Alpharetta Archives - Business RadioX ®

From Federal Warden to Leadership Coach: Stevie Knight

July 6, 2026 by John Ray

Stevie Knight, Knight Leadership and Professional Development, on Relationship-Centered Leadership and the Invisible Skill (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 970) with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

From Federal Warden to Leadership Coach: Stevie Knight

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Stevie Knight, Knight Leadership and Professional Development, on Relationship-Centered Leadership and the Invisible Skill (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 970)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Stevie Knight, CEO of Knight Leadership and Professional Development. Stevie spent 29 years with the Florida Department of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, rising from correctional officer to Senior Deputy Regional Director over 18 federal facilities and 6,800 employees. He now applies the leadership lessons from that career to help private sector organizations build stronger teams.

Stevie and John discuss why he calls leadership “the invisible skill,” the subject of his book, arguing that this skill only becomes visible when something breaks and that it is a skill that can be measured, trained, and taught rather than an innate trait. Stevie also explains how he uses DiSC behavioral assessments as what he calls a decoder ring for organizations, helping departments that talk past each other understand how their teams actually communicate. He shares an example of a client that wanted to launch a mentorship program in thirty days and how his firm helped them slow down and build it in phases instead.

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

Stevie built a 29-year career in corrections, rising from correctional officer to Senior Deputy Regional Director over 18 federal facilities and 6,800 employees, before founding Knight Leadership and Professional Development.
He calls leadership “architecture, not art,” meaning it is a concrete skill that can be measured, trained, and taught rather than something people either have or don’t.
Stevie uses DiSC behavioral assessments to help organizations understand how people communicate differently, which he says is often the real source of conflict between departments.
He shares how his firm helped a client build a mentorship program in structured phases instead of rushing it, illustrating why lasting leadership change takes sustained investment rather than a quick fix.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:21 John Ray opens the show
01:49 John Ray welcomes Stevie Knight, CEO of Knight Leadership and Professional Development
02:10 Stevie describes his firm’s mission to equip leaders through workshops, coaching, and DiSC consultancy
02:50 Stevie details his 29-year career from the Florida Department of Corrections to Senior Deputy Regional Director in the Federal Bureau of Prisons
04:20 Why lessons learned in corrections apply directly to everyday business challenges
05:50 Serving as warden of the largest standalone federal facility in the country
07:07 Preparing people for “the worst day” and building leadership capacity before it’s needed
08:25 The cost of employee disengagement and building trust to reduce turnover
11:22 Misconceptions clients have about his background as a corrections leader
12:45 Helping employees make the leap from following directions to leading others
14:26 The Invisible Skill and why relationship-centered leadership stays hidden until something breaks
16:53 Balancing hard metrics with relationship-centered leadership
18:11 What causes leaders to lose the pulse of their team as a business grows
19:38 Using DiSC behavioral assessments as a decoder ring for communication styles
23:28 The warning signs that signal a business needs outside leadership help
25:20 Why quick fixes fail and lasting change requires sustained investment
27:58 A client success story about building a mentorship program from the ground up
31:04 Shifting from being “the boss” to being a connection catalyst
33:38 How to find Stevie Knight and Knight Leadership and Professional Development

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Bank has humble roots, having started in 1904 as a $100,000 bank located in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown into one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, boasting over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 offices offering banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which in turn helps them better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether 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

Stevie Knight, Chief Executive Officer

Stevie Knight is a high-impact executive coach, trainer, speaker, and the CEO of Knight Leadership and Professional Development (KLAPD). His leadership philosophy was forged in one of the most demanding environments imaginable: the United States Federal Prison System. Stevie began his career on the front lines as a correctional officer and systematically worked his way through the ranks to become a two-time warden. Most notably, he served as the warden of the largest standalone federal facility in the United States, where he was responsible for the safety, security, and management of thousands of individuals and staff.

Recognized for his strategic acumen and relational leadership, Stevie was elevated to the Senior Executive Service (SES), the highest level of federal leadership, and concluded his distinguished 30-year career as the Senior Deputy Regional Director for the Northeast Region. In this capacity, he provided oversight and program management for over 6,800 employees and more than 30,000 residents across 18 facilities.

Today, Stevie translates these decades of high-stakes experience into actionable strategies for the private sector. As a member of the John Maxwell Leadership Team, he partners with organizations to master the “invisible skill” of relationship-centered leadership. Stevie is the author of The Invisible Skill, How Relationship-Centered Leadership Unlocks Influence, Impact and Growth and is dedicated to equipping today’s executives with the behavioral insights and trust-building frameworks necessary to lead with influence, integrity, and impact.

Knight Leadership and Professional Development

Knight Leadership and Professional Development (KLAPD) is a premier corporate training and advisory firm that specializes in executive coaching, organizational leadership development, and strategic behavioral consultancy. KLAPD partners directly with corporations, professional service providers, and mid-to-large market executives to bridge the critical gap between technical management and high-impact influence. The firm recognizes that even the most operationally sound companies eventually hit a growth ceiling when they overlook team dynamics, cultural alignment, and relational strategy.

To break through these barriers, KLAPD delivers customized leadership development programs designed to scale leadership capacity at every level of an organization. Through targeted executive coaching, the firm provides high-level leaders with a confidential, strategic sounding board to hone their decision-making, optimize their command presence, and master the “invisible skill” of relationship-centered leadership.

Central to KLAPD’s methodology is its deep-dive D.I.S.C. Behavioral Consultation. By utilizing advanced human behavior assessments, KLAPD helps organizations decode their internal communication, reduce costly turnover, and resolve systemic workplace conflict. This behavioral data allows leaders to move away from guesswork and lean into predictable, science-backed strategies for team cohesion.

Under the leadership of CEO Stevie Knight, a Maxwell Leadership Team member with a distinguished 30-year career in federal government oversight and public safety, KLAPD equips teams through a robust blend of actionable frameworks, workshops, and the principles found in his book, “The Invisible Skill.” Whether embedding long-term professional development solutions or facilitating executive communication retreats, KLAPD stands as a dedicated partner in transforming corporate cultures into high-trust, high-performance environments where connection drives bottom-line results.

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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Approaching 1,000 episodes and having featured over 1,400 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 respective markets, communities, and professions. There is no discrimination based on company size, and there is 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, which is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

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

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

John 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 author of the five-star-rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.

