Financial Literacy Archives - Business RadioX ®

Bill Cates on How Your Money Story Shapes Your Pricing

December 3, 2025 by John Ray

How Your Money Story Shapes Your Pricing: Bill Cates on The Hidden Heist, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Bill Cates on How Your Money Story Shapes Your Pricing

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How Your Money Story Shapes Your Pricing: Bill Cates on The Hidden Heist (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 154)

Many expert-service pros quietly carry money worries into every pricing decision they make. They undercharge, hesitate to raise fees, or avoid looking too closely at their finances, even while they help clients make sound business decisions. In this episode of The Price and Value Journey, John Ray talks with referral and money-story expert Bill Cates about how the stories you absorbed about money early in life still shape your business today.

Bill shares ideas from his new parable, The Hidden Heist: Stop Robbing Yourself of Lasting Wealth, and explains why so many professionals operate from scarcity, money anxiety, and what he calls “money denial.” He and John connect those mindsets to common pricing traps, like discounting by reflex, staying in “satisfied” territory instead of becoming truly remarkable, and quietly resenting clients while never asking for referrals.

Listeners will hear how to think of money as something that flows toward value, why you cannot become someone you secretly resent, and how inherited beliefs about “people with money” can cap your earning potential. Bill also talks about building “business friendships” that lead to advocacy and why curiosity and empathy are the best tools you have to uncover a client’s own money story.

If you want to strengthen your pricing, feel more grounded talking about fees, and stop letting old money narratives run your firm from the shadows, this conversation will help you start that work.

The Price and Value Journey is presented by John Ray and produced by North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of the Business RadioX® podcast network.

Key Takeaways You Can Use from This Episode

Notice the money messages you grew up with and how they still show up in your pricing, discounting, and growth decisions.
Shift from a fixed-pie view of money to seeing it as something that flows toward genuine value and outcomes.
Move from “my clients are satisfied” to “my clients love me” and then to being truly remarkable and referable.
Build “business friendships” with clients, where strong results and genuine personal connection sit side by side.
Use curiosity and follow-up questions to surface a client’s hidden money beliefs so you can serve them better and avoid false assumptions.
Stop money denial by taking responsibility for your own financial clarity instead of abdicating everything to advisers.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Bill Cates
01:59 Bill Cates’ Background and Adventures
03:05 The Hidden Heist: A Unique Approach to Financial Literacy
04:56 Understanding Money Stories and Limiting Beliefs
07:31 The Scarcity Mindset and Its Impact
10:47 Getting into the Flow of Money
17:41 Inherited Money Stories and Their Effects
22:32 The Power of Awareness and Money Stories
22:45 Basic Financial Principles
22:59 Working with Financial Professionals
23:16 Understanding Money Mindsets
24:53 The Importance of Masterminds and Advisory Boards
27:05 Money Denial and Its Impact
32:17 The Role of Financial Advisors
37:04 Empathy and Client Relationships
41:15 Conclusion and Resources

Bill Cates, Referral Coach International

Bill Cates is an internationally recognized expert in relationship marketing and referrals, serving as the president of Referral Coach International and the founder of The Cates Academy for Relationship Marketing, where he assists financial advisors and other professionals in achieving exponential growth by multiplying their best clients through warm introductions rather than traditional prospecting. He is a Hall of Fame keynote speaker and bestselling author of books such as Get More Referrals Now, Beyond Referrals, Radical Relevance, and The Language of Referrals. Additionally, he hosts the Top Advisor Podcast, interviewing top performers about client acquisition and growth strategies.

Referral Coach International is Bill Cates’ consulting and training firm dedicated to helping advisors, teams, and organizations build a referral‑driven, relationship marketing culture based on how clients actually prefer to meet new advisors: through recommendations and introductions from people they already trust. The firm’s unique Bill Cates Relationship Marketing System and the “3 R’s of Relationship Marketing” focus on identifying a specific target market, clearly communicating valuable information, building a strong reputation in a niche area, and then using that reputation to generate a steady stream of suitable client referrals and introductions.

RCI delivers its work through video-based training, one‑on‑one and team coaching, live workshops, and consulting, with a particular emphasis on financial advisors and advisory firms that want to increase revenue without increasing their marketing budget. Across these programs, the aim is to help professionals become “super referrable,” systematize how they ask for and receive introductions, and create a business where high-trust, high-conversion referral opportunities are a primary engine of growth.

Website | LinkedIn | YouTube

John Ray, Host of The Price and Value Journey

John Ray, Author of The Generosity Mindset and Host of The Price and Value Journey — John Ray, Author of *The Generosity Mindset* and Host of *The Price and Value Journey*

John Ray is the host of The Price and Value Journey.

John owns Ray Business Advisors, a business advisory practice. John’s services include business coaching and advisory work, as well as advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their pricing. John is passionate about the power of pricing for business owners, as changing pricing is the fastest way to change the profitability of a business. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, consultants, coaches, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is a podcast show host and the owner of North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®. John and his team work with B2B professionals to create and conduct their podcast using The Generosity Mindset® Method: building and deepening relationships in a non-salesy way that translates into revenue for their business.

John is also the host of North Fulton Business Radio. With over 900 shows and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in its region like no one else.

John’s book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices

John Ray is the author of the five-star rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.

If you are a professional services provider, your goal is to do transformative work for clients you love working with and get paid commensurate with the value you deliver to them. While negative mindsets can inhibit your growth, adopting a different mindset, The Generosity Mindset®, can replace those self-limiting beliefs. The Generosity Mindset enables you to diagnose and communicate the value you deliver to clients and, in turn, more effectively price to receive a portion of that value.

