Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

The Key to Improving Tech Outcomes: Project Management E33

December 20, 2022 by Karen

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AZ TechCast

The Key to Improving Tech Outcomes: Project Management E33

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The Key to Improving Tech Outcomes: Project Management E33

From managing budgets to meeting deliverables in a timely manner, project managers play a critical role in helping organizations improve outcomes and maintain successful partnerships. So, how can tech companies leverage project management to reimagine how they produce deliverables for their clients?

The December 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Mary Kirk, principal consultant and lead DEI at Allata; J.T. Moomau, vice president, solutions delivery at Per Scholas; and Joe Pusz, president, The PMO Squad. These leaders joined Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, and Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, in discussing how technology companies can utilize project management to better deliver strategic initiatives.

Throughout this hour-long episode, the panel of three experts discussed how they would define project management, how it works at their individual organizations, and the tips they have for technology companies that are hoping to revamp how they manage their projects. Time and time again, each speaker hit on the critical importance of great communication, clear goal setting, keeping the company’s “why” in mind and executing deliverables with excellence.

Per Scholas has been advancing economic mobility and increasing opportunity for more than 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, the national nonprofit prepares individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. Per Scholas partners with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting graduates to new career opportunities with more than 850 employer partners, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 20 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 17,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology.

Per Scholas Phoenix launched in 2021, with its first cohort of Java Developers graduating in August. In 2022, Per Scholas Phoenix is on track to train 180 diverse technologists in the skills they need to succeed in a variety of tech roles including IT Support, AWS re/Start, Full Stack Java Development, and End User Desktop Support. Per Scholas Phoenix learners have a 100 percent certification rate in industry recognized credentials, and to date, 95 percent of graduates have gone on to full-time employment.

To learn more, visit PerScholas.org and follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

J.T. Moomau joined Per Scholas as Vice President of Solutions Delivery in August 2022. He is a highly Certified Project Management and Business Operations Leader, with more than a decade of experience in the technology industry.

J.T. is proactive, solutions-oriented, and skilled in leading complex initiatives in process improvement and change management to completion in a highly technical environment. He is diligent and data-driven with a demonstrated ability to optimize efficiency and improve service delivery through transformational operations leadership in alignment with organizational objectives. Collaborative and consultative with a growth mindset, J.T. is adept at inspiring confidence and building consensus among high-impact teams.

An active and engaged member of the community, J.T. is passionate about advancing the principles of effective project management and leadership as a University Professor, Project Management Trainer, and sought-after speaker. He is a professor at Fresno Pacific University, teaching courses in Business, Change Management, and Project Management.

J.T. holds his PMP certification and earned a Masters of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University.

Connect with J.T. on LinkedIn.

Allata (pronounced a-ley-ta) is a strategy, architecture and enterprise-level application development company focused on helping clients enhance or scale business opportunities, create efficiencies and automate processes through custom technologies.

We are building a different kind of firm – focused on doing exciting, transformational work for great clients and bringing caring and dedicated people to make our clients goals a reality. Our vision is to build an energized group of talented professionals that can stand strong on their own but work better as a networked team.

We enable business agility at the intersection of people, process, and technology. We provide solutions and expert services to assist businesses to become more nimble, transformative, and disruptive in their respective industries. We define vision, strategy, and value creation models for shaping strategic product designs, managing, and transforming enterprise delivery.

Just as strongly as we care about our clients, we feel that it is important to give back to the community and non-profits that we are passionate about. Every month, Allata donates 2% of our net income to a charitable cause our team believes in.

We live by our mantra:
Family comes first, clients are king, we take great care of our people.

Mary Kirk, a Principal based in Dallas/Fort Worth, contributes to Allata’s strategy practice and co-leads Diversity and Belonging.

As a resourceful and energetic Program Manager, she has a long track record of ensuring projects are delivered at the highest quality, within budget parameters, and effectively managing resources to quickly adapt to fluctuating environments. She is a strong communicator and influencer that strives to provide top-class services by focusing on business process efficiencies while leading projects, teams, and customers with the highest ethical standards.

