Mike, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Amita Agrawal McClain, Founder of My Easy School Supply

November 15, 2024 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Amita Agrawal McClain/My Easy School Supply

Amita Agrawal McClain, the Founder of My Easy School Supply, was born and raised in Nepal and now lives in Duluth, GA. She wanted to make a difference in her community by being part of it, by hiring locally, recycling wherever possible, and serving others. The mission at My Easy School Supply is to provide the brands that teachers request while keeping costs down and using recycled packing materials. Their future vision is to open a “Supplies Pantry” filled with gently used supplies that are available to anyone who needs supplies free of cost, similar to food share pantries.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Hosted by Amanda Pearch

GACC South Unplugged – Nick Masino, President & CEO of Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

November 14, 2024 by Mike

In this episode of GACC South Unplugged, host Matthias Hoffman is joined by Nick Masino, the President & CEO of the award-winning Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. Nick discusses his background, including his years serving as the Bürgermeister (Mayor) of Suwanee; how he has brought diversity to the Chamber’s Board of Directors; and his vision for the future of Gwinnett County.

From the Autobahn to Gwinnett: A Journey of Leadership & Growth! Tune in now to uncover what makes Gwinnett a global business hotspot. You’ll also discover:

The secrets behind Gwinnett’s international business success
How Nick’s “Fish Philosophy” keeps his team thriving
Why Gwinnett feels like home to over 100 German companies

The German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States was founded in 1978 to promote and support bilateral trade between Germany and the United States. GACC South’s headquarters are in Atlanta, GA. GACC South serves 11 southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas) as well as Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas.

GACC South Unplugged is presented by

Lela Dinakaran with Bojangles and Freda Kalina & Alicia Payne with Buford Business Alliance

November 14, 2024 by Mike

Lela Dinakaran, Alicia Payne, and Freda Kalina

Lela Dinakaran/Bojangles

Bojangles is a Carolina-born restaurant chain specializing in craveable Southern chicken, biscuits, and tea made fresh daily from real recipes, and with a friendly smile. Founded in 1977 as a single location in Charlotte, their beloved brand continues to grow nationwide. Their guests are at the forefront of everything they do. In addition to serving up flavorful food, they’re committed to doing good in the communities they serve. Fans from all over know Bojangles for their catchy tagline – “It’s Bo Time!”

Freda Kalina & Alicia Payne/Buford Business Alliance

The Buford Business Alliance is a non-profit organization that brings together the citizens, city leaders, civic organizations, and the businesses of Buford in a communal spirit. They work together through their festivals, events, and other marketing opportunities to promote business and tourism in Buford.

Gwinnett Business Radio is presented by

The Voice of Business/Episode 4: Small Business, Big Goals

November 14, 2024 by Mike

Building Big Goals with Joy Mitchell and Charbel Aoun: From Gwinnett Roots to Entrepreneurial Impact and Community Collaboration

Welcome to today’s episode of “The Voice of Business”, where we’re thrilled to have Joy Mitchell, CEO/Owner of Office Creations, and Charbel Aoun, Founding Executive Director of the Georgia First Generation Foundation, sharing their journeys and insights in a conversation led by Deirdra Cox, Executive Director of the Gwinnett Chamber Foundation.

Both proud Gwinnettians, Joy and Charbel dive into the highs and challenges of starting a business, the essential differences between sponsorship and mentorship, and how for-profit and non-profit organizations can work together to make a real impact. Plus, we’ll talk about the power of a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), find inspiration in Kung Fu Panda quotes, and hear what’s kept these leaders motivated as they turn their visions into reality. Tune in for an inspiring mix of grit, goals, and Gwinnett pride!

In this Episode:

Intro 00:00
What prompted Charbel to start his non-profit? 02:02
The Leap of Faith 05:45
Gotta Have A B.H.A.G. (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) 05:45
Breaking Barriers for Women in Business 07:58
Early Challenges in Starting a Business 11:27
Strategies for Business Growth & Partnerships 15:49
How to create an Impact as a for-profit business? 20:20
Advice for Others Starting their own Business 23:08
What does the future hold for business? 26:07
How can for-profits & non-profits partner together in 2025? 30:00

Resources & Links:

Joy Mitchell – LinkedIn

Office Creations Website

Re:Creations Website

Charbel Aoun – LinkedIn

Georgia First Gen Foundation Website

The “Gwinnett Chamber Voice of Business” Podcast is presented by Gwinnett Magazine and produced in partnership with Business RadioX. Hosted by President & CEO Nick Masino, this show features engaging fireside chats with prominent business leaders, offering invaluable insights into leadership, small business growth, economic development, and inclusive best practices in business.

Celebrity TopGolf with Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons

November 13, 2024 by Mike

Atlanta Falcons football player Kyle Pitts hosted Celebrity TopGolf in Alpharetta on November 12 , an event that was co-sponored by Riptide, LLC.

Mike Sammond of Business RadioX and Heather Dean, CEO of Riptide, enjoyed the festivities and in between their (bad) golf shots, had a chance to interview some of the business leaders attending.

SANDY BAKER & JENIFER JACOBS

Co-Team Leader & Realtor

Next Move Atlanta

DONOVAN POTTER

Founder & Managing Attorney

Potter Law, LLC

JOHN TAYLOR

Owner & President

Holen Hub

RENNIE CURREN

Keynote Speaker & Leadership Coach

Rennie Curren

About Riptide, LLC

Riptide, LLC brings 30 years of business background in technology, operations and sales strategy to the small to medium to growing sized business owner across Georgia and the Southeast. Riptide, LLC works closely with you to discuss what aspects of your business are going well, and where you could deploy better infrastructure, sales processes, and business operations. They help lay the groundwork for strong revenue growth for your company year over year. Riptide, LLC and their team focus and succeed in helping you and your product rise above the noisy marketplace, and position you for growth versus your competition.