Pinnacle’s Scott Jordan, 2026 GNFCC Citizen of the Year

June 30, 2026 by John Ray

Scott Jordan, Pinnacle Financial Partners, on Commercial Banking, Community Service, and the GNFCC 2026 Citizen of the Year Award (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 967) with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Pinnacle's Scott Jordan, 2026 GNFCC Citizen of the Year

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Scott Jordan, Pinnacle Financial Partners, on Commercial Banking, Community Service, and the GNFCC 2026 Citizen of the Year Award (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 967)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Scott Jordan, Area Executive, North Metro Atlanta, at Pinnacle Financial Partners, for a wide-ranging conversation about banking, community, and what it really means to serve people well.

Scott leads Pinnacle’s commercial banking effort in the North Metro Atlanta area, with a team covering North Fulton, Cobb County, and Gwinnett. He explains what sets Pinnacle apart: a firm-wide policy of hiring only bankers with ten or more years of experience, 100% employee ownership, a shared incentive structure designed to eliminate self-dealing, and a commitment to answering every call within three rings with a live person. He also addresses Pinnacle’s ongoing integration with Synovus, a century-old institution that surprised him with its embrace of AI and innovation.

Scott was recently named the 2026 Citizen of the Year by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, an honor that surprised him because he and his wife volunteer without seeking recognition. In the interview, he traces his philosophy of community service back to his parents and his church, and he makes a clear-eyed case for why genuine, long-term civic involvement is both the right thing to do and, eventually, good for business. He compares it to compound interest: the returns build slowly, but they accumulate in ways that cold calling never can.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Pinnacle hires only bankers with ten or more years of experience, operates on a shared company-wide incentive plan, and requires every call to be answered by a live person within three rings. Scott explains how these design choices add up to a fundamentally different client experience.
Scott’s path into banking was accidental: he came back from studying in Spain wanting to be a chef, got nudged out of a restaurant kitchen, and stumbled into banking through a family friend at SunTrust. Thirty years later, he says that helping people navigate financial problems is what keeps him in love with the work.
The 2008 recession was his “college of empathy.” Working in Forsyth County, where he grew up, he found himself sitting across from family friends, home builders among them, whose businesses were failing. He says that experience taught him that not every problem has a solution and that empathy is a skill that has to be developed, not just claimed.
On community involvement, Scott argues for a long-game mindset: start with one civic group, do the work without expecting business in return, and let the compounding effect of reputation and relationships do the heavy lifting over time.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:21 John Ray introduces the show and guest Scott Jordan
02:06 Scott Jordan introduces Pinnacle Financial Partners
03:14 Pinnacle’s hiring standards, ownership model, and shared incentive structure
05:39 Answering calls within three rings and the war on bureaucracy
07:04 Entrepreneurial culture and the Synovus merger’s unexpected innovations
09:21 How Scott ended up in banking: Spain, a restaurant kitchen, and a family friend
11:54 What made Scott fall in love with commercial banking
14:10 Mentors, the 2008 recession, and learning empathy on the job
19:36 The misconception of bankers’ hours and the real demands of the profession
20:24 Why bankers are often deeply civic, and why the cynical read misses the point
23:07 Scott on volunteering quietly and what the Citizen of the Year award meant to him
26:40 Advice for younger professionals: start somewhere and play the long game
28:58 Community involvement as compound interest in relationships
30:40 Scott reflects on his parents witnessing the Citizen of the Year recognition
33:22 How to reach Scott Jordan

Scott Jordan, Area Executive, North Metro Atlanta, Pinnacle Financial Partners

Scott Jordan is the Area Executive for Pinnacle Financial Partners in the North Metro Atlanta area, leading a team that serves businesses ranging from small companies to large middle-market clients across North Fulton, Cobb County, and Gwinnett.

A Mercer University graduate with degrees in mathematics and Spanish, Scott spent roughly thirty years in commercial banking before joining Pinnacle, including a long tenure at SunTrust/BB&T, where he was consistently recognized as one of the top commercial and industrial bankers in Atlanta.

Scott is a Leadership Atlanta and Leadership North Fulton alumnus and has been active in the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and numerous civic organizations throughout his career.

Pinnacle Financial Partners

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (“Pinnacle”) is a $123 billion asset regional bank that provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services for commercial and consumer clients who want a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm joined forces with Synovus on January 1, 2026, bringing together more than 160 years of combined banking service. Pinnacle is the largest bank headquartered in Tennessee and the largest bank holding company headquartered in Georgia. The firm is No. 1 in deposit market share in the Nashville MSA and No. 4 in the Atlanta MSA with offices in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland (based on June 30, 2025 FDIC market share data).

Pinnacle is an employer of choice for financial services professionals. The firm is No. 12 in FORTUNE magazine’s 2026 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its tenth consecutive appearance. Pinnacle was also recognized by American Banker as No. 4 among America’s Best Banks to Work For in 2025, its 13th consecutive year on the list, and No. 1 among banks with more than $10 billion in assets.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

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

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

Terri Lonowski on Soulful Listening® and Employee Engagement

June 29, 2026 by John Ray

Terri Lonowski, Soulful Listening®, on Deep Listening, Employee Disengagement, and the Five Elements of Soulful Listening (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 966) with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Terri Lonowski on Soulful Listening® and Employee Engagement

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Terri Lonowski, Soulful Listening®, on Deep Listening, Employee Disengagement, and the Five Elements of Soulful Listening (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 966)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Terri Lonowski, Founder of Soulful Listening®, to discuss one of the most costly and underestimated problems in business today: workplace disengagement. A recent Gallup study Terri cites puts employee engagement at about 20% globally, with the impact on the global economy reaching $10 trillion a year. Her answer to that crisis is not a management program or a policy change. It is a deeper kind of listening.

Terri traces the origin of her work to her grandmother, Grandma Helga, who had a way of making people feel seen, heard, and safe simply through her presence. That quality, she realized, was both teachable and desperately needed. She developed Soulful Listening, a neuroscience-informed, five-element framework: self-care, presence, quantum listening (which she describes as what you get when active listening and empathy have a love child), inspired action, and the feedback loop. That last element, she explains, is the piece most leaders miss. When an employee speaks up and never hears back, they fill the silence with a story, and the story is usually “nobody heard me.” Disengagement follows, quietly, one unheard moment at a time.

