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GSU Student Journalist Zahra Pacheco Interviews John Ray

November 17, 2025 by John Ray

GSU Student Journalist Zahra Pacheco Interviews John Ray, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
GSU Student Journalist Zahra Pacheco Interviews John Ray
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GSU Student Journalist Zahra Pacheco Interviews John Ray, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

GSU Student Journalist Zahra Pacheco Interviews John Ray (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 913)

In this special episode of North Fulton Business Radio, the roles flip. Zahra Pacheco, a journalism student at Georgia State University and a team member of WRAS Album 88, the GSU radio station, transforms a class assignment into a live podcast interview with host John Ray.

Zahra talks about her path into journalism, her show Play It Again, and what she hopes to bring to the future of news and storytelling. She also reflects on growing up in the North Fulton business community as the daughter of Gloria Mattei and Sergio Pacheco, co-owners of Nothing Bundt Cakes; her “beanbag at the bakery” childhood; and what it was like to be the nervous teenager doing a 30-second pitch at an early morning chamber breakfast.

Then Zahra turns the questions on John. He shares how a corporate layoff led to his advisory practice, how North Fulton Business Radio got started, and why podcasting is less about ad revenue and more about relationships, community, and giving others a platform to tell their story.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

  • How Zahra is using GSU, Album 88, and her show Play It Again to build real-world journalism experience
  • What she learned growing up inside the North Fulton business community through Nothing Bundt Cakes and the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce
  • How John’s layoff and career pivot led to both an advisory practice and the launch of North Fulton Business Radio
  • Why podcasting works best as a relationship and community builder instead of a quick play for ad revenue
  • How shows like North Fulton Business Radio gives business owners a platform to tell their story

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:37 Meet Zahra Pacheco
02:18 Zahra’s Background and Interests
03:56 The Journey into Journalism
07:57 John Ray’s Podcasting Journey
10:13 Career Transitions and Business Insights
11:15 Community Connections and Personal Stories
23:45 Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Podcasters
24:01 The Reality of Podcast Monetization
25:51 Building Relationships Through Podcasting
26:52 Favorite Podcast Episodes
32:02 Zahra’s Talk Show and Career Aspirations
38:58 Reflections on Family and Business
43:54 Closing Remarks and Promotions

Zahra Pacheco

Zahra Pacheco
Zahra Pacheco

Zahra Pacheco is a junior journalism major at Georgia State University and a member of WRAS Album 88, the GSU radio station. She serves as assistant promotions director and hosts Play It Again, a live talk show where she and her co-host create a new “mixtape” each week and often interview guests. Raised in the North Fulton business community as the daughter of Nothing Bundt Cakes co-owners Gloria Mattei and Sergio Pacheco, Zahra is blending her love of storytelling, radio, and dance as she builds a career in promotions and creative media work after graduation.

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which helps them better understand the people. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the complete archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs 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, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John 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.

Tagged With: Album 88 Radio, Alpharetta business, Atlanta journalism, Beyond Computer Solutions, business development through podcasting, business podcast host, business storytelling, chamber networking, college radio, community engagement, georgia state university, Gloria Mattei, GNFCC, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, John Ray, journalism career, Lionheart Elementary, Lionheart Radio, media internships, north fulton business community, North Fulton Business Radio, Nothing Bundt Cakes Alpharetta, Nothing Bundt Cakes Buckhead, Nothing Bundt Cakes Sandy Springs, Path to Shine, Play It Again radio show, podcasting, podcasting for business, renasant bank, Roswell business, Sergio Pacheco, student journalist, WRAS Album 88, youth in business, Zahra Pacheco

Deb Krier on Leading During Cancer Treatment

November 12, 2025 by John Ray

Deb Krier on Leading During Cancer Treatment, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray
North Fulton Studio
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Deb Krier on Leading During Cancer Treatment, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray

Deb Krier on Leading During Cancer Treatment (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 152)

When the leader is in treatment, the business still needs direction. On this episode of The Price and Value Journey, host John Ray welcomes Deb Krier, entrepreneur, cancer advocate, host of The Business Power Hour, and founder of TryingNotToDie.LIVE. Drawing on more than twenty years in communications and her certification as an Integrative Cancer Coach, Deb lays out how she handled executive duties after a Stage 4 diagnosis and what she now recommends to owners and executives who want their firms to hold up under stress.

Deb explains the essentials: a one-page resilience file with decision rights and if-then triggers, simple rules that let the team act without her, and a steady update cadence that reassures clients without oversharing. She shares how to remove single points of failure in work, offer clients clear options when capacity shifts, and protect cash with plain language changes to invoicing or retainers. Listeners leave with practical steps they can complete this week, so the company runs with less drama when life gets loud, and the leader can focus on treatment and recovery.

