marketing Archives - Page 2 of 45

Navigating Career Transitions, with Kelly Johnson, Crystal Lake Marketing and Coaching

March 10, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Navigating Career Transitions, with Kelly Johnson, Crystal Lake Marketing and Coaching

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Navigating Career Transitions, with Kelly Johnson, Crystal Lake Marketing and Coaching (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 853)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray talks with Kelly Johnson from Crystal Lake Marketing and Coaching. Kelly is a transition coach who helps individuals navigate career and business changes. She shares her own journey from an unfulfilled corporate employee to a successful business owner and coach. Kelly emphasizes the importance of understanding personal strengths through assessments, leveraging networks, and building a strong personal brand. She also discusses the process of transitioning to new careers or business ventures, providing actionable steps and success stories to illustrate her points. Kelly’s insights are invaluable for anyone feeling stuck or unfulfilled in their current role and seeking clarity on their next steps.

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 recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Kelly Johnson, Crystal Lake Marketing and Coaching

Kelly Johnson is a dedicated coach, speaker, and business leader who specializes in helping individuals and entrepreneurs discover their ideal career paths and achieve their professional and business goals.

As the founder of Crystal Lake Marketing and Coaching, Kelly blends her extensive experience in strategic healthcare marketing with her passion for personal and professional development. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare B2B growth marketing, Kelly has a proven track record of driving impactful results for organizations through innovative strategies and leadership.

Drawing from her professional journey and advanced coaching training, she has expanded her services to include career development and business coaching, empowering clients to navigate challenges, unlock their potential, and thrive in their chosen fields.

Kelly’s unique blend of marketing expertise and coaching insights allows her to provide a holistic approach to success, helping individuals and organizations align their goals, strategies, and purpose.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Business Radio
00:24 Meet Kelly Johnson: Transition Coach
02:10 The Journey to Becoming a Transition Coach
03:19 Helping People in Transition
03:42 Career Arc and Self-Exploration
05:18 Understanding Strengths and Overcoming Fear
07:02 Real-Life Examples of Transition Coaching
13:38 Exercises for Career Clarity
17:33 Training for Career Transition
18:02 Building a Strong Personal Brand
20:36 Kelly’s Personal Transition Journey
23:19 Guidance for Business Owners
28:40 Success Stories and Impact
30:49 Conclusion and Contact Information

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 850 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 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 business by sharing positive business 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**

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 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 and 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.

The Evolution of Specialty Medical Marketing, with Chris Suchánek, Firm Media

January 28, 2025 by John Ray

Dental Business Radio

The Evolution of Specialty Medical Marketing, with Chris Suchánek, Firm Media

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The Evolution of Specialty Medical Marketing, with Chris Suchánek, Firm Media (Dental Business Radio, Episode 56)

In this episode of Dental Business Radio, host Patrick O’Rourke welcomes Chris Suchánek, CEO of Firm Media, to discuss the latest trends in specialty medical marketing. The episode explores the evolution of marketing in the dental and medical fields, emphasizing the impact of AI on both digital and traditional marketing strategies. Chris highlights the importance of market exclusivity, effective budgeting, and measuring ROI to achieve successful marketing outcomes. The episode also touches on Chris’s speaking engagements, his contributions to Forbes and Brainz magazines, and his passion for combat sports photography. The conversation provides valuable insights for dental and medical professionals looking to enhance their marketing efforts and business growth.

Dental Business Radio is underwritten and presented by Practice Quotient: PPO Negotiations & Analysis and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Chris Suchánek, CEO, Firm Media

Chris Suchánek, Firm Media — **Chris Suchánek**

As CEO and co-founder of Firm Media, an award-winning national medical marketing agency, Chris has launched innovative brands, including Omniblend Advertising™, MediLearn360™, ReputationNest™, and the forthcoming Ailm Atelier™. He is a Forbes™ Author & Agency Council Member, Executive Contributor for Brainz™ Magazine, and an internationally recognized speaker on specialty medical branding and marketing.

Chris offers insights on the latest trends in digital marketing, brand development, and patient engagement, drawing from his extensive experience and ongoing success. He is a skilled team builder and leader known for driving results through a combination of strategic vision and hands-on mentorship.

