Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Growing Culture and Consciousness Has No Finishline E24

July 13, 2022 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Growing Culture and Consciousness Has No Finishline E24

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Growing Culture and Consciousness Has No Finishline E24

This conversion of culture and conscious business was so fluid that you would have thought that Kindra and her two guests, Adam and Thomas, had known each other and talked for years.

This was the first time we have done a live stream where the guests could listen and post questions on the Culture Crush Business Podcast- and it was awesome! Thank you to all of the listeners that chimed in and posted questions in the chat. Thank you to Phoenix Business RadioX and Conscious Capitalism Arizona Chapter for sharing it out. They were great questions that we went over toward the end of the show.

This conversation dove into many stories and examples of the actions and importance for growing a conscious business- even if it seems a little backwards sometimes. For example, Adam discussed how Goodmans Interior Structures no longer requires their office staff to come into the office to work. This might seem a little backwards for a company that builds and sells office furniture. Instead, they are assessing and redesigning the office into a place where employees want to come into the office. They took into consideration what the employees said and wanted and are putting it into action. This conscious business move will help grow and support the needs of the employees, and therefore the overall culture of the company.

This conversation is a great one to listen to if you are a leader trying to improve your company culture and wanting to learn more about conscious capitalism and how it can help influence and support the change you are trying to make in your company. According to Thomas, “Consciousness has no finish line” which means we can always learn and add to our growth and our tool box.

When it comes to helping companies grow in conscious ways, Thomas is the man for the job. He has supported the growth of various Conscious Capitalism chapters as well as helped over 800 leaders in his program on developing their conscious journey. He gives away a few of these tips in the podcast conversation with Adam as well.

Thank you to our sponsor, the Conscious Capitalism Arizona Chapter, for seeing the value in this conversation of conscious capitalism, culture, and these two amazing gentlemen.

Conscious Capitalism Arizona Chapter (CCAZ) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose, in partnership with Conscious Capitalism Inc (CCI), 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.

All in all that means CCAZ is elevating humanity through business.

CBJourney is a movement with the purpose to accelerate the upgrade or ofganizations towards a more conscious business ecosystem.

We have over 800 certified Conscious Capitalist Consultants in 21 countries, we celebrate our accomplishements though the podcast Capitalista Consciente and the books published, and we grouw our community with our programs for Consultants, leaders and Board of Directors.

Thomas Eckschmidt is the father of Gabriela, husband of Ana Maria and an enthusiast of conscious capitalism. This is the journey forward, but we can share from the “obituary” too:

Thomas is former farmer, engineer University of Sao Paulo who holds an Executive MBA in finance from Business School São Paulo / University of Toronto, Brazil. His corporate journey included work in twenty different countries before he launched a successful entrepreneurial career that includes 12 business awards, 4 patents filed, and 21 books published, Amazon best Seller and also one published by Harvard: Conscious Capitalism Field Guide – coauthored with Raj Sisodia.

A strong believer that business leaders and organizations can do well by doing good, Thomas has been promoting Conscious Capitalism since 2010. He launched a Conscious Capitalism chapter in Brazil and Peru and supported the launch of chapters in other countries.

Thomas teaches Conscious Capitalism classes in major business schools and in Corporate Governance programs. He also runs workshops that teaches the fundamentals of Conscious Capitalism and certifies consultants and Bard of Directors. TEDx Speaker with 400k views.

Thomas is the cofounder and CEO of CBJ Conscious Business Journey a global network with the purpose to accelerate the upgrade of organizations towards a more conscious business ecosystem. CBJ has certified 800+ Conscious Capitalist Consultants in 21 countries and is an international program based on the Conscious Capitalism Field Guide and Fundamentals of Conscious Capitalism. He also cofounded the first conscious capitalism consultant network (Conscious Business Network) to support organizations interested in upgrading themselves.

Thomas also works as a trusted adviser to help organizations implement conscious practices. He cofounded a few conscious businesses along the way, was a B-Corp certified entrepreneur and he also serves on the boards of several different companies.

Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Goodmans is a 68-year-old, third-generation office furniture distributor in Arizona and New Mexico. Goodmans was the first benefit corporation in Arizona.

Adam Goodman, president and CEO of Goodmans Interior Structures, is the third generation to lead the family business.

