcare out of its traditional silos of behavioral health, primary health, and substance abuse treatment and managing health from a whole person perspective.

Their professionals work as a team to develop individualized and comprehensive treatment plans for the primary and behavioral healthcare needs of each individual that we serve. Many of their services are offered on a sliding-fee scale for those who don’t have insurance.

As Senior Director of Information Systems and Technology, Demetrius Dillard oversees all technical, communications and information systems infrastructure. This includes cloud-based server platforms, databases, and systems related to communication and networking.

He provides direction, planning, evaluation, recommendation and policy development pertaining to all technology platforms and information security.

Demetrius has undergraduate degrees from Purdue University with a focus on healthcare technology management, and a Master’s of Business Administration with a focus in Healthcare Administration from Western Governors University.

As a strategist, Demetrius focuses on the best way to integrate technology that is both purposeful and fiscally responsible. Throughout his career he has been tasked with EHR integration, IS/IT security and infrastructure, HIPAA privacy and security compliance, medical practice transformation, strategic planning and both departmental and organizational governance.

Connect with Demetrius on LinkedIn.

Botco.ai’s genAI Chat Cloud enables conversations between businesses and their customers that are engaging, personalized and insightful.

Rebecca Clyde is an accomplished business leader with unique expertise in marketing automation and company building.

Prior to Botco.ai, Clyde founded Ideas Collide, an Inc. 5000 digital agency now in its 15th year serving Fortune 500 companies. She was previously a digital strategist at Intel and holds an MBA from Arizona State University.

Dr. Chris Maeda has over 30 years experience in computer science, machine learning, and AI. He is the CTO at Botco.ai.

Most recently he was the Co-founder & CTO of Rubric (marketing automation platform), CTO and VP of Engineering Broadbase; CTO of Kana. Dr. Maeda graduated from MIT (B.S.) & holds a (PhD) from Carnegie Mellon University.

Follow Botco.ai on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Your Hosts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

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

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

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

Nathan Knight and Chris Fox with GMS

July 12, 2023 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Nathan Knight and Chris Fox with GMS

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Nathan Knight and Chris Fox with GMS

GMS is a privately owned CPEO (Certified Professional Employer Organization) that provides comprehensive back office/admin solutions for small-medium sized businesses. Founded in 1996, GMS is still privately owned with their founder still working within the company.

This gives them the benefit of having a family/small business feel with the backing of a fortune 500 company which allows them to provide specialized solutions for business needs as opposed to the cookie cutter solutions offered by our competitors.

In a nutshell, GMS take on the administrative burdens that companies don’t have the time or expertise to manage effectively, including: payroll, Taxes, HR, Employee benefits, risk management, and benefits administration.

They make employee management simpler, safer, and stronger. They save you time and money. You retain full control over your employees, and regain the opportunity to focus on growing your business. Leave the HR details to them.

Follow GMS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Nathan Knight is an accomplished professional with a diverse background spanning sales, entrepreneurship, and business development. His career began in 2015 while attending ASU, where he honed his sales skills through door-to-door sales in multiple states, including Georgia, Ohio, and Colorado. During this time, Nathan demonstrated his ability to build and manage successful sales teams while consistently generating new business.

In 2017, Nathan embarked on a new venture alongside Chris Fox, a business mastermind. Combining Nathan’s sales expertise with Chris’s vision, they co-founded BAMBOX Produce, an indoor urban farm specializing in nutrient-dense produce. Operating exclusively within the valley, BAMBOX thrived, cultivating over 150 lbs of produce per week and supplying local restaurants, farmers markets, and directly serving consumers through a B2C delivery model. Despite BAMBOX’s unfortunate closure due to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Nathan’s resilience and passion for consulting led him to continue assisting businesses. He built out multiple hydroponic systems, most notably, Arcosanti, providing sustenance for the local community.

In the interim, Nathan ventured into the mortgage industry as a Senior Loan Officer, where he achieved remarkable success, generating a substantial volume of over $41 million. Since January 2023, Nathan has joined GMS, playing an integral role in establishing the West Coast headquarters in Phoenix as the focal point for new businesses and startups. Leveraging his expertise, he has spearheaded various business developments, including collaboration with of the Founders Forum at CEI (Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation), Venture Cafe and more.

