Business RadioX ®

Cary Matthews, Adam Marshall, and Jonathan Bill on Guiding Family Businesses

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Cary Matthews, Adam Marshall, and Jonathan Bill on Guiding Family Businesses, on Family Business Radio with host Anthony Chen
Family Business Radio
Cary Matthews, Adam Marshall, and Jonathan Bill on Guiding Family Businesses
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Cary Matthews, Adam Marshall, and Jonathan Bill on Guiding Family Businesses, on Family Business Radio with host Anthony Chen

Cary Matthews, Adam Marshall, and Jonathan Bill on Guiding Family Businesses (Family Business Radio, Episode 68)

On this episode of Family Business Radio, host Anthony Chen sits down with three leaders who specialize in helping family businesses grow, plan, and prepare for the future. Cary Matthews of Opal Partners Group draws on his Fortune 50 and small business background to help companies clarify their identity, strategy, and culture. Adam Marshall of Lorium Law explains how his firm combines technical excellence with a human approach to risk management, transactions, and succession planning. Jonathan Bill of SBS Accounting and Advisors shares how his firm frees entrepreneurs from back-office burdens, delivering accurate books, timely financials, and proactive guidance. Together, they show how strategy, law, and financial discipline intersect to build strong family business legacies.

Family Business Radio is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. The show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

  • Cary Matthews emphasizes clarity on identity and culture as the foundation of strategy.
  • Adam Marshall shifted from “big law” to client-centered legal practice to focus on relationships and assisting clients in making informed choices.
  • Jonathan Bill sees accurate, timely financials as essential for growth, lending, and exit planning.
  • Strategic planning, legal foresight, and sound bookkeeping intersect in family business success.
  • Host Anthony Chen emphasizes that beyond dollars and cents, family businesses need clarity of purpose and must tie financial planning to personal meaning and legacy.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to Family Business Radio
00:47 Cary Matthews’ Journey from COO to Business Strategist
02:14 The Importance of Organizational Structure
04:05 Common Challenges in Small Businesses
08:36 The Role of Strategy in Business Growth
12:01 Introducing Adam Marshall and His Legal Journey
14:52 Building Client Relationships in Law
18:50 The Importance of Risk Management and Pragmatism
25:21 The Importance of Foundational Documents
26:56 Preparing for Business Exits
28:20 Family Business Transitions
32:03 Introducing Jonathan Bill
32:10 The Origin Story of SBS Accounting
36:30 Unique Aspects of SBS Accounting
45:54 Legacy and Business Values
50:43 Anthony’s Financial Corner

Cary Matthews, Opal Partners Group

Cary Matthews, Opal Partners Group, on Family Business Radio with host Anthony Chen
Cary Matthews, Opal Partners Group

Cary Matthews is the Managing Partner of Opal Partners Group, LLC (OPG), where he helps small business owners and leadership teams get unstuck, achieve their goals, and build businesses they enjoy. As a strategy coach and fractional executive, he draws on more than two decades of experience leading operational improvement and growth in small businesses.

Before founding OPG, Cary served as COO and EVP of Operations for several Atlanta-area companies, overseeing project management, support services, accounting, HR, engineering, and logistics. His leadership produced measurable results, including reducing invoicing time by 80%, boosting gross profit by 10% while managing a 30% increase in sales, and cutting training development costs by 30%. Earlier in his career, Cary worked for Fortune 100 companies and a start-up, experiences that built the foundation for his passion and expertise in small business leadership.

Cary holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Auburn University.

Website | LinkedIn

Adam Marshall, Lorium Law

Adam Marshall, Lorium Law, on Family Business Radio with host Anthony Chen
Adam Marshall, Lorium Law

Adam Marshall focuses his practice on matters dealing with corporations, with an emphasis on corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, and distressed M&A. Adam has represented debtors, creditors, corporations, lenders, funds, and buyers and sellers of assets in numerous industries, including retail, food service, real estate, healthcare, automotive, energy, and financial services.

Further, Adam counsels business owners/C-level executives on general corporate matters, including structuring, financing, operational needs, and liquidity events/strategies. Adam began his career as an attorney with several national and international law firms, including White & Case and Greenberg Traurig, working in the restructuring and distressed M&A practice areas.

He has practiced law since 1999 and lived in Florida for 21 years, until recently relocating to the Atlanta area with his wife Stefanie and two sons, Joshua (Duke ’23) and Alexander (University of Michigan LSA Honors ‘26).

