Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Who Knows You Best? E111

June 29, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Who Knows You Best? E111

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Who Knows You Best? E111

Tycoons welcomes special guest, Tony Nguyen owner of Nandco Construction. Tycoons digs deep into how Nandco Constuction was built and what their focus and mission is as a whole company including the foundation of the employees.

Tune in to hear what drove Tony to develop Nandco Construction. Tony is a big supporter of family and has created a great vibe within his company that his employees respect and appreciate making Nandco Construction an incredible place to work and grow!

Nandco Construction is a Los Angeles based construction company that specializes in residential renovations, additions, and new construction projects.

Tony Nguyen is a high school drop out from Minnesota. He has been in the real estate and construction space since 2006.

He moved to the LA area in 2014 with his wife and then 2 year old daughter to pursue the music industry.

After only a year the dream of music dissolved and Tony went back to his real estate roots. He worked for a San Diego investing firm while living in LA making the commute for a position that paid $15/hr.

While making an impact for the company running their LA based projects, he branched out on his own and started Nandco Construction.

He now runs a small construction company and caters to clients while investing in projects with partners.

Follow Tony on 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.

Exploring Arizona’s Entrepreneurial Support Hubs E27

June 27, 2022 by Karen

Exploring-Arizonas-Entrepreneurial-Support-Hubs-feature

AZ TechCast

Exploring Arizona's Entrepreneurial Support Hubs E27

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Exploring Arizona’s Entrepreneurial Support Hubs E27

For years now, Arizona has caught the nation’s attention as the “Silicon Desert”, a major hot spot for technology companies and budding startups. Between the state’s lower business costs, more affordable standard of living and growing talent pool, it’s no surprise that Phoenix and Tucson are rapidly climbing the ranks of emerging international startup ecosystems.

The June 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured startup ecosystem experts including Stephanie Bermudez, founder & CEO of Startup Unidos; Eric Smith, executive director of The University of Arizona Center for Innovation; and Diana Vowels, CEO of StartupAZ. These leaders joined Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, and Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, in discussing the statewide entrepreneurial support hubs that are helping to elevate technology-minded startup founders.

Throughout this hour-long episode, this panel of startup experts spoke at length about the evolution of Arizona’s regional startup ecosystems over the past five to ten years. Arizona used to be where companies put their back offices or inside sales operations because large technology companies did not realize the full potential of Arizona. At the time, startup ecosystems were also successful independently, but had not yet come together to support companies across the state. Over the past several years, the group of panelists has been very impressed by how the pieces are coming together to collectively support the growth of up-and-coming startup founders and their ventures.

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is a startup incubator network with locations across the Southern Arizona region. The UACI offers leaders of science and technology startups the expertise, connections to the University of Arizona, incubation programs and office and lab space needed to turn ideas and inventions into strong, scalable and sustainable businesses that ultimately provide high-paying jobs and fuel Southern Arizona’s economy.

As Arizona’s leading incubation organization with nearly two decades of successful outcomes, UACI is a critical component of Arizona’s innovation ecosystem. This is done through providing access to people, programming and places that help entrepreneurs take their companies from idea to market.

Startups go through a structured program that takes them through a continuum of education provided by mentors, advisors and community collaborators. The University of Arizona Center for Innovation also provides access to service providers, industry cluster groups, interns and connections to potential customers and strategic partners. Entrepreneurs utilize various physical spaces that include offices, wet and dry labs, meeting rooms, a prototyping center, collaboration areas and the infrastructure to support these spaces.

Eric Smith brings with him almost a decade’s worth of technology commercialization experience and a passion for entrepreneurship.

Smith’s current role at the UA Center for Innovation comes after serving as the commercialization network manager for Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), the UA’s office responsible for moving UA research and technological innovation into the marketplace.

While at TLA, he focused on building and leveraging a network of domain experts and business leaders who consult on University technologies to help reveal their commercial relevance as they are prepared for the market.

Smith holds a BSBA in business management and entrepreneurship and an MBA from the University of Arizona.

Follow UACI on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Since 2017, Startup Unidos has cultivated collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship in border communities throughout the Arizona-Sonora region through ground-level programming that nurtures emerging companies, assists growing firms, builds the workforce of the future and supports partner organizations in reaching underserved pockets of the community.