Mary has expertly led medium to large-scale marketing, commercial, industrial, and technology projects across a wide array of industries including semiconductor, supply chain, automotive, banking, airlines, home warranty, non-profit, and waste management.

In her free time, Mary enjoys listening to music/podcasts, traveling, volunteering, Pickleball, and spending time with her family and friends. Mary has successfully raised two young men; who are now forging their own paths. Mary is a graduate of St. Edwards University with a degree in Business Administration.

Connect with Mary on LinkedIn and follow Allata on Facebook.

The PMO Squad is a full-service Project Management Consulting firm located in Phoenix, AZ. They have been serving clients for a decade deploying the best team in the industry to deliver Agile, Hybrid and Traditional Project Management solutions and resources to clients across the United States.

They serve multiple industries and support clients of all sizes from the local start-up to global Fortune 200 conglomerates. All companies have projects but few companies deliver projects successfully. Their Services include both PMO Consulting and Project Management Consulting, providing Direct Placement and Contract Project Management and Agile Resources, as well as Project Management, PMO and Agile training. Inherit within each of these services is our belief in People over Process and Outcomes over Audits. For us, everything starts with Purpose.

The PMO Squad believes in supporting our Project Management profession, Local Communities, Veterans and those in need. They were winners of the 2022 Small Business Awards, micro category, from the Phoenix Business Journal. They also earned the Platinum Medallion from the US Department of Labor HIRE Vets Program for their work hiring and retaining veterans. They are only 1 of 7 companies to earn this designation in the state of Arizona.

Joe Pusz, PMO Joe is an internationally recognized leader in the Project Management and PMO community. He is a frequent Keynote Speaker, Author, Project Management Innovator and was named the 2022 PMO Influencer of the Year, Americas by the PMO Global Alliance. Joe speaks on topics of Leadership, PMOs, Purpose Driven Mindset, the Project Management Journey, and a variety of other trending Project Management topics.

He is the Founder and President of THE PMO SQUAD, a Phoenix-based PMO and Project Management Consulting firm serving clients across the United States. The PMO Squad was named Winner 2022 Small Business Awards by the Phoenix Business Journal.

Joe is the host of the Project Management Office Hours Radio Show and Podcast providing Project Management Leaders a voice within our community. Now in the 5th season, the show has over 40 million plays and downloads featuring guests from around the world.

Joe is also Co-Founder of VPMMA, the Veteran Project Manager Mentor Alliance which is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization assisting Veterans seeking to transition into civilian Project Management careers. He is the Founder of The PMO Leader global community. The community is the only global e-commerce community for PMO Leaders and teams to share content, gain knowledge, and exchange experiences.

Joe supports our industry having served as a Judge for the Global PMO Awards, participates with the PMI Executive Roundtable on PMOs, and is a long-time member of the Project Management Institute. He has been a PMI Volunteer, Sponsor, and Mentor.

Follow The PMO Squad on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About AZ TechCast

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

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

About Your Hosts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

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

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

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

Gregg Edgar with Arizona Lottery E35

December 19, 2022 by Karen

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Arizona Good Business

Gregg Edgar with Arizona Lottery E35

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Gregg Edgar with Arizona Lottery E35

Since 1981, the Arizona Lottery and its retail partners have generated nearly $5 billion in support of programs that help to improve the quality of life for the people of Arizona.

Proceeds from Lottery ticket sales fund programs in higher education, economic development, environmental conservation and health and human services.

The mission is to support Arizona programs for the public benefit by maximizing net revenue in a responsible manner.

Gregg Edgar serves as the Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery. In his tenure, the agency has generated over $7.6 billion in sales, returned more than $5 billion in prizes to players, transferred more than $1.6 billion to beneficiary agencies and programs, and generated more than $500 million in commissions to our retail partners.

Gregg’s fundamental focus on team development, business operations and strategic innovation have shaped the organization’s success for the future. In his role, Gregg also serves as the Vice Chair of Marketing for the Multi-State Lottery (MUSL) after having served as Marketing Committee Chair for MUSL and as Business Development Chair for the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries. He is a vocal advocate for the industry’s impact throughout North America and leading efforts to leverage value for the Powerball brand.