Website | LinkedIn

Jonathan Bill, SBS Accounting

Jonathan Bill, SBS Accounting, on Family Business Radio with host Anthony Chen
Jonathan Bill, SBS Accounting

Jonathan Bill owns SBS Accounting & Advisors. Jonathan grew up in a small business and seeing his dad struggle to start a new business is what gave him his heart to help entrepreneurs. As a result, Jonathan started his company in 2006 with a passion to free and empower small businesses—”free” by taking their back-office responsibilities off their plate and “empower” by providing them with the key metrics and coaching in order to meet their goals. Since 2006, Jonathan and his companies have had the privilege of bringing this transformation to hundreds of organizations.

Outside of work, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his family and ministering in his church in the area of music.

Website | LinkedIn

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

Family Business Radio is sponsored and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. Securities and advisory services are offered through OSAIC, member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned, and other entities and/or marketing names, products, or services referenced here are independent of OSAIC. The main office address is 575 Broadhollow Rd., Melville, NY 11747. You can reach Anthony at 631-465-9090, ext. 5075, or by email at anthonychen@lfnllc.com.

Anthony Chen started his career in financial services with MetLife in Buffalo, NY, in 2008. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, he considers himself a full-blooded New Yorker while now enjoying his Atlanta, GA, home. Specializing in family businesses and their owners, Anthony works to protect what is most important to them. From preserving to creating wealth, Anthony partners with CPAs and attorneys to help address all of the concerns and help clients achieve their goals. By using a combination of financial products ranging from life, disability, and long-term care insurance to many investment options through Royal Alliance, Anthony looks to be the eyes and ears for his client’s financial foundation. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid long-distance runner.

Follow this link to access the complete show archive of Family Business Radio.

How Sync Up Bookkeeping Helps Businesses Grow

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How Sync Up Bookkeeping Helps Businesses Grow, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
How Sync Up Bookkeeping Helps Businesses Grow
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How Sync Up Bookkeeping Helps Businesses Grow, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

How Sync Up Bookkeeping Helps Businesses Grow (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 888)

Sync Up Bookkeeping isn’t your typical firm, and Andrew Clarke isn’t your typical bookkeeper. In this episode, Andrew, the CEO of Sync Up Bookkeeping, joins host John Ray to share how he helps business owners go far beyond balancing books. With experience across multiple industries and four businesses of his own, Andrew uses financial data as a springboard for smarter pricing, stronger margins, and better decisions. He explains why so many business owners bleed cash without realizing it and how understanding your numbers can shift everything.

From rescuing a brewery with unrealistic sales goals to helping a business secure $50,000 in working capital in a single afternoon, Andrew shares real stories of transformation. If your business feels stuck or your finances are murky, this episode will show how the right kind of bookkeeping can be a powerful growth lever.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

  • Why many small business owners mistakenly operate on gut instinct instead of numbers
  • The dangers of managing your business by checking account balance or credit card limit
  • How poor pricing leads to razor-thin margins and financial stress
  • The hidden power of accurate books for tax compliance, deductions, and smarter decisions
  • Real-world examples of how Sync Up helps clients increase profit and secure capital
  • How proprietary software gives clients a 50,000-foot view of their business
  • Why Andrew calls himself a bookkeeper but acts like a business advisor

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:35 Meet Andrew Clarke, CEO of Sync Up Bookkeeping
02:31 Andrew Clarke’s Journey to Sync Up Bookkeeping
05:20 The Importance of Bookkeeping for Small Businesses
07:00 Common Financial Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
15:12 Sync Up Bookkeeping’s Unique Approach
23:44 Success Stories and Client Testimonials
26:01 Contact Information and Closing Remarks
26:46 Sponsor Messages and Final Thanks

Andrew Clarke, CEO, Sync Up Bookkeeping

Andrew is a casual, fun, nature-loving guy with a passion for numbers and business. With over 45 years of experience working in a multitude of industries, including mortgage banking, aerospace manufacturing, software development, construction project management, food service, and health & wellness, he is ready to help you with your bookkeeping needs.

Andrew has been an advanced user of QuickBooks/Intuit products for more than 30 years! He is adept and extremely knowledgeable about the inner workings of QuickBooks and how it can serve you best in your business.

When he’s not crunching numbers, developing software applications, designing spreadsheets, or using QuickBooks, he loves spending time with his family in the great outdoors. A full-time RVer, traveling the country with his wife, Sheri, and their four-legged fur-child, Loki, Andrew has enjoyed a vast and varied personal and professional life. He has always had an affinity for understanding business from a financial purview by measuring performance through the use of custom-designed financial reporting tools, which he often designs and develops himself.

