Search Results for: kids care

GWBC Radio: Jessica Lowery with The POWER of Elderberries

October 3, 2020 by angishields

GWBC Radio

GWBC Radio: Jessica Lowery with The POWER of Elderberries

00:00 /

Jessica Lowery is the Founder & CEO of The POWER of Elderberries. Years ago, when she found herself curled up in a ball on the waiting room floor of the doctor’s office desperate for relief from her flu symptoms, she never imagined that moment would lead her to discovering the natural alternative that has completely changed her life.

Longing for a natural alternative to those awful flu symptoms, she desperately searched the internet and discovered elderberry syrup. Not only did elderberry syrup help her get back to work the very next day after that awful doctor’s visit, but it has been her go-to for keeping her whole family healthy year-round.

Jessica started sharing the amazing benefits of elderberries with her friends on Facebook because she wanted to spare other parents the hassle of missing time from work, paying for doctors’ visits, and most of all, that feeling of helplessness that comes over you when your kids are sick, especially when it comes to viral infections.

She started making her own elderberry syrup because she wanted control over ingredient quality, safety, and taste which led to a business that EXPLODED organically! She sees each of her customers as family and cares deeply for their health and well-being.

Jessica is dedicated to educating families with purpose and passion so they too can achieve optimal health and live a better quality of life.

Follow The POWER of Elderberries on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Transcript

Intro: [00:00:04] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open for Business. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:18] Lee Kantor here, another episode of GWBC Open for Business. Today, we have with us Jessica Lowery with The POWER of Elderberries. Welcome, Jessica.

Jessica Lowery: [00:00:28] Thank you so much for having me today.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:31] Well, before we get too far into things, tell us about the Elderberry. What kind of plant fruit is that?

Jessica Lowery: [00:00:38] Yeah. So, elderberries are actually native to Europe, Africa, parts of Asia. They contain many vitamins, nutrients and immensely high amounts of what are called anthocyanins. And those are a natural compound with powerful antioxidant effects.

Jessica Lowery: [00:00:54] In fact, Hippocrates, the ancient Greek, otherwise known as the Father of Medicine, referred to elderberries as his “medicine chest” because they appear to be a cure all for so many different health ailments. They’ve been one of the top antiviral herbs on our planet. They are known for boosting the immune system, as well as having antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, along with the powerful antioxidant properties that prevent cellular damage to our bodies.

Jessica Lowery: [00:01:23] And in fact, elderberries are rich in what are called anthocyanins. They’re actually the pigments that give elderberries that rich coloring they have. And in addition, they act as antioxidants to fight free radicals in our body and help support the human immune system.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:41] Now, is it a berry that’s like a raspberry or a strawberry that anyone can just pick and eat, and that’s how you consume this? Or is it you have to consume it in another way?

Jessica Lowery: [00:01:51] Well, they’ve been around for thousands of years. In fact, meeting people at the farmer’s market, they often talk about how they grew up with elderberries, making jams, and jellies, and wine and all kinds of different stuff. But they can actually be toxic to consume without being cooked first. So, the health benefits really come with a process in which we use them, which is a cooking process with making our products.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:19] So, now, how did elderberries enter your life? What brought you to them?

Jessica Lowery: [00:02:25] So, honestly, the power of elderberries is a business that I never saw coming. I started, I kind of take it back a little bit. Back in 2013, I got pregnant. And I mean, I was pregnant with flu symptoms. And I was at the doctor’s office and just really wanting a natural alternative to my flu symptoms.

Jessica Lowery: [00:02:50] And that’s really what helped me find elderberries online. And I got my hands on some elderberry syrup. And after taking it, I was back to work the very next day. So, I’ve always been in the natural alternative. I had three natural childbirth, and I wanted a natural approach to combat my symptoms. And that’s when I first discovered elderberries and elderberry syrup particularly.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:15] But what was kind of the leap from there, being a consumer of it to “I’m going to start a business around it”?

Jessica Lowery: [00:03:23] Well, I wanted control over the quality of ingredients, use the safety of the product as well as the taste of the products, so I started creating my own. And from there, I shared so many benefits with my friends on Facebook because I wanted to spare other parents missing time from work, paying for sick doctor’s visit and just that helplessness that comes over you when your kids are sick, especially when it comes to viral infections. And that’s when The POWER of Elderberries was founded and has since just exploded organically.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:57] So, now, how did you go about just being a person in your house kind of experimenting to having a business where you’re actually creating this for other people in a safe manner?

Jessica Lowery: [00:04:11] Yeah. So, I was actually a full-time lecturer at Coastal Carolina University at the time, also with three young children. So, it made growing this business particularly daunting in the early days. However, when I look into the eyes of just desperate mothers with sick children and started to begin witnessing the relief that the elderberry syrup was bringing to countless families in our community, I really saw no turning back.

Jessica Lowery: [00:04:40] And really, it’s been the customer testimonials that keeps us pushing forward. In fact, I’ll never forget one of our customers, Connie. She walked up to me with just tears streaming down her face. And as she wrapped her arms around me, she said, “Thank you for creating such an amazing product. This product has saved my life.” And it’s just people like that that that’s why we’re doing this.

Jessica Lowery: [00:05:04] And then, I have customers like Ernesta. She’s got a 16-year-old daughter who has fought year-round horrible allergies. And since taking The POWER of Elderberry, she has been completely off her allergy shots. And then, we have people like Lind. She’s a nurse and believer of our syrup. And she said, within 48 hours, after starting The POWER of Elderberries, elderberry syrup, her husband’s cough was completely gone.

Jessica Lowery: [00:05:28] So, it’s really just been the customer testimonials that really shook me up and said, “I felt like God has called me to this business to help people.” And we saw that it was obviously working for people and on the prevention side, as well as combating symptoms in a natural alternative, and took this leap of faith, and here we are.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:52] But I understand that a lot of people like it and are benefiting from it according to the anecdotal evidence that you’ve shared. How do you go from kind of a lay person who isn’t a manufacturer of a product that people are consuming to learning how to even do that in a safe manner? Like did you have mentors? Were you going to other plants on how to produce this in a scalable manner? Like how did you kind of get your learning curve solved?

Lee Kantor: [00:06:22] Because this seems like pretty complex. You have to get the materials, you have to turn it into another material or syrup, and then you have to model it and share it in a manner that’s safe throughout the whole process. It requires a lot of technology, and skill and equipment that I don’t know a layperson typically doesn’t have at their disposal. So, how did you kind of begin the journey as a business person?

Jessica Lowery: [00:06:46] Yeah, that’s a great question. It started with me ordering up ingredients to start producing my own for my own family. And from there, the recipe has changed from what I initially found online to get me started to handcrafting, and producing, and making my own recipe to make it unique and what my kids liked because I need to have them like the taste of it. And that was the problem I was running into, is I just wanted better control of the ingredients, the quality, the taste.

Jessica Lowery: [00:07:20] So, I started making it in my home kitchen, and I was just inundated with orders within the community. The referral network was just skyrocketing here in our county, and I knew I was on to something. And then, my husband and I, we’d be up from 7:00 at night after putting the kids to bed to 3:00 in the morning making the syrup. It was about an eight-hour process, bottling it, refrigerating it.