Whether you’re a consultant, coach, marketing or branding professional, business advisor, attorney, CPA, or work in virtually any other professional services discipline, your content and technical expertise are not proprietary. What’s unique, though, is your experience and how you synthesize and deliver your knowledge. What’s special is your demeanor or the way you deal with your best-fit clients. What’s invaluable is how you deliver outstanding value by guiding people through massive changes in their personal lives and in their businesses that bring them to a place they never thought possible.

Your combination of these elements is unique in your industry. There lies your value, but it’s not the value you see. It’s the value your best-fit customers see in you.

If pricing your value feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar to you, this book will teach you why putting a price on the value your clients perceive and identify serves both them and you, and you’ll learn the factors involved in getting your price right.

The book is available at all major physical and online book retailers worldwide. Follow this link for further details.

Connect with John Ray:

Website | LinkedIn | Email

Business RadioX®: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

How Banks Shape Workforce Housing in North Fulton

August 22, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

How Banks Shape Workforce Housing in North Fulton

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How Banks Shape Workforce Housing in North Fulton (North Fulton Voices, Episode 13)

Affordable housing is often discussed in terms of zoning, development, or politics, but the financial system behind it is just as critical. In this episode of North Fulton Voices, hosts Jack Murphy and Kathy Swahn examine workforce housing through the banking lens with Antonio Henson of Renasant Bank and Scott Doll of American Commerce Bank.

Antonio and Scott explain how the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) shapes what banks can and cannot do, and why CRA responsibilities go beyond loans to include financial literacy, board service, and community investment. The conversation also explores specific tools, from down payment assistance and Federal Home Loan Bank grants to manufactured housing and consortium lending, that can make projects financially viable.

Along the way, the guests unpack the toughest barriers, including land costs and loan risk, and highlight why creativity and collaboration among banks, developers, and municipalities are essential. For listeners in North Fulton and beyond, the episode offers a candid view of how financial institutions weigh risk, balance shareholder obligations with community needs, and use regulatory frameworks to help expand housing access for essential workers.

North Fulton Voices is presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network. The show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

Housing Costs Outpace Income: Median home prices in North Fulton far exceed what many essential workers can afford
Banks as Enablers: While banks don’t build houses, they finance developers, provide loan products, and support community services through CRA obligations
CRA Requirements: Banks must demonstrate community impact through lending, investment, and service — from financial literacy programs to nonprofit board work
Creative Financing Tools: Down payment assistance, manufactured housing, and partnerships with community development financial institutions (CDFIs) can reduce barriers
Land as the Biggest Barrier: High land costs remain the toughest challenge, but land trusts and consortium lending models offer potential solutions
Moving Forward: Collaboration among banks, municipalities, and developers is essential to create realistic workforce housing opportunities

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Voices
00:23 Introducing the Hosts and Guests
00:54 Discussing the Housing Crisis
03:24 Banking Industry’s Role in Housing
04:03 Guest Introductions and Backgrounds
12:24 Community Reinvestment Act Overview
16:02 Banking Products and Programs
18:55 Challenges and Opportunities in Workforce Housing
20:26 Forum and Future Steps
20:59 Bankers’ Involvement in Affordable Housing
24:03 Consortiums and Partnerships in Development
25:30 Financing and Zoning for Housing Projects
32:26 Challenges and Solutions for Affordable Housing
35:51 Community and Policy for Housing Development
39:35 Contact Information and Closing Remarks

Antonio Henson, Renansat Bank

Antonio Henson, Renasant Bank, on the North Fulton Voices podcast — **Antonio Henson, Renasant Bank**

Antonio Henson has over twenty years of experience in business and banking. He has facilitated training sessions for staff aimed at enhancing product & credit knowledge and regulatory procedures.

Antonio has structured project financing designed to spur neighborhood revitalization efforts in the low-income communities throughout the State of New Jersey and Metro Atlanta. This action involved community outreach and working with elected officials, government agencies, quasi-public agencies and the private sector to promote revitalization and commercial development.

He has provided expertise and assistance to various community-based organizations to assist them with meeting the financial needs of their respective organizations.

Scott Doll, American Commerce Bank

Scott Doll is the SVP of Retail Market Strategies and Community Development and also serves as the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer at American Commerce Bank, N.A. In these roles, he leads initiatives to strengthen the bank’s retail presence and deepen its community relationships, with a strategic focus on building partnerships that support sustainable local growth and ensuring compliance with CRA requirements. Scott’s career has included executive roles in both banking and nonprofit sectors, such as CEO of The Global Impact Group, Executive Director at the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, and Vice President at Crescent Bank and Trust Company, as well as the Bank of Ellijay. His expertise spans business development, financial management, team leadership, and advancing market strategies that align with the bank’s mission to serve its communities.

In addition to his leadership in retail strategy and CRA oversight, Scott is recognized for his dedication to philanthropic and civic causes, actively supporting local charities and participating in programs like Lionheart WORKS and Your Family’s Table through the bank’s Community of One Fund. He is passionate about financial literacy education and economic opportunity and regularly engages in volunteer projects that benefit families and youth.

North Fulton Improvement Network

The North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN) is a think tank made up of community leaders from various sectors, focused on missing middle housing and the livability challenges confronting North Fulton. Its members come from the six cities constituting the northern half of Fulton County, Georgia—Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs—and are working to address the widespread yet little-known financial vulnerability across the region. With stakeholders from sectors including business, nonprofit, faith, government, and citizens, NFIN centers their work on five areas of impact, seeks to educate the public about these issues, builds a network of individuals and organizations with innovative private and public solutions, and connects resources to those in need.