After a brief two-year retirement period, inspired by his wife, Sheri, he decided to help others in business by providing bookkeeping and consulting services that give them a clear understanding of their financial status. He still enjoys developing custom software from time to time, but right now he wants to focus on helping other small business owners build their businesses by providing them their financial standings in an easy-to-understand format.

Andrew looks forward to establishing a long-lasting relationship by assisting you with your company’s bookkeeping needs.

LinkedIn

Sync Up Bookkeeping

Sync Up Bookkeeping logoSync Up Bookkeeping is a forward-thinking, cloud-based bookkeeping firm that specializes in helping small businesses maintain accurate and organized financial records. By utilizing cutting-edge accounting software and automation tools, the company delivers real-time financial insights and eliminates the hassle of managing day-to-day bookkeeping tasks. Sync Up Bookkeeping is committed to providing efficient, reliable, and tech-driven solutions that empower business owners to make informed decisions and stay focused on their core operations.

With a personalized and proactive approach, Sync Up Bookkeeping offers a comprehensive range of services, including bank reconciliation, expense tracking, financial reporting, and payroll support. The firm tailors its services to fit the unique needs of each client, ensuring compliance and financial clarity at every step. Known for its dependability and attention to detail, Sync Up Bookkeeping serves as a trusted partner in helping businesses achieve long-term financial stability and growth.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 880 episodes and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their market, community, and profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Navigating Back Office Success with Gabrielle Mills of Sourced.

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Navigating Back Office Success with Gabrielle Mills of Sourced., on The Exit Exchange with host John Ray
North Fulton Studio
Navigating Back Office Success with Gabrielle Mills of Sourced.
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Navigating Back Office Success with Gabrielle Mills of Sourced., on The Exit Exchange with host John Ray

Navigating Back Office Success with Gabrielle Mills of Sourced. (The Exit Exchange, Episode 23)

In this episode of The Exit Exchange, host John Ray welcomes Gabrielle Mills, President of Sourced., a leading full-service back-office solutions firm. Gabrielle discusses her entrepreneurial journey, highlighting how she and her mother founded Sourced., a firm that provides fractional support in accounting, marketing, HR, and administrative services. She delves into the importance of effective back-office management for business growth and successful exits, sharing insights on common pitfalls, such as accounting mistakes. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in accounting, the significance of scalable business models, and the value of joining XPX Atlanta for business growth. Listen to learn more about how Sourced. helps businesses navigate their back-office needs and prepare for future success.

The host of The Exit Exchange is John Ray, and the show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®. John Ray is a Gold Sponsor of XPX Atlanta.

Gabrielle Mills, President, Sourced.

Gabrielle Mills, President, Sourced.
Gabrielle Mills, President, Sourced.

Gabrielle Mills is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record in scaling small businesses into profitable companies. She is the co-founder and President of Sourced., a leading full-service back-office solutions firm. Gabrielle established the company from its inception, incorporating various business units such as accounting, marketing, human resources, administrative services, and talent acquisition.

Prior to founding Sourced., Gabrielle worked in corporate marketing and branding at IHG, supporting high-profile partners like the PGA Tour, CMT, and other global hospitality brands.

Gabrielle has always been passionate about empowering other entrepreneurs and now dedicates her time and gift of public speaking to inspire and grow other business leaders.

LinkedIn

Sourced.

Sourced. is an award-winning company specializing in solving two of the toughest challenges in business: lack of time and lack of resources. Its services include content marketing, bookkeeping, office assistance, and placement services.

Sourced. provides a full-service, customizable back-office solution for small-to-medium-sized business owners, with all services also available a la carte. The company helps clients fill resource gaps by building teams complete with account management, specialists, and backup support, allowing clients to pay only for what they need.

Services are delivered both virtually and on-site at client business locations.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to The Exit Exchange
01:02 Meet Gabrielle Mills of Sourced.
02:42 The Origin Story of Sourced.
06:27 Challenges and Growth in Business
13:31 Common Mistakes in Business Operations
19:48 AI Limitations in Accounting
20:26 Challenges in Business Growth
24:03 Importance of a Strong Back Office
27:25 Sourced’s Journey and Future Plans
31:17 Advice for Business Owners
36:03 Conclusion and Contact Information

The Exit Planning Exchange Atlanta

The Exit Planning Exchange Atlanta (XPX) is a diverse group of professionals with a common goal: working collaboratively to assist business owners with a sale or business transition. XPX Atlanta is an association of advisors who provide professionalism, principles, and education to the heart of the middle market.

Their members work with business owners through all stages of the private company life cycle: business value growth, business value transfer, and owner life and legacy. Their vision: to fundamentally change the trajectory of exit planning services in the Southeast United States. XPX Atlanta delivers a collaboration-based networking exchange with broad representation of exit planning competencies. Learn more about XPX Atlanta and why you should consider joining our community by following this link.

