Business RadioX ®

John Harris, Spotlight Sponsors, and Jazz Vocalist Karla Harris

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John Harris, Spotlight Sponsors, and Jazz Vocalist Karla Harris, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
John Harris, Spotlight Sponsors, and Jazz Vocalist Karla Harris
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John Harris, Spotlight Sponsors, and Jazz Vocalist Karla Harris, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

John Harris, Spotlight Sponsors, and Jazz Vocalist Karla Harris (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 901)

What happens when business strategy meets artistic passion? In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes John Harris, founder of Spotlight Sponsors, and jazz vocalist Karla Harris. John shares how Spotlight Sponsors helps performing arts venues and community theaters create innovative sponsorship packages that connect local businesses with cultural events. Karla offers her perspective as a touring jazz artist and educator, describing how these partnerships open doors for audiences, venues, and musicians alike. Together, they highlight how creative thinking in sponsorship and performance can strengthen both community and culture.

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

  • John Harris founded Spotlight Sponsors to help performing arts venues create sponsorship packages that provide tangible value to businesses.
  • Micro-sponsorships allow community theaters and smaller venues to secure funding and strengthen engagement with local businesses.
  • Karla Harris is a nationally touring jazz vocalist, recording artist, and vocal jazz educator at Kennesaw State University.
  • Sponsorships become true partnerships when venues focus on client-perceived value rather than donations.
  • Jazz continues to thrive with younger generations drawn to its spontaneity, collaboration, and inclusivity.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:30 Meet John Harris and Karla Harris
01:52 Spotlight Sponsors: Building Sponsorship Packages
03:58 John’s Journey from Engineer to Sponsor Specialist
05:23 Karla’s Jazz Journey and Outreach
07:43 Challenges and Solutions in Small Venues
09:44 Expanding Beyond Initial Efforts
14:54 The Future of Jazz
16:55 Karla’s Work and Tours
17:05 Upcoming Events and Performances
17:56 New Album and Live Streaming
18:14 John’s Unique Approach to Sponsorship
19:28 Creative Sponsorship Ideas
22:55 Success Stories and Client Impact
28:09 Contact Information and Final Thoughts
29:25 Sponsor Highlight and Book Promotion

John Harris, Spotlight Sponsors

John Harris, Spotlight Sponsors, appearing on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
John Harris, Spotlight Sponsors

John Harris is the founder of Spotlight Sponsors, a company that helps performing arts venues and artists create innovative sponsorship packages that deliver real value to local businesses and communities. Spotlight Sponsors specializes in micro-sponsorships, enabling community theaters and small venues to thrive by connecting them with business partners eager to support the arts.

Before launching Spotlight Sponsors, John spent 35 years as an industrial engineer with UPS, leading large-scale projects in quality control, process optimization, and distribution strategy. After retiring, he consulted for companies including Primo Water Corporation, Trivnow LLC, and Percentsharp LLC. An engineer at heart and a problem-solver by training, he now applies that expertise to the performing arts, bridging business strategy with cultural enrichment so venues can secure funding and deliver memorable artistic experiences.

John holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and dual master’s degrees in Computer Resources and Information Management and in Management from Webster University.

Email

Jazz Vocalist Karla Harris

Karla Harris, Jazz Vocalist, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
Karla Harris

Karla Harris is a jazz vocalist, recording artist, and educator whose career spans more than four decades. She has appeared at festivals and venues nationwide and abroad, including the Sarasota Jazz Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center’s Arts Across America series, and a TED Talk. Recently she has been recognized with a Jazz Road grant from South Arts, Atlanta Magazine’s Women Making a Mark award, and was named a Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association.

In addition to her performances and recordings, Karla serves as artist-in-residence with the Jazz Studies department at Kennesaw State University, where she teaches Applied Vocal Jazz. Her discography includes Karla Harris Sings the Dave and Iola Brubeck Songbook, Certain Elements, and Moon to Gold, a collaboration with the Joe Alterman Trio. Her music has been praised for its dynamic range, emotional depth, and ability to honor tradition while bringing a fresh voice to the American Songbook.

Originally from St. Louis and now based in Atlanta, Karla began performing while in college and went on to work with respected jazz artists across the country. She continues to balance a busy performance schedule with her teaching and community outreach, using her artistry to inspire audiences and mentor the next generation of jazz singers.

Website | Instagram | YouTube

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

If 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 1,300 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 market, community, and profession. 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 full 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.

