Kelly Payton, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Lauren Bolden from Pie Bar and Jay Johnson from Vulcan Engraving

March 10, 2021 by Kelly Payton

Lauren Bolden, Owner of Pie Bar and Pie Povisions

Connecting with customers and becoming a part of the community, Lauren Bolden is a self-taught pie baker that has spent the past six years working to spread joy through pie.

Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn and follow Pie Bar on Facebook.

Jay Johnson, Owner of Vulcan Engraving

Engraving and Customization, Trophies, Plaques, Promotional Items, Weddings, Business Portfolios/Bible Covers, Name Tags, Tradeshow Portable Booth Signs, Pens, Drinkware/Water bottles, Yard/Business/School Signs, Banners, Magnets for Vehicles, Cutting Boards, Golf Goodie Bag Items, Church Items, Facemasks, Games, Team Sports, Embroidery/Heat Press, 16,000 + Items, YES Will Customize your items too! Because of the CUSTOM nature of what we do, Please call or Email. Website used mostly for fundraisers order fulfillment!

Always FREE Local Pickup and Delivery!

Follow Vulcan Engraving on Facebook

Dave Persson from The School Box and Paul Brandon from Vehicle Media

March 8, 2021 by Kelly Payton

DECEPTION PERCEPTION [UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING CORPORATE ESPIONAGE AND SABOTAGE]

March 5, 2021 by Kelly Payton

“The bad guy doesn’t know who you are or what you do. They just know they can get money out of you.”

As technology becomes more advanced, so do the ways your company can be exploited by bad players. Whether your company is a large leader in the technology industry or a local mom-and-pop shop, each person who works for or interacts with your organization is on the front lines of either protecting it or submitting it to a scam.

In this episode of The Wrap, Warren Averett’s own Justin Headley, CISSP, CISA and former FBI Special Agent Daren Mott join our hosts to discuss recent headlines about cyber attacks, what legitimate threats companies face and what organizations need to know about the future of cybercrime. Spoiler alert: it isn’t going away.

After listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:

Translate spooky headlines about the cyber attacks on other companies into tangible considerations for your company
Understand the three main cyber-threat areas that face companies
Have insight to prevent insider threats (both intentional and accidental) from your employees
Set realistic expectations about cyber risks and how you can be proactive in light of them

Resources for additional learning:

Mentioned in this episode:

- The CyBUr Guy Podcast by Darren Mott

Jim Bulger from WorkThrive Consulting and Kathy Menard from Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center

March 3, 2021 by Kelly Payton

Jim Bulger, President of WorkThrive Consulting

Jim is based in Woodstock and provides management coaching and Human Resources solutions to small and mid-sized employers. Prior to his work as a consultant, Jim spent more than 25 years in executive HR leadership roles in both private and public companies ranging in size from start-up to more than 25,000 employees.

With a proven track record in organizations recognized for their highly productive work environments, accelerated revenue growth (more than a dozen times, Jim’s companies have ranked among the fastest growing private companies in the Atlanta metro area), and nationally acclaimed management practices (including “Best Places to Work” and “Best Managed Companies in America”), Jim has designed and delivered customized coaching and strategies that result in heightened levels of management effectiveness, employee productivity, efficiency, and employee engagement (achieving the highest employee engagement indexes ever recorded by a nationally recognized survey company). He has built and advanced company cultures that are responsive, team driven, and solutions-oriented.

Jim works with for profit and nonprofit employers and focuses on a real-world approach that successfully aligns effective management with operational, financial and organizational priorities.

Connect with Jim on LinkedIn

Kathy Menard, with Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center

Kathy has worked in the Health and Wellness Industry for over 30 years in Chiropractic, Massage Therapy, Physical Therapy and Fitness. She currently works at Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center in Hickory Flat and I partner with a Health and Wellness Company to help people attain optimal Health through Nutrition using Isagenix Products.

Connect with Kathy on LinkedIn

Kristen Williams from Kids Boost and Jeff A. Cohen from Odyssey Inc.

February 24, 2021 by Kelly Payton

Kristen Williams, Executive Director at Kids Boost, Inc.

Kristen Williams is a mother, Child Life Specialist, and a self-proclaimed “big dreamer but determined doer.” She was born and raised in Georgia and graduated from UGA with a degree in Child Development. After years of working with children, Kristen recognized that children have the innate need and desire to give back, but often don’t know how. She also noticed a lack of opportunity for young children to volunteer. These observations were the catalyst for Kids Boost, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering kids to give back to the world.

