John Ray Archives - Page 62 of 66

Resources and Planning for North Fulton Regional Recovery: Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

August 13, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Resources and Planning for North Fulton Regional Recovery: Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

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**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

Resources and Planning for North Fulton Regional Recovery: Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 47)

Five months into a pandemic, Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, joined the “GNFCC 400 Insider” to share what she’s learned about leadership through a pandemic, uncertain times for chambers generally, GNFCC task force committees formed to gather resources for a North Fulton regional recovery, and much more. The show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

The “GNFCC 400 Insider” (formerly “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”) is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their North Fulton regional 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.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our 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 the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray in the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

The Realities of Selling Your Company, with Bob Tankesley, Neri Capital Partners

August 13, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

The Realities of Selling Your Company, with Bob Tankesley, Neri Capital Partners

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“The Realities of Selling Your Company,” with Bob Tankesley, Neri Capital Partners (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 269)

Investment banker Bob Tankesley joins host John Ray to discuss how the pandemic has changed the environment for selling your business. Bob discusses the psychology of business ownership and how it affects a sale, how business owners need to plan for a sale, and much more. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Neri Capital Partners

Neri Capital Partners was founded in 2006 with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Their firm is an investment bank for family owned and privately held small and midsize businesses with a strong history and clear path to growth. Neri Capital provides merger, acquisition and related advisory services.

Bob Tankesley, Principal, Neri Capital Partners

Bob Tankesley helps business owners transition out of their companies, usually resulting in a sale of the business and the real estate to outside buyers. As a 4th generation entrepreneur, he has a deep affinity for and understanding entrepreneurs, which easily develops into a trust relationship with business owners. Since 2000, Bob has helped business owners understand their businesses better. He helps them think through their long-term goals and plans, educates them on business value and brings the right (collaborative) advisory team around the table.

His early career was in finance for a Fortune 500 company and audit for a Big 4 CPA firm, then he set up his own firm, always with a focus on entrepreneurs and owners. A frequent speaker on these topics, Bob holds a MBA degree and a CPA license. He is Vice President and Co-Founder of Exit Planning Exchange Atlanta, formed to bring advisors together in a collaborative effort to serve their clients.

Company website

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

What types of clients do you serve at Neri Capital Partners?
Business valuation – what is it and why does it matter?
Why is it important for owners to know their true transferable value?
Exit planning and building for a sale
What were you seeing in the marketplace between buyers & sellers before the pandemic?
How has the pandemic affected the transaction environment?
What are the misconceptions about the sale process and transaction?

North Fulton Business Radio” is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. 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, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Video Marketing in the Age of Covid-19, with Maxwell Bentley, Bentley Media Group

August 5, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Video Marketing in the Age of Covid-19, with Maxwell Bentley, Bentley Media Group

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Video Marketing in the Age of Covid-19, with Maxwell Bentley, Bentley Media Group (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 268)

Bentley Media Group Founder Maxwell Bentley joins host John Ray to discuss his pivot in a pandemic, the challenges he faced in that pivot, and why video marketing is so important in a Covid-19 economy. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Maxwell Bentley, Bentley Media Group

Maxwell Bentley is the Founder and Executive Producer at the Bentley Media Group, a strategic video marketing studio in Atlanta. He has produced video content for brands such as Hyundai, Roblox, and TED. In 2017, he produced a trailer for the Xbox title Super Bomb Survival and served as the lead editor for the Roblox app trailer. He was named one of seven finalists for Business of the Year in Forsyth County, GA in 2018 and 2019. He sits on the advisory board for the UNG Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and serves as a Forsyth County Partner in Education. He has been featured in Lenz On BusinesPoint of Contact for Maxwell Bentley

Company website

Facebook

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

Marketing a business during a pandemic
Why is innovation critical during these uncertain times?
What does it mean to “pivot your business to stay relevant”?
Video production in the age of Covid-19
How can business owners create their own video

Roderick Ricks and Bailey Cooper, The MP Group

August 5, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Roderick Ricks and Bailey Cooper, The MP Group

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Roderick Ricks and Bailey Cooper, The MP Group (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 267)

The MP Group’s Roderick Ricks and Bailey Cooper join host John Ray to discuss their merchant card processing services, why they operate without long-term contracts, how they help their clients network, and much more. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

The MP Group

The MP Group is a leading merchant service provider proudly serving the North Georgia area. Their team’s background includes a combined 30+ years of industry experience. Their expertise includes every phase of the business including: sales training, underwriting, implementation, tech support, customer service, risk management, and settlement.

