gwinnett chamber podcast Archives - Page 2 of 4

Episode 1: She Means Business

August 15, 2024 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

Episode 1: She Means Business

00:00 /

For most of us, balancing our career, personal lives, and passions isn’t always easy.

That’s why we sat down with Aysha Abdullatif, VP of Marketing at Spherion, and Kim Hartsock, Managing Partner at Warren Averett, to hear about how they seemingly do it all. Tune in to hear these influential women in business share how they’ve mastered the art of integration, their thoughts on mentor/mentee relationships, and advice for young professionals starting out in their career.

In this Episode:

Is work-life balance a real thing?
How to find those mentor/mentee relationships
Knowing your strengths & what you bring to the table
What it looks like to believe in yourself before anyone else
How a bad mistake makes for a good story
Embracing your true self in a world of expectations

Resources & Links:

Aysha Abdullatif – LinkedIn
Kim Hartsock – LinkedIn
The Wrap: A Warren Averett Podcast
Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce – Website

The Gwinnett Chamber’s “Voice of Business” Podcast, hosted by President & CEO Nick Masino, features engaging fireside chats with prominent business leaders, offering invaluable insights into leadership, small business growth, economic development, and inclusive best practices in business.

2023 Gwinnett Chamber Multi-Chamber Mixer at After Hours

November 5, 2023 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

2023 Gwinnett Chamber Multi-Chamber Mixer at After Hours

00:00 /

Business RadioX at the Gwinnett Chambers’ Multi-Chamber Mixer at After Hours.

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce celebrated the community’s global business scene with the annual Multi-Chamber Mixer at After Hours on November 1, 2023. Nearly 400 attendees from different nationalities, cultural backgrounds, and organizations came together to recognize the vibrant and diverse business community in Metro Atlanta’s fastest-growing county.

The event allowed attendees to interact with the Gwinnett Chamber’s bi-lateral business partner organizations, sample international cuisine from some of the region’s most authentic restaurants, and network for business growth among peers and business executives.

Bi-lateral chamber partners introduced themselves from the stage and representatives from the organizations were interviewed on Business RadioX.

Michael Chen – Executive Director/Belgian American Chamber of the South (0:25 – 4:30)
Jian Ni – President/Chinese Business Association of Atlanta (4:30 – 8:33)
Katherine Lafourcade – Executive Director/French-American Chamber of Commerce Atlanta-Southeast (8:33 – 12:53)
David Yang – Executive Board of Directors/Atlanta Chinese Entrepreneurs Club (12:53 – 17:15)
Veronica Maldonado-Torres – President and CEO/Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (17:15 – 22:53)
Derek Wilson – President/Greater Eastside Chamber of Commerce (22:53 – 25:30)
Imran Niazi – Founding Member/Georgia Pakistan Business Council (25:30 – 29:47)
Hiroyuki Akiyama – Director General for Community Engagement/Japanese Chamber of Commerce (29:47 – 33:13)
Grace Multani – President/Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (33:13 – 36:23)
Magda Odendaal – Vice President/South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (36:23 – 39:48)
Bill Diehl – Chairman/Southwest Chamber of Commerce (39:48 – 45:10)
Lissa Miller – Board Chair/U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Southeast Region (45:10 – 49:50)
Maria Lam – Board of Directors/Georgia Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (49:10 – 55:32)
Alejandro Coss – President and CEO/Latin American Chamber of Commerce (55:32 – 1:03:42)
Nick Masino – CEO/Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce (1:03:42-1:08:30)

Event sponsors included Eagle Rock Distributing, Gas South District, Georgia Power, Taillefer Commercial Group, Peach BPO, University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus, Business RadioX, and Global Atlanta.

To learn more about the partnerships between the bilateral chamber organizations, view the Gwinnett Chamber’s news page online at GwinnettChamber.org for feature stories highlighting the formal agreements developed with each organization.

Gwinnett Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Jill Edwards

February 28, 2022 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

Gwinnett Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Jill Edwards

00:00 /

Jill Edwards/Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce is to “champion business” and their vision is to be the leading advocate and innovative resource for businesses to connect and thrive.

Established in 1947 as a rural chamber of commerce serving farmers and banks, the Gwinnett Chamber grew and changed alongside Gwinnett County. Today, they serve more than 2,200 members throughout metro Atlanta by delivering programs that strengthen and connect businesses locally, regionally and globally.

At the Gwinnett Chamber, there is strength in numbers. Since they represent more than 2,200 companies, they can offer significant member discounts and present a unified voice in matters of public policy that affect the business community. In addition, the Chamber provides opportunities for like-minded business people to connect with one another and expand their business network and increase the exposure of their business. They also offer opportunities to learn about issues and best practices related to running a successful business.