Chris is also passionate about achieving greatness through quality and consistency, a philosophy that has been instrumental in the success of Firm Media and its affiliated brands. He is a dynamic and engaging thought leader, offering clients a wealth of knowledge and a clear roadmap to elevate their marketing efforts.

Outside of his work with Firm Media, Chris serves as a co-founder of the international nonprofit organization Project Boon. As Firm Media’s sister organization, Project Boon devotes itself to addressing food insecurity and providing volunteer opportunities.

Chris is also the managing partner at CASKS Restaurant Group, where he and his team own and operate multiple restaurants in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Firm Media Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to Dental Business Radio
02:05 Meet the Guest: Chris Suchánek
03:31 Marketing Insights and Strategies
05:35 AI and Traditional Marketing
13:34 Market Exclusivity and Client Relations
19:07 Investment in Marketing
33:23 Marketing Strategies and Testing
36:34 The Importance of Measuring ROI
40:15 Speaking Engagements and Topics
44:31 Combat Sports Photography Insights
47:09 Writing for Publications and AI Assistance
54:26 Upcoming Projects and Digital Magazine
59:13 Conclusion and Contact Information

Dental Business Radio covers the business side of dentistry. Host Patrick O’Rourke and his guests cover industry trends, insights, success stories, and more in this wide-ranging show. The show’s guests include successful doctors across the spectrum of dental practice providers, as well as trusted advisors and noted industry participants.

Dental Business Radio is underwritten and presented by Practice Quotient and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. The show can be found on all the major podcast apps and a complete show archive is here.

Practice Quotient

Practice Quotient is the sponsor of Dental Business Radio. Practice Quotient, Inc. serves as a bridge between the payor and provider communities. Their clients include general dentists and dental specialty practices across the nation of all sizes, from completely fee-for-service-only to active network participation with every dental plan possible. They work with independent practices, emerging multi-practice entities, and various large ownership entities in the dental space. Their PPO negotiations and analysis projects evaluate the merits of the various in-network participation contract options specific to your practice’s patient acquisition strategy. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Connect with Practice Quotient

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | X (Twitter)

The Fundamental Breakdown Between Sales and Marketing, with Sean Shannon, Strategic Growth Design

December 2, 2024 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The Fundamental Breakdown Between Sales and Marketing, with Sean Shannon, Strategic Growth Design

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The Fundamental Breakdown Between Sales and Marketing, with Sean Shannon, Strategic Growth Design (One Minute Interview, Episode 128)

Sean Shannon: The fundamental breakdown between sales and marketing, as I have seen it in my time, is an understanding of the ideal customer profile.

In other words, marketing oftentimes is providing leads to the sales team that are of no use to them because marketing doesn’t understand what the sales ideal client profile is. And sales is guilty in that because they have not fed to marketing what that looks like. Peter Drucker’s famous for saying that the vast majority of businesses have no idea what their customers are buying.

They know what they’re selling to them, but they don’t know why the customers are buying it and for what use. And so I like to approach my, my, when I start to talk about value proposition with sales and marketing teams, I like to talk about the idea that we don’t necessarily buy products and services as much as we hire them to do jobs for us in our lives.

And if we can untangle what that job is, that whatever product or service we’re selling is that the customer’s hiring it to do for them in their business, we’re going to end up with an alignment between sales and marketing of both understand what that job is.

Listen to Sean’s full ProfitSense with Bill McDermott interview here.

Sean Shannon, Strategic Growth Design

Sean Shannon is the President of Strategic Growth Design.

Strategic Growth Design helps small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups chart a path to sustainable growth through thoughtful strategy and disciplined processes. Sales is the engine that drives growth, and yet little thought is given to the infrastructure that’s necessary to create repeatable success.

SGD offers business owners and CEOs the opportunity to engage on a project basis or as fractional sales leadership, all driven by the needs of the organization. Some simply need the processes; others need the leadership only years of experience can bring on an interim basis. The pros at Strategic Growth Design are ready to roll their sleeves up and get to work driving revenue north and mental anguish south.

