economic development Archives - Page 4 of 6

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Alpharetta, An Interview with Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta (Alpharetta CVB) and Matt Thomas, City of Alpharetta Economic Development

August 23, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Alpharetta, An Interview with Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta (Alpharetta CVB) and Matt Thomas, City of Alpharetta Economic Development

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**Kali Boatright, Matthew Thomas, and Janet Rodgers**

Episode 27, All Things Alpharetta

Why does Alpharetta keep achieving such high rankings for quality of life? What makes Alpharetta such an attractive place to do business, particularly for technology companies? What are some of the signature events which draw visitors to Alpharetta? Join Host Kali Boatright as she poses these questions and more to Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta, and Matthew Thomas, Economic Development Manager of the City of Alpharetta. The “GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta, the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau

**Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta, the Alpharetta CVB**

Janet Rodgers is President and CEO of Awesome Alpharetta, the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau. The mission statement of the Alpharetta CVB is “to position the city of Alpharetta as a regionally, nationally and globally recognized premier tourism destination by developing quality programs and facilities to attract overnight visitors.”

The Alpharetta CVB uses innovative and targeted marketing strategies, along with aggressive sales efforts, to attract overnight visitors to the city. They do this in three key areas:

1. Increasing the awareness and identity of Alpharetta as a destination for the leisure and individual traveler and raising awareness of the economic importance of the visitor industry to Alpharetta by placing advertisements, writing press releases, utilizing social media and maintaining a technologically advanced website

2. Employing a variety of sales strategies to increase the number of group room nights booked in Alpharetta’s 26 hotels through attendance at tradeshows, association meetings and conferences as well as sales calls and site visits with event organizers

3. Providing leadership for the visitor industry, coordinating activities, encouraging marketing activities and partnerships, and projecting an appealing image on behalf of the city of Alpharetta

For more information on the Alpharetta CVB and their services, call 678-297-2811 and request their brochure, “A Look at the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau.” You can also visit the Awesome Alpharetta website.

Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta Economic Development

Matthew Thomas is the Economic Development Manager for the City of Alpharetta.

There’s a reason why more than 640 technology-based businesses have made their home in Alpharetta, and it’s not just the nice houses and great weather. The city’s fiber-optic network is the most extensive and redundant in the Southeast, and they work closely with state and local economic development agencies to provide tax credits and incentives to complement any brand of business. Some of the biggest and most recognized names in the tech industry are thriving in Alpharetta. With more than 20 million square feet of office space, there’s plenty of room in the neighborhood for you next expansion.

The City of Alpharetta has been recognized nationally in a variety of awards and rankings, including Best Small City to Start Business (Entrepreneur.com), Best Atlanta Suburb (Movoto), Top 25 Best Places to Move (Forbes), 7th Friendliest City (Forbes), and 6th Fastest Growing City (U.S. Census, 2012).

For more information, go to GrowAlpharetta.com, or call 678-297-6024.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce**

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” (formerly “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”) 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.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Roswell, An Interview with Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

July 19, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Roswell, An Interview with Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

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**Steve Stroud, Kali Boatright, and Andy Williams**

Episode 26, All Things Roswell

What makes the City of Roswell so attractive to millennials, families, and empty-nesters? Why is Roswell such an attractive location for business? What are some of the signature events which draw visitors to Roswell? Join Host Kali Boatright as she poses these questions and more to Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc. The “GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau

**Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau**

Andy Williams is the Executive Director of Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau. Visit Roswell and the Roswell Visitors Center is the place for “All Things Roswell.” It is a convenient place to start your excursion whether you are looking for historic attractions, trails to hike, nature, entertainment, breweries, or Roswell’s extensive culinary scene.

Knowledgeable staff can assist with arrangements for a fun filled day, overnight stay, or a several day trip. The Roswell Visitors Center is located at the intersection of Hwy. 9 and Sloan Street in Roswell’s Historic District (just across the street from the Historic Town Square.) at 617 Atlanta Street; Roswell, GA 30075.

You can email info@visitroswellga.com, or call 770-640-3253 or 800-776-7935. The Visit Roswell website can be found at http://www.visitroswellga.com/.

Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

Steve Stroud is the Executive Director for Economic Development with Roswell Inc.

As the economic development and business advocacy organization for the City of Roswell, Roswell Inc. serves as a catalyst for a sustainable, innovative and vibrant business community in the city.

