Midtown Business Radio Archives - Business RadioX ®

Moving Analytics

March 10, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Moving Analytics

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Moving Analytics

This week I spoke with the co-founder, Harsh Vathsangam, of a technology company, Moving Analytics, that is working to significantly increase participation rates in cardiac rehabilitation. Over 900,000 Americans experience heart attacks each year. Still more will experience heart failure, valvular disease, and other cardiovascular problems that create a diminished tolerance of activity.

We know very well that regular activity and selective behavior choices around such things as diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking, among others, play a large role in stopping or even reversing effects of these conditions. Currently, roughly a third or less of these patients are engaging in a supervised cardiac rehab program. Clearly, there is much room for improvement in this regard.

As a computer scientist, Harsh has long-known the power of computing and analytics data for creating efficiencies and making well-educated strategic decisions. He and some colleagues began to look for opportunities to leverage this power in the healthcare arena, one which we know is actively seeking to reduce cost while at the same time improve patient outcomes.

The Moving Analytics app allows patients to receive frequent feedback regarding their prescribed activities and behavioral choices. Additionally, it provides data regarding the patient’s compliance with their regimen along with some basic health data to the health professional overseeing their cardiac rehab progress. In this way, the patient is able to engage in healthful activities that will improve their condition in the convenience of their home. Additionally it will allow the cardiac rehab professionals to scale their services to a wider patient population, reducing cost of providing care (based on a per-provider cost).

Moving Analytics is looking to partner with hospitals and health systems who are working to improve patient engagement with these important cardiac rehab programs for the post-cardiovascular event patients.

Special Guest:

Harsh Vathsangam, Co-founder, Moving Analytics

PhD, Computer Science, University of Southern California
MS, Computer Science, University of Southern California
Recipient, PhD Award, University of Southern California
Awarded USC Annenberg Fellowship 2008-2012

Chiropractic

February 9, 2016 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Chiropractic

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Chiropractic

On this week’s episode we featured 2 Life University alumni from the world’s largest school for doctors of chiropractic. Dr. Matt Germain and Alyce Smith from Back to Balance Wellness Centers joined us in the studio to talk about integrity and chiropractic care.

Matt explained how the holistic nature of chiropractic care appealed to him and drew him into become a DC. In speaking with him it’s clear he takes what he does as a provider of health care very seriously. And he understands his role is a facet of what is often a multi-specialty approach to regain or maintain wellness.

We talked about how it is important to him to take time to really get to know the full health picture of a patient and what their individual goals are for evaluating progress. Matt expressed how he understands that in some instances, another type of care provider might be the best alternative for them or in others, be adjunctive to his treatment.

Alyse and Matt shared their views that regular chiropractic care, delivered by a clinically-driven DC, can help optimize one’s health through routine follow-up and occasional treatment to maintain maximal health and function of the body. One way this is achieved is by addressing proper alignment of the skeletal structure, particularly the spine and others that lie along neural pathways, as misalignment can cause impingement of nerves, affecting muscle or organ function.

Both my wife and I have been patients of Dr. Germain, having experienced both chiropractic care and their professional massage therapy services as well. I can say Matt certainly lives what he described in our interview, having taken much time to interview me about what I was experiencing and taking care to explain what his recommendations were for care.

Dr. Gilles LaMarche, DC, VP of Professional Relations at Life University

Doctor of Chiropractic, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College
Author, The ART of Responsibility, Insight Publishing 2012
Certified Six Advisors Coach, Six Advisors Coaching Academy
Previous Vice President, Parker College of Chiropractic

Matt Germain, DC, of Back to Balance Wellness Centers

Alyse Smith, DC, of Back to Balance Wellness Centers

EPiC Measures

February 5, 2016 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

EPiC Measures

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Isha Edwards talks branding and marketing.

EPiC Measures

On this week’s episode I featured Isha Edwards, Founder of EPiC Measures, having met her recently at the Small Business Expo in Atlanta in December. Isha Edwards is a brand-marketing consultant and the owner of EPiC Measures, LLC. Eleven years of marketing and communications experience, coupled with more than two decades of business management acumen, enables Isha to make a C.A.S.E.* for individuals and organizations that major on being distinctly different. Aligning marketing tactics with marketing strategy enables Isha to measure twice and cut once.

Isha has a global perspective on economic development. In her consulting role, she works to maintain the

integrity, productivity and profitability of individuals and organizations. Her client base spans 12 industries and her reach includes the U.S., Europe, South Africa and the Caribbean.