Kristen is on a mission to teach kids that they can use their gifts, talents and passions to make an impact on their community. She strongly believes that if we teach children the joys of philanthropy at a young age, we will create a lifelong love of giving back.

Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn, and follow Kids Boost on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Jeff Cohen, Executive Director at Odyssey Atlanta

Mr. Jeff Cohen was appointed Odyssey Executive Director in March 2014. Prior to joining Odyssey, he served as executive director of C5 Youth Foundation of Georgia. He was responsible for guiding a comprehensive youth development leadership program, spearheading C5s fundraising efforts, managing staff and board recruitment and engagement. Mr .Cohen has more than 20 years of youth development experience and has served in a variety of leadership capacities.

Prior to relocating to Atlanta in 2004 to launch Camp Coca-Cola (now known as C5 Georgia), he was executive director of Mentors Inc., the largest high school mentoring program in the District of Columbia. He also served as director of Jewish Experiences for Teens for the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and as senior regional director for Bnai Brith Youth Organization. Cohen earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University. He serves on the advisory council of Atlanta Education Fund College Success Network and as a representative for Otwell Middle School Title One. He is also a member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and American Institute for Managing Diversity.

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn, and follow Odyssey on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Tom Devaney with The Innovation Spot and Gary Acedo

February 17, 2021 by Kelly Payton

Tom Devaney, MBA, CPA, Owner and Founder of The Innovation Spot, Lecturer of Accounting and Finance at Kennesaw State University EMBA

Thomas (Tom) Devaney is a lecturer of accounting and finance in the Coles College Executive MBA program at Kennesaw State University.

Prior to teaching Tom had a 25+ year career in public accounting at the principal/partner level serving SME’s (small and mid-sized entities) and high income high net worth individuals. Tom’s business consulting experience is extensive and includes providing clients with professional services in the area of tax planning, preparation and representation, mergers and acquisitions, business planning and development, transaction due diligence, and operational consulting matters. Tom also has broad experience in financial accounting and reporting including the design and implementation of management information systems, manufacturing and construction cost accounting, and budgeting and forecasting functions. Tom received his Bachelors of Science Degree – Accounting from SUNY-Oswego, and his MBA – Accounting from Kennesaw State. Tom holds active CPA licenses in the states of California, New York and Georgia. He is a member of the AICPA, the IMA, and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn

Gary Acedo

Gary Shares plans for launching Good Morning Cherokee, Stay tuned!

Connect with Gary on LinkedIn

Ivonne Neri from Helados La Neta – High Road Craft Brands and Jeffrey L. Pittman from Piedmont Real Estate Group, Inc

February 10, 2021 by Kelly Payton

Ivonne Neri, Brand Manager of Helados La Neta – High Road Craft Brands

Ivonne Neri is the Brand Manager of Helados La Neta, High Road Craft Ice Creams newest Mexican-Inspired ice cream brand. High Road is one of the nations largest and fastest-growing craft ice cream manufacturer, with products distributed nationwide. The company has been recognized on the Inc 5000 for five consecutive years, along with numerous press accolades and awards for entrepreneurial excellence.

Ivonne started her professional career at Mercedes-Benz, 17th in Forbes magazines Worlds Most Valuable Brands 2019 list. While working as the Media & Advertising Specialist for the Buses Division in Mexico, she adapted the strong brand communication guidelines for the Mexican market, with a special focus on digital media. She is a passionate professional with an outside of the box creative approach.

Ivonne is a strategic thinker with a roll up her sleeves work ethic. She loves sharing her Mexican background and heritage while working with the High Road team for the Helados La Neta brand, aiming to share the authentic flavors of Mexico, her culture, and bringing people from different cultures together. She is a dog lover who enjoys hiking, biking, wine & spirits, and spending time with her husband and fur family.

Follow Helados La Neta on LinkedIn and Instagram, and Follow High Road on LinkedIn.

Jeffrey L. (Jeff) Pitman, President and Founder at Piedmont Real Estate Group Inc.

Piedmont, based in Roswell, Georgia, is a real estate services firm with competencies in development, consulting, brokerage and investment advisory businesses. Piedmont was established in 2004 primarily as a development firm and has developed multiple office building and residential land development projects in North Fulton, Cobb and Cherokee Counties. While continuing its development focus, Piedmont is active in the commercial property brokerage arena across property classes including office, industrial and land assets. Piedmont has also provided development, project consulting and transactional services to various lenders who have gained control of various projects and properties through the ORE process. Piedmont currently provides investment advisory services to various private equity investors and funds.