The host of The Exit Exchange is John Ray, and the show is produced by North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®, in Alpharetta. The show archive can be found by following this link.

John Ray is a Gold Sponsor of XPX Atlanta.

Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach

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Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach, on ProfitSense with Bill McDermott
North Fulton Studio
Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach
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Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach, on ProfitSense with Bill McDermott

Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach (ProfitSense with Bill McDermott, Episode 63)

This episode of ProfitSense, hosted by Bill McDermott, explores crucial elements for business success, featuring insights from Katie Taylor of K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder from Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, and Peter Faser with The Profitability Coach. The session delves into marketing strategies for small to medium-sized businesses, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive plans and brand understanding. It also discusses challenges in accounting, including the shortage of accountants, and the significance of a strong CPA relationship. Additionally, key areas for sustainable profitability and preparations for a business sale are outlined, targeting business owners’ financial acumen enhancement. This episode offers a multifaceted perspective on overcoming current business challenges and optimizing future growth.

Bill McDermott concludes the show by explaining the difference between a profitability coach and a part-time CFO.

ProfitSense with Bill McDermott is sponsored and presented by Bill McDermott, The Profitability Coach, and the show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing

Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing, on ProfitSense with host Bill McDermott
Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing

Katie provides strategic marketing communications and brand consulting for small to mid-sized service-based businesses and nonprofits, particularly those that do not have the need or budget for a full-time marketing director.

With more than three decades of marketing and communications experience, she helps businesses develop and implement marketing strategies that achieve results.

Katie offers a range of solutions that include marketing planning; branding and messaging; logo and visual identity development; website development and online marketing; sales material development; social media; email marketing; content development; advertising; and public relations.

Website | LinkedIn

Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs

Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, on ProfitSense with host Bill McDermottt
Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs

Bruce Burkholder is an audit and client services manager and works in the McDonough and Duluth offices of Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan.

Prior to joining Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan in 2019, Bruce worked with a big four firm and a large Atlanta firm. His expertise includes audits, reviews, business consulting and financial statement services. He leads the 401(k) audit practice, works closely with nonprofits to provide audits and financial statement preparation, and services for-profit clients in industries that include manufacturing, distribution and construction.

Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan is a full-service accounting firm that strives to be a single-source provider of accounting, audit, tax and business advisory services for our clients. They accomplish this goal by first getting to know each client’s unique situation and financial objectives, and then devising sound strategies that you can rely on.

Website | Company LinkedIn | Bruce’s LinkedIn

Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach

Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach, on ProfitSense with host Bill McDermott
Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach

Peter Faser has over 25-years of commercial, corporate and investment banking experience.  His passion has always been helping his clients get to a better place financially, whether they are a small business or a publicly traded company.  He began his career with Trust Company Bank in Atlanta, managing a portfolio of middle-market clients and guiding them in appropriate balance sheet management and income statement efficiencies.

Peter then pivoted to specializing in the banking of other financial institutions, and for the next 17 years, Peter assisted his clients with debt and equity capital solutions to promote growth, along with providing startup capital solutions for de novo institutions.  Additionally, Peter and his team ran due diligence on potential acquisition targets in the banking space and assisted in getting his clients ready to sell.

For seven years, Peter worked with Truist Securities, where he originated a new line of business designed to help corporate and investment banking clients recognize human capital efficiencies by increasing productivity, engagement and retention levels.  Through this experience of working with over 500 clients across the country, Peter recognized that the level of advisory services offered to smaller clients was not as prevalent as it once was, and he found that most clients were so focused on running their businesses day to day that they were missing the sensitivity analysis required to move their business forward.  He has now joined forces with his former teammate, Bill McDermott, to help fill this educational gap.  He is excited to be working with The Profitability Coach and getting back to the fundamentals of helping small businesses discover the right path to profitability.

