economic development Archives - Page 2 of 6

Driving Economic Development in Roswell with Roswell Inc, with Steve Stroud and John Asbell

May 7, 2024 by John Ray

Steve Stroud and John Asbell, Roswell Inc.

North Fulton Business Radio

Driving Economic Development in Roswell with Roswell Inc, with Steve Stroud and John Asbell

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Driving Economic Development in Roswell with Roswell Inc, with Steve Stroud and John Asbell (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 768)

This episode of North Fulton Business Radio, hosted by John Ray, features an interview with Steve Stroud, Executive Director of Roswell Inc, and John Asbell, President of the Board at Roswell Inc and Manager of External Affairs for North Fulton and Forsyth at Georgia Power. The episode discusses the mission and impact of Roswell Inc, a public-private partnership focused on economic development in Roswell, Georgia. Steve Stroud shares insights into how Roswell Inc supports local businesses through understanding and collaboration, while John Asbell emphasizes Georgia Power’s commitment to fostering economic growth in the region. Success stories illustrate Roswell Inc’s role in attracting, retaining, and supporting businesses, highlighting the importance of infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and community engagement in driving economic development. The episode also touches on future projects and the unique challenges and opportunities of economic development in Roswell.

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

Roswell Inc

As the economic and business development organization for the City of Roswell, Roswell Inc serves as a catalyst for a sustainable, innovative, and vibrant local business community. Their vision is for Roswell to be the best city in the region for innovative, community-minded businesses and entrepreneurs. As a 501(c)6 nonprofit, they have worked with the City of Roswell through a public-private partnership since 2012.

For small businesses and Fortune 500 corporations alike, Roswell Inc supports business success within the city through four core service areas:

Business attraction and recruitment
Business retention and expansion
Industry support
Business development

They believe that working in all four of these areas is essential to building a strong, vibrant, and sustainable economy, and this holistic view of economic development is at the heart of their organization. Whether your organization is preparing to launch, expand, or relocate, Roswell Inc opens the door for you.

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

Steve Stroud, Executive Director, Roswell Inc

Steve Stroud is the Executive Director of Roswell Inc, an organization dedicated to fostering economic development through a public-private partnership with the City of Roswell. With over 11 years in this role, Steve has led numerous initiatives to recruit, retain, and promote businesses within the city. Under his leadership, Roswell Inc has successfully marketed an expanded Opportunity Zone, increased the number of certified businesses, and launched various networking, educational, and informative programs aimed at assisting and retaining local businesses.

Steve’s tenure at Roswell Inc includes overseeing more than 550 recruitment, retention, and expansion projects that have created or retained over 6,200 jobs, with notable projects such as the GM Innovation Center, GreyOrange, and the Southern Post mixed-use development. He has fostered open communication lines among business owners, developers, citizens, corporations, nonprofits, and various entities, enhancing the quality of the community.

An active community leader, Steve has served on numerous boards, including the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, North Fulton Community Charities, United Way of North Fulton, and Synovus Bank (Atlanta region). His earlier professional experience includes operating Stroud’s Printing & Design in Roswell for 30 years.

A lifelong Roswell native, Steve resides in the city with his wife and daughters. He attended Georgia State University, focusing on political science. Steve’s extensive board memberships and community involvement continue to play a crucial role in shaping the economic landscape and community development of Roswell.

John Asbell, Manager for External Affairs, North Fulton and Forsyth, Georgia Power, and President of the Board for Roswell Inc

John Asbell is an experienced customer operations and external affairs professional with a demonstrated history of achieving successful business results in the utilities industry. With over 28 years at Georgia Power, he has held leadership roles in sales, customer service, and public relations, including responsibilities in call center operations, key account management, human resources, economic development, and government and community affairs.

In addition to his work with Roswell Inc, John has also been a vital contributor to numerous community and philanthropic efforts. He was named the first chairman of the board for THINC Academy, a school that focuses on machining and manufacturing education, in 2015. His work has led to significant recognition for Georgia Power’s support of legislative affairs in Forsyth County. Moreover, John has been active in the company’s employee volunteer efforts, participating in initiatives such as a Thanksgiving food drive in the North Fulton area and support for a veteran family.

