Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Steve Taylor with The Franchise Consulting Company

March 4, 2022 by Karen

Steve Taylor with The Franchise Consulting Company

The Franchise Consulting Company helps clients structure a franchise strategy based on the uniqueness of their situation and what they find most compelling as to brand, culture and operating models in order to attain their goals. We work with both clients interested in identifying and investing in franchises AND with business owners that want to incorporate franchising into their growth strategy by becoming franchisors and selling franchises.

We understand you, your background, and build a personalized business plan that defines what you want to achieve.
We introduce you to concepts and resources that we think best fit your skill sets, interests, financing, and other factors that we have seen lead to success.
You get a chance to meet owners and test the field of franchising for these top candidates.
We have relationships with many top banks, legal experts, and other, best in class resources and can guide you to experts that can help you with all of your legal paperwork.

Join us in achieving entrepreneurship through one of the most stable routes in the world.

Steve Taylor is a former Navy Lieutenant and Naval Academy graduate who proudly served afloat and ashore for seven years following graduation.

Upon completion of his military service, Steve began a career in high tech and consumer electronics. While enjoying a healthy career, he began to look into franchising and small business ownership as a way to insulate himself from the vagaries of technology and large business. He purchased his first franchise during the ‘great recession, eventually building it into one of the top units in a large system, selling a majority interest in 2019

Realizing his passion and interests were evaluating and exploring the vast opportunities in franchising and then sharing this knowledge, Steve joined the FCC team as a partner. He genuinely enjoys “evangelizing” the American Dream as embodied in Franchise and Small Business Ownership while helping clients both visualize and realize a better quality of life.

As a franchise consultant, Steve is dedicated to providing his clients with the most thorough and honest guidance possible.

Steve lives in Pleasanton, California with his wife with their three children (including twins). In his spare time, Steve enjoys cooking, skiing with his kids and traveling throughout the state and beyond.

Personal Statement: I absolutely believe that the best way to transform our communities and ultimately, our country is by identifying, enabling, and creating a new class of business owners.

For example, the franchise model and military veterans are purpose-made for each other. On one hand, you have a model that comes with a ready-made template for success – on the other, you have a group of people that know how to follow a process, persevere through adversity, and seize opportunities while remaining creative and focused.

My passion is to identify opportunities and resources and match them with veterans and others that have a desire to change the trajectory of their lives and their communities while achieving something out of the ordinary for themselves and their families.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Anything with Wheels! E94

March 3, 2022 by Karen

Anything with Wheels! E94

In this episode, hosts Austin Peterson and Landon Mance interview special guest, Christian LeFer , Founder and CEO of InstantNonProfit.com.

InstantNonprofit.com is the done-for-you service to go from idea to IRS-approved 501(c)3 and beyond.

InstantNonprofit has launched 3,500 nonprofits worldwide, serving every type of mission. Christian consults and trains nonprofit executives, & has raised millions of dollars as a professional fundraiser and copywriter.

Tune in to hear about about how Christian’s past and passion for a better life for everyone has helped entrepreneurs turn ideas and dreams into successful nonprofit companies.

Christian’s love for the outdoors and active lifestyle encourages you to put your best foot forward and accomplish what others won’t. Exceed the limits and keep pushing through until you accomplish your mission and meet your goals and objectives.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a nonprofit, you’ve probably heard about the frustrating, bureaucratic process, long time delays with the state and IRS, and insanely high lawyer fees to navigate the process. Then even if you do start, the questions around keeping good standing, fundraising, and IRS reporting can make even the best of us throw our hands up in defeat.

But not anymore, with InstantNonprofit.com. Their done-for-you process has taken more than 3,500 founders from idea to IRS Tax-Exempt status in under 30 minutes of work in most cases, for less than ⅓ of comparable legal fees, and you’ll never have to deal with a government application or agency. And best of it’s backed by InstantNonprofit’s 200% IRS Approval guarantee.

Their three-step process is easy: First they gather the information required to get you in business so you can open a bank account. In Step 2 they provide articles of incorporation, EIN, bylaws, and a customer portal with their Founder’s playbook training and board of directors corporate governance kit. In Step 3, they Submit all your paperwork to the IRS so you can raise tax-deductible funding, get paid for pursuing your passion, and even qualify for public student loan forgiveness program.

