Entrepreneurs Archives - Page 17 of 24

Veteran Owned Small Businesses

September 22, 2015 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Veteran Owned Small Businesses

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Veteran Owned Small Businesses

This week I was joined in studio by friend of the show, Lara Hodgson, CEO of NOWaccount. We focused this episode on veteran owned small businesses. Lara introduced us to Kit Walker, a combat-disabled veteran who started his own small business, EBS-4U, after spending several years in the corporate world.

His company provides professional cleaning services for businesses and has begun to expand into construction clean-up. After completing certification as a minority business enterprise and combat-disabled veteran, Kit began to expand his business through fulfilling federal contract opportunities.

We also met Melinda Coker, of Small Business Access Partners, of Gainesville, GA. This non-profit organization works with small business owners, helping them get access to available small business loans for their particular needs.

In our discussion on veteran owned businesses, Melinda explained there are numerous options for business owners today, and shared some information about veteran owned businesses.

Coker explained a resource available through the Veterans Administration. If you go to the VA’s website which is va.gov and click on the resources link and then select businesses, there are several helpful links for veteran small business owners who are seeking financing for their businesses.

VA’s website also allows business owners to customize their search criteria by zip code to find financing options applicable to their area of operation. SBA’s website also has a special tool now for small business owners known as SBA Linc that allows small business owners to fill out a survey for the financing they are looking for and then SBA distributes that information to a network of lenders who can then

respond based on the financing need requested. The applicant is also provided the contact information for the lenders interested in their request.

Special Guests:

Lara O’Connor-Hodgson, CEO of Nowaccount Network Corporation

MBA Harvard Business School
Former Adjunct Professor of Finance, Georgia Institute of Technology
Board of Directors, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
Owner, Insomnia Group
Chairman of the Board, Atlanta Heights Charter School
Second Language–Japanese

Kit Walker, CEO/Founder of EBS-4U

MBA, Management & Organizational Behavior, Woodbury University
Combat-wounded veteran
Previous VP Relationship Manager, Bank of America
Former Consultant, Migration Project Partner, Wells Fargo Bank

Melinda Coker, of Small Business Access Partners

JR Revelry Bourbon Whiskey

September 15, 2015 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

JR Revelry Bourbon Whiskey

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JR Revelry Bourbon Whiskey

On this episode I featured friend of the show, Rick Tapia, the founder of JR Revelry Bourbon Whiskey. I met Rick last year around this time, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month when he appeared on Let’s Talk Small Business, sponsored by the GMSDC.

We talked about how he spent the early years of his career learning about the business side of the beverage industry with Seagram Company. As his career advanced, the possibility of having to relocate began to appear on the horizon Rick decided it was time to pursue an idea that had been on his mind for a while—he’d start his own brand.

So, Rick began working on developing a recipe that would provide the flavor profile and color he was looking for, found a contract distiller, selected the glass he would use, and JR Revelry was born. When I met him last year he was in the process of contacting distributors through which his bourbon would make it to package store and restaurant/bar shelves.

Tapia shared how challenging it is to forge a relationship with distributors, describing how many new beverage makers are trying to do the same time. He ultimately found a receptive distributor in New York and was able to begin marketing his spirit.

Today, JR Revelry Bourbon Whiskey is available in four states, including Georgia, and he’s continuing to work to expand the footprint of his brand.

I had the opportunity to try his bourbon and I can tell you, it is excellent, particularly for its price point. To find out where you can purchase your own bottle, visit the JR Revelry website to see merchants who carry his product.

Special Guest:

Jesus Ricardo (Rick) Tapia, Founder of La Bodega International, LLC and Creator of J.R. Revelry

17 years of experience in alcohol beverage industry
Successful entrepreneur
Actively involved in the community, supporting Hispanic and Latin American Chambers of Commerce
BA, Boston University
Speaks Fluent Spanish

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS: Chuck Douglas with Business Success Training

August 19, 2015 by Mike

On the Money

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS: Chuck Douglas with Business Success Training

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On this episode of “On the Money“, host Joe Moss of Embassy National Bank interviews Chuck Douglas about developing a bullet proof blueprint for your success in business and in life.

Chuck Douglas/Business Success Training

Business Success Training is a company that empowers corporations and businesses with entrepreneurs and soloprreneurs to accelerate bottom line revenue by resourcing them with cutting-edge Sales, Leadership, Social Media, Goal Achievement, Time Mastery, Memory , Referral Generation, Lead Generation and Habit Formation Skill Sets which produce immediate and lasting results.

