Karen, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Celebrating Women in Agile with Rosalind and Janice E2

October 29, 2020 by Karen

Celebrating-Women-in-Agile-with-Rosalind-and-Janice-feature

Phoenix Business Radio

Celebrating Women in Agile with Rosalind and Janice E2

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Celebrating Women in Agile with Rosalind and Janice E2

Season 1 Episode 2 of The Lurnist Show was spectacular. With the guest stars, Rosalind Radcliffe and Janice Reed-Linden, we were able to put them on the spot and ask them questions about Kanban and DevOps to their work around COVID. Rosalind and Janice were a pleasure to have on the show and we hope to see them again in the near future.

In this episode, we discuss Kanban and DevOps with 2 experts, so if anyone is interested in Agile in general this is one to listen to hands down! Rosalind and Janice share their insight for people working in the agile field to ones just getting their hands on it in college.

International Business Machines (IBM) is a global technology company that provides, hardware, software, services, and public and private cloud services. IBM is focused on providing the hybrid cloud and AI capabilities for then next 100 years.

Rosalind Radcliffe, IBM Distinguished Engineer, Chief Architect for DevOps for Enterprise systems resides in Durham North Carolina. Rosalind is responsible for driving the direction for products in support of customers transformation to DevOps specifically focused on IBM Z, including bringing open source pipelines to the platform.

In addition she works with clients in their DevOps transformations. She is a frequent speaker at conferences, master inventor, a member of the IBM Academy of Technology leadership team. She is his happily married to her husband of 33 years, and has 2 grown children. In her free time she enjoys reading technology related books and articles, sewing, and cooking.

Connect with Rosalind on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Ready Option is a management consulting agency specializing in applying the Kanban Method to manage social impact challenges worldwide.

Janice Linden-Reed has been active in the Agile world since 2006 when she started using Scrum. She is best known for the 10 years she ran training, events, publishing, and certification programs for Kanban University.

Janice was a key player in making Kanban the second most popular Agile method in the world. She lives in Seattle where she is also a senior manager of Enterprise Agile Coaching for Salesforce.

Connect with Janice on LinkedIn.

About The Lurnist – Celebrating Women in Agile

We highlight fantastic women who are doing great things in the Agile field, all the while creating role models to inspire young women in high school and college to want to have a career in Agile.

Who do you know that leads scrum teams? Builds great products as a product owner or product manager? Coaches leading agile transformations? Or, is an agile teacher or trainer? We’d love to get to know her with the hope to feature her story and journey to success on The Lurnist Radio Show & Podcast.

About Your Co-hosts

Debra Hildebrand is the Founder and CEO of LurnAgile and has over 20 years’ experience in project management; including consulting and training in the public and private sector and teaching in higher education.

She is one of the architects for the Project Management Certification program at the University of Washington, where she received the Team-Teaching Excellence Award and currently instructs in the online portion of the program. Additionally, she developed and currently teaches traditional and agile project management courses at Stanford University.

Her passion projects include Celebrating Women in Agile through her Business RadioX Show, The Lurnist Show, and helping veterans transition into meaningful careers in project management after service disconnection through her work on the board of Veteran Project Manager Mentor Alliance (VPMMA).

She is a certified SAFe Program Consultant (SPC 5.0), Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute and has an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York, NY.

Lauryn Jenne is a senior student at University of Washington Bothell (UWB), majoring in Management Information Systems with a minor in Computer Science IT. Lauryn currently works for UWB School of Business and is also the Digital Marketing Manager at Veteran Project Manager Mentor Alliance (VPMMA), a non-profit that assists veterans and military spouses in gaining careers in project management.

Additionally, she is the Vice President of Fundraising for Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity at the University.

Lauryn aspires to work for an organization as a project manager and eventually create her own brand and startup company.

Lauryn currently lives in Seattle, WA

About Our Sponsor LurnAgile

LurnAgile is a Boutique, Woman Owned Small Business that delivers top quality Agile Certification courses and Agile Coaching. We are a Scaled Agile Silver Transformation Partner, which shows our clients that we have invested in and are committed to the Scaled Agile training standards and coach offerings.

Each of our team of Elite coaches/instructors have over 10 years of leading and coaching Agile Transformations in some of the largest Fortune 100 and 500 companies in the world. This means that your organization is learning from someone who has “been there and done that”.

