GMSDC Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Business RadioX ®

Spotlight on Hispanic Heritage Month, Part 1

September 16, 2014 by angishields

Let's Talk Small Business

Spotlight on Hispanic Heritage Month, Part 1

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In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, GMSDC Radio kicked off a special two-part interview series highlighting the accomplishments of area Hispanic-owned small businesses. Featured this week was Founder and CEO Rick Tapia of La Bodega Internacional, and Managing Member and President Fernando de Augero of Diversified Energy Supply, along with cohost Program Director Veronica Maldonado of Mentor Protege Connection.

As divergent as craft spirits and the energy supply business may seem, the CEOs stressed the same key ingredients for success: mentorship, passion and experience, resources and a healthy “leap of faith.” With a decidedly more contemplative tone, the interview covered the full spectrum of entrepreneurship–from startup to established enterprise. Listen now, for their nuggets of wisdom and leadership!

Fernando de Agüero / Diversified Energy Supply

Mr. de Agüero is the President of Diversified Fuel Supply. He is also the founder and Manager of its parent company, DES Wholesale, LLC d/b/a Diversified Energy Supply. Mr. de Agüero possesses a broad energy industry experience ranging from regulated utilities to deregulated merchant and retail business. He has launched five privately held energy ventures, was Chairman, CEO and President of a deregulated retail natural gas marketer, Manager and CEO of a deregulated retail electric provider, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of a leading smart grid-enabled prepaid utility solutions and software development company and held various leadership roles spanning strategic planning, finance, business development, commercial operations and trading at AGL Resources (Atlanta Gas Light, Virginia Natural Gas, City Gas of Florida, Elizabethtown Gas, Chattanooga Gas, Pivotal and Sequent Energy Management), Mirant Corporation and Southern Company (Southern Nuclear and Southern Company Services). Mr. de Agüero previously led the team that designed and built the first prepaid retail natural gas billing platform in North America, the first smart-metered prepaid electric billing platform, as well as other software based

solutions in the utility vertical. He has been involved in several power plant development projects and corporate acquisitions with negotiated valuations totaling over $10 Billion in both the natural gas and electric industries.

Mr. de Agüero started his career with Southern Company in 1993, working in nuclear plant design engineering and safety as a nuclear and mechanical engineer, as well as a health physicist. He earned a Bachelor in Nuclear Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He speaks Spanish fluently, has a history of political and community involvement, and invests most of his personal time with his wife, four children and church family in Roswell, Georgia.

Rick Tapia / La Bodega Internacional, LLC

Jesús Ricardo “Rick” Tapia is the founder of La Bodega International, LLC and the creator of J.R. Revelry, a craft bourbon whiskey that will be launching this fall, here in Atlanta.

J.R. Revelry is an All-American craft bourbon in the finest tradition, produced and bottled in small batches in Nashville, Tennessee. Rick created this smooth bourbon with the goal to appeal to all audiences, but especially to Latinos.

Rick started his career in the Beverage Alcohol industry with Joseph E. Seagram and Sons in 1997, and over the last 17 years he has worked across multiple disciplines and brands within the spirits industry, including accounting, finance, sales and marketing. He earned a Bachelor in Business Administration from Boston University. He speaks Spanish fluently and invests most of his personal time with his wife and daughter in Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Rick is also an active member of the Atlanta community and of the local Hispanic and Latin American Chambers of Commerce. As part of J.R. Revelry’s launch, Rick plans to give back to the community by donating $1 for every 9 liter case sold of J.R. Revelry to the Diversity Council Scholarship Program, to help fellow entrepreneurs realize their business goals.

Spotlight on NMSDC Regional Suppliers of the Year

September 9, 2014 by angishields

Let's Talk Small Business

Spotlight on NMSDC Regional Suppliers of the Year

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With the nationals just around the corner, the GMSDC was proud to host current and past Regional Supplier of the Year honorees, Ken Taunton of The Royster Group, and Namita Tirath of Pyramid Consulting on the Let’s Talk Small Business radio show.