Under Adam’s leadership, Goodmans has developed many innovative programs to give back to the community. These programs include Office Chair Hockey, Goodmans Eye for the Good Guy, AIM to Make a Difference, Rooted in Good, GoodInc, GoodART, GoodTHREADS and more. In 2009, Goodmans won the first-ever ACE Award for Community Impact and in 2011 Goodmans became the third certified B Corp in Arizona.

In 2012, Goodmans won the overall Impact Company of the Year Award from the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. In 2013, Goodmans was the Better Business Bureau’s Ethics Award winner for Arizona and then Goodmans was honored with the BBB’s International Torch Award for Ethics. In 2014 Goodmans was named to the Game Changers 500 list as one of the top 500 companies in the world using business as a force for social change.

In 2015 Goodmans became the first Benefit Corporation (B Corp) registered in the State of Arizona and in 2018 Goodmans was recognized as the Top Social Responsibility Company among the Arizona Republic’s Top Companies awardees. That same year, Adam was honored with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s Community Impact Award.

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

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

Follow Goodmans on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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

Casey Kendel – Insurance and Conscious Capitalism E8

July 12, 2022 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Casey Kendel - Insurance and Conscious Capitalism E8

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Casey Kendel – Insurance and Conscious Capitalism E8

Casey Kendel – Prosperity North Advisors. Casey offers a full-service insurance brokerage but specializes in small businesses and additionally hosts “Casey’s Corner”. On his program he highlights and promotes many small business owners and their visions of growth and importance in their own communities. Conscious Capitalism is at the forefront of everything Casey is involved with.

Prosperity North Advisors was founded in 2015 with one mission: To protect the prosperity of our clients.

We understand that you have worked hard to build your business, acquire personal and professional assets, and want to create a legacy that will support you and your family for a lifetime. We also understand that without the right protection everything can be gone in an instant.

This is why we take a unique approach to collaborate with our clients to create strategies to break the status quo, offer a high level of client service, and seek to establish long lasting relationships.

Listening to our clients means understanding their needs, making recommendations, and encouraging positive financial outcomes.

We want to be your partner in protecting your legacy and securing your prosperity!

We founded Prosperity North Advisors in 2015 to protect and grow the prosperity of our clients. As a business enhancement advisor, Casey Kendel has worked with small and large businesses, including 26 of the Fortune 100.

As a personal financial enhancement advisor, we collaborate with our clients to create short- and long-term solutions to protect your legacy.

We believe that collaboration allows for creativity, sets expectations, and delivers the best financial results for you.

Casey earned his bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from Grand Canyon University. He lives in Gilbert, Arizona with his beautiful wife Marissa and their 2 children.

In his spare time, he enjoys coaching soccer, fishing with the kids, playing my bagpipes, pretending to be a rockstar, DIY projects around the house, hosting his video series “Casey’s Corner”.

Connect with Casey on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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.

Shante Saulsberry with Janice’s Women’s Center E2

July 8, 2022 by Karen

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Deep Impact Leadership

Shante Saulsberry with Janice's Women's Center E2

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Shante Saulsberry with Janice’s Women’s Center E2

Janice’s Women’s Center is a non-profit organization that is not governmentally funded and solely relies on the donations provided by supporters and fundraisers. This center provides lifelines to victims who suffer from domestic violence and homelessness.

Currently, this center is connecting the victims to local organizations that can shelter them. Our job doesn’t end at finding a victim shelter but that is where the true work starts, and Janice’s Women’s Center does not leave a victim alone in their time of discovering a path to success.

As the center provides the tools of empowerment to strengthen and embolden victims as they find their way onto that path of success. This is the mission.

Shante Saulsberry is the founder of Janice’s Women’s Center with its unique mission to empower victims on to their path of success.

Shante founded Janice’s Women’s Center in December of 2020 after her encounters with a homeless woman, Janice. These encounters completely transformed the way Shante saw the homeless community and she knew she wanted to make a true difference by supporting those who are victims of domestic violence and homelessness.

In the procurement of funds for Janice’s Women’s Center Shante has made up a social impact boutique where it sells lightly used and new clothing, jewelry, and shoes at an affordable price. Daily Shante is making connections with the community, serving the victims that are need of assistance, and changing policies!

On April 22nd, 2022, Governor Ducey signed the HB2604 bill that was originally made up by Shante Saulsberry and sponsored by Representative Shawna Bolick of district 20. This bill is extremely important as it pertains to the victims of domestic violence. As it increases the duration of an order of protection, allowing the victims additional time to take measures for safety.