The leadership team of NFIN is Jack Murphy, Nancy Diamond, and Kathy Swahn.

Jack Murphy

Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network. He is also in his 21st year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to the Chamber, Jack worked for and with Fortune 500 companies in operations, human resources, training, and quality areas. Jack was a senior adjunct professor for Quality & Operations Management at Keller Graduate School for 14 years.

He has served on both the National and Georgia Boards of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, responsible for Diversity, Advocacy, & Systemic Change. Jack is currently the national SVDP chair of Systemic Change and Advocacy.

Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and a M.Ed. from UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife, Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Kathy Swahn

Kathy has resided in the North Fulton area for almost 45 years. She has watched the community evolve from what was “unincorporated Fulton County” to a six-city bustling suburban community. Her history has been characterized by a focus on children: she was a stay-at-home mother who raised two daughters, she spent years in leadership roles in school PTAs and Girl Scouts, the National Charity League, the North Fulton Council of PTAs, and she served as chair of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.

Kathy transitioned back to work by jumping into the non-profit world. She joined the team at North Fulton Community Charities, running their Holiday Program, becoming Development Director and successfully managing the $3 million capital campaign for their Elkins Road location. Along the way, she also served on the DFACS Board and chaired the board of the Fulton County Continuum of Care for four years.

After having the opportunity to join in the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, Kathy was surrounded with a dynamic group of folks who worked to create The Drake House. Since 2004, she served as board chair for the first four years, executive director for nine years, and is now retired. Over those years, The Drake House served over 500 single mothers with over 1,000 children and grew the assets of the organization to over $4 million.

Kathy continues to serve The Drake House on the Advocacy Committee, along with her work for NFIN.

She spends much of her time traveling to the DC area, where her children and grandchildren reside.

About North Fulton Voices

While North Fulton County is one of the most desirable places to live in the United States, the region faces a growing crisis: a severe shortage of housing options for middle-income employees, particularly essential workers such as first responders and teachers. North Fulton Voices, presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network, is the go-to source for in-depth analysis and discussion of missing middle housing and the livability challenges confronting North Fulton. Listen as we understand the implications of this problem, explore innovative solutions, and examine why providing these housing options is vital for North Fulton’s future.

The show series is sponsored and offered as a service to the community by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Sponsor for North Fulton Voices: John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC

The North Fulton Voices show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

John Ray is a podcast show host and producer and owns North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, the North Fulton (Georgia) affiliate of Business RadioX®.

John also operates his own business advisory practice, Ray Business Advisors. John’s services include advising solopreneur 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 author of the #1 nationally best-selling book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

John is the host of North Fulton Business Radio and The Price and Value Journey. North Fulton Business Radio, the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton region of Georgia, features a wide range of business and community leaders. The Price and Value Journey is devoted to solo and small firm professional services providers, and covers issues such as pricing, value, and business development.

Nesha Mason, The Drake House

March 25, 2024 by John Ray

Good2Give Podcast

Nesha Mason, The Drake House

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Nesha Mason, The Drake House (Good2Give Podcast, Episode 9)

Nesha Mason, President of The Drake House, joined this episode of the Good2Give Podcast. The Drake House is a nonprofit operating in North Fulton, focusing on assisting single mothers and their families who face homelessness. Hosts Maria Walden and DePriest Waddy interviewed Nesha on the history of the Drake House, its programs, and the impact it has had on the community. Founded following a realization of the homelessness crisis affecting single mothers in North Fulton, the Drake House provides emergency and transitional housing, financial literacy, and community support to empower single mothers towards independence. The organization has evolved to offer comprehensive support, including a fresh market and a professional women’s career network. The conversation covered volunteer opportunities, fundraising events, and how the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia supports the Drake House through partnerships, funding, and resources, emphasizing the importance of community support in addressing homelessness and financial vulnerability among single mothers and their children.

The Good2Give Podcast is presented by the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. The show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.

Nesha Mason, President, The Drake House

Nesha Mason is a dedicated leader with a rich and diverse background in education, operations management, and community engagement. With experience in both the public and nonprofit sectors, Nesha has consistently demonstrated her commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Her passion for community service and helping others has led her to roles in public service, education and nonprofit leadership. Mason served as the first female African American Mayor of Abilene, Kansas. In this role, she focused her efforts on planned growth and government transparency for residents. Mason chose not to seek reelection, opting to pursue alternative certification to be a K–12 educator. After serving as a teacher at Haynes Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, Mason served as Executive Director of a state-wide educational foundation connecting high school students to the hospitality industry.

In her current role as President of The Drake House, Nesha Mason combines her leadership skills, educational expertise, and commitment to community welfare to lead and support initiatives that empower families and create lasting positive change.

Under Nesha’s direction, The Drake House has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its programming. Her strategic insight and commitment to holistic support have propelled the organization from providing shelter to a two-generational approach to overcoming homelessness and financial vulnerability. This shift has been pivotal in ensuring that families not only find housing but also receive comprehensive resources to transition towards independence and stability.

In her personal life, Nesha has been married for 23 years and is the proud parent of five adult sons. Nesha and her husband currently reside in Roswell, Georgia, where they continue to be actively involved in their community.