Stéphanie Bermúdez is an Ambos Nogales native and Latinx innovator, who has invested more than 15 years in understanding the local culture, building relationships, and earning the respect and loyalty of people and organizations at all levels of society.

Her innovative ideas create cross-border communities and environments that expand on binational relationships to encourage collaboration and co-inspiration. She focuses on building up entrepreneurial communities and networks, through events, training, consulting and research that extends beyond Southern Arizona.

Stéphanie displays an unwavering commitment to making an impact and is passionate about taking her experiences and shaping binational business opportunities with Mexico and the United States.

She is actively working with startups and aspiring youth across the Arizona-Sonora by developing and implementing Startup Unidos, entrepreneurial and workforce education, capacity building and youth programs, such as Waste Not: Borderlands Innovations in Food Waste Management, Emprende Amigo, and Borderoots.

Follow Startup Unidos on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

StartupAZ exists to help Arizona’s most innovative startup companies improve their leadership, performance, and connections, while inspiring generosity and philanthropy within their communities.

The organization was created to catalyze Arizona’s technology and innovation ecosystem by connecting and empowering entrepreneurs.

Diana Vowels is a community builder with a passion for driving the tech ecosystem forward in Phoenix.

She is the CEO of StartupAZ, the organization created to catalyze Arizona’s technology and innovation ecosystem by connecting and empowering entrepreneurs.

Diana, who has long been at the forefront of Arizona’s technology and startup community, joined StartupAZ in 2021 to help expand the organization’s talent attraction and development mission.

Prior to joining the team, she served as VP/Community and General Manager of Galvanize, where she led the launch of the software engineering and data science bootcamps and built the co-working space into a vital part of Phoenix’s startup fabric.

She currently serves on the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley and Invest Southwest board of directors, and was the 2021 chair for the annual Invest Southwest Venture Madness. Diana is a graduate of University of Missouri and has held executive roles in public and private companies in media, healthcare and technology.

Personal: Spouse, David Vowels, healthcare leader and two daughters.

Connect with Diana on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About AZ TechCast

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

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

About Your Hosts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

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

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

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

Take the Opportunity E110

June 23, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Take the Opportunity E110

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Take the Opportunity E110

The Tycoons welcomed Joe Serrano, CEO and Executive Director of TentMakers Inc, to the show.

Joe was an inspirational guest and is working to make a difference in this world. From humble beginnings to joining the Marines, he learned to take an opportunity if it is presented. He credits his time in the Marines to pushing him to find out what he’s made of, changing his life, and providing the confidence, discipline, and opportunity to be in the position he’s in today.

TentMakers is helping to solve the homelessness and affordable housing crisis in California and its model will hopefully continue to spread nationwide. They are giving the opportunity to people to learn a trade, get a job, build a home, and live in it, all while being sustainable to the environment. By the end of this episode, Joe’s passion and purpose will have you ready to downsize to your very own tiny home!

TentMakers Inc., (TMI), is a nonprofit Community Housing Development Corporation. TMI specializes in workforce housing development and job training opportunities for low-moderate income households. Our focus is on housing rehabilitation, (Jr.) & Accessory Dwelling Units, (ADU’s/JADU’s), tiny houses and job training in the building trades.

Joe Serrano is an entrepreneur and workforce housing specialist providing technical and adminstrative services to low-moderate income households in the planning, design, permit processing and building of workforce housing.

Joe has an academic background in architectural and business administration and has over 30 years of construction, design and business experience related to community development, (redevelopment) in Northern CA.

Joe formed TentMakers in 2007 to continue his work in redevelopment and has produced over 1,000 units of housing improvements with an estimated $75 million in construction cost.

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn and follow TentMakers Inc. on Facebook.

About the Show

About Your Hosts

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

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

Connect with Landon on LinkedIn.

Gary Braun is a Founder and co-owner of Pivotal Advisors. In his role at Pivotal, Gary is primarily responsible for business development but, he’ll gladly take on few clients in a consulting role. Gary speaks with and partners with other firms that help drive top-line growth.

Gary, helps organizations define where growth is coming from, helps them hire and/or develop the sales team, identify ideal clients and markets, and leverage true differentiators (even in commodity markets). He also implements sales processes, targets specific KPIs, increases activity, creates and applies sales compensation plans, and develops sales leadership skills.