The Neurodiversity Connection with Joy Young and Tim Yoder

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The Neurodiversity Connection with Joy Young and Tim Yoder, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
The Neurodiversity Connection with Joy Young and Tim Yoder
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The Neurodiversity Connection with Joy Young and Tim Yoder, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

The Neurodiversity Connection with Joy Young and Tim Yoder (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 900)

Authors Joy Young and Tim Yoder joined host John Ray on North Fulton Business Radio to discuss their new book, The Neurodiversity Connection: An Educator’s Guide to Understanding Differing Neurotypes to Support Student Success. Joy and Tim explained how neurodiversity goes beyond labels like autism or ADHD and encompasses the variation in the way all of us experience and interact with the world. They shared practical strategies for teachers, parents, and leaders on building relationships, rethinking classroom management, and taking a second look at behaviors. Their work emphasizes connection, communication, and creating supportive environments that benefit both neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals.

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

  • Joy Young and Tim Yoder co-authored The Neurodiversity Connection, aimed at equipping educators with practical tools for working with all students.
  • Neurodiversity includes everyone, not just those with diagnoses like autism, ADHD, or dyslexia.
  • Building strong relationships is more powerful than strict rules in fostering student success.
  • First impressions of student behaviors are often misleading; educators should take a second look before making assumptions.
  • Parents can use the book to better understand their children and partner with teachers by sharing highlighted strategies.
  • The authors provide hands-on checklists, resources, and real-world classroom stories to help educators integrate these ideas immediately.
  • Joy Young and Tim Yoder offer further resources at globalneurodiversity.com

Topics Discussed in This Episode

00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Business Radio
01:48 Meet the Authors: Joy Young and Tim Yoder
02:47 The Need for The Neurodiversity Connection
03:48 Defining Neurodiversity
05:17 Backgrounds of the Authors
10:49 Classroom Management and Relationships
15:45 Integrating Neurodiverse and Neurotypical Students
18:57 The Art and Science of Teaching
19:10 Introducing the Authors and Their Book
19:30 Practical Advice for Parents
19:57 The Power of Encouraging Words
20:57 Personal Stories of Impact
22:15 Understanding Neurodiversity in Education
26:01 Rethinking First Impressions
28:41 Creating a Sensory-Friendly Classroom
29:37 Effective Communication Strategies
30:45 Connecting with the Authors
33:40 Closing Remarks and Announcements

The Neurodiversity Connection: An Educator’s Guide to Understanding Differing Neurotypes to Support Student Success

The Neurodiversity ConnectionSupporting students becomes a compelling journey set in motion by asking, “What am I missing?”

Years ago, as rookie teachers in a rural Oklahoma school, Joy Young and Tim Yoder formed a lasting friendship. Blending heartfelt storytelling with thoughtful research, they invite you to rethink traditional teaching practices and embrace curiosity as a catalyst for cultivating inclusive, engaging education that celebrates every learner.

In this guide you’ll discover:

  • Insightful understandings of differing neurotypes
  • Relatable personal anecdotes
  • Steps for creating sensory supportive environments
  • Candid student comments
  • Creative approaches to strengthening strengths
  • Strategies and activities that ignite hope and inspire growth

Whether you are a new teacher, a school leader, a seasoned professional, or a devoted parent, The Neurodiversity Connection empowers you to create environments where every learner feels seen, supported, and celebrated.

Website | Amazon

Joy Young

As both a teacher and a school administrator, Joy’s journey includes educating students in public school and private school as well as homeschooling. Having taught regular ed, special ed, gifted ed, and English Language Learners, Joy enjoys working with and learning from learners of all ages.

Schools and organizations around the globe in Australia, Czechia, the Dominican Republic, Kenya, Mexico, Romania, Thailand, and the United States have been influential in shaping Joy’s understanding of neurodiversity. Serving alongside talented educators in each of these countries, Joy celebrates the creativity, wonder, and innovation that thinking differently brings.

As a coach in the Neurodiversity Centers of Excellence at EY, one of the Big Four professional service firms, Joy was instrumental in promoting neurodiversity education. In 2023 Joy was named one of the Top 50 Global Neurodiversity Evangelists by ND by Design.

An expert at ordering takeout dinners, Joy enjoys time with her family, including doggy daughter, Angel. Joy says that doing life with her neurodistinct husband of over 40 years, her autistic son, and her ADHD daughter provides insight and understanding into living with neurological differences that are hidden from view.

Website | LinkedIn

Tim Yoder

Tim knew he was going to be a teacher ever since he had a life-changing teacher in the fifth grade. His first 12 years of teaching were in a small public school outside Tulsa, OK, where he also drove a school bus every morning and afternoon.

