Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Making an Impact E36

September 22, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Making an Impact E36

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Making an Impact E36

Did you know that businesses and even large corporations can become sustainable and help reverse climate change? The global billion-dollar company, Interface, showed us it’s possible in the film, Beyond Zero.

In this episode of Collaborative Connections Radio Show and Podcast, host Kelly Lorenzen had the opportunity to interview Nathan Havey, writer/director of the Beyond Zero film, Dr. Rhoda Deon, who is helping create the curriculum from the movie, and Diane Janovsky, Chapter President of Conscious Capitalism Arizona.

These amazing guests are making a huge impact on our community and our future. If you would like to know how or learn more about sustainability, eliminating your environmental impact, Conscious Capitalism, or the film Beyond Zero, check out this podcast episode.

You can also learn more at beyondzerofilm.com and ccarizona.org

After a life-changing epiphany, the CEO of a global public company embarks on a high-stakes quest to eliminate all negative environmental impacts by 2020. To succeed, they must overcome deep skepticism, abandon the status quo, and ignite a new industrial revolution. Beyond Zero offers an inspirational roadmap for how business can reverse climate change.

Nathan Havey unlocks companies to become the greatest version of themselves.

A believer in the transformative power of stories, Nathan wrote and directed an acclaimed podcast series, “10 Things You Should Know About Stakeholder Capitalism” and an award-winning documentary film, Beyond Zero, which is being used by companies like KKR and UPS to show their teams how business can rise to meet the global challenges we face.

Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn.

Dr. Rhoda Deon is a spiritual life coach and musician with over 30 years of experience in education. She believes joy – not suffering – is the key to changing one’s life.

On a mission to normalize the struggle of being human, Rhoda is obsessed with the intersectionality of art, science, spirituality and human behavior. More specifically, the intersections that instantly remove limiting beliefs, reveal new possibilities and restore autonomy. She is here to remind the weary there is nothing to fight, only choices to be made.

Rhoda is a co-founder of 100 Months to Change – a global coalition of changemakers committed to building a world that works for everyone by 2030. She is also the creator of the Companion Curriculum for the film, Beyond Zero. This set of classroom resources helps students and educators reflect on the movie as well as learn more about conscious business practices.

When she’s not out changing the world, Rhoda enjoys running kitchen experiments, playing fetch with her cat, Prentice, and gravitating towards anything that involves dirt, trees or water.

Connect with Rhoda on Instagram.

Conscious Capitalism Arizona is a nonprofit organization whose purpose, in partnership with Conscious Capitalism Inc., is to build a movement of business leaders improving the practice and perception of capitalism to elevate humanity so that billions of people flourish, leading lives infused with passion, purpose, love and creativity; a world of freedom, harmony, prosperity, and compassion.

They advocate for “Business as a Force for Good” by raising awareness, developing understanding, and supporting the practice of Conscious Capitalism principles in Arizona.

Diane Janovsky is a consultant and business transformation leader whose purpose is to unleash the power of organizations to do good and to do well.

Through a collaborative but firm style, and with a relentless focus on the alignment of people, process and strategy (purpose, mission, vision and values), she helps organizations improve performance and achieve systemic results including culture change, revenue growth, cost reduction, highly engaged workforce, quality outcomes and superior customer satisfaction.

Diane’s business education began when she was a child and lived behind the “mom and pop” grocery store her parents owned. Through their example, she developed an early appreciation for the importance of people relationships and the value of hard work and a good reputation.

After many years as a professional in the corporate world, Diane returned to her entrepreneurial roots in 2009 and became a business consultant serving the needs of small and mid-size businesses.

Connect with Diane 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.

Igor and Irina Ilyinsky with ListenUp

September 21, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Igor and Irina Ilyinsky with ListenUp

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Igor and Irina Ilyinsky with ListenUp

Irina and Igor Ilyinsky are building ListenUp – a free audio app that uses Artificial Intelligence to capture local stories and then narrates them to users based on their location.

With the phone in your pocket, the app allows safe mobile entertainment and guidance anywhere in the world, in up to 22 languages.