Pivotal Advisors LLC is dedicated to creating a community of people who strive for excellence in sales and leadership. A Sales Operating System is the model for how to achieve excellence. Leadership is the First Factor of success in any sales organization. Therefore, building and developing leaders responsible for generating revenue is critical for growth.

Follow Pivotal Advisors on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Austin Peterson and Landon Mance are registered representatives of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. Gary Braun and Pivotal Advisors are separate from and not affiliated with Backbone Planning Partners/Lincoln Financial Advisors.

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

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

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

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

Ownership and Accountability Equals Success E6

June 21, 2022 by Karen

Changing the Perception of Blindness

Ownership and Accountability Equals Success E6

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Ownership and Accountability Equals Success E6

In this episode, David and Kristin discussed the importance of Changing the Perception of Blindness in order to solve the unemployment, education, and financial crisis for those that are blind and visually impaired.

Kristin said that it is not only up to partnerships with organizations that are committed to changing how the world sees blindness but more importantly, working with people who are blind and visually impaired to change see themselves.

With the proper training, the right technology and the right attitude, people who are blind can compete in the workplace and live a full and inclusive life. of provides many examples from her own family experiences.

Thriving Blind Academy is a community dedicated to solving the unemployment, education, and financial crisis for those that are blind and visually impaired. Through a robust online platform and virtual mentorship, the members of the TBA community are empowered and equipped to design their lives on their terms.

In order to solve the current crisis of high unemployment, high underemployment, high college drop out and high illiteracy rates, TBA has three main pillars: Thriving Blind in Business, Thriving Blind Transitions, Thriving Blind Parenting.

TBA is partnering with organizations committed to changing how the world sees blindness and more importantly, how the blind and visually impaired see themselves.

Kristin Smedley is the Best Selling author of Thriving Blind: Stories of Real People Succeeding Without Sight and Brilliantly Resilient: Reset, Rise and Reveal Your Brilliance. A recognized expert in the blindness and rare disease communities, Kristin won the highly regarded Champion of Hope Award and was named an Ambassador for the National Organization of Rare Disorders. Kristin is a popular, in demand speaker who has been invited to share her message internationally.

As CEO of a global patient organization, she coordinated legislation (H.R. #625) that became the first in US history to be submitted in Braille. Kristin spoke at the FDA to help achieve the first ever FDA approved gene therapy to treat an inherited retinal disease in the United States.

Her TEDx Talk, book and international summit change perceptions of blindness, and sparked a global movement, Thriving Blind Academy, that is solving the unemployment, literacy, and financial crisis in the blind the community.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kristin co-founded Brilliantly Resilient to help people come through life’s challenges and setbacks brilliant, not broken.

Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram and follow Thriving Blink Academy on Facebook.

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.

Giving Back #1 E6

June 21, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Giving Back #1 E6

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Giving Back #1 E6

Being in real estate isn’t just about making money, it’s also about making dreams come true. Those dreams could be buying a first home, finding a location to start or expand a business, or contributing to a charitable organization and giving back to the community.

This week Carla highlights the amazing efforts of the local organization, Horses Help. Horses Help is the largest therapy riding center in the state of Arizona. It began with a physical therapist and a horse and grew into an incredible volunteer driven organization that helps children and adults by offering equine therapy. The therapy provided by Horses Help reaches people of all ages with any physical, mental, or emotional disability. The work they are doing is truly inspiring!

The last few years have taken a lot from all of us. This episode is focused on an inspiring way to give back! Horses Help is a local organization dedicated to providing equine therapy and creating positive experiences for the community. Volunteers and donations are critical to keeping this good vibe going! Listen to find out how Horses Help can help you and how you can give back to allow them to continue to make such a positive impact in our community.

Horses Help provides therapeutic and recreational horsemanship opportunities to children and adults with physical, cognitive, and behavioral challenges, including the at-risk and military populations.

Our programs and services are enhanced and supported by 200 weekly volunteers and 18 uniquely qualified therapy horses. Horses Help has been improving the quality of life for our participants for 35 years.

Gregg Goodman grew up in Alamo, California. He attended the University of Mississippi on a baseball scholarship and graduated in 1981. He pursued a Masters degree at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson in the field of medical microbiology.

