ProWIN Atlanta Archives - Business RadioX ®

Essie Escobedo, Office Angels

March 21, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Essie Escobedo, Office Angels

00:00 /

Essie Escobedo, Founder and “Chief Executive Angel” of Office Angels

The mission of Office Angels is to restore joy to the life of small business owners, enabling them to focus on what they do best. At the same time, Office Angels honors and supports at-home experts who wish to continue working on an as-needed basis.

Not a temp firm or a placement service, Office Angels matches a business owner’s support needs with professionals who have the skills and experience necessary to handle work that is essential to creating and maintaining a successful small business.

For over seventeen years, Office Angels has been helping small business owners, associations, and non-profits with administrative tasks, bookkeeping, marketing support, presentation preparation, speaking engagements, business development, document formatting, database management, research, writing services, HR services, and much more.

Essie Escobedo launched Office Angels in 2000 after a 25-year career as a successful small business owner. In 2018, Essie was named a Business Person of Excellence by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. She was an inaugural winner of the Business Builder Award given by the Professional Women’s Information Network (ProWIN), and also a nominee for the Turknett Leadership Character Award.

For more information on Office Angels, go to https://officeangels.us or call 770-442-9246.

Special Edition: ProWIN Atlanta

September 5, 2013 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

Special Edition: ProWIN Atlanta

00:00 /

Christy Ziglar/Shine Bright Kids

Mother, Financial Planner and Niece of Zig Ziglar brings timeless wisdom to a younger generation with her new book “Can’t-Wait Willow!”, the first in the new Shine Bright Kids book series.

Karen Brown Williams/The Williams Firm, P.C.

Karen Brown Williams earned her BBA from Howard University, MBA from Boston College and JD from Emory University. She has served as Judicial Law Clerk for Fulton and Dekalb Counties, Public Defender for Dekalb County, Prosecutor for City of Atlanta, Magistrate Court Judge for Cobb County, and worked in private practice in Marietta and Alpharetta. She is published with the State Bar of Georgia and John Marshall Law Review, and has been a speaker for the State Bar of Georgia, Cobb County Bar Association and Atlanta Inn of Court.

Dr. Leonora Camille Austin/No Judgement Leonora, Inc.

Making a difference through counseling, education and health

ABR Special Edition: ProWIN Atlanta

April 4, 2013 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

ABR Special Edition: ProWIN Atlanta

00:00 /

Catherine Anne Graham/CAG, Inc.

Catherine Graham, a Professional Coach and Recruiting Specialist, recently left her corporate career to launch her companies; CAG Coaching and CAG Recruiting. Combining her talents and experience she is helping individuals and small, emerging companies connect and grow. A certified coach since 2008 she has been working with people of all ages to move forward in their lives by creating vision, purpose and passion. Using a model she designed to be C.O.M.P.L.E.T.E. (clarity, opportunity, motivation, purpose, liberation, empowerment, triumph and ease) Catherine has merged this with her recruiting mission to match the best and brightest employees with growing companies, maximizing Human Capital ROI.

Catherine has been in Atlanta since 1993 and has enjoyed a successful path as a Sales Professional and Entrepreneur. Beginning in Retail management for Sunglass Hut, Inc., she then partnered with two other entrepreneurs to launch the New Yorker Deli and Butcher Shop on Pharr Road in 2004. They were an approved vendor in the 2006 Olympics, which was an incredible experience in working with city government and massive crowds. “These early experiences helped me develop a strong work ethic, dedication to outstanding customer service and a need to really enjoy my work!” Since then, Catherine has a 15 year track record for success in the Retail, Wholesale Trade Show and Staffing industries.

Patty Farinola/The Awareness Studio

Patty Farinola with The Awareness Studio is a relationship expert who works with individuals and couples, helping people to create fulfilling lives through powerfully-connected relationships.

She has been professionally certified through the International Coach Federation and now holds a License in Sacred Theology. Patty has been trained in Pesso-Boyden System Psychomotor and the STAR process, two very powerful therapeutic modalities. Other relevant education includes personal development and leadership training through Landmark Education Corporation, Turknett Leadership Group, the Karin Kabalah Center, and the St. Thomas Christian Church. This rich and varied background provides a strong foundation for the work she does with clients, which includes personal counseling, life and business coaching, and spiritual direction.