The Drake House

The Drake House is a 501(c)3 organization that works to respond to the growing number of women and children experiencing homelessness in North Fulton. They involve members of our community in the effort to keep single mothers and their children united under one roof as they work toward self-sufficiency.

The Drake House helps women with children overcome the circumstances of homelessness with dignity while keeping their families intact. In response to the changes in our post-COVID world, The Drake House has adapted its programming to help the families we serve acquire housing and achieve financial self-sufficiency.

Graduates of their program work, pay taxes, rent apartments, purchase groceries, attend faith-based organizations, and hopefully, one day, become homeowners. They are equipped to be good employees, tenants, and neighbors. When given the opportunity, some even use their story to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and take advantage of all the services The Drake House has to offer them. As they continue their work to improve their program and campus, The Drake House does so with the expectation that the results will lead to more graduates, more resilient children and teens, and ultimately, a stronger community.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Topics Discussed in This Interview

00:00 Welcome to the Good2Give Podcast
00:36 Introducing Nisha Mason from The Drake House
01:57 The Drake House: A Beacon of Hope for Single Mothers
03:21 Expanding Support: From Emergency Housing to Financial Literacy
10:39 The Importance of Community and Sponsorship
22:12 Volunteering, Funding, and How to Get Involved
30:08 Upcoming Events and How to Support The Drake House
33:23 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

The Good2Give Podcast celebrates the work of donors, nonprofits, and the causes they care about. DePriest Waddy and Maria Walden-Sullivan are the show’s hosts, and the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is the presenting sponsor.

The Good2Give Podcast is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. You can also find the show on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many others.

At the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, everything they do centers around one purpose: improving the world through the power of philanthropy.

On a fundamental level, they do that through managing funds held in trust, donated by individuals, organizations, and businesses. Most funds are donor-advised funds, similar to savings accounts. These funds are pooled for investment purposes, and their income is used to make grants for a wide variety of charitable purposes.

But the Foundation’s goals extend far beyond managing funds. They desire to strengthen the communities they serve in Gwinnett, Northeast Georgia, and beyond by providing leadership, addressing community needs, and assisting individuals and organizations with their charitable giving.

Connect with CFNEG:
Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Exploring Opportunities for Students E5

August 13, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Exploring Opportunities for Students E5

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Exploring Opportunities for Students E5

In this episode of STEM Unplugged, our guests discuss how their companies play a role in the lives of Arizona students. Both Iron Mountain and Junior Achievement of Arizona are supporting the community to stay connected. Each guest is noted for making an effort to reduce the digital divide and providing resources for online learning. The goal of the Arizona tech industry is to create a diverse group of workforce ready individuals.

During the discussion, we celebrate the donation of 100 Chromebooks by Iron Mountain. Our SciTech network of students, parents and teachers who have received the gift of technology are thankful for the support. Everyone is doing their best during this time. The curriculum of JA has been supporting students in Arizona prepare for their futures and in the discussion you can hear about CSO Shalae’s life changing opportunity as the mayor of JA BizTown! Get connected with companies making a difference and let’s discuss how to provide mentoring to all who would like to advance, especially those who consider themselves non-tech individuals!

Iron Mountain Data Centers operate a global colocation platform that enables customers to build tailored, sustainable, carrier and cloud-neutral data solutions.

As a proud part of Iron Mountain Inc., a world leader in the secure management of data and assets trusted by 95% of the Fortune 1000, we are uniquely positioned to protect, connect and activate high-value customer data.

We lead the data center industry in highly regulated compliance, environmental sustainability, physical security and business continuity. We collaborate with our 1,000+ customers in order to build and support their long-term digital transformations within our 3.5M SQF global footprint spanning 3 continents.

Rick Critchly is Vice President and General Manager in the Iron Mountain Data Centers. Rick previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for IO Data Centers, Vice President of Global Sales for Core Link Datacenters and the Chief Operating Officer for Cyber Trails, a national provider of IT services.

Rick is a board member of the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and a previous board member of the Arizona Technology Council. He is also actively involved in the Arizona Business Leadership Association.

Follow Iron Mountain Data Centers on LinkedIn.

For more than 60+ years, Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA) has been preparing millions of Arizona students to succeed in work and life. We’re empowering their futures by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to manage their money, plan for their future, and make smart academic, career and economic choices. Delivered by 8,000+ business and community volunteer mentors, our hands-on, age-appropriate programs focus on three key areas: financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. At the foundation of all our programs is teaching students the ability to think critically.

Serving tens of thousands of students each year and over 2 million since its founding, JA is shaping the college- and career-readiness conversation, and we play an important role in Arizona’s workforce and economic development. Our programs help students connect what they learn in the classroom to the real world, and demonstrate how learning correlates to earning – knowledge critical to empowering today’s students to be successful, contributing members of society in the future.

We serve students with diverse backgrounds and socio-economic status throughout Arizona. While our programs are invaluable to all students regardless of background, the majority of the students we serve come from low-income households.

We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization wholly dependent on the financial and volunteer support of individuals, foundations and businesses. Our in-classroom programs are offered at no cost to teachers or students.

Anne Landers is the Senior Director of Marketing and Development for Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA), a Tempe-based nonprofit that educates tens of thousands of primarily low-income children about financial literacy and career readiness. She has been with JA for five years, is the first marketing director in 20 years – and by far the most sophisticated we’ve ever had – and oversees all digital, PR, marketing and advertising. She is also the first person to build our data management program for donor and volunteer engagement. Anne’s title does not adequately describe her role or importance – Anne is a key member of JA’s leadership team and has been fundamental in leading monumental change for a VERY old-school organization. For perspective, JA had no Wi-Fi five years ago.