It does not stop here for Shante as she meets with Arizona’s leadership, community, and sister organizations that will greatly help Janice’s Women’s Center be a true success.

Connect with Shante on LinkedIn and follow Janice’s Women’s Center on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT Deep Impact Leadership The Art of the Connected Conversation

Negativity, sabotage, self doubt, and more are a part of cyclical thinking, leading to cyclical results. The National Science Foundation summarized a study on human thoughts per day. It is said that the average person has about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. Of those thousands of thoughts, 80% are negative, and 95% are the very same repetitive thoughts as the day before.

If our minds are prone to negative and cyclical thinking, how do we move beyond this mundane programming to achieve professional and organizational success and significance?

We must master our intrapersonal and interpersonal communication. Impactful leadership requires effective communication within ourselves and with others.

This radio show and podcast is dedicated to exploring the magic in “connected conversations”. Listen in as these pros share the tips, tricks, strategies and disciplines that keep them at the top of their game day-in and day-out serving their industries at the highest levels.

About Your Host

Success. It is like a puzzle. You must have the puzzle box lid to see the big picture and know what your life, influence, income, and reach should be.

No matter if we are talking about:

How to take your skillset and grow it into a multi-million dollar business.
How to take your business brilliance and build it into lifelong influence and buying customers.
How to overcome those moments of overwhelm and self-sabotage (all together or at least a heck of a lot faster), so you can hit those next levels of success sooner and stronger.

Karen Nowicki has you covered.

The ultimate problem solver and solution finder, Karen’s natural perspective is understanding what you want, need, and how to make it a reality.

With advanced training and certifications in several modalities and disciplinary specialization, including: Facilitative Leadership, Organizational Development, Strategic Planning, Trauma Integration & Shadow Integration, Karen knows the business of business as well as the business of people. She will nudge you, walk alongside you, and guide you along the way.

No matter if you are building your industry influence, client relationships, or working on how to grow, scale, or accelerate your business to the next level, Karen is dedicated to helping you build your success puzzle while showing you the hidden opportunities that await.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

What Is Your Why? E33

July 7, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

What Is Your Why? E33

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What Is Your Why? E33

If you love a really good heartfelt story with a big why, then check out this episode of Collaborative Connections Radio Show and Podcast.

Irene Ploski, Jesse Pekarek, and Jayashri Sarkar share their whys, lessons, tips, and tears with host, Kelly Lorenzen.

They talked about all things small businesses, nonprofits, horses, startups, entrepreneurship, community and of course, collaboration.

These amazing business owners shared their stories so authentically, it felt like they were all old friends. You will feel the same way after you listen to it.

Happy Hooves is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing animal assisted therapy and activities to those in need. Animals improve the human experience and quality of life.

From those struggling with dementia, Alzheimer’s, PTSD, depression, anxiety, grievance, trauma, to name just a few, the animal interaction has incredible benefits for all.

Jesse Pekarek was born and raised on a family dairy farm in MN. In working with and showing animals at local fairs, he developed a strong sense of connection, empathy, compassion, and of course, a strong work ethic.

Jesse received his degree in Education and moved to Tucson in 1999 to complete his student teaching requirements, and later, held positions at an at risk school as teacher, director of curriculum development, and later the director of instructional technology, managing curriculum, instructors, and advisors.

Jesse then pursued a career in residential real estate, obtaining his license nearly 19 years ago, and continues to sell real estate to this day. Having held positions as a loan officer, operations manager at a local hard money lender, and even selling property in Mexico, Jesse’s depth of knowledge in the field, combined with his degree in education, has paved a successful real estate career.

Jesse has always felt a strong connection with community and the need and importance of giving back. Jesse has founded two non-profit organizations. His first non-profit, “Your Someday Is Today” provided necessary clothing for children in need within our community. Raising approximately $100,000 over ten years.

His current non-profit, Happy Hooves, focuses on helping the community an another way…providing animal experiences and activities for those in need. From autism, dementia, PTSD, to depression. Jesse finds his purpose in being the conduit between humans and animals, and opens his home to those open to the experience.

Jesse is active in his community as well, creating a neighborhood district called “Coyote Flatts” with a mission of preserving the rural, “neighborly” feel of their quaint, quiet, and colorful community. He has also opened up his home by creating a “community farm”, where people can come to volunteer and experience the joy and rewards in assisting with the love, care, and maintenance of the farm animals.