Terri also shares a vivid example of a high performer at a well-known consulting firm who was deliberately operating at 80% because she felt unseen; eventually, she left, and her supervisor was genuinely shocked when she walked out the door.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Workplace disengagement is a $1.2 trillion problem in the U.S. alone, and Terri identifies the lack of deep listening as its core driver.
Soulful Listening is built on five elements: self-care, presence, quantum listening, inspired action, and the feedback loop. Listening begins well before another person starts talking.
The feedback loop is the most commonly skipped step. When employees offer ideas and never hear back, they stop contributing, and disengagement sets in.
Active listening is valuable, but it is not enough on its own because it does not include follow-through. Terri’s framework extends the listening experience beyond the conversation itself.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Terri Lonowski
01:42 Terri introduces Soulful Listening and the $1.2 trillion disengagement problem
02:35 The origin story: Grandma Helga and the roots of Soulful Listening
06:09 Gallup research: 20% employee engagement globally and the economic impact
06:41 Why listening is the core antidote to disengagement
07:51 The biggest misconception about listening: it starts before anyone speaks
11:49 Walking through the five elements of Soulful Listening
15:37 How the feedback loop builds trust and enables innovation over time
15:50 How to introduce Soulful Listening into an existing organization
17:25 Why active listening falls short without follow-through
18:14 Signs a leader should watch for: quiet disengagement in the workplace
21:28 What symptoms should prompt a call to Terri
23:19 A CEO success story: scaling from 100 to 250 employees and rebuilding connection
24:09 Terri’s forthcoming book: Soulful Listening for the Workplace
24:48 How to connect with Terri and Soulful Listening

Terri Lonowski, M.Ed., Founder, Soulful Listening®

Terri Lonowski, M.Ed., is a TEDx speaker, listening and communication thought leader, Trusted Vistage Advisor, and Founder of Soulful Listening®.

Her work helps address one of today’s most costly workplace challenges: miscommunication. Through a neuroscience-informed, five-element approach, Terri helps organizations create conversations where people feel heard, valued, and inspired to do their best.

With a master’s degree in educational psychology, Terri brings a rare blend of science, wisdom, and practical leadership experience. She has led human-centered design teams that showcased workforce innovation at The White House twice and served as Chair of the American Counseling Association Foundation. Her TEDx talk, “Nobody’s Listening and It’s Killing Us,” resonated widely by naming a truth many workplaces experience: people rarely leave organizations and relationships first. They begin by leaving conversations where they don’t feel heard.

Terri’s message is clear: listening is not merely a soft skill. It is a pathway from disengagement to expressing greater human potential.

Soulful Listening®

Soulful Listening® helps people turn listening into a pathway from disconnection to greater human potential.

Founded by Terri Lonowski, M.Ed., Soulful Listening is a neuroscience-informed, wisdom-rooted, five-element approach for workplaces, leaders, teams, and everyday life.

Through keynotes, workshops, podcast conversations, and leadership experiences, the work helps reduce miscommunication, build trust, and strengthen how people connect. It creates conversations where people feel heard, valued, and inspired to bring forward their best thinking, ideas, and humanity.

At its heart is a simple truth: people rarely leave organizations, or relationships, all at once. They drift away one unheard moment at a time. Soulful Listening offers a practical and deeply human way back from disengagement to presence, connection, and meaningful action.

Website | Instagram

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

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

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

Tyler Salat on Pressure Washing and Building a Business at 18

June 11, 2026 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Tyler Salat on Pressure Washing and Building a Business at 18

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Tyler Salat, Rapid Pro Pressure Washing, on Soft Washing, Exterior Cleaning, and Building a Business at Age 18 (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 962)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Tyler Salat, founder and CEO of Rapid Pro Pressure Washing, serving Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, and surrounding areas. Rapid Pro handles residential and commercial exterior cleaning, including soft washing, pressure washing, and window cleaning.

Tyler started his first business at age 13 and launched Rapid Pro at 15, running it as a side hustle while still in high school. He went full-time after graduation and has grown the company to six employees, a warehouse, and multiple trucks, including a 16-foot commercial trailer rig. In the interview, he explains the difference between soft washing and pressure washing, which surprises many homeowners who call asking for a pressure wash on their siding. Soft washing uses a chemical solution to kill mold, algae, and organic growth at the source rather than just blasting the surface with water, and it is actually the method recommended by most siding and roofing manufacturers.

Tyler also makes the case for regular exterior cleaning as a business asset, not just maintenance. He points out that a dirty storefront, algae-covered sidewalks, or grimy restaurant windows lose customers to competitors whose buildings look clean and that dumpster pads left unattended can become a health code issue. His crews have had commercial clients pull up to a freshly cleaned building and fail to recognize it as their own location.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Soft washing uses a chemical solution to kill mold and algae at the source, rather than high-pressure water that washes the surface but leaves spores behind to regrow. It is the manufacturer-recommended method for most siding and roofing materials.
Homeowners often mistake mold or algae for fading paint or naturally aging brick, but a proper soft wash can remove it.
For commercial properties, regular exterior cleaning is as much about liability and customer perception as it is about appearance. Slick sidewalks, dirty windows, and grimy storefronts drive customers toward competitors.
Tyler built Rapid Pro while in high school, juggling classes with a growing business, and went full-time after graduation. At 18, he has six employees, a warehouse, and multiple service vehicles.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Tyler Salat
01:52 Tyler describes Rapid Pro Pressure Washing and its service area
02:27 Soft washing vs. pressure washing explained
02:42 Tyler’s backstory: starting businesses at 13, launching Rapid Pro at 15
04:20 Influence of his father’s entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit
05:37 Why he chose business over other paths at 18
07:01 Growing from a high school side hustle to a full-time company with six employees
08:26 Problems exterior cleaning solves beyond aesthetics: paint protection, liability, and curb appeal
10:03 How soft washing works and why it outperforms pressure washing on most surfaces
11:35 What trained technicians see on a house that homeowners overlook
13:13 The quoting and service process, including satellite-based estimates
16:12 Commercial cleaning: restaurants, apartment complexes, dumpster pads, and maintenance plans
20:07 Standing out in business by maintaining a regular cleaning schedule
20:52 Signs it is time to call for a cleaning
22:08 Five-star reviews and what drives them: client walkthrough, transparency, no shortcuts
24:32 How to reach Tyler and Rapid Pro Pressure Washing

Tyler Salat, Founder and CEO

Tyler Salat is the founder and CEO of Rapid Pro Pressure Washing, based in the North Fulton area. He started his first business at age 13 and entered the home services industry at 15, when he launched what became Rapid Pro. After running the business through high school, he went full-time following graduation. At 18, he leads a team of six that includes sales staff, field technicians, and an admin and operates multiple trucks along with a commercial trailer rig. Tyler credits his father, an immigrant entrepreneur who left the Czech Republic at 18 to work and travel before settling in Georgia, as an early influence on his drive to build something of his own.