2024 Gwinnett Chamber Global Chamber Mixer

November 12, 2024 by Mike

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce hosted it’s 2024 Global Chamber Mixer on November 7 at the Gas South Convention Center in Duluth, GA. At this annual favorite, attendees enjoyed international tastings while connecting with professionals from the global business community. The event also featured awards recognizing individuals making impactful contributions to the global business landscape.

Business RadioX hosts Mike Sammond, Steven Julian, and Tom Sheldon were on site to interview the leaders of the participating global chambers and business organizations.

NICK MASINO

President & CEO

Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

FRANK ZHOU

President

Chinese-American Business Association of Atlanta

SOLENE JASPARD

Executive Director

Belgian-American Chamber of the South

KATHERINE LAFOURCADE

Executive Director

French-American Chamber of Commerce/Atlanta-Southeast

MATTHIAS HOFFMAN

President & CEO

German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US

VERONICA MALDONADO-TORRES

President & CEO

Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

IMRAN NIAZI

Founding Member & CEO

Georgia Pakistan Business Council

HIROSHI KASHIMA

Representative

Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia

ALEJANDRO COSS

President & CEO

Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia

BIOR BROPLEH

Executive Director & CEO

Liberian Association of Metro Atlanta

SILVIA ROSSI

Executive Member

Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast/Georgia Chapter

MARIA LAM

Executive Board Member

Georgia Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce

JACQUES LAURENT

Vice-President & Treasurer

Georgia Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce

MAGDA ODENHAAL

Vice President & Chairman

South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA

LISSA MILLER

Board Chair

US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce/Southeast Region

KIM YI

Secretary General

Korean American Chamber of Atlanta-Georgia

The 2024 Gwinnett Chamber Global Chamber Mixer was held November 7 at the Gas South Convention Center.

Season 2, Episode 4: THE 2024 GEORGIA FESTIVAL OF TREES

November 12, 2024 by Mike

Stan Hall, Angie Ulibarri, Frank Ulibarri

Angie and Frank Ulibarri with the Georgia Festival of Trees discuss the upcoming event which will be held November 23 through December 1, 2024 at the Gas South Convention Center.

The Gas South District’s “That’s The Ticket!” is the ultimate podcast exploring all things Gas South District, and a source for insights to events on campus and discussions on the wider entertainment and tourism industry. The series is hosted by Stan Hall, CEO of Gas South District and Explore Gwinnett.

For further information about Gas South District and upcoming events, visit GasSouthDistrict.com. That’s the ticket!

You can watch this podcast on YouTube or Facebook!

Tia Cummings, Co-Founder and CEO of 925 Consulting

November 8, 2024 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Tia Cummings/925 Consulting

925 Consulting is a boutique marketing consultancy offering fractional CMO services to Black-owned businesses across a variety of industries.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Hosted by Amanda Pearch

Duluth Business Now! – Networking: Follow Up and Building Relationships

November 7, 2024 by Mike

Benjamin King, John Withers, Lisa Thompson, Katrina Lucisano, Ken Thompson

“Duluth Business Now!” is the official podcast of the Duluth Business Association. On this episode, the panel discusses what you can do after your networking meetings to build valuable relationships.

Ken Thompson/Thompson Hypnotherapy

Thompson Hypnotherapy believes everyone deserves the chance to live their dreams and not have to live their lives burdened by their past or paralyzed with fear, doubt, or anxiety about their future. Their focus is on those who really want to make the necessary changes. Using sessions to educate, guide, and empower, they show you how to find the incredible natural power that has been inside your mind all along and then show you how to use that power to break the chains holding you back. This may include changing or removing negative habits and behaviors, as well as forming new positive ones. At the end of the day, Thompson Hypnotherapy believes in helping you live your best life every day!

Katrina Lucisano/Silverton Mortgage

Founded in 1998, Silverton Mortgage is an acknowledged industry leader within the mortgage community. They’ve always believed that maintaining the entire loan process in-house keeps everyone involved: borrower, real estate agent, and Silverton Mortgage. One team, one goal. Katrina brings over 30 years of experience from owning Family First Mortgage to being a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator at Silverton Mortgage.

Benjamin King/Pet Wants of Johns Creek

Pet Wants has redefined the meaning of “fresh” in the pet food industry. To them, fresh means from the manufacturer to your pet’s bowl in weeks, not months. They have raised the bar in animal wellness and nutrition for over a decade. Their proprietary pet food is made using natural and fresh ingredients, including salmon, chicken, lamb and brown rice. There are no added sugars, no corn, and no animal by-products. They never use corn, wheat, soy or dyes.

John Withers/How Money Works

How Money Works is on a mission to eradicate financial illiteracy, the #1 economic crisis in the world, which impacts more than 4.5 billion people across the planet. Each Financial Educator has a goal to help their students break the cycle of endless debt, foolish spending, and financial cluelessness so they can take control of their financial future.

Lisa Thompson, President/Duluth Business Association (Moderator)

The Duluth Business Association exists to provide an open networking opportunity in a unique and relaxed environment, inviting business owners to interact socially while building relationships that will ultimately impact economic development and improve the Duluth community.