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

  • Build a one-page resilience file: decision rights, dollar limits, if-then triggers, and two short update scripts for clients and team.
  • Remove single-point-of-failure tasks by creating simple handoffs and a short list of trusted backups.
  • Use clear client options when capacity changes: name what will change, what will not, and the next best alternative.
  • Set a predictable update rhythm and channel to reduce uncertainty and questions.
  • Protect cash with small process tweaks such as earlier invoicing or clarified retainer terms, explained in plain language.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
00:28 Deb Krier’s Cancer Journey Begins
02:37 Coping with Diagnosis and Treatment
07:59 Support Systems and Family Reactions
10:24 Balancing Business and Health
12:50 Communicating with Clients
17:35 Handling Inappropriate Reactions
24:10 Questions to Ask After a Diagnosis
28:56 Doctor Disagreements and Trust Issues
30:17 Communicating Health Challenges to Clients
32:42 Adjusting Business Operations During Treatment
33:51 Becoming a Cancer Coach
36:28 Supporting Clients Through Cancer
38:20 Delegating and Business Continuity Planning
42:17 Mindset Shifts and Personal Reflections
44:15 Cancer Coaching Services Overview
47:19 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Deb Krier

Deb Krier
Deb Krier

Deb Krier is an entrepreneur and a seasoned professional in marketing and communications. After holding various roles in corporate, agency, and nonprofit settings, she founded Wise Women Communications in 2002, a full-service PR and marketing firm. Her experience spans brand and message strategy, media relations, crisis communication, integrated campaigns, and community relations. She also hosts The Business Power Hour on the C-Suite Network, where she focuses on practical tools that help owners build stronger businesses.

After a Stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis in 2015, Deb turned her lived experience into service for other leaders. She is a certified integrative cancer coach and works with business owners and executives who are navigating treatment or recovery, helping them protect energy, communicate clearly, and keep their companies moving. In 2022, she launched TryingNotToDie.LIVE, a platform that offers community, resources, and straightforward advice for those impacted by cancer.

Deb is based in Atlanta and holds an MBA in marketing from the University of Colorado and an MS in communications management from Colorado State University.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | TryingNotToDie.LIVE

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 at Barnes & Noble with his book, The Generosity MindsetJohn 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

Tagged With: business continuity, cancer advocacy, cancer coach, certified integrative cancer coach, client communication, crisis leadership, Deb Krier, executive health challenges, John Ray, professional services leadership, resilience plan, small firm operations, Succession Planning, The Business Power Hour, The Price and Value Journey, TryingNotToDie.LIVE

Alpharetta’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan: Why It Matters

November 6, 2025 by John Ray

Alpharetta's 2045 Comprehensive Plan: Why It Matters, on the North Fulton Voices podcast
North Fulton Studio
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Alpharetta's 2045 Comprehensive Plan: Why It Matters, on the North Fulton Voices podcast

Alpharetta’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan: Why It Matters (North Fulton Voices, Episode 14)

On this edition of North Fulton Voices, hosts Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond sit down with Benjamin “Ben” Kern of MKSK Studios and Michael Woodman, Planning and Development Services Manager for the City of Alpharetta, to unpack Alpharetta’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan. This conversation explains what a comprehensive plan is and why it is relevant for everyday life in Alpharetta. You will hear how the plan sets the city’s long-range vision for land use, redevelopment, transportation, parks and greenways, housing, and economic development. The guests clearly distinguish between the plan and the zoning code: the plan establishes policy direction and a future land use map, while zoning serves as the legal tool to implement this vision when projects arrive.

Alpharetta is moving from a growth pattern defined by open land to one focused on redevelopment and reinvestment. The discussion covers how older commercial areas can be reimagined, why mixed-use nodes near jobs and services reduce congestion, and how the city evaluates proposals against the plan month in and month out. You will also learn how progress is tracked through a short-term work program and a formal Report of Accomplishments that keeps Alpharetta eligible for key regional and state funding.

Most importantly, the episode shows how residents and businesses can influence outcomes. Public input includes a steering committee, online surveys, and in-person sessions, with community meetings on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 12:00–1:00 p.m. and 5:00–6:30 p.m. at Alpharetta City Hall. Listen to understand the choices ahead and how to weigh in with feedback that leads to better projects, stronger neighborhoods, and a city that reflects the community’s shared priorities.

Learn more on the 2045 Alpharetta Comprehensive Plan updates website, and add your voice by completing the community survey on future city development priorities.

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

  • Plan vs. zoning, decoded: The comprehensive plan sets vision, goals, policies, and the future land use map. Zoning is the legal code that implements that vision when projects are proposed.
  • Future land use map matters: Staff and elected officials use the map every month to evaluate whether a proposal aligns with the city’s long-range direction before any rezoning is considered.
  • From greenfields to redevelopment: With little vacant land left, Alpharetta’s growth will come from reinvestment, infill, and reimagining aging commercial and office areas into mixed-use, walkable places.
  • Transportation is more than roads: The plan ties land use to mobility, aiming for safer local streets, strategic congestion relief, and better walking, biking, and trail connections between jobs, housing, and parks.
  • Housing mix and affordability tools: The update looks at diversifying housing types near services and employment to support workforce needs and reduce long commutes that strain the network.
  • Short-term work program and accountability: Progress is tracked through a Report of Accomplishments, which keeps Alpharetta eligible for key regional and state funding.
  • Public input shapes outcomes: Residents and businesses can influence priorities through surveys, a steering committee, and in-person sessions at City Hall. Thoughtful feedback can shift where, what, and how redevelopment happens.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Voices
01:01 Comprehensive Plans: Importance and Current Updates
01:29 Regional Housing Data and Trends
02:54 Meet the Experts: Benjamin Kerr and Michael Woodman
04:23 Understanding Comprehensive Plans
10:44 Community Involvement and Vision for Alpharetta’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan
17:01 Challenges and Opportunities in Alpharetta
27:38 Future Plans and Community Engagement
34:57 Conclusion and Contact Information