Spreading Seeds of Conscious Business Practices E3

October 29, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Spreading Seeds of Conscious Business Practices E3

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Spreading Seeds of Conscious Business Practices E3

Randy Gibb has been a strong supporter of Conscious Capitalism for years with his role at GCU and through his support to the CCAZ chapter as a board member. This episode takes a deep dive into the passion that he has brought to the community that highlights the values of Conscious Capitalism.

It’s not about the name, it is about the movement and the cause. GCU is sure to teach the Conscious Capitalism movement even if the name can be perceived wrong as well. Randy Gibb, the Dean of the Colangelo College of Business. GCU has gone beyond just teaching one simple course about Conscious Capitalism, it is integrated into 16 different courses, both undergrad and graduate classes. They have determined how to lead a business college while also inspiring students to be in the business college.

This show is for listeners at all levels that are interested in conscious business. GCU is raising up an entire community while instilling the values and methods of doing good business to their students. They are leading the path for teaching business in a way that builds a better future for everyone.

Randy Gibb is Dean of the Colangelo College of Business at Grand Canyon University (GCU), Phoenix, AZ. Under his leadership since 2014, the business college has moved forward with the vision of Inspiring Free Markets and Purpose for Prosperity, Business as a Force for Good and Business as Ministry. He serves on the Board of the AZ Chapter Conscious Capitalism and the Governor appointed Arizona Workforce Council. Prior to GCU Randy was at Arizona State University as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Human & Environmental Systems Department.

Before transitioning to Arizona higher educational leadership positions, Randy served 26 years in the United States Air Force. His leadership experiences consisted of commanding two US Air Force flying organizations, leading the US Air Force Academy’s Behavioral Science & Leadership Department, and was a Senior Military Professor at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, OH, working human systems integration. Randy has extensive experience in operational leadership, leadership development, organizational change, business development, teaching, and coaching. Randy has published and presented in various aviation/academic journals and conferences on topics of aviation safety and human factors engineering. He completed his Air Force career in 2012 as a full Colonel and Command Pilot.

Originally from Stevens Point, WI, Randy was a Distinguished Graduate from the US Air Force Academy in 1986. Randy was team captain of the 1986 National Collegiate Boxing Association championship team and was an individual national champion at 147 lbs. He earned his PhD and Master of Science in Engineering from Arizona State University in Industrial Engineering – Human Factors. He also has a Master of Arts from the US Naval Command & Staff College in Newport, RI. Randy and his wife, Jill, have been married for 30 years and have four children.

Follow Grand Canyon University on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

About Our People and Profit Co-Hosts

Sarah McCraren is an Arizona native with a strong sense of community. Sarah spent many years in the corporate finance world specializing in the operational analysis, measurement and accountability systems, project management and software implementations. However, Sarah wanted to do work which was meaningful and would positively impact her community.

She found that saving lives and reducing injuries through comprehensive safety programs fit that bill. Sarah currently leads the McCraren Compliance team by keeping everyone focused on their primary purpose, creating workplaces where we all watch out for each other, and balancing the needs of all their stakeholders.

Sarah serves on the Boards for Conscious Capitalism Arizona and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Tucson Chapter, and is also active with the Arizona Builders Alliance, Arizona Rock Products Association , Arizona Transportation Builders and Women in Mining Az.

Sarah McCraren
Part of an Awesome Team
www.McCrarenCompliance.com
Creating Workplaces Where We All Watch Out for Each Other

No arm twisting is required to get Jeremy Neis, a CC Arizona leadership team member, to engage in conversation with impassioned business minds on the topic of leveraging enterprise to create long lasting advancements for humanity.

His two plus decades of entrepreneurial experience, leading strategic initiatives and tailoring solutions for organizations, families and individuals has led to a strong appreciation of the profound impact business wields over the people it serves and relies upon.

It is his delight to explore with inspiration, show guests their experiences, observations and approaches to doing business in a people centered manner.

About Our Sponsor – Conscious Capitalism Arizona

Business has the potential to be a powerful force for good.

Free enterprise capitalism has served to lift more people out of poverty than any other socio-economic system ever conceived – empowering social cooperation, human progress, and elevating humanity.

Good business is the answer to many of the global issues that humankind is facing. This is what we will dive into on the show.

We are working to change the capitalism narrative by shining a bright light on good business – telling the stories of conscious Arizona companies and encouraging others to follow in their footsteps.