When not managing client assignments, Isha volunteers with Youth Entrepreneurs of Georgia and Georgia DECA. Learn more about Isha here: www.ishaedwards.com

*CASE = Credibility. Awareness. Sales. Engagement. ©

Special Guest:

Isha Edwards, EPiC Measures

Branding & Integrated Marketing and Marketing Strategy Certifications, University of Southern California Marshall School of Business
BS, Business Management, University of Illinois–Chicago
Teacher’s Certificate, Business, Clark Atlanta University
Business Plan Advisor, Youth Entrepreneurs of Georgia
Marketing Advisory Committee Member, DECA Inc.

Kevy and CimCo

January 26, 2016 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Kevy and CimCo

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Kevy and CimCo

This week we continued our series with Life University and Dr. Gilles LaMarche, VP of Professional Relations, focusing on business leaders of integrity. We hosted Brooke Beach, of Kevy, and Bill and Diedre Plunk, of CimCo.

After spending several years as a marketing expert, Brooke and some colleagues believe they could improve on the ecommerce/direct marketing customer experience and improve response rates and create more repeat customers. To date, most email automation solutions such as Pardot, SalesForce, and others, focused on the B2B sector, helping businesses increase contact and ultimately, sales, with companies they’re trying to reach. There are marketing automation solutions available for B2C/Retail enterprises to similarly leverage email to contact customers to enhance sales, these solutions have traditionally offered limited data that would let that enterprise truly evaluate ROI on a per email basis in dollars and cents.

The Kevy platform integrates with their clients’ existing ecommerce platform via java script that is embedded into the website code. Once there, it enables Kevy and the customer to track user behavior by where they go on the site, how long they stay, the products and types of products they’re viewing, and whether they buy. With this information, the retailer is able to display very behaviorally-relevant pop-up information that personalizes the experience and significantly increases conversion rates.

Additionally, the Kevy platform enables very user-specific automated email communications that are relevant to that user’s particular behavioral context. Combining these technologies results in a dramatic rise in sales from existing customers in the retailer’s database and the ability to get very targeted with discounts and marketing message. If you are interested in learning more, contact Brooke and her team here.

Upon entering the banking industry ~20 years ago, Bill unexpectedly found himself placed in charge of collections on loans in arrears. Without any experience or real training in how to do so, he set about contacting debtors. It turned out that his approach to this often-difficult conversation made him quite successful at it.

After spending some time with a collections firm that was not operating in an ethical fashion, he decided to launch his own firm and handle clients and debtors with the respect and professionalism that had served him so well to that point.

In that time, his integrity and professionalism made such an impression on debtors he was collecting on, some ultimately turned to him to collect for them after their accounts were settled. His highly-personal approach to his work allows him to turn around outstanding accounts quickly, in many cases in less than 1-2 months.

Special Guests:

Brooke Beach, Co-founder/CEO, of Kevy

BA, Public Relations; Journalism, University of Georgia
Former Co-Director, Windstream Communications SchoolsWIN Program
Founder and Chairman of Marketwake

Bill and Diedre Plunk of CimCo Commercial Collections

BS in Education, Minor in Business, Northeastern State University
Former Teacher and Coach, Oklahoma Public Schools
Board Member, River of Praise Ministries

Dr. Gilles LaMarche, DC, VP of Professional Relations at Life University

Doctor of Chiropractic, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College
Author, The ART of Responsibility, Insight Publishing 2012
Certified Six Advisors Coach, Six Advisors Coaching Academy
Previous Vice President, Parker College of Chiropractic

Digital Marketing with Richard Warner

January 19, 2016 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Digital Marketing with Richard Warner

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Richard Warner talks digital strategy

Digital Marketing with Richard Warner

Long-time Georgia media personality, Richard Warner, joined me in the studio this week. He spent over 30 years in front of microphone and camera on TV and radio and was awarded the Career Achievement Award by the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. He hosted Georgia’s Business on Georgia Public Broadcasting, and served as a business commentator and host for 11 Alive, WSB Radio, and WGST. But he’s not just a successful media talent. He’s also and expert in digital marketing strategy.

In addition to serving as on on-air talent for several decades, talking about business, Richard is also a successful entrepreneur. He founded What’s Up Interactive in 1990, which after transitioning from building a successful information service utilizing then-innovative fax technology, now provides media production, digital strategy, web design, and SEO services.