Before taking the helm at the Arizona Lottery, Gregg served as a Senior Strategic Communications consultant for international and national brands. In that capacity, he was honored to serve the White House for eight years and the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad Iraq. Gregg earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University. He and his wife Margaret live in Chandler with their seven children.

Follow Arizona Lottery on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Arizona Good Business

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

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

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

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

About Your Host

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

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

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

Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Your Past Doesn’t Dictate Your Future E39

December 19, 2022 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Your Past Doesn't Dictate Your Future E39

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Your Past Doesn’t Dictate Your Future E39

What a treat! We skipped over the pleasantries and interview-style questions and dove straight into real talk! This episode of Collaborative Connections Radio Show and Podcast was chock full of advice, lessons learned, motivational quotes, mindset tips, and inspiring stories.

Host, Kelly Lorenzen, was honored to be in the studio with this powerhouse panel of successful women CEOs! Jessica Herbert with IDEA Analytics, Lisa Rehurek with The RFP Success Company, and Sarah Hope with Vertical Identity Background Screening & Drug Testing joined Kelly on-air.

One of these women used to be in law enforcement and now has a doctorate, one is a child of immigrant parents who now owns multi-million dollar businesses, and one is an author, speaker, and has trained organizations such as ASU and SRP. Can you guess who is who? Check out this episode to find out!

The RFP Success Company is an RFP strategy & support consultancy that focuses on helping mid-market businesses win more state, county, local and higher education bids. They focus on overall bid strategy and provide hands-on fractional RFP response support.

The RFP Success Company team knows winning responses aren’t just about checking boxes and filing the right paperwork: you have to capture the evaluators’ attention by telling a great story, too!

The RFP Success Company helps businesses create the kind of responses that capture the right attention and emotional connection, while building trust. Known for their enthusiasm, extensive RFP expertise and countless client successes, the RFP Success team drives your RFP responses forward so you can win more contracts.

Spunky, fun, and full of energy- dynamic speaker, trainer, author and owner of The RFP Success Company, Lisa Rehurek shakes up the status quo.

She brings fun and a bit of real-world funk to the often-boring topic of responding to RFPs. Her 26+ years of business knowledge shines right alongside her down to earth, “get it done” approach.

Obsessed with strategies, systems, and simplicity, Lisa seeks to transform the most overwhelming processes into simple, attainable steps that get you & your team moving forward, faster.

Lisa has trained and consulted international organizations such as Salt River Project, Arizona State University, Mercer, Kronos, Myers & Stauffer, UC Davis, Hilton, SkillPath & more.

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn and follow RFP on Facebook and Twitter.

Vertical Identity provides comprehensive screening services such as background checks, education verification, employment verification, drug screenings, physicals, driver qualification file maintenance, and motor vehicle record checks.

From managing your random drug free workplace testing to running a monthly monitoring criminal search let Vertical Identity help you plan, prepare and implement your background screening and drug testing policy. Consistent screening helps reduce risk in pre and post hiring needs.

Sarah Hope is a Serial Entrepreneur and Visionary behind Vertical Identity, and 911OccMed.

Sarah is a child of immigrant parents from Cuba. She grew up cleaning houses, and mowing lawns with her parents to make ends meet.

Today, she runs two multi-million dollar businesses, in Phoenix Arizona, and spends her summers in beautiful Alaska with her husband Jason.

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn.

IDEA Analytics provides strategic advising and analytical services for local governments, public safety and nonprofits that are interested in data-informed change. Comprised of researchers and data scientists, IDEA works with communities focused on solving complex social challenges by leveraging technology, people, and leadership.

They have worked in 34 states and over 80 cities on topics like gun violence, human trafficking, crime reduction strategies, economic development and workforce, and programs for youth and adults. IDEA works closely with clients to enhance the capacity of services and resources for sustainable, smart approaches for the next generation.

Dr. Jessica Herbert (she/her/hers), Founder/CEO of IDEA Analytics, brings over 20 years of experience in policing, research, and data science to lead clients through transformational projects.