LinkedIn

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to ProfitSense with Bill McDermott
01:03 Meet the Guests: Katie Taylor, Bruce Burkholder, and Peter Faser
01:27 Katie Taylor on Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses
04:53 Common Marketing Mistakes and Solutions
10:38 The Importance of Branding for Small Businesses
12:37 Online Marketing Essentials
16:27 Final Thoughts and Recommendations for Small Business Owners
19:34 Introducing Bruce Burkholder: Accounting Insights
24:27 Building Strong Client Relationships
24:57 Evaluating CPA Services
25:26 Importance of Proactive Solutions
25:51 Team-Based Approach in CPA Firms
26:32 Challenges in Accounting: Staffing Shortages
27:46 Addressing Client Needs Amid Staffing Issues
29:35 Strategies for Future Success
31:53 The People Business: Building Relationships
34:31 Introducing Peter Faser: The Profitability Coach
35:09 Peter Faser’s Journey and Expertise
38:27 Key Areas for Sustainable Profitability
41:37 Preparing to Sell Your Business
46:41 Bill McDermott’s Commentary on Differences Between a Profitability Coach and a Part-Time CFO
48:24 Conclusion and Contact Information

About ProfitSense and Your Host, Bill McDermott

Business Mastery Through Bookkeeping, with Jason Wong, FinCay LLC

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Jason Wong, FinCay LLC
North Fulton Business Radio
Business Mastery Through Bookkeeping, with Jason Wong, FinCay LLC
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Jason Wong, FinCay LLC

Business Mastery Through Bookkeeping, with Jason Wong, FinCay LLC (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 786)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray interviews Jason Wong, the owner of FinCay LLC, a firm specializing in bookkeeping and tax services for small businesses. Jason discusses the importance of meticulous bookkeeping, the challenges small businesses face, particularly in the restaurant and contracting industries, and how his firm utilizes technology like QuickBooks Online to streamline financial management. He also shares personal success stories and addresses the critical role of tax planning. The episode underscores the significant ROI of professional accounting services and offers insights into mitigating common small business financial pitfalls.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Jason Wong, FinCay LLC

Jason Wong, FinCay LLC
Jason Wong, FinCay LLC

Jason Wong is the visionary founder and leader of FinCay LLC, established in 2019.

He earned his MBA in Business Management from Nova Southeastern University before moving to the Cayman Islands. There, Jason amassed extensive professional experience in hedge funds, private equity funds, compliance, and various system integration projects.

FinCay LLCAfter gaining substantial expertise in the financial sector, Jason Wong and his business partner decided to establish their own accounting and bookkeeping company, FinCay Inc. In 2017, Jason returned to the United States with the goal of expanding the FinCay brand to successfully meet the needs of the U.S. market. He maintained existing services while transforming FinCay LLC into a certified tax firm, achieving QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification, and registering as a government contractor.

Currently, Jason is working towards completing his CPA exams, with the aim of elevating FinCay LLC to the status of a certified accounting firm.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Jason’s LinkedIn

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:23 Meet Jason Wong of FinCay LLC
02:10 Jason’s Journey to Accounting
03:42 Helping Small Businesses Succeed
05:58 Technology in Bookkeeping
11:03 Challenges Faced by Contractors
15:08 Tax Planning Insights
23:01 Success Stories and Client Experiences
25:21 Contact Information and Closing Remarks

Renasant Bank and Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant support North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Casa Nuova Italian RestaurantCasa Nuova is a proud family-owned and operated restaurant, serving classic, authentic and traditional Italian cuisine and top tier hospitality since 1998.

Casa Nuova is a cook-to-order kitchen, serving traditional fare including pasta, chicken, seafood, veal, vegetarian and gluten-free options, plus daily specials. They are a farm-to-table establishment, meaning that in the summertime, they cultivate their own vegetables in their garden, steps away from the restaurant, including tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, sunflowers and more!

Celebrating more than 25 years, Casa Nuova has become a true staple in the Alpharetta area, serving more than three generations of families, including friends old and new, visiting near and far from all over the metro Atlanta area and beyond.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 770 shows and having featured over 1,200 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show welcomes a wide variety of business, non-profit, and community leaders to get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignore. Some media leans left. Some media leans right. We lean business.

John Ray, Business RadioX - North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, Business RadioX – North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Harnassing the Power of Expert Bookkeeping, with Duff Tucker, BELAY Solutions

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Harnassing the Power of Expert Bookkeeping, with Duff Tucker, BELAY Solutions
North Fulton Business Radio
Harnassing the Power of Expert Bookkeeping, with Duff Tucker, BELAY Solutions
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Harnassing the Power of Expert Bookkeeping, with Duff Tucker, BELAY Solutions

Harnassing the Power of Expert Bookkeeping, with Duff Tucker, BELAY Solutions (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 782)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray sits down with Duff Tucker from BELAY Solutions. Duff explains how BELAY helps businesses by providing accounting and bookkeeping services. He highlights the journey of his career, the company’s approach to supporting business owners, and the importance of utilizing expert accounting services to save time and money. Duff also shares valuable insights and success stories that underline the benefits of outsourcing crucial accounting functions.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Duff Tucker, BELAY Solutions

Duff Tucker, BELAY Solutions
Duff Tucker, BELAY Solutions

With more than 20 years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, and client support; Duff Tucker has a passion for partnerships and expertise in identifying how to best serve the needs of many different organizational types and models. His goal is to provide his clients with breathing room that enables them to focus less time on the details in their business and more time on the purpose.