The hyper-local nature of this platform allows small businesses to advertise to users within walking distance of their establishment, for a fraction of what typical advertising costs.

ListenUp is launching in Arizona, just in time for the Super Bowl and Phoenix Open.

Scottsdale based husband and wife entrepreneurs – Igor and Irina Ilyinsky were born to challenge the status quo.

Both immigrated from the Soviet Union in 1979 via the same route, but they would not meet until just after September 11, 2001.

Igor, a technology whiz, grew up in Brooklyn, while Irina was posturing to become an IT business consultant, and later, a top-selling real estate agent, in her hometown of Chicago.

They have since built multiple enterprises together, and separately – with varying degrees of success – but since the pandemic have decided to dedicate their skills to something that actually improves the world.

Connect with Igor on Twitter and follow ListenUp on LinkedIn.

“Does Knowing P3 Make You a Good Scheduler?” and Other Great Questions with John Armstrong from Civic CM E18

September 21, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

"Does Knowing P3 Make You a Good Scheduler?" and Other Great Questions with John Armstrong from Civic CM E18

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“Does Knowing P3 Make You a Good Scheduler?” and Other Great Questions with John Armstrong from Civic CM E18

Civic CM is a construction management firm that specializes in scheduling, risk, claims, project controls, construction defect, and litigation support. Civic CM regularly provides these services for general contractors, owners, subcontractors, attorneys, developers, and owners’ representatives. Civic CM helps clients achieve their desired outcomes and commercial success by providing greater certainty and confidence in their scheduling and claims management practices. And Civic CM achieves those goals through unparalleled commitment to integrity, competency, quality, responsiveness, and teamwork.

Civic CM was founded in 2014 and is currently comprised of over 20 scheduling, planning, claims, and construction defect experts. Civic CM’s Arizona office is located in Tempe and its headquarters is in San Marcos, California. Civic CM also has offices a Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, and West Palm Beach. Civic CM’s work in nearly all construction market sectors and types, and is highly experienced in all forms of contract delivery methodologies.

Below are the most common work products that Civic CM provides its clients;

• Develop and update CPM schedules
• Facilitate pull planning and last planner sessions
• Perform forensic delay analyses and prepare time extension requests
• Assemble disruption and inefficiency claims
• Provide expert witness reports and testify in mediation, arbitration, and litigation
• Develop and manage project risk management programs
• Review and audit schedule submissions and claims from contractors

John Armstrong is a degreed engineer with nearly 2 decades of experience in the construction industry as an expert witness, general contractor, and owner’s representative.

He is highly skilled in project and program controls, claims avoidance and preparation, risk management, schedule auditing, enterprise-level planning for owners, schedule development for contractors, and contract and change management. John regularly provides expert witness services relating to damage quantum and forensic delay analysis arising during construction. John is also experienced in providing litigation, arbitration, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution support for attorneys.

John has worked on complex projects and programs, including residential, infrastructure, education (K-12, community college, university), correctional facilities, technology, and healthcare. He has provided lead scheduling, change and claims management, project controls, expert testimony, and contract/change management services for over 170 construction projects totaling over $12 billion. John’s experience with project delivery methods includes design-bid-build, CMAR/CMGC, design-build, lease-leaseback, and more.

John is also an expert in construction claims and time extension requests across various markets and sectors. John has provided these services for a full spectrum of clients, including construction owners, attorneys, and contractors. These services include damages quantum and forensic analysis of time extension requests. John has testimony experience in depositions, hearings, and mediations.

John is also a contributing author on the update of AACE International Recommended Practice 29R-03 “Forensic Schedule Analysis.” John was also the lead researcher and primary author of the technical paper Assessing Accuracy of Estimated Activity Durations in Construction CPM Schedules, which is to be published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (“ASCE”) Construction Research Congress 2020, published in March 2020. John is an active member in relevant industry organizations, including serving as the Region 5 Director for AACE.

Connect with John on LinkedIn.

About Your Hosts

Meet JJ Levenske

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial and industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service.

JJ’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike. JJ does not believe in mediocrity and strives to see the “end at the beginning” for each project, effectuating a higher return on investment for the entire team.