Website | LinkedIn

The “One Minute Interview” series is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.

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.

Challenging Common Marketing Misconceptions with Paul Zanardo, Zanardo Dezignz

November 6, 2024 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Challenging Common Marketing Misconceptions with Paul Zanardo, Zanardo Dezignz

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Challenging Common Marketing Misconceptions with Paul Zanardo, Zanardo Dezignz (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 118)

Paul Zanardo, the founder of Zanardo Dezignz, is the guest on this episode of The Price and Value Journey with John Ray, and he shares insights from his 25-year background in sales and marketing. Paul discusses common misconceptions about marketing and SEO, why many marketers’ claims can be misleading, and the importance of understanding the specific needs and goals of a business before implementing marketing strategies. Paul highlights the significance of an individual’s digital reputation, the value of personal engagement both online and offline, and the true use and limitations of AI in marketing. Practical advice for service providers in terms of effective website design, SEO, and networking strategies is provided, aimed at helping professional service providers better position and price their services.

The Price and Value Journey is presented by John Ray and produced by the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Paul Zanardo, Zanardo Dezignz

Paul Zanardo is the CEO and Founder of Zanardo Dezignz.

Paul Zanardo’s background of over 25 years was in sales and marketing. He turned his attention to entrepreneurship in the early 2000’s. While studying website design and earning his degree in graphic design, he opened Zanardo Dezignz in the same year of 2015. Zanardo Dezignz has grown into an award-winning, nationwide marketing communications agency with locations in Alpharetta and Lawrenceville, GA.

Zanardo Dezignz exists to honor God by partnering with business service providers on website design, hosting services, SEO, graphic design, & digital marketing, achieving the highest reputations online.

Paul was named Solopreneur of the Year by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce in 2024.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to The Price and Value Journey
00:44 Guest Introduction: Paul Zanardo
02:37 Challenging Marketing Preconceptions
04:54 The Importance of SEO
07:43 Building Online Presence
13:26 Offline Networking and Engagement
20:12 Website Design Misconceptions
26:30 The Value of LinkedIn Newsletters
27:13 SEO Benefits of LinkedIn Newsletters
27:45 Website Strategy for Niche Clients
28:59 The Pitfalls of Landing Pages
30:20 Understanding Digital Reputation
31:23 Personal Branding for Professionals
33:51 The Role of Reviews and Testimonials
36:08 Ethical and Unethical Uses of AI
40:59 Effective Marketing Strategies
43:28 Choosing the Right Marketing Professional
46:36 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

About The Price and Value Journey

The title of this show describes the journey all professional service providers are on: building a services practice by seeking to convince the world of the value we offer, helping clients achieve the outcomes they desire, and trying to do all that at pricing that reflects the value we deliver.

If you feel like you’re working too hard for too little money in your solo or small firm practice, this show is for you. Even if you’re reasonably happy with your practice, you’ll hear ways to improve both your bottom line and the mindset you bring to your business.

The show is hosted and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. The show can also be found on all the major podcast apps. The complete show archive is here.

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 Show Host and Producer and owns the North Fulton (Georgia) studio of Business RadioX®. John and his team work with B2B professionals to create and conduct their own 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 780 shows and having featured over 1,200 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 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 those clients. 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 great 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.

The combination of all these elements is quite different for you compared to any other service provider in your industry. Therein 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

Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach

October 14, 2024 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach

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Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach (ProfitSense with Bill McDermott, Episode 63)

This episode of ProfitSense, hosted by Bill McDermott, explores crucial elements for business success, featuring insights from Katie Taylor of K.B. Taylor Marketing, Bruce Burkholder from Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs, and Peter Faser with The Profitability Coach. The session delves into marketing strategies for small to medium-sized businesses, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive plans and brand understanding. It also discusses challenges in accounting, including the shortage of accountants, and the significance of a strong CPA relationship. Additionally, key areas for sustainable profitability and preparations for a business sale are outlined, targeting business owners’ financial acumen enhancement. This episode offers a multifaceted perspective on overcoming current business challenges and optimizing future growth.