Some of the most prolific and award-winning MBE firms anywhere in the world are headquartered or have a significant presence in Georgia, and this interview was both a celebration of two of our most high-achieving MBEs, and an exclusive discussion of their “secret sauce” to success.

“Every year – just about – we’ve had award winners coming out of this council, said show host and GMSDC president and CEO, Stacey Key. “We’re pretty big and bad here in Georgia.” Discussion topics included the NMSDC awards process and tips, as well as, trends and opportunities in the health and IT industry. Listen in now to hear from two small business greats, and continue to wish Ken Taunton well.

Namita Tirath / Pyramid Consulting, Inc.

Ken Taunton / The Royster Group

Ken Taunton is President and CEO of The Royster Group, a premier executive search and medical services staffing firm with clients across the continental U. S. and Hawaii.

In 2001, Ken Taunton leveraged his proven track record of leading mid- to senior-level executive searches and medical staffing projects in the public and private sectors. He is passionate about finding creative solutions to solve a client’s human capital needs and pursues all avenues from permanent placement, temporary project staffing and program management. Prior to establishing his company, Mr. Taunton was a Senior Associate with Korn/Ferry International, a leading executive search firm and held various recruiting and sales positions at one of the top pharmaceutical giants, Merck & Company.

Mr. Taunton’s business acumen was recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration when he was selected to participate in the SBA’s Emerging 200 Initiative, a federal training initiative that specifically focuses on executives of businesses poised for growth in historically challenged communities. Recently, The Royster Group was ranked #1927 on the prestigious Inc. 500|5000 list, an exclusive ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. Among other recognitions, The Royster Group was featured as a top growing minority business in Atlanta Tribune’s “Fabulous Five Over Five” article on entrepreneurs having weathered the storm and triumphed in the first five years of business. He is currently part of the Mentor Protégé Connection 2014 Georgia Mentor Protégé Program where Grady Health System is currently mentoring The Royster Group.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from Mercer University’s Stetson School of Business. In March 2013, UAB’s National Alumni Society, in partnership with the Birmingham Business Journal, presented him with the inaugural UAB Excellence in Business Top 25 awards and #3 Fastest Growing Business Award.

Rodney Sampson with Opportunity Hub, Part 1

September 3, 2014 by angishields

Let's Talk Small Business

Rodney Sampson with Opportunity Hub, Part 1

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Most small business owners consider two paths when in need of capital: a) traditional loans, or b) “Shark Tank” style investing. However, heavy hitter Rodney Sampson, cofounder and CEO of the Opportunity Hub—an Atlanta-based co-working space and accelerator for startups—visited GMSDC Radio to discuss a middle-of-the-road option of using angel investing for small business growth. The interview is part of an ongoing financial literacy series on the Let’s Talk Small Business radio show. Part II of the interview will delve deeper into how angel investing relates to a larger discussion of wealth disparity in minority communities. Learn more about the Opportunity Hub and Sampson’s investing-related initiatives at http://www.rodneysampson.com/.

Rodney Sampson / Opportunity Hub

Rodney Sampson is a social innovator, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, published author, and consecrated bishop. Via his Episcopal affiliations with the Old Holy Catholic Church and International Bishops Conference, Sampson shapes innovative economic policy and opportunities throughout society and culture. As a serial entrepreneur, Sampson co-founded Multicast Media Networks (Streamingfaith.com) in 2000 (sold in 2010), a live and on-demand streaming platform that laid the foundation for companies like YouTube and Ustream. Not stopping there, Sampson co-founded Intellectual Currency (an integrated marketing and business development firm) in 2002, Intellect Inspire (a digital publishing imprint of Audible) in 2006, and Legacy Opportunity Fund in 2007 with private equity investments in technology, energy, consumer products and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He also serves on the advisory boards of a learning company (a Pearson Education Alliance Partner), a production company and multiple startup and early stage companies throughout the world.