Rapid Pro Pressure Washing

Rapid Pro Pressure Washing provides residential and commercial exterior cleaning services across the North Fulton area, including Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Roswell, and Milton, and extending into Forsyth and Fulton Counties. The company’s core services include soft washing, pressure washing, and window cleaning, with soft washing used on most siding, roofing, and painted surfaces to remove mold, algae, and organic growth using a chemical solution rather than high-pressure water. Commercial clients include restaurants, apartment complexes, and parking facilities, and the company offers recurring maintenance plans with frequency options ranging from monthly to annual service. Rapid Pro provides satellite-based quotes, typically within minutes of a customer inquiry.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Nextdoor | Google Business Profile

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

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

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

Camacho, Sheppard, and Brizi on Building Business Legacy

June 9, 2026 by John Ray

Dr. Sarai Camacho, Luma Health and Chiropractic, Todd Sheppard, Inspired Mortgage Brokers, and Rebecca Brizi, R G Brizi Consulting, on Chiropractic Care, Mortgage Options for Self-Employed Borrowers, and Family Business Succession Planning (Family Business Radio, Episode 77) with host Anthony Chen

Family Business Radio

Camacho, Sheppard, and Brizi on Building Business Legacy

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Dr. Sarai Camacho, Luma Health and Chiropractic, Todd Sheppard, Inspired Mortgage Brokers, and Rebecca Brizi, R G Brizi Consulting, on Chiropractic Care, Mortgage Options for Self-Employed Borrowers, and Family Business Succession Planning (Family Business Radio, Episode 77)

On this episode of Family Business Radio, host Anthony Chen welcomes three guests who each built their own practice from the ground up and share what drives them, what sets them apart, and the kind of legacy they want to leave behind.

Dr. Sarai Camacho, founder of Luma Health and Chiropractic in Alpharetta, traces her path to chiropractic through a transformative experience working in a chiropractor’s office, her own health recovery, and chiropractic mission trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. She explains why she views chiropractic care as neurological work rather than pain management, pushes back on the idea that pain is a normal part of aging, and describes the first-time patient experience she intentionally creates to demystify and personalize care.

Todd Sheppard, founder of Inspired Mortgage Brokers, left over 25 years in the corporate mortgage world to build a firm focused entirely on the customer experience. He walks through how independent brokers differ from big banks, how self-employed borrowers and real estate investors can access loan programs that fit their actual financial picture, and how he helps clients near and in retirement navigate the mortgage process in ways that avoid unnecessary tax consequences.

Rebecca Brizi, founder of R G Brizi Consulting, spent 12 years developing an internal operations and management system inside a software startup before taking it out on her own. Her consulting work focuses on helping small and family-owned businesses clarify how decisions get made, how teams are managed, and how the business will function when its founder is no longer in the room. She shares the story of working with a husband-and-wife business partnership of 10 years who, when asked about their 15-year plan, gave two entirely different answers, and she explains why succession planning is not about exit timing but about building a business that can outlast any one person.

Anthony closes the episode by connecting legacy to retirement planning, arguing that the most important question is not how many dollars and cents are needed to maintain a current lifestyle but what kind of life and impact a person wants to build in the chapters ahead.

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

Dr. Sarai Camacho approaches chiropractic as neurological work, not pain management, shaped by mission trips to Haiti and her own recovery through chiropractic care.
Tech neck and sedentary habits are producing spinal problems in younger patients that used to appear only in middle age.
Todd Sheppard founded Inspired Mortgage Brokers to facilitate holistic financial conversations that big banks and online lenders cannot handle.
Self-employed borrowers and real estate investors have more mortgage options than most realize, including bank statement loans, asset qualifier programs, and DSCR loans.
Rebecca Brizi helps family-owned businesses turn unspoken assumptions into explicit plans, work that becomes especially critical when multiple family members are involved.
Succession planning is not about timing an exit; it is about building a business that does not depend on any one person.
All three guests defined their legacies around people rather than outcomes: restoring health, earning referrals from clients’ families, and making people’s work enjoyable again.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:25 Anthony Chen introduces the show and Dr. Sarai Camacho of Luma Health and Chiropractic
00:54 What drew Dr. Camacho to chiropractic care and opening her own practice
02:44 A memorable patient story from chiropractic mission work in Haiti
07:21 What first-time patients can expect, and the role of the nervous system in chiropractic care
09:09 Tech neck, posture, and why pain is a warning sign rather than a normal condition
13:04 The role of movement, stand-up desks, and whole-body habits in spinal health
15:18 How to reach Dr. Camacho and Luma Health and Chiropractic
16:03 Anthony introduces Todd Sheppard of Inspired Mortgage Brokers
16:19 What led Todd to start Inspired Mortgage Brokers after 25 years in the industry
18:01 Why the mortgage conversation should start with the borrower’s story, not an online calculator
19:28 Mortgage options for self-employed borrowers, real estate investors, and near-retirees
28:23 How to reach Todd Sheppard and Inspired Mortgage Brokers
28:52 Anthony introduces Rebecca Brizi of R G Brizi Consulting
29:07 What led Rebecca to operations consulting and how she developed her system
31:44 The communication gaps common in family businesses, and a couple with two different 15-year plans
36:00 Succession planning, legacy versus day-to-day management, and reducing owner dependency
41:29 How to reach Rebecca Brizi and R G Brizi Consulting
41:50 Legacy question: what do all three guests want to leave behind?
43:18 Anthony’s Financial Takes on retirement planning, purpose, and legacy

Dr. Sarai Camacho, Founder, Luma Health and Chiropractic

Dr. Sarai Camacho is the founder of Luma Health and Chiropractic, a patient-centered chiropractic practice in Alpharetta serving individuals, families, and children of all ages. A graduate of Life University, she takes a neurologically focused approach to care, helping patients understand how spinal health affects the nervous system and overall function rather than treating pain as a standalone symptom. Her passion for chiropractic grew while working for a chiropractor and watching patients move from pain and limitation into better health, an experience that was deepened by her own recovery through chiropractic care. She has completed four mission trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic through ChiroMissions, work she describes as foundational to her practice philosophy and her commitment to serving the Alpharetta community.