Jessica Lowery: [00:07:48] And then, it got to the point where we’re like, “We really should reach out to someone that has some expertise behind this.” So, we reached out to a friend of ours that he’s actually a chef. And so, we knew that he had knowledge behind what equipment was going to be best for us to use to make it more efficient and things like that. And so, bringing him in our home kitchen and using him to help guide us through this process definitely helped.

Jessica Lowery: [00:08:15] But what really started getting it off the ground running was landing a commercial facility. I didn’t want to be making it out of my home kitchen. I didn’t even feel comfortable doing that. If I were to put myself in the shoes of consumers, just for like hygiene, and safety of the product, and everything, it’s like, “If we’re going to do this, we got to figure out how to do it right.”

Jessica Lowery: [00:08:36] And so, my husband and I, we actually took food safety certification classes, learning more about pH balance and the safety of the product. And then, it got to where I found the perfect bottle for the product. So, there was no waste as consumers poured it out.

Jessica Lowery: [00:08:52] And then, we actually hired our friend that came to our home kitchen watching me make it out of there. We hired him to take over the production of our company once we landed that commercial facility to produce it in. And Chad has a lot of expertise in food safety management. And I basically handed him over my recipe for him to make it, obviously, in much larger quantities and work through that process of making sure that it tasted just like it did when I was making it.

Jessica Lowery: [00:09:24] And from there, we’ve got it third-party lab tested. We’ve actually invested the resources to have our products tested. I think it’s really important for people to understand just the inefficiencies of, especially, dietary supplements not being regulated as much as they should be. And I wanted consumers to feel completely confident and trust us as a brand. And that’s why I was adamant about putting resources in to getting this third-party lab tested, not only for the safety, but also the purity, the potency, the freshness, so that we could know every detail about our product before putting them on the shelves for consumers.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:08] And that’s a great lesson to other entrepreneurs out there. It’s perfectly fine to start in your own home kitchen. But at some point, if your brand is starting to catch on, you have to take the next steps in order to ensure the consistency, every batch is going to be similar and the same and safely kind of manufactured. You don’t want anything to happen to anybody.

Jessica Lowery: [00:10:32] Absolutely.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:34] So, now, you mentioned some ways your brand is different. Are there other ways that your brand is different than the other elderberries syrups out there?

Jessica Lowery: [00:10:45] Yes. So, The POWER of Elderberries, we produce the elderberry syrup, along with our newly launched elderberry gummies. Both products are made using premium organic ingredients in abundance of South Carolina local raw honey. We actually work with two beekeepers that bring our honey to us. Like mentioned, our products have been and third-party lab tested. They’re vegetarian-friendly and provide a powerhouse of immune-boosting properties.

Jessica Lowery: [00:11:13] Our products have over 700 milligrams of elderberries per serving, which is very potent. And kids absolutely love the taste. You can take our products daily, seasonally, or when you’re symptomatic. The benefits are endless. We have three children ages nine, seven and five and not one has ever had sick doctor’s visit or been on antibiotics since taking our products.

Jessica Lowery: [00:11:36] As far as differences in brands, I know there’s a lot of elderberry products out there, so it can be very cumbersome for consumers to choose what is the best product. As far as the differences, we don’t use any kind of refined sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, tapioca syrup. There’s no artificial sweeteners, flavors, dyes. We don’t have any kind of filler or thickener in our products, no gelatin, and they’re not made using any kind of concentrate.

Jessica Lowery: [00:12:09] So, these products are handcrafted, really using the purest ingredients from nature. Not only are you getting the local raw honey, the organic black elderberries, but we also put organic ginger root, organic cinnamon sticks and organic whole cloves. So, it’s not just the power of elderberries, which is very potent in our product, but you’re also reaping the antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of all those different spices, as well as the honey in our product.

Jessica Lowery: [00:12:42] Just kind of breaking down the differences between our syrup and gummies compared to others, a lot of elderberry syrup or wellness syrups on the shelves, they’re on the shelves at retailers. You can actually find our product refrigerated, and that’s because we choose add no preservatives do it. So, it has to be kept refrigerated. So, that’s one of the biggest differences.

Jessica Lowery: [00:13:05] Also, you’re not going to find any sediment collection at the bottom of our bottles. So, some elderberry syrups will use like powdered ginger root or powdered cinnamon. We don’t use any powder. And therefore, you don’t have to shake our bottle before you consume it. So, it has a really smooth taste. We also don’t bottle at extremely high temperatures. And so, what that does, it ensures our customers are reaping all the benefits of the local raw honey that is used in our elderberry syrup.

Jessica Lowery: [00:13:35] And then, as far as our elderberry gummies, these are really a unicorn product to the market. There are other elderberry gummies on the market, but what we found with comparing ours to others, most that we compare them to have either 25 or 50 milligrams of elderberry per one gummy. Our one gummy sits at 238 milligrams. Is that not crazy? So, it’s about eight to nine times the potency just in the one gummy itself.

Jessica Lowery: [00:14:05] They’re also gelatin-free. So, it’s a great vegetarian-friendly, non-gelatin gummy. We’re using what’s called organic agar-agar to bind it together instead of any kind of animal byproduct. And so, it gives the gummy, actually, a different texture where it’s not real chewy, it doesn’t get stuck in your teeth, it’s not coated in sugar. So, we really refer to it as natural ordinary gummy simply because of the differences there.

Jessica Lowery: [00:14:34] And then, most gummies are sweetened with refined sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. And just like our elderberry syrup, we’re only using that local raw honey in our elderberry gummy. And that’s really what makes them that unicorn product to the market.

Lee Kantor: [00:14:49] Now, talk a little bit about some of the challenges you face as a female founder. Are you involved in any of the maybe women certification systems like WBENC or GWBC? And if so, have they helped you at all in the growth of your company?

Jessica Lowery: [00:15:07] Absolutely, I am WBENC-certified and certified WBE. It has helped us tremendously, which is the opportunities, getting connected with corporate sponsors. I’m actually in a pitch competition right now, and I made it to the final round that I’ll be doing here very, very soon. So, I’m excited for that opportunity to share The POWER of Elderberries with others.

Jessica Lowery: [00:15:31] But I will say, when I began this journey as a business owner, I was a fulltime lecturer at Coastal Carolina University and along with having three children, it made leading my team particularly very challenging. The area I had to grow in to overcome this challenge was really setting aside my pride and releasing the need to do it all and having that control. I had to learn to ask for help.

Jessica Lowery: [00:15:58] My husband, Jake, he’s been my number one cheerleader from the very beginning of this business. And within seven months of making my first order of elderberry syrup in our home kitchen, he actually resigned from his financial planning career to support me on this new adventure of entrepreneurship. So, his just willingness to jump in and help wherever the need is really something that I’ll never take for granted.

Jessica Lowery: [00:16:24] And I know, as women, we often believe we can do it all. Four months into starting this business, I remember sitting on the couch with my husband after we had put the kids to bed, and I just spoke to him. And I was like, “You either have to quit your job or I’m going to have to shut all this down. I just can’t keep going like this.” And then, to my surprise, he said yes and “If we can find a commercial kitchen, then you got it.”