The primary vehicle through which this is accomplished is their Life and Business Changing SUCCESS SUMMIT 2015 that combines all the previously mentioned skill sets with an additional bonus of networking with your local areas top business professionals. This SUCCESS SUMMIT 2015 is being held at the Cobb Galleria on October 21st.

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“On the Money” focuses on topics and issues allowing small businesses to better navigate the financial services minefield, with analysis and opinions from today’s industry experts on banking and loans. “On the Money” also introduces you to some of the top small business leaders in the Atlanta market.

Hosted by Joe Moss, the president of Embassy National Bank, “On the Money” airs live every Wednesday at 3:00 PM EST from the Business RadioX studio in Gwinnett.

Isabel Marques with Startup Pirates Atlanta – Buckhead Business Radio

July 21, 2015 by angishields

Buckhead Business Radio

Isabel Marques with Startup Pirates Atlanta - Buckhead Business Radio

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Isabel Marques/Startup Pirates Atlanta

Chief Pirate

Startup Pirates is a non-profit global initiative with success in many cities in Europe, Asia and South America, with over 50 programs so far and more than 80 startups created. The Startup Pirates Atlanta program is an intense and fast paced one-week program that enables aspiring entrepreneurs to get inside the startup world and learn how to develop a business idea. With a combination of training, mentoring and idea development, we help participants structure and develop their early stage business ideas. In the end, they have the opportunity to pitch to investors and successful business leaders and receive prizes that enable them to continue their work.

www.Atlanta.StartupPirates.org | Twitter | Facebook

MANAGING A SMALL BUSINESS IN A GROWING ECONOMY: Marie Fratoni with Gets Clients Everywhere and Doug Ireland with Freeland Painting

June 10, 2015 by Mike

On the Money

MANAGING A SMALL BUSINESS IN A GROWING ECONOMY: Marie Fratoni with Gets Clients Everywhere and Doug Ireland with Freeland Painting

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On this episode of “On the Money”, host Joe Moss discusses managing a small business in a growing economy with guests Marie Fratoni and Doug Ireland.

Marie Fratoni/Gets Clients Everywhere

Get Clients Everywhere is a company that provides events, workshops and coaching for entrepreneurs so they create great programs, find the right clients, and make more money. They teach how to create long-term sustainable businesses with predictable income.

Doug Ireland/Freeland Painting

The mission at Freeland Painting is to bring excellence to their clients through home repairs. Painting, roofing and general renovations are not a unique business, but Freeland Painting & Construction intends to be unique within this industry. They believe that their customer’s fulfillment and happiness is the ultimate goal and their only assignment. They believe that only by serving their customers FIRST can they then serve their employees, suppliers and families.

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Hosted by Joe Moss, the president of Embassy National Bank, “On the Money” airs live every Wednesday at 3:00 PM EST from the Business RadioX studio in Gwinnett.

HELPING ENTREPRENEURS: Marie Fratoni with Get Clients Everywhere

May 20, 2015 by Mike

On the Money

HELPING ENTREPRENEURS: Marie Fratoni with Get Clients Everywhere

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Marie Fratoni with Get Clients Everywhere joins host Joe Moss of Embassy National Bank to discuss how entrepreneurs can find success in today’s competitive business world.

Marie Fratoni/Get Clients Everywhere

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Hosted by Joe Moss, the president of Embassy National Bank, “On the Money” airs live every Wednesday at 3:00 PM EST from the Business RadioX studio in Gwinnett.

Pitch The Crowd

May 19, 2015 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Pitch The Crowd

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Pitch The Crowd

I met JR McNair a few months ago when I was just getting started here with the Midtown studio. He is an Atlanta native and hometown sports star that now resides in South Fulton County.

While in College J.R. started a business development company that since its inception has helped over 3,000 small business owners. J.R. is an avid learner and prides himself on mastering a new business skill every 12 months. J.R. has helped incorporate almost 1,000 entities and as such is an expert in the field of corporate formations. J.R. McNair started his first business at the age of 10 years old and has personally started, branded, invested or sold over 30 businesses since that time.

He came by to talk about his newest effort—Pitch The Crowd, a show he recently launched on cable TV here in Atlanta. The show, which currently will air a new episode quarterly, is similar to the popular Shark Tank. With Pitch The Crowd, the goal is to pitch your business or not-for-profit to the crowd funding space.

He brought along several guests who had appeared on the show’s first episode. Emmenette Mason oversees a non-profit organization focused on giving Atlanta young people and adults education on entrepreneurship through a series of weekly workshops in the summer in addition to other educational offerings. IXOYE Global Entrepreneurship Network, or IXGEN for short, has already seen success, with numerous young people who have gone through the program coming back to talk about how they have successfully launched their own small businesses based on what they learned from IXGEN.

