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HBS Legal Trends: Burt Hicks, Encore Bank

July 19, 2022 by John Ray

Hall Booth Smith Podcast Network

HBS Legal Trends: Burt Hicks, Encore Bank

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HBS Legal Trends: Burt Hicks, Encore Bank

On this edition of HBS Legal Trends, Burt Hicks of Encore Bank joined the show to share how Encore Bank has achieved such rapid growth since its inception. Burt discussed the company’s operating philosophy, how it chooses new markets and the banking professionals who lead them, their focus on the latest in financial technology, their employee retention strategies, and much more. Burt was joined on the show by Baxter Drennon, Partner at Hall Booth Smith.

HBS Legal Trends is sponsored by Hall, Booth, Smith, PC and is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Encore Bank is a private, boutique bank with a commercial focus that couples highly experienced and talented bankers with innovative technology to offer unprecedented levels of personal service and experiences to its clients through a hospitality-inspired concierge approach. Encore provides a full suite of financial products and services to businesses, business owners, professionals, their families and contacts with purpose, passion, and precision.

Company Website |LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

**Burt Hicks, President, Chief Strategy Officer & General Counsel, Encore Bank**

Burt Hicks is one of three co-founders of Encore Bank, the fastest-growing bank in the country. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, where he majored in Finance.

After graduation, Burt worked for Merrill Lynch, and later Bank of America in New York as an investment banking analyst in the Financial Institutions Group. After later working for Simmons Bank, Burt completed the concurrent degree program at the UALR Bowen School of Law and the Clinton School of Public Service.

He subsequently returned to Simmons to hold various roles with Simmons Bank and its holding company, Simmons First National Corporation, including Chief of Staff to the Chairman & CEO, Director of Mergers and Acquisitions, Investor Relations Officer, Corporate Secretary, President & CEO of Simmons First Investment Group and Insurance Services and as head of the Bank’s mortgage line of business.

Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

Established in 1989, Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is a full-service law firm with six regional offices strategically located throughout Georgia, as well as offices in Birmingham, AL; Little Rock and Rogers, AR; Denver, CO; Jacksonville, Miami, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Tampa, and West Palm Beach, FL; Missoula, MT; Asheville and Charlotte, NC; Saddle Brook, NJ; New York, NY; Oklahoma City, OK; Charleston, SC; and Memphis and Nashville, TN.

Experienced across a wide range of legal disciplines, HBS prides itself on providing knowledgeable, proactive, client-specific counsel to individuals, domestic and international corporations, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

At HBS they possess the legal knowledge, skill, and experience to meet our clients’ needs wherever they do business. HBS maintains the highest commitment to serve clients ethically and professionally by providing the highest quality legal representation.

Company Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Baxter Drennon, Partner, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

Baxter D. Drennon is a Partner at the Hall Booth Smith office in Little Rock, Arkansas, and he has more than a decade of legal experience. He is a seasoned trial attorney who protects the rights of clients in complex litigation involving products liability, professional liability, and automobile accidents.

Known for his work in high-exposure cases such as catastrophic personal injury and complex business disputes, Baxter has served as lead counsel in hundreds of cases and as trial counsel in over a dozen cases — most of which resulted in complete defense verdicts.

He works closely with each client’s leadership team to ensure the legal strategy aligns with broader business goals while resolving each matter effectively and efficiently. Baxter represents clients across manufacturing lines, including companies in the aerospace, automotive, heating and cooling, electrical component, and vertical transportation industries.

In addition to products liability defense, Baxter often advises businesses on commercial disputes and other day-to-day business and operational matters. He also represents several municipal water and wastewater entities and was honored to serve as legal counsel in the first privatization of a water utility on a military installation in the state of Arkansas. Also, Baxter is the City Attorney for Benton, Arkansas.

Baxter earned a Juris Doctorate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Arkansas. He also completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Considered a leader among his peers, Baxter has been actively involved in the Defense Research Institute (DRI) since 2010, and previously served as the Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee. In 2019, Baxter was elected to the DRI Board of Directors in 2019 – the first young lawyer elected to the Board. Baxter is also a Future Leader in the Products Liability Advisory Council. He has been repeatedly named a “Rising Star” by Mid-South Super Lawyers.