Jessica Lowery: [00:16:50] And so, in addition to his support, I also reached out to friends who had skills and expertise in areas that I did not. And that helped, definitely helped excel the business leaps and bounds. So, my advice would just be to just not be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s a friend, a neighbor, an acquaintance or a loved one, just communicate openly about what your needs are, and then let God move.

Lee Kantor: [00:17:18] With the right partners, you can do anything.

Jessica Lowery: [00:17:21] That’s right. It’s been amazing.

Lee Kantor: [00:17:23] Now, if somebody wanted to learn more about The POWER of Elderberries, what’s the website?

Jessica Lowery: [00:17:29] Yeah. So, our website is thepowerofelderberries.com. We actually have over 70 retailers that carry our products. So, there is a tab that you can find a retailer near you or we do ship nationwide as well. And I wanted to offer to all the listeners out there a 10% off coupon code from any order off on our website. And they can use promo code GWBC10 to receive that 10% off. And then, I also encourage people to follow us on Instagram or Facebook to learn more about the benefits of elderberries and our products. And we’re also going to be coming out with a new referral program very soon as well.

Lee Kantor: [00:18:13] Well, Jessica, thank you so much for sharing your story. You’re doing important work and we appreciate you.

Jessica Lowery: [00:18:18] Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. I really, really appreciate the opportunity to share The POWER of Elderberries with others.

Lee Kantor: [00:18:25] All right. This is Lee Kantor. We will see you all next time.

About GWBC

The Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC®) is at the forefront of redefining women business enterprises (WBEs). An increasing focus on supplier diversity means major corporations are viewing our WBEs as innovative, flexible and competitive solutions. The number of women-owned businesses is rising to reflect an increasingly diverse consumer base of women making a majority of buying decision for herself, her family and her business.

GWBC^® has partnered with dozens of major companies who are committed to providing a sustainable foundation through our guiding principles to bring education, training and the standardization of national certification to women businesses in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Otto Siegel and Kayla Essert with Genius Coaching and Julie Hudson with Onsite Design

October 1, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Otto Siegel and Kayla Essert with Genius Coaching and Julie Hudson with Onsite Design

00:00 /

Otto Siegel and Kayla Essert with Genius Coaching and Julie Hudson with Onsite Design

Since 2003 Genius Coaching has been focusing on decoding and activating hidden brilliance in bright students with learning or behavior challenges as well as in brilliant leaders who desire to go ‘from great to excellent’ and connect with their teams more effectively.

Their unique Genius Profile® provides a solid blueprint for high level success in education, career and life by decoding the unique brilliance that is written on DNA and translating the results into simple language to make it useable. Professional coaching provides the energy to implement specific actions that bring this genetic blueprint to life.

Genius Coaching is highly innovative, radically holistic and activates the joyful biological energies of the body with a strong focus on uniqueness, sensitivity and intensity.

Healthy genius always desires to grow and does not stop with age. Longevity Coaching supports brilliant and sensitive people who refuse to comply with any aging mentality and have a deep desire to expand their health span and life span.

Otto Siegel is a people builder, outlier, innovator and founder of Genius Coaching LLC in Scottsdale.

He holds a M.Ed. from the University of Munich/Germany and taught Biology and Chemistry to High School students in Munich and Sao Paulo/Brazil for 17 years. A period of unexpected bipolar symptoms on his highest level of professional success forced him to look deeper into his passion: To support bright and sensitive students with learning or behavior challenges and their desperate parents to find their way through school and into a bright future.

In 1994 he left teaching and added certifications in Brain Gym, TMI (Technique of Mental Integration) and 7 assessment systems to start the first “Paedagogische Praxis” (Educational Consulting) in Munich.

During a 7-year career as a training manager in a Phoenix-based corporation he became a certified coach and developed unique and very popular team leadership programs.
As a Master Certified Coach (MCC) he has been mentoring coaches and leaders in the US, Europe and Australia.

Together with his life partner Susanna Lange he wrote “Yes, You Are a Genius” and developed the Genius Profile™ as the most comprehensive and simple evaluation system for human brilliance. Since 2010 he has been offering Genius Coach Certification programs for passionate parents and education professionals as a foundation to start their own business.

In 2017 he added Longevity Coaching for highly intelligent and sensitive people in the second half of their first century with a strong desire to expand their health span and life span, followed by a ICF-approved Longevity Coach Certification program in 2020.

Otto’s children David, Julia and Nora live in Germany and Austria with their own families and 1+2+2 children; they stay connected via zoom and Whatsapp. He has been a life-extension enthusiast since 1990 and enjoys international travel, skiing, hiking the Grand Canyon, daily runs with his dogs, swimming, bikram yoga, reading and connecting with likeminded people.

Connect with Otto on LinkedIn.

Kayla Essert is an Arizona native, wife, mama, and educator. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in elementary education and certifications in early childhood education, as well as teaching English language learners. Kayla taught elementary school for 9 years, but felt something was missing.

After she left the classroom, Kayla knew she needed to be a part of education in a different way. When she had the opportunity to work with Otto Siegal through Genius Coaching, Kayla found her passion. She is now becoming a certified Genius Coach and is committed to helping kids and families discover themselves in a whole new light.

Kayla is passionate about “out of the box” education and guiding people to be their best selves.

Follow Genius Coaching on Facebook.

Onsite Design is a flooring and design company located in the Scottsdale airpark. Owner Julie Hudson loves working with her clients which include small builder/contractors & designers as well as real estate agents.

Onsite specializes in simplifying the remodel and new build process for contractors and designers by creating a one stop shop for their clients to make design selections. We coordinate, order and supply materials always working to stay on our clients budget and schedule.

Julie Hudson is a long time Arizona “almost native”. An ASU Sun Devil alumni, she graduated with a degree in design and has been practicing as a self employed designer for more than 30 years. She is passionate about good design, client satisfaction and attention to detail.

Julie is a licensed flooring contractor and her experience and knowledge of construction helps immensely in making proper design decisions with her clients.

Connect with Julie on LinkedIn.

Racism Series: Suicide – The Silent Killer E7

September 26, 2020 by Karen

Racism-Series-Suicide-The-Silent-Killer-feature

Phoenix Business Radio

Racism Series: Suicide - The Silent Killer E7

00:00 /

Racism Series: Suicide – The Silent Killer E7

In this episode of Racism in Small Business & Arts we explore, yet another uncomfortable conversation, Suicide – The “Silent” Killer, with author/playwright Josh Rivedal, who shares his personal experience and the impact of suicide on subsequent generations. Rose Boerner, NAMI of Sedona, provides additional resources. Host Karen Nowicki emotionally shares her fight to keep the trauma of her husband’s recent suicide attempt from negatively impacting her teen son. Panelist Karen Loomis requested tools to handle those moments when when someone in your life says those words. Camilla Ross, produces Josh’s upcoming one-man show, Kicking my Blue Genes in the Butt, LIVE in-theater or LIVE Stream from Sedona, Arizona. Suicide prevention starts with suicide awareness.