Michael Woodman, Planning and Development Services Manager, City of Alpharetta

Michael Woodman, Planning and Development Services Manager, City of Alpharetta
Michael Woodman, City of Alpharetta

The Community Development Department for the City of Alpharetta guides the city’s growth and development to enhance the quality of life while respecting its historic and natural features. The department plays a key role in planning and implementing projects related to land use, economic development, housing, and community facilities, including Alpharetta’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan. It supports diverse housing options, pedestrian-friendly environments, mixed-use developments, and public infrastructure improvements. The department also engages with the community and private sector to ensure development aligns with community goals, including projects like downtown revitalization, greenways, and city-owned property consolidation for municipal offices. Overall, it focuses on sustainable growth, creating vibrant neighborhoods, and improving public access to city services.

Website

Benjamin Kern, Planner, MKSK Studios

Benjamin Kern, Planner, MKSK Studios
Benjamin Kern, MKSK Studios

MKSK Studios is a planning, urban design, and landscape architecture firm that partners extensively with municipalities to create vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive communities. They provide strategic master planning and design services that guide long-term improvements for municipal campuses, public parks, streetscapes, and civic spaces, with a strong focus on pedestrian connectivity, sustainable stormwater management, and adaptive reuse of existing city infrastructure. MKSK’s work for municipalities aims to enhance public engagement, strengthen community identity, and improve the quality of life through thoughtful, context-sensitive design that integrates social, environmental, and cultural values. Their projects often include comprehensive engagement efforts to ensure plans align with community needs while fostering equity and resilience in growing urban environments.

Website

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.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Jack Murphy

Jack Murphy
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.

LinkedIn

Nancy Diamond

Nancy Diamond

Nancy Diamond is a Project Manager with Schmit & Associates, a real estate development firm, creating town center revitalization in communities all around the metro area.

Nancy served 8 years as a Roswell City Council Member, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem, with liaison positions with Community Development, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and Public Safety.

In addition to her work with the North Fulton Improvement Network, Nancy has been active in area non-profit organizations, including board leadership positions in the STAR House Foundation, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and the Roswell Rotary Club.

A native of Atlanta and a 42-year North Fulton resident, Nancy worked at Turner Broadcasting in the early years of CNN, then became a freelancer in sports television graphics. While raising her two daughters, she worked from home, first developing a corporate gift service and later as a mortgage loan originator.

Nancy and her husband, Glenn, now relish the role of grandparents to 8-year-old Owen.

LinkedIn

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
John Ray

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 solopreneurs 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.

Tagged With: Alpharetta, Alpharetta 2045 Comprehensive Plan, Ben Kern, City of Alpharetta, community engagement, comprehensive plan, economic development, future land use map, housing, Jack Murphy, John Ray, land use, Michael Woodman, mixed use, MKSK Studios, Nancy Diamond, North Fulton Improvement Network, North Fulton Voices, redevelopment, trails and greenways, Transportation, workforce housing, zoning

Kriston Sellier, id8, on Branding That Customers Remember

November 5, 2025 by John Ray

Kriston Sellier, id8, on Branding That Customers Remember, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
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Kriston Sellier, id8, on Branding That Customers Remember, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Kriston Sellier, id8, on Branding That Customers Remember (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 912)

On this edition of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Kriston Sellier, Founder and President of id8. Kriston discusses how real differentiation, rather than generic claims like quality and caring, builds enduring brands. She walks through id8’s discovery process, where small but true details become the hook that customers remember, such as a packaging story that began with an overlooked import detail and turned into a premium signal buyers could trust. She also explains why many founders struggle to see their own “orange umbrella” and how an outside team helps surface it.

