Atlanta Business Archives - Business RadioX ®

Meijah Lewis on Sugar Daddy Cookies, Jeff Brown on Cybersecurity

October 23, 2025 by John Ray

Family Business Radio

Meijah Lewis on Sugar Daddy Cookies, Jeff Brown on Cybersecurity

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Meijah Lewis on Sugar Daddy Cookies, Jeff Brown on Cybersecurity (Family Business Radio, Episode 69)

Family Business Radio host Anthony Chen welcomes Meijah “Mimi” Lewis of Sugar Daddy Cookies and Jeff Brown of TakTik Technologies. Mimi shares how a pandemic kitchen idea became a fast-growing cookie brand, from landing a 4,000-cookie Amazon order to expanding into vegan and gluten-free lines and preparing for a brick-and-mortar location. She explains what she would change about hiring and why family rhythms and faith shape every decision.

Jeff outlines a practical roadmap for small businesses to modernize IT, choose the right mix of cloud services, and harden security, covering AI readiness, backup and continuity basics, and simple controls that prevent costly mistakes.

Anthony closes with a reflection on legacy, urging owners to clarify why and the values they want to pass on to their kids and grandkids, noting that dollars alone rarely sustain a family enterprise across generations.

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

Product plus story creates traction: quality ingredients and a memorable brand experience open doors.
Large early wins signal reliability: delivering a 4,000-cookie corporate order builds credibility.
Serve dietary needs well: vegan and gluten-free options broaden the market without diluting the core.
Hire deliberately: document processes, set expectations, and protect culture as demand grows.
Most firms land on hybrid cloud: balancing cost, performance, and compliance rather than going all in on one model.
Do an AI readiness check: data quality, policies, validation steps, and change management come before tools.
Security basics matter: backups, encryption, MFA, phishing education, and tested continuity plans prevent downtime.
Trust but verify: confirm unusual payment or account-change requests through a separate channel.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to Family Business Radio
00:46 Meet Mimi Lewis from Sugar Daddy Cookies
00:57 The Sweet Origin Story
01:44 From Hobby to Business
05:57 The Cookie Empire Takes Off
08:09 Balancing Family and Business
11:35 Future Plans and Challenges
15:20 Fan Feedback and Expansion
16:45 Homeschooling and Family Involvement
21:54 Reflecting on Growth and Team Building
23:37 Facing the Fears of Entrepreneurship
24:57 Staying Grounded in Faith
25:47 Legacy and Future Aspirations
26:45 Finding Sugar Daddy Cookies
27:24 Introducing Jeff Brown and TakTik Technologies
29:17 The Importance of Being Technology Agnostic
33:44 AI and Cybersecurity: Risks and Readiness
40:37 Ransomware and Business Continuity
50:11 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
53:30 Anthony’s Financial Take on Legacy

Meijah “Mimi” Lewis, Sugar Daddy Cookies

SSugar Daddy Cookies is a family-owned gourmet bakery located in Atlanta, Georgia, founded by the husband-and-wife duo of Will and Mimi Lewis during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. The business began when Will baked cookies for Mimi during her pregnancy, which sparked a venture that quickly grew into a beloved local brand known for its artisanal, handcrafted cookies made with premium ingredients and natural sweeteners such as honey and maple syrup.

Located in Buckhead at 3393 Peachtree Road NE, Sugar Daddy Cookies offers a full lineup of signature cookies, brownies, and lemonade—with playful cookie names like Mr. Clifford (chocolate chip), Mr. Larry (lemon and powdered sugar), Mr. Roosevelt (red velvet and white chocolate), and Mr. Benjamin (birthday cake). Their menu includes vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, ensuring accessibility without compromising flavor.

The company emphasizes quality and community, crafting each batch from scratch and maintaining an active presence at Atlanta events and pop-up markets. Sugar Daddy Cookies continues to grow as a local favorite by combining nostalgic flavors with a personal, heartfelt small-business story, offering seasonal favorites like Georgia Peach Cobbler Cookies and custom party platters.

Website | Instagram | Meijah’s LinkedIn

Jeff Brown, TakTik Technologies

Jeff Brown is the founder and chief executive of TakTik Technologies LLC, a technology services firm based in Johns Creek, Georgia. He started the company to help small and midsize businesses run more efficiently, reduce IT costs, and strengthen their protection against cyber threats. With more than 35 years of experience in consulting, risk management, and information security, he works with clients to streamline operations and build strategies that improve both performance and profitability.

Before founding TakTik, Brown held senior consulting and leadership roles with organizations in the Atlanta area, including Blackstone and Cullen. Known for his practical approach and steady management style, he focuses on solving everyday business problems through sound technical planning and disciplined execution. He also volunteers with professional associations such as the Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Information Systems Security Association and InfraGard, where he supports cybersecurity awareness and community education.