The Chamber’s economic development team, Partnership Gwinnett, is a public-private initiative dedicated to bringing new jobs and capital investment to Gwinnett County. Since 2007, Partnership Gwinnett has worked with its local partners to attract and retain jobs, cultivate capital investment, support educational institutions, foster workforce development, and contribute to the exceptional quality of life found in Gwinnett and the Atlanta region.

CLICK HERE if you prefer to watch the video of this episode.

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS: Launch Pointe at Gwinnett Tech and Trinity Staffing & Career Resources

December 9, 2021 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS: Launch Pointe at Gwinnett Tech and Trinity Staffing & Career Resources

00:00 /

Melvin Emerson, Donna Linden and J.D. Mealor

Risk-takers. Problem solvers. The dreamers and the doers. Not for the faint of heart, being a small business owner is a bold feat. Now, more than ever, it is critical to celebrate those who are up to the challenge. The Gwinnett Chamber’s Small Business Awards do just that by showcasing those that dare to start, sustain, and succeed, and the community that supports them.

Melvin Emerson/Launch Pointe at Gwinnett Technical College (Support System Award)

Launch Pointe, The Clyde L. Strickland Center for Career Experience is laser-focused on providing work-based learning and career development. Working with both large and small local, regional and global business employers, Launch Pointe provides students opportunities to participate in internships, apprenticeships and entrepreneurship experiences designed to augment classroom activity and foster educational, occupational and personal growth.

Donna Linden/Trinity Staffing & Career Resources (Small Business Award 0-5 Employees)

Trinity Staffing and Career Resources provides employers and professionals excellence in staffing & recruiting services.

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS WINNERS: Seven Oaks Academy, 360 Pest & Food Safety Consulting and American Painting & Renovations

December 8, 2021 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS WINNERS: Seven Oaks Academy, 360 Pest & Food Safety Consulting and American Painting & Renovations

00:00 /

Erica Gwyn, Chelle Hartzer, J.D. Mealor and Sid Theus

Erica Gwyn/Seven Oaks Academy (Minority-Owned/Woman-Owned Small Business Award)

Seven Oaks Academy is a preschool in Lilburn, GA that offers various platforms for creative learning experiences for all the children in their facility. Aiming for quality child development and favorable outcomes are their primary concerns. They want every child to be well-equipped with the right knowledge and expertise for them to be well-rounded individuals. Apart from having an exciting learning environment, their professionals strive to unleash the potential of every child.

Chelle Hartzer/360 Pest & Food Safety Consulting (Launch Award)

360 Pest & Food Safety Consulting helps companies solve tough pest issues. They help companies trouble-shoot ongoing issues, put preventative plans in place, and improve their pest control services.

Sid Theus/American Painting & Renovations (Founder Award)

For over 30 years, American Painting & Renovations has provided top-rated service within the multifamily, commercial, and residential industries as a contractor. Their goal has been to ensure you receive reliable products and unmatched installations promptly. Their nationwide service, quality workmanship, and competitive pricing have earned them numerous recognitions within these industries, and is confirmed by their growing list of satisfied customers.

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS: Mighty 8th Media, Anthony Chen and Home of Hope

December 7, 2021 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS: Mighty 8th Media, Anthony Chen and Home of Hope

00:00 /

Anthony Chen, Jonathan Holmes, Maureen Kornowa and J.D. Mealor

Jonathan Holmes/Mighty 8th Media (Culture Creator Award)

For marketing that makes an impact, look no further than Mighty 8th Media. They are an award-winning Atlanta marketing and design agency. From concept to completion, their crew delivers the ideas and stories that take businesses to higher levels of success. Whether it’s working as an extension of your existing team, or serving as your entire outsourced marketing department, they’re suited up and ready for any mission. Mighty 8th Media has been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” by Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia Trend Magazine; a 2018 “Small Business of the Year” and Pinnacle Awards winner by the Gwinnett Chamber; and one of Atlanta’s “Top 50 Marketing and Advertising Agencies” for 2017 and 2018. Mighty 8th Media strives to be an ongoing source of pride and economic growth for the Gwinnett community.