He taught fifth grade and middle school math and science in Gwinnett County, Georgia, for the remaining years of his teaching career. During seven of those years, he was also an adjunct professor at Brenau University, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses. Over the years, he gained a deeper understanding of how to teach neurodivergent students.

Tim earned National Board Certification in the area of Middle School Science. He has presented at various conferences, including the National Science Teachers Association national convention. He was also voted teacher of the year at three schools where he taught.

Although he is officially retired after a 43-year career in the classroom, Tim does not plan to spend the rest of his life on the sidelines. His current educational activities include mentoring teachers, presenting science demonstrations and lessons at schools and camps, participating in several tutoring programs, and creating teaching resources.

Tim is living the dream with his wife, Sherri, in Lawrenceville, GA. They have three adult children.

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

If 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 1,300 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 market, community, and profession. 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 full 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 national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

AI, Value, and Pricing with Mark Stiving, Impact Pricing

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AI, Value, and Pricing with Mark Stiving, Impact Pricing, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray
North Fulton Studio
AI, Value, and Pricing with Mark Stiving, Impact Pricing
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AI, Value, and Pricing with Mark Stiving, Impact Pricing, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray

AI, Value, and Pricing with Mark Stiving, Impact Pricing (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 147)

There’s a lot of noise on AI, but what are the practical implications it holds for those of us offering expertise? In this episode of The Price and Value Journey, Dr. Mark Stiving, founder of Impact Pricing, joins host John Ray to explore how AI is reshaping the way professional service providers think about value, pricing, and the work we deliver.

Mark brings decades of pricing expertise, authoring books such as Impact Pricing, Win Keep Grow, and Instant Profits: How to Raise Prices Without Losing Customers, and hosting the long-running Impact Pricing Podcast. We dive into the real implications of AI for expert-service pros:

  • Why AI isn’t as threatening—or as magical—as it first appears.
  • How it can streamline workflows and spark faster thinking, but why judgment and frameworks still matter most.
  • The danger of lowering prices just because AI helps you work faster.
  • How to use AI as a tool for diagnosing client problems without abdicating your role in uncovering value.

If you’ve been wrestling with questions about how AI intersects with your practice, pricing, and client conversations, this conversation will give you insight and practical direction.

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

  • Don’t confuse AI’s polished output with true thinking. Use it to brainstorm and speed up ideas, not to make decisions for you.
  • Look for repetitive or “rote” tasks in your workflow that AI can automate so you can focus on client-facing, high-value work.
  • Never lower your prices just because AI makes you more efficient. Faster delivery does not diminish client-perceived value.
  • AI can help you generate lists of client problems or examples, but you must apply your expertise and frameworks to evaluate what matters.
  • Strong frameworks and mental models are what allow professionals to filter AI’s output into usable insights.
  • The core pricing principle remains unchanged: buyers trade money for value, and it’s your job to uncover what “value” means to each client.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

0:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:14 Discussing AI and Its Impact on Professional Services
03:25 AI’s Role in Enhancing Productivity
06:56 The Importance of Frameworks in AI Utilization
13:18 Understanding Value in Business
15:13 Using AI to Diagnose Client-Perceived Value
21:19 Personal and Professional Implications of AI
25:18 The Power of AI Conversations
26:24 Investing Time in AI for Small Firms
27:17 AI’s Impact on Productivity and Ideation
29:04 AI and Pricing Models
32:09 AI’s Role in Professional Services
38:28 Adoption and Learning Curve of AI
47:38 Future of AI in Professional Services
50:08 Final Thoughts and Advice

Mark Stiving, PhD, Impact Pricing

Mark Stiving, PhD, Impact Pricing
Mark Stiving, PhD, Impact Pricing

Mark Stiving, PhD, is a recognized authority on pricing and buyer behavior. With a rare ability to translate complex concepts into clear, actionable insights, he has become a trusted advisor to companies seeking to capture more of the value they create.

Over the past 25 years, Mark has consulted, trained, and coached hundreds of organizations, from Cisco and Procter & Gamble to Splunk and CrowdStrike. He also works closely with private equity firms and their portfolio companies, helping them price, package, and sell value in ways that increase profits and drive growth.

An award-winning speaker and prolific author, Mark is the host of the Impact Pricing podcast and a frequent guest on industry shows. He has written several influential books, including Impact Pricing, Win Keep Grow, Selling Value, and his latest release, Instant Profits: How to Raise Prices Without Losing Customers.