Mask Up in Style E26

October 29, 2020 by Karen

Sam-Shermeen-Greenmun-Wear-It-Iz-Luxury-Apparel

Phoenix Business Radio

Mask Up in Style E26

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Mask Up in Style E26

Join us as we talk to Sam and Shermeen Greenmun about the creation of Wear It Iz and how they’ve adapted to the needs of the marketplace. They’ve been able to harness their unique backgrounds and energy to create a brand that has quickly become a popular item for celebrities and loyal customers.

In the face of unprecedented times, Wear It Iz has stayed true to their mission of keeping quality, design, and functionality their top priorities. Tune in to learn how they balance their family and careers and how they are able to blend the two. This is a fun episode you don’t want to miss.

Wear it iz, LLC launched last year as a luxury apparel brand that had contracts with businesses and organizations for custom logo shirts requested for events, employees, branding, etc. The brand grew organically. Once the pandemic hit in February 2020 within the US, our clients came to us requesting custom, reusable, washable face coverings.

We created some custom one of a kind designer face masks for our UHNW clients and soon we started receiving more requests from various companies across the board. We produced unique, comfortable face masks made of top quality materials, customized and decorated locally in Los Angeles, with a variety of fabric and design options and ways to wear them, from adjustable, filter pocket, zipper pouch, personalized, organic, recycled, eco-friendly, USA made and color-coordinated ear loops or headbands, which some of our super star athletes love.

All of our face masks are reusable and washable, feel very luxurious on and are still affordable. We want to ensure that our products provide the maximum protection that a Reusable, washable mask can provide while feeling ultra soft and super comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. In maintaining our goal for fine quality and fun fashion, our products received traction via word of mouth in Los Angeles. We already have orders for the red carpet next year. Today we are back ordered for a few months at least but our clients are willing to wait as they know our product is incomparable to anything else on the market.

Sam Greenmun, Founder and Creative Director of Wear it iz, LLC, is an entrepreneur with a twenty-five year career in the film industry. He has created special make-up effects as well as specialty costume design and fabrication for movies, TV, commercials & music videos, and has even been nominated for an Emmy Award.

He has worked with and dressed accomplished Hollywood talent such as Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Patrick Stewart, Bruce Willis, Eddie Murphy, Hilary Swank, Kurt Russell, Tommy Lee Jones, Mike Myers, Bryan Cranston, Heather Graham, Britney Spears and Moby.

Shermeen Greenmun, CEO of Wear it iz, LLC, has twenty years of high end luxury retail experience managing renowned international brands in the US as well as working in Switzerland, Japan and South East Asia. Her experience includes Saks Fifth Avenue, Chopard, OMEGA, Breguet, etc.

Connect with Shermeen on LinkedIn.

About Your Hosts

Austin Peterson is a Comprehensive Financial Planner and owner of Backbone Financial 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.

Austin and his wife of 21 years, Robin, have two children, AJ (19) and Ella (16) 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 founder of YourFuture Planning Partners out of Las Vegas, Nevada. His firm came to life in 2020 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 YourFuture Planning Partners to help business owners and their families. At YourFuture, 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, YourFuture 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.

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 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.

About The Tycoons of Small Biz Sponsor

Whether you’re an established local company, or a brand new start-up, you can count on GBS to be a part of your family.

We’re not just any benefits consulting firm, we’re GBS. We have nearly 30 years of experience in group benefits, a strong sense of purpose and it shows.

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 Financial and Your Future Planning Partners are marketing names for registered representatives of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. CRN-3292844-102020

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.

How To Increase Your Chances of Securing VC Funding E11

October 26, 2020 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

How To Increase Your Chances of Securing VC Funding E11

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How To Increase Your Chances of Securing VC Funding E11

In this episode, Chris Yap featured the CEO of Pycap Venture Partners, Stuart Browne. Stuart described how his experience as a CFO of a multinational company prompted him to establish his own VC company were evaluating multiple investment opportunities excited him versus focusing on only one.

Stuart articulated what entrepreneurs need to be mindful of when trying to raise capital from Venture Capitalists. Stuart emphasized the importance of having revenue traction prior to pitching to VCs.

This episode will provide entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to secure VC funding practical advice on how to increase their probability of success in raising capital.

Pycap Venture Partners is a venture capital and corporate finance firm providing financing and value creating solutions for early stage companies, administrative, investment and management services for venture capital and private equity investment vehicles, and educational courses for universities, incubators, events and conferences.