Bill McDermott concludes the show by explaining the difference between a profitability coach and a part-time CFO.

ProfitSense with Bill McDermott is sponsored and presented by Bill McDermott, The Profitability Coach, and the show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Katie Taylor, K.B. Taylor Marketing

Katie provides strategic marketing communications and brand consulting for small to mid-sized service-based businesses and nonprofits, particularly those that do not have the need or budget for a full-time marketing director.

With more than three decades of marketing and communications experience, she helps businesses develop and implement marketing strategies that achieve results.

Katie offers a range of solutions that include marketing planning; branding and messaging; logo and visual identity development; website development and online marketing; sales material development; social media; email marketing; content development; advertising; and public relations.

Website | LinkedIn

Bruce Burkholder, Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan CPAs

Bruce Burkholder is an audit and client services manager and works in the McDonough and Duluth offices of Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan.

Prior to joining Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan in 2019, Bruce worked with a big four firm and a large Atlanta firm. His expertise includes audits, reviews, business consulting and financial statement services. He leads the 401(k) audit practice, works closely with nonprofits to provide audits and financial statement preparation, and services for-profit clients in industries that include manufacturing, distribution and construction.

Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan is a full-service accounting firm that strives to be a single-source provider of accounting, audit, tax and business advisory services for our clients. They accomplish this goal by first getting to know each client’s unique situation and financial objectives, and then devising sound strategies that you can rely on.

Website | Company LinkedIn | Bruce’s LinkedIn

Peter Faser, The Profitability Coach

Peter Faser has over 25-years of commercial, corporate and investment banking experience. His passion has always been helping his clients get to a better place financially, whether they are a small business or a publicly traded company. He began his career with Trust Company Bank in Atlanta, managing a portfolio of middle-market clients and guiding them in appropriate balance sheet management and income statement efficiencies.

Peter then pivoted to specializing in the banking of other financial institutions, and for the next 17 years, Peter assisted his clients with debt and equity capital solutions to promote growth, along with providing startup capital solutions for de novo institutions. Additionally, Peter and his team ran due diligence on potential acquisition targets in the banking space and assisted in getting his clients ready to sell.

For seven years, Peter worked with Truist Securities, where he originated a new line of business designed to help corporate and investment banking clients recognize human capital efficiencies by increasing productivity, engagement and retention levels. Through this experience of working with over 500 clients across the country, Peter recognized that the level of advisory services offered to smaller clients was not as prevalent as it once was, and he found that most clients were so focused on running their businesses day to day that they were missing the sensitivity analysis required to move their business forward. He has now joined forces with his former teammate, Bill McDermott, to help fill this educational gap. He is excited to be working with The Profitability Coach and getting back to the fundamentals of helping small businesses discover the right path to profitability.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to ProfitSense with Bill McDermott
01:03 Meet the Guests: Katie Taylor, Bruce Burkholder, and Peter Faser
01:27 Katie Taylor on Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses
04:53 Common Marketing Mistakes and Solutions
10:38 The Importance of Branding for Small Businesses
12:37 Online Marketing Essentials
16:27 Final Thoughts and Recommendations for Small Business Owners
19:34 Introducing Bruce Burkholder: Accounting Insights
24:27 Building Strong Client Relationships
24:57 Evaluating CPA Services
25:26 Importance of Proactive Solutions
25:51 Team-Based Approach in CPA Firms
26:32 Challenges in Accounting: Staffing Shortages
27:46 Addressing Client Needs Amid Staffing Issues
29:35 Strategies for Future Success
31:53 The People Business: Building Relationships
34:31 Introducing Peter Faser: The Profitability Coach
35:09 Peter Faser’s Journey and Expertise
38:27 Key Areas for Sustainable Profitability
41:37 Preparing to Sell Your Business
46:41 Bill McDermott’s Commentary on Differences Between a Profitability Coach and a Part-Time CFO
48:24 Conclusion and Contact Information

About ProfitSense and Your Host, Bill McDermott

ProfitSense with Bill McDermott dives into the stories behind some of Atlanta’s successful businesses and business owners and the professionals that advise them. This show helps local business leaders get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their profession.