Kriston lays out practical shifts leaders can make right now: deepen impact before you chase scale, retain customers longer with promises that matter, and commit to consistent messaging long enough to change minds. She tells revenue and retention stories that show what happens when a brand gets clarified, activated, and consistently expressed across touchpoints, from the website to the side of a truck. This conversation serves as a valuable guide for owners seeking a brand that generates sales without their presence.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

  • Differentiation lives in specific, true details customers can picture, not vague claims like “innovative” or “quality.”
  • Consistency wins: it can take 18 months of steady messaging to change how a market thinks, then another 18 months to see behavior shift.
  • Prioritize deepening impact: enhance customer lifetime value through meaningful promises and utilize the brand to retain, not just acquire.
  • Rebrands pay off when they’re activated everywhere, especially where buyers actually see you, from vehicles to proposals to the site.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:33 Guest Introduction: Kriston Sellier, id8
02:33 Kriston’s Journey and Passion for Branding
04:20 Branding Success Stories
09:14 Deepening Impact Over Scaling Up
14:55 Overcoming Hidden Barriers to Growth
21:35 Introduction to Idea Eight
21:53 Identifying Symptoms of Brand Issues
23:35 Challenges in Mergers and Acquisitions
25:34 Kriston’s Passion for Manufacturing
27:45 The Sales Process at Idea Eight
29:36 Kriston’s Journey in Sales
32:51 Reflective Apparel Success Story
36:11 Contact Information and Closing Remarks
37:02 Final Thanks

Kriston Sellier, Founder & President, id8

Kriston Sellier, Founder & President, id8
Kriston Sellier, Founder & President, id8

Kriston Sellier is the Founder and President of id8, an award-winning branding agency headquartered in Marietta, Georgia. She launched the firm in 2000 after building her design and strategy expertise at IBM, where she gained experience in brand development and e-business innovation with clients including The New York Times, Kodak, and the U.S.V.I. Department of Tourism.

Her philosophy centers on uncovering the heart of a brand through research, collaboration, and strategy. Kriston leads id8 with the goal of helping businesses grow their brand value by identifying what truly differentiates them in the market. She emphasizes creativity built on data and design thinking, cultivating a culture at id8 that encourages curiosity, innovation, and authenticity in client relationships.

Over the past two decades, Kriston has guided id8 to become one of the top creative agencies in the Southeast, earning multiple national design awards and recognition from the Cobb Chamber as one of the Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year. She has partnered with companies across industries—from manufacturing to retail—helping them clarify messaging, strengthen identity, and build revenue-generating brand platforms.

A graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Graphic Design, Kriston also completed masters work at University of Cincinnati, entrepreneurship training at Dartmouth College through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and Babson College through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. She remains active in the Georgia business community, mentoring young designers and speaking on topics such as branding, leadership, and business growth through authenticity.

LinkedIn

id8

id8 is an award-winning branding and marketing agency based in Marietta, Georgia, specializing in helping small and mid-sized businesses unlock growth through research-driven creative solutions. The team goes beyond just making things look good; they dig into market research and strategic insights before launching any brand transformation or marketing effort. This means every logo, website refresh, or marketing campaign is built to solve real business challenges and deliver measurable results.

What really sets id8 apart from competitors is the hands-on approach of senior leadership, nimbleness, and the agency’s commitment to proactive communication. Clients work directly with an experienced strategist (not just a junior team), enjoy flexibility for changing needs, and always know where their project stands. The agency’s reputation for blending corporate branding, marketing, package and digital design with straightforward, client-focused partnership makes them a go-to for VPs of Marketing, Sales, and CEOs who want a partner that gets business, not just branding.

id8’s work has made an impact for the Georgia Department of Labor, the City of Marietta/Visit Marietta, Atlanta North School, the City of Atlanta Jazz Festival, Kistler, and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Notable accomplishments include rebranding Marietta Square and Atlanta North School, winning multiple Davey Awards and GDUSA recognitions, and earning distinction as a Cobb Chamber Top 25 Small Business of the Year.

At id8, building brands isn’t about trendy templates or chasing awards; it’s about helping organizations stand apart, communicate clearly, and create lasting value in the communities they serve.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the complete archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs 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, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John 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.

Tagged With: Beyond Computer Solutions, brand strategy, branding agency, consistent messaging, customer retention, deepening impact, differentiation, founder transition, id8, John Ray, Kriston Sellier, manufacturing marketing, mid-market growth, North Fulton Business Radio, packaging story, premium positioning, rebrand activation, renasant bank, scale vs impact

2026 Health Insurance Reality Check, with Bill Neglia

November 5, 2025 by John Ray

2026 Health Insurance Reality Check, with Bill Neglia, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
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2026 Health Insurance Reality Check, with Bill Neglia, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

2026 Health Insurance Reality Check, with Bill Neglia (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 911)

Health insurance expert Bill Neglia of Neglia Insurance Group returns to North Fulton Business Radio with a blunt update on 2026 open enrollment. In a conversation with host John Ray, Bill notes that many exchange plans are seeing steep gross premium hikes at the same time enhanced tax credits from 2022 expire, which means higher net premiums for a large share of households. He explains why renewal letters look so shocking this year, how out-of-pocket maximums are rising to 10,500 per person, and why auto-renewing could be a costly mistake.