IXOYE Global Entrepreneurship Network (IXGEN), is a Georgia nonprofit organization created to provide business support services to assist in creating, strengthening and expanding grassroots micro and small enterprises, and guiding them toward national and international levels of entrepreneurship. IXGEN’s mission is to facilitate access to resources, provide information, technical assistance, training, counseling and other support services, to micro and small entrepreneurs to enable them to promote, strengthen and grow their businesses. IXGEN is committed to ‘promoting a global perspective for micro entrepreneurs in the USA and in Africa.

IXGEN passionately advocates (non-politically), the need for entrepreneurial education as an integral part of the middle and high school curricula throughout the USA and Africa. In this regard, IXGEN has initiated a youth empowerment program (iYEP), for youth in middle and high schools, as well as for young adults. The Youth Empowerment Program (iYEP), is an annual Entrepreneurship, Leadership, & Life Skills Training that provides opportunities for the young people to develop the competencies they need to become successful individuals, and potential business owners.

IXGEN has developed strategic collaborations/partnerships with individual entrepreneurs, philanthropists, development practitioners, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and faith-based organizations that are engaged in economic and community development.

Deontae Trundle came by to talk about Indie Film Loop. The Indie Film Loop is a three-day Film Conference and Creative Showcase that starts on Friday, August 7th, 2015 and ends on Sunday, August 9th. It is projected to be the Southeast regionʼs premiere marketplace for Independent talents within the film & media industries. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover new creative talents within the industry by seeing the showcased participants engaged in intense film related competitions and more. Participants will also be able to gain valuable knowledge from industry leading professionals through thought provoking panel discussions and keynotes, interactive workshops and collaborative opportunities making The Indie Film Loop a vibrant avenue for career development. Emerging professionals of today will be able to earn the right to become the industry elites of tomorrow!

Mark Cano was a Pitch The Crowd participant who is looking for crowd funding to support his efforts to launch a state-of-the-art cosmetology school in the Atlanta area. Having been exposed to the industry of cosmetology education with his wife while living in Florida. Mark’s wife, who has many years of experience in cosmetology was invited to help build a new school in their community and they became intrigued by the possibilities.

Mark has leveraged his background in investment banking, his wife’s experience, and their work as owners of the MedSpa in Johns Creek to develop a passion to build a cosmetology school the he hopes will be the go-to option for the region.

Special Guests:

JR McNair, Business Service Pros, Pitch The Crowd

Founder, Business Service Pros
Launched his first business, age 10

Emmenette Mason, IXOYE Global Entrepreneurship Network

MBA, Entrepreneurship Development, University of Akron
Founder, Youth Empowerment Program
Member, National Association of Professional Women
Counselor, SCORE (Business counseling of SBA, Georgia Chapter)

Deontae Trundle, Managing Partner, Indie Film Loop

AA, Applied Business with focus in Graphic Design, Coyehoga Community College
Produced “Mr. Amazing”, 2009 Atlanta Film project Competition in Atlanta, Winning 5 “Best Of” Awards
Previous Creative Director, Upris Corp
Creative Director/Founder, Creative Synergy Design, LLC

Profitability Revolution Paradigm

January 20, 2015 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Profitability Revolution Paradigm

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Profitability Revolution Paradigm

This week we hosted Ruth King, CEO/Founder of Profitability Revolution Paradigm, a New Media, internet-based TV station in the Atlanta area. The focus of the content, which now runs 24/7/365, is on information that will help business owners better manage their small businesses and achieve maximum profitability. Ruth, who has started and built at least 7 businesses over the last 30 years, shared common mistakes and misperceptions business owners have that can leave them blind to the true financial status of their companies. One of these mistakes occurs when business owners don’t review their balance sheet each month to insure data is correctly entered and key financial indicators are showing positive trends. By performing this simple procedure, which literally takes minutes, the entrepreneur can identify negative trends or opportunities to improve efficiencies that lead to greater profitability.

Ruth talked about her book, The Courage to Be Profitable, published in 2013. In her book she shows entrepreneurs the activities they should make routine that will take them ~30 mins./month that will make them better able to make decisions about their business. She covers the difference between cash and profits, talks about important ratios found on the Profit & Loss sheet or Balance sheet that indicate the health of the business, and many other important factors that a business own can benefit from knowing about. Ruth shared some descriptions of the types of shows airing on the network as well as the subscription-based instructional content available on their site, profitabilityrevolution.com.

