commercial real estate Archives - Business RadioX ®

Jake Blickenstaff with UC Premier Properties First Team

September 19, 2025 by Tom Sheldon

Northeast Georgia Business Radio

Jake Blickenstaff with UC Premier Properties First Team

00:00 /

Jake Blickenstaff

Jake Blickenstaff is a Commercial Real Estate Broker, Investor, and Developer based in Athens, GA. As a founder of Altitude Development Group and co-owner of UC Premier Properties First Team, Jake helps business owners, investors, and communities revitalize downtown areas through creative deal structuring and redevelopment projects. His brokerage team covers Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, specializing in retail, industrial, office and land transactions. With a proven track record of closing multi-million-dollar deals and raising private capital for commercial projects, Jake is passionate about building wealth through real estate, connecting people with opportunities, and revitalizing small-town economies. Outside of business, he’s an avid skydiver and speaker who brings high energy and perspective to everything he does.

Our Community Partner for this episode of Northeast Georgia Business Radio is WorkRight, LLC. A giant thank you for their support!

Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, and Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta

February 26, 2024 by John Ray

Family Business Radio

Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, and Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta

00:00 /

Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, and Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta (Family Business Radio, Episode 53)

On this episode of Family Business Radio, host Anthony Chen welcomed three outstanding business leaders to discuss their professional journeys and their respective areas of expertise. The first guest, Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, shared her experiences of managing a business together with her husband, including the transition from Chicago to Florida and setting up a new division. Further discussion revolved around managing family pressure while running a business. Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, discussed his experiences in banking and finance and how changes in the Small Business Administration have opened new opportunities, particularly for younger businesses. Former business owner turned commercial real estate professional Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta, emphasized the importance of accurate and clear communication in real estate transactions and the added value of having a tenant-only representative to advocate for clients.

Anthony closed the show with thoughts on asking questions of your advisors.

Family Business Radio is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network.

Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical

Robin Roden is President of K & J Mechanical, Inc. She is MWBE-certified and certified in firestopping. She started her journey into the construction field back in 2012 in the Chicagoland area, before relocating to Florida in 2018. Robin’s responsibilities include accounting tasks, payroll, company insurance coordination, and office management. Robin gained her knowledge of the construction industry by working alongside her husband, James, who has over 20 years of experience in the trade. She self-taught herself when it came to the accounting end of the business and gained her knowledge of managing the business through repetition. Robin plans to further her education in January by working on her master’s degree in business management with a focus on construction. This will only help her grow her business with her husband and allow her to gain even more knowledge in the industry.

K & J Mechanical is a family-owned mechanical, plumbing, and firestop construction company. K & J Mechanical started back in Chicago, Illinois, before incorporating in Florida in 2018. K & J is certified in firestopping and MWBE certified as well. The company services areas from Gainsville all the way down to Naples, Florida. All of their employees have extensive experience in the trade, which makes K & J the business they are. They have grown their reputation by providing top notch service and clean work. Their employees are not just employees to them; they are like family. Their employees are also what make this company go and reach the success level it has gotten to today.

K&J Mechanical, 5320 Lena Rd., Suite 109, Bradenton, FL 34211. Serving Pinellas County, FL; Bradenton, FL; Lee County, FL; Sarasota County, FL; Hillsborough County, FL; and Gainesville, FL.

Company Website | Company Instagram | Company Facebook

Chip Gjertsen is a Senior Vice President and SBA Senior Banker with Renasant Bank. He has been an SBA lender for two decades.

As a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender, Renasant Bank can process and approve SBA loans, expediting the application process. SBA loans typically come with competitive interest rates, lower down payments, and longer repayment terms, making them more affordable and manageable for borrowers.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, we have grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with approximately $17.5 billion in assets and 196 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

Renasant’s success stems from each of our teammates’ commitment to diversity and inclusion, and investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people we serve. At Renasant Bank, we understand you because we work and live alongside you every day.