Sampson is passionate about reducing our nation’s poverty and wealth gap by advancing the cause of innovation, coding, entrepreneurship, investment and Crowdfunding as a way of life for all communities. To advance this definitive cause, Sampson created Opportunity Ecosystem (OE). Opportunity Ecosystem includes opportunity.UP // unleashing private equity, the nation’s leading conference and learning platform learning for minorities and under-served communities to learn, navigate and master investment ecosystem. opportunity.UP conferences attract over 1,000 entrepreneurs, 500 teenagers and 100 accredited investors and mentors. Opportunity Ecosystem also includes opportunity.HUB a coworking space, knowledge hub, coding school and accelerator located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. opportunity.HUB is home to opportunity.VENTURES, a new seed and early stage fund focused on making investments in early stage consumer facing, technology and disruptive social enterprise based companies that impact culture and beyond.

Sampson is also an advocate and respected expert on the JOBS Act (debt and equity based crowdfunding) and State of Georgia’s “Invest Georgia Exemption” legislation. Always meditating, thinking, networking and connecting to disrupt economic culture, Sampson is innovating what he has branded as an “ecosystem crowdfunding platform” -designed to integrate the capital markets of the African American owned banks, churches, business associations and historical black colleges and universities. The platform will allow underserved and under-represented communities to learn, engage and invest in the investment ecosystem by providing access to relevant investment opportunities traditionally reserved for accredited and institutional investors. The long-term outcome will result in job creation, wealth creation and a better society for all.

Karen Davis and Maria Peck with Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs

August 26, 2014 by angishields

Let's Talk Small Business

Karen Davis and Maria Peck with Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs

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We continue our series on small business financial literacy with special guests, Strategic Initiatives Director Karen Davis and Loan Officer Maria Peck of Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE). ACE is a nonprofit community lender that specializes in small business loans coupled with business advisory services. They assist tiny start-ups to large businesses and everything in between, by making loans with generous repayment terms and affordable interest rates – resources that can be extremely difficult to access using traditional banks today. So if you are a small business needing the capital to grow and sustain your business, or a larger company wanting to enhance your competitiveness and sustainability – listen in and consider ACE as your financial partner today.

Karen Davis / Strategic Initiatives Director

Karen Davis currently serves as Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs’ (ACE) Strategic Initiatives Director. In this role, she directs ACE’s Women Investing in Successful Entrepreneurs (WISE) Initiative which is a $2.5 million revolving loan fund specifically for women entrepreneurs wanting to expand or start a business within Metro Atlanta and the North Georgia region. In addition to the loan funds, WISE offers business advisory support through individualized business consultations, business development seminars, speed coaching, and mentoring from high net-worth business owners. Karen is also the Principal Consultant of Curry Davis Consulting Group, LLC. Karen has more than 13 years of program management and community development experience and has made strides in her efforts to assist families with moving towards economic self-sufficiency, health and wellness.

Maria Peck / Loan Officer

Maria “Mayte” Peck was born in New York City and raised in Trujillo, Peru. Her 15-plus years of sales and marketing experience comes from a broad range of positions held in Atlanta and New York, giving her a diverse view of the industry. As the owner of Sweet Devil Moon Tapas Bar, she was personally responsible for meeting the financial challenges of running a restaurant, managing a 1.2 Million-dollar yearly budget for 6 years. Her search for additional funding led her to ACCION USA, a national micro-lender. She spent two years working from home after her daughter Victoria was born, then decided to work with Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs as Small Business Loan Officer. She works on community outreach initiatives, coaching financial education programs around town, one-on-one business consulting and lending.

Lara O’Connor Hodgson with NOWaccount and Dwayne Cheatom with Skyline Engineering

August 19, 2014 by angishields

Let's Talk Small Business

Lara O'Connor Hodgson with NOWaccount and Dwayne Cheatom with Skyline Engineering

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If you are like most small businesses, 90 percent of your B2B sales require you to manage and fund a transaction. Meanwhile, with your working capital tied up in outstanding invoices, funding new sales for business growth can be a challenge. Addressing this problem is GMSDC strategic partner Lara O’Connor Hodgson, GMSDC strategic partner and president & CEO of Nowaccount Network Corporation. Her goals are to help small businesses “grow fearlessly,” and by aiding with small business cash flow challenges, to “save the U.S. economy.” Listen to this important interview, as it is the first of an ongoing Access to Capital Interview Series on GMSDC Radio.