Special Guest:

Ruth King, CEO/Founder of Profitability Revolution Paradigm

MBA, Finance, Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business
CEO, Business Ventures Corporation
Author, The Courage to be Profitable
Founder of 7 businesses over 30 years

Three Fantastic Female Entrepreneurs

December 16, 2014 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Three Fantastic Female Entrepreneurs

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Three Fantastic Female Entrepreneurs

This week I got to sit down with Three Fantastic Entrepreneurs from the Atlanta area. Diana Keough, CEO and founder of ShareWIK Media Group (Share What I Know), LeeAnn Maxwell, Co-Founder of Vixen Vodka, and Lara Hodgson, multiple-time successful entrepreneur and CEO/Founder of NOWaccount. We talked about some of the challenges they faced as women launching their own businesses, hear what they believe helped them succeed as entrepreneurs, and advice they offer for women contemplating starting a business of their own. For the longest time most of us would envision a man when thinking “CEO” or “Doctor”, or even “Entrepreneur”. And, as our guests shared, many times they’re the only female CEO/Entrepreneur in a room full of men. Times are slowly but surely changing. And today many women are launching successful brands and businesses, some of which are now global brands.

ShareWIK Media Group is a licensed content-generating group, producing high quality, interesting content across all media types for use in population health management efforts, inbound marketing/branding, testimonial content, and pertinent health optimization content. Diana talked about her transition from a journalist for the Plains Dealer newspaper to a Chief Executive Officer in a leadership role. She says, “If you are not surrounding yourself with people who are better than you and open to the fact that you might be wrong; or they might have a better idea on how to do things, then you’re not going to grow.” Over the weeks since I met Diana I’ve had the opportunity to meet several of the folks who make up the team at ShareWIK and seen some of their work. I can tell you: if your organization or agency needs to move an initiative or your business forward and you rely heavily on engaging your target audience to drive awareness you MUST include ShareWIK Media Group on your shortlist of content providers. At their core, the people at ShareWIK Media Group are journalists with expertise across all media types. On top of journalistic skills they bring knowledge and expertise within the healthcare journalism space as well.

Vixen Vodka is an EXCELLENT vodka that was born out of a trip to St. Simons Island, GA where two friends, drinking cocktails by the pool, decided they should launch their own vodka, branded and tailored for women. As LeeAnn says, “We came home, sobered up, and remembered it was a great idea.” “A dream without action is merely a fantasy.” It took them 2 years from beach to shelf. She shared how she and her good friend (also a woman) broke into the spirits business, starting with ZERO knowledge of how to make vodka much less how to bring one to market. After being told her idea was fantastic by a business consultant he turned around and told them, “I’ll never work. The spirits industry is a Good Ol’ Boys network. Those men will chew you up and spit you out!” That was several years ago and now the brand is adding more states to the seven states where they’re currently sold.

NOWaccount got started as a solution to a problem Lara Hodgson encountered as an entrepreneur with an earlier business, the impact of not having access to cash that is tied up holding unpaid invoices, particularly when they aged for several weeks (or more). She firmly believes that a successful business needs to have people behind them who are providing the product/service to solve a particular problem for their customer more so than “to sell lots of ‘X’ and make lots of money because it’s a great product”. She said, “So many people come up with a great idea and they fall in love with the ‘What’. They fall in love with the widget or the product. And if your ego and your passion is in the product then they are going to woefully un-deliver. But if your ego and your passion are in the “So What?” and the impact and the problem you’re solving then the sky’s the limit.” NOWaccount is a merchant services company that provides the B2B company with access to capital by selling slower-paying invoice accounts within 2-5 days for basically the same cost as accepting a credit card. Their solution is invisible to their client’s customers, has no minimum time commitment, and includes only those accounts selected by the B2B they’re helping. The NOWaccount option gives businesses the capital they need to accept larger orders, add staff, often enabling them grow larger and faster than was possible before.

Special Guests:

Lara O’Connor-Hodgson, CEO of Nowaccount Network Corporation

MBA Harvard Business School
Former Adjunct Professor of Finance, Georgia Institute of Technology
Board of Directors, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
Owner, Insomnia Group
Chairman of the Board, Atlanta Heights Charter School
Second Language–Japanese

Diana Keough, CEO/Founder of ShareWIK.com

Journalism Instructor/Guest Lecturer, Emory University
Member, Koles College of Business Advisory Board, Kennsaw State University
Former Front Page Series Writer, The Plain Dealer
Former Reporter/Commentator, WKSU
Co-author, “Building a Business, Building a Life: The Incredible Life of a Woman Business Owner”

LeeAnn Maxwell, CEO/Co-Founder of Vixen Vodka