Website | LinkedIn | YouTube

John Ray, Host of The Price and Value Journey

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Ray 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 | Twitter

Business RadioX®:  LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

AI Readiness in Health Systems, Trish Rivard, Eliciting Insights

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AI Readiness in Health Systems, Trish Rivard, Eliciting Insights, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
AI Readiness in Health Systems, Trish Rivard, Eliciting Insights
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AI Readiness in Health Systems, Trish Rivard, Eliciting Insights, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

AI Readiness in Health Systems, Trish Rivard, Eliciting Insights (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 899)

What does it take for hospitals and health systems to be ready for artificial intelligence? Trish Rivard, founder of Eliciting Insights, joined North Fulton Business Radio host John Ray to share findings from her firm’s latest study on health system AI readiness, produced in partnership with the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Trish explained how the study drew insights from more than 200 health executives with direct decision-making authority and what those leaders revealed about the real state of AI adoption.

She outlined why readiness requires both a defined strategy and clear governance, and why data ownership and patient privacy loom so large in healthcare. Trish and John explored the practical barriers to adoption, such as IT resource constraints, financial pressures, and the challenge of keeping hospitals fully operational while piloting new technology. They also discussed where AI shows promise, from revenue cycle automation to clinical decision support tools like early detection of sepsis.

Beyond the study, Trish highlighted how Eliciting Insights helps healthcare vendors and private equity investors go beyond client anecdotes to understand true market needs through primary research and go-to-market strategy.

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

  • Eliciting Insights specializes in primary research that captures the true voice of the healthcare market, helping vendors and investors align solutions with demand.
  • The firm’s new study, conducted with the Healthcare Financial Management Association, surveyed 233 health executives with direct financial and operational decision-making authority.
  • Health system AI readiness depends on two pillars: a defined strategy (where to apply AI) and governance (rules for data use, privacy, and compliance).
  • Data ownership is a central issue: does the patient, provider, or vendor control how AI models use and share health data?
  • Hospitals operate with very thin margins (often 2% or less) and limited IT resources, making AI implementation especially challenging.
  • CFOs are divided: while some see AI as a cost reducer, nearly 40% believe it will not cut costs after factoring in assessment and implementation.
  • Adoption requires timing—solutions must solve problems that are in a health system’s top three priorities for the year.
  • Revenue cycle functions may be the safest entry point for AI, since mistakes there don’t directly affect patient lives, unlike in clinical applications.
  • Clinical decision support technologies, such as early detection of hypoglycemia or sepsis, showcase AI’s potential but demand careful integration.
  • Governance maturity is improving: in 2024, 59% of CFOs reported no AI governance process, compared to 30% in 2025.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:34 Guest Introduction: Trish Rivard of Eliciting Insights
01:58 The Importance of Market Research in Healthcare
02:30 Challenges in Healthcare Product Development
07:37 Health System Readiness for AI
13:21 AI Strategy and Governance in Health Systems
24:05 Barriers to AI Adoption in Health Systems
25:45 Conclusion and Contact Information
29:13 Final Announcements and Thank You

Trish Rivard, CEO and Principal Consultant, Eliciting Insights

Eliciting InsightsEliciting Insights is a boutique healthcare market research and strategy consulting firm serving growth-focused organizations and technology vendors seeking informed, actionable insights within the U.S. healthcare sector. Leveraging proprietary research panels of hospital and physician executives, the company specializes in primary market studies, competitive analysis, product roadmaps, and merger and acquisition diligence, connecting clients directly to key decision makers for fact-based strategies. Founded by experienced industry leaders, Eliciting Insights combines expert interviews, surveys, and tailored consulting to help clients identify opportunities and gain a true understanding of market needs.

Trish Rivard founded Eliciting Insights in 2015 to bring quality market feedback to healthcare companies. Trish is committed to helping companies identify and translate customer pain points into actionable solution roadmaps that generate high revenue while preserving budget dollars.

Prior to Eliciting Insights, Trish ran Product Management at Trizetto Provider Solutions, where she was responsible for all RCM products and services, including new solution development and operationalizing new product ideas for hospitals and physicians. Prior to Trizetto, Trish worked to help hospitals increase revenue while at Accretive Health (now R1). Trish has also worked in product development at Cigna to create patient payment solutions. Trish began her career at the Federal Reserve, where she helped spearhead a strategic payments research group.

Trish has a BS in Economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in Marketing, Finance and Entrepreneurship.

