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How Mentorship Transforms: Five Men by Dave Schmit

July 15, 2025 by John Ray

How Mentorship Transforms: Five Men by Dave Schmit, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
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How Mentorship Transforms: Five Men by Dave Schmit, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

How Mentorship Transforms: Five Men by Dave Schmit (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 884)

What happens when you reflect on the people who shaped your character, not just your career?

Dave Schmit, principal of Schmit + Associates and author of Five Men: The Transformative Power of Mentorship, joins host John Ray for a moving conversation about the mentors who changed his life. From his father and a high school baseball coach to a faith leader who walked with him through unimaginable grief, Dave shares how each man left a lasting imprint. Their influence continues to guide his work, his family, and his approach to leadership.

This episode is not about business tips. It is about legacy. It is about the quiet power of showing up for someone else. Dave’s book is an invitation to reflect on the mentors in your own life and the person you could become for someone who needs you.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

  • Mentorship is built over time: Dave’s mentors spanned decades and shaped every part of his life—vocational, personal, and spiritual.
  • Mentors speak hard truths: The most meaningful guidance often comes in the form of tough love, delivered with care.
  • Mentorship vs. coaching: Unlike coaching, true mentorship is grounded in long-term relationships and mutual respect.
  • Anyone can be a mentor: teachers, bosses, priests, parents; many roles can become mentoring relationships when trust and consistency are present.
  • Mentorship can heal division: Dave and his book’s preface writer, Egbert Perry, highlight how mentorship fosters understanding in a divided world.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:51 Guest Introduction: Dave Schmit
02:23 Dave Schmit’s Background and Career
03:29 The Inspiration Behind Five Men
06:53 Mentorship Stories and Lessons
09:18 The Importance of Long-Term Mentorship
12:09 Personal Stories: Lessons from Dad
17:12 Truth Tellers: The Role of Mentors
17:50 A Career in Development
18:35 Meeting Fred Fisher
19:39 Building Connections
22:08 A Personal Story of Loss and Faith
24:26 The Importance of Mentorship
26:52 Encouraging Young People to Seek Mentors
28:56 How to Be a Better Mentor
30:29 Final Thoughts and Book Information
34:17 Closing Remarks and Announcements

Dave Schmit

Dave Schmit, Author of Five Men: The Transformative Power of Mentorships
Dave Schmit, Author of Five Men: The Transformative Power of Mentorships

Dave Schmit is a seasoned real estate developer, entrepreneur, and mentor dedicated to building communities and future leaders.

As the founder of Schmit + Associates, he has helped shape walkable, experience-driven developments across Georgia.

Outside of business, Dave is passionate about mentorship, leadership, and faith, drawing from his experiences as an athlete, coach, and community leader.

Five Men is his debut book, sharing the invaluable lessons he learned from the mentors who shaped his life. His mission is to inspire others to recognize, appreciate, and become mentors in their communities.

LinkedIn | Amazon

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 880 episodes and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their market, community, and profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Tagged With: Author, Beyond Computer Solutions, Coaching, community leader, Dave Schmit, Egbert Perry, Five Men, John Ray, mentoring, Mentors, mentorship, North Fulton Business Radio, renasant bank, Schmit+Associates

The Transformational Work of the STAR House Foundation

July 10, 2025 by John Ray

The Transformational Work of the STAR House Foundation, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
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The Transformational Work of the STAR House Foundation, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

The Transformational Work of the STAR House Foundation (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 883)

In Roswell, Georgia, hundreds of children face steep challenges outside the classroom. Those challenges don’t stop when the school day ends. That’s where the STAR House Foundation comes in.

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray speaks with Windy Nicholson, Maureen Curtis, and Alejandra Torchia of the STAR House Foundation, a nonprofit that provides free, on-site afterschool programs for underserved children at Title I elementary schools. These programs offer more than academic help. They provide character development, emotional support, healthy snacks, and consistent encouragement from trusted adults.

A $1,000 donation funds a full year of support for one child. Many former students are now returning as volunteers, educators, and even board members. Their “32 STARS for 32 Years” campaign aims to raise $32,000 to expand the mission and reach even more children.

If you believe every child deserves a strong start and a real chance to thrive, this conversation will show you what that looks like in action.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

  • Early intervention matters: Reading proficiency by third grade is a strong predictor of long-term academic success. STAR House helps students build that foundation.
  • On-campus access: STAR House operates after school in Title I schools at no cost to families, with a six-to-one student-to-coach ratio.
  • A full-circle model: Former students are now volunteers, educators, and board members—proof of long-term transformation.
  • High-impact giving: Just $1,000 supports a child for an entire year of afterschool care, tutoring, and personal development.
  • Community powered: STAR House depends on individual donors, sponsors, volunteers, and corporate partners to fulfill its mission.
  • Current campaign: “32 STARS for 32 Years” seeks to raise $32,000 to fund the upcoming school year for underserved students in Roswell.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Business Radio
00:24 Highlighting the STAR House Foundation
00:46 Renasant Bank Sponsorship
01:49 Welcoming Guests from STAR House Foundation
02:14 Overview of STAR House Foundation
03:23 Challenges Faced by Underserved Children
04:35 Maureen’s Role and Experience
06:00 Details About the Schools Served
09:41 Importance of Food and Nutrition
10:16 Growth and Impact of STAR House Foundation
12:50 Partnership with Schools
15:09 The Stakes and Long-term Impact
19:05 Heartwarming Success Stories
22:09 Back to School Campaign
25:17 Volunteer Opportunities
28:40 Corporate Sponsorships and Donations
29:45 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
33:12 Closing Remarks and Sponsor Message from Beyond Computer Solutions

STAR House Foundation

STAR House Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Roswell, Georgia, dedicated to supporting at-risk children in North Fulton County through after-school tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment programs. Serving over 200 students in three Title I schools, STAR House provides a safe and nurturing environment where children can improve their academic performance, develop positive study habits, and build essential life skills. The foundation also offers a summer camp that bridges the academic gap during school breaks, focusing on retention and continued growth for elementary students.