BELAY Solutions is a remote staffing company that provides virtual assistance, bookkeeping, and other administrative support services to businesses and entrepreneurs. Founded in 2010, BELAY operates with a fully remote workforce spread across 48 states in the U.S., challenging traditional office-based work models.

The company’s mission is to equip clients with the confidence to grow their businesses by providing high-quality remote support staff. BELAY emphasizes a strong company culture built on shared values rather than shared physical space. They pride themselves on fostering a vibrant remote work environment that prioritizes gratitude, teamwork, vision, passion, fun, and faith. BELAY has gained recognition for its unique culture, winning awards from prominent national publications despite not having a centralized office.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) | Duff’s LinkedIn

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:26 Meet Duff Tucker from BELAY Solutions
01:49 Understanding BELAY Solutions’ Services
04:21 Duff Tucker’s Career Journey
08:18 Why Choose BELAY for Accounting Services
10:58 The Importance of Bookkeeping and Financial Management
26:40 Success Stories and Client Experiences
28:51 Closing Remarks and Additional Information

Renasant Bank and Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant support North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Casa Nuova Italian RestaurantCasa Nuova is a proud family-owned and operated restaurant, serving classic, authentic and traditional Italian cuisine and top tier hospitality since 1998.

Casa Nuova is a cook-to-order kitchen, serving traditional fare including pasta, chicken, seafood, veal, vegetarian and gluten-free options, plus daily specials. They are a farm-to-table establishment, meaning that in the summertime, they cultivate their own vegetables in their garden, steps away from the restaurant, including tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, sunflowers and more!

Celebrating more than 25 years, Casa Nuova has become a true staple in the Alpharetta area, serving more than three generations of families, including friends old and new, visiting near and far from all over the metro Atlanta area and beyond.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 770 shows and having featured over 1,200 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show welcomes a wide variety of business, non-profit, and community leaders to get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignore. Some media leans left. Some media leans right. We lean business.

John Ray, Business RadioX - North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, Business RadioX – North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Seth Peabody, iTxRe

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Seth Peabody, iTxRe
North Fulton Studio
Seth Peabody, iTxRe
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Seth Peabody, iTxRe

Seth Peabody, iTxRe (ProfitSense with Bill McDermott, Episode 55)

CPA Seth Peabody joined host Bill McDermott on this episode of ProfitSense. Seth’s firm, iTxRe, emphasizes the importance of proactive tax planning for businesses, and he explained how their approach can significantly impact profitability by strategically reducing tax liabilities. Seth provided insights into tax planning vs. what he calls “tax telling,” highlighted the advantages of having an early and consistent tax plan, and discussed the major issues faced by the CPA industry. Seth also delved into the potential role of AI in aiding the CPA industry, and he underscored the necessity for a pragmatic understanding of accounting for better business outcomes.

Bill concluded the show with thoughts on how to manage the buyer-seller dance.

ProfitSense with Bill McDermott is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton Studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Seth Peabody, iTxRe

Seth Peabody, iTxRe
Seth Peabody, iTxRe

Seth Peabody has been a CPA for over two decades, working in small, medium, and large firms. In pursuit of growing a niche CPA practice, he learned business owners and high-net-worth individuals didn’t have true annual income tax planning. He created a program and process for clients to reduce taxes annually.

iTxRe creates a proactive environment to assist businesses and individuals across the country with annual income tax planning. They regularly meet with their clients to customize a plan for them. Then they work to control and minimize the impact of income tax on both the business and the individual. Finally, they complete the last step of the plan, filing the tax returns.

Quite simply, iTxRe engages in tax planning, not “tax telling.”

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Seth LinkedIn

Topics Discussed in this Interview

00:00 Introduction
01:07 Guest Introduction: Seth Peabody, CPA
01:29 Understanding Tax Planning
03:13 Proactive Tax Strategies
04:08 Understanding Tax Credits and Deductions
05:28 The Importance of Quarterly Estimates
07:27 The Role of Tax Planning in Business
09:11 Differentiating in the CPA Industry
15:29 The Impact of AI in the CPA Industry
17:56 The Importance of Understanding Accounting for Business Owners
24:22 The Buyer-Seller Dance in Sales
26:01 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

 

About ProfitSense and Your Host, Bill McDermott

LIVE from the GNFCC 2023 Women’s Leadership Summit: Aleisa Howell, Mauldin & Jenkins