After transferring to Arizona with his wife Jann and three children, Jann began her private practice in Hipppotherapy at Horses Help. Gregg located a property in East Mesa to begin their therapy programs. Gregg left his company after 20 years to begin his mission to create a model for Therapeutic Riding Centers.

Since taking over Horses Help, Gregg has focused his attention solely on the Horses Help organization, its Board development, creating diversity in programs and moving toward sustainability adding value to the mission of Horses Help. The center has maintained its Premier Accreditation status since 2000. One of only three centers in Arizona.

Mr. Goodman has been the Arizona State Representative for PATH International for more than 15 years.

Follow Horses Help on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Chelsea Barraco assists new and experienced investors in locating and analyzing investment property in a broad territory across Arizona. Chelsea takes the time to understand her clients’ needs and objectives to coach them to succeed by strategy when purchasing or selling an asset.

Additionally, Chelsea aggressively pursues off market deals giving her clients an advantage- an agent with “boots on the ground” knowledge of investment territory and exclusive opportunities.

Chelsea’s passion for thorough research, commitment to exceeding her client’s expectations, and steadfast integrity make her a powerful asset in the commercial field.

Dedicated to public service and improving her community, Chelsea volunteers weekly with two local non-for-profits and donates a portion of her income on every closing to a local non-profit organization.

Connect with Chelsea 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.

E105 Wartime PMO Leadership Featuring Mariia Abdullina

June 20, 2022 by Karen

https://www.instagram.com/raiffeisenbank.ua/

Phoenix Business Radio

E105 Wartime PMO Leadership Featuring Mariia Abdullina

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E105 Wartime PMO Leadership Featuring Mariia Abdullina

In this episode of Project Management Office Hours, PMO Joe welcomed Mariia Abdullina, Oleg Matseliukh, and Mykola Stefanyshyn who joined live from Ukraine. We discussed conditions in Ukraine, leading a PMO during wartime, Business Continuity, and so much more.

Mariia is Head of Project Portfolio and Efficiency Management Division for Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine. She shared the important role the PMO has is ensuring the bank remains operational and supports clients across Ukraine as well as those who have left the country. Mariia also shared the steps team members have taken to continue working while facing the challenges of the ongoing war.

Oleg is the Chief Development and Support Manager of Project Management Office for Raiffeisen. While we are often consumed by the news cycle, Oleg let us know that everyday life continues. During the war he has been married and got a new puppy and of course working to drive the business continuity efforts to ensure the bank continues to serve customers.

Mykola is the Chief Analyst of Project Management Office for Raiffeisen. He is located in western Ukraine in Lviv and he shared his perspective being located outside the area facing most of the direct fighting. He told us stories of team members taking on additional responsibilities beyond their normal role, having a “whatever it takes” mindset to get the job done.

Mariia, Oleg, and Mykola continue their discussion about leading the PMO efforts, how COVID prepared them and so much more.

Connect with Mariia:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariia-abdullina-36750717/

Connect with Oleg:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleg-matseliukh-818a53125/

Connect with Mykola:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykola-stefanyshyn-9ab22549/

To see the guest list for upcoming shows – https://www.thepmosquad.com/podcast
Thank you to THE PMO SQUAD and The PMO Leader for sponsoring this show.

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

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

Beginning in October 2005, Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine is part of the Raiffeisen Bank International AG Group, Austria. The Bank offers a wide range of standard and up-to-date banking services used by more than 2.5 million customers.

Traditionally, Raiffeisen Bank is ranked among top Ukrainian banks by trust and recognition of clients, partners and experts, both Ukrainian and international. The Bank strives to improve its customer service quality through using its own long-term experience, the valuable expertise of Raiffeisen Bank International network banks and the newest technologies.

Mariia Abdullina is Head of Project Portfolio and Efficiency Management Division in Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine. Mariia Abdullina drives transformation activities in Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine since 2020.

Mariia helps executives to focus on most valuable areas by facilitating & organizing the Investment Committee, ensures Company Strategy is broken down to initiative level and team objectives. She brought Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine company to the Winner of 2021 EUROPE BEST PMO Award organized by PMO Global Alliance.