Jesse began hosting with Airbnb Experiences in 2019, started hosting Airbnb Online Experiences in 2020, and just a few weeks ago, began hosting their new guest house where people can book and share a deeper connection with the animals, having a stay at the farm.

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

Founded in 2009, Independence Insurance Group PLLC is an independent insurance agency and have several options to offer to our clients.

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

Our team strives to provide knowledgeable, prompt, clear and honest service to our clients and prospects. We are a relationship-based agency with our clients, business partners and professional network. We actively serve our community through fundraising & volunteering.

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

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

She founded Independence Insurance Group in 2009. She has been a founding member of Networking For Charity, a Central Phoenix-based business networking group that focuses on generating qualified business referrals while engaging in philanthropy and volunteering.

She has been Vice President of NFC since 2014. NFC has raised over $60,000 for small local nonprofit organizations in our community.

She is also Vice-President of the Phoenix Lions Club, a global organization of volunteers that join together to give their time and effort to improving their communities and meet humanitarian needs.

Irene is also a member of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Phoenix Elks Lodge #335.

Connect with Irene on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Achievers Legacy’s purpose is to assist individuals and small businesses find sustainable and affordable air purification & drinking water filtration solutions for a healthy lifestyle.

Air and Water are two major elements that are critical to our health.

Both the air we breathe and water we drink are exposed to contaminants. Their goal is to provide solutions for both (air & water) that benefit you, your family, and your business, cost effectively in long term.

ImagiNexGen Institute of Excellence has a vision to build a connected world driven by trust, integrity, belonging, compassion, equality, and character leading to tolerance, synergy, fulfillment and peace.

They help individuals to discover their path to excellence leading to a joyful, meaningful, and purposeful life that engenders trust, happiness, fulfilment thus building a connected community.

They do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. They customize the work we do with individuals and organizations to their unique needs so they are set up for success in the long run.

Dr. Jayashri Sarkar has a Ph.D in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. She has worked in the corporate life for a decade.

She is passionate about providing value and great service through her businesses and building a sustainable community in the process.

She believes that small businesses play a major role in shaping the culture of a community and how they serve their communities builds a strong sense of belonging.

She strives to provide the best with her businesses Achievers Legacy and ImagiNexGen Institute of Excellence.

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn and follow Achiever’s Legacy on Facebook and Instagram.

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.

Guaranteed Service, Quality, Schedule, and Creativity E112

July 6, 2022 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Guaranteed Service, Quality, Schedule, and Creativity E112

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Guaranteed Service, Quality, Schedule, and Creativity E112

The Tycoons welcomed Robert Ancill, CEO of TNI Design, to the show. Robert’s story is a true testament to being adaptable to change. One of his favorite quotes is by Richard Branson, “If someone offers you a job, take it and figure it out later.” He likes the challenge of identifying problems and creating solutions. This has become a part of TNI Design’s business model to evaluate their work and collect data to understand if the design truly meets the client’s needs.

TNI Design operates on four mantras: Guaranteed service, Quality, Schedule, and Creativity. By holding to these principles, the TNI team maintains standards while creatively learning, growing, and changing. This is how Robert adapted over the years and how TNI Design came to fruition after splitting the company in 2015. As a standalone design and architect firm, TNI Design provides focus in their core competency areas and continues to deliver consistent results.

Based in Los Angeles, TNI Design is a team of architects and interior designers providing creative interior design, landscaping, home remodel, 3D rendering, and construction drawing services to private individuals, architects, interior designers, businesses, landlords, developers and building construction professionals.

The TNI design team has the ability and expertise to produce a custom design that will be relevant, compelling, and engaging with the target consumer profile. Design recommendations are illustrated through photo realistic renderings or 3D walk-through so the client knows what to expect from the finished product.

TNI Design serve the residential, office, hospitality, restaurant, and retail industries.

The focus at TNI Design is not just about sustainability. TNI Design was one of the first design and architecture firms to use hemp-based construction materials and furniture. Also, they adopted LED lighting long before it became mainstream and have worked tirelessly to achieve net zero carbon omissions wherever possible.

TNI Deisgn firmly believes in the importance of leaving an environmental legacy for future generations and always place significant importance on deploying sustainable and recycled materials when designing their client environments.