Scott Ward, Vice President, ITRA Global Atlanta

Scott Ward is a veteran of over 25 years of owning businesses. Successfully representing and consulting other business owners in lease negotiations in the technology, creative media, retail, and manufacturing industries, Scott’s unique perspective keeps in mind the owner/tenant’s long-term cash flow needs as a catalyst for the future health of his client’s company.

Examples of Scott’s work include a young tech company expanding for the first time and helping to enable its current growth to include private and government clients worldwide. An industrial cabinet manufacturer successfully expanded to handle over 40 percent growth. Media agencies that need flexibility in their space to address the demands of sudden surges or shrinkage in client needs. And retail/franchise situations that come with issues of territory, visibility, and access. Scott has mentored five former employees to own their own businesses and applies these techniques in formulating winning space solutions for his clients.

Scott’s contacts and involvement in citywide groups give him an innovative perspective on trends in traffic, population, education, and economics. He is part of enabling organizations throughout metro Atlanta to realize their missions by serving on boards or as an officer in Rotary International (Treasurer/International Director), The Chattahoochee Nature Center Board, The North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Scouts BSA (adult training), Toastmasters International, The Georgia Production Partnership (membership, industry relations, and governmental relations), and the Atlanta Theatre to Go Board. He is also a member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors.

Scott is a graduate of the University of Florida. Scott is also a public speaker and presentation coach. He loves fly fishing and sailing, and he has been known to swing a golf club or two! His family’s accomplishments overwhelm him with pride. If you would like to share a coffee, please reach out!

Company Website | Company LinkedIn Scott Ward LinkedIn

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Remarks

00:44 Interview with Robin Roden: Origin Story of K&J Mechanical

01:54 The Journey of Starting a Family Business

04:40 Balancing Family and Business

11:34 The Importance of Quality Work in Construction

14:09 Contact Information and Closing Remarks

14:34 Interview with Chip Gersten: His Journey into Banking

18:36 Changes in the SBA World and New Opportunities

26:06 Understanding Business Real Estate

27:43 The Role of Estate Planning in Business

28:19 Reaching Out to Professionals

29:40 Introduction to Scott Ward: Commercial Real Estate

31:20 The Importance of Tenant Representation

37:30 Navigating Commercial Real Estate Contracts

41:11 Advice for New Business Owners

47:41 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

This show 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.

The complete show archive of Family Business Radio can be found by following this link.

Angela Alea, LASSO

September 20, 2023 by John Ray

Executive Perspective

Angela Alea, LASSO

00:00 /

Angela Alea, LASSO

Angela Alea, President and Chief Revenue Officer at LASSO, joined Danny Vander Maten to talk sales, leadership, and business. Angela discussed how she’s spent her career in sales despite her initial wariness of the field, how LASSO serves event companies, the impact of the pandemic on their industry, how LASSO survived and deepened client relationships during that difficult period, how she practices servant-leadership, and much more.

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

LASSO

LASSO is the all-in-one platform where event companies work.

They provide project management, inventory, logistics, proposals, and workforce management software that helps event companies:

⇢ Grow revenue ⇢ Streamline operations ⇢ Control costs ⇢ Minimize risk ⇢ Get real-time insights ⇢ Attract AV talent ⇢ Produce successful events.

Their mission is to inspire change for forward-thinking companies in the event and entertainment industry by bringing transformative solutions to the people that make exceptional performances happen.

Company website

Angela Alea, President & Chief Revenue Officer, LASSO

Angela Alea is the president and chief revenue officer of LASSO, the platform where event companies work. LASSO has been recognized on Inc 5000 for the last two years, has been named Best & Brightest Place to work 5 years in a row, and was celebrated as a Technology Fast 500 company by Deloitte.

Although she swore she would never do sales, she has spent the last 20 years in revenue producing roles doing everything from sales, sales training, sales operations, and revenue management.

When she isn’t redefining what sales is, and more importantly what it isn’t, you can find her hanging with her husband, two kids, and their dogs in Alpharetta, a suburb of Atlanta.

About Executive Perspective

Executive Perspective features executives and business leaders from a wide variety of sectors. Host Danny Vander Maten and his guests cover industry trends, insights, challenges, success strategies and lessons learned. Executive Perspective is underwritten and presented by Cresa. The show series is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® and can be found on all the major podcast apps. A complete show archive can be found here.