Suicide Prevention starts with awareness. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of this healthy conversation about this uncomfortable subject. Tools and resources for you, or family are provided.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

The goals of NAMI Sedona are to: (1) educate the public about mental health conditions; (2) work to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness; (3) support research to determine the causes and improve treatment for mental health conditions; (4) advocate for changes in state and national public policy to ensure that funding for mental health programs and treatment is available for individuals with mental health conditions and their families.

Rose Boerner retired from a multinational pharmaceutical company in 2004, after 28 years, in International Marketing, QA Labeling, and as Associate Director in Regulatory Affairs.

She served 3 years on Board of Trustees of Sedona Public Library and has been President of NAMI Sedona/Verde Valley (National Alliance on Mental Illness) from 2005 to the present.

Rose facilitates NAMI family support group meetings, educational programs for family members and peers, advocacy, fundraising, and administrative work.

Rose also served on the Board of Directors of Spectrum Healthcare in Cottonwood from 2011 through 2019. She has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley since its inception in 2013 until the present.

The i’Mpossible Project is an organization that creates seminars, workshops, curriculum, books, music, and plays designed to entertain, educate, and engage on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health on college campuses, high schools, communities, and in the workplace.

Joshua Rivedal—speaker, actor, playwright, innovator, social entrepreneur—is the creator and founder of Changing Minds: A Mental Health Based Curriculum and The i’Mpossible Project. He has spoken about suicide prevention, mental health and nutrition, and diverse experiences across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia.

He is trained in human capital management with an emphasis in coaching from New York University, community counseling from the Southern California Counseling, Center, the teacher’s edition of emotional intelligence at Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence, and is trained in suicide prevention modalities QPR and ASIST. His original coursework on suicide prevention is taught in Washington State to various professions such as dentists, pharmacists, and occupational therapists.

As an actor, Joshua’s voice has been heard on U.S. national commercials like Dell, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and Johnnie Walker; as well as on one of the Freckleface Strawberry Books, Cinderella Penguin, and as part of the award winning voiceover cast of The Art of Secrets by James Klise.

In the business world, Joshua has worked on the marketing team of the world’s best-selling author James Patterson. He is the author of six books and a co-author of three scientific peer-reviewed journal papers, one on the trajectory of the survivor of suicide loss, another on the art of living with chronic illness, the third on surviving trauma.

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Crisis Resources

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately.
If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (@800273TALK) offers free, confidential crisis counseling 24/7/365 – and you don’t have to be in crisis to call. #SPM20 #NotAlone
If you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis
.@CrisisTextLine is free 24/7 mental health support at your fingertips. Text “NAMI” to 741741 for help. #SPM20 #NotAlone
Suicide Prevention Resources – Maricopa and Yavapai Counties.pdf

Crisis episodes related to mental illness can be incredibly difficult. To help navigate through them, NAMI created this downloadable guide available in English and Spanish: nami.org/crisisguide #SPM20 #NotAlone

The Emerson Theater Collaborative (ETC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to serve youth, under-represented communities and artists with an emphasis on diversity, by producing innovative and thought-provoking theater both in southeastern Connecticut and Sedona, Arizona. One such example is a wonderful play called Vivian’s Music 1969 by Monica Bauer that was a featured program at ETC in February 2020.

Camilla Ross is the President and Chairman of Emerson Theater Collaborative, Inc., Producer and Actress (Portray’s Harriet Tubman – Harriet Tubman’s Dream written by Lisa Giordano). She is also the President and Chairman of the Sedona Arts Academy.

“To be a catalyst for social change is really where it’s at for me,” Camilla said. “I believe theater should always be a venue for social change. I love the art of live theater and love what it does to the human soul and spirit. It moves us to look at life differently. To leave off the rose-colored glasses and really see the human condition.”ETC is a shining example. Founded in 2008 to give voice to actors’ innate talent for character development, Camilla has since produced more than 20 inspired, original performances. Emerging and professional cast and crew have blossomed under her guidance. And together they’ve created profound, can’t-ever-forget shows that illuminate social issues, and transform audience curiosity into concern and action.

Camilla has a deep well of experience and mentorship to tap into for her ETC roles—from her days at Emerson College and then in regional theaters and commercials. Among her favorite portrayals? Capturing the heart, spark, and essence of Harriet Tubman in the one-woman show Harriet Tubman’s Dream. Camilla is also deeply involved with youth, their visions for social change, and the desire to see the world as a stage of peace. To that end, she’s a tireless advocate for children and adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. She gives kids and teen real-life theatrical experience through ETC’s Summer Youth Program and enlivens their eagerness to learn about the history and genuine heroes through ETC’s school programs. Camilla is a steadfast suicide prevention advocate too, helping teens and adults avoid this tragedy and move forward to a happier, more positive future.

Camilla has taught business courses part-time at Three Rivers Community College since 2005, Sat on the Emerson College Alumni Board for ten years, and is past president of the Connecticut Alumni Chapter. In May 2014 Camilla was honored by the Writer’s Block of New London, Conn., for her past work as an instructor. In June 2013 she was named Woman of The Year by the Women’s Network of Southeastern Connecticut, and she’s been featured in many periodicals for her community service. In 2019 Emerson Theater Collaborative was nominated as Collaborator of the year in Sedona AZ. A veteran of the U.S. Navy and member of Kappa Beta Delta, Camilla earned her BA in Performing Arts: Acting from Emerson College in 1985 and her MBA in Finance from Baker College in Michigan.

Connect with Camilla on LinkedIn and follow ETC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Karen Loomis, Oracle and Founder of No Moss Brands, is no stranger to the impact of racism; not only in her personal life, but professional life as well. In 2000, Karen moved from Spokane, Wa to Phoenix, AZ to find better opportunities as promised by the fifth largest city in the U.S. With only 2% AA, Spokane proved to be a challenging environment, as is Phoenix, with only 6% AA.

Karen has never shied away from the many barriers racism presented. She has always felt her extensive education and professional experiences could overcome these often invisible challenges.

Unfortunately, institutional racism has proven to be too big of a hurdle for one person to take on. Using No Moss Brands as the vehicle, Karen will use her voice to open the eyes of others who are willing to join all People of Color on this journey to change. You in?

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow No Moss Brands on Twitter and Facebook.

Preparing Women for Prosperity

September 25, 2020 by Garrett Ervin

Gwinnett Studio

Preparing Women for Prosperity

00:00 /

Stacy Hanley/Lefkoff, Duncan, Grimes, McSwain, Hass & Hanley P.C

Stacy Hanley practices primarily in the areas of tax and estate planning, probate, estate administration, real estate and closely held business matters with Lefkoff, Duncan, Grimes, McSwain, Hass & Hanley P.C. She was admitted to practice in Georgia in 1999.