Robert Ancill is the CEO of TNI Design an architectural design agency that specializes in restaurants, hotels, luxury and eco homes.

Based in Los Angeles, Robert has designed over 89 new brands and 800 restaurant or café openings or remodels. He has worked or consulted with clients in over 24 countries, including but not limited to: USA, UK, Kuwait, Dubai/Abu Dhabi (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, China, Malaysia, France, Qatar, Afghanistan, Tanzania and Pakistan.

TNI Design has provided interior design services to multiple high profile restaurant and hotel brands including but not limited to: Plant Power [Vegan] Fast Food, Pizzaro, Caliburger, Staybridge Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Hilton, Seven 11, Albert Roux Café, Steak N Shake, Royal Caribbean, and Phood Farmacy.

Robert is also active in the Non Profit world, supporting many good causes including, anti-slavery, cure and support for autism and child education in underdeveloped countries.
In his spare time Robert is an amateur photographer, whose work has been featured in a number of magazines and websites, and can be found at: www.introspectivelense.com

Robert authored a book called Post COVID-19 Reboot (launched April 2020). The book is a forecast and guide to opening restaurants, bars and hospitality businesses after the Quarantine period has been lifted.

Connect with Robert on LinkedIn and follow TNI Design on Facebook 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.

Smashing Through and Building Arizona E7

July 1, 2022 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Smashing Through and Building Arizona E7

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Smashing Through and Building Arizona E7

Fellow podcasters Robert Johnson & J.J. Levenske of “Mac & Bleu” join Carla in the studio. The Mac & Bleu podcast is focused on discovering every facet of building Arizona which fits amazingly well with the topic of commercial real estate!

From their expertise in the construction industry, Robert & J.J. help us understand some of the challenges and future innovations happening as Arizona continues to grow. J.J. teaches the big words and Robert breaks down the new path of technology and the role it plays in today’s construction.

Arizona is growing exponentially and construction can’t keep up. Supply chain issues and the lack of available trades people make this an uphill battle. How can Arizona get back on track with demand? This is where technology, education, and new ideas come together.

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.

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.

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

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.

Honesty in the Workplace – Do Your Employees Want to Stay or Open Their Own Food Truck? E23

June 30, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Honesty in the Workplace - Do Your Employees Want to Stay or Open Their Own Food Truck? E23

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Honesty in the Workplace – Do Your Employees Want to Stay or Open Their Own Food Truck? E23

Andy and Kristy were another perfect pairing for the Culture Crush Business Podcast. Kristy discussed what her team does to help leaders to enhance culture and optimize performance, while Andy gave us insight into the heart of his company and ways other leaders can support their internal teams.

According to Kristy and her team, the four main areas that individuals in the workplace are searching for is to be known, grown, included and inspired. These four pieces are areas that Kristy and her team focus on improving but these are four main areas that your team and company can start to focus on as well!

When improving company culture and focusing on your people, the ROI is there in the end. There are a handful of tips that came from the conversation that can help improve the company culture, increase retention, and attract the right new candidates.

So where do you start?

Take the time to know your people and who they are. Support and grow your people. Provide them professional development support and stop being afraid that they “might” leave the company. Guess what? They might stay too! Reach out to your staff and ask for their thoughts and input. Allow your staff the opportunity to feel inspired with the work that your company is doing.

Both Know Your Talents and ESI are perfect examples of companies that are doing great things and allowing their staff to feel inspired with what they are doing. The next step is honesty. This means that leadership is honest to the staff and they provide a space for the staff to be honest as well. This opens the opportunity for staff to be open with their bosses and management about their goals and future growth. Maybe the employee wants to grow in the company or maybe they want to have a food truck someday. You’ll never know unless you give them the space to open up.

This podcast is for any level leader that understands culture is going to happen whether you work on it or not. So why not work on it and make it better? You don’t have to be sick to work on your health and your culture doesn’t have to be bad to want to work and improve it.

All in all- when you start to focus on improving the company culture at your company, once you start you have to keep going. You can’t talk to employees about their feelings, thoughts, and ideas and then not consider them as you grow and improve. Andy put it simply, “You can’t put the genie back in the bottle.”

In the end- as a leader- be bold, courageous, purposeful, and mindful.

Know Your Talents (KYT) is a management consulting firm that enhances culture and optimizes performance at every level. Our expertise is centered around four key principles: helping businesses know, include, inspire and grow their employees.