John continues to impact his community and industry through his extensive involvement and leadership.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:33 Introducing Roswell Inc: Driving Economic Development
01:58 The Mission and Impact of Roswell Inc
06:22 Georgia Power’s Role and Commitment to Roswell
10:11 The Broader Scope of Economic Development in Roswell
19:45 The Importance of Supporting Existing Businesses
21:17 Strategic Economic Development Insights
21:25 Attracting New Businesses to Roswell
22:28 Leveraging Regional Relationships for Growth
26:28 Future Developments and Infrastructure in Roswell
30:44 Success Stories and Economic Impact
36:33 Closing Remarks and Additional Resources

Renasant Bank and Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant support 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 $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

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

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

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

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 760 shows and having featured over 1,200 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOCO Talks: The Gathering at South Forsyth

January 31, 2024 by Amanda Pearch

FoCo Talks

FOCO Talks: The Gathering at South Forsyth

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FOCO Talks: The Gathering at South Forsyth

BIG update on a chance to bring a National Hockey League team back the ATL! The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners just discussed a deal that could land a $2 billion investment in the County.

Join Chamber President & CEO, James McCoy on this special episode of FOCO Talks featuring County Manager David McKee and Vice President of Economic Development, Alex Warner. They talk about details of the proposal that could land a pro hockey team for Atlanta in the largest economic development deals in the region and what that means for you.

You can sign up for updates and learn more at: www.focoloveshockey.com

SUBSCRIBE to “FOCO Talks” wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

SERIES PRESENTED BY:

“FOCO Talks” is presented by the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

Broadcasted LIVE from the Forsyth Business RadioX Studio in Cumming, Georgia

Podcasts by Amanda Pearch

John Scott, Vice President & Director of Economic Development for Jackson County

January 15, 2024 by Tom Sheldon

Northeast Georgia Business Podcast

John Scott, Vice President & Director of Economic Development for Jackson County

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John Scott

John Scott/Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce

The Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit, member driven association, which serves the business community. They are committed to creating a vibrant community in which to live, work and play. Their mission is to promote business success and enhance quality of life by being the leader in economic and community development. The Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce strives to be a trusted leader in Jackson County.

The Jackson Alliance is organized under the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce and serves as the central economic development organization for Jackson County, Georgia. The Jackson Alliance is an arm, or subcommittee, of the Chamber’s Economic Development Council and is a public-private partnership for the economic advancement of Jackson County. Funding for The Alliance comes from membership dues, which is why members are referred to as “Economic Development Allies.” Joining The Alliance has a real impact on Jackson County’s economic growth. Alliance Members are from both private and public organizations that share a common interest in Economic Development.

Our Community Partner for this episode of Northeast Georgia Business Radio is Moneypenny. A giant thank you for their continued support. Moneypenny provides a US based, dedicated receptionist and large business phone handling provision. Moneypenny also provides Website Live Chat boxes to quickly correspond with clients. Visit Moneypenny today!

Chad Hagan, Hagan Capital Group and Author of Global Family Office Investing

August 29, 2023 by John Ray

Business Beat

Chad Hagan, Hagan Capital Group and Author of Global Family Office Investing

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Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Chad Hagan, Hagan Capital Group and Author of Global Family Office Investing

Chad Hagan, founder of Hagan Capital Group and author of Global Family Office Investing, joined Business Beat and host Roger Lusby for a wide-ranging conversation about investing in the environment, his non-political definition of “environmentalism,” his views on the energy sector, the economy of the North Fulton region, and much more.

Business Beat is presented by Alpharetta CPA firm Frazier & Deeter and is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®

Hagan Capital Group

Since the founding of Hagan Capital, the principals have advised on over $2,5 billion of transactions for funds, family offices, institutions, investment companies and wealthy individuals.

The partners are headquartered in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia with affiliated partners and companies in New York, Florida, Canada, and England.

Company website | LinkedIn

Chad Hagan, Founder, Hagan Capital Group and Author, Global Family Office Investing

Chadwick Hagan is an author, investor, and entrepreneur.

He is a managing partner of Wessex Investments and the founder of Hagan Capital Group.