They eliminate any legal worries and hassles, saving you time, and money so you can focus on your mission and make a difference in the world. InstantNonprofit.com believes it shouldn’t be hard to do good!

Christian LeFer is Founder and CEO of InstantNonprofit.com, the done-for-you service to go from idea to IRS-approved 501(c)3 and beyond.

Prior to getting into charities, Christian spent decades in the world of issue advocacy, in support of free markets, free minds, and free people. He loves being a dad to his three teenagers, feels most alive when coaching, writing and speaking, and his favorite “flow states” show up when he’s dirt biking and snowboarding!

Connect with Christian on LinkedIn and follow InstantNonprofit.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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.

Austin Peterson and Landon Mance are registered representatives of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker/dealer (member SIPC) and registered investment advisor. Insurance offered through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. Backbone Planning Partners is a marketing name for registered representatives of Lincoln Financial Advisors.CRN-4332157-021622

Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. and its representatives do not provide legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a legal or tax advisor regarding any legal or tax information as it relates to your personal circumstances.

The content presented is for informational and educational purposes. The information covered and posted are views and opinions of the guests and not necessarily those of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp.

Business RadioX® is a separate entity not affiliated with Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp.

Cynthia Hanson and David Watkins with Vib Tempe

March 2, 2022 by Karen

Cynthia Hanson and David Watkins with Vib Tempe

Located in the heart of vibrant Downtown Tempe, the Vīb Tempe connects you to work, education, and entertainment. Tempe is the perfect location to stay when visiting the Valley of the Sun.

A brand new addition to the Downtown Tempe Neighborhood, the Vib provides you with all the amenities of home while allowing you to experience everything that Tempe has to offer.

After a restful night sleep on our Sealy beds, you are sure to enjoy the invigorating rainfall showerhead and Bliss Spa amenities to start your day right! Be sure to pick up a locally roasted coffee and fresh pastry in the lobby on your way out.

Work or play are nearby with many corporate offices, Arizona State University’s Main Campus, Valley Metro Light Rail, and Mill Avenue – all within walking distance.

When you return for the evening, indulge in appetizers, dinner, sip on our signature Vīb cocktail in the lobby, or mingle at the rooftop lounge while taking in the one-of-a-kind Arizona sunset.

Once you head back to your room, stream your favorite shows by casting from your preferred device to the in-room television or catch up on a few emails using our dependable ultra-fast Wi-Fi.

Vīb Tempe has everything you need for a successful business trip, quick adult getaway, or perfect university visit.

Cynthia Hanson has spent 29 years in the hotel/hospitality industry. She started off in operations and after 8 years, transitioned to sales. In her career, she has opened four hotels and has been through 2 renovations.

Cynthia has worked for such companies as Marriott, Wyndham, Sheraton, Westin and now Best Western. She also owns three properties, along with her husband, that they Airbnb and VRBO.

David Watkins has 24 years in the hotel/hospitality industry. He started out on the food & beverage side of the industry, then moved over to operations.

David has consulted for various hotel brands across the country and currently General Manager of the new Vib Tempe. This hotel is the first owned and operated hotel Best Western has done in 75 years!

Follow Vib Tempe on Facebook and Instagram and learn more about the Best Western Rewards Award Winning Loyalty Program

Your Resources, Messaging, and Buy-in that Grows Company Culture E20

March 2, 2022 by Karen

Your Resources, Messaging, and Buy-in that Grows Company Culture E20

On the podcast, we love matching a great company with a company or individual that supports company culture. This time we went the route of just focusing on resources to help improve company culture. Stephanie and Larry both dedicate their careers to supporting companies to improve their company culture and they do so both in person and virtually around the world!

When it comes to improving company culture and finding the right person to help (either Larry or Stephanie possibly?) it all starts at the same place- the CEO and leadership HAS to WANT to improve the company culture. Ask the CEO what they want and this will help lead the conversation so they realize that improving company culture is at the root of all of their answers.
They want to make more money? Well, their staff can help increase sales.
They want less turnover? Well, taking care of your staff that are already with the company can help that.