We talked about some things a business owner needs to be cognizant of regarding their approach to their online presence. With Google’s frequently-updated search algorithms placing ever-more emphasis on relevancy and freshness of content on a site, along with how frequently it’s consumed, linked, and shared, it is very important to have a good strategy for telling a company’s story and sharing useful, topical information to its clients and prospective clients.

Special Guest:

Richard Warner, CEO/Founder, What’s Up Interactive

ABJ, Broadcast News, University of Georgia
Former Host/Managing Editor, “Georgia’s Business, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Recipient, Career Achievement Award, Georgia Radio Hall of Fame
Board Member, Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Mountain View Group and My Professional CFO

January 12, 2016 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Mountain View Group and My Professional CFO

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Mountain View Group and My Professional CFO

This week we continued our bi-weekly series with Life University’s Dr. Gilles LaMarche, focusing on business leaders who exemplify integrity, in a lead-up to Life University’s LIFEtalks World Congress, May 12-13, discussing integrity for life with a number of well-known speakers on the subject. We were joined in the studio by Thom Gonyeau and Alan Conner, of Mountain View Group and My Professional CFO, respectively.

I met Alan a few weeks ago in the hall of our office building. After learning about how he helps physicians, I knew we needed to have him stop by to talk about it. In addition to providing basic accounting/payroll functions, Alan also helps physicians develop effective, legal tax strategies, including self funded insurance plans to reduce their tax burden and risk at the same time.

Alan shared the story of a family member, an ER physician in Florida. He explained the fact that his family member, as do many physicians, work as 1099 contractors for the respective practice they serve. In this relationship, the doctor receives a gross paycheck with no tax withheld.

In this situation it is vital for the provider to plan for their tax obligation and pay it in a timely fashion (at least quarterly) or they face between 5-10% penalties, which can quickly add up to significant amounts, based on the numbers they’re working with.

Alan explained several options available to physicians that work as 1099 contractors, including self funded insurance plans, pension plans, SEP IRA’s, and others, that will help them preserve their hard-earned revenue for later while protecting them from risk such as loss of medical license should that occur.

It’s clear after speaking with him that it is advisable for our colleagues in the community to partner with experts such as Alan to develop a solid plan for managing their tax obligations as well as helping to secure their financial future.

I met Thom Gonyeau ~five years ago. Equal parts right-brain and left-brain, he’s an operational guru. He works with clients to solve their business needs. Thom is an avid photographer, tennis player, runner, and writer. H had his first brush with fame at age 8, when his poem “Things That Are Beautiful” was published in Highlights magazine.

We talked about the media production work he and his team execute to help their clients, which includes the likes of GE, Coca Cola, and numerous other well-known enterprises, tell the story of their brand both internally and externally. Thom draws on his love of writing and his curiosity to get to know his clients very well and then be able to craft engaging, award-winning media productions across a variety of platforms to share it with the target audience.

Special Guests:

Dr. Gilles LaMarche, DC, VP of Professional Relations at Life University

Doctor of Chiropractic, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College
Author, The ART of Responsibility, Insight Publishing 2012
Certified Six Advisors Coach, Six Advisors Coaching Academy
Previous Vice President, Parker College of Chiropractic

Alan Conner, CEO, My Professional CFO

MBA, Finance, Nova Southeastern University
Previous Investment Banker, Orosey & Pepe Capital Markets
Former Investment Manager, Arduus Asset Management

Thom Gonyeau, CEO, Mountain View Group

MA, Communications, The College of Saint Rose
Chair, Board of Trustees, Creative Education Foundation

P Marshall and Associates

December 15, 2015 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

P Marshall and Associates

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PM&A — Brett Davis explains distributed antenna systems

P Marshall and Associates

On this week’s episode I featured long-time acquaintance, Carrie Dimino, and Brett Davis, of P Marshall and Associates, an Atlanta-based engineering firm. The company initially started with a focus in telecommunications, providing services around antenna systems and other telecom needs.

As their relationships with their clients grew, their happy customers were frequently asking if the firm could provide engineering support for needs in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and others, prompting P Marshall and Associates to expand their repertoire to include experts in these areas as well.

With Atlanta currently placing focus and energy on becoming a Smart City, and many builders and commercial property owners looking to integrate technology into their buildings, the firm is uniquely positioned to play a key role in helping to achieve these goals.

Brett explained how PM&A is able to design and install distributed antenna systems that integrate with existing structures and architecture as well as new construction. So, they’re able to make a cellular antenna that becomes part of a light pole, for example, but is essentially unnoticeable.