Previously, she spent three years at the nonprofit, Life In Abundance, where she was the Interim Director, overseeing the U.S.-based operations and fundraising, which supported programs in Africa and the Caribbean. She began her career at an advertising and PR agency, Decibel Blue, where she was one of the agency’s first two employees, managing clients such as Dunkin’ Donuts. Honored as a 40 Under 40 in 2018, Anne holds a degree in Journalism from ASU.

Follow Junior Achievement of Arizona on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Our Sponsor

SciTech Institute™ was established as the Arizona Technology Council Foundation as the conduit for collaboration among STEM industry, academia, civic, and non-profit organizations in Arizona. Now, rebranded and named the SciTech Institute™ the goal centers around aligning assets and resources to motivate individuals to pursue STEM-related educational and career paths or find a passion while engaged in community events during the SciTech Festival.

The Chief Science Officer program highlights the 6th-12th graders that have been selected as leaders in their schools and communities to receive training to build a world-class community of diverse STEM-literate workers and knowledgeable, engaged citizens. Science For All allows for tax credit donations to provide engaging experiences for students while RAIN (Rural Activation Innovation Network) focuses on resources for the rural areas of Arizona.

As a STEM Learning Ecosystem, SciTech Institute™ focuses on collaboration and connecting individuals with opportunities! STEM Professionals are encouraged to engage with the future workforce by serving as a mentor, leadership coach, panelist, keynote and session trainer during a variety of conferences hosted or sponsored by SciTech Institute™ and The Arizona Technology Council.

Teachers and Administrators are invited to connect with the resources available while activating a large network of STEM champions for student projects, judges at events, volunteers, exhibitors and more. SciTech Festival Event Coordinators are supported during the planning and execution of community STEM events around the state by the SciTech STREET Team Members and the growing network of volunteers. The possibilities are endless! SciTech Institute™ looks forward to connecting with you today. Visit SciTechInstitute.org today for more information.

Follow SciTech Institute on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Your STEM Unplugged Host

After graduating from Bolivar-Richburg High School in rural western New York and joining the United States Army, Kelly Greene learned quickly to adapt to her surroundings to be successful. She attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and played shortstop on the Tiger softball team while earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.

After graduating from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, she traveled the world with the military. While stationed in Misawa, Japan, Kelly fell in love with learning about cultures around the world. Even as a deployed Soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom for two tours, she found opportunities to connect with the local children to form the Victory Base Council Girl Scouts with her fellow servicemen.

In 2013, she was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and traveled the country by air and had the opportunity to utilize the most advanced technologies available to the tactical HUMINT operations in theater. Upon return from combat, she retired with 21 years of service and began teaching 6th grade Math.

After being selected as a Westside Impact Teacher of the Year and having her Fiesta Bowl Charities Wish Granted for a morning news studio, she was asked to begin a new class on campus – 7th grade STEM! Using her enthusiastic nature and combined with her strong classroom management she was able to design curriculum based on the Engineering Design Process to have her 7th graders complete a new project every 2 weeks!

She is excited to serve as the Director of Student Success for the rapidly expanding Chief Science Officers Program. Her goal is to push students just a bit outside of their comfort zone so they can see for themselves the power of their own ideas.

About Your Co-Host

Chief Science Officer (CSO) Shalae Clemens is a member of the International Leadership Council and the current CSO of the Year.

She is a freshman at McClintock High School and a 3rd year CSO.

Shalae has a passion for STEM and is using her leadership skills to prepare the STEM workforce of tomorrow.

Connect with Shalae on Instagram.

Tim Sheehan with Greenlight

April 29, 2020 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

Tim Sheehan with Greenlight

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Brought to you by OnPay. Built in Atlanta, OnPay is the top-rated payroll and HR software anywhere. Get one month free at OnPay.com.

Tim Sheehan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Greenlight. Greenlight is the safest way for parents to give their kids money, approve their spending, and prepare them for financial independence. Prior to Greenlight, Tim was the Lead Entrepreneur In Residence at Georgia Tech’s startup incubator, the Advanced Technology Development Center.

Earlier in Tim’s career he was Director of Yahoo! Finance and responsible for growing it to the #1 finance site in the world. Tim also served as SVP Products, Marketing and Strategy for Biller Solutions at Fiserv, was a Cofounder & CEO of Reachable, General Manager of Yodlee, and Senior Product Manager at E*Trade.

Follow Greenlight on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why Tim created Greenlight
Why it’s important to teach kids about money and saving money
The age parents should start discussing finances with their kids
Tips for parents who want to start teaching their kids about growing a savings account
Why it’s important to raise a financially smart generation

About Our Sponsor

OnPay’s payroll services and HR software give you more time to focus on what’s most important. Rated “Excellent” by PC Magazine, we make it easy to pay employees fast, we automate all payroll taxes, and we even keep all your HR and benefits organized and compliant.

Our award-winning customer service includes an accuracy guarantee, deep integrations with popular accounting software, and we’ll even enter all your employee information for you — whether you have five employees or 500. Take a closer look to see all the ways we can save you time and money in the back office.