Luma Health and Chiropractic offers family and pediatric chiropractic, Webster-certified prenatal care, spinal decompression for disc and nerve issues, on-site digital X-rays, same-day appointments, and walk-ins. Dr. Camacho is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Website | LinkedIn

Todd Sheppard, Founder, Inspired Mortgage Brokers

Todd Sheppard is the founder of Inspired Mortgage Brokers and a hands-on loan officer with more than 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry. After spending his career at national banks, regional banks, and correspondent lenders, he launched Inspired Mortgage Brokers to deliver the personalized, customer-first service he found impossible to provide inside large institutional environments. As both founder and loan officer, Todd is directly involved in pre-approvals, rate quotes, and program recommendations for his clients. He brings a background as a former registered representative to his mortgage work, giving him a broader view of clients’ overall financial situations and enabling a more holistic approach to finding tax-efficient and cost-effective financing solutions.

Inspired Mortgage Brokers works with first-time homebuyers, self-employed borrowers, real estate investors, executives, and clients navigating retirement and senior transitions. As an independent broker, the firm offers conventional, FHA, and VA loans, as well as non-agency options like bank statement loans, asset qualifier programs, and debt service coverage ratio loans for real estate investors.

Website | LinkedIn

Rebecca Brizi, Founder, R G Brizi Consulting

Rebecca Brizi is the founder of R G Brizi Consulting, a business consulting practice based in Atlanta focused on helping small and family-owned businesses build better systems for management, decision-making, and long-term planning. She holds dual Italian and American citizenship, grew up in Switzerland, and studied at Vassar College and in London, bringing a multilingual and multicultural perspective to her work with business owners. Before launching her consultancy in 2017, Rebecca spent 11 years in an early-stage software company where she developed and refined the internal operations, strategic planning, and management systems she now brings to clients. That experience included two fundraising rounds, bootstrapping a U.S. operations office, and achieving a customer retention rate above 90%.

R G Brizi Consulting helps with strategic planning, team alignment, and succession planning, especially for family-owned and multi-owner businesses where unspoken assumptions and undefined roles create hidden friction. Rebecca is the author of Phrases for Business Success and publishes a newsletter, Working On Your Business, with practical guidance for small business owners.

Website | LinkedIn

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.

Maria Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

April 28, 2026 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Maria Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

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Maria Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, on Farm-to-Table Italian Food, the Annual Block Party, and Purple Pansies (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 958)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Maria Fundora, owner of Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant in Alpharetta. With the restaurant approaching nearly 29 years of serving the community, the conversation covers the food philosophy and fresh ingredients that have set Casa Nuova apart since 1998, the family culture behind the operation, and the restaurant’s annual Community Block Party, which doubles as the launch event for her nonprofit, Purple Pansies. Casa Nuova is a cook-to-order kitchen offering traditional Italian fare, including pasta, fresh seafood, veal, and chicken, with a menu rooted in the recipes Chef Antonio Fundora developed at Alfredo’s back in 1974. The restaurant also operates a working farm steps from the building, now spanning 14 acres, that supplies the kitchen with tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, and more during the growing season.

Maria describes hospitality at Casa Nuova as a “50-50 marriage” between food and service, with every guest treated as the top priority. That culture shows in the staff: Chef George has been with Casa Nuova for 28 years, Juan Carlos for 26, and Victoria for 22. The team gathers for a family meal together at 3:30 PM every day, and Maria says she would do the same tasks as any team member. A regular customer put it simply: she can’t always remember what she ordered, but she always remembers how Casa Nuova made her feel. Maria also received the Legacy Award from the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, which she took as a call to mentor younger people in the community.

On the food side, Casa Nuova serves only fresh seafood, fresh veal, and fresh chicken. Nothing is frozen, and all meat is butchered in-house. In the summer months, the kitchen draws from a working farm just steps from the restaurant, which now spans 14 acres and produces tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, and more. The Community Block Party on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:30 PM at the restaurant is free and open to the public, with a complimentary buffet and live music. Donations to Purple Pansies are welcome but not required. Every dollar raised by Purple Pansies goes directly to clinical trials and research, emergency grants for families battling the disease, and scholarships for children of pancreatic cancer patients.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

A longtime Casa Nuova regular told Maria she can’t always remember what she ordered, but she always remembers how the restaurant made her feel. That’s the standard Maria and her team work to deliver for every guest.
Casa Nuova staff longevity is remarkable: Chef George has been with the restaurant for 28 years, Juan Carlos for 26, and Victoria for 22. The team shares a family meal together at 3:30 PM every day.
Casa Nuova uses only fresh seafood, fresh veal, and fresh chicken. All meat is butchered in-house, which is why portions vary in appearance rather than arriving pre-cut and identical.
Casa Nuova’s 14-acre farm, which began with a single acre in 2000, grows vegetables used directly in the kitchen during the summer months, including the corn behind the restaurant’s celebrated corn chowder.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Maria Fundora
01:48 Maria Fundora introduces Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant and its nearly 29-year history
04:42 Staff longevity and the family culture inside Casa Nuova
05:39 Legacy Award from the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce
07:37 How guests are remembered and Casa Nuova’s role in celebrations of life
09:12 Annual Community Block Party: free admission, complimentary buffet, Sunday May 3rd, 2026, 2:00 to 5:30 PM
10:42 Block party details: paella, roasted pig, gelato, live music, and children’s corner
15:38 Fresh ingredients: no frozen seafood, veal, or chicken; everything butchered in-house
18:28 The farm: 14 acres of vegetables growing steps from the restaurant
20:57 Purple Pansies: clinical trials, emergency grants, and scholarships for families
21:33 Contact information for Casa Nuova and Purple Pansies

Maria Fundora, Owner

Maria Fundora is the owner of Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant in Alpharetta and the founder of Purple Pansies, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer. She co-founded Casa Nuova in 1998 with her late husband, Chef Antonio “Tony” Fundora, after the couple had built a string of successful Atlanta restaurants, including the original Alfredo’s, which Tony opened in 1974.

Maria immigrated to the United States from Cuba in the 1960s, grew up in Chicago where her father was a restaurateur, and moved to Atlanta in the 1980s. She founded Purple Pansies in 2009 following her mother’s death from pancreatic cancer, and the organization became an incorporated nonprofit in 2017.

Maria has received the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Legacy Award, the Greater North Fulton Chamber Small Business of the Year Award (2023), the Atlanta Business Chronicle Leaders in Corporate Citizenship Award (2021), and recognition as one of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber’s 50 Most Influential in Georgia. She was also appointed to the National Pancreatic Cancer Council in 2022.