We also talked about how the company places great attention to the culture of the company. They have purposefully maintained a low-key, fun work environment to maximize employee satisfaction and creativity. Carrie shared some of the characteristics the firm is looking for in engineering experts who are looking to join their growing, innovative company.

Special Guests:

Carrie Dimino, Catalyst, P Marshall and Associates

Brett Davis, Director of Wireless Initiatives, P Marshall and Associates

Midtown Business Radio Features Brooke Beach With Kevy – Business RadioX

December 10, 2015 by angishields

ATLANTA, GA–(Marketwired – December 10, 2015) – On November 24, 2015, Midtown Business Radio welcomed to the studio Brooke Beach with Kevy. Host CW Hall spoke with Beach about improving the e-commerce/direct marketing space.

Brooke Beach is the co-founder and CEO of Kevy, the only true email marketing automation platform built uniquely for e-commerce businesses. By combining order history and real-time behavior data, Kevy gives clients the ability to take action on insights and create personalized interactions with every shopper.

“To date, most email automation solutions such as Pardot, SalesForce, and others, focused on the B2B sector, helping businesses increase contact and ultimately, sales, with companies they’re trying to reach,” explained Beach. “And, while there have been marketing automation solutions available for B2C/Retail enterprises to similarly leverage email to contact customers to enhance sales, these solutions have traditionally offered limited data that would let that enterprise truly evaluate ROI on a per email basis in dollars and cents.”

The Kevy platform integrates with the clients’ existing e-commerce platform via java script that is embedded into the website code. Once there, it enables Kevy and the customer to track user behavior by where they go on the site, how long they stay, the products and types of products they’re viewing, and whether they buy. With this information, the retailer is able to display very behaviorally-relevant pop-up information that personalizes the experience and significantly increases conversion rates.

To learn more about Beach and Kevy, listen to the entire interview on Midtown Business Radio.

About Midtown Business Radio:

Each week, from the Business RadioX® studio in Midtown, host CW Hall interviews Atlanta’s top business professionals to learn what makes them the best at what they do. Midtown Business Radio airs on Tuesdays at 11:30am Eastern.

About Business RadioX®:

Business RadioX® interviews dozens of innovative entrepreneurs and successful leaders each week. Its mission is to help local businesses Get the Word Out about the important work they’re doing for their market, their community, and their profession. With a pro-business slant and a long-form interview format, guests don’t have to worry about being ambushed or talking in “sound bites.” Guests have enough time to tell their whole story and to share their insights and experience without interruptions. Business RadioX® hosts are business professionals interviewing their peers, drilling down on the critical issues, and delivering practical information to an engaged business audience. Business topics that are frequently covered include: Law, Finance, Healthcare, Technology, Trade Shows, B2B Marketing, Venture Capital, Training and Development and other issues impacting the business community. For more information, visit: https://businessradiox.com.

Workman’s Compensation and Small Business Expo

December 8, 2015 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Workman's Compensation and Small Business Expo

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Ken David and Associates — Jennifer Smith talks workman’s compensation

Workman’s Compensation

This week I sat down with attorney and workman’s compensation expert, Jennifer Smith, of Ken David & Associates to talk about important considerations employers should think about to reduce their risk. Workman’s compensation can present a real financial exposure for any company. So, it’s vital that company leadership take steps in advance to handle employee injuries effectively when they occur.

Jennifer shared numerous tips that employers should be mindful of relating to the new hire process, to educate incoming employees about options for care should injuries occur. We also discussed how managers and employers should handle employee complaints that could possibly related to work place stressors or injuries. A major element of this is documentation about details of conversations about physical complaints or over injuries.

We talked about ways employers and managers should handle communications with employees and care team when an injury has occurred and employees are out of work or placed on limited work duties that can hasten employees returning to work, as well as decreasing likelihood of litigation.

The Small Business Expo is the largest multi-city expo of its kind. I spoke with founder, Zach Lezberg about his inspiration for starting the event and how its grown to be so large. I caught up with Zach leading into the 12/10 Atlanta show at the Atlanta Convention Center.

The free-to-the-public event featured over 100 exhibitors and offered numerous break out sessions and learning presentations, along with access to business experts for an opportunity to get questions answered.

The pro-business expo will be coming to 14 cities in 2016 and is so effective for fostering business relationships, several exhibitors travel to most or even all the event locations throughout the year.

Special Guests:

Jennifer Smith, Senior Associate, Ken David & Associates