Once you have the leader on board, there are a few first steps on where to look to start improving the company culture;

How diverse and inclusive is the company?
Is there a purpose in the company that the employees can stand behind?
How is the communication within the company?
Is it a physiologically safe place for conversation?
These are just a few of the first places to look.

Not only did the conversion talk through many of the areas of improvement for companies when they first decide to focus on improving their culture, but it also included some tidbits and takeaways for the listeners as well. Here are just a few to give you an idea, but you really should just listen to the podcast to get the full context on these tips for growing your company culture.

Get over yourself.
What is the message that you (as the leader) are sending without words.
Get a vision and live it.
Develop a culture of learning.

Larry and Stephanie are great resources to help leaders improve their company culture. Larry does so through understanding the brain’s role in accelerated performance and coaching leaders through his knowledge and experience Stephanie is an amazing resource and “jacqueline of all trades” when it comes to company support and the use of her Company Culture game (a game which can be played both in person and virtually). These two resources are great for growing your company culture BUT they also gave plenty of tips in the podcast that a listener can grab on to first!

Stephanie Angelo works with organizations that want to create a great Company Culture to outlive, outlast and outperform their competition.

With her training, speaking and consulting she helps her clients develop strong cultures by establishing customized in-house programs to create Traction not Transaction™ which helps employees do better on their jobs, decrease turnover and create a high engagement organizations.

In 2020 Stephanie invented the popular board game Company Culture – a Game of Workplace Traction not Transaction® which is an exclusive element in her company culture workshops in analog and digital versions.

Clients include companies like CopperPoint Mutual, Faist GreenTec, Intel and Raytheon and has spoken to numerous conferences and associations such as IFMA and ASIS and SHRM.

Stephanie has been interviewed on all five Phoenix TV channels and has been featured in publications including the Arizona Republic and The Phoenix Business Journal.
Stephanie is an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Presenter, a professional member of National Speakers Association and a member of Society for Human Resource Management. She has served in several leadership roles.

In 2014 she co-created the first-ever board game to address domestic violence – OUTrage™ – A Game to Recognize and Change Abusive Behavior. Stephanie cowrote the true-crime memoir, Serrated, and has spoken all across the U.S. and in Europe. She has won several awards for her work.

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

Aperneo is an AN ACHIEVEMENT ACCELERATION COMPANY. Since 99% of people think about what’s ever on their mind and less than 1% know how they think they are in the ‘know how you think’ business. Providing the knowledge, experience, and education on how the brain processes information thus how we think, creates the small difference that makes all the difference.

By understanding the brain’s role in accelerated performance and capitalizing on the recent scientific breakthroughs of the new brain/result paradigm, Aperneo unleashes one’s innate ability to achieve record-breaking performance while living what most are only seeking.

They evaluate, educate, and establish the desired outcomes to unprecedented performance simply by educating associates on how to change their minds. Their workshops, presentations and one-on-ones create a change in performance literally overnight.

Once the entire organization has the knowledge behind how we think and its impact on performance they provided leadership with the how-to-kit on unleashing the creativity and desire within every empowered associate to accomplish company’s new and bodacious vision by accomplishing their personally driven visions.

An advisor to Fortune 500 executives, Larry Olsen has invested the last 40 years researching, adapting, and teaching developments in the field of performance-driven neurology.

As a recognized international speaker, best-selling author, executive coach, and Mindset’s Playbook podcast host, Larry’s expertise is based on the hands-on achievement drawn from professional success within major corporations as well as entrepreneurial businesses.

Larry understands that if an organization is to succeed, its people must come first – no shortcuts, no excuses. He tells us, “It’s not the size of the organization that makes it successful, but rather the size of the vision within each individual that makes or breaks a company.”

Connect with Larry on LinkedIn.

About Culture Crush

Culture is not just a tag word to be thrown around. It is not something you throw in job descriptions to draw people to applying for jobs within a company.