Follow this link to find the show archive.

The show is presented by The Profitability Coach. The Profitability Coach helps business owners improve cash flow and profitability, find financing, break through barriers to expansion, and financially prepare to exit their business.

Bill McDermott is the Founder and CEO of The Profitability Coach. When business owners want to increase their profitability, they don’t have the expertise to know where to start or what to do. Bill leverages his knowledge and relationships from 32 years as a banker to identify the hurdles getting in the way and create a plan to deliver profitability they never thought possible.

Bill currently serves as Treasurer for the Atlanta Executive Forum and has held previous positions as a board member for the Kennesaw State University Entrepreneurship Center, Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity, and Treasurer for CEO NetWeavers. Bill is a graduate of Wake Forest University, and he and his wife, Martha, have called Atlanta home for over 40 years. Outside of work, Bill enjoys golf, traveling, and gardening.

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn and Instagram and follow The Profitability Coach on LinkedIn.

Tara Lombardo with United Child Actors Network and Alex Radford with The Edge Agency

August 15, 2024 by Mike

Gwinnett Business Radio

Tara Lombardo with United Child Actors Network and Alex Radford with The Edge Agency

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Tara Lombardo/United Child Actors Network

United Child Actors Network (UCAN) is a one-stop shop for everything a parent of a child actor needs to know so they can safely and successfully move their child through the entertainment industry. UCAN offers free resources, as well as an online masterclass that is an all-encompassing guide to empower the parent to not only advocate for their child’s rights, but give them an advantage in an extremely competitive industry.

Alex Radford/The Edge Agency

The Edge Agency is a women owned creative marketing agency that creates a bridge of impact between your business goals and your customer needs through a personalized approach to branding, marketing and internal communications for B2B companies.

Gwinnett Business Radio is presented by

Hosted by Mike Sammond and Steven Julian
Produced by Dan Braverman

Celebrating Small Business Month, with Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts, and Heather Demis, Anchor Marketing

May 22, 2024 by John Ray

Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts, and Heather Demis, Anchor Marketing, with Kali Boatright, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

North Fulton Studio

Celebrating Small Business Month, with Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts, and Heather Demis, Anchor Marketing

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Celebrating Small Business Month, with Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts, and Heather Demis, Anchor Marketing (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 95)

In honor of Small Business Month, this episode of the GNFCC 400 Insider features Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts, and Heather Demis, Anchor Marketing, two accomplished business owners in the North Fulton region. The discussion with host Kali Boatright revolves around their initial challenges, strategies for success, and the importance of community engagement and partnerships. Both share significant milestones, such as adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on business practices. Tracey announces her company’s global expansion, and Heather discusses her firm’s evolution into offering online stores and branding services. The episode emphasizes the value of utilizing local resources, like the Chamber, and underscores the impact of mentorship and continuous learning to achieve business success.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts

Originally from New Jersey, Tracey attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she obtained her BA in Economics and Spanish and was then awarded a Graduate Tuition Fellowship to fully fund her MBA in Marketing, which she completed in 11 months. Before breaking into the technology industry by founding IBEX IT Business Experts in 2012, Tracey led successful sales teams at international corporations, including Learning Tree and FedEx.

At IBEX, Tracey helps organizations like NASA, the CDC, and Cox Communications implement IT solutions and train workers on innovative technologies. As a minority woman founder, Tracey knows that IBEX brings value beyond technology training; IBEX also serves a major need in connecting organizations with underrepresented groups. Although her professional expertise lies in IT solutions, government contracting and best practices, she is a uniquely powerful authority on topics like diversity, networking, and leadership.

In 2022, IBEX launched Certifiably Diverse, a new supplier of diversity software. Certifiably Diverse helps clients like the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) increase their supplier diversity by providing the smartest way to communicate, collaborate, and network with diverse suppliers. Additionally, IBEX has maintained its place on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies for 4 years straight and has won Greater North Fulton Small Business of the Year and the Georgia Fast 40 Award, given to the top 40 fastest growing Georgia based mid-market companies.