Stuart Browne is the CEO of Pycap Venture Partners, a venture capital and corporate finance firm. Stuart is also interim CFO of numerous tech companies and an Investment Committee Member of a $350M Ontario Government backed Fund.

In addition, Stuart instructs courses related to venture capital, corporate finance and entrepreneurship at the Schulich School of Business, MBA and MFIN programs, as well as UofT School of Continuing Studies. Stuart has been featured in news outlets including BloombergTV, BNN, Globe & Mail, the Toronto Star, and Techvibes.

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

About From Zero 2 Revenue

FROM ZERO 2 REVENUE is an avenue for successful entrepreneurs around the world to tell their stories on how they transformed their vision into reality. We’ll learn about their products and services; and, the passion and character behind the leadership of the organization. The show is designed to inspire and encourage struggling and future entrepreneurs to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

At the end of each episode, our listeners can expect plenty of takeaways! As the late Stephen Covey said, “All things are created twice – first in the mind, then in reality”.

About Our Host

Chris Yap is a seasoned BPO executive with over 17 years experience in the industry. Chris came to the US in 2005 to actively promote the Philippines, a preferred outsourcing destination of the world. In doing so, Chris was able to help generate over 40,000 jobs in the Philippines for companies like Dell, Covergys and West Teleservices, which are now consolidated with other large BPO companies in the world.

Chris has been happily married to Eizel for over 16 years and is blessed with 3 wonderful boys. In addition to his passion for business, Chris is also very passionate about helping to solve the child poverty problem. He is doing this by partnering with Food For The Poor where his company sponsors the feeding of children ages 5 and below on a monthly basis.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

Gabtech Global is a business process outsourcing company based in Glendale, Arizona with a fulfillment center in Bohol, Philippines.

Gabtech Global specializes in providing affordable outsourced customer support, after hours and overflow call center services, link building and Virtual Assistant Services.

They work with companies making $100,000 a year in revenue to companies making $100,000 a day in revenue.

Sam Pagel with Resound and Ray Delmuro with Refresh Glass E15

October 26, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Sam Pagel with Resound and Ray Delmuro with Refresh Glass E15

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Sam Pagel with Resound and Ray Delmuro with Refresh Glass E15

This episode of MAC6 Community Connection Radio Show and Podcast was jam-packed with great insights and tips about marketing, mergers, business partnership, and more.

Hosts, Jennifer Burwell and Kyle McIntosh welcomed Ray DelMuro of Refresh Glass and Sam Pagel from Resound to the studio for an uplifting and inspiring conversation.

Here are a few of the hosts’ takeaways from interviewing Ray and Sam…

~Focus on what brings you joy and create a business around something you are passionate about.

~If you are going to create a business out of your passion and expect to be successful, make sure you can provide a ton of value to people.

~As in life, the key to any great business partnership or relationship is excellent communication.

~Find your people. You can’t build a company on your own. Surround yourself with a good community.

Resound believes people are intrinsically remarkable. And the brands they create together are too. But too often the demands of starting and growing an organization distract those within from reflecting their remarkable identity. Instead, they find themselves settling for copycat, unclear, or superficial branding.

Resound’s purpose is to be the most trusted provider of services, training, and tools for organizations at each stage of growth to help them unlock their own unique, clear, and authentic brands in order for them to build lasting relationships with their customers, employees, and partners.

To sum it all up, Resound exists to guide organizations to unlock their authentic brands so they can build lasting relationships.

Sam Pagel started his own media company back in 2011 when he saw a need for higher quality marketing and communication media amongst local businesses here in Arizona. He started his company, Pelican Media, as a video production company and grew it to serve businesses with photography, web development, and collateral design. Through Pelican Media, Sam served businesses such as Walgreens, Google, Dignity Health, Dunn Edwards Paints and many others.

October of 2019 saw a big change in Sam’s career. After being office mates for over 6 years, Sam merged his company with Resound and became a partner and Chief Creative Officer alongside CEO Mike Jones.

Sam is married to his beautiful wife, Ashley, and they have three kids under 5 years old. They live in Chandler, Arizona, love being outdoors, and enjoy exploring new places as a family.

Connect with Sam on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Refresh Glass products are made to strengthen the relationships with the people you care about most at dinner table or the conference table. We actively partner with the community to divert thousands of wine bottles every week that would have otherwise been thrown away, working towards our 10 Million Bottle Rescue Mission.