Follow OnPay on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

MIND MONEY MOTION Elena Zee with ACEE and Lupe Camargo with Perspective Financial Services

September 19, 2019 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

MIND MONEY MOTION Elena Zee with ACEE and Lupe Camargo with Perspective Financial Services

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MIND MONEY MOTION Elena Zee with ACEE and Lupe Camargo with Perspective Financial Services

Financial success is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior. So it’s crucial to be sure we have a good foundation of knowledge and understanding. Personal finance is a life skill that needs to be taught in our schools and reinforced at home. Elena Zee from the Arizona Council on Economic Education, shares how Arizona is educating students as part of the new law passed requiring personal finance as a graduation requirement. Childhood is often the beginning of our money script messages in our head and then consumer marketing knows how to trigger emotions to impact our purchasing, not always for our own good. Lupe Camargo, from Perspective Financial Services, discusses our habit loops and how we can make positive behavior change when it comes to money decisions or any area we want to improve in our life.

Our mindset and body/mind connections are key factors that impact our health, success, and happiness in life. Not sure where to start or what next step to take? Listen in to what our guests have to share and challenge yourself to act on one of their tips. Elena offers fun ways to help children practice critical thinking when it comes to money decisions, how to consider the opportunity cost when you make your own personal purchase decisions, and encourages us to focus our actions on the question “what kind of life do I want to live?”. Lupe reminds us of the science behind marketing, steps we can take to work around our brain’s tendencies in order to be successful in making change and how we can overcome that “I am not good with money” script in our head.

The ACEE envisions a world where all school-aged children are empowered through economic and personal financial literacy to make informed and rational choices throughout their lives as consumers, savers and investors, workers, entrepreneurs, citizens, and participants in a global economy.

Our Mission is to reach and teach every Arizona student to become financially and economically responsible in work and life.

Elena Zee is President and CEO of the Arizona Council on Economic Education. Prior to this role, Elena had worked in the global financial services industry for more than twenty years, with her first job as an econometrician developing predictive modeling to launch new products at American Express in New York. She was then promoted to Director of International Operations responsible for customer service, business growth and process improvement worldwide.

Elena’s extensive work and travel internationally brought her to Arizona to build the international information management MIS and business analytics infrastructure and teams. Elena has a Master’s Degree in Economics from Columbia University and Double Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Math from Wellesley College. She is a graduate of Lodestar American Express Leadership Academy Class VII and Valley Leadership Class 40. She is also a Certified Financial PlannerTM, and taught financial planning and economics at universities.

Elena is very passionate about education, professional development, economic empowerment, and international exchange, having served on the boards of Global Economic Education Alliance, Organization for Nonprofit Executives, National Association of Economic Educators, Phi Beta Kappa of Greater Phoenix, and Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Arizona. Elena has represented the City of Phoenix multiple times to visit China for cultural, education, tourism and business exchange.

Follow ACEE on Twitter and Facebook.

Perspective Financial Services is a full service Financial Planning and Investment Management firm. They are fee-only planners acting as their clients’ fiduciary, putting clients’ interests before their own. They do not receive commissions or any third-party sales which allows them to remain free of conflicts of interest.

As qualified financial planners they help manage finances, provide direction in identifying goals, and help maintain a balanced portfolio in uncertain economic times. They strive first to understand clients background, philosophy, needs, objectives and concerns to develop a personal plan for their unique situation. They then provide the necessary resources to understand options to make confident decisions.

They help clients gain control of their financial life with a range of customized services and online tools that will organize everything from budgeting, taxes and insurance needs to planning, investments and goal setting.

Lupe Camargo has been serving clients as a financial planner for 15 years. She received her undergraduate degree from Arizona State, and her MBA from University of Texas at Austin. Prior to becoming a financial planner, Lupe held management positions with US West and Honeywell.

In addition to providing financial planning services, Lupe also works with clients to explore opportunities to create stronger financial habits, and understand behaviors that may be preventing them from achieving their goals. She is a lifelong learner, and has been certified and has conducted boot camps on behavior change. This passion began as she pursued her goal of optimizing her own health.

She is active in her community, and has dedicated years of service to both the Girl Scouts AZ Cactus Pine Council, and the Friends of the Tempe Public Library.

Connect with Lupe on LinkedIn.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

The Women’s Enterprise Foundation (WEF) is a 501(C)3 charitable organization that supports and inspires women business owners within the greater Phoenix area. For over 10 years we have sponsored women through scholarships and grant funding. Our monthly scholarship applications and bi-annual grant opportunities have assisted over 20 women in 2018 and 2019. These women continue to develop themselves as business leaders. The grants give them the increased capital to help generate greater revenue in their business. Scholarships help support their business growth through leadership and business training. We know when women grow their businesses, they benefit entire communities.

The first Friday in November each year, we hold our annual fundraiser at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch. This year our featured guest speaker will be Dr. Connie Mariano, the first military woman to serve as a White House Physician to the President. Info for scholarships and grants, as well as our upcoming event may be found at .

WEF is proud to sponsor Marie Burns in her podcasts, Mind, Money and Motion, that will positively educate women about money habits. We are excited for Marie Burns to spread her message, as it is consistent with the success for women in business, as well as their personal financial growth.

Our financial support of Marie’s grant continues to create a foundation that WEF fosters. We believe that women are the glue for their communities as they participate in, orchestrate and mediate relationships, opportunities and business growth. We are confident that her support and success will multiply and benefit many others.

Mind Money Motion is an education business whose mission is to help women worry less about running out of money by keeping their mind and body healthy so they can enjoy LESS WORRY, MORE LIFE.

Money is the number one stressor in American’s lives and one of the main reasons for divorce. Women are often uncomfortable with financial decisions OR don’t have the time or interest to take care of financial matters OR don’t know where to begin or if they are on track.

As the founder, Marie Burns provides tools and resources through her podcast, books, speaking events, website and social media to be the financial advocate women need.