Stacy began her legal career at Long, Aldridge & Norman, LLP in the commercial real estate group. She then went on to become General Counsel for Homes by Williamscraft, Inc., the homebuilding company started by her father, Wilmont Williams. When Stacy’s father unexpectedly died in 2015, Stacy experienced firsthand the complexities of the estate administration process for family businesses. Stacy then decided to join Lefkoff, Duncan, Grimes McSwain and Hass, P.C. so that she could utilize her practical and legal experience to help individuals and families navigate the estate planning and estate administration process.

She is passionate about educating and empowering women to take the driver’s seat in planning for their futures.

Tiffany Kent/Wealth Engagement LLC

Tiffany Kent is a Certified Financial Planner and founder of Wealth Engagement LLC, a registered investment advisor firm. After 20 years of working as a portfolio manager and financial advisor on Wall Street, she started Wealth Engagement to provide clear, conflict-free, and personalized financial/investment advice at a low cost. Kent is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and Harvard Business School.

Tiffany lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband and three kids. When she is not investing and advising clients, Tiffany can usually be found running on West Paces Ferry Road.

CLICK HERE to watch the video of this show.

About Gaslowitz Frankel:

Gaslowitz Frankel is an experienced trial practice firm specializing in all aspects of complex fiduciary litigation throughout Georgia and the Southeast. With a focus on representing individuals, companies, banks, and fiduciaries in dispute involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, businesses, and securities law, their experienced and highly qualified litigation attorneys have tremendous credentials and a proven history of success.

If you would like to watch past episodes of “Wealth Matters”, please visit their You Tube Channel.

Remember to tune in HERE on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 8:30 AM to listen live to their show!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EstateDispute
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstateDispute
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/estatedispute

Inspiring Women, Episode 25: Defining Success – Does It Have To Be The C-Suite?

September 17, 2020 by John Ray

Inspiring Women PodCast with Betty Collins

Inspiring Women, Episode 25: Defining Success – Does It Have To Be The C-Suite?

00:00 /

Inspiring Women, Episode 25: Defining Success – Does It Have To Be The C-Suite?

Defining success, says “Inspiring Women” host Betty Collins, is more than just the destination. Success is tied up in your effort and how much of yourself you give to the journey. “Inspiring Women” is presented by Brady Ware & Company.

Betty’s Show Notes

So many people think success is they’ve made it to the C-suite.

The C-suite is not the only success that is out there in your career in business, so I want to talk about that in this episode.

What might be a better definition of success? How about this (not mine, but well worth sharing) – “Put your heart, your mind, your intellect, and your soul, even into every small act.”

That is a secret of success. Anything that you do in life, give it 110 percent.

My idea of success has changed a lot over 55+ years. Success depends upon the season you’re in. Your 20’s are different than your 30’s, and different than your 40’s, and different than your 50’s. Every season has been different for me (and will be for you), so success looked different in every season (and will be for you).

I enjoyed my career more, I think, because I wasn’t always shooting for being number one.

Being number one is not for the weak. It’s a tough place to be. I still had success because I had a different impact, and influence, and most importantly, I enjoyed and seized the moments in my life outside of the corporate four walls.

I’ve listened to Will Ferrell’s 2017 commencement speech to USC several times.

USC is where he attended. He talks about his success, of course, with all humor involved. He talks more about his 16-year marriage, his boys, his charity. He talks very passionately about the USC family, but he really talks about his journey getting there.

He doesn’t start out by saying, “I was on Saturday Night Live.” He doesn’t talk about, “I’ve made all these movies.” He’s just happy with other things besides being the number one, and all the different things that come along with that.

We can’t all be in the C-suite.

Many of us, first of all, are not meant to be there; we’re not leaders. The good news is you can enjoy success outside of the C-suite.

By the way, top leaders need followers. We can learn from them, and probably we have similar characteristics.

How do we learn from those in the C-suite?

Ask yourself “What does a C-suite person do? What is their success?”

They prioritize. Because when you are number one, you cannot do everything. We can do that (prioritize) in any situation. They get to the point. They drill it down. They make a decision. They go forward. They probably ask a lot more questions. They get a lot of good advice from all around them.

Decisions have impact, so those in the C-suite have to make good ones, because there’s a lot of people relying on them. Trust is at the core of everything with a successful C-suite person. If you don’t have that team and support, you can’t do it.

We all have different career goals to achieve success. There’s nothing right or wrong, and success is measured differently by all of us.

Unfortunately, we tend to obsess over our goals and our career. Most of us do. All the career goals and the success you have, whether you’re in the C-suite, or you’re just going to occur in your own world. All of those goals are valid. So, no matter where you are, focus on yours, and stick to yours, and not to others.

Here are some definitions of success that you should not ignore.

Success is always doing your best.
Success is learning that you sometimes have to say no and really being careful when you say yes.
Success is learning.
Success is understanding you cannot keep what you don’t give away.
Success is overcoming fear.
Success is being loved and loving back.
Success is standing your ground when you believe in something.
Success is not giving up.
Success is never letting a disability hold you back and understand that you control your destiny.
Success goes way beyond the C-suite.

Ultimately, you define success, and you enjoy it. Have a good journey, and don’t be consumed in the destination, especially to the C-suite.

Betty Collins, CPA, Brady Ware & Company and Host of the “Inspiring Women” Podcast

Betty Collins is the Office Lead for Brady Ware’s Columbus office and a Shareholder in the firm. Betty joined Brady Ware & Company in 2012 through a merger with Nipps, Brown, Collins & Associates. She started her career in public accounting in 1988. Betty is co-leader of the Long Term Care service team, which helps providers of services to Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and nursing centers establish effective operational models that also maximize available funding. She consults with other small businesses, helping them prosper with advice on general operations management, cash flow optimization, and tax minimization strategies.

In addition, Betty serves on the Board of Directors for Brady Ware and Company. She leads Brady Ware’s Women’s Initiative, a program designed to empower female employees, allowing them to tap into unique resources and unleash their full potential. Betty helps her colleagues create a work/life balance while inspiring them to set and reach personal and professional goals. The Women’s Initiative promotes women-to-women business relationships for clients and holds an annual conference that supports women business owners, women leaders, and other women who want to succeed. Betty actively participates in women-oriented conferences through speaking engagements and board activity.

Betty is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and she is the President-elect for the Columbus Chapter. Brady Ware also partners with the Women’s Small Business Accelerator (WSBA), an organization designed to help female business owners develop and implement a strong business strategy through education and mentorship, and Betty participates in their mentor match program. She is passionate about WSBA because she believes in their acceleration program and matching women with the right advisors to help them achieve their business ownership goals. Betty supports the WSBA and NAWBO because these organizations deliver resources that help other women-owned and managed businesses thrive.

Betty is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene College, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. Betty is also the Board Chairwoman for the Gahanna Area Chamber of Commerce, and she serves on the Board of the Community Improvement Corporation of Gahanna as Treasurer.

“Inspiring Women” Podcast Series

“Inspiring Women” is THE podcast that advances women toward economic, social and political achievement. The show is hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and presented by Brady Ware and Company. Brady Ware is committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home. Other episodes of “Inspiring Women” can be found here.