As the leader of IDEA Analytics, Jessica believes the best path for change and transformation includes meaningful collaboration with stakeholders. She implements these values throughout IDEA’s four-phased approach to help organizations Identify their current and desired objectives, Develop sustainable changes and responses, Educate staff and community on new approaches, and Assess progress toward organizational goals.

Jessica’s career has spanned government, public, and private industry. She began her path as a law enforcement officer in Fairfax County (VA) where her analytical and investigative skills supported multi-year investigations for the Northern Virginia Violent Crime and Firearm Taskforce, a collaboration among Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfax Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Secret Service (USSS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In this capacity, Jessica supported interstate and international investigations regarding firearm, human, and drug trafficking, money laundering, and other complex crimes. Upon leaving public service, Jessica leveraged her investigative skills with private industry on cybersecurity threats within financial, energy, and manufacturing industries, resulting in protections against domestic assets and intellectual property.

During this time, she also held a teaching position with George Mason University (GMU) Criminology, Law and Society Department on topics of Homeland Security, Intelligence Analysis, and Policing. She also sponsored GMU’s student-led Intelligence Community Group, developing events to engage with Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Department of Defense (DoD) leaders for intelligence simulations and exercises.

In focusing most recently on domestic policing topics, Jessica applies her leadership, expertise, and advisement to public safety officials on matters of data-driven or intelligence-led policing, problem solving, program strategies, and organizational change. Her expertise has been leveraged within national crime reduction initiatives such as the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Diagnostic Center, the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Violent Reduction Network(VRN)/National Public Safety Partnership (PSP), Crime Analysis on Demand and Technology Initiatives, and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

In addition, Jessica works with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center and Field-generated Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance programs, and with Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program’s (OJJDP) juvenile justice reform efforts to coordinate with victim service providers, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. Her multi-system and collaborative work approaches resulted in sustainable, long-term strategies to support organizational shifts and enhance data-driven responses to community needs.

Jessica’s individualized and pragmatic approach to every project has earned her awards and commendations from local government leaders, United States Attorney’s Office, the ATF, and community members. These successes are informed by her past work in over 80 cities, focusing on strategic decision making for local governments of all sizes. Jessica’s ability to help clients quickly assess and articulate their needs and develop a path through implementation has made her a sought-after strategic partner.

Dr. Herbert holds double bachelor’s degrees of Administration of Justice and Sociology from George Mason University, a Master of Arts in Global Security Studies from Johns Hopkins University and her Doctorate in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University. She has several professional certifications in topics of design learning, data science, and other technical skills.

Her research interests focus on organizational behaviors and capacity building for public safety and communities to support change, which she is always excited to talk about with others. When not traveling around the US and other countries, Jessica lives in the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix, Arizona) where she supports the small business community, enjoys hiking, meditation, and the cultures of the SouthWest.

Follow IDEA Analytics on LinkedIn.

About Collaborative Connections

Kelly Lorenzen started the “Collaborative Connections” show to bring her clients and favorite charities together to meet each other, connect and collaborate in life and business.

She hopes to build a stronger community one show at a time.

About Our Sponsor

KLM is a one-stop support shop for small business owners who are starting, growing, or trying to sustain. Our purpose is to foster the growth and prosperity of small businesses in our community.

Entrepreneurs & small business owners come to KLM for support in all areas of business. KLM clients think of us as a concierge, business snuggy, another arm, or duplicate for the business owner; They call us when they need us. Business owners can continue to do what they love while having the support they need when they need it.

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 Consulting on Facebook.

Starting Small E135

December 14, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Starting Small E135

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Starting Small E135

Todd Asmuth joined Tycoons to share some insights on his experiences in working with startups, especially a nuclear fusion startup. He also talks about making sure you start small, become good at the small things, then work your way up to bigger things.

Tune in to hear Todd’s thoughts on starting from the bottom and working your way up to bigger things and finding innovations to help people and keeping your foot on the gas. You can learn more about Todd at www.shinefusion.com

SHINE deploys its safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly technology in a stepwise approach. Its systems are used to inspect industrial components in aerospace, defense, energy and other sectors. SHINE’s proprietary medical isotope production processes create molybdenum-99 and non-carrier-added lutetium-177.

