Dan Russell With Chase for Business

Intro: [00:00:04] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio. Brought to you by On pay. Atlanta’s new standard in payroll. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:25] Lee Kantor here, another episode of Atlanta Business Radio, and this is going to be a good one. But before we get started, it’s important to recognize our sponsor, Onpay. Without them, we couldn’t be sharing these important stories. Today on the Atlanta Business Radio, we have Dan Russell with Chase for Business. Welcome, Dan.

Dan Russell: [00:00:44] Julie.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:44] Well, I’m excited to learn what you’re up to. Tell us a little bit about Chase for business. How are you serving folks?

Dan Russell: [00:00:50] Yeah. Chase for business is our business banking team here in Atlanta. I am the market manager for the Chase for business team, uh, based out of Atlanta. And really, you know, our commitment to the Atlanta business owners is pretty substantial. You know, we are consistently focused on on getting out in the community, meeting our small business owners, giving them access to business consulting through our small business consultants. And then also, we’re really excited to be able to offer our event that’s coming up on May 1st, the Experience Atlanta.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:24] Yeah, and we’re going to definitely get to that. But for Chase, for business, how do you kind of serve that small business market? I know we’re going to talk about the event, the experience, but on a day to day basis, how does Chase kind of make the small business owner feel important and be the priority that you’re saying they are?

Dan Russell: [00:01:44] Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we know at Chase for business that small businesses play a critical role in supporting the local economy by driving job creation and innovation, which which we know boosts up our local community. And we’ve made several investments into the local business community here in Atlanta over the last few years. And just to give you an example, we recently partnered with the Russell Innovation Center for entrepreneurs to launch our first community Chase lounge, which is a really cool, uh, space designed to help level the economic playing field for the black business community here in Atlanta. And as a bank, you know, we really understand the role we play in the overall success of these local businesses. And and there’s a couple of things that that we’re doing. Number one is, is we’re consistently, you know, really looking at the products and solutions that that we offer our small business clients here in Atlanta and trying to make them better. And an example of that is we we recently improved our loan application process to really make it simpler for small business owners, but also to make it faster to ensure these business owners are having access to the funds that they need to support their overall business growth.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:53] Now, how would you recommend? If I’m an entrepreneur and I have a business, one of I would imagine you would believe that one of the most important kind of outside sources for help or an advisor would be a banker. How would you recommend building a relationship with a banker and really kind of wringing out the most value from that relationship with your banker?

Dan Russell: [00:03:18] Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the great news is here in Atlanta, we have over 100 branches across the city. So we have a lot of different ways of small business owners being being able to connect with our team and my team specifically at Chase for business partners with these branches. So they’re in these branches every day on meeting these small business owners, having these conversations about access to capital or the different products and solutions that they need to grow their business. And we also have our small business consultants, where their primary role is to consult these small business owners on how to scale their business. They’re offering one on one coaching. They’re offering, you know, just personalized advice to help these businesses get to the next level.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:03] So you are taking that next step where you are not just kind of a vendor for that small business owner, you’re you’re trying to be a partner with them.

Dan Russell: [00:04:11] Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we like I said before, I mean, we know the role that small businesses play in our community here in Atlanta. And but but we also know the responsibility that we have to the overall success of these businesses. So it goes beyond just the checking and savings account. It goes it goes into the advice and the consulting and the coaching, and that’s something that we’re absolutely committed to.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:35] Now, um, is there anything that you could share from a success story standpoint that since you’ve been the Atlanta market manager, a story where you’ve helped, uh, um, an entrepreneur maybe take their business to a new level or, or, um, you know, at least be along for the ride for that.

Dan Russell: [00:04:54] Yeah. You know, we’ve we’ve got multiple success stories that that we can share. And in fact, uh, and I know we’re going to talk about this in a minute, but we’re going to be spotlighting some of those success stories, uh, here at our at our event coming up, um, on May 1st, where they’re going to be sharing, you know, sort of how we, how we started with them early on in the process and got them the advice that they need. And, and in some cases, the access to capital that they needed to bring their business to the next level. And so we actually have some of these business owners that are going to be spotlighted on stage. Um, clay pits happens to be one of them where they’re going to be telling that story and, and sharing, you know, some of the strategies and some of the advice that they, they gained from our conversations with them to get them to the place that they are today. So we’re really excited to be able to spotlight that.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:44] All right. So let’s talk about the event, the experience. Um, so what is um, going to go on during that event? Like what is kind of the uh, agenda for the day?

Dan Russell: [00:05:55] Yeah. So we’re obviously extremely excited to welcome local business owners, uh, to the experience Atlanta at Pullman Yards on May 1st. So the event is going to be a completely complimentary all day, uh, expo packed with with different learning and networking opportunities. Um, business owners are going to be able to participate in marketing workshops, um, informational sessions from leading business experts. Um, you know, shop our Chase for business marketplace, which is a really cool opportunity for, for our business, some of our business owners that we’re going to be spotlighting, that are going to be offering their products to the attendees of the event. Uh, so we’re really excited about that. Um, they’re going to learn invaluable tips to help their business make its next move. And really, when when we think about, you know, all of the content and the workshop and everything that we’re going to be providing, uh, for the experience. Atlanta, um, it’s really geared towards providing business owners with the tools and resources that they need to start running and grow their business. And registration did fill up more than a week before the event, which really shows us that that this event is something that business owners are excited about. Um, but if you didn’t get to register for the event, there’s going to be more events to look forward to in the coming months, including our National Business Conference to Make Your Move Summit, which is going to be happening in June, uh, in Los Angeles.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:17] Now is this, uh, is this experience going to be something that’s going to happen on a regular basis, or is this a test for this or a beta, or is this something that you’ve been doing around the country?