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marie Burns, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), has been advocating for clients’ financial health for almost 20 years.

Originally from Wisconsin, she has helped clients with their financial lives in a fiduciary capacity in a bank setting, accounting firm, at Vanguard, at a financial planning firm and now has an independent advisory practice where she offers financial planning and investment management called Focus Point Planning.

She is a volunteer ambassador and board member for The Financial Awareness Foundation, member of the Financial Planning Association, board member for the Senior Advocacy Group of Ahwatukee, author of a financial checklist book series, and podcast host of Mind, Money, Motion, where she strives to help women enjoy LESS WORRY, MORE LIFE!

Follow Mind, Money, Motion on Facebook.

Financial Literacy with ACEE CEO Elena Zee Murray Smith with FPA of Greater Phoenix Kris Anest with Charles Schwab and Guest-Host Marie Burns

March 26, 2019 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Financial Literacy with ACEE CEO Elena Zee Murray Smith with FPA of Greater Phoenix Kris Anest with Charles Schwab and Guest-Host Marie Burns

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Financial Literacy with ACEE CEO Elena Zee Murray Smith with FPA of Greater Phoenix Kris Anest with Charles Schwab and Guest-Host Marie Burns

Arizona community members are invited to a Pro Bono financial planning event on Saturday, April 20th from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Download the flyer for this free event and register here.

The Arizona Council on Economic Education (ACEE) is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to improving economic and personal financial literacy in Arizona. ACEE is the author of Arizona K-12 Economic Education Academic Standards and the only organization in Arizona which: provides teacher professional development in teaching personal finance and economics; has a strong, affiliated academic base with universities and community colleges; and distributes proven economic education curriculum resources to schools free of charge.

Elena Zee started her career in the private sector at American Express before becoming President and CEO of the Arizona Council on Economic Education. Elena has a Master’s Degree in Economics from Columbia University and Double Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Math from Wellesley College. Elena serves on the board of Organization for Nonprofit Executives, the National Association of Economic Educators and Global Economics Education Alliance. She was the former President of Phi Beta Kappa Phoenix Association, promoting excellence in liberal arts and science higher education.

Elena is very passionate about education, financial freedom and professional development.

Follow ACEE on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the principal membership organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals, educators, financial services providers and students who seek advancement in a growing, dynamic profession. The primary aim of FPA is to elevate the profession that transforms lives through the power of financial planning.

FPA supports high standards of professional competence, ethical conduct and clear, complete disclosure when serving clients. By providing opportunities for professional development, business support, advocacy and community at the national and chapter levels, FPA is truly indispensable in the advancement of today’s CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals.

The Financial Planning Association of Greater Phoenix (FPAGP) strives to be the essential hub of the Phoenix-area financial planning community. It’s mission is to connect Certified Financial Planners and associated professionals with the resources they need and the people who need them. Certain CFP(R)s within the chapter have ambition to promote financial literacy in Arizona and do so through public awareness presentations and pro bono, 1-1 financial planning.

Murray Smith is a Financial Planner at KeatsConnelly, the largest cross-border wealth management firm in North America that specializes in helping Canadians and Americans realize their dreams of a cross-border lifestyle. Murray is responsible for providing financial planning recommendations to move people efficiently toward their financial goals. His recommendations are formed from a deep understanding of a client’s situation, values and goals combined with his expertise, experience and skills in financial planning and analysis.

When Murray isn’t helping people achieve their goals, he is busy working on his own projects. Along with his wife and young son, Murray tends to the 600 square feet of gardens in their backyard (including rainwater collection). In addition to spending time with his family, he loves do-it-yourself projects, tinkering with electronics, developing software and playing guitar. To help build community, he performs public awareness and pro bono work through the Financial Planning Association of Greater Phoenix (FPAGP).

Murray is a board member of the FPAGP. He currently is vice-president and will be the organization’s president in 2020. In 2021, he will remain on the executive committee as chairman.

Follow FPAGP on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Kris Anest has been in the brokerage business since February 1987. She started her career with Fidelity Investments working in Salt Lake City, Utah and Boston, Massachusetts.

She has been with Schwab since December 1995 with a break in service from 2001 to 2007. During her break in service, she taught World History, Economics and Advanced Placement Macroeconomics at North Canyon High School in Phoenix, Arizona. During her teaching tenure, she continued to provide independent investment consulting services.

During her tenure with Schwab, Kris has served as a registered representative in Participant Services, Retail Brokerage Services, Quality Assurance and Retail Help and Advice. She managed Participant Services call center teams and the Institutional Prime Broker desk as a Senior Manager in Trading Operations. She is currently managing a team of business analyst in Advisor Services Pricing and Billing. She has co-chaired the Schwab Phoenix Community Ambassador Team and is active in non-profit efforts. She is an OCJ Kids board member and an executive board member on the Arizona Council on Economic Education.

Kris attended Arizona State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in History and Economics. She earned her Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Mary’s University, MN. She is FINRA Series 63, 66, 7, 9 and 10 licensed and Schwab also carries her P&C insurance licenses. Kris’ hobby is competitive ballroom dancing.

Connect with Kris on LinkedIn.

Marie Burns, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with insurance and securities licenses, has been advocating for clients as a financial advisor for close to 20 years. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association nationally and locally, 100+ Women Who Care, Ahwatukee Foothills Friends and Neighbors, and Mountain Park Church. Originally from Wisconsin, she has helped clients with their financial lives in a bank setting, accounting firm, at Vanguard, at a financial planning firm and now writes and speaks and has her own practice with an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm. She enjoys cooking, reading, walking, hiking, Zumba and especially creating memories with family and friends.