Early on in his career, JJ worked as a cost engineer conducting feasibility estimates, strategic capital estimates, cost planning, and analysis of value engineering for the technology, petrochemical, and food industries. He went on to develop and implement a variety of systems for estimating, scheduling, resource management, and cost tracking while holding Project Manager and Senior Management Positions.

During his tenure, JJ has been involved in $1 billion worth of construction services. A strong entrepreneurial acumen allows him to be the perfect advocate for your facility based business solutions.

Meet Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson is a knowledgeable construction professional with over 40 years of experience. His experience ranges from residential to the commercial and industrial sectors.

Robert began working in the trades immediately out of high school and quickly advanced to Journeyman status. Robert went on to estimating, operations, senior level management and then business development.

Robert is consistently building relationships and networking with those associated with all aspects of development and construction. Robert has become a respected source for prefabricated construction solutions.

Robert enjoys spending time with Pam, his wife of 42 years, their 3 children, and 10 grandchildren.

About Our Sponsors

Bleuwave is a Phoenix-based general contractor with a specialty in land development & site improvement, pre-construction, design build, remodel and renovations, construction management, and post construction.

Bleuwave is passionate about what they do and takes pride in their partner’s success.

When you need it done right the first time, call Bleuwave.

Follow Bleuwave on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tori Contracting’s smaller, cohesive structure results in superior workmanship and economical solutions.

The Tori Contracting team has construction experience acquired by performing highly successful work for hotels and casinos, restaurants, retail stores, healthcare facilities and a wide range of commercial and themed projects.

We provide design assist capabilities from start to finish…from schematic design and development through construction documents with the aid of our full-time AUTOCAD staff.

Changing My Perception E9

September 20, 2022 by Karen

Changing the Perception of Blindness

Changing My Perception E9

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Changing My Perception E9

Host David Steinmetz talks about his journey through blindness and how he changed his perception of blindness. David says that “just because your eyes dont work, doesnt mean that you don’t have something to contribute to society.”

Hiring managers and business owners will gain a new perspective on the value people who are blind bring to the workplace.

About Your Host

As the manager of Community and Public Relations, David Steinmetz uses his expertise, education, and personal experiences to “change the perception of blindness.”

Diagnosed with RP, a blinding retinal disease, at the age of 19, David uses his personal story to drive change that leads to improved employment outcomes and community integration for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Mr. Steinmetz graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Economics. Additionally, Steinmetz has continued his education by graduating from the Business Management Training (BMT) program provided by Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.

In 2008, David was the national recipient of the National Industries for the Blind Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement award. This prestigious award recognized Mr. Steinmetz for his career achievements and community service work.

David Steinmetz is a member of the Governors’ Council on Blindness & Visual Impairments, is a Board Member at the Arizona Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (ACBVI) and serves his community through the Chandler Lions Club.

Connect with David on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About the Show

Changing the Perception of Blindness; One Conversation at a Time is dedicated to breaking down barriers, de-mystifying blindness and promoting real world solutions that empower people who are blind to live a full and inclusive life.

Host, David Steinmetz connects with organizations, industry professionals and thought leaders who are working to bridge the gap that creates a world accessible for all.

About Arizona Industries for the Blind

Arizona Industries for the Blind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating employment opportunities for people who are blind. It’s employees, more than half of whom are blind, deliver a variety of products and services, including a full-service Warehousing and Distribution Center, confidential Digital Data Scan (DDS) services for private businesses and government and the operation of Base Supply Centers located at each of Arizona’s three military bases under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Labor’s AbilityOne program.

Follow AIFB on LinkedIn and Facebook.

House Hacking and Beyond E12

September 20, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

House Hacking and Beyond E12

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House Hacking and Beyond E12

Carla dishes the deets with Brandon Andreola and Brandon Knutson. Both Brandons have a lot in common although this is their first time meeting. Both are past clients who leveraged Carla’s extensive knowledge of investment & multifamily real estate and turned it into successful house hacking properties!

Listen in as they each describe what turned them on to the idea of living in their homes and paying the mortgage with very little out of pocket. Find out how Brandon K. traded one multifamily property out for TWO investment properties!