These important medicines are used in tens of thousands of daily procedures to diagnose and treat heart disease, late-stage cancer, and other serious illnesses. In the future, SHINE plans to scale its fusion technology to help solve one of energy’s toughest hurdles by recycling nuclear waste. Through a purpose-driven and phased approach, SHINE aims to generate fusion power to deliver clean, abundant energy that could transform life on Earth. Learn more at www.shinefusion.com and @shinefusion.

Todd Asmuth joined SHINE as the company’s president in September 2015 and served in the additional role of chief financial officer from 2018 to 2021. In 2021, he was appointed chief strategy officer while retaining his responsibilities as SHINE’s president.

Prior to SHINE, he took multiple venture-capital-backed companies from concept to commercialization to profitability using lean startup, customer-focused product development techniques. He has also served on the boards of directors of multiple early-stage companies and non-profit organizations and currently is an operating partner for the private equity group May River Capital.

Early in his career, Asmuth spent four years in management consulting with Booz Allen & Hamilton on strategy engagements with Fortune 500 companies.

Todd earned an M.B.A. with honors from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Yale University.

Connect with Todd on LinkedIn.

About the Show

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

About Your Hosts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connect with Landon on LinkedIn.

Norm Weiss and Karika Bridgers with N. Weiss Associates, Inc.

December 13, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Norm Weiss and Karika Bridgers with N. Weiss Associates, Inc.

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Norm Weiss and Karika Bridgers with N. Weiss Associates, Inc.

Since 1996, N. Weiss Associates, Inc. (NWA) has provided environmental, health, and safety compliance services to clients ranging from small businesses to large Fortune 100 companies from a variety of industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, semiconductor, mining, utilities, insurance, legal, tribal, governmental and others.

Our goal is to assist our clients in navigating environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance and regulations.

Norm Weiss is President of N. Weiss Associates, Inc. (NWA) based in Phoenix, Arizona.

NWA is a small consulting practice that provides environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance services. Norm has worked in the EHS field for over 45 years in the public and private sectors.

He formerly served as an Assistant Agency Director at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, where he managed the Office of Waste Programs and the Office of Planning & Program Development. Norm also worked as a Managing Senior at two different environmental consulting firms before opening his current practice over 25 years ago.

Currently, Norm focuses on client compliance services, training, and managing the firm with his team. He is also a senior instructor for training at ASU Polytechnic Fulton Schools of Engineering and a training director for Kary Environmental Services.

Training seminars include HAZWOPER, RCRA, and DOT Hazmat seminars. He trains approximately 800 people annually through open enrollment and onsite training classes.

Karika Bridgers has been working with N. Weiss Associates, Inc. (NWA) in Phoenix, Arizona, since 2009; she is the operations manager and a senior consultant responsible for environmental compliance programs and environmental research projects: including implementation, hazardous waste, chemical management, clean air, and clean water programs.

Projects include wastewater sampling, spill prevention, stormwater planning, and air permitting. She has experience developing and implementing job hazard assessments, emergency management plans, infectious control plans, and sampling/analysis protocols.

Our newest program has been the implementation of the Maricopa County Travel Reduction Program (TRP) for clients throughout Maricopa County.

Karika is an instructor for training at ASU Polytechnic Fulton Schools of Engineering, presenting HAZWOPER, RCRA, and DOT HazMat training seminars. Karika is also a faculty associate for Arizona State University, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, teaching courses in the Environmental and Resource Management Program.

Follow N. Weiss Associates on LinkedIn.

E114 Learning from Games with Andrea Clinton and Daniel Zitter

December 13, 2022 by Karen

https://stats.businessradiox.com/37768.mp3

Phoenix Business Radio

E114 Learning from Games with Andrea Clinton and Daniel Zitter

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E114 Learning from Games with Andrea Clinton and Daniel Zitter

In this episode of Project Management Office Hours, PMO Joe welcomed Andrea Clinton and Daniel Zitter. Prior to this discussion we all participated in a Workshop using the Project Management Board game led by Daniel. The discussion included lessons learned during the workshop, the benefits of games for learning, the next generation of PMs, as well as the career transition Andrea recently experienced and how her long project management career helped with the change.