Once collected we then transform the bottles into fun and functional glassware and decor such as planters, candle holders, and vases. We can custom engrave our gifts with your logo, the recipients last name, or with any message of your choosing. We offer free samples for gifting clients with their logo or artwork, just reach out and let us know what you are looking for.

Current bottle count :: almost 1.8million rescued.

Some of the names we have worked with include the Cubs, Cavaliers, Texas A&M, Nationwide Insurance, Wolfgang Puck, Hyatt, 4 Seasons, Sheraton, Marriott, Kimpton, Ritz Carlton, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Whole Foods. We believe in Conscious Capitalism and offering multifaceted solutions that both generate revenue and community benefit at the same time.

Ray DelMuro is the founder and owner of Refresh Glass. His passion is in creating solutions that concurrently have style, function and purpose. This to him means products that are your favorite to use everyday because of the way they make you feel, how well they work, and the community causes they impact.

He and Refresh have been honored as Recycling Small Business of the Year and been featured on MSNBC and in Inc. as one of “7 client gifts that will make you unforgettable. Ray also has been the TedX MC and also speaks frequently about purpose driven business as a board member of Conscious Capitalism Arizona.

Ray was an aerospace engineer before he started Refresh Glass and still designs and built all the furniture in his office. If he’s not working he loves playing ice hockey and shooting landscape photography.

Connect with Ray on LinkedIn, and follow Refresh Glass on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT YOUR MAC6 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS CO-HOSTS

With a background in marketing, in various for profit and not for profit companies, Kyle McIntosh wondered, “How can I pair the passion and commitment to community progress of a non-profit with the sustainability and reach of a for profit company?” From this question and perspective a mission evolved to tear down the false distinction between the two sectors and to promote companies with Conscious Capitalism® business models through MAC6.

Kyle is the President and Creative Excitant of MAC6. Day to day, his main operational role is on the “spaces” side of the business, focusing on creating thriving communities in the commercial office buildings, the co-working space, and the co-manufacturing space. The other role that he plays is that of EOS implementer, working with clients to bring the Entrepreneurial Operating System, from the book Traction® to their businesses. Additionally, he sits on the boards of Conscious Capitalism Arizona, telling the stories of good businesses in Arizona, and The Tempe Chamber of Commerce, sustaining Tempe’s quality of life and keeping our community and economy vibrant.

Kyle loves Arizona and wants to see us all collectively find great success based on the awesome things that are happening here every day.

Follow MAC6 on Facebook and Twitter.

Jennifer Burwell, joined MAC6 in 2013. Jennifer is their VP and Director of Programs. She uses her experience in real estate, team development and management to seamlessly integrate each of the MAC6 business units to assure they are all focused on the long-term company vision. She is also a student of human behavior.

As a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst, she uses her knowledge to facilitate culture-focused leadership programs with organizations of all sizes to integrate the company’s values and create higher-performing teams.

To learn more about MAC6 Communities, call 480-293-4075 or find them on Facebook

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

MAC⁶ offers flexible spaces and programs to help your team grow, and a community of thriving businesses, just like yours. Advocating Capitalism as a Force for Good, MAC6 is Accelerating the shift to Conscious Capitalism (where Purpose and Profit Unite) through Creativity, Collaboration, Community and Change.

James Christensen with Gateway Bank E15

October 22, 2020 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

James Christensen with Gateway Bank E15

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James Christensen with Gateway Bank E15

Gateway Bank brings this nostalgic approach into modern times and offer the best of both worlds: the local, personal attention you want, plus a wide variety of products and services to meet your needs.

Our core values and passion for serving the community drive everything we do. You’ll notice that we treat our customers and team like family, spend one-on-one time with you, and invest in the Valley.

While our Arizona community bank is located in Mesa, our service extends far beyond. With a large network of partnering ATMs, plus added conveniences like Remote Deposit for businesses, you can experience the Gateway difference no matter where you are.

James Christensen has worked in the banking industry for over 34 years, mostly in commercial lending and management.

Prior to helping found Gateway Bank in 2007, James served as President of a community bank in Kansas for a decade. Under his leadership, Gateway has grown to consistently be one of the strongest performing financial institutions in its peer group.