Website | Eliciting Insights on LinkedIn | Trish Rivard on 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

If 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 890 episodes and having featured over 1,300 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 market, community, and profession. 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 full 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 national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Lee Ellis on Leading with Honor in Business

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Lee Ellis, Colonel USAF (Ret), Leading with Honor®, on the Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray, Lee Ellis on Leading with Honor in Business
North Fulton Studio
Lee Ellis on Leading with Honor in Business
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Lee Ellis, Colonel USAF (Ret), Leading with Honor®, on the Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray

Lee Ellis on Leading with Honor in Business (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 146)

What does leadership forged in the crucible of a POW camp teach us about running a professional services firm today? Retired Air Force Colonel Lee Ellis knows the answer firsthand. Captured in Vietnam and held for over five years at the notorious Hanoi Hilton, Lee endured brutal conditions yet emerged with a leadership philosophy rooted in courage, humility, accountability, and trust.

In this episode of The Price and Value Journey, Lee shares stories from captivity and the leadership principles he has spent decades teaching to business leaders and organizations around the world. He explains why balancing accountability with compassion, integrity with results, and courage with humility is essential for anyone leading a business or team.

For expert-service professionals, Lee’s lessons are more than history. These principles directly apply to how you serve clients, lead your practice, and confidently set prices under pressure. His insights remind us that trust, principled decision-making, and resilience are not abstract ideals. They are survival skills, whether in a POW camp or in the marketplace.

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

  • Leadership grounded in integrity builds long-term trust, even in high-pressure situations.
  • Balancing courage with humility makes you more effective and more respected as a leader.
  • Accountability is not punishment; it is mutual responsibility that strengthens teams.
  • Resilience is built by focusing on what you can control and bouncing back from setbacks.
  • Openness and trust foster a culture that welcomes honesty and course corrections.
  • Modeling secure leadership encourages your clients and colleagues to admit mistakes and grow.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:54 Lee Ellis’s Early Life and Military Career
03:35 Capture and POW Experience
05:36 Lessons in Leadership and Accountability
12:41 Resilience and Overcoming Adversity
25:16 The Importance of Connection and Collaboration
32:06 Trust and Humility in Leadership
39:15 Conclusion and Contact Information

Lee Ellis, Colonel USAF (Ret), Leading with Honor®

Lee Ellis, Colonel USAF (Ret), Leading with Honor®
Lee Ellis, Colonel USAF (Ret), Leading with Honor®

Lee Ellis is Founder and President of Leading with Honor® and FreedomStar Media®. He is an award-winning author, leadership coach, and expert speaker in the areas of leadership, team building, and human performance. His past clients include Fortune 500 senior executives and C-level leaders in telecommunications, healthcare, the military, and other business sectors. Some of his media appearances include interviews on networks such as CNN, CBS This Morning, C-SPAN, ABC World News, and Fox News Channel, plus hundreds of engagements in various industry sectors throughout the world.

Early in his career, Lee served as an Air Force fighter pilot, flying fifty-three combat missions over North Vietnam. In 1967, he was shot down and held as a POW for more than five years in Hanoi and surrounding camps. For his wartime service, he was awarded two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Valor device, the Purple Heart, and the POW Medal. Lee resumed his Air Force career, serving in leadership roles with increasing responsibilities, including command of a flying squadron and leadership development organizations, before retiring as a colonel.

Lee has a BA in History and an MS in Counseling and Human Development. He is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and the Air War College. He has authored or co-authored seven books on leadership and career development. His latest bestselling book is entitled Captured by Love: Inspiring True Romance Stories from Vietnam POWs. Two additional, award-winning books share leadership insights gained from his POW experience. Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton won book-of-the-year awards and was selected in 2013 for the USAF Chief of Staff Professional Reading List. His follow-on book, Engage with Honor: Building a Culture of Courageous Accountability, was selected as best in class for the “Leadership” category. 

In 2014, Lee was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame, and in 2015, he was a DAR Medal of Honor recipient for a lifetime of patriotic service as a military officer and spokesman for leading with honor. 

Lee and his wife, Mary, reside in the Atlanta, GA, area and have four grown children and six grandchildren.

Website | Lee on LinkedIn | Leading with Honor: LinkedIn | Instagram

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.