Bill outlines what to do before the December 15 deadline, the impact of Aetna’s exit from the individual marketplace, and the tradeoffs in non-marketplace alternatives for healthier buyers who are priced out. He also shares practical steps for comparing plans now, not in late December, so coverage and costs align on January 1.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

  • Premiums are up while 2022’s enhanced subsidies are ending, which is why many renewal notices show big net increases.
  • 2026 out-of-pocket maximums jump to 10,500 per person, increasing total potential exposure.
  • Avoid relying on auto-renew; explore alternative options before December 15 to prevent sticker shock on January 1.
  • Aetna’s marketplace exit narrows choices, and some priced-out consumers may consider medically underwritten, non-marketplace plans with limitations.
  • Compare total cost, not just the premium, including deductibles, coinsurance, and the out-of-pocket maximum.
  • Recheck networks and drug formularies, since plans and covered meds change year to year.
  • Healthy buyers who lose subsidies can look at non-marketplace options but should understand underwriting, exclusions, and caps.
  • Act early so coverage and ID cards are ready for a January 1 start, avoiding gaps or billing surprises.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:33 Guest Introduction: Bill Neglia, Neglia Insurance Group
02:14 Health Insurance Market Overview
02:53 Challenges in 2026 Health Insurance
04:22 Impact of Reduced Tax Credits
10:28 Options for Health Insurance
23:22 Medicare Open Enrollment
28:36 Closing Remarks and Contact Information
30:06 Additional Business Insights

Bill Neglia, Founder, Neglia Insurance Group

Bill Neglia, Neglia Insurance Group
Bill Neglia, Neglia Insurance Group

Inspired by a family friend’s offer of mentorship, Bill started his career in insurance over 40 years ago. He was drawn to the autonomy of the industry and the desire to make a difference in people’s lives. This commitment was underscored when a meeting led a client to discover a life-threatening heart condition, which reaffirmed the importance of his role.

To best serve his clients, Bill begins with a comprehensive questionnaire, ensuring he understands their unique needs before discussing solutions. Guided by transparency and genuine care, he always prioritizes the client’s interest, setting him apart in the industry.

Outside work, rock concerts are his escape, where he sees parallels to his profession: individual performers coming together for a harmonious result. That balance is pivotal in his personal life too. When his wife, Sandy, faced a cancer diagnosis, he became her primary caregiver. This period cemented his belief in the importance of personal connection and empathy in his business.

His family is his inspiration. With Sandy, their children Danny and Caitlin, and six grandchildren, he finds joy in spending time with them, either at home or traveling with his family. Whether it’s golf with his son, watching sports, or being amused by their five granddogs, these experiences enrich his interactions with clients.

Bill’s not just your insurance agent with decades of experience, but he’s a compassionate adviser committed to serving your individual and family needs.

LinkedIn

Neglia Insurance Group

Neglia Insurance GroupBill Neglia started his health, life, disability, and long-term care insurance agency in 1983 as a one-person operation.

Since then, he has added a full-time office administrator, Charlotte, his son Dan, and his son-in-law, Zach, to the team. The agency specializes in working with mainly self-employed individuals, their families and their employees to make sure they have the most suitable and cost-effective health insurance and other benefit plans available.

Bill’s team uses a comprehensive “hands-on” approach from initial contact to quote, enrollment, and servicing the policy after the sale.

Bill and his team have never charged their clients a penny for their time and professional services. They are compensated by the insurance carriers themselves. The premium you pay is exactly the same whether you use Bill and his team or do it yourself.

Website | Facebook

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the complete archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs 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, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John 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.

Tagged With: 2026 health plans, ACA marketplace, Affordable Care Act, Beyond Computer Solutions, Bill Neglia, catastrophic coverage, health insurance, healthcare costs, John Ray, Neglia Insurance Group, non marketplace plans, North Fulton Business Radio, open enrollment, out of pocket maximum, plan comparisons, premium increases, renasant bank, short term plans, subsidies, tax credits

Mike Pink, SmartPM: Cutting Construction Delays and Overruns

November 4, 2025 by John Ray

Mike Pink, SmartPM: Cutting Construction Delays and Overruns, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
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Mike Pink, SmartPM: Cutting Construction Delays and Overruns (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 910)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray talks with Mike Pink, founder and CEO of SmartPM. Mike explains why construction projects slip on time and budget, and how tighter use of the project schedule can prevent it. He breaks down CPM schedules, the detailed timelines used to plan a job. CPM stands for Critical Path Method, which is simply the chain of tasks that must finish on time for the whole project to finish on time.

Mike also demystifies schedule analytics. Think of it as software that reads the timeline like an auditor, checks whether the plan is sound, and spots early warning signs such as tasks starting out of order, the critical path bouncing around, or float shrinking. He shares examples of catching problems early, like a trade falling a week behind across several activities, or a logic link that quietly puts the project finish at risk. The result is fewer surprises, clearer conversations between the field and the office, and faster decisions that keep work moving for both owners and contractors.