Mariia has been in the banking industry since 2009, working in international environment. Since 2017 was leading a team of IT professionals and build strong Governance & Finance function in IT vertical, enhance strategic alignment between IT and Business.

She has a strong knowledge and experience in project and portfolio management, methodologies; cost management & optimization.

Matseliukh Oleg is Chief Development and Support Manager of Project Management Office at Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine.

He has more than 10 years’ experience in Project Management, Finance and IT areas. He has worked in 10 European countries as Project Manager.

Oleg monitors Bank Strategy execution, supports Project Management Office with methodologies and tools, dependencies management in Project Portfolio.

Mykola Stefanyshyn is Chief Analyst of Project Management Office at Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine.

He has lmost 4 years experience in Project Management Office in Transition projects to Centers of Scale and in IT sector. 6 years experience of data analysis in Accounting, Finance, Compliance area at Centers of Scale.

Previously, he worked with 5 European countries on different projects and as PMO in the multinational distributed team.

Mykola is responsible for projects’ reporting, dashboards preparation and budget figures analysis.

Follow Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Joe Pusz started THE PMO SQUAD to bring real world PMO Leadership experience to the consulting space and to advocate for Project Management through his blog PMOJOE.com. The old saying is “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Following this mindset Joe left Corporate America in 2013 to start THE PMO SQUAD and work with fellow Natural Born Project Managers to advance Project Management Best Practices.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

THE PMO SQUAD focuses exclusively on PMO and Project Management consulting. Corporate America is full of Accidental Project Managers running projects who haven’t been trained to be PMs. To help solve this problem THE PMO SQUAD is on the Leading Edge with PMO As a Service. PMO As a Service allows our clients to focus on their respective core competencies while THE PMO SQUAD delivers Project Management expertise. Contact Joe at 678-591-7868. Follow The PMO Squad on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

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

Junior Achievement – Career Readiness & Literacy E7

June 17, 2022 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Junior Achievement - Career Readiness & Literacy E7

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Junior Achievement – Career Readiness & Literacy E7

Junior Achievement of Arizona is a non-profit organization equipping Arizona students to succeed in work and life by giving them the knowledge and skills to plan for their future and make smart academic, career, and financial choices.

JA Alumni are more likely to further their education, feel confident managing money, have career success, and be more participative in their communities.

Sims Business Systems is a family owned 43 year old local technology company. They offer a turnkey approach to a business’s technology environment.

Scot Taggart is a native to Arizona, was the 1st graduating class of Perry Highschool in the Chandler Unified School District. He serves on two boards currently.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona which he chairs their Young Professionals Committee and The American Subcontractors Association of Arizona which he chairs their New Members and Events Committee.

Connect with Scot on LinkedIn.

Junior Achievement of Arizona is a nonprofit equipping students to succeed in work and life by giving them the knowledge and skills to plan for their future and make smart academic, career and financial choices.

JA’s proven programs in work/career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy positively impact the futures of students. In fact, JA Alumni are more likely to have a degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started businesses as an adult.

JA lessons align with national/state standards and are delivered to 90,000 AZ students/annually with the help of our education partners and local community volunteers.

As VP, Strategic Impact, Anne Landers is acutely focused on how students, educators, individuals, corporations and other entities experience and engage with JA.

Anne is committed to ensuring that the Arizona community has a high-impact and positive experience with JA, so the organization can continue to shape the futures of tens of thousands of students each year.

In tandem with JA’s president, Anne is the primary driver of ensuring the organization’s unique value proposition, thought-leadership, track record and impact on our community is represented in key education, career readiness, and financial literacy conversations.

Additionally, she oversees all digital, PR, marketing, and advertising for the organization, in addition to leading the organization’s data management programs for donor and volunteer engagement. She has been part of the JA team for 7 years.

Previously, she served as the Interim Director at nonprofit Life In Abundance, overseeing U.S.-based operations and fundraising, to support programs in Africa and the Caribbean. She began her career at an advertising and PR agency, Decibel Blue, where she was one of the agency’s first two employees, managing clients such as Dunkin’ Donuts and My Sister’s Closet.

Honored as a 40 Under 40 in 2018, Anne holds a degree in Journalism from ASU. She is also a proud alumna of Valley Leadership, Scottsdale Leadership, and the Allstate Executive Leadership program at Kellogg|Northerwestern.