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant is a family-owned and operated establishment in Alpharetta that has served traditional Italian cuisine since 1998.

The restaurant is a cook-to-order kitchen offering pasta, chicken, fresh seafood, veal, and vegetarian and gluten-free options, along with daily specials. All seafood, veal, and chicken are fresh and butchered in-house. In the summer months, the kitchen draws from a working farm just steps from the restaurant, growing tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, and more for direct use in the kitchen. Casa Nuova also offers catering for private events of all sizes.

Maria and her husband, the late Chef Antonio Fundora co-founded the restaurant, and their son Jose “Pepe” Fundora now serves as executive chef. Casa Nuova is located at 5670 Atlanta Highway in Alpharetta and is open Monday through Saturday beginning at 4:00 PM.

Website | Facebook

Purple Pansies

Purple Pansies is a nonprofit organization founded by Maria Fundora in 2009 after losing her mother to pancreatic cancer and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2017. Its mission is to fund research and provide support for those affected by pancreatic cancer through clinical trials, emergency financial grants for families actively battling the disease, and scholarships for children of pancreatic cancer patients.

Purple Pansies operates entirely on volunteers, and every dollar raised goes directly to its mission. Two annual fundraising events support the organization: the Community Block Party, hosted each spring at Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, and the Pillars of Hope gala each fall. Through these efforts, Purple Pansies has raised more than $5 million for pancreatic cancer research and patient support.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

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

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

Randy Hain’s A Different Take: From Surviving to Thriving

April 27, 2026 by John Ray

Randy Hain, Serviam Partners, on A Different Take, Curiosity, Assumptions, Mission Statements, and Moving from Surviving to Thriving (North Fulton Business Radio By Invitation, Episode 957) with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Randy Hain's A Different Take: From Surviving to Thriving

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Randy Hain, Serviam Partners, on A Different Take, Curiosity, Assumptions, Mission Statements, and Moving from Surviving to Thriving (North Fulton Business Radio By Invitation, Episode 957)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio By Invitation, host John Ray welcomes executive coach and author Randy Hain, founder and president of Serviam Partners, for a live recorded conversation before an invited audience at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. The occasion is the release of Randy’s 13th book, A Different Take: Thoughtful Insights to Help You Thrive at Work and in Life, and the episode marks the debut of the By Invitation format.

Randy and John work through several of the book’s themes. On curiosity, Randy describes it as the direct antidote to assumption, explaining that assumptions close the aperture on what we can learn about another person while questions open it. He makes this concrete with a story from his own life: watching people mentally sideline his son Alex, who has autism, based on unfounded assumptions reinforced for Randy every day why that habit is so costly. They also explore “the thief of comparison,” where Randy’s argument is that gratitude, including for difficulties, is the practical counter. One of the more memorable moments in the conversation is Randy’s account of a COO client who walked into their second coaching meeting carrying a two-page mission statement. His own mission statement is two words: “serve others.”

The conversation also covers creating margin, being fully present versus multitasking, time management as partnership rather than battle, and three virtues Randy returns to repeatedly: gratitude, generosity, and contentment. He introduces the Italian phrase voglio bene (“I want your good”) as a frame for thinking about generosity beyond material gifts. The episode closes with the Thrive 26 Project: Randy’s challenge, tied to the book’s 26 topics, to move from surviving to thriving and then to invest in the thriving of someone else.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. This episode of North Fulton Business Radio By Invitation was recorded live at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Randy’s approach to fighting assumptions is grounded in a personal story: watching others limit his son Alex, who has autism, based on false assumptions became a daily reminder that making assumptions about people closes off what we can learn from them and that questions are always the better path.
“The thief of comparison” describes the habit of measuring our lives against what others appear to have. Randy’s antidote is gratitude, including for challenges, which he frames as learning opportunities rather than losses.
Simplicity in a mission statement is a virtue, not a shortcut. A coaching session with a COO who arrived with a two-page document became the origin of Randy’s own mission statement: two words, “serve others,” which he says drives everything he does.
Creating margin, intentionally cutting non-essential commitments to build breathing room in the calendar, is both a personal health practice and the precondition for being available when someone else genuinely needs your time.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:19 John Ray introduces North Fulton Business Radio By Invitation and the live audience format
01:52 Randy Hain on his background, Serviam Partners, and the Leadership Foundry
03:25 Why A Different Take: looking at old problems through a new lens
04:29 The book’s early popularity with leaders, mentors, and teams
05:49 Curiosity as a superpower and Randy’s approach to questions
07:16 How assumptions close the aperture and why questions open it
09:22 Randy’s son Alex and the personal cost of making assumptions
10:24 The thief of comparison and gratitude as the antidote
12:28 Adding value to relationships: advice from Randy’s father
14:16 Time always wins: partner with time instead of battling it
16:17 Mission statements: the COO client story and “serve others”
20:11 Using A Different Take as a catalyst for mentoring conversations
22:28 Three virtues: gratitude, generosity, and contentment
25:32 Voglio bene (“I want your good”) as a broader frame for generosity
26:31 Being fully present versus the myth of multitasking
28:28 Creating margin: cutting 20% to make space for what matters
31:39 The Thrive 26 Project: moving from surviving to thriving

Randy Hain, Founder and President, Serviam Partners

Randy Hain is the founder and president of Serviam Partners and the co-founder of the Leadership Foundry.

With a successful 30-plus-year career in senior leadership roles, corporate talent, and executive search, Randy is a sought-after executive coach for senior leaders at some of the best-known companies in the U.S. and globally who are seeking candid and expert guidance on how to overcome obstacles to their success or develop new leadership skills.

Randy is also an expert at onboarding senior executives, as well as coaching senior leadership teams to improve trust, alignment, collaboration, and candid communication. His deep expertise as a former senior executive and his years as a proven and successful executive coach for leaders around the world are true areas of differentiation for him and Serviam Partners.

Randy is a husband, father, and active community leader and serves on the boards of the causes he cares about most. He is particularly passionate about elevating autism awareness and investing in the next generation of leaders.

Randy has earned a reputation as a creative business partner and a generous thought leader through his books, articles, and speaking engagements. Randy is the award-winning author of 13 books, including his newest, A Different Take: Thoughtful Insights to Help You Thrive at Work and in Life.