Connect with Marie on LinkedIn and follow Paper Lifesavers Facebook.

Office Evolution Radio: Tiffany Francis with Corner Bakery Cafe and Bonita White with Bonita White and Associates

March 23, 2019 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

Office Evolution Radio: Tiffany Francis with Corner Bakery Cafe and Bonita White with Bonita White and Associates

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Tiffany Francis started with Corner Bakery Cafe in 2008 as a catering supervisor in Washington DC. She moved to Atlanta in 2017 and was given the opportunity to work as the assistant manager for the Buckhead and Alpharetta locations. In January 2019, Tiffany was promoted to the Field Sales Manager for the Atlanta Market.

Follow Corner Bakery Cafe on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Bonita White is a wife, mother, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She teaches Financial Literacy and owns a financial services franchise that offers credit restoration and 12 other services.

Bonita has helped hundreds of men and women raise their credit scores so they can purchase homes, cars, lower insurances rates and get funding to expand and build their businesses. She works very closely with real estate, mortgage, tax, insurance and business funding professionals.

Connect with Bonita on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Junior Achievement with Anne Landers and ASU Lodestar Center with Nicole Almond Anderson E16

February 18, 2019 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Junior Achievement with Anne Landers and ASU Lodestar Center with Nicole Almond Anderson E16

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Junior Achievement with Anne Landers and ASU Lodestar Center with Nicole Almond Anderson E16

Continuing education outside the traditional classroom is important for creating leaders of all ages whether it’s the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation and their undergraduate, graduate or certificate programs designed to provide professionals with the tools they need to accelerate social impact or Junior Achievement of Arizona and their unique programs empowering K-12 students to be successful.

Nonprofit professionals and advocates of a strong workforce will want to tune in to hear how these two organizations are making great strides to build strong communities not just in Arizona, but worldwide!

For the last 60 years, Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA) has been empowering the futures of millions of Arizona students by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to manage their money, plan for their future, and make smart academic, career and economic choices. Delivered by 9,500 business and community volunteer mentors, our hands-on, age-appropriate programs focus on three key areas: financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship.

Serving more than 80,000 students each year and over 2 million since its founding, JA is shaping the college- and career-readiness conversation, and we play an important role in Arizona’s workforce and economic development. Our programs help students connect what they learn in the classroom to the real world, and demonstrate how learning correlates to earning – knowledge critical to empowering today’s students to be successful, contributing members of society in the future.

We serve students with diverse backgrounds and socio-economic status throughout Arizona, with primary focus on providing our programs to students from low-income households.

We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization wholly dependent on the financial and volunteer support of individuals, foundations and businesses.

We have two offices – headquartered in Tempe, where our two JA BizTown® facilities are located, and another office in Tucson, serving our Southern Arizona students and partners. We are a member of Junior Achievement USA.

Anne Landers is the Senior Director of Marketing and Development for Junior Achievement of Arizona, a Tempe-based nonprofit that prepares 83,000 primarily low-income children to succeed in work and life each year by educating them about financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurial thinking. She has been with the organization for four years and is the organization’s first marketing director in 20 years.

Before coming to JA, she was the Interim Director at an international community development nonprofit, Life In Abundance, where she oversaw the implementation of U.S. based operations of programs abroad. She began her career at a start-up advertising and PR agency, David and Sam PR (Decibel Blue), where she was one of the agency’s first two employees.

Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from ASU. She lives in Gilbert with her husband, two soon-to-be school-aged sons and black lab.

Follow JA on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation is a global leader in advancing understanding and effective philanthropic and nonprofit practice as a distinctive community development strategy.

Through research, education, technical assistance and convenings, the Center focuses on advancing nonprofit leaders and philanthropists to solve problems, to realize a community’s highest aspirations and to accelerate social impact.

For over a decade, Nicole Anderson has worked at Arizona State University where currently she is the Manager of Marketing, Communications and Stakeholder Relations for the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation within the Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions. She serves as President of the Sun Devil Club’s Young Professionals Group and the Vice President of the ASU Young Alumni Chapter. In 2017, City of Phoenix Mayor Stanton appointed Nicole to the Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues.

She is a member of the Board of Directors for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona and for the Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding a treatment, and an eventual cure, of Pitt Hopkins Syndrome and other similar disorders. She also founded RareiTees for a Cure, a clothing brand created with a unique mission to bring awareness to rare diseases.

Anderson received a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU, as well as Masters of Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions at ASU.

Follow ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation On LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

About 3C Amplified

3C Amplified is a space to highlight businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals collaborating to amplify their impact in the community. We share real world examples for how partnerships allow for growth both within our businesses and our communities. Listen in as we share how others are connecting, creating and collaborating and how you can be part of something greater.

About Jacqueline Destremps

Jacqueline Destremps is a creative marketing strategist and founded Another Hand Advantage, LLC in 2014 to help community minded small business owners and nonprofit professionals move forward more confidently with their marketing strategy. After graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in Psychology, she has spent her professional career working in both the nonprofit and for-profit sector.

She now enjoys being self-employed and the flexibility it provides to allow more time to volunteer, serve on nonprofit boards, choose pro-bono projects, run 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun (which she co-founded in 2014) and travel the world. Jacqueline believes in creating connections between businesses and nonprofits in the community to stimulate growth and collaboration.

Follow AHA on Twitter and Facebook.