Andrea Clinton is a career project manager and leader. She has dedicated her expansive 25 year career to the craft of project management. She has worked across industries from education to manufacturing, software development to data center design/build, gaining experience at variety of companies from small start-ups to Fortune 5 companies such as Apple.

Daniel Zitter loves project management, and he’s happy to tell anyone who will listen! He appreciates the complexities of managing a project. He enjoys discussing it with others and teaching the methodologies, thought processes and how to deal with the questions and challenges that are sure to arise. He is Co-Founder of PM Zone and the Project Management Board game.

If you’re wondering does playing a board game simulate running a project and what can you learn from the game, here is what Andrea had to say, “As we were working through the program, within our gameplay, if you will, you think that you’re going to start working on your tasks and you have them all lined up and you’re thinking, what could possibly go wrong? I’ve got this, this is totally easy. And then before you know it, there’s a risk thrown up and you have to stop and address that risk or there’s a constraint that comes up and then you have to turn around and go backwards or have to try and borrow resources from somewhere else.”

We train our youth with games all the time whether in school, at home, or activities. Gaming helps to break down any barriers which might pop up when you are “supposed to be learning”. The fun and excitement of the gaming workshop allows players, Project Managers, to experience situations and learn together building stronger teams and better situational awareness.

Listen to the entire episode to hear the full story from Andrea and Daniel.

Connect with Andrea Clinton:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-clinton-16a0172/

Connect with Daniel Zitter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielzitter/

Thank you to THE PMO SQUAD and The PMO Leader for sponsoring this show.

The PMO Squad is a leading provider of PMO and Project Management services in the US. They assist clients building and improving PMOs, provide Project Management Consulting services, deliver custom Project Management Training and provide Project Management staffing services. Learn more about The PMO Squad – https://www.thepmosquad.com

Where do PMO Leaders go for Information, Learning, Networking and Services? The PMO Leader community has “Everything You Need to Become a Great PMO Leader”. One PMO World, One Community! Learn more about The PMO Leader – https://www.thepmoleader.com

Developed by project management professionals, the PMzone solutions provide all the knowledge and tools required by both experienced and occasional project managers. Whether a project has just landed on your desk, or managing projects is your full-time job, we’re happy to help you hone your skills through courses and games that offer practical tools to help you master project management

Daniel Zitter loves project management, and he’s happy to tell anyone who will listen.

He appreciates the complexities of managing a project. He enjoys discussing it with others and teaching the methodologies, thought processes and how to deal with the questions and challenges that are sure to arise.

And he’s happy to share his knowledge and experience with clients, friends and acquaintances – because he believes deeply in what he does, how he does it and that doing it right makes a huge difference to the outcome.

Daniel is an experienced and certified project manager. He is a licensed industrial engineer and holds a Project Management Practitioner Certification “In Good Standing” from the Project Management Institute (PMI). He is also an accredited PMO – Certified Consultant, of the PMO Global Alliance, and was a member of the Jugging Committee for the 2019 PMO global awards competition.

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn.

Andrea Clinton is a career project manager and has dedicated her expansive 25 year career to the craft of project management. She has worked across industries from education to manufacturing, software development to data center design/build, gaining experience at variety of companies from small start-ups to Fortune 5 companies such as Apple.

Andrea has experience as a project manager, PMO leader, consultant, process designer and business owner. After completing her graduate degree in Global Management at Thunderbird last year, Andrea has most recently, thrown her skills towards two businesses which include the start-up of a restaurant and the growth of the project management team at Maverick Power.

In addition to recently opening a restaurant in Scottsdale, Masons Famous Lobster Rolls, Andrea is keeping her skills sharp working as an independent project management and leadership consultant.

Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn.

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.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

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.