In his other business, John is a podcast show host, strategist, 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 880 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

The Generosity Mindset, by John RayJohn is the #1 national best-selling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your 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 | Twitter

Business RadioX®:  LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Maria Fundora, Purple Pansies: Fighting Pancreatic Cancer

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Maria Fundora, Purple Pansies: Fighting Pancreatic Cancer, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
Maria Fundora, Purple Pansies: Fighting Pancreatic Cancer
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Maria Fundora, Purple Pansies: Fighting Pancreatic Cancer, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Maria Fundora, Purple Pansies: Fighting Pancreatic Cancer (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 898)

Maria Fundora, founder of Purple Pansies and owner of Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, joined host John Ray on North Fulton Business Radio to share her mission to fight pancreatic cancer. After losing her mother to the disease, Maria turned personal loss into purpose, creating Purple Pansies in 2007. Since then, the nonprofit has raised nearly $7 million to fund cutting-edge research, support patients and families with grants, and award scholarships to students whose lives have been disrupted by pancreatic cancer.

In this conversation, Maria highlights the alarming rise of pancreatic cancer, why early detection is critical, and how Purple Pansies helped bring the first early detection clinic for pancreatic cancer in the Southeast to Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta. She also shares details on the sold-out Pillars of Hope Gala, other community events, and ways supporters can get involved year-round. With passion, persistence, and hope, Maria is proving that one grassroots effort can make a national impact in the fight against this devastating disease.

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

  • Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., projected to rise to second by 2030.
  • Early detection is critical, with survival rates jumping to 88% when discovered at stage zero or one.
  • Purple Pansies has raised nearly $7 million since its founding in 2007, funding research, patient grants, and scholarships.
  • The first early detection clinic for pancreatic cancer in the Southeast has opened at Piedmont Atlanta, thanks in part to Purple Pansies’ efforts.
  • The annual Pillars of Hope Gala raises significant funds, but community members can also contribute through auctions, donations, volunteer opportunities, and Casa Nuova’s roundup program.
  • November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, with multiple smaller events and fundraising initiatives planned.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:56 Meet Maria Fundora: Restauranteur and Advocate
02:20 The Origin of Purple Pansies
03:51 Understanding Pancreatic Cancer
06:56 Early Detection and Research Initiatives
13:07 Purple Pansies’ Mission and Impact
16:25 Upcoming Gala and How to Get Involved
23:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Maria Fundora and Purple Pansies

Maria Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant and Purple Pansies, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
Maria Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant and Purple Pansies

Maria Fundora is the owner and operator of her family’s Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Maria founded Purple Pansies in 2007 after the passing of her mother, Iluminada Milian, to pancreatic cancer. The nonprofit began as a grassroots effort and has grown into a nationally recognized organization funding research, aiding families, and awarding scholarships to students impacted by the disease. The name Purple Pansies was inspired by the resilient flower that blooms even in the coldest weather, paired with purple, the color of pancreatic cancer awareness.

Key facts to know about pancreatic cancer include:

  • Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., and by 2030 it is projected to become the second-leading cause.
  • Early detection is critical. Survival rates jump to 88% when the disease is discovered at stage zero or stage one.
  • Overall survival has risen from about 1% when Maria began her advocacy to roughly 14% today, showing progress but underscoring the work still needed.
  • The disease is often called a “quiet killer” because symptoms typically do not appear until advanced stages.

Purple Pansies exists to honor Maria’s mother, spread her lesson of compassion, and carry on her legacy by helping others. Its mission is to raise awareness, promote early detection, and fund research that leads to clinical trials and new treatments.

The nonprofit has now raised almost $7 million. Its impact includes:

  • Helping fund three of the four current standard-of-care drugs used to treat pancreatic cancer
  • Awarding 27 scholarships this year to students whose families are affected by the disease
  • Providing grants to families across the U.S. facing the financial burden of pancreatic cancer
  • Partnering with Piedmont Atlanta and TGen to help establish the first early detection clinic for pancreatic cancer in the Southeast

Every dollar raised by Purple Pansies goes directly to its mission, powered by volunteers committed to bringing hope to patients, families, and future generations.

Their next fundraising event, Pillars of Hope. is on September 15, 2024, at The Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta. To find out more, click here.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | 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

If 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 890 episodes and having featured over 1,300 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 market, community, and profession. 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 full 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 national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

How to Publish a Book and Build Authority with Angela DeCaires

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How to Publish a Book and Build Authority with Angela DeCaires, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray
North Fulton Studio
How to Publish a Book and Build Authority with Angela DeCaires
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How to Publish a Book and Build Authority with Angela DeCaires, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray

How to Publish a Book and Build Authority with Angela DeCaires (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 145)

For many professional service providers, writing a book is more than just a dream. Becoming the author of a well-crafted book is one of the most effective ways to establish authority, strengthen client trust, and create new opportunities. Yet the world of publishing can feel confusing and overwhelming. Should you self-publish, go hybrid, or pursue a traditional deal? How much time and money should you expect to invest? And what are the most common mistakes first-time authors make?