Roderick Ricks is the sales manager for The MP Group. Bailey Cooper is a sales person and integration specialist with The MP Group. They have been with The MP Group for about 4 years. They spend their time networking and trying to create connections for other people. They love supporting small businesses with their energy, and in turn, small businesses support them.

Company website

Facebook

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

merchant services and credit card processing
The MP Group’s policy of no long-term contracts
integrating credit card processing with existing software applications
helping clients network

Bruce Peoples, Peoples Marketing Insights

August 4, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Bruce Peoples, Peoples Marketing Insights

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Bruce Peoples, Peoples Marketing Insights (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 266)

Bruce Peoples brings Fortune 500 marketing research expertise to the clients he now works with in his own firm. In a conversation with host John Ray, Bruce discusses his qualitative market research approach and how the insights he uncovers assist companies with their branding, marketing, pricing, and more. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Bruce Peoples

Bruce Peoples applies a broad and deep marketing background to all of his research projects. He began his career in brand management at Sara Lee Corporation, where he managed brands and developed new products. He later served in marketing management roles at beverage, foodservice, prescription and OTC companies. In these roles Bruce learned the value of, and how to apply, qualitative and quantitative research and consumer insights.

Bruce’s hands-on experience managing all elements of the marketing mix helps him quickly understand his clients’ research needs and objectives. Bruce practices all qualitative methodologies, from focus groups and in-depth interviews to online platforms.

Bruce was trained in qualitative research at RIVA and is a member of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA). He was a presenter at the 2011 Symposium on Excellence in Qualitative Research, and authored and article on B2B phone interviews for Quirk’s marketing research magazine.

He has a BA from Vanderbilt University, and an MBA in Marketing from Indiana University. Bruce lives in the Atlanta area.

Point of Contact for Bruce Peoples

Company website

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

Overview of in-person (qualitative) marketing research and customer insights.
Why do it
The process – objectives ; deliverable; recruiting profile; incentives; facility; moderating; report out; etc.
Importance of having an objective 3rd party do it – Qual vs. quant research: Explain
Stories and examples and case studies:
Consumer vs. B2B
Technology and online tools
Old school low budget: phone interviews
How to do it on the cheap: you do the recruiting,

“North Fulton Business Radio” is hosted by John Ray and is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. 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, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Evelyn Asher, Strategic Communication Coach

July 27, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Evelyn Asher, Strategic Communication Coach

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Evelyn Asher, Strategic Communication Coach (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 263)

Evelyn Asher thrives on helping women in technology and others who want to improve their communications skills so that their value shines through. Evelyn joined host John Ray to discuss her insights on persuasive communication, the importance of understanding how others perceive you, and much more. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Evelyn Asher

Evelyn Asher has a passion for every voice to be heard and respected. She is the founder of Wisdom Collective, a community designed to connect women through online writing experiences.

She opened her consulting practice in 2014 when she moved back to Gainesville, after serving as Certified Small Business Center Director for Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute on two campuses – Hudson and Boone, NC. She has served in the marketing departments of three Fortune 500 companies.

A life-long learner, Evelyn attributes much of her knowledge to research she has edited over the past twenty years in a solo-entrepreneurial venture, She has published a caregiver anthology and a collection of poetry entitled “A Gypsy’s Tapestry: A Woman Observed. A Woman Observing. Currently she is crafting her second collection of poetry highlight profiles of courage she witnesses in the immigrant population in her community.

This will be her 13th year mentoring elementary school children. She values each thread in her tapestry of global friendships. She explores painting techniques including those proffered by one of her granddaughters during their FaceTime, writing and poetry groups.