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Aleisa Howell, Mauldin & Jenkins
North Fulton Business Radio
LIVE from the GNFCC 2023 Women's Leadership Summit: Aleisa Howell, Mauldin & Jenkins
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Aleisa Howell, Mauldin & JenkinsLIVE from the GNFCC 2023 Women’s Leadership Summit: Aleisa Howell, Mauldin & Jenkins (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 728)

Aleisa Howell, Partner and Non-Profit Practice Leader at Mauldin & Jenkins, joined host John Ray at the 2023 Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Women’s Leadership Summit. Maudlin & Jenkins was a Gold Sponsor of the Summit. Alicia shared about her work with the nonprofit sector and the firm’s recent opening of offices in Avalon. She talked about the ongoing challenges nonprofits face, particularly the need for sustainable financial support. Alicia also highlighted the importance of workplace diversity and opportunities for women in the traditionally male-dominated accounting industry, citing the Women’s Alliance in her firm that’s aimed at supporting and encouraging female employees. By sponsoring events like the Women’s Leadership Summit, Malden & Jenkins aims to demonstrate its commitment to women’s professional development and leadership. Alicia emphasized that giving back to the community is a priority for the firm, which is actively involved in numerous local events and committees, like the Non-Profit Committee at GNFCC.

This show was originally broadcast live from the 2023 GNFCC Women’s Leadership Summit held at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Aleisa Howell, Partner and Non-Profit Practice Leader, Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC

Aleisa Howell is a Partner and leads the non-profit practice at Mauldin & Jenkins. Prior to joining Mauldin & Jenkins, Aleisa specialized in the not-for-profit and governmental practice for KPMG, LLP.

Aleisa is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Finance Manager (CGFM). Aleisa graduated Summa Cum Laude from Franklin University.

Aleisa is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the Georgia and Ohio Societies of Certified Public Accountants. Aleisa serves on the Georgia Society of CPA’s Not-For-Profit Task Force and is a member of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. Aleisa serves on the Advisory Board of the Georgia Foundation for Independent College’s (GFIC). Aleisa serves as a technical reviewer and committee member for the National Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) in the CAFR certificate of excellence in financial reporting program and is a member of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). In addition, Aleisa is a member of the National and Southern Associations of College and University Business Officers Associations (NACUBO and SACUBO).

LinkedIn

Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC

Mauldin & Jenkins believes that by working together with their clients, they can accomplish anything! Whether they are providing high-quality tax, assurance, or advisory services that help each client achieve their goals and measure their results, or providing cutting-edge insights and techniques to help them grow and thrive in an ever-increasing, challenging, and competitive economic landscape, they can make a difference!

Their team of 300+ talented professionals delivers comprehensive support and exceptional service to clients across the Southeast and beyond. With clients representing a wide variety of industries and needs, M&J’s partners and staff bring an intimate understanding of the challenges and risks clients face, as well as current regulatory and tax considerations to guide you in making informed business decisions.

The Firm’s dedication to outstanding service and quality may sound old-fashioned, but our approach to advisory services is a decidedly innovative and progressive one. Whether your needs include navigating complex business issues, assessing your technology risks, needs, and investments or you simply want to outsource basic accounting functions, you can rely on the experienced providers at M&J. By combining the newest business strategies and techniques with time-tested principles of growth and management, we help you stand out in your field and fulfill your objectives at every stage of the business cycle.

M&J is recognized annually as a Top 100 Accounting Firm by both Accounting Today and Inside Public Accounting. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also honored the firm as a Top Place to Work. That comes as no surprise to their partners and staff, who experience first-hand their commitment to attracting, developing, and retaining the best and brightest talent in the industry.

Website | Facebook | X (Twitter) | LinkedIn

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

00:04 Introduction to the Women’s Leadership Summit
00:33 Interview with Alicia Howell from Mauldin & Jenkins
01:38 Discussion on Nonprofit Challenges
02:25 Reflections on the Summit’s Speakers
03:41 Women in the Accounting Industry
04:39 Mauldin & Jenkins Support for Women’s Leadership
05:52 Opportunities for Women in Accounting
06:21 Community Involvement and Closing Remarks
07:11 Contact Information for Alicia Howell

 

2023 GNFCC Women’s Leadership Summit, presented by the Women INfluencing Business Committee

The 2023 Women’s Leadership Summit, organized by the Women INfluencing Business Committee of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, was held on November 28, 2023, at the Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Powered by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC), the Women INfluencing Business Committee strives to engage female leaders and enhance the standing of professional women within the community. Its annual awards program recognizes women with exceptional vision who have implemented innovative ideas in both the workplace and community and who inspire others.