According to Marcus Buckingham and Ashely Goodall in their book Nine Lies About Work, “Culture is the tenants of how we behave. It’s like a family creed. This is how we operate and treat each other in the family.”

As a growing company- Culture Crush Business Podcast is THE culture improvement resource that supports companies and leaders. Our Mission is to improve company cultures so people WANT to go to work. Employees and leaders should like where they work and we think this is possible.

Within the company: Culture Crush has Vetted Resources and Partnerships with the right people and resources that can help improve your company culture.

On this podcast: We focus on everything surrounding businesses with good company culture. We will talk with company leaders to learn about real-life experiences, tips, and best practices for creating a healthy work environment where employees are finding joy and satisfaction in their work while also striving and growing within the company. We also find the companies that offer resources to help improve company culture and showcase them on the show to share their tips and tricks for growing culture.

About the Host

Kindra Maples is spartan racer, past animal trainer, previous magician’s assistant, and has a weakness for Oreo cookie shakes. Her journey working with people actually started working with animals as a teenager (don’t worry we won’t go that far back for her bio).

She worked for over 15 years in the zoo industry working with animals and the public. Her passion of working with animals shifted into working with people in education, operations and leadership roles. From there her passion of leadership and helping people develop has continued to grow.

Then came the opportunity for leading the Culture Crush Business Podcast and she jumped on it. Leadership, growth, and strong company cultures are all areas that Kindra is interested in diving into further.

Shout Outs

We want to thank a few people for their behind the scenes effort in helping this relaunch to come to life. James Johnson with Tailored Penguin Media Company LLC.– It is a small, but powerful video production company with a goal to deliver the very best by articulating the vision of your brand in a visually creative way. Gordon Murray with Flash PhotoVideo, LLC. -Flash Gordon has been photographing since high school and evolving since then with new products that will equip, encourage, engage, and enable. Renee Blundon with Renee Blundon Design – She is not only one of the best free divers (that’s not how she helped with the podcast) but she is great with graphics design and taking the direction for the vision that you have while also adding creative ideas to bring to your vision to life.

These are just a few of the folks that supported the relaunch of the podcast. If you would like to be part of the Culture Crush team or would like to support underwriting the show- please reach out: info@culturecrushbusiness.com

Using Public Safety Tech to Improve Community Relations E23

March 1, 2022 by Karen

Using Public Safety Tech to Improve Community Relations E23

What technologies are law enforcement agencies and private-sector businesses adopting to protect public safety through a more informed lens? How can these entities implement these technologies effectively to produce more equitable outcomes, particularly for communities of color? And finally, which decisions should be made by humans and which ones can be made by AI?

The February 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s TechCast podcast featured public safety experts including Lauren M. Cziok, public safety senior manager at Accenture; Jason Hartford, vice president of Axon devices at Axon; Gretchen Peri, senior director at Slalom and Robin S. Reed, co-founder and principal at EmFluent, LLC and president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona. These leaders joined Steve Zylstra, Council president and CEO, and Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, in exploring technology’s role in public safety and how new innovations can help first responders make better-informed decisions in real time.

Throughout this hour-long episode, this panel of public safety specialists explained the recent evolution of public safety technologies to emphasize racial and social equity. They acknowledge that historically, law enforcement has been slow to change, and hasn’t always progressed as quickly as it needs to in order to respond to society’s needs.

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers.

Our 674,000people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities.

Lauren Cziok serves as Accenture’s North America Public Safety Lead, delivering technology projects and strategic support to law enforcement agencies around the world.

As a former crime analyst from a US state agency, Lauren has experience in Intelligence Analysis, Investigative Support, Public Safety Business Processes and Operations Systems for State, Local, Federal, and International Public Safety Agencies.

Lauren comes from a family of police officers with a combined 75+ years of service, which has fueled her passion for providing Public Safety Agencies with the tools and skills to further their goals of trust and legitimacy through Analytics.

Follow Accenture on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

With over 26 years of advancing technology, Axon is dedicated to a bold and powerful mission to Protect Life and Obsolete the Bullet. Axon is the global leader of connected public safety technologies. We stand for protecting life, protecting truth, transparency, and accountability.