Over his career he has advised nearly $2 billion dollars in M&A transactions and investments; including managing funds with an average annual return of 30%; leading the takeover and bankruptcy recapitalisation efforts of American Apparel – then the largest vertically integrated apparel company in the US – and managing investments in consumer goods and energy commodities. He is an investor and company director for numerous commercial concerns, funds, and entities in the US and Europe.

His most recent book, Global Family Office Investing, was published by Palgrave in 2021, and his economics blog, Chaganomics.com, was archived by US Library of Congress Economics Blogs Web Archive. He is an opinion columnist and has written for The Epoch Times, Fox Business, and ArtNews.

He is a director for the Hagan Family Foundation, founded by his father in the 1990s, where he focuses on fiscal policy, environmentalism, and art history.

Chad studied economics at Harvard and the London School of Economics. He married Emily Wheeler in 2008 and lives in Metropolitan Atlanta. He enjoys skiing, tennis and producing documentaries in his spare time.

LinkedIn | Twitter

Frazier & Deeter

The Alpharetta office of Frazier & Deeter is home to a thriving CPA tax practice, a growing advisory practice and an Employee Benefit Plan Services group. CPAs and advisors in the Frazier & Deeter Alpharetta office serve clients across North Georgia and around the country with services such as personal tax planning, estate planning, business tax planning, business tax compliance, state and local tax planning, financial statement reviews, financial statement audits, employee benefit plan audits, internal audit outsourcing, cyber security, data privacy, SOX and other regulatory compliance, mergers, and acquisitions and more. Alpharetta CPAs serve clients ranging from business owners and executives to large corporations.

Roger Lusby, host of Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat, is an Alpharetta CPA and Alpharetta Office Managing Partner for Frazier & Deeter. He is also a member of the Tax Department in charge of coordinating tax and accounting services for our clientele. His responsibilities include a review of a variety of tax returns with an emphasis in the individual, estate, and corporate areas. Client assistance is also provided in the areas of financial planning, executive compensation and stock option planning, estate and succession planning, international planning (FBAR, SFOP), health care, real estate, manufacturing, technology, and service companies.

You can find Frazier & Deeter on social media:

LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

An episode archive of Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat can be found here.

Ben McDaniel with Barrow-Braselton Joint Economic Development Authority

July 25, 2023 by Tom Sheldon

Northeast Georgia Business Podcast

Ben McDaniel with Barrow-Braselton Joint Economic Development Authority

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Ben McDaniel/Barrow-Braselton Joint Economic Development Authority

The Barrow County Economic Development Authority is responsible for the recruitment of new industries and existing industry expansions; manages the local development authorities and the incentive process; responds to state and site selector requests for information (RFI); promotes the county’s 270 acre industrial park, known as Park 53, as well as many other industrial sites within the county.

The department also promotes the county to investors, developers, brokers and construction firms; works closely with the Barrow Chamber of Commerce, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Economic Developers Association, the Southern Association of Economic Development, the International Economic Development Council, the Georgia Innovation Crescent Regional Board, the Innovation Corridor Joint Development Authority, and the Northeast Georgia Joint Development Authority.

The department also promotes the County through newsletters and various social media platforms to economic development stakeholders; and serves on the Chamber Workforce Development Committee, Adult Literacy Barrow and the Employ Barrow Coalition.

Developing a Future-Proof Arizona Workforce E37

May 2, 2023 by Karen

Developing-a-Future-Proof-Arizona-Workforce-feature

AZ TechCast

Developing a Future-Proof Arizona Workforce E37

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Developing a Future-Proof Arizona Workforce E37

From Flagstaff to Yuma, Arizona is home to numerous educational institutions that are evolving rapidly to keep pace with the state’s tremendous economic growth. Every day, they are rolling out new programs, adding new classes and upskilling their educators to train the manufacturers, engineers, scientists and inventors of tomorrow.

The April 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Rob Buelow, program director of the AZNext Workforce Development Partnership at ASU; Dr. Daniel Corr, president of Arizona Western College; and Kathy Prather, CEO and superintendent of Pima Joint Technical Education District.

These leaders joined Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, and Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, in discussing their unique approaches to building the highly skilled and diverse workforce of the future.