He has over 30 years of executive experience in the real estate industry, with a focus in the institutional, commercial and investment arenas. He served for 12 years as National Director of Dispositions for TMW Real Estate Group, based in Atlanta and Munich and in the same role for Prudential Real Estate Investors (PREI), Parsippany, NJ. In his professional career, he has been involved in transactions totaling over $2 billion dollars in all real estate classes including core office, single tenant, medical, multi-family and retail. Clients and businesses he has served include Allianz, Bank of America, SunTrust, Mercedes Benz, Microsoft, Chevron, Abu Dhabi Sovereign Investment Fund, Citrix, The State of Virginia, Massachusetts State Retirement Fund, United Mine Workers Pension Fund, Zeiss Optical, Ralph Lauren, The FDIC, The European Economic Community, Wurttembergische AG, Commerzbank, MTV, Discovery Channel, Verizon, Xtreme Solutions US, AED Brands, EastWest Bank, First Citizens Bank, Synovus, and Bank of North Georgia. He has transactional experience in every major metropolitan area in the United States.

He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Georgia Association of Realtors and the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors. He has served as a member of the Professional Standards Committee of the Atlanta Board, a position awarded to board members recognized for their adherence to the highest ethical standards and professional practices in the industry.

During his tenure at TMW and PREI, he also served as a member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers (NAREIM), one of the most respected organizations in the institutional real estate investment arena, where he served as a committee chair and panel participant at multiple conferences.

He holds the Certified Commercial-Investment Member (CCIM) Designation of the NAR and in the past held the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation of the Institute of Real Estate Management of the NAR. He has been called as an expert witness in litigation in real estate matters.

Mr. Pittman also currently serves on the advisory board to Quintus Corporation, a closely held multi-family developer and owner based in the Atlanta metro area. He formerly served on the boards of the master associations of Cuscowilla, a 770 acre planned golf community on Lake Oconee, Georgia and Ridenour, a major mixed-use planned community located in Cobb County, Georgia.

Jeff and his wife Kathy have three adult children. They reside in Roswell, Georgia, and have been members of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell since 1992. At Fellowship, Mr. Pittman has served as an elder, Sunday community leader, small group leader and member of the worship team. His hobbies include golf, jazz piano and writing.

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn

DECODING THE ERTC [A STORY OF THE EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT]

February 5, 2021 by Kelly Payton

It wasn’t available to you. Now, it might be.

This was the amount. Now, the amount is different for a different year.

Here’s the eligibility criteria. Now, here’s some new criteria too.

What sounds like a befuddling riddle is actually a description of The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). It’s changed a lot in the last few months. Now, organizations who have PPP loans are able to qualify for this tax credit too. New guidelines have been established for how to claim the credit in 2020 and 2021. The extension and expansion rules have evolved.

So if your company is looking to take advantage of the ERTC, how can you make sense of the tax credit in a way that leads to claiming dollars for your business instead of scratching your head?

In this episode, ERTC advisor Cristy Andrews, CPA, CGMA explains the points of interest for this tax credit, while special guest Tim Gothard, Executive Director of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, shares the story and perspective of an organization that has utilized—and benefitted from—the ERTC.

After listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:

Know the amount of the ERTC available per employee (despite common misconceptions)
Understand how a refundable tax credit benefits organizations
Recognize how laws have changed from prohibiting some organizations from claiming the ERTC to allowing them to claim the ERTC
Understand the basics of eligibility for 2020 and 2021—and how they are different
Know the two different ways your organization can qualify for the ERTC

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Additional Resources for Continued Learning:

Blog Post and Infographic: Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) [What Companies Should Know]
Blog Post: Two Ways to Leverage the R&D Tax Credit in Light of the CARES Act
Tax Alert: New Stimulus Package Includes Several Tax Changes and Provisions

Eric Rein from Renasant Bank, Gary Acedo from DRG, and Alexander Keen from Special T

February 2, 2021 by Kelly Payton

Eric Rein, VP Commercial Lending at Renasant Bank

Eric relishes in assisting small business owners with their growth plans and leading employees to achieve their professional goals. He works with business owners to become a partner in achieving their financial goals through providing loan and treasury management solutions.

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn.

Gary Acedo, Workspace Consultant at Diversified Resource Group

Connect with Gary on LinkedIn

Alexander Keen, Chief Dealer Advocate – CDA at Special-T

Connect with Alexander on LinkedIn