With his diverse skill set, entrepreneurial mindset, and dedication to fostering growth, Nathan Knight continues to make a significant impact on the business landscape, propelling startups and entrepreneurs toward success.

Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn.

Chris Fox is a passionate and results-driven professional with a diverse background across an array of industries including: Entrepreneurship, Sustainability (Food Systems & Business), health and wellness, education, real estate sales, mortgage lending, CRM, Sales Process, and website development, and hospitality, to name a few.

Chris has been a Sustainable Business Owner, Entrepreneur, Yoga Teacher, an Educator, a D1 Student-Athlete (Football, USU), Holistic-Wellness Practitioner, and has found a way to bring his diverse skillset together in a highly applicable way with his current role as a salesperson for GMS, leading the sales team in one of the company’s newest and most promising markets here in Phoenix.

Chris is proud to be an Arizona native, so he is especially passionate about helping AZ small-business owners thrive. He aims to enable them to find or maintain high-level of success both personally and professionally by providing solutions that facilitate back-office efficiency, saving owner operators valuable time and resources.

Chris thrives on tackling complex challenges and finding innovative solutions that drive business growth and optimize operations. As a lifelong learner, he constantly seeks opportunities to expand his knowledge and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in the industry. He is known for his ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, communicate complex ideas in a clear manner, and his outside the box thinking helps cultivate fresh perspectives that spark positive growth. Chris’s strong analytical skills and vast industry experience allow him to identify areas for improvement and implement strategies that enhance productivity and streamline processes. He believes in the power of mentorship, enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with aspiring professionals, and prides himself on being a ‘connector’.

Chris played a pivotal role in the sustainability field as the managing partner and co-founder of BAMBOX Produce, an innovative controlled environment agricultural start-up. By showcasing leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, Chris built the company from the ground up, transforming it into a thriving 3500 sq. ft. production warehouse that pumped out more nutritious produce than traditional farming methods utilizing 98% less resources.

Chris’s entrepreneurial journey in sustainability reflects a deep-seated passion for making a positive impact. He is especially skilled in controlled environment agriculture, sustainable farming practices, food safety, brand development, marketing, nutrition, and business operations.

Outside of work, you can find Chris playing with his 2 kids & loving wife. They love playing outside and hopping in the water when it’s too hot to play in the park. He is always open to connecting with like-minded professionals, so feel free to reach out and explore potential opportunities to collaborate.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Taking Risks with Confidence E6

July 6, 2023 by Karen

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More Details, Please

Taking Risks with Confidence E6

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Taking Risks with Confidence E6

Emmanuel and Angela chat with business owner Karen Nowicki to discuss entrepreneurship, stepping outside your circle of fear, and taking risks with confidence.

Karen is the owner of Phoenix Business RadioX. She is also a qualified Integrative Coach with a unique blend of certifications, such as communications, mindfulness, and Tao healing. Karen shares inspirational thoughts and advice on what risks and challenges can teach you.

Tune into this episode if you’re afraid to take risks in life or business because something bad might happen. Karen reveals how to flip the panicked mindset and move past fear. You’ll also pick up tips on being the best version of yourself, enriching your life going forward, and seeing challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Other inspirational advice touches on mentors, shifting the relationship with your memories, and the power of finding your mind, body, and spirit connection.

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

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

About Your Hosts

Emmanuel Williams, CEO and co-founder, DetailXPerts

With a background in engineering, Emmanuel built DetailXPerts around a sophisticated steam cleaning process that saves water and sanitizes.

As a leading authority on green cleaning practices, Emmanuel has dedicated his career to promoting environmentally friendly cleaning methods in the auto detailing and commercial cleaning industries.

He is also passionate about supporting local communities and mentoring entrepreneurs seeking sustainable franchise opportunities.

Angela Williams, President and co-founder, DetailXPerts

Angela has a deep understanding of business and all things entrepreneur related. Her expertise includes Information Technology, Financial Systems, and Accounting.

She is a certified Project Management Professional, too. Her insights and experience drive the success of DetailXPerts, a thriving eco brand. Angela is always active in an evolving business landscape, from championing green tech to building strong client relationships. She’s also dedicated to mentoring franchisees from startup to success.

Together, Emmanuel and Angela bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and are excited about talking to other entrepreneurs and leaders who share their passion for inspiring listeners on More Details, Please.