In this hour-long episode, the panel of three experts defined workforce development and broke down its importance for Arizona’s statewide economic growth. With the influx of companies moving into Arizona, it’s critical that we are building a highly skilled and prepared workforce that can fill needed roles.

They discussed the key stakeholders that play a role in workforce development and mentioned that partnerships between the public and private sector are required to bridge the divide between educational curriculum and the professional skills that will support the technology ecosystem of the future.

While they focused primarily on skill-building for K-12 and higher education students, the panel also touched on the opportunities available for mid-career professionals that are looking to upskill or reskill.

Since AWC was founded in 1963, the public community college has become a vital asset and resource to the communities it serves. Guided by its Strategic Plan, the college seeks to eliminate cultural, financial, time, and place barriers to education; cultivate an agile culture and institutional model that strengthens the future of the region; improve student success by leveraging technology that personalizes the student experience; and grow and sustain academic programs that fuel economic growth and position graduates for prosperity.

Located in the sunny, southwest corner of the state, Arizona Western College supports Yuma and La Paz communities with over 170 degrees and certificates in a wide range of academic and career and technical programs as well as non-credit courses in professional development, customized training, and personal enrichment areas. With 12 different locations and a service area that spans 10,000 square miles, AWC also boasts a diverse international program with students from over 40 different countries.

AWC is exceptionally unique in that it hosts all three state universities on its Yuma campus for face-to-face classes. These partnerships with Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, and Arizona State University provide seamless transfer pathways to baccalaureate degrees, and beyond, in a variety of high-demand programs, including engineering, secondary education, agriculture, nursing and administration of justice. This effort is in line with the college’s goal of doubling the rate of baccalaureate degrees earned in Yuma and La Paz counties by 2035.

Dr. Daniel P. Corr began his tenure as the ninth President of Arizona Western College (AWC) in July 2016. During his tenure, he has been committed to building on the tremendous success achieved by AWC as an active member of the many communities served by the college.

He has focused his early efforts on facilitating student success, increasing access to higher education, executing the adopted College’s strategic plan, and fostering a climate of innovation, collaboration and stewardship at AWC.

Prior to assuming the role of AWC’s President, Dr. Corr held a variety of instructional and administrative positions at four different community colleges in Arizona & Illinois. All told, he has over 30 years of experience at the community college level.

Dr. Corr has always placed an emphasis on establishing and maintaining partnerships. He also remains committed to being responsive to community business needs.

Dr. Corr serves on a number of local, state, and national boards. However, his greatest passion is for AWC’s students and their success. This focus on student success and community partnerships is why you will hear Dr. Corr exclaim “It is a great day to be a Matador!”.

Connect with Dr. Corr on LinkedIn and follow Arizona Western College on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Pima JTED (Joint Technical Education District) is a public school district in Arizona, one of 14 Arizona Career and Technical Education School Districts. It serves all high school age youth tuition free in our service area that covers over 12,000 miles of Southern Arizona including Pima County and parts of Santa Cruz and Pinal Counties.

Pima JTED works in collaboration with the 14 area member public school districts and it’s tuition-free programs are open to any youth living in the area, whether they attend public, charter, private or are home-schooled. Current year enrollment exceeds 27,000 satellite and central campus students.

Most of the programs offer free dual college credit and all programs offer recognized industry credentials, certificates or licenses and work-based learning opportunities that may include clinical experiences, school-based enterprises, internships or externships. JTED programs strive to offer students the ability to develop skills using state-of-the-art equipment and technologies.

Programs include Licensed Nursing Assistant, Registered Medical Assistant, Engineering, Robotics and Automation, 3-D Animation, Virtual Reality and Game Design, Community Health, Cybersecurity, Construction Technology, Air Transportation FAA Drone Operator, Automotive Technology and many more.

Most of the JTED students go on to post-secondary education combined with direct employment in their desired field.

Kathy Prather became the Superintendent/CEO of Pima JTED on July 1, 2018, one year after being appointed as the district’s Deputy Superintendent.

Her career in education spans 29 years and multiple locations throughout Arizona, including Rough Rock High School, Prescott College, Northwest Pioneer College, Mohave Community College, Mohave High School, Colorado River Union High School District, Tucson Unified School District, and Sunnyside Unified School District.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration-Management, a Master of Arts Degree in Vocational Technical Education, and multiple certifications from the Arizona Department of Education including Superintendent, Principal and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher.