James grew up in the Midwest and is a graduate of Baker University. He is very active in the local community and serves on several boards and committees, including: past board member and past chair of Local First Arizona, past advisory board member of Mesa’s Economic Development Advisory Board, member of Mesa Rotary Club, past board member of United Food Bank, board member of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, and chair of Mesa Financial Network.

James is also a proud father of two, and husband to his wife of over 34 years.

Connect with James on LinkedIn and follow Gateway Bank on Facebook and Twitter.

About Arizona Good Business

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

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

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

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

About Your Host

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

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

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

Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Local First AZ

Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization that celebrates independent, locally owned businesses. We support, promote and advocate for a strong local business community and raise public awareness of the economic and cultural benefits provided by strong local economies. Local businesses contribute to a sustainable economy for Arizona and build vibrant communities we’re all proud to call home.

Melissa Blatt with indipop and Alec Laughlin with PHILANDRY

October 22, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Melissa Blatt with indipop and Alec Laughlin with PHILANDRY

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Melissa Blatt with indipop and Alec Laughlin with PHILANDRY

indipop curates health plans for the Independent Population, the freelancers, solopreneurs and self employed professionals who make up 40% of the workforce.

After graduating from NYU, Tisch School, determined to be the next Speilberg, Melissa Blatt made her way to Los Angeles. Over the next few years she worked on several TV shows and Films before moving her way into business development and marketing. Over the past 20+ years she has lived and worked in New York, LA, Minneapolis, and Phoenix where she has found success in executing innovative campaigns strengthening the customer base and expanding market reach.

She was a founding partner for a sign company, freezing her way through a Minnesota winter. Going from extreme cold to extreme heat she relocated to Arizona and opened a development office for a Phoenix nonprofit, overseeing the successful marketing campaign for Arizona Gives Day, placing in top 5 non-profits.

Changing gears she wanted to dive into digital marketing and understand the customer journey, she held multiple positions while there, the last role overseeing the user group community where she rebranded and opened it up to non Infusionsoft customers, expanding into 11 countries and increasing attendance by 63%. Fascinated by languages and doing business globally she moved on to explore the world of localization. Within months created a new distribution channel by partnering with AWS and generating 1000’s of new relationships.

In 2019 she took her biggest leap and created indipop, a healthcare marketplace for the Independent Population. It is a platform designed to serve freelancers, contract workers and solopreneurs with the benefits, services and support they need to thrive in the gig economy without being an employee and all in one place.

Follow indipop on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

PHILANDRY (pronounced fi-luhn-dree) is a natural men’s fragrance, grooming and skin care company based in Tucson, Arizona.

The products are made in America. They are natural, cruelty-free, and contain mostly organic ingredients (between 83-94%) and are either hand-crafted or made in FDA approved manufacturing facilities that specialize in the highest quality natural products available for skin, hair, and body. Environmentally conscious and sensitive, for every product sold at PHILANDRY’s online store, one tree is planted by the nonprofit organization One Tree Planted.

PHILANDRY works with local talent as much as possible—from the labeling of their bottles to collaborating with award-winning perfumer, Lesli Wood, of La Curie on fragrances. All of the photography and video work they do together in house, collaborating predominantly with photographer Lance Thorn.

Alec Laughlin remains somewhat reclusive, spending more time immersed in work than in gregarious activities. His professional experience is greatly varied (from clinical herbalist to photographer; visual designer to technical project manager).

It makes for a helter-skelter resumé, but now at 49 years of age, he is able to channel all of that into PHILANDRY, men’s natural fragrance, grooming and skin care, which launched on the vernal equinox of 2018 with the introduction of the cologne Wolfsbane, his hero product.

PHILANDRY affords Alec the opportunity to focus his skills and experience into a singular entity, rather than being scattered in quite so many different directions. It’s a bit of a one-man show in a lot of ways presently. But PHILANDRY is all about creative collaboration, knowing that to succeed in our most precious endeavors we can not do it alone. Camaraderie, friendship, partnerships, and loyalty, they wholly embrace.

Connect with Alec on LinkedIn and Instagram and follow PHILANDRY on Facebook.

Beauty is Not Skin Deep E25

October 22, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Beauty is Not Skin Deep E25

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Beauty is Not Skin Deep E25

Zhonnae Marie is an entrepreneur and the founder of Zhonnae Cosmetics. She strives to expand her beauty brand globally in ways that will add value and confidence to the lives of many. She has always found the fashion and beauty industry fascinating and is excited to be more involved. Zhonnae is passionate about being an inspiring and empowering influence.