Dan Russell: [00:07:28] Yeah. So so this is, um, something that we’ve done, uh, in a handful of cities and actually this is, uh, an opportunity for Atlanta here, for the experience. Atlanta is one of three cities that we’re doing this across the country this year. So, um, I think number one, we’re locally really excited that we have this opportunity to spotlight, uh, our small businesses in Atlanta. But number two, I think it really shows, you know, our firm’s commitment and chase for businesses commitment to the local business community here in Atlanta.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:02] And the fact that it sold out so quickly. It must be a good sign that these that people are hungry for this type of information and experience.

Dan Russell: [00:08:10] Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you know, again, we’re we’re we were, um, extremely excited to see the event fill up as quickly as it did. Um, and, you know, quite frankly, we still have some demand, uh, to for the event, um, even though the registration is closed. So, uh, you know, for folks that do walk in the day of, um, obviously due to capacity, we’re we will certainly let folks in if the capacity, uh, allows us to, but it definitely shows that there is a demand for this type of event, the information that we’re going to be giving. Uh, and also obviously, for some of the industry leaders and experts that are going to be sharing their stories and strategies to really give our small business clients and the opportunity to learn, um, to to get their business to the next.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:59] And then if you were to give advice to a business owner to, um, be prepared for maybe your meeting with a banker to, uh, get to know them, what would be some of the things? What homework would you recommend they do so they can get the most out of a meeting with the banker at Chase?

Dan Russell: [00:09:18] Yeah, that’s a great question. I think, you know, when we think about our most productive conversations with with small business owners, it really starts with, uh, is my team understanding their story? You know, where where they started, where they’re trying to go, what, what their goals and aspirations are. And then once we understand that, we’re able to fill in blanks with with the advice and the and cater the advice around, you know, where they’re trying to go with their business. So I think that’s really where it starts. We always want to get to know, uh, the business owner behind the business, uh, and kind of where they’re trying to take that business. And once we do that, we’re able to put together, um, some pretty comprehensive advice products and solutions to help that business, uh, continue to grow, whether they’re in the phase of starting a new business or just, you know, are up and running, you know, wherever they’re at in their business, we’re going to meet them where they’re at in the life cycle of their company.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:17] Now, when you talk about small business, how are you defining small business? Because sometimes, uh, people have different definitions of what small is.

Dan Russell: [00:10:28] Yeah, a great question. I mean, we we serve companies that started yesterday and we also serve companies that have been in business for 40, 50 years or second, third generation. So the great news for Chase, for business is, no matter where you’re at in the life cycle of your company, we have a place for you and we have a home for you here at Chase for business.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:50] So it doesn’t matter even if they’re just, uh, began their business or they’re thinking about their business, having a conversation with a banker is a good investment of time. I would think you would recommend.

Dan Russell: [00:11:02] Absolutely. I think it’s a great, uh, investment of time. Um, and again, so we have we have folks from my team, we have our 100 branches across the city of Atlanta, where we have small business specialists that can have those conversations as conversations as well. And we also have our small business consultants that, you know, are not necessarily delivering any product or solution recommendation. They’re just there to coat those small business owners to help, um, scale their business and get their business to the next level. So we have a lot of resources for these small business clients, no matter what stage they’re in, um, uh, of the life cycle of their company. And we’re happy to have those conversation.

Lee Kantor: [00:11:42] Now, does Chase help, uh, an entrepreneur with, like, a small business loan?

Dan Russell: [00:11:48] Yeah, absolutely. Um, we we have I think I mentioned it earlier, we have, um, several different options for small business owners to get access to capital. Um, and actually recently we’ve improved our, our loan application process to be simpler and faster to ensure that these business owners have access to the funds that they need to support their overall business growth. Because we know it’s important that that companies have access to capital, and we know it’s important, just as important that they have quick access to capital. And so we’re constantly evolving our products and solutions to keep up with the demand and the needs of the small business owner.

Lee Kantor: [00:12:26] So if somebody wants to learn more about, um, Chase for business, is there a website?

Dan Russell: [00:12:32] Yeah. So if you if you want to learn more about the resources that we provide small businesses here in Atlanta, you can visit Chase for Business.com. Uh, and you can also learn more about the ongoing commitment that we have, um, in the area, specifically to small business owners and the resources that we have available for them.

Lee Kantor: [00:12:49] And then what about information on the experience?

Dan Russell: [00:12:53] Yeah. So if you want to, uh, get information on the experience Atlanta, just visit Chase comm slash Atlanta event. Um, it’ll have all the information regarding the event. And again, we’re going to continue to have events like this throughout the country throughout the year. Um, because we certainly see the demand and how much clients or how much customers are seeking this type of information. So we’ll continue to build on the success that we’ve had with the experience. Atlanta.

Lee Kantor: [00:13:19] Well, Dan, thank you so much for sharing your story today. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Dan Russell: [00:13:25] Thank you very much, Lee.

Lee Kantor: [00:13:27] All right, this is Lee Kantor. We’ll see you all next time on Atlanta Business Radio.