Website

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

RenasantBank

 

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Daniel Sosebee and Heather Fleming, MST

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MST
North Fulton Business Radio
Daniel Sosebee and Heather Fleming, MST
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North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 695)

Daniel Sosebee and Heather Fleming with MST were guests on this episode of North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray. Daniel and Heather each shared how they came to MST, what MST does for family businesses, and what makes them unique. They also talked about how cloud accounting has changed their business, the advantages they bring to their clients, success stories, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

MST’s focus remains on serving privately owned businesses, entities domiciled in the United States owned by a foreign parent company, and nonprofits since 1956. We opened our first office in Brunswick, Georgia, with two partners and five employees driven to give individual and organizational clients the pinnacle of business support and consultation. Now, with four offices, ten partners, and more than 100 employees, we are equipped to support a broader clientele with an extensive array of specialized services.

After achieving substantial growth through the Brunswick office, we expanded operations into the Atlanta market, opening a second location in 1967. Positioning ourselves in this southeastern hub was essential to serve the extensive metro community. Twenty years later, in 1988, we furthered our outreach in Georgia by opening a third office in Gwinnett County. In 2017 through the growth of the firm and our clients, we were able to open a New York office to better serve clients with holdings in the Northeast.

Our focus has remained constant throughout our distinguished growth and history: the entire MST team is dedicated to creating lasting success for our clients and continuing opportunities for our employees. Our achievements have been recognized by Accounting Today and Atlanta Business Chronicle, where we are consistently named in the “Top 25 Accounting Firms.”

MST is an independently owned and operated member firm of Moore North America (Moore NA), a regional member of Moore Global Network Limited (MGNL). All the firms in MGNL are independent entities owned and managed in each location.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Daniel Sosebee, Associate Member, MST

Daniel Sosebee, Associate Member, MST

Daniel is an associate member in MST’s Gwinnett office. He specializes in assurance and attestation services for closely held businesses and not-for-profit organizations. His expertise includes a variety of industries such as distribution, manufacturing, construction, technology and dealerships, as well as serving on a number of significant non-profit engagements, including our largest private foundation clients.

In addition to assurance and attest engagements, Daniel is passionate about building relationships with colleagues, clients, prospects and networking within the communities we serve. This passion has led Daniel to the position of Director of Business Development where his role is to lead the Firm through organic growth, mergers and acquisitions as well as develop new lines of business. Secondly, he oversees the Firm’s employee retention and recruiting department in which he works hand-in-hand with the Firm’s retention and recruiting specialist.

Daniel obtained his BBA in Accounting from Georgia College and State University (where he also was a member of the men’s golf team) and completed his Master of Accountancy at Kennesaw State University.

Daniel is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is actively involved with his church and community affairs including the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Gwinnett Chairman’s Club, Partnership of Gwinnett and board member of the Gwinnett Leadership Forum and the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning.

LinkedIn

Heather Fleming, Business Development Manager, MST

Heather Fleming, Business Development Manager, MST

Heather is the Business Development Manager in the Gwinnett office for MST. She is a. former banker who spent the first part of her career helping privately held companies achieve their business goals by providing sound financial solutions. She invested time with her clients to really get to know them, their company, and their goals.

As a daughter of entrepreneurial parents, Heather has always enjoyed working with privately held companies and when she was presented the opportunity to join the MST team as a Business Development Manager, she couldn’t pass up the chance to do what she loves, getting to know people and more importantly getting to know their business.

Heather wants to help businesses determine what accounting services match their strategic or compliance needs and connect them with the partner and team that is going to be best for them and their team. It’s MST’s goal to be a strategic partner with their clients and to develop strategies that help reach their goals.

LinkedIn

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

  • What is MST and how did each of you come to MST?
  • What makes MST unique as a CPA firm?
  • Why do you focus on family businesses?
  • What are some common themes you’re seeing in your clients?
  • What are the advantages to cloud accounting?
  • What’s the return on the investment for a business with MST?

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

RenasantBank

 

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Since 2000, Office Angels® has been restoring joy to the life of small business owners, enabling them to focus on what they do best. At the same time, we honor and support at-home experts who wish to continue working on an as-needed basis. Not a temp firm or a placement service, Office Angels matches a business owner’s support needs with Angels who have the talent and experience necessary to handle work that is essential to creating and maintaining a successful small business. Need help with administrative tasks, bookkeeping, marketing, presentations, workshops, speaking engagements, and more? Visit us at https://officeangels.us/.

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We support and celebrate business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignores. Some media leans left. Some media leans right. We lean business.

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