About Our Sponsor

DetailXPerts is a mobile detailing, truck wash, and commercial cleaning company that brings eco-friendly and efficient services to socially conscious customers. Its unique steam cleaning technology guarantees a deeper clean and continues to drive innovation in three competitive markets.

The company started as a steam cleaning car wash in 2002 and established its first car wash franchise in 2008. Now DetailXPerts has franchise units operating nationwide and in other water-stricken areas in the world.

At DetailXPerts’ core is the triple bottom-line philosophy of people, planet, and profits. Every day, the company strives hard to make the world a better, greener place while providing jobs to those in need and earning some profit in the process.

The company motto is “We bring a greener clean”. And it fulfils its promise thanks to green tech, mobile units, and on-demand services prioritizing customer convenience and sustainability.

Follow DetailXPerts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Radiate as the Sun E24

June 29, 2023 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Radiate as the Sun E24

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Radiate as the Sun E24

“The shadow disappears if you truly accept who you are,” says Cees Buisman, Professor at Wageningen University and Executive Board Member at the water technology institute Wetsus in the Netherlands. “The more you accept yourself, the more authentic you can be.” How do we work with the challenges of our time as authentic leader?

Cees sees three groups of people: suns, moons and black holes. He quotes research that says that 30% of people are good, 10% of people are bad and 60% of people are influenceable. The good people are suns and the influenceable are moons, reflecting the light of the sun. If we know we are a sun, our job is to radiate strongly so also the moons can be awoken to the light.

In an organization that means truly living your values and holding others accountable to do the same. “If I want to be a good leader I must radiate”. This isn’t always easy. It requires us to grow. “Personal growth is always a process of courage and a process of perseverance.” Listen to this episode. Also read Cees’ latest book: “We Need to Change to Solve the Water Crisis.”

Wetsus, European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology is a facilitating intermediary for trendsetting know-how development. Wetsus creates a unique environment and strategic cooperation for development of profitable and sustainable state of the art water treatment technology.

The inspiring and multidisciplinary collaboration between companies and research institutes from all over Europe in Wetsus results in innovations that contribute significantly to the solution of the global water problems. Wetsus’ scientific research program is defined by the private and public water sector and conducted by leading universities.

Prof.dr.ir. Cees J.N. Buisman holds a MSc and PhD (1989) degree from Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands. Until 2003 he was director Technology and Business Development at Paques B.V.

Since 2003, he is full Professor at the sub department of Environmental Technology at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, in the field of biological reuse and recovery technology. His current focal point is on bio-recovery of organics and minerals from waste streams for reuse in industry and agriculture.

He combines his position of full Professor with his position as Executive Board Member at Wetsus, European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology (Leeuwarden, The Netherlands). The objective of Wetsus is to create a business driven international multidisciplinary research program for all aspects of water technology.

Prof. Buisman is member of the Netherlands Academy of Engineering (AcTI) and board member of many companies and organisations like Paques B.V., Aquatech/RAI, Wadden Academy, Topsector Watertechnology (TKI), KWR, CEW and BlueTech Research.

Connect with Cees on LinkedIn.

About Rooted & Unwavering

Peace, Compassion, Wisdom, Purposefulness, Creativity and Strength come online in us when we deeply connect with the true, unwavering greatness that lives within ourselves and others.

In this podcast and radio show, Hylke Faber, seasoned transformational coach and author of the award-winning Taming Your Crocodiles series, engages in deep inquiry with leaders from all walks of life about courageously connecting with our true selves, others and the world at large.

How do we stay connected to our true selves and our greatness, especially when we are challenged? How do we rest in the heart, also when our mind keeps us restless? What becomes possible when we truly stay committed to our own and others’ best selves, also when we don’t feel it? How do we practice staying connected to our true selves, in the midst of our busy lives?

Join us and leave inspired to act on your heart’s greatness and that of the people around you.

About Our Host

For as long as he can remember Hylke Faber has been curious about what this life is about. His ongoing inquiry has become his work: helping people individually and collectively to discover what is possible in life and express that authentically and fearlessly.

Hylke started his work life with Towers Perrin as consultant and then as Partner with Strategic Decisions Group, serving a wide range of industries, including financial services, manufacturing, consumer electronics and life sciences companies. A major shift occurred during this critical phase of his life. He had become the typical, hard-charging, 16-hours-a-day strategy consultant, and was burning out at a rapid clip.