Patty’s corporate history includes twenty-five years of diverse experience with industry leading Fortune 100 corporations and privately held firms. She has worked for such companies as Coca-Cola, Bank South (now part of Bank of America), and S1 Corporation, and her last position was Managing Director of Marketing for Georgia Natural Gas where she was the highest ranking female managing a multi-million dollar budget that encompassed advertising, event management, sales support and market research.

Anita Paul/The Write Image

A communications specialist, Anita Paul is known as “The Author’s Midwife.” She coaches and mentors corporate professionals and successful entrepreneurs to become published authors. Through her Write Your Life program, she shares strategies for writing, publishing, and marketing a book … and then leveraging it to upsell your expertise.

A 20-year veteran of the marketing communications industry, Anita started The Write Image in 1997. A corporate communications company, The Write Image develops marketing and public relations programs for mid-size businesses and organizations. She uses her extensive planning, organizing, and strategic marketing skills to help clients develop effective communications strategies and public relations campaigns throughout the U.S.

After years of working with decision makers in various industries she realized one thing they had in common — they were “secret agents.” These super intelligent, well respected, knowledgeable leaders were experts in their fields, but nobody knew it. She wondered, what would help these experts get noticed? The answer: Every expert needs a book of her own. So she developed a program to help professionals upsell their expertise.

“Women (and men) in business need a calling card, a defining brand, a product to demonstrate their knowledge and their expertise,” says Anita. “A well-written book is one of the best tools to brand professionals as experts in their field so they can gain the visibility, recognition, and opportunities to take their careers and their businesses to a higher level and to earn more money.” Over the years, her passion for mentoring authors to overcome obstacles to their publishing success became her focus, and thus, Write Your Life was created.

Designed to reinforce a business platform for existing authors, and to establish and support a budding brand for aspiring authors, Write Your Life is a unique, comprehensive program for establishing your expertise and leveraging your book as part of your brand. “It’s bigger than the book,” says Anita. “You have an idea, a business objective, a career goal, a brand, or a grand vision. We work to create a book that will support that platform, brand you as an expert, and get you going in the right direction.” In 90 days or less, Write Your Life will change your life!

ABR Special Edition: ProWIN Atlanta

February 7, 2013 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

ABR Special Edition: ProWIN Atlanta

00:00 / 0:45:03

Gayle Rubenstein/Balloons and Events Over Atlanta

With a passion for celebrating people and their special occasions, Gayle Rubenstein, co-owner of Balloons and Events Over Atlanta, is commited to producing the most noteworthy and memorable events. Gayle’s background is in design and she loves to create what her clients want. Her intention is to always listen to what her clients are saying and reproduce their vision. Balloons and Events Over Atlanta creates works of art that they are proud to have their signature on. Their ideas are fresh and new. Their certified balloon artists and Certified Event planners have gone througth training on color and design and can transform a room.

Gayle’s goal is to continue to satisfy and awe her customers while saving them time and money. She understands that many events only come once in a lifetime and have an immeasurable impact and importance.

Balloon décor is a spectacular way to bring in dynamic color and dazzle guests, and together with props, linens, floral design, unique and specialized centerpieces, theme decor, all set the stage for a memorable extravaganza. There’s an endless amount of design possibilities that can be created to make the memories of an event last a lifetime!

Specialties: Balloon design, Centerpiece design, Room Decor, Prop design, Draping, flowers, lighting, event planning, party planning, theme decor, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet 16, Bris, Baby naming, christenings, Birthday parties, Corporate events, trade shows, conventions, galas, and weddings… the list goes on……

Penne Crews/Lane McVicker

Penne Crews is an Assistant Vice President with a national insurance brokerage firm called Lane McVicker located in Alpharetta, Georgia. She began her career in 1980 with State Farm Insurance. In 1989 Penne joined Alexander & Alexander to manage their personal lines VIP accounts. In 1994 Alexander & Alexander was purchased by PLI Brokerage where she remained for 11 years offering sales, service and insurance advice to high net worth individuals developing a strong expertise in complex matters such as family offices, multi-generational families, coverage for professional athletes and sports memorabilia collections. For 3 years Penne sat on the Mickey Mantle Charitable Foundation. Today, she continues to expand her insurance knowledge with Lane McVicker; one of the nation’s leading Personal Insurance Brokerage firms who specializes in working with the affluent individual who may have complex insurance needs.