Show Transcript

So, today we’re talking about defining success, really focused in the area business, because so many people think success is they’ve made it to the C-suite, that that’s what success is … It is. Someone who can get there, it’s a great thing. But the C-suite – the CEO, the coronavirus, the CFO, the CFO, the CIO, there’s so many of them now. Generally, of course, those are the top people in the industry or in their company. We’re always driving to get there. The C-suite is not the only success that is out there in your career in business, so I want to talk about that today.

Here’s a great saying – it’s not mine – “Put your heart, your mind, your intellect, and your soul, even into every small act.” That is a secret of success. Anything that you do in life, really, if you give it 110 percent, whether it’s how you cleaned your car, or how you clean the house, or any of those types of things, if you really did a great job, and you put everything into it, perfect. If you have a podcast, and you put your heart, and your mind, and your intellect, and your soul into even just the details of that podcast, that’s success. It’s why I was drawn to that saying.

My idea of success has changed a lot over 56 years. Success depends upon the season you’re in, right? My 20s were all about getting a degree, getting married, getting the first house, having kids. All those things were part of the 20s. Isn’t it funny how that’s not part of the 20s, today? My 30s were all about, then, surviving the kids, and pushing my limits, so you could have the second house, and move, and have that … It was always a fast pace in my 30s. My 40s, though, were a decade of “A-ha moments.” Massive changes in my mind set, in my direction.

In my 50s, all the sudden, I became very focused on college tuition. That’s a big thing. Two kids in school at the same time was pretty tough. I was focused, too, on transitioning, and realizing that my kids were- it was time for them to launch and go. So, life changes. I realized, too, I had a venue, and a platform that I had to use wisely. I don’t know about my 60s because I’m not there yet, so we’re not going to talk about those, but every season has been different, so success looked different in every season.

The one constant, through all those seasons and through all it, was that I was in public accounting, I was a CPA. My career, it was the provision for all those challenges, and goals, and things that you’re striving for. Whether it was college tuition, or diapers, it was the provision. So, my career had to be done well. By always pushing myself, I always wanted to go forward and upward. We can’t think in any other way. Focus, though, was never being at the top. I always was moving in that direction, but it was not where my destination was.

It’s kind of a contradiction, almost. Here I am, I’m in this career trying to have success, always wanting to go forward, but I never saw the C-suite as the success. I never saw that that part of the destination was where I was going to have that. Again, it’s kind of a contradiction. I knew, though, it was not in my best interest to run up a side of the mountain, while I was climbing already, way too much. I knew and watched the number one. I watched the C-suite people around me, and the stress, the pressure, the consuming … It really is. You are the number one. You’re at the top of your position in your company. Guess what? Everything really falls on you. When good times happen, you get the credit. When bad times happen, you get the credit. So, going forward and upward, yes, but not to the top, or the C-suite. I think we need to look at that that’s okay.

I started my career in food service management in Rochester, New York, and I started my career as all – you sprint, right? I’m sprinting along. I’m going … But soon learned that I was going to work 40 years, so this was a marathon. Looking back, it was a great time of transitioning from college to the real world. It was a learning experience time. I developed some amazing skills. It was the time where I figured out what I didn’t want. I did not want long hours. I did not want to be far from my family. I’m a Buckeye. I could never feel like I could earn enough money; it was never enough. No matter how hard you work, it was still you needed more, right?

I did figure out, though, that I wanted kids, and a family, and balance, yet I wanted success, and a career. I left food service – about four years of that – and I started with this very small company. I eventually became the owner, and then I merged into a larger company. I’ve enjoyed being the owner, having influence, leading initiatives, and have a platform where I get to drive certain passions that have nothing to do with accounting, but I’m not the CEO. Never have been, I’ve never been the COO. I’ve never really been the CFO, and I’m not a CIO. I did not make it to the C-suite. So, I guess I missed success …

No, I absolutely found that success was not in the C-suite for me. In fact, I look back over my career, because I did not push myself to be in that, I enjoyed my career more, I think, because I wasn’t always shooting for that number one. Being number one is not for the weak. It’s a tough place to be. I still had success because I had a different impact, and influence, and most importantly, I enjoyed and seized moments in my life outside of that corporate wall.

I’ve listened to Will Ferrell several times; his commencement speech to USC. I would tell you to play it. I’m a huge … Play things to … You listen … I would tell you to listen to it. It’s on YouTube. USC is where he attended, and he talked about his success, of course, with all humor involved. He talked more about his 16-year marriage, his boys, his charity. He talked very passionately about the USC family, but he really talked about his journey getting there. He didn’t start out by going, “I was on Saturday Night Live.” He didn’t talk about, “I’ve made all these movies,” although he did wind that all in there? He was just happy with other things besides being the number one, and all the different things that come along with that.

I always have liked that. I’ve tried to do that in my own career in business. I mean, he’s an actor. I’m not Will Ferrell … I’m glad that I worked and played hard along the way, in both of it.

By the way, we can’t all be in the C-suite. Many of us, first of all, are not meant to be there; we’re not leaders. The good news is you can have success out of that C-suite. By the way, top leaders, they need followers. We can learn from them, and probably we have similar characteristics. We just use them differently.

How do we learn from the C-suite? I looked up, “What does a C-suite person do? What is their success?” They prioritize because when you are number one, you cannot do everything. We could do that in any situation. They get to the point. They drill it down. They make a decision. They go forward. They probably ask a lot more questions. They get a lot of good advice around them; they have to have that.

Decisions have impact, so they have to make good ones because there’s a lot of people relying on them. Trust is at the core of everything with a successful C-suite person. If you don’t have that team and support, you can’t do it. Characteristics needed for all successes, though, whether you’re in the C-suite, a mom, whether you’re a teacher, or a CPA … Success in any of these roles probably include characteristics like being patient, being consistent, having an ability to adapt – not one of my strong points. Persistence: doesn’t matter what you do. Open-mindedness and self-reliance.

We all have different career goals to achieve success. There’s nothing right or wrong, and success is measured differently by all of us. Some people strive for less money and more freedom, or some just- the chance to start that own business, that thing called entrepreneurship. You can be the CEO, and in the C-suite, just by being the only person in the company. That’s okay. Maybe you like being in that whole social enterprise crowd. I know Joe DeLoss, with Hot Chicken Takeover- you should look him up and listen to his story; it’s pretty cool. You just don’t want to be in that corporate setting, let alone in the C-suite.

Unfortunately, we tend to obsess over our goals and our career. Most of us do. They’re important, but they’re not everything. Once you find your ambitious side, and you kind of wake up maybe one day and say, “Gee, I’d like to have some money; I’d like to pay my bills, or get rid of my student debt,” then, all the sudden, you’re in a different mode, and you tend to find it’s hard to understand why others around you are not focused on their careers, and their goals. All those self-help books, or brilliant podcasts, like you’re listening to …

Why wouldn’t everyone give everything to be a top executive? Who wouldn’t want to start their own business? Why does a promotion and a raise not excite them? All the career goals and the success you have, whether you’re in the C-suite, or you’re just going to have it in your own world, all of those goals are valid. So, no matter where you are, focus on yours, and stick to yours, and not to others. Your success may be that your career is something that you take a lot of pride in. You feel confident about it. Keep that distinction in your mind between that life and a job. All of those things are important.