Their vision is for Roswell to be the best place in the region for innovative, community-minded businesses and entrepreneurs, and they accomplish this through four main areas of work—business attraction and recruitment, business retention and expansion, industry support programs, and business development.

As a 501(c)6 nonprofit, Roswell Inc. has worked with the City of Roswell through a public-private partnership since 2012 by serving as an advocate for business and economic growth.

For more information, go to https://roswellinc.org/ or call 678-823-4004.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

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

Robert Long with Forward Forsyth

July 17, 2019 by Mike

Case In Point

Robert Long with Forward Forsyth

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Robert Long/Forward Forsyth

The Cumming-Forsyth Chamber not only serves the business community as a traditional chamber, but it also the lead entity for economic development and tourism. Forsyth County is one of the fastest growing counties in the US, has the #1 school system in Georgia, and is the most affluent county in Georgia.

Forward Forsyth is your resource for all things business in Forsyth County. Forward Forsyth is here to connect you to the opportunities you need to get started, relocate or grow.

Andrew Kolikoff with Kolikoff and Company and Ian Wist with Wist Office Products E4

June 3, 2019 by Karen

AZ-GOOD-BUSINESS-Andrew-Kolikoff-with-Kolikoff-and-Company-and-Ian-Wist-with-Wist-Office-Products1

Phoenix Business Radio

Andrew Kolikoff with Kolikoff and Company and Ian Wist with Wist Office Products E4

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Andrew Kolikoff with Kolikoff and Company and Ian Wist with Wist Office Products E4

Kolikoff and Company is a business growth and development consulting firm that has a passion for serving people. We have a passion for growth – of both people and businesses.

We have a passion for making it rain, so you can enjoy more happiness, fulfillment and prosperity in your life, while you too are in service to others. The most important thing to know about Kolikoff is that our focus is on YOU.

Andrew Kolikoff, Owner of Kolikoff and Company, is a former chief science officer, 3-time successful business owner (once landing him on the front page of USA Today), author, adjunct professor, coach and consultant now helping lead the charge in one of Arizona’s fastest growing tech companies.

Andrew has mentored over 500 business owners and professionals.

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

As a charter member of Local First Arizona, Wist Office Products has since 2003 helped to promote, strengthen and support local business. The Wist family has owned and operated Wist Office Products for 58 years. The average life span of a family-owned business is 24 years.

Ian Wist’s grandfather, Martin Wist, entered the office supply industry in 1921 with PBSW Supply and Equipment. Wist Office Products has been a yearly Alfred P. Sloan Award winner for workplace flexibility since 2008.

Ian Wist is an experienced General Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the business supplies and equipment industry.

Skilled in Negotiation, Customer Service, Sales, Strategic Planning, and Business Development, Ian is a strong entrepreneurship professional with a Bachelor of Science, Marketing focused in Business Marketing from Arizona State University.

Connect with Ian on LinkedIn.

About Arizona Good Business Radio

What is good business? What are local businesses doing to build a better Arizona?

Join Arizona Good Business Radio to hear from local companies who are:

Centering purpose at the forefront of business
Creating social well-being for the community
Prioritizing sustainability and positive environmental practices
Growing strong company cultures through building authentic teams
Ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion are involved in all business decisions

Arizona Good Business Radio features local business leaders that are redefining what it means to do good business.

About Your Host

Thomas Barr is the Executive Director for Local First Arizona, the largest coalition of local businesses in North America. He advocates for a strong local business community that contributes to building vibrancy, equity, and prosperity across the state. A proud Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University,Thomas leads the business coalition of Local First Arizona by advocating for the economic and cultural benefits provided by building strong local economies.

Thomas steers the strategic direction of LFA’s major programs and initiatives as well as the engagement of over 3000 businesses across Arizona. As Executive Director, Thomas guides a team of statewide senior directors overseeing the execution of LFA’s communication strategy, major initiatives and key partnerships, as well as the collaboration of over 30 staff implementing work in entrepreneurship programs, small business advocacy, local food initiatives, sustainability, urban development and community building. He frequently speaks to groups locally and nationally, presenting the impact of Local First Arizona and the importance of local economy work in building prosperity.

Outside of Local First Arizona, Thomas has participated in volunteering his time to many causes and organizations throughout the Valley including Young Nonprofit Professionals – Phoenix, Equality Arizona, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Heritage Square Foundation and Phoenix Legal Action Network. Additionally, Thomas is a 2018 Phoenix Magazine 40 Under 40 honoree, alumni of Arizona Leading for Change, and current participant in Valley Leadership Institute’s 40th cohort.

Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Local First AZ

Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization that celebrates independent, locally owned businesses. We support, promote and advocate for a strong local business community and raise public awareness of the economic and cultural benefits provided by strong local economies. Local businesses contribute to a sustainable economy for Arizona and build vibrant communities we’re all proud to call home.

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

May 28, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

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**Geoff Smith and Ann Hanlon on “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”**

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: An Interview with Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

Host Geoff Smith speaks with Ann Hanlon, Executive Director of the Perimeter CIDs, on the history of community improvement districts in Georgia, why they are so important in economic and infrastructure development, and the project priorities for the Perimeter CIDs.

Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

As Executive Director for the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs), Ann Hanlon is in charge of the organization’s daily operations, as well as its investments in transportation infrastructure. The Perimeter CIDs have an annual operating budget of $8 million.

Previously, Ann was the Executive Director of the the North Fulton CID for 12 years, beginning when it was a start-up. Prior to joining the North Fulton CID, Ann served as a Senior Program Specialist at the Atlanta Regional Commission. She began her career in the private sector, as a Research and Development Analyst with Press Ganey & Associates, a healthcare consulting firm in South Bend, Indiana.

A native of South Georgia, Ann received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Government and Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame, and a Masters of Public Administration degree in Management and Finance from Georgia State University.

Ann was honored as the “Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Transportation Seminar Atlanta Chapter in November 2016. In April 2015 and again in 2017, Governor Nathan Deal appointed Ann to the Board of Directors for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority where she serves on the Projects and Planning committees. Ann was named “Business Woman of Excellence” by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce in 2019, selected as one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 under 40” in 2018, named a “Notable Georgian” by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2017, one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Women Who Mean Business” in 2015 and as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 under 40” in 2012.

Ann is a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute of the Atlanta Regional Commission (2010) and Leadership North Fulton (2006). She currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Council for Quality Growth and will be the Council’s first female Chairman in 2019. Additionally, Ann serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s’ Transportation Seminar, Atlanta Chapter, the Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce, and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. She has been a citizen member of the “Shape Dunwoody” Comprehensive Plan committee, the North Fulton Poverty Task Force and was Co-Chair of the DeKalb County Charter Review Commission. She is a Chairman’s Circle member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Chamber.

Personally, Ann is a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Metro Atlanta, a member of All Saints Catholic Church and a sustainer with the Junior League of Atlanta. She lives in Dunwoody with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Catherine.

Geoff Smith, Host of “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”

“ATL Developments with Geoff Smith” covers all things economic development in the Atlanta Metro area. From everything inside the Beltline to Avalon and beyond, Geoff Smith interviews the movers and shakers making the ATL one of the best places to live, work and play. An archive of past episodes can be found here.

Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial working with Real Estate agents and homebuyers to help them get happily to their closing table. Geoff is an authority on the latest economic development trends shaping the Atlanta Metro area. His interviews reveal an inside perspective at how things get done in the ATL.

Geoff is an active member of his community serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, as well as holding the position of chairman for the Chamber’s Education Committee. He is also Secretary of the Roswell Youth Baseball Association and coaches his sons in football, baseball and basketball. Geoff enjoys golf, camping and traveling with his wife and two sons. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

“ATL Developments with Geoff Smith” is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®, located inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. 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 approximately $12.9 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.

Kirkland Carden with Duluth City Council and R.J. & LaVerne Cox with Evergreen Investment Realty

February 14, 2019 by Mike

Gwinnett Business Radio

Kirkland Carden with Duluth City Council and R.J. & LaVerne Cox with Evergreen Investment Realty

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Kirkland Carden, R.J. Cox, LaVerne Cox, Mike Sammond

Kirkland Carden/Duluth City Council

Kirkland Carden is a current council member for the City of Duluth, GA. Duluth is recognized as a model city for Gwinnett County. It is poised with a perfect blend of small businesses, entrepreneurial enterprise, major corporations, and visionary developers. Its success rate has been obtainable through sound economic efforts, business advocacy and leadership development. The vitality of Duluth is no accident. It is the result of careful planning and great foresight on the part of its business and community leaders. From tangible communication programs to local events that influence and impact the business environment, Duluth embraces a unique, concentrated form of government.