Executive Perspective

Danny joined Cresa in the Spring of 2016 and brought a diverse background with nearly 10 years of experience in finance, business operations, and strategy to his client’s real estate transactions.

At Cresa, Danny’s primary responsibilities include strategic planning, lease analysis, negotiations, and cost mitigation. As a registered Certified Public Accountant with an active license in the state of Georgia, Danny provides unique financial insight into every critical aspect of the transaction.

Cresa is the world’s most trusted occupier-centric commercial real estate firm. They strategize for the best possible results for occupiers everywhere. Cresa thinks beyond space. Partner without conflict. And apply their integrated expertise to make your business better.

Connect with Danny: LinkedIn | Twitter

Connect with Cresa: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Chris Lindenau, Fusus

August 23, 2023 by John Ray

Executive Perspective

Chris Lindenau, Fusus

00:00 /

Chris Lindenau, Fusus

Chris Lindenau, CEO of Fusus, was the guest on this episode of Executive Perspective. Named as Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Company in Georgia, Fusus has a mission of creating an open system for use by law enforcement and public safety personnel. Chris discussed their Real Time Crime Center, their new office in London, the role of AI in the realm of safety, reflections on running a business, his service in the Navy, and much more.

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

Fusus

Fusus keeps Law Enforcement Officers, Security Personnel and the Communities they protect safer.

They enable public safety personnel to function more efficiently and with improved operational intelligence, by creating a common operating picture that emphasizes officer, citizen, and community safety.

The Fusus Unified Intelligence Platform is an open ecosystem that integrates and enhances all public safety and investigations assets for law enforcement and public safety personnel. Their real-time crime center platform creates a common operating picture and delivers better situational awareness, enabling agencies to operate more efficiently, with improved operational intelligence, and with a proactive emphasis on officer and community safety.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook

About Chris Lindenau, CEO, Fusus

Chris Lindenau is the CEO of Fūsus, the most widely used Real-Time Crime Center platform in use by law enforcement agencies globally.

A native of Columbia, Maryland, Lindenau served for six years on active duty as a Navy Diver, Search and Rescue Swimmer, and as a Supply Officer. He deployed to the Middle East to assist the U.S. effort during Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. After the military, Lindenau served as the Chief Revenue Officer for Utility Inc., a manufacturer of hardware and software solutions for mobile connectivity, body camera, and in-vehicle video systems for first responders, and the Director of Global Sales and Marketing for Moog Sensor and Surveillance Systems, a division of the company’s Space and Defense Group.

Lindenau is an active member of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) and has fourteen years of experience launching and growing video surveillance and software technology companies in the public safety, commercial, and defense markets.

About Executive Perspective

Executive Perspective

Danny joined Cresa in the Spring of 2016 and brought a diverse background with nearly 10 years of experience in finance, business operations, and strategy to his client’s real estate transactions.

Connect with Danny: LinkedIn | Twitter

Connect with Cresa: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Richard Ross, Quinn Residences

July 10, 2023 by John Ray

Executive Perspective

Richard Ross, Quinn Residences

00:00 /

Richard Ross, Quinn Residences

Richard Ross, CEO of Quinn Residences, joined Executive Perspective host Danny Vader Maten for a fascinating conversation about the emerging industry of purpose-built communities from Quinn Residences. Richard covered how the single-family residence rental market has evolved and where their communities fit in the big picture as the market changes. He and Danny discussed how their rental homes are meeting the needs of affordable housing, the amenities they offer, and much more.

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

Quinn Residences

Quinn Residences makes living easier, safer, and more accessible. They develop more than just homes – they build communities that serve and enrich the lives of all its residents.

They believe that access to reasonably priced, highly amenitized, impeccably maintained housing is essential in today’s environment.

Inspired by the modern lifestyle, their passion lies in building thriving communities in the best neighborhoods. They welcome families and individuals from every walk of life who share one thing in common — the love of home.