Can you buy a home or duplex and live in it while someone else pays the mortgage for you? It’s not only possible, this week we’ll tell you exactly how!

K Properties Group is a husband and wife owned real estate company. Their goal is to achieve financial independence for their family through buy and hold real estate.

Their start was in multi-family real estate in Mesa, AZ in 2018 in which they house-hacked a duplex. They have now pivoted into short term rentals in 2021.

K Properties Group currently owns 2 short term rental units in Northern AZ and are looking to expand to a 3rd short term rental in Q2 of 2023. They are also looking to expand their short term rental management side of the business with negotiations currently taking place with another short term rental host to start managing their listing for them.

Brandon Knudtson is a serial entrepreneur at heart. He graduated college in 2017 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and has been in the manufacturing/quality control world ever since in the medical device, aerospace, and automotive industries.

Outside of his day job, he spends brainstorming any and all potential ideas on how to increase revenue streams for his family to hopefully reach early “retirement’ from the corporate world and achieve financial independence for himself and his family.

He has bought/sold thrifted sports jerseys on ebay, attempted a drop ship store on amazon, have done all sorts of 1099 side work (Instacart Delivery, Doordash Delivery, Turo, and now Rover), recently crypto/NFTs and also jumped into the real estate world back in 2018. The pathway to success is rarely linear and he is hoping to be an example of failing fast and failing forward in his attempt to achieve success in life.

Brandon Andreoloa started out in real estate by househacking while on active duty in the US Army.

He got his Real Estate license while he was serving in the 82nd Airborne Division and has been helping others househack and invest ever since!

Connect with Brandon on Facebook and Instagram.

About the Show

Smashing Through Walls is geared toward a guide through complex commercial real estate and finance topics while adding humor and anecdotes along the way. Discover what is going on in the valley and beyond with host Carla Magee, broker at MHG Commercial.

About Our Host

Carla Magee’s background is designed with the investor in mind. After obtaining her finance degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, she worked for large corporations like Boeing and Microsoft. With a critical eye and flair for analytics, she was able to shave millions in lost profits, managing cross-functional teams by utilizing her Green Belt in Six Sigma and Masters Certification in Project Management.

Ultimately she realized that she couldn’t be contained in an office environment working for the corporate world. Being an investor herself, she came into real estate as an investment & multifamily property specialist, effectively applying her education & skillset. Carla excels in helping investors make sound decisions for their financial goals, in real estate negotiations, and takes deep pride in educating homebuyers and sellers.

On a personal note, Carla is a busy wife & mother to two daughters. In addition to an ever growing career and podcast, she also enjoys volunteering and being active in the community. She has a deep love for Arizona and although she travels whenever possible, she always finds her way back to the beautiful Sonoran Desert.

Connect with Carla on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

MHG Commercial emerged from the highly successful and innovative residential brokerage: My Home Group. MHG Commercial’s vetted and experienced advisors have a wide range of complementary professional expertise that span over 100 years of cumulative experience.

Encompassing every aspect of commercial real estate from office to industrial development, raw land to luxury commercial, and multifamily to subdivision development. We excel at out of the box thinking and transactions that require a more hands-on approach and ingenuity.

No matter the property type or service need, our commercial advisors are committed to your objectives. Combined with business finesse and unsurpassed market intelligence, MHG Commercial brokers help you determine and surpass your business goals.

Follow MHG Commercial on Facebook and Instagram.

Eric Whitmoyer with My Biz Coaches and Jim Wilkerson with Wilkerson Consulting

September 15, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Eric Whitmoyer with My Biz Coaches and Jim Wilkerson with Wilkerson Consulting

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Eric Whitmoyer with My Biz Coaches and Jim Wilkerson with Wilkerson Consulting

My Biz Coaches is a business consulting firm that takes a personalized approach to help our clients achieve their goals. We specialize in sales and marketing, operations, finance, and leadership and personal development.

Our team of experienced consultants provides practical solutions that get results. We understand that business owners need a sounding board to help them navigate the ever-changing landscape of business. Let My Biz Coaches be your guide to success!