Why it matters: Days turn into dollars. Each week of slippage can trigger liquidated damages, burn overhead, extend rentals, and push labor into overtime. Owners may delay revenue from a school, hospital, or plant that is not open. Contractors see margin erosion, slower pay apps, and a higher chance of disputes. Better schedule quality and frequent checks reduce those costs, speed decisions, and cut the odds of a claim.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

  • The project schedule is data, not a document. If you analyze it regularly, you can spot risks weeks before they hit the jobsite.
  • Good inputs matter. A clean baseline schedule is required before any tool can give trustworthy insights.
  • Simple metrics beat guesswork. Track things like critical path changes, total float shrinking, and out-of-sequence work to see trouble early.
  • Start small. Even mid-market contractors can begin with scheduled quality checks, then add regular risk reviews as they build the habit.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:36 Guest Introduction: Mike Pink from SmartPM
01:57 The Problem with Construction Projects
02:18 Mike’s Background and Passion
03:08 Challenges in Construction Projects
04:24 The Birth of SmartPM
07:47 How SmartPM Works
15:58 Building Trust in the Construction Industry
20:34 Customer Collaboration and Trust-Building
21:15 Introduction to Mike Pink and SmartPM
21:25 The Role of AI in SmartPM
22:07 Understanding and Leveraging Schedule Data
25:09 SmartPM’s Approach to Project Management
26:52 Symptoms Indicating the Need for SmartPM
32:53 Success Stories and Impact
37:27 How to Get in Touch with SmartPM
38:22 Closing Remarks and Additional Resources

Michael Pink, Founder & CEO, SmartPM

Michael Pink, Founder & CEO, SmartPM
Michael Pink, SmartPM

Michael Pink is the founder and CEO of SmartPM Technologies, a company he started in 2016 with a mission to transform construction project management through innovative schedule analytics. With over 20 years of experience in project controls, risk management, and forensic delay analysis across various sectors, Pink identified the construction industry’s struggle to effectively use vast amounts of schedule data. His background includes working with top consulting firms and earning a BS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech, an MBA from NYU Stern, and certifications as a Planning and Scheduling Professional and Certified Cost Engineer. Pink is known as a thought leader who frequently speaks on how AI and machine learning can drive improvements in project controls and construction outcomes.

SmartPM Technologies, under Pink’s leadership, offers an AI-powered platform that automates schedule analytics to provide real-time, actionable insights for commercial construction projects. The software helps teams identify potential delays, reduce inefficiencies, and resolve disputes by converting complex schedule data into understandable information accessible to all project stakeholders. The company is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and has quickly grown as a pioneer in using advanced technology to improve construction project performance, making schedule management more precise, proactive, and collaborative across the industry.

Website | Company LinkedIn | Mike’s LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the complete archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs 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, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John 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.

Tagged With: baseline schedule, Beyond Computer Solutions, capital projects, construction analytics, construction delays, construction tech, cost overruns, CPM scheduling, critical path, Critical Path Method, data driven construction, delay claims, dispute avoidance, ENR contractors, forensic schedule analysis, general contractors, Georgia Tech, John Ray, mid-market contractors, Mike Pink, North Fulton Business Radio, out of sequence work, project controls, project schedule, renasant bank, Risk Management, SaaS for construction, schedule analytics, schedule quality, schedule risk, SmartPM, SmartPM Technologies, total float

Manuja Ranasinghe of 50 Acres Tea: Wellness in a Cup

November 3, 2025 by John Ray

Manuja Ranasinghe of 50 Acres Tea: Wellness in a Cup, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
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Manuja Ranasinghe of 50 Acres Tea: Wellness in a Cup (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 909)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Manuja Ranasinghe, founder of 50 Acres Tea, a premium tea brand based in Metro Atlanta. Manuja recounts his journey from Sri Lanka, which included a lengthy corporate career in banking and the airline industry, and how a 2020 buyout paved the way for the launch of a purpose-driven tea company.

Drawing on childhood time around his grandparents’ tea estate and Sri Lankan factories, he explains why 50 Acres centers on a single-region, high-elevation black tea that he refined over two and a half years to suit American palates seeking a lighter, calming beverage. He also unpacks his blends, including mangosteen, cardamom, pineapple, and cinnamon, and explains why he calls tea “wellness in a cup.” The conversation also covers daily tea habits, caffeine comparisons with coffee, and why 50 Acres sells directly to consumers online.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

  • How a single-region, high-elevation Sri Lankan black tea produces a light, smooth cup that appeals to American tea drinkers
  • Why 50 Acres layers functional flavors like mangosteen, cardamom, pineapple, and cinnamon over full-leaf black tea
  • Tea as a calming, evening-friendly beverage with lower caffeine than coffee
  • The family story behind the 50 Acres name and how it shapes the brand

Topics Discussed in this Episode

0:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:37 Meet Manuja Ranasinghe of 50 Acres Tea
00:53 Renasant Bank: Your Personal Banking Solution
03:04 Manuja’s Journey from Sri Lanka to the USA
04:29 The Birth of 50 Acres Tea
06:31 Understanding the American Tea Market
09:26 The Health Benefits of Tea
12:24 Exploring Premium Tea Blends
16:05 Starting a Tea Company in Georgia
16:41 The Growing Popularity of Tea
17:21 The Story Behind the Brand
18:51 Solving Problems with Premium Tea
21:15 Unique Selling Points and Market Strategy
23:43 Core Values and Community Outreach
27:01 Customer Reviews and Product Quality
28:51 How to Purchase and Experience 50 Acres Tea
30:31 Final Thoughts and Additional Information