Rick Smith founded Axon (formerly TASER International) following the deaths of two high school friends who were gunned down in an act of road rage. This tragedy sparked a passion in Rick to seek new technologies that would enable people to protect themselves without deploying lethal force.

Axon’s connected body-worn camera technology and evidence-management cloud are designed to help police officers work efficiently actively and transparently. Axon’s mission from the start has been to make the bullet obsolete, reduce social conflict and ensure criminal justice systems are fair and effective.

Following recent events, Axon has doubled down on its focus to eradicate racism and excessive force in the justice system.

Jason Hartford is a technology product management, marketing, planning and supply chain leader with over 15 years experience in team development, process improvement and change management.

He has experience in managing across multiple industries, go-to-market models and high/low volume businesses and is recognized as a product management leader in developing innovative experiences and capabilities.

He has proven abilities in forming, managing and developing diverse, multi-cultural high performance teams and has a consistent reputation for delivering high-quality results in fast-paced, high-accountability work environments.

Finally, Jason has demonstrated success in developing innovative processes and solutions that improve profitability, enable increased revenue and improve asset management.

Follow Axon on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The EmFluent team are trusted business advisors who provide the highest levels of applied experience, industry knowledge, expertise, and white-glove service.

We engage with organizations to improve strategic and tactical execution through comprehensive workforce analytics and custom-developed solutions.

Robin Reed is the co-founder and Principal with EmFluent, an Executive Performance Consulting company that focuses on leadership strategy, talent optimization and sales arbitrage.

Robin is also President and CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona and is recognized as a professional speaker and has spoken nationally and internationally on the topics of business development, strategy execution, talent optimization, sales arbitrage and mergers and acquisition.

Originally from Northern California, Robin currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and is an avid golfer who enjoys getting out on the course 3-4 times per week.

Robin holds several board seats including:

Phoenix College President’s Advisory Board: Co-Chair since 2018
Treasure House: Board Member since 2019
Valley of the Sun United Way: Board Member Since 2020
Arizona State University, Knowledge Exchange for Resilience (KER), Council of Resilience Leaders
ASU W.P. Carey School of Business, AZNext – Steering Committee

Connect with Robin on LinkedIn and follow EmFluent on Facebook.

Slalom is a global consulting firm focused on strategy, technology, and business transformation. They redefine what’s possible, and create what’s next.

At Slalom, personal connection meets global scale. They build deep relationships with their clients in 41 markets around the world, while sharing insights across markets to bring the full breadth of Slalom’s expertise to every engagement.

Slalom’s regional Build Centers are hubs for innovation, attracting top talent to rapidly co-create the technology products of tomorrow. They also nurture strong partnerships with over 400 leading technology providers, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Tableau.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Seattle, Slalom has organically grown to over 11,000 employees. Their Phoenix office has over 150 advisors, strategists, and engineers dedicated to serving the Greater Phoenix community. They believe in hiring locally and have a business model that allows consultants to serve clients in the same communities in which they live.

Slalom works with many Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies—along with startups, non-profits, public sector, and many other innovative organizations across the state of Arizona.

Gretchen Peri serves as Slalom’s US Lead for Public Sector, helping Slalom build better tomorrows for all with its state and local government, education, and non-profit clients. During her 10 years with Slalom, she has held a variety of roles including leading the Seattle market’s Public Sector Practice, Innovation Program, and Women’s Leadership Network.

Gretchen began her career working at the US Immigration and Naturalization Service and the US Mission to the United Nations. Her early experiences in public sector inspired in her a passion for helping government agencies deliver the best public services to their communities.

After completing her MPA, Gretchen spent several years consulting justice and public safety agencies on how to best leverage technology to improve operations and integrated justice data sharing. She joined Slalom in 2011 where she started the firm’s inaugural Public Sector practice. Today, Slalom serves its government, education, and non-profit clients across the globe through a network of 40+ local markets.