Kristy Bach serves as the President at Know Your Talents, a premier management consulting partner working with leaders to enhance culture and optimize performance at every level. Know Your Talents is the corporate division of LearnKey, a workforce education solutions provider. Kristy leads the corporate division enabling the company to offer a complete “enterprise development solution” that aligns people strategy to business strategy.

Kristy brings her success to immediately connect with, consult, and inspire individuals across every level and discipline, building trust and authentic relationships with clients, team members and peers. Prior to joining KYT, Kristy was with BestCompaniesAZ a leading Arizona Marketing Company. Additionally, she served in a COO capacity for over ten years at The Finders, a local staffing and recruiting firm, specializing in Technology, Human Resources, and Finance/Accounting.

Kristy currently serves on the Board of Directors for a local non-profit organization, Career Connectors and serves on the GCU Technology Advisory Board. Kristy is a graduate of the University of Arizona and she enjoys spending time with her husband and family, friends, community involvement, running, biking and hiking in her free time.

Follow Know Your Talents on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Educational Services (ESI) is the leading provider of employee staffing solutions for Arizona school districts, as well as assisting governments and colleges. Founded in 1999 by three educators, ESI has a passion for helping people by making a positive impact in education and public service.

ESI’s featured services include a return-to-work program known as RetireRehire, and SubSource, the largest substitute staffing program in the state. ESI has proudly served over 10,000 of Arizona’s public retirees and actively employs over 6,000 substitute educators.

Andy Shirk is the President & CEO of ESI, delighted to lead a company where heart and integrity are cherished in a people-centered culture.

Prior to joining ESI, Andy lead TrueRoots Development for 7 years advising business owners throughout the Valley.

Kindness, curiosity and wisdom are his core values. His greatest joy is serving people with warmth and compassion which is the bedrock of his career.

Whether as a business leader or playing upright bass in the local music scene, Andy genuinely loves to create the setting for others to shine.

Follow ESI on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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.

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

About the Host

Shout Outs

Business Growth Strategist Michael Pedersen

June 29, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Business Growth Strategist Michael Pedersen

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Business Growth Strategist Michael Pedersen

Michael Pedersen is hired by growth-minded CEOs and business owners to double their revenues without spending anymore money on marketing or advertising.

Helping clients create a market dominating position will cement their company as the go-to in their local market.

It’s not marketing tactics, it’s sound and effective strategies that will help a company not only survive the competitive environment, but thrive.

Michael has been an entrepreneur since the age of 10, was a division 1 scholarship athlete, then went on to compete for Canada in the Decathlon. He then was a fitness model and private fitness trainer for male CEOs in their homes.

He then launched first online golf fitness membership site in the world and turned it into a 7 figure business. Michael then took that knowledge and now helps business owners grow their revenues and become the best versions of themselves both personally and professionally.

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

Exploring Nature in Arizona E24

June 29, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Exploring Nature in Arizona E24

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Exploring Nature in Arizona E24

This month’s episode of STEM Unplugged we’re joined by Jacob Draper and Justin Eddinger from Ecoculture: The Reforestation Network, who will be sharing all about Green Drone AZ, a collaborative project that engages middle and high school students in ongoing conservation efforts on public lands using drones and GIS technologies. SciTech Institute is a collaborative nonprofit organization making STEM connections in Arizona and beyond.

During the month of June, SciTech Institute has highlighted why we should spend time Exploring Nature in Arizona and beyond. Justin and Jacob both share about their journeys in STEM along with one misconception that drives them crazy about nature in Arizona!

SciTech Institute encourages you to get outside and experience nature!

Ecoculture develops landscape restoration projects that promote a culture of conservation. The core of their process is scaling up landscape restoration in cooperation with local communities to achieve meaningful ecological and social benefits.

In doing so, they develop regional networks that incubate green jobs and entrepreneurs, educational programs that foster the next generation of environmental thinkers and doers, and design new technologies that increase restoration effectiveness.

Driven by broad community participation, their approach creates economic synergies and strengthens long-term sustainability of their projects.

Justin Eddinger has been working in the field of natural resource management for seven years. After earning degrees in Environmental Resource Management and Geographic Information Systems at Arizona State University, he spent five years working with the USDA Forest Service on the Tonto National Forest.