There’s a reason why we have this thing called work-life balance. It dominates the books. It dominates podcasts. It dominates everywhere. I think it’s a lot of myth because you can’t. It’s just hard to do. There’s a lot of energy that goes into trying to balance, or there’s a lot of energy that goes when you live in chaos. They just all go hand-in-hand, but work success/being number one isn’t necessarily equated to your happiness. You’re more than a title and a set of skills, you’re a human being. It’s important sometimes just to step back and remember that. The work side of your life is just that. It’s one side.

By the way, this is a news alert, newsflash: you don’t have to make yourself miserable to be successful in the C-suite, or not. It’s natural to look back, and I do it all the time. I just get tired of thinking about some of the periods in my life; the long days, and the overtime, and the excessive hours; the new clients, all that; maintaining them; having a bottom line that’s really good. Sometimes, all that has consumed me. Success is just not about working hard. It’s also about working smart.

When I was a single mom – I did that for a period of time in my life – I was driven to make sure that my kids would have some comfort and fun. I wasn’t into excessiveness, but also that they would go to college; that they would get to be on a campus and do the whole game. It was one of the best four years in my life. So, I had to be successful for them. How was I successful? How did I work smarter, not harder?

Well, I bought a house right in the middle of the middle school, high school, and my office. It was this easy triangle of driving to school, to home, to work. I did it all the time, all day long. I was intentional about living in that area. I still live there because I like it. It’s my home, but it was intentional. It was a part of a decision in working smart and raising and enjoying kids. There was no time to prioritize it. I had to be the CEO. Yet again, I was enjoying success on my terms.

I’m not quite sure who decided what the definition of success is – there’s tons of it – or what it entails, but there are too many people in existence to make sure one size fits all for achievement. There’s nothing wrong with having no common ground with the person that sits right next to you. It’s okay to succeed on terms and do it in your way. We all prioritize people, material items, family things, dreams, jobs in different ways. The C-suite may have been something we were told we should be because it’s the top, it’s the number one, it’s at the end of the career. It’s just not for everyone. Either way, it’s all about your happiness and your balancing on your terms.

So, I end this podcast on a very positive note. I wanted to talk about definitions of success that you should not ignore. In fact, you need to choose your own success definition. Success is always doing your best. It’s properly setting goals. It’s having a place to call home. It’s understanding about need and want. It’s believing that you can. Success is remembering to balance work with passion. You’ve got to focus on what you like. It’s taking care of your needs. Remember, you’ve got to put your own oxygen mask on before you assist others.

Success is learning that you sometimes have to say no and really being careful when you say yes. Success is learning. You have abundance in your life, and you’re thankful. Success is understanding you cannot keep what you don’t give away. Again, how many people have brought you along in your success? Success is overcoming fear. It’s learning something every day. It’s learning to lose a few battles, so it can help you win a war. That’s okay. Discussion … Differences, arguments should not be about the victory, but the progress.

Success is being loved and loving back. It’s standing your ground when you believe in something. Critics will be in your life, whether you’re in the C-suite or not; criticizing and doing assessment is part of your success. Success is certainly not giving up. It’s all about your effort and not others. It’s yours. Celebrating small victories … Success, to me, we look at the end game, like the C-suite is an example of that … If I had to lose 52 pounds, it’s just easier to look at it one pound a week than 52 pounds. So, celebrating small victories as you go along and having a perspective that gets you there.

Success is never letting a disability hold you back and understand that you control, obviously, your destiny. Success goes beyond the C-suite. For some, the C-suite is success. I applaud people that get there. I need a good CEO in my life. So, success goes way beyond the C-suite. For some, the C-suite is the success, and we applaud anyone who gets there for sure, especially in today’s world. We need some top leadership. It’s a big void. For some, just define your success. You define it, and you enjoy it, and have a good journey, and don’t be consumed in the destination, especially the C-suite.

Home of Hope Fall Classic Golf Tournament

September 16, 2020 by Garrett Ervin

The Home of Hope Fall Classic Golf Tournament was held on September 15, 2020 at the Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course.

For more than two decades, the Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett has been organizing golf fundraisers for various kid-based community projects. In 2020, for the first time, the organization teamed up with the Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter to raise money and help local kids move from homelessness to permanent loving homes. The golf tournament was a way for local golfers and businesses to give to an amazing organization while enjoying a fun day of golf among friends.

Business RadioX was on site providing live radio updates and interviewing the organizers, sponsors and golfers. All of the interviews were presented by Legendary Home Sales Advantage and Realtor Tyler Weant.

Tyler Weant/Legendary Home Sales Advantage

Phil Olsen/Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett

Oren Bar/Rebalansing Health

Joan Williams/Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett

John Slappey/Peggy Slappey Properties

Clint Dixon/Clint Dixon for State Senate

Pastor Avery Headd/Poplar Hill Baptist Church

Doug Meyer/Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter

Greg Edwards/My Sauce

Keith Howell/Homestar Financial

Scott Snedecor/Ace Hardware

Maureen Kornowa & Tyler Weant/Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter

About Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter:

The new “Home of Hope” at The Gwinnett Children’s Shelter was born out of necessity along with the support of many helping hands in the community and beyond. The Home of Hope is a nonprofit residential care facility which provides services for homeless children from 0-17 years of age along with their young mothers. They also provide care and services for homeless girls aging out of the foster care system at 18 years of age. They provide customized “Life Plans” that are designed around the physical, emotional and educational needs of the children, while helping mom get a plan of action to get back on her feet.

Their goal is not simply to be a place of refuge, but a “next step” towards independence. They take their guests from homelessness, to hopeful, to a home of their own.

About Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett:

The Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett is a civic organization dedicated to serving the local community by empowering and uplifting children. Members are volunteers changing the world through service to children and communities. Kiwanis members help shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, mentor the disadvantaged, and care for the sick. Through various fundraising projects, they work together to provide scholarships to local high schools as well as donations to numerous children’s charities.

A little secret… it’s also a lot of fun! Join them at the Buford Community Center for lunch at noon on any Tuesday. They have also started an after-hours program – Kiwanis After Dark – for those who cannot attend the lunch meetings.

All Interviews on Business RadioX
from the Home of Hope Fall Classic Golf Tournament
presented by:

RichLife Retirement Show with Beau Henderson and Bill Maine #007

September 13, 2020 by Rose

Join Beau Henderson, CEO of RichLife Advisors and Bill Maine from WDUN for a conversation about:

→ How do you define success?

→ What are the differences between playing the markets and playing poker?

→ Are your kids mature enough to manage the money you leave them wisely?

About Beau Henderson:

Beau Henderson is a retirement planning specialist located in Gainesville, GA, a USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author, and the founder and visionary of RichLife Advisors. He has helped more than 3,000 clients to not only improve their relationship with money, but to live their unique definition of a fulfilled, meaningful retirement with purpose.