Follow Junior Achievement of Arizona on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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.

The Messiness of Growing a Business and a Family E6

June 17, 2022 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

The Messiness of Growing a Business and a Family E6

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The Messiness of Growing a Business and a Family E6

On this episode of the Messy Middle, Jen Burwell and Jen Woodward discuss life, growing a business while also growing a family and the mindset tools that have helped each of them in their own journey. This is a pull back the curtain type of episode.

Jen Woodward and Jen Burwell are affectionately (at least we hope!) referred to as “Jen Squared” or “the Jens”. Together they have created Jens LIGHT Events (Ladies Igniting Growth Happiness and Transformation) This episode was recorded on the eve of hosting their first retreat. Tune in to hear how this event company came to be and how both women home in on their zone of genius to help business owners trust their inner voice and develop strategies that are sustainable and make a lasting impact.

Anyone who is a busy mother and trying to grow a business will identify with the stress and overwhelm the Jens talk about candidly in this episode. They also discuss the go-to strategies that help them move out of the chaos and into mindful confidence to show up and meet the daily challenges of motherhood and entrepreneurship. If you are looking for a real and relatable episode about building a life you love – this is it!

LIGHT Events creates space for ladies to ignite their growth happiness and transformation through workshops, retreats, and an online community. They believe there is a magic and ease that happens when women integrate their soul’s wisdom with systems and processes.

Their workshops and retreats are a synergy of the mystical and mundane because you need both to actually thrive in life and business.

Jen Woodward has spent the last 13 years learning personal mind mastery tools and how to apply them to her life as a person and then as a mother.

As a lifetime learner, she’s taken course after course to explore relationships, personal development, mind-body connection, parenting, and intuition development. She’s a mom to four kiddos and is passionate about helping create a world where children grow up knowing how powerful they really are.

Her undergrad was in architecture and marketing, but she’s more proud of the work she’s done learning about people and helping them claim their power through various healing modalities. She received a 650-hour yoga therapy teacher certificate, as well as a 200-hour holistic nutrition certification and yoga teacher training.

She loves helping people with their mind-body connection and creating self-care routines that are sustainable. She often hears she’s “the most efficient person” people know and is a master at integrating all the parts of life.

Connect with Jen on Instagram.

About The Messy Middle Podcast & Radio Show

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

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

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

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

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

About Mother & Founder Co

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

*And*

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

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

About Jen Burwell

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

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

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

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

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

Follow Mother & Founder Co on Facebook and Instagram.

Quality Over Quantity E109

June 16, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Quality Over Quantity E109

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Quality Over Quantity E109

Austin and Landon welcome guest Rick Parrilla owner of Silverado Custom Door & Window.

Silverado Custom Door & Window’s specialty is handcrafting custom, oversized, exterior, solid wood doors.  They also provide custom wood windows and the latest in hardware trends.  Working with architects, designers and contractors they achieve the exquisite workmanship and unique design for their projects. Specializing in extra-large doors, and specialty functions residential, commercial, institutional and military.

Tune in to hear Rick Parilla share his excitement for quality products such as his custom, specialty doors. You can hear the energy in his voice and the passion he has for his company, products and employees. Rick talks about the importance of quality, educating yourself, and always holding on and sticking through the tough times.

Rick Parrilla started in the construction industry at age 16 in Southern California. At age 21, he passed his California state testing received his B-1 General Building Contractors License.

Rick was always hands on involved in the finish work aspects of the homes he built.

In 1986 Rick moved to Arizona after receiving his General Contractors License in Arizona, he was hired by a finish Trim company to oversee their trim crews.

Rick then had an opportunity to purchase a door shops equipment and that is where Silverado Custom Door & Window began.

After studying woods and joinery techniques, Rick started his own custom door company in 1987. With a background in the construction industry Rick has the understand of how to conquer any unique project.

After moving his operation to Texas almost 30 years ago, Silverado Custom Door & Window is one of the few companies that still makes their products by hand and now builds custom doors and windows for clients all over the USA.

Connect with Rick on LinkedIn and follow Silverado Custom Door & Window on Facebook and Instagram.

About the Show

About Your Hosts

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

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

Connect with Landon on LinkedIn.

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

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