Each year, thousands of students in the CTE programs she oversees receive nationally-recognized industry certifications, licenses and credentials as well as dual college credit from Pima Community College and/or concurrent tuition credit from the University of Arizona.

The innovative programs she has developed over the years have captured the attention of local, national and international media including CNN Money in 2016, Korean News Network in 2015, Manufacturing News in 2016, Arizona Public Media-PBS in 2014, District Administrator Magazine in January 2017, Mrs. Green’s World on iHeart Radio and many local network news broadcast features.

The Association for Career and Technical Education of Arizona (ACTEAZ) recognized Kathy’s contributions to CTE with their 2011 Administrator of the Year Award, and again with the 2016 ACTEAZ Lifetime Achievement Award. Kathy served on the Board of the National Council of Local Administrators (NCLA) from 2008-2015 as well as the Executive Board of the Arizona Council of Occupational and Vocational Administrators (ACOVA) from 2006-2014.

Kathy currently serves as a member of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Congressman Juan Ciscomani’s Citizen Advisory Council, United Way Cradle to Career Leadership Committee, Metropolitan Education Commission, Pima County Workforce Investment Board, Banner University Medicine Community Advisory Committee, Tucson’s Leading Women, and has previously served on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Tucson and the Southern Arizona Chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness. Greater Tucson Leadership will be named Kathy as Tucson’s Woman of the Year at their Community Impact Awards Event on April 21st, 2023.

Kathy was instrumental in the formation of the Pima County Joint Technological Education District #11, which is now known as Pima JTED. Prior to the JTED Proposition 400 item being listed on the ballot in 2006, she led community forums and made multiple presentations to business, industry and local school district governing boards.

Today, Kathy remains committed to forging mutually beneficial partnerships with business, community, and educational leaders to strengthen Pima JTED’s programs which provide local industry with the skilled workforce they need to thrive. She is actively transforming the culture at Pima JTED to the Growth Mindset to elevate students’ experiences, and employee job satisfaction. One of her top priorities is continuing to develop students’ professional skills so that they are ready to succeed in both college and careers.

Pima JTED continues to bring over $30 million dollars annually in supplemental funding for satellite and central Career andTechnical Education programs in Pima, Santa Cruz and Pinal Counties.
A native of Tucson, Kathy lives with her husband Brad Prather, a retired teacher. They have two grown children, and one granddaughter.

Follow Pima JTED on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

AZNext Workforce Accelerator Partnership at ASU is a U. S. Department of Labor-sponsored program developing a sustainable workforce training infrastructure through paid internships, apprenticeships, train-to-hire programs, boot camps, and simulated work experiences, intended to create talent solutions to meet industry needs.

AZNext works with over 60 industry partners to determine what workforce skills are needed, then uses the resources of ASU to develop training programs to deliver those skills.

The areas of focus for the program are Information Technology, Cybersecurity and Advanced Manufacturing. AZNext creates programs for new hires, as well as upskilling and reskilling programs for incumbent workers.

The goal is to offer these services to unemployed and underemployed individuals, with a special focus on underrepresented communities to provide economic opportunity to those groups as well as improve the diversity of the high tech workforce.

Because we are grant funded, AZNext is able to offer these services at no cost to our participants. And we currently offer over a dozen different training programs open for enrollment right now.

Rob Buelow has spent 2 years as Program Director for AZNext. He joined the program at inception, so led the process of creating and developing the program from the ground floor.

He has over 20 years of aerospace manufacturing industry experience in project and program management, process design and improvement, program implementations, team leadership, and business and customer management.

Rob has a Bachelor of Science in Business Operations, and an MBA from The W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU.

Follow AZNext on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Your Hosts

Steve Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona.

Zylstra serves on numerous councils, committees and boards, was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, and “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.

Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.

In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bianca Buliga is a trilingual first-generation American of Romanian ethnicity. A marketing professional with experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Bianca currently works as Director, Marketing & Communications for the Arizona Technology Council.