Through his innovative RichLife Retirement Success Strategy™, Beau and his team at RichLife Advisors help families across the United States approaching retirement to properly address the six components a successful retirement:

Maximizing income (including Social Security)
Optimizing assets for long-term growth
Paying less in taxes
Planning for healthcare
Protecting the people and things that they care about the most and
Addressing non-financial considerations to ultimately living their unique definition of a RichLife in retirement

Beau is an avid local business advocate, podcast enthusiast and studio owner of North Georgia Business RadioX. He was recognized as Junior Achievement’s Business Partnership of the Year in 2016 for his efforts and commitment to increasing financial literacy in the community.

Website:

RichLifeAdvisors.com

Contact Beau:

EMAIL
Info@RichLifeAdvisors.com

PHONE
(770) 249-7424

Connect with Beau:

Facebook — https://Facebook.com/RichLifeAdvisors
Twitter — https://Twitter.com/RichLifeAdvisor
LinkedIn.com — https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauhenderson/

Black Funding Matters E6

September 11, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Black Funding Matters E6

00:00 /

Black Funding Matters E6

This episode of Racism in Small Business and Arts focused on funding issues for people of color with businesses in the arts space. Tobie Stein, Author, Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Performing Arts Workforce, and sociologist provided insight into the issues with mind-numbing data showing the inequity in funding, and insight on solutions. Toni Yuille Williams, of talk show Brooklyn Savvy is not stranger to the massive barriers experienced by African-Americans in the arts, and why the arts are critical to EVERYONE.

Regular panelist, and owner of Emerson Theater Collaborative and The Sedona Arts Academy, Camilla Ross, shares her trials and tribulations preventing her from growing her theater company. Camilla’s shows center around the exact issues we experience as a society as a whole from suicide to historical pieces, such as Harriet Tubman. When audiences walk away from a performance, the economic ripple continues for the local communities. Karen Loomis, of No Moss Brands included similar statistics experienced in other industries for African-Americans. Listen. Reflect. Act.

Brooklyn College is a four year college and graduate school and part of the City University of New York college system.

Tobie Stein, Ph.D. is a two-time Fulbright Specialist (Israel and Taiwan), a member of the Diversity Scholars Network at the National Center for Institutional Diversity, University of Michigan, and a member of the American Sociological Association.

She is the author of five books, including Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Performing Arts Workforce (Routledge 2020) and Leadership in the Performing Arts (Allworth Press (2016).

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

Antonia (Toni) Yuille Williams is the director of Regional and Community Affairs, Corporate Affairs for Con Edison Company of New York, Inc. In this capacity she develops the strategic direction for the Brooklyn Public Affairs department, of one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies. Her responsibilities include government relations, corporate community relations, media relations, employee communications, volunteerism, and special events.

Toni joined Con Edison in 1988 where she was Manager of Public Information, shortly thereafter; she was promoted to the Director of Public Affairs position with the Company. Before joining Con Edison, she was the founding Director of the Human Resources Administration’s first Voucher Day Care Program. In that capacity, she was responsible for the administration of an $8 million dollar day care reimbursement program. The Citywide program included 140 private day care centers throughout the 5 boroughs, which provided thousands of families with subsidized day care.

Toni is the creator, on air personality and executive producer of Brooklyn Savvy, a Talk Show which airs three times a week on NYClife channel 25. NYC Media is the official TV, radio and online network of New York City informing, educating and entertaining New Yorkers about the City’s diverse people, and neighborhoods, government, services, attractions and activities. Brooklyn Savvy explores topical issues related to women. She has developed a library of content of over 250 episodes, and has a very active social media presence. As a result of this work, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Commission of Women’s Issues honored Toni at their Annual Women’s History Month Program in 2011 for her part in shaping the dialogue around women’s issues. Her video was screened in NYC taxicab fleets. Mrs. Williams also received a Telly Award for excellence in community programming for her work on The Brooklyn Reporter Roundtable.

Toni is involved in many community activities. Currently, she is on the boards of the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, The Brooklyn Arts Council, BRIC Art Media, New York City Technical College Foundation Board, American Heart Association-Brooklyn and The Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College. She was also appointed to the Mayor’s Panel on the Role of Brooklyn in the 19th Century Abolitionist Movement. She is a member of the Brooklyn Chapter of the Links and she is the Former First Vice President of Jack & Jill of America Brooklyn Chapter.

Toni is the recipient of numerous community award recognitions. The former Borough President of the Borough of Brooklyn Marty Markowitz awarded her with the highest honor a leader can receive the“Outstanding Brooklynite Award,” given only to those who have made an outstanding contribution, and provided exemplary service to the Borough. She is the recipient of the prestigious Corporate Citizen of the Year Award from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Progressive Democratic Political Association’s Woman Leadership Award, Top Women in Business, Schneps Communications, the Community Leadership Award from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the Corporate Cultural Leader of the Year from 651 Arts, the Community Service Award from Church Women United, the Business Leader of the Year Award, from the National Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Community Capacity Builders Award from the Technical Assistance Center, and the Community Service Award from the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew.

She was one of the Grand Marshal’s for the West Indian Day Carnival Association’s Labor Day Parade. She was the recipient of the Council of Jewish Organizations Community Service Award. The Harlem YMCA’s Black Achievers’ in Industry Award, the National Caribbean Review, Women of the Year Award, the Junior League’s Most Spirited Brooklynite Award, YWCA’s Woman of Distinction Award, Directions for Our Youth, Navigator of the Year Award, The Hospice of Greater New York Community Leadership Award, NYPD – 88th Precinct Council, Community Leadership Award, The Passover Spectacular’s Community Vision Award and many others citing her contributions to the Borough.

Toni has been featured in numerous articles in Our Time Press, Harlem Times, Brooklyn Spectator, Courier Life Publications and Industry Magazine. She has presented at conference workshops, and seminars.

Toni graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and completed a graduate degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and completed certificate programs in Corporate Community Relations and Social Responsibility at Boston College and Community Negotiations at Harvard University. Toni has also served in an academic staff position at the University of California at Berkeley. She is an Adjunct Professor at St. Francis College. Toni is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Art.

Connect with Toni on LinkedIn and follow Brookly Savvy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Connect with Camilla on LinkedIn and follow ETC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Karen has never shied away from the many barriers racism presented. She has always felt her extensive education and professional experiences could overcome these often invisible challenges.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow No Moss Brands on Twitter and Facebook.

Atlanta Harmony Celebration, Jambos and Boy With a Ball

September 10, 2020 by Garrett Ervin

Giving Back To Gwinnett

Atlanta Harmony Celebration, Jambos and Boy With a Ball

00:00 /

Rebekah Black, Kathy Stone and Anna Currie

Kathy Stone/Atlanta Harmony Celebration!

Atlanta Harmony Celebration! is a non-profit, women’s acappella organization promoting community through singing and education.

Rebekah Black/Jambos

Jambos is a local nonprofit on a mission to bring comfort to kids in foster care by providing them with brand new pajamas.

Anna Currie/Boy With a Ball

Boy With a Ball transforms communities by equipping and unleashing the young people within them. They turn vulnerable youth populations from being a city’s problem into the solution. Although disconnected and disengaged youth may damage a city’s future, they have found a way to turn these young people into the heroes their city needs.