At My Biz Coaches, we have garnered the knowledge and experience of many successful business people, captured their best insights and knowledge, and provided this information to our clients to help them build, re-build, scale, acquire and even sell their businesses.

Eric Whitmoyer is a highly accomplished “no-nonsense” executive, speaker, author, & business coach. He is an entrepreneur who has owned over a dozen different businesses and spent 20 years as an executive leader of two $100 million companies and been responsible for generating over $1.6 billion in sales during that time.

After working his way up the corporate ladder to become an executive at two $100 million companies and achieving exceptional results in sales and operations along the way, as well as starting or acquiring more than a dozen businesses of his own, Eric decided to start coaching others on what he had learned.

Eric leverages his skills and experience to lead companies to peak success. Among his many achievements, Eric is recognized as an Advanced Certified Trainer in the Success Principles, a certified instructor of the Barrett Values Centre, has certifications in multiple Sales and Leadership programs, and has authored books on Goal Setting, Time Management, & Business.

Despite his professional success, Eric is most proud of his role as a husband, father, and grandfather. Eric was also a Professional Kickboxer and held the US Light-Heavyweight title from 94 to 96. He is an avid weight lifter, strength competitor, and fitness enthusiast. A die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan and served in the US Army National Guard from 1989 till 1996.

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn and follow My Biz Coaches on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Jim Wilkerson, Founder of Wilkerson Consulting, is a third generation Phoenix native who has a background based in financial services and education.

Jim has a 34 year tenure providing financial services and consulting to fortune 500 corporations, utilities, municipalities and business owners. These services include financial forecasting, business finance, corporate cash management, pension plan and 401-K investment management.

Jim has also worked with local businesses to scale and grow their operations through marketing and sales programs designed to get the business ready for sale, and implementing existing ownership exit strategies.

Jim has worked in the non-profit world succesfully designing and implementing donor engagement programs such as planned giving and traditional fundraising for Habitat For Humanity Central Arizona Chapter, and holds the American Fundraising Professional Certification.

Jim is married to his college sweetheart for over 42 years and has two lovely, successful daughters and 3 grandchildren. He attended Northern Arizona University on a full ride track scholarship setting both the school and conference records in the pole vault.

Post college, he worked his way into the world class vaulting arena where he eventually was invited to attend the 1980 Olynpic Trials.

Connect with Jim on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Erica Seagrave with MJS Consultants

September 15, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Erica Seagrave with MJS Consultants

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Erica Seagrave with MJS Consultants

Owning a small business can be difficult to navigate. Erica Seagrave knows firsthand the challenges that arise unexpectedly, as a former owner and CEO of a medical services company. Along her journey, she realized the benefits of having a business mentor to optimize strategic growth, efficiency, and leadership potential.

As a strategic business consultant and leadership coach, Erica experiences with clients include but are not limited to: rebranding to capture a wider audience through effective marketing, exploring innovative business strategies, developing employees, improving C-Suite leadership skills, and increasing revenue and profit.

When clients or organizations partner with Erica, they are able to identify best practices for engaging the challenges unique to their industry and business. The next step is acting as a guide to identify the necessary action steps so leaders have the tools to address challenges on their own.

Erica is genuinely passionate about her clients’ professional and personal growth. She feels it is very fulfilling to be a part of a team to help them maximize their potential and profit in today’s challenging businesses atmosphere.

In 2003 Erica founded a medical services business and ran it successfully for 16 years. After she sold the company in 2018, she realized she is genuinely passionate about serving others and enjoys supporting people with personal and professional growth.

She has been involved with various aspects of teaching, mentoring, and advising for the past 30 years. She becomes energized by coaching and motivating people to discover their full potential and gets inspired by learning from others just as much as she enjoys guiding them.

She is structure, organized, disciplined, innovative, efficient, and compassionate. She has a keen eye for detail and the ability to look at organizations and strategize as to how they can operate more effectively and efficiently.

In addition to serving others, she believes it is important to find balance in life. As much as she loves to work and provide guidance to others and help them grow, she takes time every day for herself. She loves hiking and being outdoors as well as spending time with family and friends.