When he discovered meditation, everything changed. He was so taken by his new discoveries that he chose to bring to business what he was learning: that there is a way we can have it all – we can be fulfilled, do work we love, and create extraordinary results with others. He thinks of it as creating a sense of ease in business.

He learned how to coach and facilitate human transformation completing his coaching certification with Newfield Network and by working at Axialent, the culture and leadership company. After a few years, he founded Co-Creation Partners together with other leaders in the field of transformation and personal development. Then he formed Constancee to help people grow by creating the conditions where deep personal, interpersonal and organizational shifts happen routinely.

He leads Growth Leaders Network, the culture and team development consultancy. He has also taught coaching at Columbia Business School Executive Education and has contributed to Harvard Business Review. He is currently teaching a course on Climate Conscious Leadership at Arizona State University. His award-winning book, Taming Your Crocodiles: Unlearn Fear & Become a True Leader, was published by Dover in 2018.

His next book, Taming Your Crocodiles Practices for Leadership Depth, came out in 2020. Besides helping others grow, which he loves, he is a trained opera singer, enjoys hiking and writing, is an avid reader, in particular of biographies, and is always in the process of growing himself. He integrates all of what he learns in his work with executives.

Connect with Hylke on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

Realizing Your Greatness

We are a team of experienced facilitators and coaches dedicated to helping individuals, teams and organizations thrive by helping them recognize their innate greatness and putting it to work.

- Executive Coaching: we work with clients individually to help them connect to their calling and use every challenge as an opportunity to help them grow more into what makes them great.
- Team Performance: we help teams evolve to their next level of excellence, connectedness and impact by working on the root drivers of team performance.
- Culture Development: we help organizations to evolve their culture by creating clarity about where they aspire to go, and by building role models, coaches and systems that catalyze people being energized to work the new way.

Key Notes: we deliver powerful speeches at conferences and other events that help audiences become energized, more connected to themselves and each other, more open to discovery and ready to commit to the next stage of learning in their career and life journeys.

Growth Leaders Network (GLN) serves Fortune 500 companies, smaller organizations and non-profits globally.

GLN clients report that we catalyze significant business transformational impact and profound shifts in people, team and organizations at the root cause level.

Learn more about the Growth Leaders network here.

How Entrepreneurs Utilize Networks to Increase Business E45

June 29, 2023 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

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How Entrepreneurs Utilize Networks to Increase Business E45

On this episode of Collaborative Connections guest host, Rochelle Poulton, was able to showcase the business acumen of Irene Ploski (Independence Insurance Group) and Paul Hershenberg (Hershenberg Financial & Employee Benefits). Small business hurdles, the power of connections, the role of commercial insurance, and how employee benefits improve company culture were just a few takeaways.

If you are a small business owner, then you are facing business hurdles. This episode of Collaborative Connections addresses the growing pains Irene Ploski, Paul Hershenberg, and Rochelle Poulton faced as entrepreneurs and the role building a network played in their success. Building a business is hard, but doing it the right way with the help of good business consultants, and knowledgeable insurance brokers can give you confidence to keep moving forward.

Founded in 2009, Independence Insurance Group PLLC has a total combined industry experience of over 36 years. We are an independent agency and have several options to offer to our clients.

We are not bound to a single insurance company that offers a single type of product, but instead, we look for the best fit for each of our clients, our goal is to find the right combination of coverage and price.

Irene Ploski has been in the insurance industry since 2003. She is married and is the mom of 2 very busy college students, a high-energy Golden Retriever and a Dobermann.

Irene is a member of the Phoenix Lions Club, where she served as Secretary and Vice-President. This highly active community volunteer organization has donated tens of thousands of dollars in the last 5 years to benefit local charities directly impacting our Phoenix communities.

She is also a member of the Phoenix Elks Lodge #335, where she served as Chairwoman of the Advisory Committee for their teen program called the Phoenix Antlers Lodge #335, an organization that promotes leadership, good citizenship and strong friendships, respect for parents and love for community in teens through volunteering and fundraising.

She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, cooking, spending time with friends, volunteering, and loves going to concerts.

Irene is fluent in Spanish, she is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico. She moved to Arizona in 2000 and became a U.S. Citizen in 2010. She founded Independence Insurance Group in 2009.

Irene’s core values are Family, Independence, Resilience, Gratitude, Honesty, and Resourcefulness.