Previously, Bianca worked as Marketing Communications Lead at Proctorio, a learning integrity platform that offers remote proctoring software ensuring exam integrity for learners around the world.

Bianca also worked as Senior Marketing Manager at SEED SPOT, a social impact incubator that educates, accelerates, and invests in impact-driven entrepreneurs creating market-based solutions to social problems. In January of 2020, Bianca was selected as an awardee of the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange Program and traveled to the African island of Mauritius to run entrepreneurship programming for 15 impact-driven ecopreneurs on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Bianca has also completed comprehensive consulting projects for IBM, ESAN Business School, and the Peruvian government, and interned at the Arizona House of Representatives and U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.

Bianca earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Northern Arizona University in 2014 and her Master’s degree in Global Affairs and Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2017. She is an avid reader, yogi, and world traveler always planning her next trip.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Strategic Leadership Visit to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Region, with Samir Abdullahi, Select Fulton, and Kathi Cook, City of Alpharetta

May 2, 2023 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Strategic Leadership Visit to North Carolina's Research Triangle Region, with Samir Abdullahi, Select Fulton, and Kathi Cook, City of Alpharetta

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Strategic Leadership Visit to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Region, with Samir Abdullahi, Select Fulton, and Kathi Cook, City of Alpharetta (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 83)

Samir Abdullahi, Director of Select Fulton, and Kathi Cook, Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Alpharetta, joined host Kali Boatright to recap their Strategic Leadership visit to Raleigh, Cary, and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. They described the ways the two regions collaborate on information, learnings from the trip, the implications for growth in North Fulton, and much more.

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

Samir Abdullahi, Director, Select Fulton

Samir Abdullahi is Director of Economic Development at Select Fulton. It is Fulton County, Georgia’s economic and workforce development initiative that drives collaboration among public and private partners in order to generate inclusive growth, opportunities, and prosperity for the Metro Atlanta region.

Select Fulton does this by fostering the creation of middle and high-skill jobs in our key industries, preparing our residents for those opportunities, and accelerating the growth of connected and sustainable commercial development. Additionally, Select Fulton provides collaborative economic development leadership to promote a globally competitive, prosperous, and growing Fulton County economy to improve the wellbeing of our residents and communities.

Company website | LinkedIn

Kathi Cook, Director of Economic and Community Development, City of Alpharetta

Kathi Cook joined the City of Alpharetta over 30 years ago and is now the Director of Economic and Community Development.

The Community Development Department guides the growth and development of the City of Alpharetta to enhance the quality of life in our community while recognizing the City’s historic and natural features.

The Community Development Department led the City’s efforts in achieving a Gold Level Certification through the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Green Communities Program.

Alpharetta was the first city in the State of Georgia to achieve this accomplishment. This highest level certification demonstrates Alpharetta’s commitment to resource conservation and sustainability.

Company website | LinkedIn

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by 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 1400 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.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our 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 such as this North Fulton Mayors Appreciation Lunch, follow this link.

For the complete show archive of GNFCC 400 Insider, go to GNFCC400Insider.com. The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Strategically Scottsdale E5

June 6, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Strategically Scottsdale E5

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Strategically Scottsdale E5

David Pierce of MHG Commercial joins Carla on Smashing as Guest Co-Host this week. They meet with Rob Millar, Director of Economic Development for the City of Scottsdale. Sounds stuffy? It’s not!

“Have you been on a John Deere lately? Me neither” –Rob

Rob takes us surfing through the waves of economic up AND down turn and the effect on the city of Scottsdale. “With high tide, all boats rise” and things are definitely on the rise for the city. With a very strategic 5 year plan in place, the City of Scottsdale aims to bring in top businesses & top talent and successfully recover from the challenges of the last few years.

Want to know more about exciting new businesses in Scottsdale and what the city’s goals are? Find out what they are doing to attract not only high-wage earners but also essential workforce like teachers & firemen. Then head over to the City of Scottsdale’s website to see the strategic plan for the future.

The City of Scottsdale Economic Development department is charged with growing and diversifying Scottsdale’s economy by attracting new business investment and encouraging expansion of existing corporate operations.

Rob Miller serves as the City of Scottsdale Economic Development Director where he is responsible for overseeing all business attraction, retention, expansion and business development marketing initiatives.