As the second largest city in Gwinnett County, Duluth is noted first in financial stability throughout the State of Georgia. As a result, there are no bond ratings, and the City basks debt free. This, in addition to Duluth’s favorable growth pattern, has earned it the reputation of a suburban oasis, making it a very desirable address, particularly at the start of a new millennium.

Duluth remains a busy hub today, continuing in the vanguard of the Metro area’s great business and residential expansion. Despite phenomenal growth, it has retained its small-town character, where personal camaraderie, spirited by annual holiday and festive events, is savored. Duluth is home to more than 26,688 residents who live, work and play in its 9.8 square-mile community. Its commercial corridor is among Gwinnett County’s busiest. Over 1,750 businesses are located within the City limits.

R.J. & LaVerne Cox/Evergreen Investment Realty

Evergreen Investment Realty is a niche brokerage dedicated to serving as the solutions provider to the acquisition, operation, and disposition of residential to commercial real estate portfolios. Their services are customized for the investors’ specific needs. They provide personalized advisory services to each of their clients. Bottom line: Evergreen Investment Realty helps investors make the right acquisition and operation decisions depending on their specific situation. Evergreen works extensively with wholesalers, builders, and landlords from local to institutional sized investors.

Robert Long with the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

February 6, 2019 by Mike

Case In Point

Robert Long with the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

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Robert Long/Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber not only serves the business community as a traditional chamber, but it also the lead entity for economic development and tourism. Forsyth County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States, has the #1 school system in the state of Georgia, and is the most affluent county in Georgia.

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: Jeff Petrea with Georgia Power and Bill Bland with Choate Construction

December 4, 2018 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: Jeff Petrea with Georgia Power and Bill Bland with Choate Construction

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Bill Bland, Kali Boatright, and Jeff Petrea

Jeff Petrea/Georgia Power

Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, GA. It was established as the Georgia Railway and Power Company and began operations in 1902 running streetcars in Atlanta as a successor to the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company.

Georgia Power is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company. Georgia Power is an investor-owned, tax-paying public utility that serves more than 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. It employs approximately 7,500 workers throughout the state.

Bill Bland/Choate Construction

Choate Construction Company is one of the largest general contractors in the Southeast specializing in Preconstruction, Design-Build, LEED Programming / Implementation, and Construction Management services for multiple market sectors. Choate is a 100% employee-owned company and proud to hold an 85% rate of repeat clients. Due to financial strength and depth of expertise Choate’s annual volume has continued to grow, topping $1.2 billion in 2017. Additionally, Choate has received many notable distinctions including being named the 2017 Southeast Contractor of the Year by ENR magazine. Choate’s employees are members of various professional and personal organizations with a strong backbone of charitable involvement. Choate is continually recognized as one of the top corporate fundraisers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation having raised over $3 million to date.

North Atlanta’s Bizlink is produced 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. Our 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. We 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.

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jonathan Keyser with Keyser Co and Jenny Poon with Co-Hoots

September 4, 2018 by Karen

Jodi-Low-with-Jenny-Poon-and-Jonathan-Keyser-on-Business-RadioX1

Phoenix Business Radio

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jonathan Keyser with Keyser Co and Jenny Poon with Co-Hoots

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LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jonathan Keyser with Keyser Co and Jenny Poon with Co-Hoots

Keyser is a model to businesses in all industries that consistent selfless service can result in extraordinary profits and success. Keyser is a commercial real estate and business advisory firm that manages domestic and international real estate portfolios. They have gone against the grain of their industry’s profit- driven, win at all costs tendencies. Keyser’s ‘serve-first’ mantra brings client service and advocacy to a whole new level. This cutting edge philosophy is working since Keyser is the fastest growing commercial real estate firm in the Southwest with the focus to become a billion dollar company.

Whether the need is to relocate, consolidate, downsize, expand, renegotiate a current lease, purchase a property, or construct a building, Keyser has the expertise and experience needed to manage the project. They are fully committed to helping their clients reduce their real estate expense, increase their flexibility and enhance their competitive position in the global marketplace.

Keyser’s refreshing selfless service business model has been disruptive to the commercial real estate industry and the business marketplace. Beyond their real estate needs, companies seek out Keyser’s services to redesign their businesses using the Keyser selfless service model.