Serviam Partners

Serviam Partners is an Atlanta-based executive coaching and leadership consulting firm founded by Randy Hain in 2012. The firm works with senior leaders and high-potential leaders at companies across the United States, offering executive coaching, senior leader onboarding, and leadership team development. Its approach is grounded in candor, authenticity, and a practical focus on identifying and removing the obstacles that hold leaders back. The firm’s name is Latin for “I will serve,” a phrase that reflects both its founder’s philosophy and its orientation toward the leaders it works with.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

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

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

Sri Chakravarty on Business Valuation and Exit Planning

April 20, 2026 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Sri Chakravarty on Business Valuation and Exit Planning

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Sri Chakravarty, ProfitAbility, on Business Valuation, Lender-Ready Financials, and Exit Planning (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 955)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Sri Chakravarty, President of ProfitAbility, a financial advisory practice based in Alpharetta that specializes in business valuations, financial projections, and business plans for small and mid-sized companies.

Sri explains the fundamental gap that exists between how a business owner sees their company and how a lender sees it. Owners see opportunity; lenders see risk. His job is to close that gap by helping owners build realistic financial projections that address both sides of that perception divide. As Sri puts it, the goal is not just to produce a convincing document for the bank but to help a business owner develop what he calls “intrinsic confidence” in their numbers, a genuine understanding of the why behind every projection.

The conversation also covers how Sri approaches business valuation. He argues that a valuation is not a fixed number but a defensible estimate and that a thorough valuation functions as something close to a quasi-audit of the entire business, examining management, customers, market, competition, and more. Sri draws on a memorable example from his own work: visiting a client’s warehouse and discovering a large amount of obsolete inventory that was quietly dragging down the company’s value. That kind of operational lens, he says, is what distinguishes a meaningful valuation from a ChatGPT-generated number.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Business owners and lenders often see the same company very differently: owners see opportunity while lenders see risk, and bridging that gap requires more than solid historical financials.
A good business valuation is not a single number — it is a defensible estimate built from multiple approaches, and the documentation of how you arrived at it matters as much as the result.
Sri’s operational background led him to walk a client’s warehouse during a valuation engagement, where he discovered obsolete inventory that was suppressing the company’s value and lender readiness.
Business owners eyeing an exit in the next five to ten years benefit from getting a professional valuation done well in advance, not just at the finish line, to both understand where they are and what to fix before the sale.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Sri Chakravarty
02:00 Sri describes who he serves and how he helps close the financial narrative
02:58 Sri’s background: MBA from University of Chicago Booth, M&A work, and founding ProfitAbility in 2022
03:42 Why business owners often don’t know what they need until they sit across from a banker
04:11 The perception gap between business owners and lenders: opportunity vs. risk
05:13 Sri’s role: turning historical financials into a forward-looking story in numbers
06:15 The Amazon analogy: growing companies burning cash and why projections need full expense context
07:29 What lenders actually look for: clarity, detail, and documentation
08:21 Helping owners “own their numbers” and build intrinsic confidence
09:24 Common reasons loan applications fall apart: unrealistic projections and unaddressed questions
10:36 Sri’s operational background and how it helps him see both sides
12:11 Using financial analysis for businesses not seeking outside financing: opportunity cost and ROI decisions
14:27 The name “ProfitAbility” and what it represents
14:44 Preparing for a business exit: moving from hub to spoke, and addressing customer concentration
16:11 Valuation as a living management tool, not just an end-of-life exercise
17:19 Why a ChatGPT-generated valuation won’t hold up: the three approaches to business valuation
21:15 How often business owners should get a valuation done
22:16 The case for getting a valuation before you think you need one: private equity surprise offers and knowing your number
24:37 How Sri’s operations background informs his valuation work: the warehouse walk example
26:27 Who should call Sri and when: taking off or getting ready to land
27:12 How to reach Sri Chakravarty

Sri Chakravarty, President

Sri Chakravarty is the founder of ProfitAbility, a financial advisory practice focused on business valuations, business plans, and integrated financial projections for small and mid-sized companies.

With more than 20 years of experience inside large global organizations, Sri has worked across manufacturing, distribution, and industrial sectors at the intersection of finance and operations. His background includes leading financial planning, pricing strategy, and operational initiatives, giving him an inside view of how businesses actually operate beyond what is reflected in financial statements.

Drawing on this operating experience, Sri brings a practical lens to financial analysis. When business owners talk about pricing pressure, inventory challenges, working capital cycles, or customer concentration, he understands those dynamics firsthand and translates them into clear financial insight.

Sri holds the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) designation and an MBA in Finance and Operations from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

ProfitAbility

ProfitAbility is a financial advisory practice that specializes in business valuations, business plans, and integrated financial projections for small and mid-sized businesses.

Founded in 2022, the firm was built to bring sophisticated, real-world financial analysis to companies that need to present their financials clearly to lenders, investors, and transaction counterparties. Typical client situations include debt or equity financing, ownership transitions, and strategic growth initiatives.

Valuation work sits at the center of the practice. ProfitAbility develops customized, standards-compliant analyses and financial projections designed to stand up to scrutiny from underwriters, investors, and advisors.

The firm is intentionally structured as a focused practice, with all engagements receiving direct senior-level attention to ensure quality, consistency, and accountability.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 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 studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

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

Shannon McClure on InCommunity and Disability Services

April 16, 2026 by John Ray

Shannon McClure, InCommunity, on Supporting Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Metro Atlanta (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 952) with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Shannon McClure on InCommunity and Disability Services

00:00 /

Shannon McClure, InCommunity, on Supporting Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Metro Atlanta (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 952)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Shannon McClure, Chief Development Officer at InCommunity, a nonprofit serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families across Metro Atlanta. Founded 47 years ago in Roswell by parents at a local church who couldn’t find the services their children needed, InCommunity has grown into the largest nonprofit provider of IDD services in Georgia, serving approximately 2,500 individuals and families each year across a full range of programs, including residential support, day programs, employment coaching, crisis respite, and community living services.

Shannon walks John through how InCommunity tailors its services to each individual’s specific needs and goals, a necessity given the broad range of diagnoses that fall under the IDD definition. She describes the organization’s employability program, which currently partners with more than 50 Metro Atlanta businesses to prepare and place individuals in jobs matched to their skills and interests. One standout example: a partnership with Walgreens that began with a gala sponsorship and evolved into vaccine clinics, a certified partnership status, and a pledge of 25 jobs for InCommunity clients.