Over the last eight years Rob has led strategic efforts resulting in capital investment of over $600 million dollars and the creation and retention of over 10,000 jobs resulting in an economic impact to the City of Scottsdale of over $20 billion dollars.

Rob has spent over 30 years honing his economic development and public administration skills by learning every facet possible about Scottsdale. From solid waste to working with residents in developing neighborhood plans and serving as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Rob’s expertise of Scottsdale is extensive.

As a 48-year Scottsdale resident, he and his family have been part of Scottsdale’s growth from 70,000 residents and unpaved roads north of Camelback Rd. to the thriving and internationally known community it is today.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, is a certified economic developer through the International Economic Development Council, serves on a variety of Boards such as the Arizona Association for Economic Development, Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and Businesses United for Scottsdale Schools, is a graduate of Scottsdale Leadership Class 17 and the Arizona State University Institute for Public Executives.

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn.

About Our Guest Host

David Pierce has been a resident and Realtor Broker in Arizona for 20 years. He earned his BS in Regional Development from the University of Arizona with a minor in Economics.

He is actively involved in the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors (SAAR). David currently focuses on commercial real estate in all forms. From the tiniest piece of undeveloped desert land to a multi-billion dollar development projects, David has done it all and is an experienced leader.

David has worked for both large and boutique firms and secured his broker license in 2014. Early in his career, he graduated from SAAR Leadership Academy Class 9, shortly after achieving Rookie of the Year at Russ Lyon.

He also served as a day leader for SAAR Leadership Academy Class 10 and volunteered for Make-A-Wish® , SAAR’s Member Relief Fund, the South Scottsdale RMS Tour and most recently Scottsdale Mayor Ortega’s campaign committee.

His passions in life are family, friends and real estate. David loves the outdoors and as a life scout he grew up camping, scuba diving, hiking, boating, biking, running, swimming and diving. He enjoyed reading science fiction and played football.

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

About the Show

Smashing Through Walls is geared toward a guide through complex commercial real estate and finance topics while adding humor and anecdotes along the way. Discover what is going on in the valley and beyond with host Carla Magee, broker at MHG Commercial.

About Our Host

Carla Magee’s background is designed with the investor in mind. After obtaining her finance degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, she worked for large corporations like Boeing and Microsoft. With a critical eye and flair for analytics, she was able to shave millions in lost profits, managing cross-functional teams by utilizing her Green Belt in Six Sigma and Masters Certification in Project Management.

Ultimately she realized that she couldn’t be contained in an office environment working for the corporate world. Being an investor herself, she came into real estate as an investment & multifamily property specialist, effectively applying her education & skillset. Carla excels in helping investors make sound decisions for their financial goals, in real estate negotiations, and takes deep pride in educating homebuyers and sellers.

On a personal note, Carla is a busy wife & mother to two daughters. In addition to an ever growing career and podcast, she also enjoys volunteering and being active in the community. She has a deep love for Arizona and although she travels whenever possible, she always finds her way back to the beautiful Sonoran Desert.

Connect with Carla on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

MHG Commercial emerged from the highly successful and innovative residential brokerage: My Home Group. MHG Commercial’s vetted and experienced advisors have a wide range of complementary professional expertise that span over 100 years of cumulative experience.

Encompassing every aspect of commercial real estate from office to industrial development, raw land to luxury commercial, and multifamily to subdivision development. We excel at out of the box thinking and transactions that require a more hands-on approach and ingenuity.

No matter the property type or service need, our commercial advisors are committed to your objectives. Combined with business finesse and unsurpassed market intelligence, MHG Commercial brokers help you determine and surpass your business goals.

Follow MHG Commercial on Facebook and Instagram.

Arizona Commerce Authority – 10 Years of Growth Re-Imagined E16

August 4, 2021 by Karen

AZ TechCast

Arizona Commerce Authority - 10 Years of Growth Re-Imagined E16

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Arizona Commerce Authority – 10 Years of Growth Re-Imagined E16

This episode of AZTechCast features three members of the ACA’s leadership team: Andy Lombard, Executive Vice President of Innovation and Venture Development; Jena Coolidge McGovern, SVP of Marketing and Communications; Brian Sherman, Chief Innovation Officer. These dedicated leaders are ushering in a new era of economic development — the passionate pursuit of business, the creation of jobs and the stimulation of the economy to benefit all of Arizona.