Jonathan Keyser is the founder and thought leader behind Keyser. With more than 18 years of experience in the Commercial Real Estate Industry, Jonathan represents companies both domestically and internationally across a broad range of industries. Jonathan is particularly good at identifying creative strategies to align real estate with business requirements, designing and implementing unique solutions to complex real estate challenges, and solving Landlord / Tenant conflicts where negotiations have deteriorated in the face of rising hostilities.

Jonathan speaks throughout the nation to thousands of professionals annually at industry and charity events. His selfless service model resonates with corporations and individuals seeking a competitive edge to acquiring and maintaining clients. His book, DISRUPTIVE, explains this model and is sure to disrupt the marketplace.

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn.

CO+HOOTS is the largest coworking community in Arizona and was recently ranked one of the top coworking spaces in the nation by Inc.com. CO+HOOTS’ unique model is highly successful because of its ability to attract passionate entreprenurs and surround them with impactful resources and each other in one highly productive collaborative space. The results are simple: consistently stronger and more successful businesses. As a social enterprise, CO+HOOTS is often sited as a catalyst for building vibrant innovation hubs in emerging cities. On average, CO+HOOTS’ supports the creation of more than 100 jobs a year across different industries through access to resources, shared space and educational events

CO+HOOTS launched their non-profit arm that focuses on inclusion by expanding entrepreneuership to underrepresented communities in 2014. The non-profit further supports entrepreneurs in building solutions that will change the world and create wealth with in their city.

Jenny Poon is an entrepreneur and founder of CO+HOOTS. Ranked #4 coworking space in the nation by Inc.com, CO+HOOTS currently houses 280+ scaling entrepreneurs and small businesses and has been an integral role in creating hundreds of jobs locally. She has led CO+HOOTS from its inception in 2010 to be the #1 most innovative coworking space in the world. Her background in business, design and marketing led her to build a place where she could connect with like-minded folks that believe business growth comes from collaboration between different industries. She speaks regularly on the gig economy, the importance of nurturing innovation in the workspace and works tirelessly to bring visibility to coworking as an economic development tool for building vibrant and equitable cities.

Her background as an award-winning designer and strategist led her to build a shared work space where she could connect with like-minded, talented folks who believe collaboration between industries is where innovation flourishes. Jenny serves as an advisor for several startups, Chair of the CO+HOOTS Foundation, and mentors young entrepreneurs weekly.

Jenny was named Phoenix Business Journal’s 2016 Phoenix Businessperson of the Year. The first minority and the first woman to receive the honor.

Follow CO+HOOTS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Leadership Lowdown was created to share the REAL story behind valley leaders’ rise to the top, and the truth about what it takes to TRULY succeed in life and business. Hear the raw stories of these leaders’ journeys…the pitfalls, the victories, and all of the heartaches and triumphs in between.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Jodi Low is an accomplished corporate trainer, inspirational speaker, and the Founder and CEO of U & Improved. Jodi has trained thousands of entrepreneurs and executives on how to build a booming business, master a mindset for success, and achieve the lifestyle they desire through heart-fueled leadership.

Through U & Improved—an award-winning personal and professional leadership development company based in Scottsdale—Jodi has redefined traditional leadership training by creating a sustainable and actionable model that is personal, challenging and meaningful to each and every individual who enrolls in any of the two-and-a-half-day experiential training classes. She and her elite training team have advanced the charge in heart-based leadership
development and empower U & Improved graduates with knowledge, tools and awareness to immediately be more effective and responsive leaders at work, home and within their communities.

Among her many accomplishments as a Valley leader, Jodi launched a teen leadership program in 2014 to empower young adults to become more confident, motivated and focused stewards of our future. In 2016, she founded a non-profit arm of the company—the U & Improved Leadership Foundation—that makes the program more accessible to deserving teens.

Jodi has been recognized by industry publications and organizations for her work in leadership development and serves as a source of inspiration within the community. In 2015, she was honored as an “Outstanding Women in Business” by the Phoenix Business Journal and by the Phoenix Suns and National Bank of Arizona with the “Amazing Women” award. She has received both the prestigious “Diversity Leader of the Year” and the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce’s “Sterling Award.” She was also awarded a Silver Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 and was a finalist for the Junior League of Phoenix’s Valley Impact Award. Jodi is a devoted single parent who volunteers her time at her daughters’ school programs and with organizations such as Angel Mamas, where she’s served on the board for three years.