Tracey enjoys serving others and giving back. She serves on several non-profit boards, including North Fulton Community Charities and the Jane Addams Peace Association, and is Chair of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council’s Minority Business Input Committee, where she assists minority businesses throughout the state.

Heather Demis, Anchor Marketing

Heather Demis is the founder and president of Anchor Marketing, a branding and marketing firm she launched in 2005. With a passion for helping companies discover their unique voice, Heather has dedicated her career to creating impactful branding strategies.

Heather possesses a deep understanding of how messaging, color, and design influence corporate identity. She consistently crafts memorable campaigns that ensure businesses reach their target audiences and leave a lasting impression. Her expertise spans branding, commercial printing, and promotional products, enabling her to assist companies of all sizes in conveying their brand values with professionalism and trustworthiness. Heather’s work ultimately helps businesses attract more opportunities and achieve their growth goals.

Heather’s approach is rooted in treating her clients’ brands and businesses as her own. She is committed to meeting deadlines, respecting budgets, and delivering top-tier marketing solutions on time and within budget. Her mission is to help companies stand out in the marketplace with a consistent, professional image that fosters trust and reliability, reflecting the high level of service they provide.

Outside of her role at Anchor Marketing, Heather is a dedicated community member. She is an active member of the Rotary Club of Alpharetta, a Charter/Founding Board Member of the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce, and a founder of the Business Alpharetta Roundtable (B.A.R.), a support network for female entrepreneurs.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Heather’s LinkedIn

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome to the GNFCC 400 Insider: Celebrating Small Business Month
01:42 Tracey Grace’s Journey: From Corporate America to Entrepreneurship
05:31 Heather Demis: The Birth of Anchor Marketing
07:54 Entrepreneurial Spirit: Born or Made?
10:06 Community Engagement: Beyond Business
13:20 Unique Business Strategies in North Fulton
14:51 The Unseen Competition: Thriving Through Referrals and Relationships
15:42 Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry: Strategies for Success
16:01 Leveraging Partnerships and Programs for Business Growth
18:40 The COVID-19 Pivot: Adapting and Innovating in Business
22:27 Global Expansion and Future Plans: A Sneak Peek
26:40 Strategic Advice for New Entrepreneurs: Insights from Experience
29:35 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

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

The GNFCC 400 Insider is sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC), and the host of the show is 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 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.

Brian Dempsey with Bright Tribe Smart Marketing

April 11, 2024 by Tom Sheldon

Northeast Georgia Business Radio

Brian Dempsey with Bright Tribe Smart Marketing

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Brian Dempsey

Brian Dempsey/Bright Tribe Smart Marketing

With a career that began when the Internet was in its infancy, Brian has been a pioneer of web design and digital marketing. As the founder of Bright Tribe, he brings a wealth of experience to every project, offering our clients big-agency expertise with a boutique agency’s attention to detail.

Whether designing a website (check out the portfolio to see his work!) or crafting a comprehensive marketing strategy, Brian is deeply involved, ensuring that each client’s unique vision is realized. He leads a talented team, with members in Germany, Italy, Florida, and Atlanta, all united in creating customized solutions that deliver results.

Additionally, Brian serves as the Creative Director and Director of Digital Strategy for several marketing agencies in Florida, Indiana and Atlanta who partner with Bright Tribe to provide consistent, thoughtful, affordable web design solutions to their clients.

Our Community Partner for this episode of Northeast Georgia Business Radio is the Moon Trip Productions. A giant thank you to Molly and her team for their continued support. Moon Trip Productions provides personal and commercial videography to take your content to the moon! Weddings, social media content, trade show content….. to the moon!

Northeast Georgia Business Radio is presented in part by Regions Bank.

Embrace the IF in life. Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

Committing to Success: Long-Term Strategies in Marketing

January 22, 2024 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Committing to Success: Long-Term Strategies in Marketing

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Committing to Success: Long-Term Strategies in Marketing

Karen Nowicki brings together dynamic entrepreneurs Megan Ferguson, Founder of Back Court Marketing, Caitlin Penny, CEO of Copper Theory Creative, and Elizabeth Lowney, CEO of Creating Buzz PR, for a lively discussion on the intricacies of B2B collaboration and strategic networking. The guests share valuable insights into personal branding, social media marketing, and the importance of genuine partnerships within the entrepreneurial community. Highlighting the significance of quality over quantity in networking, they emphasize the alignment of business goals when seeking collaborative and referral partners.

