In this edition of Global Leader Radio!™, we discuss the skills & leadership acumen necessary for success as a micro or small business owner. Laura Ann Hart and Veronica Maldonado joined Alvin C. Miles as in-studio guests to discuss the resources available for business owners, the importance of education to success, and the personal fulfillment of serving others!
Here are seven takeaways from our discussion:
- What small businesses need is a helping hand!
- When everyone takes care of their own backyard, the outcome is a great community.
- Surround yourself with people that aid in your development.
- Always seek more!
- We are designed to be of service to others.
- To be a leader is a gift!
- Don’t be afraid to do the right thing, even when it’s not popular.
Listen in as Laura Ann and Veronica describe how they’ve gotten to a successful point in their careers. Add their insights, tips and resources to your leadership toolkit. Leadership IS a conversation!
Laura Ann Hart/ President, Quickie Coupons, LLC
Laura Ann Hart is a true “Georgia Girl!” Having been born and raised in the South, Laura has taken “southern hospitality and customer service” to a whole new level in her young and vibrant sales & marketing company Quickie Coupons! “First Class is Free” has been her philosophy and building blocks that she hangs her pearls on every day! Over the past 8 years Laura has sold over 40 million dollars in goods and services and continues her “Pursuit of Excellence” Vision in everything that she does.
Laura Ann created a company in a downturn market that is helping businesses survive and thrive with the simple introduction of coupons into their marketing plan. Since the beginning of Quickie Coupons Laura Ann has increased overall sales by 55% in year two and another 35% in years three and four. Quickie Coupons has consistently maintained a 94% customer retention level – all without long term contracts. In February of 2011, Quickie Coupons became an official Franchisor, with a federally registered trademark and the ability to sell franchises throughout the country. Laura is currently in the process of opening up Quickie Coupons Roswell in September of this year. Quickie Coupons was a finalist for business of the year in 2010 and 2011.
Before starting Quickie Coupons, Laura spent five years as a Top Producer with RE/MAX Unlimited where she learned the true value of helping and serving others. Under the mentoring of Pam and Gerry Rogers, Laura was able to make the transition from stay at home mom to an award winning Top Producing Agent. During her real estate career Laura helped hundreds of clients buy and sell property. Laura received the “Rookie of the Year” Award in 2005, earned the #1 Top Producing Individual Agent in 2006 & 2008, #3 Top Producing Individual Agent in 2007 and was also honored with the RE/MAX 100% Club Award four years in a row. Laura also had the privilege of writing a monthly real estate column in the local paper sharing her experiences and best “tips & tricks” on how to navigate the real estate world.
In 2012, Laura was the President of the Kennesaw Business Association (the largest non-chamber business association in the state of Georgia), a board member for the Acworth Business Association and a character education teacher at Kennesaw Mountain High School. In 2013 Laura graduated from the esteemed Leadership Cobb Program. Currently Laura serves as a director/ past president for the Kennesaw Business Association and participates in several committees dedicated to improving our local community and helping businesses grow.
Giving back and taking care of their community is a must for Laura and her family. The Hart’s have actively participated and contributed to several charity and service organizations ranging from “Shop with a Hero Programs”, Carrabba’s Culinary Cook-off, Must Ministries, Calvary Children’s Home, Hayes Elementary Food Pantry, Kilometer Kids, Northstar Church Volunteers, NJROTC, Boy scouts, One Call Foundation, Susan G Komen Breast Cancer, Northstar Couples Group Leaders, ARC (Atlanta Recovery Center / Homeless Shelter) and MDA. Teaching their children to “give back” has been a priority for both Laura and her husband Eric. Laura and Eric recently celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary. They have three children, Joshua, Alexandria and Jeffrey and live in Acworth, Ga.
Laura received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Shorter College in 1997 and her Associates of Arts Degree in Fashion Merchandising from Bauder College in 1990. Laura holds and maintains a Georgia Real Estate Sales Person License and is certified in several areas of scuba diving.
Contact Laura: (678) 918-6961, laura@quickiecouponbook.com
Veronica Maldonado/ Program Director, Ga. Mentor Protégé Connection
Ms. Maldonado is a dynamic and versatile Latina community business leader whose voice, passion and purpose are focused on building up the human spirit, creating synergy amongst communities, and fighting for the “inalienable right” for all to progress and excel in any environment.
She is an expert in fostering strategic alliances, creating win-win negotiations and implementing effective marketing strategies that increase any brand value throughout the pipeline. She is ready to meet and exceed any challenge set before her, a quality most recently demonstrated as director of the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, which is a mentor protégé program—the first of its kind in the nation.
The product of hard work, determination and perseverance as well as an entrepreneurial family tree that spans generations in the U.S & Latin America, Ms. Maldonado is uniquely qualified to lead the MPC program and thereby to help provide a path to sustainability, progression, and economic growth for small business owners in Georgia.
Contact Veronica: (404) 589-4929, veronicam@georgiamentorprotegeconnection.org
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