Manuja Ranasinghe, Founder, 50 Acres Tea

Manuja Ranasinghe, 50 Acres Tea
Manuja Ranasinghe, 50 Acres Tea

Manuja Ranasinghe is a Sri Lankan-born entrepreneur, storyteller, and values-driven leader based in the United States, best known as the founder of 50 Acres Tea. Drawing from his experiences at Delta Air Lines and as a Distinguished Toastmaster, Manuja champions self-empowerment and authenticity in business and life. His philosophy is deeply rooted in his Buddhist heritage, emphasizing moral conduct, concentration, and wisdom, which infuses both his leadership style and his approach to wellness-focused entrepreneurship.​

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, 50 Acres sources premium Ceylon tea blends crafted to support well-being and refreshment. The company’s product line features teas rich in natural antioxidants, soothing herbs, spices, and fruits, all designed to promote healing, focus, and serene clarity without the jitters associated with conventional caffeinated beverages. 50 Acres reflects Manuja’s mission to create products that ignite both personal wellness and a deeper appreciation for extraordinary taste.​

This combination of cross-cultural experience, values-first leadership, and a passion for quality tea makes Manuja and 50 Acres uniquely positioned in the modern wellness and beverage landscape—making them ideal for listeners seeking both inspiration and practical tips for living authentically and well.

Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the complete archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs 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, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John 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.

Tagged With: 50 Acres, 50 Acres Tea, artisan tea blends, beverage startup, Beyond Computer Solutions, black tea, brand story, cardamom tea, cinnamon tea, direct to consumer tea, e-commerce tea brand, family tea estate, Georgia Small Business, iced tea, immigrant founder, John Ray, low caffeine tea, mangosteen tea, Manuja Ranasinghe, North Fulton Business Radio, pineapple tea, premium tea, renasant bank, Sri Lankan tea, tea, tea company, wellness in a cup

Dr. Bill Lampton on Communication and the Leap from Academia

October 29, 2025 by John Ray

Dr. Bill Lampton on Communication and the Leap from Academia, on The Price and Value Journey with host John Ray
North Fulton Studio
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Dr. Bill Lampton on Communication and the Leap from Academia, on The Price and Value Journey with host John Ray

Dr. Bill Lampton on Communication and the Leap from Academia (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 151)

For expert-service pros, communication is not polish; it is how work gets won. In this conversation, Dr. Bill Lampton, “The Biz Communication Guy,” shares practical habits that help professionals be understood the first time, steer tough moments, and stop undercutting themselves on price. Bill traces his path from teaching at the University of Georgia to launching Championship Communication, including the six months of cold calls that went nowhere, the mentors and mastermind groups that changed his trajectory, and the lesson that too-low pricing tells buyers you are not ready yet.

Bill and John get specific. They talk about Stanislavsky’s “illusion of the first time” to keep repeat talks fresh, a short prep routine that settles nerves without turning you into a script reader, and why short video reps two or three times a week sharpen delivery while creating proof buyers can see. They cover how to host a podcast without making yourself the star, how to ask for referrals and public reviews right after a win, and why executives should treat board updates, deal discussions, and internal briefings as real presentations. John closes by underscoring a core point: clients do not buy credentials; they buy outcomes.

Listen if you want workable steps you can use this week and a clear path for turning reputation into revenue, whether you are already consulting or moving from campus to clients.

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

  • Price with self-respect. Too-low pricing signals “not ready” and slows deals.
  • Keep repeat talks fresh with the “illusion of the first time.” Relive the message, do not recite it.
  • Use a two-part prep: one page of message bullets, then one minute of breath work before you speak.
  • Post short videos two or three times a week. The reps improve delivery and give buyers visible proof.
  • Ask for referrals and public reviews immediately after a win, and make it easy for clients to post.
  • Treat board updates, sales calls, and deal conversations as presentations. Prepare and review them.
  • If you are leaving academia, stop leading with courses and credentials. Translate expertise into outcomes buyers want.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to Dr. Bill Lampton
01:38 The Power of Communication
03:31 Early Passion for Communication
06:11 Dramatic Roles and Lessons Learned
13:04 Transition from Academia to Business
15:48 Challenges and Strategies in Consulting
24:06 Importance of Pricing and Value
27:55 Advice for Academics Entering Consulting
31:07 The Importance of Referrals
32:49 Building a Compelling Internet Presence
34:59 The Power of Video Shorts
42:45 Hosting a Podcast: Why and How
44:28 Common Mistakes Podcast Hosts Make
46:19 Communication Skills for Executives
49:06 The Value of Professional Coaching
53:23 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Dr. Bill Lampton, The Biz Communication Guy

Dr. Bill Lampton, "The Biz Communication Guy"
Dr. Bill Lampton, “The Biz Communication Guy”

Bill Lampton, Ph.D., known as The Biz Communication Guy, coaches executives to say what matters, listen for what is missing, and run meetings that lead to decisions. He earned his Ph.D. at Ohio University, taught speech communication at the University of Georgia, and then spent two decades in senior management in higher education and health care. In 1997 he started Championship Communication, where he speaks, coaches, and consults.