Michelle Thomas/Ackerman & Co.

Michelle Thomas is in the brokerage division of Ackerman & Co., a commercial real estate firm in Atlanta, Georgia. She specializes in tenant representation and is known for successfully matching her client’s vision with locations that amplify their visibility, enhance their corporate image and increase their efficiency.

A native of Washington D.C., she began her real estate career in Georgia in 1997. With the completion of her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design and her Master of Science degree in Building Construction, she has since expanded her expertise to include the acquisition, disposition and leasing of commercial real estate properties. Michelle’s unrivaled determination to protect her client’s interests makes her an asset, critical in successfully negotiating office and retail leasing transactions.

ABR Special Edition: ProWIN Atlanta

December 6, 2012 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

ABR Special Edition: ProWIN Atlanta

00:00 /

Linda Zuk/FocusFive Consulting

Linda Zuk is an award winning Registered Corporate Coach, consultant and facilitator, who has worked with teams and individuals for more than 20 years. Prior to working in the business arena, Linda counseled couples and adults. Her years of experience working in both the personal and business realm have led Linda to realize that when clear, positive communication is missing relationships will break down.

From this realization, FocusFive Consulting was born. FocusFive’s work centers on Building Strong Relationships, Communicating Effectively and Growing Successful Businesses for executives, teams and individuals.

In 2005, Linda was a driving force in establishing a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, Fast Forward Restart, which has helped restart over 200 small businesses that were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans.

Linda has worked with numerous small business owners, non-profits and government organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, State of Georgia Department of Tobacco Use Prevention, National Association of Women Business Owners, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Crisis Management International, as an executive coach, consultant and facilitator.

Continuing her commitment to strengthening communication for businesses and individuals, Linda facilitates a monthly Brainstorming Roundtable for ProWin Atlanta that serves as a ‘Board of Directors’ for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Karen C. Hughes/Image Assets

Karen C. Hughes knows what it means to “keep it simple”. She has been teaching women how to overcome “what not to wear”, the power of color and how to maximize what’s already in their closets for over a decade.

Karen is President of Image Assets, and creator of StyleYOUniversity.com an online learning community that focuses on education, training and support for women and emerging stylists.

A graduate of Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences in Apparel Merchandising, Karen had an unlikely start to her career. Upon graduation, she was hired by a Fortune 100 company to manage and support new product installations and training. Little did she know that she was honing her skills that today have lead her to developing powerful learning opportunities for her clients and colleagues.

Having moved and lived in numerous places throughout the United States as an adult, she calls Georgia her home today. Karen is a wife and mother of 3 children and enjoys creative cooking, walking, and reading. She currently is in the process of finishing her first book which of course is all about achieving Great Style!

Ronna M. Woodruff/Woodruff Law LLC

Ronna Woodruff is an experienced bankruptcy attorney in Marietta, Georgia. Woodruff Law always offers free consultations where the client’s questions never go unanswered or ignored. Client commitment is a top priority at Woodruff Law, as they take all measures necessary to ensure that the client receives the care and attention that they deserve from start to finish.

Elisha Fields/Free Range Art, LLC

Elisha Fields is an artist affiliated with Free Range Art, LLC. Free Range Art deals in Fine Art. They sell original paintings and some prints, and are marketing the new drawing tool: SketchGenie. They have published a 21st century art book: Chiselism and the Evolution of an Artist, available at www.chiselism.com. Currently they are looking for venues in major cities for national exhibits and book signings. Having exclusively represented Elisha Fields in the past, they now plan to expand to connect art lovers with the right artists. Another project for the coming year is to find the right company to license SketchGenie.