Quinn develops exceptional neighborhoods of single-family homes exclusively for rent. They believe that better living starts with a great neighborhood, fantastic amenities, and a no-maintenance way of life. Their inviting communities lay the foundation for residents to flourish and enjoy life to the fullest. This means more time to focus on what matters most: creating unforgettable memories at home.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Richard Ross, Chief Executive Officer, Quinn Residences

With over three decades of real estate experience, Richard Ross combines strategic thinking, operations, and financial expertise in capital and debt markets.

Mr. Ross formerly held the position of Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Branch Properties, a grocery- anchored shopping center real estate company focused on the Southeastern US, as well as Chief Financial Officer and later Chief Executive Officer of Trade Street Residential, Inc., a publicly traded multi-family REIT also focused on the Southeastern US market.

Mr. Ross currently serves as independent director of Cedar Trust Realty, Inc. and is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida and Georgia.

About Executive Perspective

Executive Perspective

Danny joined Cresa in the Spring of 2016 and brought a diverse background with nearly 10 years of experience in finance, business operations, and strategy to his client’s real estate transactions.

Connect with Danny: LinkedIn | Twitter

Connect with Cresa: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Investing in Retail Real Estate, with Jan Saperstein, Southeastern Asset Management Group, Inc.

May 31, 2023 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Investing in Retail Real Estate, with Jan Saperstein, Southeastern Asset Management Group, Inc.

00:00 /

North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 668)

Jan Saperstein, President of Southeastern Asset Management Group, Inc., was the guest on this episode of North Fulton Business Radio. He and host John Ray discussed commercial real estate, specifically retail center investments. Jan talked about his beginnings in commercial real estate, the geography of retail that creates limited supply, his attention to his tenant’s business model and finances, the economics of certain tenants, developing vs. purchasing property, adaptive reuse, and much more.

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

Jan Saperstein, President, Southeastern Asset Management Group, Inc.

In March 1982, Mr. Saperstein joined Ackerman & Co. an Atlanta based commercial development/brokerage organization, where he specialized in the marketing and leasing of commercial properties, retail site selection for both local and regional retailers (primarily Chick-Fil-A Restaurants) and exclusive representation of tenants.

In 1990, he formed Southeastern Asset Management Group, Inc. specializing in ownership/development/private investor syndication and asset management of dozens of retail centers in the Southeast.

The centers’ tenant rosters include national, regional, and local tenants such as: Trader Joe’s, FedEx, CVS, AT&T, Kroger, Advance Auto Parts, HomeGoods, Goodwill, PetsMart, Dicks, Hobby Lobby, Aarons, Starbucks and Krispy Kreme, Chipotle, Chase Bank, CAVA, BWW, et al.

Mr. Saperstein was on the Board of Trustees for and past Treasurer of the Child Development Association, Roswell, GA; Inaugural Member, National Multiple Sclerosis Society Leadership Class; Board President of Providence Park Office Complex; Board Member East Hampton HOA; Board Member Act 3 Productions, Sandy Springs, GA; Assistant Treasurer, Executive Board, Nominating and Finance Committee Member, Temple Sinai Atlanta, GA; City of Sandy Springs GA Mayoral appointee Real Estate Advisory Committee; and past co-chair of The Epstein School of Atlanta building/facilities committee.

He has also served both as a moderator and guest on numerous ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) panels as well as the Atlanta Appraisal Institute and Emory Executive MBA programs.

Mr. Saperstein resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife Lynn, and has two gorgeous daughters, two outstanding sons-in-law, and four beautiful grandchildren.

Contact info

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

How did you start in commercial Real Estate?
What makes a good retail center investment? Is it only location?
Why do rent/sales ratios determine the future success of a tenant? Does customer gender matter?
What is adaptive reuse? Examples?
What makes a syndicator attractive to investors?
How does someone with no access to money buy a center?
Why is real estate a good long-term investment?

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

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

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

Introduction to Executive Perspective

March 14, 2023 by John Ray

Executive Perspective

Introduction to Executive Perspective

00:00 /

Host Danny Vander Maten welcomes listeners to Executive Perspective with a glimpse of the guests he’ll feature from a wide range of sectors, including technology, finance, and healthcare, the issues and topics they will dive into, and more.

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

About Executive Perspective

Executive Perspective

Danny joined Cresa in the Spring of 2016 and brought a diverse background with nearly 10 years of experience in finance, business operations, and strategy to his client’s real estate transactions.

Connect with Danny: LinkedIn | Twitter

Connect with Cresa: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Danny Vander Maten, Cresa, and host of Executive Perspective

March 8, 2023 by John Ray

Executive Perspective

Danny Vander Maten, Cresa, and host of Executive Perspective

00:00 /

North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 618)

On this edition of North Fulton Business Radio, Danny Vander Maten, Vice President of Tenant Representation at Cresa, joined host John Ray to discuss his work as a commercial real estate professional. Danny explained how Cresa’s breadth of services goes well beyond office space leasing, what Cresa’s tagline “Beyond Space” means for clients, why Cresa represents real estate occupiers exclusively, and more. Danny also announced the launch of his new podcast, Executive Perspective, which will be produced and distributed by Business RadioX®.

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

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Vice President – Tenant Representation,

Danny joined Cresa in the Spring of 2016 and brought a diverse background with nearly 10 years of experience in finance, business operations, and strategy to his client’s real estate transactions.

LinkedIn | Twitter

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

Selfless Leading to Improve Culture E28

October 7, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Selfless Leading to Improve Culture E28

00:00 /

Selfless Leading to Improve Culture E28

From first glance and the start to the podcast, you may not see the amazing alignment and similarities between Jonathan and April. We see them though!

Jonathan and April are both very aligned with growing conscious businesses and supporting people in a very selfless manner. What they do helps people and companies grow; Whether it is Jonathan giving advice to other business leaders about how to grow a business and not being ruthless, or April going into the company to guide and coach them to growing their business through the principles of Generosity Culture. They are both supporting the growth of great conscious and caring leaders.

It was great to hear about their backgrounds getting them to this point where they are now. Jonathan grew up and went into the Real Estate business thinking that he had to be ruthless to make money. April gained experience and knowledge from her time in the military that she is now able to put into place with the work that she does helping companies and leaders.

When asked about the favorite part of her own company’s culture, April said, “My favorite part of my company’s culture is it’s all about helping and empowering others. Everything we do is in service to others’ success.”

When Jonathan was asked about his company culture he told us, “Keyser was built off of 15 core operating principles. We are very clear about that during the hiring process, and because of that, I am confident that each of my team members buys into those beliefs. In fact, many of the current members have joined Keyser because they believed in the principles. This bleeds into how we interact with one another and how we serve our clients.”

If you are looking for a podcast with a few passionate individuals that have a strong stance on improving company culture, being selfless, supporting others- then this is it. The two of them discuss the passion to lead selflessly, the importance of being forthcoming and honest, and building a workplace that is safe and provides courage to disagree. There are stories and examples to listen to in this podcast that are great for all levels of leaders to learn from.

Driven Outcomes is a consulting firm that helps accelerate the revenue growth and culture creation of businesses across industries using the principles of The Generosity Culture.

Working with company CEO’s, Leaders and Entrepreneurs, Driven Outcomes drives unprecedented success by modeling the power of pouring into people, clients and the community.

April Shprintz is a Business Accelerator, Speaker, host of the Winning Mindset Mastery Podcast and the Author of Magic Blue Rocks, the Secret to Doing Anything, a book about the life changing impact of a winning mindset.

After spending 20 great years in a variety of industries solving problems, driving growth, and accelerating companies, April realized helping people is who she is, not just what she does. Generating over $1 Billion dollars in combined revenue, April left corporate America after her highest earning 7-figure year to form her own company and expand her impact.

The creator of The Generosity Culture®, April lives her dream helping innovators and leaders grow their businesses through a combination of pouring into their people, their clients, and their community.

A proud veteran, April served for nearly 7 years in the Air Force as a Television News Anchor and Executive Producer. She’s a graduate of the University of Maryland and holds an MBA from the University of Texas.

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

Keyser is one of the country’s most innovative and trustworthy technology-enabled occupier services commercial real estate firms. Keyser’s advisors assist occupiers of space with their commercial real estate needs, including leasing, purchasing, constructing, or disposing of facilities.

Keyser specializes in helping tenants leverage A.I. and market expertise to secure commercial real estate incentives and attract today’s workforce while reducing cost & risk. Whether it’s managing, negotiating, or assisting with commercial real estate strategy, our advisors take pride in serving our clients.

Jonathan Keyser is the founder of Keyser (http://www.keyser.com/), one of the most innovative and trustworthy technology-enabled occupier services commercial real estate firms in the country. Along with their international partners, they have over 560 people worldwide.

Jonathan is a #1 Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author for his book, “You Don’t Have to be Ruthless to Win”, and he was named “The Commercial Real Estate Disruptor” by USA Today. He has also been named a “Top Social Capital CEO” by the International Business Times, is a highly sought after keynote speaker, a thought leader featured in over 150 articles, publications, and podcasts, and during the pandemic was recognized as one of the “Top 20 Virtual Keynote Speakers” in the country.

As an entrepreneur himself, Jonathan has built Keyser into an eight-figure firm named recently as one of the Top 50 Most Trustworthy Companies in America by The Silicon Review.

Today through his 6,7,8 Selfless Leadership workshop series, he helps other business leaders activate the three levels of reinvention to boost profits while increasing client and employee retention. Jonathan’s efforts to change the business world through selfless service manifest in his content, thought leadership, and the level of excellence he holds his team to within Keyser.

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

About Culture Crush

Culture is not just a tag word to be thrown around. It is not something you throw in job descriptions to draw people to applying for jobs within a company.

According to Marcus Buckingham and Ashely Goodall in their book Nine Lies About Work, “Culture is the tenants of how we behave. It’s like a family creed. This is how we operate and treat each other in the family.”

As a growing company- Culture Crush Business Podcast is THE culture improvement resource that supports companies and leaders. Our Mission is to improve company cultures so people WANT to go to work. Employees and leaders should like where they work and we think this is possible.

Within the company: Culture Crush has Vetted Resources and Partnerships with the right people and resources that can help improve your company culture.

On this podcast: We focus on everything surrounding businesses with good company culture. We will talk with company leaders to learn about real-life experiences, tips, and best practices for creating a healthy work environment where employees are finding joy and satisfaction in their work while also striving and growing within the company. We also find the companies that offer resources to help improve company culture and showcase them on the show to share their tips and tricks for growing culture.

About the Host

Kindra Maples is spartan racer, past animal trainer, previous magician’s assistant, and has a weakness for Oreo cookie shakes. Her journey working with people actually started working with animals as a teenager (don’t worry we won’t go that far back for her bio).

She worked for over 15 years in the zoo industry working with animals and the public. Her passion of working with animals shifted into working with people in education, operations and leadership roles. From there her passion of leadership and helping people develop has continued to grow.

Then came the opportunity for leading the Culture Crush Business Podcast and she jumped on it. Leadership, growth, and strong company cultures are all areas that Kindra is interested in diving into further.

Shout Outs

We want to thank a few people for their behind the scenes effort in helping this relaunch to come to life. James Johnson with Tailored Penguin Media Company LLC.– It is a small, but powerful video production company with a goal to deliver the very best by articulating the vision of your brand in a visually creative way. Gordon Murray with Flash PhotoVideo, LLC. -Flash Gordon has been photographing since high school and evolving since then with new products that will equip, encourage, engage, and enable. Renee Blundon with Renee Blundon Design – She is not only one of the best free divers (that’s not how she helped with the podcast) but she is great with graphics design and taking the direction for the vision that you have while also adding creative ideas to bring to your vision to life.

These are just a few of the folks that supported the relaunch of the podcast. If you would like to be part of the Culture Crush team or would like to support underwriting the show- please reach out: info@culturecrushbusiness.com