Lara O’Connor Hodgson / NOWaccount Network Corporation

Dwayne Cheatom / Skyline Engineering & Construction

Donna Ennis with MBDA Business Center Atlanta

August 12, 2014 by angishields

Let's Talk Small Business

Donna Ennis with MBDA Business Center Atlanta

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In honor of its 10-year anniversary, GMSDC Radio welcomed Donna Ennis of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center – Atlanta to the studio. As a federal program of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, as well as, a strategic partner to the GMSDC’s Mentor Protégé Connection program—you’ll want to tune in as Ennis elaborates on the new direction of the MBDA Center and shares the MBDA’s take on the state of small business today.

Donna Ennis / MBDA Business Center – Atlanta

Donna Ennis, C.P.F is the project director for the MBDA Business Center – Atlanta located at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2). Funded by the Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the MBDA Business Center’s mission is to grow and strengthen Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs).

A Certified Professional Facilitator, Donna is responsible for the strategic direction, marketing, outreach, and operations for the Center and provides assistance to Center clients in strategic, business and market planning; private and public procurement, finance, operations and business process improvement. Under her leadership, the Center has assisted MBEs in generating over $1 billion in contracts, financing, and sales and creating more than 4,000 jobs.

Donna has more than 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, public relations, program management, and business development with an emphasis on identifying company needs and matching those needs to the appropriate resources. As the former manager of product marketing and program services for EI2, she directed the marketing strategies and activities for EI2’s Center for International Standards & Quality, Lean Enterprise Services, and the Energy and Environmental Management Center. Trained as a lead auditor for ISO 9001, she helped companies determine their business process improvement needs and provided specific direction for clients who implemented management systems and lean techniques as part of their business strategies.

Donna received her Master of Public Administration from Georgia State University and a B.S. in communications from Boston University. She is an awardee of the 2011 Georgia Tech Women Out Front program and has been named one of Atlanta’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence by the Atlanta Business League. Donna is the Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud and a former member of the Board of Trustees of Atlanta Unity Church. A native of Washington, D.C., she is the proud mother of daughter Adenike Makinde.

Spotlight on MBEIC Leadership

August 6, 2014 by angishields

Let's Talk Small Business

Spotlight on MBEIC Leadership

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Business in need of a boost? Try the 2014 MBEIC Regional Summit! MBEIC Chair Sylvia Nealy David of HTC Advisors, Professional Services Chair Ted Cummings of Onyx Media Services Group, and Construction Vice Chair James Warren of B&S Electric Supply Co. were on hand to promote the upcoming GMSDC Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee (MBEIC) Regional Summit. An annual conference for the business enrichment of the Southeast’s leading minority business enterprises (MBEs), the summit is an opportunity to learn and network with the knowledgeable and well-connected. So listen in for event details and pointers on maximizing your effectiveness at any conference of this size.

Sylvia Nealy David / Human & Technology Capital Advisors, LLC

Sylvia Nealy David is the Managing Principal with Human and Technology Capital Advisors, a premier Human Capital Management consulting and solution implementation firm, specializing in the implementation of human capital management strategy utilizing technology. She is an International HR Executive with over 20 years of experience in human capital management. Sylvia has led international and national HR organizations in North America, South America, Southern and Central Europe for profit and non-profit organizations. She has experience in higher education, financial services, and the healthcare industries. Her expertise includes strategic human resources leadership and evaluation, total rewards management, workforce planning & diversity implementation, mergers & acquisitions, corporate compliance, leadership development, talent management, performance management and organizational design & development.

Sylvia is a pioneer in Human Capital Management. She developed an HR Capabilities Model. This model has established standard competencies for measuring HR effectiveness and efficiency. Sylvia has held several leadership roles with in human resources management. Prior to Human and Technology Capital Advisors, Sylvia was the Vice President for Human Resources for Morehouse School of Medicine, Global Vice President of HR at Habitat for Humanity International, and various leadership roles with Emory and Synovus Financial Corp.