In this episode of The Price and Value Journey, John Ray welcomes Angela DeCaires, CEO of BookLogix, a non-traditional publishing company based in Alpharetta, Georgia. Angela has guided countless authors through every stage of the publishing process, and she shares her insights on what it really takes to turn your expertise into a professional book that supports your business and your brand.

Angela explains why a book enhances credibility far beyond a LinkedIn profile or a polished website, the mindset shifts needed to get from “I want to write a book” to actually finishing it, and why editing and design are non-negotiables if you want your book to carry weight with clients. She also unpacks the realities of book sales versus the far greater return that comes from speaking engagements, consulting opportunities, and client trust. Angela also discusses how artificial intelligence is affecting publishing, both where it can help authors and where its limits and risks show up.

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book but weren’t sure where to start, or whether it’s worth the effort, this conversation will give you direction and the encouragement to move forward.

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

  • Writing a book cements your authority and credibility in ways no website or LinkedIn profile can.
  • Most conferences and speaking events expect authors to have a published book—they literally want it in the room.
  • Don’t underestimate editing and design. A well-written book with a poor cover or structure undermines your credibility.
  • The average nonfiction book sells only a few hundred copies; the real value is in how the book builds your practice and opens doors.
  • Fear and self-doubt derail many would-be authors. Start by getting ideas out of your head and onto paper—or use dictation, recordings, or a book coach.
  • Be clear on your audience: the narrower and more defined your “tribe,” the more effective your book will be.
  • AI is changing publishing: it can be a useful tool for editing and brainstorming, but authors must understand its limits and the restrictions around using AI-generated content.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to The Price and Value Journey
00:11 The Dream and Reality of Publishing a Book
01:16 Introducing Angela DeCaires and BookLogix
03:00 The Importance of Writing a Book for Credibility
05:56 Challenges and Mindset of Aspiring Authors
11:53 The Financial Realities of Publishing
12:59 Marketing Strategies for Your Book
17:20 The Role of Editing and Design
20:01 Navigating AI in the Publishing World
26:00 Understanding Non-Traditional Publishing
27:25 Navigating the Overwhelming World of Publishing
29:17 Red Flags to Watch Out For in Publishing
31:03 The Role of Marketing in Book Success
32:44 Collaborative Approaches to Book Marketing
38:01 Reviving and Refreshing Older Books
41:52 Using Books as Business Development Tools
44:04 Common Mistakes Authors Make
46:05 The Impact of AI on Book Credibility
47:28 Success Stories and Final Thoughts

Angela DeCaires, CEO, BookLogix

Angela DeCaires, CEO, BookLogix, on The Price and Value Journey podcast with host John Ray
Angela DeCaires, CEO, BookLogix

Angela DeCaires is the CEO of BookLogix, an Atlanta-based publishing company dedicated to helping authors from all backgrounds publish, market, and sell their books. With a strong background in public relations, writing, broadcasting, and journalism, Angela began her career as a TV news producer and news writer in New York before moving into public relations roles for health systems in Florida and New York. She holds a BA in Communication/Journalism from St. John Fisher University and has held previous roles at BookLogix, including Director of Publishing and Marketing & Communications Manager.

Under Angela’s leadership, BookLogix has become known for offering comprehensive publishing support, including project management, editing, design, printing, and marketing services tailored to each author’s needs. Angela is passionate about educating authors on the nontraditional publishing industry and is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences and publishing events. Her extensive industry experience and commitment to author success have helped position BookLogix as a trusted resource for writers seeking to publish high-quality, market-ready books.

Connect with Angela: LinkedIn | Connect with BookLogix: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

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.

In his other business, John is a podcast show host, strategist, 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 880 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

The Generosity Mindset, by John RayJohn is the #1 national best-selling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your 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 | Twitter

Business RadioX®:  LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Christy Hulsey on GNFCC Leadership Programs

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Christy Hulsey, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, LIVE from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
Christy Hulsey on GNFCC Leadership Programs
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Christy Hulsey, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, LIVE from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Christy Hulsey, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, LIVE from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 897)

Christy Hulsey, Community Programs Coordinator at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, joined host John Ray live from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit to share her journey from building a national floral brand out of Statesboro, Georgia, to her current role empowering leaders and small businesses through Chamber programs.

Christy described her responsibilities overseeing Leadership North Fulton, Emerging Leaders, NextGen Connects, the Mentor Match program, the North Fulton Friendship Initiative, and nonprofit engagement. She explained how these programs foster connections, deepen community involvement, and create lasting impact through intentional mentorship and collaboration.