His clients include the University of Georgia Athletic Association, Georgia Power, Oceania Cruises, Ritz-Carlton Cancun, the Missouri Bar, Gillette, and Procter & Gamble. He works with CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and CIOs in business, healthcare, higher education, and nonprofits. He coaches the moments that decide outcomes: board updates, investor and media conversations, M&A discussions, sales presentations, and internal briefings.

Website | LinkedIn | YouTube | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter

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 at Barnes & Noble with his book, The Generosity MindsetJohn 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

Tagged With: academia to consulting, academic consulting, Biz Communication Guy, Championship Communication, discovery questions, Dr. bill lampton, executive communication coaching, John Ray, leaving academia, listening skills, mastermind groups, on camera presence, presentation skills, pricing confidence, professional services, professional services growth, referrals and reviews, short form video, The Biz Communication Show, The Price and Value Journey, University of Georgia, value conversations

Performance-Based Hiring with Marc Morris, The Talmadge Group

October 27, 2025 by John Ray

Performance-Based Hiring with Marc Morris, The Talmage Group, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
Performance-Based Hiring with Marc Morris, The Talmadge Group
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Performance-Based Hiring with Marc Morris, The Talmage Group, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Performance-Based Hiring with Marc Morris, The Talmadge Group (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 908)

Marc Morris, the president of The Talmadge Group, joins host John Ray to discuss effective hiring practices. Marc explains how his firm has evolved from providing direct IT placements to offering consulting, project-based staffing, and leadership searches in executive, sales, and construction roles, effectively serving client needs since 1998. He breaks down Lou Adler’s performance-based hiring and the POWER approach, which includes building a performance profile, evaluating objectively, widening sourcing, managing interviewer bias, and treating recruiting as marketing. Marc also calls out the trap of “frictionless” click-to-apply systems that flood employers with the wrong candidates and mask quality.

Marc shares the single question he uses to engage passive candidates who are not on the market and why it works. He also discusses employer branding, culture, and the rationale behind the superiority of outstanding managers with measurable results over trendy perks. Case stories include scaling a startup from six to sixty and multi-year public-sector tech projects with the USDA and Defense Logistics Agency.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

  • Hire for outcomes, not resumes. Define a performance profile with the 6–12 month results you need, then assess candidates based on those outcomes.
  • Use the POWER approach: build the performance profile, set objective scorecards, widen sourcing, eliminate interviewer bias, and run recruiting like marketing.
  • Kill “frictionless apply.” High volume from one-click portals hides signals and wastes management time.
  • Treat recruiting as a campaign. Clarify the value proposition, target likely pools, and nurture passive talent.
  • Ask one incisive opener with passive candidates: invite them to describe the work they would leave for, then map that to your performance profile.
  • Upgrade interview quality. Fewer interviewers, structured questions tied to outcomes, and consistent scoring produce better decisions.
  • Brand and culture matter, but great managers with clear expectations beat office perks.
  • Measure success by time-to-productivity and retention against the performance profile, not just time-to-fill.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:50 Guest Introduction: Marc Morris
01:59 The Talmadge Group: Services and Evolution
03:59 Hiring Challenges and Market Evolution
05:22 Technology’s Impact on Hiring
07:30 Performance-Based Hiring Explained
11:20 Employer Branding and Company Purpose
14:15 The Passive Candidate Strategy
23:24 Advice for Job Seekers
25:28 When to Call Marc Morris
26:53 Success Stories and Conclusion
31:12 Closing Remarks

Marc Morris, Founder and President, The Talmadge Group

Marc Morris, Founder and President of The Talmadge Group, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned staffing and consulting firm known for helping organizations build high-performing teams through Performance-Based Hiring. A U.S. Navy veteran and former Georgia state legislator, Marc brings decades of leadership, real-world recruiting experience, and a passion for helping people reach their full potential.

The Talmadge Group is a service-disabled veteran-owned staffing and consulting firm specializing in performance-based hiring and workforce solutions. Founded in 1998, the company partners with both commercial and government clients to deliver high-performing teams that drive measurable results.

Their approach goes beyond traditional recruiting—focusing on the alignment of people, process, and performance. By combining strategic talent acquisition with deep industry insight, they help organizations identify, attract, and retain professionals who make an immediate impact.

From technology and construction to executive leadership and government contracting, The Talmadge Group’s reputation is built on trust, precision, and a commitment to excellence in every placement.

Website | LinkedIn | Marc Morris LinkedIn | Facebook

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the complete archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs 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, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John 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.

Tagged With: C-suite hiring, candidate quality, construction staffing, Defense Logistics Agency, employer branding, government contracting, IT staffing, John Ray, Marc Morris, objective interviewing, passive candidates, performance-based hiring, POWER hiring framework, Recruiting, repeatable hiring process, sales operations staffing, scaling teams, staffing consultant, startup hiring, The Talmadge Group, turnover reduction, USDA projects

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