Connect with Irene on LinkedIn and follow Independence Insurance Group on Facebook.

Hershenberg & Stone Walsh Insurance Services, LLC is a full-service insurance broker.

We specialize in helping small and medium size businesses create and maintain their employee benefits program.

Paul Hershenberg is the Managing Member and founder of Hershenberg & Stone-Walsh Insurance Services and has been helping business owners design and implement employee for over 25 years.

Paul and his team have created an employee benefits agency with the knowledge, ability, and resources to positively impact his clients and help them attract and retain quality employees.

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn and follow Hershenberg & Stone Walsh Insurance Services on Facebook.

About Our Guest Host

Rochelle Poulton joined KLM Consulting, after nearly ten years of running her own law firm assisting clients with consumer rights, real estate matters, and business law.

She offers creative solutions for entrepreneurs seeking to reach the next level of their business journey.

Rochelle assists clients with consulting, business development, and project management.

In addition, Rochelle has nearly 20 years of real estate experience and is a licensed Realtor with Realty Executives.

Connect with Rochelle on LinkedIn or visit us online at DuplicateMyself.com

About Collaborative Connections

The purpose of Collaborative Connections Radio Show and Podcast is to build a connected community, one collaborative show at a time. We highlight local non-profits, associations, small and family-owned businesses.

By bringing 4 like-minded people together for an hour of in-depth conversation, our hope is that they connect and collaborate in life and business in the future.

About Our Sponsor

KLM is a business development firm helping entrepreneurs, small and family-owned businesses start, grow and scale through consulting, marketing and project management. Combining those three things has been a trifecta, or triple advantage to business owners.

Entrepreneurs & small business owners come to KLM for support in all areas of business. If you need to duplicate yourself in any area of your business, we can help. If we don’t do exactly what you need, we know someone who can.

Business owners can continue to do what they love while having the support they need when they need it, with the help of KLM. We help you figure out what needs to get done AND DO IT FOR YOU!

About Your Host

Kelly Lorenzen, CEO of KLM, is an award-winning entrepreneur with over 15 years of business-ownership experience. She is also a certified project management professional.

Kelly’s expertise is in business development, customer service, marketing, and sales.

Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn, and follow KLM on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Build Your Network E1

June 28, 2023 by Karen

Financial Footsteps

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Build Your Network E1

In our very first episode of Behind the Balance Sheet, host Chad Dean talks with Ian McCreadie, Phoenix-based CFO of VC backed CoverTree, about his journey to the officer title. He covers everything from the genesis of a career in Finance to his current CFO role. He provides excellent insights into key positions he held and what impact they had on his career.

Ian talks about his number one piece of advice to anyone looking for a financial leader position. Turns out his advice is applicable to anyone looking to excel in any career! He concludes with what he would tell his younger self. Don’t miss this inaugural episode of Behind the Balance Sheet: Build Your Network.

CoverTree is a leading VC-backed insurtech MGA focused on bringing digital distribution, automated underwriting, and data-driven pricing to specialty personal lines of insurance with a specific focus on mobile and manufactured housing.

We’ve raised $10M from AV8, Distributed Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners, Ludlow Ventures, and Annox Capital.

Ian McCreadie is currently CFO at CoverTree and Agency Principal at National Mobile Home Insurance.

He previously held multiple roles with privately held lower middle market investment banking firms and acted as a member and director of Private Capital Alliance’s screening and diligence committees.

Ian gained industry experience in both analyst and associate roles with Madison Street Capital, in senior associate and director roles with Private Capital Alliance, in a Vice President role with Pegasus Intellectual Capital Solutions, and in a CFO role at Alta Cima, Corp. its affiliates and subsidiaries.

He has directly participated in or led financing and merger and acquisition transactions both in the United States and Western Europe. Ian’s experience includes, but is not limited to, being involved in more than 25 successful client engagements (capital raise and M&A advisory), representing in excess of $250mm of transactional value.

Connect with Ian on LinkedIn.

About Financial Footsteps

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

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

About Your Host

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

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

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

About Our Sponsor

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

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

Brandon Lee with Modern Seller HQ and Tom Burton with Revenue Zone Media

June 27, 2023 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Brandon Lee with Modern Seller HQ and Tom Burton with Revenue Zone Media

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Brandon Lee with Modern Seller HQ and Tom Burton with Revenue Zone Media

Modern Seller HQ is a free community to help sales professionals learn how to implement modern, digital sales motions.