Point of Contact for Evelyn Asher

Evelyn’s website

Facebook

Instagram

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

The value of mentoring and communication in an uncertain climate
Ensuring crystal clear, persuasive communication that denotes the why with all stakeholders
Understanding how others perceive you
The value of having an external confidant who understands your business and is a radical listener
When employees are trying to keep things together at home and work which can be the same environment, they benefit from being heard.
Creating space for wonder in each day – even in small increments – being accountable with a mentor will weave wonder into workplace.
Customer service communication (I received communication from four different companies that were first grade, not first-rate.)

North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. 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, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

How to Improve Profitability in Any Company, with Dave Boss, The Operations Group, LLC

July 23, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

How to Improve Profitability in Any Company, with Dave Boss, The Operations Group, LLC

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How to Improve Profitability in Any Company, with Dave Boss, The Operations Group, LLC (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 262)

Gains from business process improvement helps improve profitability in any company, argues Dave Boss of The Operations Group, LLC. Dave joined host John Ray to talk about his business process consulting practice. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

The Operations Group, LLC

The Operations Group, LLC consultants have been business leaders, with real Profit and Loss responsibility. Unlike lifelong process improvement professionals, they know that the company exists to serve its customers and to generate profits for its stakeholders. Hence, process improvement projects are not the priority for most organizations, nor should they be. The Operations Group consultants don’t fix anything. Clients do. They are the experts in performing the work of the company. Therefore, they are integral to process improvement success, both while The Operations Group consultants are deployed and long after they leave. They all have day jobs.

Their consultants develop realistic schedules, accommodating the possible limited availability of team members, and the fact that due to customer demand and other priorities, schedules are subject to change. If a client wants rapid results, and can dedicate the people to work with them, the schedules will be aggressive, but achievable.

They also don’t ask you to drink the Lean or Six Sigma “Kool-Aid”. If a full-blown Lean Manufacturing implementation is what’s called for, they will do that. But most organizations thrive better under a gentler approach, incorporating Lean and Six Sigma concepts on a more tactical basis, bringing employees along during a transition from possible disorder, to a continuously learning and improving environment. The Operations Group can help clients put together a Continuous Improvement Roadmap, that will bring new phases of the program into place as their employee base is ready for them.

Dave Boss, Managing Partner

Dave Boss is a Consultant and Managing Partner with The Operations Group, with over 30 years of industry and consulting experience in multiple industries and corporate environments, including Manufacturing, Industrial Services, Financial Services, and others. Dave has held senior executive positions in industry where he led efforts resulting in substantial achievements in manufacturing and supply chain operations, including in highly regulated, quality control environments. He brings in-depth process improvement experience including defining and executing strategies for productivity growth.

Dave received his Operational Excellence certification as a Six Sigma Master Black Belt at GE Energy. As leader of a team of 9 Black Belts, he had primary responsibility for support of 14 plants around the world, and secondary responsibility for another 40+ locations. Under his guidance, the team was credited with leading or mentoring hundreds of process improvement projects taken on by employees in various disciplines. These projects resulted in cost savings of millions of dollars, and revenue increases of millions more. An example accomplishment was the use of Lean and Six Sigma tools to find hidden capacity in a remanufacturing facility, enabling it to process an extra $2 million annually in revenue.

Dave earned an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He also received a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University,

Point of Contact for Dave Boss

Company website

Facebook

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

What is Business Process Excellence? Isn’t it just the time and motion studies by efficiency experts that have been around since the early 1900’s?
What are the methods your company uses to help companies improve profitability? Please explain them.
What about functions that aren’t manufacturing, like sales people or doctors? Are you going to tell a doctor how to more efficiently examine her patient, or teach a sales rep how to sell?
Once you help a company fix things, what else is to be done?
How long does it take for you to know what needs to be done at your next client?
But won’t this telling employees how to do their jobs demotivate them, driving them away to other companies?
How does a company know they need outside help? What should they be looking for?
This also sounds interesting to Manufacturing, even for other types of B2B companies, but surely it doesn’t do much to help in the B2C world?
Surely you don’t have expertise in all aspects of business. Do you ever say “no” to a potential client?
How can a company engage with you to see if you can help them improve profitability of their business?,