Moderated by Phoenix Business RadioX, a distinguished panel of business leaders from the Arizona Commerce Authority will join Arizona Technology Council CEO Steve Zylstra to discuss how this successful agency has evolved over the last 10 years, the monumental success it has achieved to improve the state for business and innovation, and the future of economic development in Arizona.

From its inception, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) has been guided by some of the best minds in private industry, the legislature and state universities. This unique collaboration has been one of the chief strengths of the ACA, and the work of the last 10 years would not be possible without the time, leadership and dedication of many individuals.

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy.

The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries. The ACA is overseen by a prestigious public-private sector board of directors bringing together industry, academia and government.

Chaired by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, the board is comprised of the state’s most prominent private-sector business leaders, university and community college presidents, and elected officials.

To learn more, visit www.azcommerce.com.

Andy Lombard serves as Executive Vice President of Innovation and Venture Development for the Arizona Commerce Authority. Prior to joining the ACA full time, he was a Technical Advisor for entrepreneurship. As part of his passion for entrepreneurship, Mr. Lombard helped construct the ACA’s $3 million annual business plan competition, the Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC). Since its inception seven years ago, more than 1,200 technology start-ups have participated in the Challenge, which has resulted in approximately $20 million of invested, non-dilutive capital. He also created and has led Venture Ready, the ACA’s tech start-up mentoring program.

Prior to his work with the ACA, Mr. Lombard spent 14 years at Motorola, leading its Asia wireless business. During that time, he advanced to the director of Motorola Ventures, where he was responsible for managing a $750 million portfolio of technology investments while serving on 22 boards in six countries.

Following Motorola, he joined Silicon Valley tech company Adaptive Broadband, where he led strategy and mergers & acquisitions in a highly successful turnaround which saw the stock price increase to $205 from $6 in 24 months.

In 2000, he founded airBand Communications, a broadband wireless start-up backed by Battery Ventures, Sevin Rosen Funds and Cisco, with $76 million in capital raised, building the company to a more than $400 million valuation. Mr. Lombard has founded two additional venture-backed startups during his career.

Mr. Lombard has earned several recognitions and honors for his work, including Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist; CEO of the Year – CEO World Awards 2014; Executive of the Year, Network Products Guide 2013; Selected by President George W. Bush to serve on the Presidential High-Tech CEO Forum; and Red Herring Top 10 Wireless Startups 2002 for airBand.

Mr. Lombard also volunteers extensive time to mentoring entrepreneurs, community activities and is a volunteer National Ski Patrol for Brighton Ski Resort in Utah.

Mr. Lombard has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Missouri and a degree in Executive Management & Finance from Stanford University.

Jena Coolidge McGovern is the Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications at the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA).

In this role, McGovern enthusiastically leads the ACA’s marketing and communications team and provides oversight, vision and strategy to all marketing functions.

She previously served as the Vice President, Digital Marketing & Communications at the ACA where she worked in close collaboration with the EVP of Strategy to lead an integrated approach to all marketing and communications projects, as well as developed agency-wide marketing strategies and digital marketing enhancements.

Brian Sherman serves as the Chief Innovation Officer of the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Brian approaches economic development as a social entrepreneur, startup evangelist and bureaucracy hacker. He believes human-inspired, market-leveraged, data-driven entrepreneurship can create a better world.

His work is focused on public sector strategy, technology-based economic development, entrepreneurship, early-stage capital formation and technology commercialization, as well as innovation in public policy, strategy and finance.

Brian is a 20+ year public service veteran serving in executive positions at the Arizona Technology Council, Arizona State University, the Town of Gilbert, the State of Arizona and on the founding team of the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Brian has a Bachelor’s degree in Geography/Geographic Information Systems and an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

Follow Arizona Commerce Authority on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About AZ TechCast

AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.

Through the art of connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s guests will share their expertise, success stories, news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling the state’s growing technology ecosystem.

About Your Hosts

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.