We provide daily conversations, weekly webinars and exclusive member only events.

We help successful, experienced sales professionals learn how to integrate modern, digital and social outreach activity to their existing sales systems.

Brandon Lee is the co-founder of Modern Seller HQ and Fist Bump. Fist Bump is a LinkedIn commenting task tool.

Brandon has a history of building sales technology tools to help sales professionals prospect better and close more deals.

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn.

Revenue Zone Media and Modern Seller HQ are advisory and consulting companies that assist B2B sales organizations to transition a more modern sales approach and a more predictable revenue model.

Tom Burton has over 30 years of experience helping forward-thinking businesses (ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies) develop and implement innovative, technology-based strategies and solutions that drive sales and predictable revenue growth.

Today, Tom is an investor and co-founder in LeadSmart Technologies which has developed an innovative and unique CRM and collaboration platform that enables businesses to visualize what is taking place with their prospects and customers and pro-actively assist these prospects and customers to reach the Revenue Zone.

Tom also serves as a trusted advisor to companies and investment firms that are looking to leverage technology-based solutions to improve their marketing, reach new qualified prospects and achieve predictable revenue growth.

Tom graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Computer Science in 1986 and currently resides in Santa Barbara with his wife Lorin.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn.

Kyle McIntosh and Albert Loveland with MAC6

June 27, 2023 by Karen

Kyle-McIntosh-with-MAC6-and-Albert-Loveland-with-Strabo-feature

Phoenix Business Radio

Kyle McIntosh and Albert Loveland with MAC6

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Kyle McIntosh and Albert Loveland with MAC6

Located in Tempe, 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and 15 minutes from Arizona State University, the MAC6 Entrepreneurial Center offers 110,000 square feet of space including traditional and non-traditional private office suites and a variety of coworking office space solutions; all in service to growth-oriented entrepreneurs, startups and mid-market enterprise businesses.

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

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

Albert Loveland has joined the MAC⁶ Team full-time.

Al will be helping us to takeMAC⁶ to the next level as Vice President of Operations(and, for all of you who are familiar with EOS, as the MAC⁶Integrator).

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

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

Follow MAC6 on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Jason Higgins with Jupiter Rings Buffalo Sauce and LaWandra Thomas with I Desire Designs

Jason Higgins with Jupiter Rings Buffalo Sauce and LaWandra Thomas with I Desire Designs

Ensuring Data Privacy When Using Generative AI E39

Ensuring Data Privacy When Using Generative AI E39

About Your Hosts

About Our Sponsor

Nathan Knight and Chris Fox with GMS

Nathan Knight and Chris Fox with GMS

Taking Risks with Confidence E6

Taking Risks with Confidence E6

About Your Hosts

About Our Sponsor

Radiate as the Sun E24

Radiate as the Sun E24

About Rooted & Unwavering

About Our Host

About Our Sponsor

How Entrepreneurs Utilize Networks to Increase Business E45

How Entrepreneurs Utilize Networks to Increase Business E45

About Our Guest Host

About Collaborative Connections

About Our Sponsor

About Your Host

Build Your Network E1

Build Your Network E1

About Financial Footsteps

About Your Host

About Our Sponsor

Kyle McIntosh and Albert Loveland with MAC6

Kyle McIntosh and Albert Loveland with MAC6

Our Mission

Sponsor a Show

Partner With Us

Connect with us

Jason Higgins with Jupiter Rings Buffalo Sauce and LaWandra Thomas with I Desire Designs

Ensuring Data Privacy When Using Generative AI E39

About Your Hosts

About Our Sponsor

Nathan Knight and Chris Fox with GMS

Taking Risks with Confidence E6

About Your Hosts

About Our Sponsor

Radiate as the Sun E24

About Rooted & Unwavering

About Our Host

About Our Sponsor

How Entrepreneurs Utilize Networks to Increase Business E45

About Our Guest Host

About Collaborative Connections

About Our Sponsor

About Your Host

Build Your Network E1

About Financial Footsteps

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About Your Host

About Our Sponsor

Brandon Lee with Modern Seller HQ and Tom Burton with Revenue Zone Media

Kyle McIntosh and Albert Loveland with MAC6

Our Mission

Sponsor a Show

Partner With Us

Connect with us