Sylvia serves on the Board of Director, (HR Committee) for the Girls Scouts of Greater Atlanta, and is a Mentor for Pathbuilders, Inc. In addition, she serves as the Chair of (MBEIC) Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee for the NMSDC Georgia Affiliate Council, a member of the Board of Directors for the NMSDC Georgia Affiliate Council, and an appointee of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Advisory Council. Sylvia is also Chair of the Small Business Council Community Committee.

Ted Cummings / Onyx Media Services

James Warren / B&S Electric Supply Co., Inc.

Mary Ellen McClanahan with Georgia Department of Economic Development

July 29, 2014 by angishields

Let's Talk Small Business

Mary Ellen McClanahan with Georgia Department of Economic Development

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There has never been a better time to be a small business owner in Georgia. Just ask Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Mary Ellen McClanahan, the director of entrepreneur and small business, who shed light on the vast opportunities and resources available to Georgia small businesses. So if you want to know more about Georgia’s technical and financial assistance programs, its many tax incentives as well as the high growth industries that are steadily placing Georgia in the lead for entrepreneurship throughout the nation – you have come to right place. Listen in…Georgia is open for business!

Mary Ellen McClanahan / Georgia Department of Economic Development

As Director of Entrepreneur & Small Business Development for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Mary Ellen helps find solutions and effective ways to build an enabling environment and support small business through mentoring, professional development, strategic planning, processes and resource awareness. She also connects with Georgia’s business and community associations so that thousands of businesses, local leaders and practitioners are aware of resources and opportunities. She also directs any sized businesses to the specific resources they need.

Mary Ellen is also an Existing Industry Project Manager within the Metro Atlanta region. She calls on growing companies making them aware of state resources and incentives and provides assistance with their growth plans and decision-making process. Mary Ellen also works closely with the local economic developers with their economic development efforts.

During her 16 years with the department, she helped develop and grow its regional economic development program, the “Entrepreneur Friendly” Initiative and acted as legislative liaison. Prior to that, Mary Ellen was the economic developer and president of two rural South Georgia chambers of commerce in Dodge and Sumter Counties.

Originally from Erie, PA and in Georgia since 1973, Mary Ellen serves on the boards of GEDA (Georgia Economic Developers Association), GACCE (GA Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives), Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, Advisory Council for the Edge Connection and the DeKalb Workforce Investment Board.

She is a 1997 graduate of Institute for Organization Management, Leadership Georgia and a 2000 graduate of EDI (Economic Development Institute).

Terri ElHaddoui with The Edge Connection

June 17, 2014 by angishields

Let's Talk Small Business

Terri ElHaddoui with The Edge Connection

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The Edge Connection is mastering the use of “entrepreneurship as a way for eradicating cyclical poverty” for individuals, their families and surrounding communities. A nonprofit organization that primarily serves low and middle income women, veterans and minorities, The Edge Connection CEO Terri ElHaddaoui speaks candidly about the benefits and opportunities available to small business owners, as well as, the importance of taking advantage and doing the work necessary to succeed. The interview is a must-listen for anyone interested in starting their own business, or anyone who is relatively new to entrepreneurship. Also useful for corporations that deal in the small business space. Learn more about The Edge Connection at http://www.theedgeconnection.com/

Terri ElHaddoui/The Edge Connection

Terri ElHaddaoui’s career spans more than 20 years in the corporate sector. Her various management and leadership positions endowed her with extensive expertise in strategic planning, operations development, coaching and leadership, organizational advancement, and public relations. An accomplished visionary and strategic leader with a strong track record of performance in change management, Terri is passionate about leveraging entrepreneurism as a poverty alleviation strategy to ensure long-term economic wellness.

She is a women’s leadership and small business advocate who has served small business owners as an operations and marketing development consultant, and she continues to volunteer her time as an advisor to entrepreneurs. Terri was recently honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration by being recognized as the 2014 Women in Business Champion of the Year.

Terri holds a BS in Business Management from Southern Polytechnic State University (Summa Cum Laude), an MBA from Kennesaw State University (Beta Gamma Sigma), and is certified in entrepreneurship.