Ron Wilder, 1-800 Water Damage of North Fulton

July 16, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Ron Wilder, 1-800 Water Damage of North Fulton

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Ron Wilder, 1-800 Water Damage of North Fulton (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 260)

The owner of 1-800 Water Damage of North Fulton, Ron Wilder, joined host John Ray to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and why his desire to serve people is fulfilled through his business. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

1-800 Water Damage of North Fulton

Unexpected flooding, fire, or sewage disasters take a great toll on home or business owners and leave damage in their wake. Their local restoration experts use advanced equipment and techniques to perform property damage restoration in Fulton and DeKalb Counties in Georgia. Their IICRC-certified restoration professionals deal with damage stemming from water, smoke, fire, sewage, and mold. 1-800 WATER DAMAGE is trusted nationwide for high quality restoration services, and they are proud to bring those services to the North Fulton community. With over a decade of experience, their restoration professionals have the tools and knowledge necessary to get customer’s property looking like new again.

Ron Wilder, Owner/Operator, 1-800 Water Damage of North Fulton

Ron’s career began in the Army National Guard where he served 8 years. It was the launching pad for his graduation from The Ohio State University as a Certified Public Accountant. Ron’s career included over 23 years in the accounting profession helping people.

As next phase, he now leads the 1-800 WATER DAMAGE of North Fulton team with a continued focus on helping people.

Point of Contact for Ron Wilder

Company website

Twitter

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

How has your company been since COVID-19?
What makes you different from all the other companies in your industry?
Why the change from Corporate America to being an Entrepreneur?
Why did you pick the Property Restoration industry?
How would previous customers describe you all?
As a business owner, what are your top three priorities?
How do you define success?
Explain a time when you exceed a customer’s expectation

“How a Fractional Chief Operating Officer Helps Businesses,” with Cary Matthews, Opal Partners Group

July 15, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

"How a Fractional Chief Operating Officer Helps Businesses," with Cary Matthews, Opal Partners Group

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“How a Fractional Chief Operating Officer Helps Businesses,” with Cary Matthews, Opal Partners Group (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 259)

Opal Partners Group Founder Cary Matthews joins host John Ray to discuss the value a fractional chief operating officer brings to a business, including helping scale, tackling vital operational projects, and more. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Opal Partners Group, LLC

Opal Partners Group, LLC (OPG) is an operations consulting firm. They work with business owners to ensure all aspects of their operations are sound and aligned with their strategic and short-term goals.

They break down client challenges into three levels of the operations hierarchy: Process, Structure, and Strategy.

From younger companies that need to add structure and process to support their growing organization to more established firms that need to solve a singular challenge, OPG can help.

For a company struggling with identifying the root of their challenges, Opal can perform an operations audit to help hone in on the areas that need improvement.

Cary Matthews, Managing Partner, Opal Partners Group

Prior to starting OPG, Cary was COO at Trextel, LLC, a multi-technology solutions provider in the Atlanta area that performed installation, project management, and managed services for Fortune 500 companies servicing their edge networking.

In that role, Cary led the project management, support services, accounting, and human resources departments.

At Trextel, he restructured the project management and support services teams to increase employee utilization and efficiency, reduced time to invoice, improved cash flow through new vendor agreements, and formalized employee coaching and other human resources practices.

Cary earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration, both from Auburn University.

Activities include serving as a member of the MBA Advisory Board for Anderson University, board member and treasurer for Vision USA, and a member of Vistage International.

He has taken professional development classes at MIT and Georgia Tech.

Point of Contact for Cary Matthews

Company website

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

What is a fractional COO?
What are the characteristics of companies who hire fractional executives?
What types of problems does Opal Partners help clients solve?
Operations can be vary from industry to industry. How does that impact how you help your clients?
What are some of the most common questions or challenges clients bring to you?
From an operations perspective, how has the pandemic changed how companies operate?
What is the biggest takeaway or lesson learned that businesses should be aware of going forward?
How has the rapid move to remote work arrangements affected companies and their operations?