The Leaping Man Executive Leadership E10

December 13, 2022 by Karen

The-Leaping-Man-Executive-Leadership-feature

Phoenix Business Radio

The Leaping Man Executive Leadership E10

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The Leaping Man Executive Leadership E10

What story do you tell yourself about not being ready yet to do and be what you truly aspire to be? What becomes possible when you inquire into your “I can only…when…” limiting beliefs and let them go? How can you respond to this moment in a way that brings you peace in your heart and feeling pride in your actions?

Listen to this episode of Rooted & Unwavering and hear what John Rex, Executive Coach and former CFO of Microsoft North America, has been learning about living and leading from his core values, taking response-ability and enjoying life as it comes and helping others grow in their journeys.

Says John: “We humans tend try too hard to define what the rewards of life should be. We don’t trust enough that the journey itself is its own reward, so we fixate on a destination, or a particular achievement and we forget that the value of life is in living the journey. This present moment that we are in right now has its own merit and value just by being here. Every experience has value as it offers us an opportunity to respond, to be conscious to make a choice that brings us peace in our heart and feel pride in our actions.”

Rex Executive Leadership helps high-performing executives grow to the next level and deliver big impact, while finding joy in the journey.

As the former CFO of Microsoft North America, John Rex brings real-world perspective to the ever-increasing demands of his clients’ leadership challenges.

As an executive coach, John combines sharp insight and impactful methods with a mindset of compassion, curiosity, and courage. And as a husband and father of four, he knows what it means to juggle a leadership career with devotion to the people who matter most – all while finding joy in the journey.

Having worked worldwide and lived in Latin America for 12 years, John holds a strong personal stake in diversity and inclusivity — and he works continually to expand his understanding of people, places, and cultures around the world.

Family, spirituality, and community are central to John’s way of living. When he’s not working one-on-one with senior executives, he enjoys cycling, skiing, and planning the next adventure with family and friends.

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.

The Messiness of Trying To Do It All E10

December 12, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

The Messiness of Trying To Do It All E10

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The Messiness of Trying To Do It All E10

On this episode of the Messy Middle Podcast & Radio Show, we welcome Mindy Jones, owner of the Amy Jones Group & Founder of Community on Purpose and Kim Bryant, Physical Therapist and Owner of Thrive Pelvic Health & Wellness.

As three professional and busy moms, we discuss how all roads lead to entrepreneurship and how community has played such a critical role in our businesses. Mindy and Kim share valuable insight on how to know when a shift is needed and the many leadership lessons they have learned along the way.

If you are a woman in business wondering how to manage and juggle it all, this episode is a great reminder that you don’t have to try to do it all. Through the power of community, you are not alone. We discuss ways to ask for and receive help. We can’t wait for you to hear the invaluable wisdom Kim & Mindy share!

The Amy Jones Group is a residential real estate team in the East Valley owned and operated by a committed group of professional women who are raising the industry standard through excellent care, advocacy and representation of their clients and families.

Committed to serving their community, owner Mindy Jones launched Community on Purpose in 2022, a nonprofit organization serving women and families through fundraising and volunteering which the Amy Jones Group spearheads.

Known for their community based approach to marketing, the Amy Jones Group has a loyal following of clients who speak loud and proud about the difference working with the Amy Jones Group has made on their family.

Mindy Jones has been building community since her debut as a 2nd grade peer mediation specialist – yep, you read that right.

She has organized fundraising events and charity galas, recruited volunteers for projects big and small, managed volunteer engagements for nonprofits and corporate giving arms, and helped dozens and dozens of nonprofits along the way before starting one of her own, Community on Purpose, which serves women and families in Arizona.

Mindy is the mom of a 3 year old fire cracker of a boy, owner of the Amy Jones Group, an all female owned and operated residential real estate team serving hundreds of families each year, and professional community builder who leads the Women Empowered Committee at the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, co-chairs ICAN Positive Programs for Youth’s dreamBIG gala and has been recognized for the work she and her company have done in the community.

Mindy lives by the motto, “Be the Change You Want to See” and through events, public speaking, professional writing engagements, social media platforms, volunteering, and gritty execution, Mindy and her team have positioned themselves as the premier community builders in the East Valley.