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.

Christy Hulsey on GNFCC Leadership Programs

August 25, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Christy Hulsey on GNFCC Leadership Programs

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Christy Hulsey, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, LIVE from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 897)

Christy Hulsey, Community Programs Coordinator at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, joined host John Ray live from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit to share her journey from building a national floral brand out of Statesboro, Georgia, to her current role empowering leaders and small businesses through Chamber programs.

Christy described her responsibilities overseeing Leadership North Fulton, Emerging Leaders, NextGen Connects, the Mentor Match program, the North Fulton Friendship Initiative, and nonprofit engagement. She explained how these programs foster connections, deepen community involvement, and create lasting impact through intentional mentorship and collaboration.

She also reflected on lessons learned from her floral business, which grew from a small rural shop to international recognition, including White House invitations. Christy emphasized the roles of authenticity, transparency, and generosity in marketing, while reminding business owners that true generosity must be paired with valuing themselves and ensuring profitability.

This interview was originally broadcast live from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit held on August 12, 2025, at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia. John Ray Co. and North Fulton Business Radio were the Media Sponsors for this year’s Summit.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:12 Meet Christy Halsey: Community Programs Coordinator, GNFCC

02:31 Leadership Programs Overview

04:48 Mentorship and Connections

06:35 Christy’s Business Journey

07:56 Marketing and Generosity in Business

11:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Christy Hulsey, Community Programs Coordinator, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

Christy Hulsey is the Community Programs Coordinator at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Her responsibilities include overseeing Leadership North Fulton, Emerging Leaders, NextGen Connects, the Mentor Match program, the North Fulton Friendship Initiative, and nonprofit engagement.

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1,400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth, and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.

GNFCC promotes the interests of their members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play, and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

Connect with Christy: LinkedIn

Connect with GNFCC: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit

The 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The mission of BOLD—Businesswomen Organizing for Leadership and Development—is to connect businesswomen to build outstanding networks and spheres of influence, to collaborate with each other and with partner organizations to develop their businesses, and to celebrate and recognize the women of North Fulton.

Website

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC)

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

Connect with GNFCC: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 890 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 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.

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

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 $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.

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you would rather not 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, these professionals 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

Beth Quinlan, Smith + Howard, on Women in Leadership

August 25, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Beth Quinlan, Smith + Howard, on Women in Leadership

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Beth Quinlan, Smith + Howard, LIVE from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 895)

Beth Quinlan of Smith + Howard, co-chair of the BOLD Women Committee at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, joined host John Ray live from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit to share her journey as a CPA, her work in business development, and her leadership role in organizing the summit.

Beth discussed the growth of Smith + Howard, from its roots in Atlanta to its national expansion and broad range of services that include tax, accounting, M&A advisory, cybersecurity, sales tax, and executive search. She explained how the firm’s philosophy of growing with its clients has driven its evolution.

She also reflected on the importance of community service, mentorship, and her personal involvement with the BOLD Committee, including work with The Drake House and efforts to create meaningful connections through intentional networking. Beth shared how the idea of a “broken circle” guided the event’s structure, ensuring that conversations remained open and inclusive.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome to the GNFCC BOLD Leadership Summit
00:42 Meet Beth Quinlan: Co-Chair of the Bold Women Committee
01:02 Beth Quinlan’s Journey with Smith + Howard
02:01 Smith + Howard: A Legacy of Growth and Service
03:18 Expanding Services and National Reach
07:06 The Importance of Chamber Involvement
08:36 Beth Quinlan’s Personal Commitment to Bold Women
10:19 Highlights from the Bold Leadership Summit
12:15 The Power of Networking and Community
15:40 Closing Thoughts and Future Events

Beth Quinlan, Smith + Howard

Beth Quinlan joined Smith + Howard in 2015 and is a Senior Business Advisor in our Business Development team. During her time with the firm, she has worked with clients across a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing and distribution, professional services, medical services, as well as nonprofit organizations. Beth has worked with clients on back-office accounting services, including bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, federal grant compliance reporting, and much more.

Prior to joining Smith + Howard, Beth was hands-on in the operations of her family’s local chain of pet food stores and national pet food distribution business with warehouses across the United States. It was here that she found her interest in accounting and decided to return to school for her Master of Business Administration degree. Beth also served as a consultant with an emphasis in marketing and management, where she focused on B2B communications for software companies and productivity and performance management for financial institution retail operations.

Beth received her Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University and earned her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University. She is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

LinkedIn | Smith+ Howard website

2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit

The 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Website

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC)

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

Connect with GNFCC: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

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