In the community, Gretchen serves on the King County Strategic Advisory Council, providing guidance to appointed and elected leaders on how King County can best use technology to enable a community where everyone can thrive. She has been honored as a Puget Sound Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 Business Leader and is co-founder of the PSBJ 40U40 Alumni Advisory Board, whose purpose is to bring business leaders together from private, public, and non-profit industries to help solve our deepest local challenges.

Gretchen and her husband live on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, with their two children and a small army of farm animals.

Follow Slalom 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.

E97 Building Your Network with Kandis Porter

February 27, 2022 by Karen

E97 Building Your Network with Kandis Porter

In this episode of Project Management Office Hours, Kandis Porter, MBA MSPM PMP and Joe Pusz – PMO Joe discussed entrepreneurship in project management and change management space, serving the military, mentorship and much more.

Some of the themes in the show were building your network, along with helping people. Kandis explains that building your network and explaining the passion you have for something helps create deeper connections with someone. “Project management, change management, that leadership development. I think that’s one area that I especially enjoy working with people on, because if you don’t have support at that leadership level with project management or with change management, it’s going to be a lot harder than it has to be or it’s not going to be successful.” -Kandis Porter

Kandis Porter is the Founder and Managing Director of Effective Flow Connections (EFC), a management consulting company that helps transform organizations through project management, process improvement, change management, facilitation of key meetings, and training.

Kandis describes the most challenging projects she’s had to face, “I’d say just about any project that involves people is a challenging one. And I say that lightheartedly. That’s what makes project management, change management so rewarding as well, because you’re making a difference. There’s project outcomes and objectives. You’re trying to do something. People are everywhere. And if you forget about them, you’re not going to succeed with your project.”

Before joining the consulting industry, Kandis proudly served more than seven years in the United States Air Force and is passionate about giving back to veterans and their families.

Connect with Kandis:
LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/eJgABw6T
Website https://lnkd.in/ewfG74Km
Facebook https://lnkd.in/eUqSM6Ce

Learn more about veteran programs and lend a helping hand visit:
Veteran Project Manager Mentor Alliance (VPMMA) https://thevpmma.org/

To catch up on previous episodes or see the guest list for upcoming shows visit the Project Management Office Hours website – https://lnkd.in/g_zP8gU8

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 – 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 – www.thepmoleader.com

EFC is a management consulting company that helps transform organizations through project management, process improvement, change management, facilitation of key meetings, and training. EFC enables organizations to do what they do, even better!

Kandis Porter is the Founder and Managing Director of Effective Flow Connections (EFC), a management consulting company that helps transform organizations through project management, process improvement, change management, facilitation of key meetings, and training. Kandis also works one-on-one with clients, focusing on Leadership development and growth. EFC enables organizations to do what they do, even better!

Kandis has more than 18 years of experience managing people and large projects in both the government and private sectors. She has supported clients in various industries, to include the Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration, utilities, medical device, health care, non-profit, and learning & development.

Kandis has a Master of Science Degree in Project Management (MSPM) from The George Washington University and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources. In addition, she is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), PMP Exam Prep Course Instructor through Project Management Institute, Prosci Change Manager, and Six Sigma Green Belt. She is also certified as a Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Practitioner, Thomas-Kilmann Instrument (TKI) Practitioner, and is a Wiley DiSC Everything Authorized Training Provider.

Before joining the consulting industry, Kandis proudly spent more than seven years on Active Duty in the United States Air Force and is passionate about giving back to veterans and their families. She is a member of the Small Business Administration’s Advisory Committee on Veteran Business Affairs (ACVBA) in Washington, DC.

Kandis is also active in the veteran community in Reno, Nevada, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Veterans Guest House. Outside of work, she enjoys running, hiking, skiing, and spending time with her family.

Connect with Kandis on LinkedIn and follow Effective Flow Connections on Facebook.

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.

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 – www.thepmoleader.com

Lilach Mazor Power and Dan Watkins with Mazor Collective

February 25, 2022 by Karen

Lilach Mazor Power and Dan Watkins with Mazor Collective

Mazor Collective, a family of cannabis brands, is home to the award-winning Giving Tree Dispensary in North Phoenix, along with cannabis brands Kindred Cannabis and Revelry. The company is a vertically integrated licensed cannabis operation that includes the cultivation, extraction and sale of cannabis in Arizona.