The guests collectively explore the trends in digital marketing for 2024, common social media mistakes, and the commitment required for long-term marketing success. With a focus on professionalism, authentic representation, and the need for clear messaging in the competitive world of marketing and branding, tune in for expert insights to elevate your business presence!

Backcourt Marketing provides social media marketing services for small to medium sized businesses who have at least one of the following goals: Reaching more customers online, raising revenue through online sales, expanding to a new audience, improving their brand, driving traffic to their website, creating influencer partnerships, or generating leads.

For business owners and marketing managers who are too swamped with wearing many other hats, we are the outsourced team they can hire to effectively run the business’ social media accounts.

Megan Ferguson started Backcourt Marketing, a recent recipient of the State Forty Eight Foundation Grant, to help businesses that were under-utilizing social media platforms. She understands the roadblocks that stop business owners from effectively promoting their business to thousands of people online daily.

She took what she knew she is good at, her background in strategic marketing, out of the box campaigns, writing compelling content, and developed a business out of it. Megan comes from a background in sports journalism and sports marketing, having managed large scale accounts such as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

In her free time, you can find her at just about any Arizona sports matchup happening in the Valley.

Follow Backcourt Marketing on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Copper Theory Creative is a full-service marketing agency based out of Phoenix, AZ. They specialize in personal branding and social media workshops, as well as everything else digital marketing! They help you make money by professionally amplifying your brand to represent your vision in business by refining, refreshing and revamping your brand in the digital marketplace.

Art has always played a major role in Caitlin Penny’s life. Everything she did growing up included some sort of artistic ability or activity. Caitlin Penny has been a graphic designer since 2010, and founded her business, Copper Theory Creative in 2016 at the age of 24. She was excited, and her dream of being her own boss was worth fighting for.

Copper Theory Creative has expanded into a full-service branding and design agency that has serviced over 100 businesses since 2016. They are your partner in business – helping you make money by professionally amplifying your brand to represent your vision in business.

They take a very personal approach with their process, and are excited to get to know you and why you started your business! Copper Theory helps established entrepreneurs take their business to the next level by refining, refreshing and revamping their brand in the digital marketplace.

As a female business owner, Caitlin has been lucky to find many amazing mentors along the way who inspired her to never give up. As the company grows, she never forgets the small business owners, clients, and supporters that have believed in her since day one. Her version of changing the world is making your brand be seen in the best way possible so you can change the world in your own way.

She recently received the Young Professional of the Year award from NAWBO and has been featured in Shout Out Arizona, CanvasRebel and United Colors of Design magazine. Caitlin is also an Arts Commissioner for the City of Chandler.

When she’s not designing, she loves hanging out with her pitbull Herbie, watching Harry Potter or listening to a good true crime podcast.

Connect with Caitlin on LinkedIn and follow Copper Theory Creative on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Creating Buzz PR is a boutique PR company specializing in creative storytelling to garner the publicity our clients need to grow and establish their reputations for success. We have had our clients in Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, CBS News, ABC 15, USA Today, AZ Republic, Phoenix Business Journal, Phoenix Magazine, AZ Foothills, AZ Big Media, Modern Luxury, The Times publications and many more.

Elizabeth Lowney was working for a fairly high-profile company in San Francisco, putting on a lot of corporate and charity events when a PR company there asked her to join them. She’s always been a writer, so she fell in love with that part of it – finding and telling the compelling stories of our clients.

That is still how she works now – telling an interesting story people want to read and putting on events people want to attend.

When Elizabeth moved to Arizona to be closer to family, she started over from scratch, not knowing anyone. She had a hugely successful run with one of her first clients, Superstition Meadery, who Elizabeth had in over ten media outlets nationally and locally in their first month. By month three, She had grown their sales by 30% – just with publicity.

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn and Facebook.