Anthony Chen/Lighthouse Financial Network (Emerging Entrepreneur Award)

Lighthouse Financial Network begins with a commitment to you, listening, advising, and building ongoing relationships. They are affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, member FINRA/SIPC. Their firm is located in Melville, NY and has an additional 6 affiliated offices located within the metropolitan area. They provide financial guidance to clients across the country, each with unique financial needs. They are comprised of a dedicated group of professionals, with high core values and extensive experience in finance, insurance and money management. Many of the advisors have attained advanced degrees and professional designations to enhance their ability to best represent you to make certain that they meet your needs effectively. Their advisors are responsible for understanding your financial picture, applying a comprehensive strategy and providing the appropriate resources to help meet your goals and objectives. Their mission is to provide you with quality financial advice, to build relationships based on trust, and to develop unique solutions to help you reach your financial goals. They embrace a team philosophy and work with your attorneys, accountants, trustees, and other professional advisors to help ensure the most efficient and effective approach is taken when creating your financial solutions. Contact them to begin “lighting your way to a secure financial future”.

Maureen Kornowa/Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter (Community Contributor Award)

Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter is a transitional living facility for homeless children (0-17) with their mothers. They are designed to address the homeless issue in Gwinnett County and the metro Atlanta area. They do this by keeping the family unit together and teaching mom the necessary life skills designed to get her to independence. They provide housing, food, and clothing in a safe and nurturing environment where kids are free to be kids while mom works a customized life plan designed to take her from homeless to hopeful, and ultimately into a home of her own.

Jamie Hamilton with Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett, Deirdra Cox with Community Sustainability Enterprise and Scott Mawdesley with Corners Outreach

October 20, 2021 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

Jamie Hamilton with Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett, Deirdra Cox with Community Sustainability Enterprise and Scott Mawdesley with Corners Outreach

00:00 /

Scott Mawdesley, Jamie Hamilton and Deirdre Cox

Jamie Hamilton/Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett

For more than 30 years, Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett has been helping to improve the lives of those with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities through a PreK-12 school and young adult day program. With a focus on providing the highest quality education and therapeutic services, nurturing and challenging each student on their own level, instilling a positive self-image and love for learning, and supporting parents in their quest for the best life for their child, they are making a difference in the lives of families in Gwinnett and surrounding counties.

Deirdra Cox/Community Sustainability Enterprise

Community Sustainability Enterprise (CSE) is a community & economic development focused 501c3, serving Gwinnett County and the Southeast region of the United States. Their vision is economic mobility and self-efficacy in families and communities of color, that produces thriving families, sustainable communities, and generational wealth transfer.

Scott Mawdesley/Corners Outreach

Corners Outreach exists to equip underserved students of color and their families to lead full lives through educational and economic development. Their vision includes one community where every person thrives no matter their color, status or background.

Margarita Walwyn with Caribbean Flavors and Muhammed Sokhna with Black Star Resumes

April 28, 2021 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

Margarita Walwyn with Caribbean Flavors and Muhammed Sokhna with Black Star Resumes

00:00 /

Margarita Walwyn/Caribbean Flavors

Caribbean Flavors is all about the flavor. Their Caribbean roots and culture are embedded into their hearts and soul and it reflects in every dish they prepare, whether it’s Caribbean or Caribbean Fusion.

Muhammed Sokhna/Black Star Resumes

Black Star Resumes was created in January of 2020 to help professionals develop their personal brand for optimal career progression.

Muhammed Sokhna is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) from the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARW/CC). He has written over 4.5K resumes to date and is currently contracted with the following organizations: Randstad RiseSmart (Monster Division) and Bridgemore Staffing.

Update on Georgia Legislative Session and Public Policy

April 5, 2021 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

Update on Georgia Legislative Session and Public Policy

00:00 /

Paul Oh/Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

Paul Oh serves as the Manager of Public Policy & Community Affairs for the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.

The mission of the Gwinnett Chamber is to strengthen existing businesses, facilitate the growth of quality job opportunities, and enrich the community’s quality of life. In addition, the Gwinnett Chamber is the forum for business, government, education, healthcare, arts/culture/entertainment, and philanthropic and public-service communities to come together to advance the region’s economy and enrich Gwinnett’s quality of life.

Dean Collins/Axis Companies

Dean Collins, the Founder & President of Axis Companies, serves as the Vice-Chair for Public Policy with the Gwinnett Chamber.

Axis Companies was founded in 2016 when Dean Collins recognized a significant need within the development industry. An innovator, Dean tapped into his more than 25 years of experience leading transportation and site development projects for large engineering consulting firms and formed Axis Companies to fill the need.

Simply put, Axis offers a unique blend of services in land development, design, project management and construction management services. This “Development Suite”, paired with significant industry experience, allows for these services to reside under one professional management team. Their Development Suite allows you the flexibility to choose either individual services to supplement in-house staff, or turnkey services to manage an entire project or program. Regardless of your selection, you will have confidence knowing that your project is being managed by industry experts.