With the Forest Service, Justin started as a range technician, performing vegetation utilization studies on cattle grazing allotments. Later, he joined the GIS department on theTonto National Forest and finished his time working as an interdisciplinary natural resource specialist. He also served as the Wilderness and Trails Coordinator and a member of the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team.

Justin joined the Ecoculture team at Northern Arizona University in 2020. There, he is currently a restoration project manager and co manages the Lower Salt River Restoration Project as well as the Green Drone AZ educational outreach program. He also handles GIS operations for the Ecoculture Team, managing databases related to projects spanning from Arizona and Colorado to Puerto Rico.

Justin has a passion for the outdoors and loves to explore the intersection of technology and the natural world.

Jacob Draper has been working in the field of natural resource management for seven years. He completed an undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Ecology from Arizona State University and spent over two years working with the USDA Forest Service on the Tonto National Forest. Jacob spent his time as a rangeland technician, performing vegetation utilization studies on cattle grazing allotments. During the summer months he assisted in wildfire operations as an Equipment Manager Trainee.

Jacob left the Tonto National Forest in 2017 to work for Terracon, a consulting firm. He started as an assistant scientist and was later promoted to field scientist. Jacob worked on over 100 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) projects focusing on biological assessments related to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). He then moved into environmental remediation where he focused on soil, water, and vapor sampling at current and former commercial and industrial properties.

Jacob joined the Ecoculture team at Northern Arizona University in 2019. He is currently a restoration project manager and co-manages the Lower Salt River Restoration Project as well as the Green Drone AZ educational outreach program.

Jacob is the licensed Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilot for Ecoculture and is responsible for UAS data collection. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and anything that will get him outdoors. Jacob continues to research ways to integrate technology into primitive fields like conservation and hopes to inspire others along the way.

Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn and follow Ecoculture on Facebook.

About Our Sponsor

SciTech Institute™ was established as the Arizona Technology Council Foundation as the conduit for collaboration among STEM industry, academia, civic, and non-profit organizations in Arizona. Now, rebranded and named the SciTech Institute™ the goal centers around aligning assets and resources to motivate individuals to pursue STEM-related educational and career paths or find a passion while engaged in community events during the SciTech Festival.

The Chief Science Officer program highlights the 6th-12th graders that have been selected as leaders in their schools and communities to receive training to build a world-class community of diverse STEM-literate workers and knowledgeable, engaged citizens. Science For All allows for tax credit donations to provide engaging experiences for students while RAIN (Rural Activation Innovation Network) focuses on resources for the rural areas of Arizona.

As a STEM Learning Ecosystem, SciTech Institute™ focuses on collaboration and connecting individuals with opportunities! STEM Professionals are encouraged to engage with the future workforce by serving as a mentor, leadership coach, panelist, keynote and session trainer during a variety of conferences hosted or sponsored by SciTech Institute™ and The Arizona Technology Council.

Teachers and Administrators are invited to connect with the resources available while activating a large network of STEM champions for student projects, judges at events, volunteers, exhibitors and more. SciTech Festival Event Coordinators are supported during the planning and execution of community STEM events around the state by the SciTech STREET Team Members and the growing network of volunteers. The possibilities are endless! SciTech Institute™ looks forward to connecting with you today. Visit SciTechInstitute.org today for more information.

Follow SciTech Institute on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Your STEM Unplugged Hosts

After grow up in rural New York and joining the United States Army, Kelly Greene learned quickly to adapt to her surroundings to be successful. She attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.

She also enlisted in the United States Army and after graduating from training, Kelly traveled the world with the military. While stationed in Misawa, Japan, she fell in love with learning about cultures around the world. Even as a deployed Soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom for two tours, she found opportunities to connect with the local children to form the Victory Base Council Girl Scouts with her fellow servicemen.

In 2013, she was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and traveled the country by air. During this deployment, she had the opportunity to utilize the most advanced technologies available to the tactical HUMINT operations in theater. Upon return from combat, she retired with 21 years of service and began teaching. From 6th grade Math to 7th grade STEM, Kelly used her enthusiastic nature combined with her strong classroom management to design curriculum based on the Engineering Design Process!

Now, as the Chief Operating Officer at SciTech Institute, Kelly is excited to serve the communities in Arizona and beyond to share their interest in STEM!

Claire Conway is the STEM Ecosystem Programs Manager at SciTech Institute.