If you want to hear from a young, female entrepreneur that is just getting her start as an entrepreneur, but her background and family background puts her on a path that will ultimately lead to her turning this company into a huge success, listen in. She also has a great message for women and young women in general.

Zhonnae Cosmetics is a new beauty brand commenced in Denver Colorado, owned and founded by Zhonnae Marie. All Zhonnae Cosmetics products are cruelty free, paraben free, non-comedogenic, and hypoallergenic.

Zhonnae Cosmetics values equality and appreciates diversity. Everyone is beautiful in their own, unique way. Being your authentic self is essential to feeling comfortable, accepted and becoming who you need to be.

Zhonnae cosmetics initially launched with a lip gloss collection and is expanding with a complete range of color cosmetics, specializing with neutral shades.

Zhonnae Marie is an entrepreneur and the founder of Zhonnae Cosmetics. She strives to expand her beauty brand globally in ways that will add value and confidence to the lives of many. She has always found the fashion and beauty industry fascinating and is excited to be more involved.

Zhonnae is passionate about being an inspiring and empowering influence.

Connect with Zhonnae on LinkedIn and follow Zhonnae Cosmetics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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.

About The Tycoons of Small Biz Sponsor

Whether you’re an established local company, or a brand new start-up, you can count on GBS to be a part of your family.

We’re not just any benefits consulting firm, we’re GBS. We have nearly 30 years of experience in group benefits, a strong sense of purpose and it shows.

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 Financial and Your Future Planning Partners are marketing names for business conducted through Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. CRN-3276245-100820

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

E64 Increasing Productivity and Becoming an Exceptional Leader with Peter Taylor

October 20, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

E64 Increasing Productivity and Becoming an Exceptional Leader with Peter Taylor

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E64 Increasing Productivity and Becoming an Exceptional Leader with Peter Taylor

What is a “Lazy Project Manager”, and why does it benefit productivity? How can veteran project managers help and support the newest generation? We explore these questions and more with Peter Taylor, who joined us live from the UK.

Peter is the author of the #1 bestselling project management book, ‘The Lazy Project Manager,’ along with many other books on Project Management, PMO development, Executive Sponsorship, Transformation Leadership, and Speaking Skills. He has delivered over 400 lectures worldwide in over 25 countries and has been described as ‘perhaps the most entertaining and inspiring speaker in the project management world today.’ Find out more about him at www.thelazyprojectmanager.com.

Peter shared what excites him in the project management world today and how being an exceptional leader is vital to the success of any project. He shared everything that has lead him to be a PMO Influencer of the Year finalist. Listen to hear our conversation and learn more about his influence in the global project management industry.

Thanks to our sponsor THE PMO SQUAD. Visit www.thepmosquad.com to learn to Empower People to Deliver Results and assist your PMO as you evolve in the new post-COVID business world.

Check out all prior episodes and upcoming guests by visiting www.projectmanagementofficehours.com.

The Lazy Project Manager is the home of Peter Taylor – Speaker – Author – Coach – Trainer – and all round Chief Lazy Officer.

Peter is the author of the number 1 bestselling project management book ‘The Lazy Project Manager’, along with many other books on Project Management, PMO development, Executive Sponsorship, Transformation Leadership, and Speaking Skills.

He has delivered over 400 lectures around the world in over 25 countries and has been described as ‘perhaps the most entertaining and inspiring speaker in the project management world today’.

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn.

ABOUT PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE HOURS SERIES

Project Management Office Hours is intended to provide Project Management professionals a place to drop in and discuss Success Stories, Best Practices, and Lessons Learned. Project Management Consultant Joy Gumz has shared with us, “Operations keep the lights on, strategy provides the light at the end of the tunnel, but project management is the train engine that moves the organization forward.”

Each of us has a unique story to tell, but collectively we share a message that organizations who embrace Project Management Best Practices perform better than those which don’t. Organizations which align Projects to Strategy perform better. Organizations with Engage Executive Sponsors deliver better results. Organizations which measure Project Management performance outperform those which don’t.

During our Project Management Office Hours, we hear directly from Industry leaders how to make an impact in our profession. How we, collectively, will Advance Project Management Best Practices, One Listener at a time!

ABOUT YOUR HOST

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

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

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