She also reflected on lessons learned from her floral business, which grew from a small rural shop to international recognition, including White House invitations. Christy emphasized the roles of authenticity, transparency, and generosity in marketing, while reminding business owners that true generosity must be paired with valuing themselves and ensuring profitability.

This interview was originally broadcast live from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit held on August 12, 2025, at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia. John Ray Co. and North Fulton Business Radio were the Media Sponsors for this year’s Summit.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:12 Meet Christy Halsey: Community Programs Coordinator, GNFCC
02:31 Leadership Programs Overview
04:48 Mentorship and Connections
06:35 Christy’s Business Journey
07:56 Marketing and Generosity in Business
11:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Christy Hulsey, Community Programs Coordinator, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

Christy Hulsey is the Community Programs Coordinator at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Her responsibilities include overseeing Leadership North Fulton, Emerging Leaders, NextGen Connects, the Mentor Match program, the North Fulton Friendship Initiative, and nonprofit engagement.

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1,400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth, and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.

GNFCC promotes the interests of their members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play, and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

Connect with Christy: LinkedIn

Connect with GNFCC: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit

The 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The mission of BOLD—Businesswomen Organizing for Leadership and Development—is to connect businesswomen to build outstanding networks and spheres of influence, to collaborate with each other and with partner organizations to develop their businesses, and to celebrate and recognize the women of North Fulton.

Website

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC)

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1,400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth, and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.

GNFCC promotes the interests of their members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play, and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

Connect with GNFCC:  Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 890 episodes and having featured over 1,300 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 market, community, and profession. 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 full 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 national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

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

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you would rather not 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, these professionals 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

Michael Cross, Briskin, Cross & Sanford, on Women Leaders

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Michael Cross, Briskin, Cross & Sanford, LIVE from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
Michael Cross, Briskin, Cross & Sanford, on Women Leaders
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Michael Cross, Briskin, Cross & Sanford, LIVE from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Michael Cross, Briskin, Cross & Sanford, LIVE from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 896)

Michael Cross, partner at Briskin, Cross & Sanford, joined host John Ray live from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit to highlight his firm’s sponsorship of the event and their long-standing support for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Michael shared the history of the Alpharetta-based law firm, which has served the North Fulton community for over 30 years with business law, real estate, and dispute resolution services. He emphasized the importance of sound agreements for business partners, drawing from his own experience to stress how planning ahead prevents conflict.

He also reflected on why the firm values its Chamber membership, how supporting events like the Women in Leadership Summit helps both their clients and their team, and why he personally enjoys learning from the many accomplished women who lead and participate in the summit. Beyond his legal work, Michael offered a glimpse into his creative side, discussing his passion for singing, songwriting, and even leading the Crossroads Vocal Band.

This interview was originally broadcast live from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit held on August 12, 2025, at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia. John Ray Co. and North Fulton Business Radio were the Media Sponsors for this year’s Summit.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

0:00 Introduction and Event Overview
00:39 Meet Michael Cross from Briskin, Cross & Sanford, LLC
01:48 The Importance of Proper Business Paperwork
03:36 Sponsorship and Community Involvement
04:45 Michael’s Musical Hobby and Innovative Legal Thinking
07:10 Conclusion and Appreciation

Michael Cross, Partner, Briskin, Cross & Sanford, LLC

Michael D. Cross, Jr., is a partner at Briskin, Cross & Sanford, LLC, in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he has practiced since 1999. His legal work centers on business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, employment law, commercial real estate, and nonprofit corporation law. Michael also assists clients with matters such as partnership and LLC law, franchise issues, and the formation of tax-exempt organizations.

In addition to his law practice, Michael is a frequent writer and speaker on business law topics and has served as an adjunct professor at Reinhardt University. He has held influential roles in multiple civic and economic development boards, including the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Alpharetta’s Downtown Development Authority. Michael’s educational background includes a J.D. from Emory University, an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama, and a B.A. from Anderson University.

LinkedIn | BCS Website

2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit

The 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The mission of BOLD—Businesswomen Organizing for Leadership and Development—is to connect businesswomen to build outstanding networks and spheres of influence, to collaborate with each other and with partner organizations to develop their businesses, and to celebrate and recognize the women of North Fulton.

Website

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC)

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1,400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth, and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.

GNFCC promotes the interests of their members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play, and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

Connect with GNFCC:  Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 890 episodes and having featured over 1,300 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 market, community, and profession. 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 full 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 national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

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.

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Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you would rather not 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, these professionals 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.

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