Connect with Erica on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Falling In Love All Over Again…With Your Business E122

September 14, 2022 by Karen

Bryan-Clayton-Tycoons-of-Small-Biz-Feature

Phoenix Business Radio

Falling In Love All Over Again...With Your Business E122

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Falling In Love All Over Again…With Your Business E122

Bryan Clayton, CEO of GreenPal joins Tycoons again for another episode. Bryan’s passion for success is heard loud and clear on today’s episode. You’ll want to grab a pen and paper to jot down all the information Bryan throws at you.

Bryan and Austin talk about how revenue takes the spotlight over profitability when owners are wanting to sell their business, but they don’t realize profitability is what is going to sell their business. Throughout the process of building your business to successfully be sold and transition smoothly to new ownership owners slowly start to fall in love all over again with their business. You start to find out all the headaches your business created have now been offloaded creating this whole new outlook for your business.

Bryan Clayton is CEO and cofounder of GreenPal an online marketplace that connects homeowners with Local lawn care professionals. GreenPal has been called the “Uber for lawn care” by Entrepreneur magazine and has over 200,000 active users completing thousands of transactions per day.

Before starting GreenPal Bryan Clayton founded Peachtree Inc. one of the largest landscaping companies in the state of Tennessee growing it to over $10 million a year in annual revenue before it was acquired by Lusa holdings in 2013.

Bryan‘s interest and expertise are related to entrepreneurialism, small business growth, marketing and bootstrapping businesses from zero revenue to profitability and exit.

Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn, 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.

The Messiness of Human Connection E8

September 13, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

The Messiness of Human Connection E8

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The Messiness of Human Connection E8

On this episode, host Jennifer Burwell is joined by the Founders of The Raft Project, Kayla and Andy Izard. Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people? Us too. When asked, “When you are going through something difficult, who do you tell?” 44% of respondents on The Raft Project online poll responded “no one”. The Raft Project is on a mission to reduce that percentage. Study after study reveals the real health risks of being lonely.

Geriatrician Carla Perissinotto followed 1,600 people in a national Health and Retirement Study for over six years to see whether loneliness poses a risk to independence and mortality. It does: Feeling lonely results in a 60 percent increased risk of functional decline and a 45 percent greater risk of death. Death! Research suggests that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems and increased stress in any age group. Andy and Kayla share how The Raft Project is carefully designed to facilitate connection and provided space to give and receive support.

This episode is REAL, raw and honest. We discuss suicidal ideation, (please protect your own mental health and skip if the topic of suicide is triggering), the messiness of building a business, breakdowns and setting boundaries that go against societal norms.

For those that are curious, we also give you a sneak peek of what attending a meeting is like. Kayla and Andy run Jen through their R.E.A.L. (Rate, Explain, Ask & Listen) Framework to check in with how she’s feeling. It is a powerful episode that will hopefully leave you inspired and well-resourced to help yourself or a loved one feel less alone.

So many of us feel alone. We’re struggling. We know our friends are struggling, and we want to help. But do we reach out? Maybe… Do we open up about our own shit? No, that’s scary.

The Raft Project is a community where genuine support is normal and expected. A safe place where members can connect deeply, be there for each other, and be real. A place where no one goes under.

Andy and Kayla Izard are passionate students of human connection, authenticity, and empathy. After Andy’s prolonged mental breakdown in 2018, they doggedly pursued an open support group concept to process the real shit they were experiencing.

They knew they needed support – what they didn’t expect was so many others looking for the exact same thing. Over four years, Andy and Kayla developed and tested a framework for connection and “rules of engagement” that make a very vulnerable practice more predictable…and less scary.

While Kayla has BA in Communications and Andy in Psychology, this business is built mostly on lived experience and an unwavering passion to do good for other people and themselves. They can’t get enough of each other – why else would you start a business with your spouse!

And if that’s not hectic enough, add their two-year-old son, two dogs, and a cat to the mix. Phoenix natives, Andy and Kayla are raising their little family beneath gorgeous Arizona sunsets, mostly because Kayla refuses to move somewhere colder (to Andy’s bitter disappointment). They both love a good conversation, so feel free to say hi!

Follow The Raft Project on LinkedIn, 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.

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