Giving Tree Dispensary was established in 2013, and is one of the only Arizona dispensaries with majority female ownership. This year, Giving Tree Dispensary was named to the 2021 Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America and was a Phoenix Business Journal Small Business Award finalist. The company has built a strong corporate citizenship program over the years donating over $100,000 to charities.

Mazor Collective also includes two cannabis brands: Kindred Cannabis and Revelry. Kindred is the leading cannabis capsule brand, infusing the benefits of cannabis into a convenient, discreet and precisely dosed capsule.

Revelry is the only cannabis capsule brand in the United States dedicated to helping alleviate the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. The collection includes Revelry THC and CBD infused day and night capsules, and a CBD intimacy oil.

Mazor Collective has plans to expand its wholesale business of Kindred and Revelry outside of Arizona in 2022.

Lilach Mazor Power is the founder & CEO of Mazor Collective, a family of cannabis brands, including the award-winning Giving Tree Dispensary in North Phoenix.

As a veteran of the Israeli military, an immigrant, working mother and small business owner, Mazor Power has a unique perspective of this growing industry.

Dan Watkins joined the company as Director of National Sales in early September and oversees both the retail and wholesale operations.

Dan is an accomplished strategic executive who has excelled at driving performance & people first cultures within the consumer-packaged goods industry.

His 20+ years of sales, marketing and project management executive leadership roles has prepared him well for the journey ahead.

Connect with Lilach on LinkedIn and follow Giving Tree Dispensary on Instagram.

Our Future Looks Bright E29

February 25, 2022 by Karen

Our Future Looks Bright E29

On this episode of Collaborative Connections Radio Show and Podcast, host Kelly Lorenzen had the honor of interviewing a few of future leaders. This younger generation growing up now is a bunch of bright, savvy, passionate, and loving humans if they are anything like our featured guests.

Makayla, Marcela, and Mackenzie shared their passions, opinions, world views, and plans for the future. Anyone who listens to this episode will be uplifted and grateful, because our future is looking bright with what these amazing humans have planned.

Kelly was bursting with excitement and pride as her daughter and friends shared their ideals. What a gift it was to let these young humans know that their voices matter.

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.

The Accountant E93

February 24, 2022 by Karen

The Accountant E93

The Tycoons welcomed Max Getz to the show as he shared some time-relevant tax tips for business owners. Max discusses how his firm differentiates itself from others by providing tax compliance services and also serving as a tax advisor. They believe in proactively serving clients first and understand that every situation, even year-to-year, is different and they tailor their advice as such. When you listen to Max, you’ll understand why he has such a loyal client base.

Max shared a few tips for business owners to consider. Three of the top ones are: to make sure your accounting services are correct, setting up the right entity for your business, and to make decisions based on your actual situation. He also stressed the importance of accurate bookkeeping and to hire based on qualifications. You’ll have to listen to the whole episode to catch all the wisdom being dropped.

Casey LeSueur Getz, CPAs provide full service accounting, tax compliance, and tax advice to businesses and individuals interested in growing their wealth in a tax-efficient manner.

The firm was designed to provide business owners the peace of mind that comes from knowing their accounting is accurate and their tax compliance is being taken care of.

Max Getz graduated from Sacramento State University with his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 2012 and received his Master’s Degree in Taxation from Portland State University in 2020. For over ten years he has provided tax services to business owners, ranging in size from small businesses to multi-national companies.

Max has helped clients in a variety of industries, including Ecommerce, Manufacturing, Real Estate, Private Equity, and Construction. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and actively maintains and improves his tax knowledge.

Max started his career at KPMG in Sacramento California, and maintains his CPA license in both Arizona and California. His work with clients across the country has allowed him to gain an understanding of multi-state tax compliance.

When he is not in the office, his three young children keep him and his wife Ashley busy. Additionally, if you’re a golfer, you may have crossed paths with him on one of Arizona’s many great golf courses.

Follow Casey LeSueur Getz on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About the Show

About Your Hosts

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

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.

Business RadioX® is a separate entity not affiliated with Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp.