construction technology Archives

North Fulton Studio

Artisan Design Studio, Walk Your Plans Atlanta Win GNFCC Honors

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Artisan Design Studio, Walk Your Plans Atlanta Win GNFCC Honors (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 109)

This edition of the GNFCC 400 Insider podcast features two entrepreneurs who are changing what “seeing the plan” means for homeowners and builders in our region. Ryan Williams, owner of Artisan Design Studio, shares how a small design firm can grow without losing its soul. She discusses pricing for outcomes, opening a retail studio to create community touchpoints, and why disciplined books and a good CPA are growth tools, not afterthoughts.

Mary Atchley, co-owner of Walk Your Plans Atlanta and co-founder of Design & Build XR, explains how clients make better decisions when they can literally walk their floor plans at full scale. Then she layers in extended reality to preview kitchens, baths, and additions on-site or in their studio, reducing rework and surprises.

Together, Mary and Ryan trade practical lessons: how to decide when to expand, where to invest first, what metrics to watch, and how to balance momentum with margin. They also highlight their shared work with Sunshine on a Ranney Day, creating accessible spaces for families who need them most. If you’re building, renovating, or growing a design-related business, this conversation is a blueprint for smarter decisions and happier clients.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

XR goes beyond 2D: Walk Your Plans Atlanta launched Design & Build XR to layer AR/VR and on-site visualization so clients understand unbuilt spaces and reduce surprises.
Category creation is hard work: Educating a successful industry to try a new modality takes daily consistency and clear value stories.
Boutique by design: Artisan Design Studio grew from a home office to a retail studio after past lessons on scaling, prioritizing process and the craft of design.
Community at the center: Both Artisan Design Studio and Walk Your Plans Atlanta volunteer with Sunshine on a Ranney Day, creating accessible bedrooms, baths, and therapy spaces for kids and families.
Make it easy to connect: Artisan’s Roswell storefront hosts events, while Walk Your Plans Atlanta invites prospects to see work online and on social.
Mindset for year one: Guard time, choose communities wisely, and keep showing up. Consistency compounds.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to the GNFCC 400 Insider podcast
00:26 Celebrating Small Business Award Winners
01:06 Meet two of the Award Winners: Artisan Design Studio and Walk Your Plans Atlanta
02:15 Journey of Entrepreneurship: Challenges and Inspirations
05:05 Innovations and Expansions in Business
12:28 Community Involvement and Giving Back
20:00 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
27:06 Connecting with the Businesses
28:59 Conclusion and Farewell

Ryan Morgan Williams, Artisan Design Studio

**Ryan Williams, Artisan Design Studios**

Principal designer Ryan Williams owns Artisan Design Studio. Williams has been practicing interior design for twenty years and has been a business owner for more than 15 of those.

With utmost attention given to learning about her clients and their families, Williams prioritizes making sure she is not only creating breathtaking spaces for them but also improving their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. As a member of a custom home-building family in Atlanta, Williams advocates for her clients through building and remodeling, as well as full furnishings projects. She prides herself on being the expert in the room but also a friend at the table.

Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Furnishings & Interiors from the University of Georgia. She is an Atlanta native and she currently lives with her husband and two children in Roswell.

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Mary Atchley, Walk Your Plans Atlanta

Mary Atchley is the owner and driving force behind Walk Your Plans Atlanta, a cutting-edge business that enables clients to experience life-sized floor plans before construction begins. Bringing over 20 years of expertise in marketing, brand strategy, and entrepreneurship, Atchley created a platform that bridges the gap between abstract blueprints and real-life spatial understanding so homeowners, architects, and commercial developers can make informed, confident decisions. Her visionary leadership and relentless focus on client service have transformed Walk Your Plans Atlanta into a destination for immersive, collaborative design walkthroughs, helping Atlanta’s building community identify issues early, optimize layouts, and minimize costly post-construction changes.

Atchley’s deep commitment to the local community matches her passion for innovation. She has ensured that Walk Your Plans Atlanta provides complimentary access to families sponsored by Sunshine on a Ranney Day, supporting ADA-compliant renovations for children with special needs. Recognized for her ability to foster lasting relationships and deliver tailored technology solutions, Mary Atchley is also active in regional leadership and professional organizations, including Leadership North Fulton and Women in Sport & Events (WISE). Her work continues to propel industry standards forward, making the design and construction process more transparent, collaborative, and client-focused throughout the greater Atlanta area.

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast

Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) — **Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce**

The GNFCC 400 Insider is sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC), and the host of the show is Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC.

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.

Liens-and-Preliens-and-Laughs-Oh-My-with-Amy-Houk-feature

Phoenix Business Radio

Liens and Preliens and Laughs Oh My with Amy Houk E10

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Liens and Preliens and Laughs Oh My with Amy Houk E10

Robert and J.J. meet up with Amy Houk, Chief Marketing/Product Officer with Prelien Pro Technologies to discuss all things liens and preliens. Amy is the authority and shares her wealth of knowledge with the guys, and shares the why behind Prelien Pro Technologies and the development of software for the world of construction. If you are a general contractor, subcontractor, or supplier this episode is a must have as a reference to often misunderstood statutes pertaining to the lien and prelien process and your rights.

General Contractors, Subcontractors and suppliers learn the answers to often misunderstood processes surrounding your lien rights.

Prelien Pro Technologies, Inc. began when a team of consultants were asked to develop an easier workflow for lien companies to manage the hundreds of prelien notices submitted to their company weekly. Once they dove into the structure and processes lien companies were utilizing, it became very obvious that the lack of “out-of-the-box” solutions was crippling this industry. Lien companies were spending 10’s of thousands of dollars to create custom, single-user solutions or relying on a dos-based, single desktop solution for software that was cumbersome, antiquated, and rigid. Shocked by what they found, they sought out the guidance of one of the most dynamic and successful CTO’s to wrestle the “ dot-com boom” they could find… one laptop, one monitor, and one hot conference room later, a dream team of developers, innovators, and consultants came together to form what would become Prelien Pro Technologies, Inc.

As they researched and learned more about this industry, they also found that construction companies were forced to submit their notice requests on an equally outdated interface. The team was shocked to hear that most construction companies weren’t too bothered by the legacy look and feel as most software they used at the time was just as clumsy. Realizing that the construction industry was ripe for a solution to weave together all of these processes and workflows, the team devised a strategy – to learn the lien management industry from the inside out. They achieved this by creating their own lien company, collaborating with the construction industry, and building a solution that solves all of the obvious (and not so obvious) issues this process had on the overall performance and cost of a project.

This strategy led to an immeasurable amount of input from the construction industry – not just from the builders, but also the suppliers, the funders, the developers, and the insurers. The team built relationships with every level of construction to prepare and plan for a development strategy that would lead them on a two-year journey of discovery, development, and some trial and error to create a single application – bringing together the multitude of excel spreadsheets, three-ring binders, filing cabinets, fax machines, and single-task applications that “solved” their day-to-day issues.

Today, Prelien Pro Technologies, Inc. has fully deployed its construction lien software (cls) application to the captive lien company with a second onboarding in mid to late 4th quarter, 2021. That application currently supports 466 construction firms, 1500 users, and 10 lien preparation professionals. They have also created the only fully embedded experience with Procore technologies and have a focus group of our target general contractors currently using the prelien pro application. Because of the strategic development plan outlined by our CTO, all further development is 75% (or more) completed as the foundational Prelien Pro Technologies, Inc. platform fully supports the additional products and services.

Amy Houk’s history as a founding member of Prelien Pro has seen the company grow from a handful of valued relationships to a large and growing community of clients, industry partners, association affiliations, and friendships.

Amy brings a cool and dynamic element to the team. Her ability to forge relationships and create an open dialogue with clients has been a vital asset to our team. She brings over 20 years experience offering a variety of services and consultation to businesses.

Her expertise and knowledge with construction companies and the industry has made her a pivotal addition to the team.

When Amy isn’t working with the team, she spends her time promoting women’s equality in construction, donating her time to construction associations, going on photo safaris with her husband of 15 years, taking construction pics, traveling, and spending time with family (especially her new grand baby).

Follow Prelien Pro Technologies on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

About Your Hosts

Meet JJ Levenske

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial and industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service.

JJ’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike. JJ does not believe in mediocrity and strives to see the “end at the beginning” for each project, effectuating a higher return on investment for the entire team.

Early on in his career, JJ worked as a cost engineer conducting feasibility estimates, strategic capital estimates, cost planning, and analysis of value engineering for the technology, petrochemical, and food industries. He went on to develop and implement a variety of systems for estimating, scheduling, resource management, and cost tracking while holding Project Manager and Senior Management Positions.

During his tenure, JJ has been involved in $1 billion worth of construction services. A strong entrepreneurial acumen allows him to be the perfect advocate for your facility based business solutions.

Meet Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson is a knowledgeable construction professional with over 40 years of experience. His experience ranges from residential to the commercial and industrial sectors.

Robert began working in the trades immediately out of high school and quickly advanced to Journeyman status. Robert went on to estimating, operations, senior level management and then business development.

Robert is consistently building relationships and networking with those associated with all aspects of development and construction. Robert has become a respected source for prefabricated construction solutions.

Robert enjoys spending time with Pam, his wife of 42 years, their 3 children, and 10 grandchildren.

About Our Sponsors

Bleuwave is a Phoenix-based general contractor with a specialty in land development & site improvement, pre-construction, design build, remodel and renovations, construction management, and post construction.

Bleuwave is passionate about what they do and takes pride in their partner’s success.

When you need it done right the first time, call Bleuwave.

Follow Bleuwave on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tori Contracting’s smaller, cohesive structure results in superior workmanship and economical solutions.

The Tori Contracting team has construction experience acquired by performing highly successful work for hotels and casinos, restaurants, retail stores, healthcare facilities and a wide range of commercial and themed projects.

We provide design assist capabilities from start to finish…from schematic design and development through construction documents with the aid of our full-time AUTOCAD staff.