Mindy is passionate about helping others find clarity in their voice, understand how to leverage community relationships to build a strong following for their brand and make a massive positive impact on their businesses, communities, and families along the way.

Mindy is passionate about giving women a professional platform for achieving their financial goals in a meaningful career while serving their families, communities, and selves along the way.

Always looking to create new partnerships, Mindy’s experience in building a community based business is truly a testament to her belief that every connection is the opportunity to change the world.

Connect with Mindy on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Thrive Pelvic Health and Wellness is a group of practitioners that specialize in all things pelvic health. We treat adults and children and have 4 valley location.

Some of the common conditions we treat are, pain with intercourse, bladder or bowel leakage, prolapse, pelvic pain, diastais recti, postpartum recovery, labor and birth prep, and low back/hip pain.

Dr. Kim Bryant received her doctorate in physical therapy in 2009 and has been specializing in pelvic health since 2017.

She opened Thrive Pelvic Health to provider the quality care her patients deserve but to also allow her to have a better work-life balance.

Her goal is to take the shame out pelvic floor dysfunction so that many of this population doesn’t have to suffer in silence.

Follow Thrive Pelvic Health and Wellness on Facebook and Instagram.

About The Messy Middle Podcast & Radio Show

“Beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad but it’s the middle that counts the most.”- Hope Floats

We often talk about the beginnings and endings of things. We celebrate our firsts and mourn our lasts. We often ignore the in between, or what we like to call the messy middle. In this nebulous space, often there are no awards or recognition.

It is frequently characterized by the long days, hard work, uncertainty, self-doubt, small wins, setbacks, persistence, and sheer determination to simply keep moving forward. And, yet, it is also where the magic happens. The middle part of our journey is what shapes us, prepares us and fills our lives with meaning.

Welcome to the Messy Middle Podcast & Radio show! Each month we invite guests to share their own version of the Messy Middle and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Whether you’re in the messiness of growing a business, healing from trauma, or navigating the wild world of parenting; this show is for you! We’re so excited to celebrate the messiness of life and business with you!

About Mother & Founder Co

Mother & Founder Co was created to help people who are experiencing change and are looking for growth, healing & transformation. The only thing that is constant is change…and change is really difficult for most people. When remaining where you are is more painful than the unknown, change happens.

*And*

Mother & Founder is there to help you create, maintain, and navigate the changes you wish to make.

In addition to the amazing community of women, we provide trauma healing sessions, clarity courses designed to re-imagine what’s possible, individual coaching and small business strategy masterminds.

About Jen Burwell

Jen is the Founder of Mother & Founder Co. and Co-Founder of Jens LIGHT Events.

She is a recognized public speaker and enjoys working with audiences of all sizes. She is a fierce advocate of self-development and believes a kinder world begins from within.

Her goal is to help as many leaders heal themselves as possible. A healed world is a better world for all of us. In 2020, she received the prestigious honor of Business Woman of the Year by the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.

She loves being right in the messy middle of growing business(es), mothering 3 young kiddos (2 on the Autism Spectrum) and navigating a healthy and happy marriage amid it all.

In her spare time, she enjoys morning solo runs accompanied by her AirPods and her latest Audible book. Her other joys include spa days, being near the ocean, travel and learning something new.

Follow Mother & Founder Co on Facebook and Instagram.

Stephanie Morales with Persevere E34

December 9, 2022 by Karen

Arizona Good Business

Stephanie Morales with Persevere E34

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Stephanie Morales with Persevere E34

Persevere is a national 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to end mass incarceration, reduce recidivism, and empower incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and other justice-involved men and women to succeed.

We influence this by providing full stack coding education inside of state prisons, career readiness classes, job placement and a full year of case management during reintegration.

Stephanie Morales is the Program Manager for Persevere for the state of Arizona. She has been with the organization for nearly three years.

Her background is in social work and trauma informed coaching. Stephanie is deeply passionate about decarceration and rehabilitative vs punitive services.

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn.

About Arizona Good Business

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

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

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

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