Shannon also shares why businesses throughout the region have good reasons beyond generosity to invest in InCommunity’s mission, and she describes InCommunity’s upcoming gala on May 16, 2026, at The Stave Room at American Spirit Works in Atlanta, where day program participants and gala attendees will collaborate to finish commissioned art pieces together.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Roswell parents, unable to find services for their children with disabilities, founded InCommunity in North Fulton 47 years ago. The organization has since grown into Georgia’s largest nonprofit IDD services provider, though Shannon notes it remains “the biggest nonprofit in Georgia that nobody ever heard of.”
The definition of intellectual and developmental disability is far broader than most people realize, encompassing autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, fragile X, and many other diagnoses, often in combination, which makes individualized service delivery both complex and essential.
InCommunity’s Employability program prepares individuals for the workforce and supports them on the job through weekly coaching visits, working not just with employees but also with their supervisors and coworkers to build strong workplace relationships.
Businesses that partner with InCommunity can go well beyond writing a check. Shannon describes opportunities ranging from ERG volunteer activities to job placement partnerships, making the case that investing in the community where employees live and work pays dividends in talent attraction and retention.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:21 John Ray introduces the show and guest Shannon McClure
02:16 InCommunity’s 47-year history and its origins in Roswell
03:10 How InCommunity was founded by parents at Roswell United Methodist Church
03:49 Wraparound services: residential, day programs, employment, respite, and family support
05:08 What “intellectual and developmental disability” actually means and the breadth of diagnoses
06:32 Group homes, HOST foster-family program, and community living services
07:26 The intake process and how InCommunity evaluates fit with new clients
09:24 Scale of service: approximately 2,500 individuals and families served annually
11:14 The Employability program and how it prepares and places individuals in the workforce
12:52 How employer partnerships are built, including the Walgreens REDI program
14:35 The range of jobs held by InCommunity clients, from retail to veterinary assistant
16:22 The upcoming gala on May 16, 2026, and its mission-focused format
17:34 Partnerships with Orchestra SOOP and No More Liddering for the gala
19:12 How gala attendees will collaborate with day program participants to finish art pieces
20:11 How businesses can get involved with InCommunity beyond financial sponsorship
23:14 ERG engagement, volunteer opportunities, and what types of businesses are a good fit
24:34 Individual stories: the globe-trotter, the 90-year-old resident, and the gala volunteer

Shannon McClure, Chief Development Officer, InCommunity

Shannon McClure is a nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience in strategic management, fundraising, marketing, and public relations. As Chief Development Officer at InCommunity, she leads efforts to advance the organization’s mission by fostering community partnerships, driving fundraising initiatives, and enhancing public engagement.

Prior to joining InCommunity, Shannon founded McClure Nonprofit Solutions, where she provided strategic consulting services to nonprofit organizations nationwide. She has successfully managed multimillion-dollar capital campaigns, executed feasibility studies, and guided nonprofits in building sustainable funding models.

Shannon’s career spans leadership roles in performing arts organizations, economic development, and philanthropy. As Senior Director of Business Intelligence at the Greater Omaha Chamber, she worked closely with businesses, economists, and policymakers to attract investment and support economic growth. Her extensive background also includes serving as Director of Marketing for The Atlanta Opera and leading public relations and fundraising initiatives for arts organizations across the country.

An active member of the nonprofit and philanthropic community, Shannon has been involved with various professional organizations and initiatives dedicated to strengthening the sector. She is deeply committed to organizations that support arts, youth, and community initiatives.

Shannon holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Tulsa and an MBA from the University of Nebraska. A native of Omaha, she now calls Atlanta home. In her free time, she enjoys music, presidential history, travel, and spending time with her 18 nieces and nephews.

InCommunity

Originally founded in 1979, InCommunity, a non-profit agency headquartered in Atlanta, was created to provide community-based services and support to people with disabilities and their families.

For over 46 years, InCommunity has been embracing the abilities in all of us, building an outstanding reputation in Georgia for innovative programs and a willingness to take on challenging support situations for people in their communities.

Currently, InCommunity has more than 650 employees who provide all levels of support in the community to people with a variety of needs, including residential support, employment services, respite care, family support, in-home care, and day programs.

To date, InCommunity has provided support and service to more than 10,000 Georgian community members.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

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

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

Stevie Knight, Knight Leadership and Professional Development, on Relationship-Centered Leadership and the Invisible Skill (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 970)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Stevie Knight, Chief Executive Officer

Knight Leadership and Professional Development

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Scott Jordan, Pinnacle Financial Partners, on Commercial Banking, Community Service, and the GNFCC 2026 Citizen of the Year Award (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 967)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Scott Jordan, Area Executive, North Metro Atlanta, Pinnacle Financial Partners

Pinnacle Financial Partners

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Terri Lonowski, Soulful Listening®, on Deep Listening, Employee Disengagement, and the Five Elements of Soulful Listening (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 966)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Terri Lonowski, M.Ed., Founder, Soulful Listening®

Soulful Listening®

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Tyler Salat, Rapid Pro Pressure Washing, on Soft Washing, Exterior Cleaning, and Building a Business at Age 18 (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 962)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Tyler Salat, Founder and CEO

Rapid Pro Pressure Washing

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Dr. Sarai Camacho, Luma Health and Chiropractic, Todd Sheppard, Inspired Mortgage Brokers, and Rebecca Brizi, R G Brizi Consulting, on Chiropractic Care, Mortgage Options for Self-Employed Borrowers, and Family Business Succession Planning (Family Business Radio, Episode 77)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Dr. Sarai Camacho, Founder, Luma Health and Chiropractic

Todd Sheppard, Founder, Inspired Mortgage Brokers

Rebecca Brizi, Founder, R G Brizi Consulting

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

Maria Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, on Farm-to-Table Italian Food, the Annual Block Party, and Purple Pansies (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 958)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Maria Fundora, Owner

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

Purple Pansies

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Randy Hain, Serviam Partners, on A Different Take, Curiosity, Assumptions, Mission Statements, and Moving from Surviving to Thriving (North Fulton Business Radio By Invitation, Episode 957)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Randy Hain, Founder and President, Serviam Partners

Serviam Partners

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Sri Chakravarty, ProfitAbility, on Business Valuation, Lender-Ready Financials, and Exit Planning (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 955)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Sri Chakravarty, President

ProfitAbility

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Shannon McClure, InCommunity, on Supporting Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Metro Atlanta (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 952)

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Shannon McClure, Chief Development Officer, InCommunity

InCommunity

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

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