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Robert Anderson with Prisma Graphic and Kate Tanner with Kidstop Toys and Books

October 16, 2019 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Robert Anderson with Prisma Graphic and Kate Tanner with Kidstop Toys and Books

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LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Robert Anderson with Prisma Graphic and Kate Tanner with Kidstop Toys and Books

Since 1980, Prisma evolved from a boutique printer to a full spectrum of marketing solutions with a streamlined approach to power their customer’s Message to Market with speed, quality, and control.

In 2000, the privately held company transferred ownership to Bob Anderson, and since developed proprietary, cutting-edge technology that has taken them from a million-dollar company to a $47 million company.

Thriving under Bob’s leadership, Prisma has grown from 30 employees to 270 employees serving 250-plus top brands.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, they have a 190,000 square foot facility that allows them to increase workflow efficiencies of projects from concept to completion. Better yet, Prisma’s continuous investments in state-of-the-art machinery help their clients save time and money.

During his 19 years as owner of Prisma, Bob Anderson has led the company through an evolution from a traditional, high-end boutique printer to an all-inclusive commercial print and direct marketing solutions provider.

A third-generation native Arizonan, Bob earned a degree in Advertising and Journalism from Northern Arizona University.

Before purchasing Prisma, Bob gained tremendous experience working for two large commercial printers for 15 years.

Bob cites changing the public perception of Prisma from a traditional commercial printer to a more comprehensive marketing solutions provider as one of his biggest challenges. However, his never-say-die attitude has been a driving force behind the company’s ability to reinvent itself to meet the changing needs of the marketplace.

Follow Prisma on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Kidstop Toys & Books is a locally owned and independent toy store in Scottsdale, Arizona featuring all-ages children’s books and toys that will challenge a child’s intellect and stretch their imagination.

After 20 years in business it has consistently been named the best toy store in the state, as well as one of the top remaining toys stores in the nation.

A magical and fun place for the entire family, its wall-to-wall selections includes thousands of toys – from dollhouses, Barbies and Legos to building sets, dinosaurs and scooters.

Ages 1 to 100 will find something to enjoy, reinforcing owners Kate and Scott Tanner’s belief that families that play together, stay together. Kidstop Toys & Books is also a proud member of Local First Arizona, the Executive’s Association of Greater Phoenix, The Good Toy Group, and ASTRA, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Assoc.

Kate Tanner opened Kidstop Toys & Books in 1999 with her husband Scott, with one goal in mind: to create a different kind of toy store; one that is magical and fun for the entire family.

Twenty years later, Kidstop is the last remaining toy store in the greater Phoenix area and Kate has become known as a national industry leader.

She has chaired as well as served on the Board of Directors for ASTRA (the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association); is a longtime member of the Executive’s Association of Greater Phoenix, where she served on the Board of Directors, was a president for one term and also named Executive of the Year in 2017; and also served on the board of directors for Local First AZ for over 10 years.

Her passions include kids, dogs and chocolate. And you can often find her furry family members, two adorable Springer Spaniels named Dierks and Murphee, escorting guests around the store.

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn and follow Kidstop on Facebook and Instagram.

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.

“Talking Digital Finance” Panel Discussion, presented by TAG and BPM

September 13, 2019 by Mike

Bona Allen (Moderator), Christine Santos (Comcast), Nigel Andre (First Data), Judy Romano (Equifax International) and Raj Verma (Host/Organizer) prepare for the “Talking Digital Finance” Panel Discussion.

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and Business Process Management Group presented “Talking Digital Finance”, a panel discussion with CFO’s from Comcast, Equifax and First Data on September 10, 2019 at the First Data Corporation HQ in Atlanta.

Speakers on the panel included Nigel Andre, former Managing Partner with First Data; Christina Santos, SVP of Finance at Comcast; and Judy Romano, CFO with Equifax International.