Founded in 1993 by local volunteers who recognized the need for after-school supervision and academic support among economically disadvantaged youth, STAR House has grown to become a vital resource in the community. Its mission is to equip students with the tools and encouragement needed for personal and educational success, working closely with schools, families, and community partners. STAR House is committed to fostering diversity, inclusion, and equity, ensuring all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential and envisioning a future where every student can improve their life’s trajectory through education and mentorship.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 880 episodes and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their market, community, and profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Tagged With: after school care, Alejandra Torchia, Beyond Computer Solutions, early childhood education, John Ray, Maureen Curtis, mentorship, North Fulton Business Radio, renasant bank, Roswell, Roswell Georgia, Star House Foundation, Title I schools, underserved children, underserved communities, why early childhood matters, Windy Nicholson

Whitney Teal on the Power of Communications Over Marketing

July 2, 2025 by John Ray

Whitney Teal on the Power of Communications Over Marketing, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
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Whitney Teal on the Power of Communications Over Marketing, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

Whitney Teal on the Power of Communications Over Marketing (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 881)

Whitney Teal, founder of The Teal Bridge, joins host John Ray for an insightful conversation about why most small businesses are focusing on the wrong thing when it comes to visibility. A self-described communications specialist, not a marketer, Whitney breaks down how reframing your outreach around communications rather than marketing can lead to deeper client relationships, more meaningful engagement, and content that actually resonates.

She explains the importance of vulnerability in business, explains how to present authentically on podcasts and social media without oversharing, and explains why she believes podcasting is one of the most underutilized tools for building trust. Drawing on her radio background and current work with service-based businesses and thought leaders, Whitney offers a refreshing and practical take on what it means to show up, sincerely and consistently, for your audience.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

  • Stop saying “marketing.” Instead, start thinking “communications.” It changes how you show up and how others connect with you.
  • Podcast guesting and hosting are powerful tools for storytelling, not selling.
  • Vulnerability builds trust, but there’s an art to doing it well and meaningfully.
  • You don’t need to chase trends or go viral. Consistency, authenticity, and relationships win.
  • Thought leaders, lawyers, CPAs, and nonprofits can all thrive with message-first strategies, even in highly regulated industries.
  • Your brand isn’t what you say; it’s what others say when they see or meet you.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Business Radio
02:00 Guest Introduction: Whitney Teal
02:16 Whitney’s Background and Career Journey
05:54 The Evolution of Marketing and Social Media
09:11 The Importance of Communication Skills
11:15 The Value of Media Training
12:58 Being a Podcast Guest and Host
18:35 The Importance of Delivery for Thought Leaders
19:05 The Power of Podcasts in Business
19:37 Challenges of Self-Promotion on Social Media
23:24 The Art of Vulnerability in Marketing
24:39 Authenticity in Business Communication
27:14 Building Relationships Through Marketing
30:09 Identifying Marketing Issues in Your Business
33:31 Success Stories and Client Testimonials
35:58 Contact Information and Final Thoughts

Whitney Teal, The Teal Bridge

Whitney Teal, The Teal Bridge
Whitney Teal, The Teal Bridge

Whitney Teal, a trailblazing visualizer, has extensive experience in the marketing industry. Her beginnings in radio kickstarted her journey as an entrepreneur. She co-founded her first business in 2015 and since has helped start four additional businesses specializing in services for thought leaders and SMBs including her current venture, The Teal Bridge.

Whitney is also a founding member and ambassador of the FEW (Fellowship of Extraordinary Women) Atlanta Chapter and hosts the podcast If I Ever Live to Be, highlighting personal stories and tips for navigating life the best way possible.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 880 episodes and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their market, community, and profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Tagged With: Beyond Computer Solutions, Branding, building relationships, communications, John Ray, marketing, North Fulton Business Radio, relationships, renasant bank, Social Media, thought leaders, Whitney Teal

How to Make Confident Decisions Under Pressure, with Retired Major General Jack Briggs

July 1, 2025 by John Ray

How to Make Confident Decisions Under Pressure, with Retired Major General Jack Briggs, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray
North Fulton Business Radio
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How to Make Confident Decisions Under Pressure, with Retired Major General Jack Briggs, on North Fulton Business Radio with host John Ray

How to Make Confident Decisions Under Pressure, with Retired Major General Jack Briggs (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 879)

Retired Major General Jack Briggs joins John Ray to share hard-earned insights on leading through crisis and making confident decisions under pressure. Drawing from more than three decades of military leadership, including 225 combat sorties and his role as Director of Operations at U.S. Northern Command, Jack explains why clarity, humility, and decisiveness are essential for leaders navigating high-stakes situations. He introduces a practical framework built around four key questions that can guide any leader through complexity and chaos.

Now serving in higher education and advising institutions across sectors, Jack brings these lessons into boardrooms, university leadership teams, and nonprofit strategy sessions. Whether you’re leading a business, a team, or a mission-driven organization, this episode will challenge how you think about crisis, redefine what it means to be decisive, and help you build a more grounded, confident leadership style when it matters most.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

  • Great crisis decision-makers share three core traits: they operate from clear principles, they ask others for help, and they know when and how to act decisively.
  • The quality of the decision matters more than the outcome. Good decisions can lead to bad outcomes—and vice versa—but relying on luck isn’t a strategy.
  • A crisis is a category error. You don’t solve a crisis. You solve the underlying problems that make it feel like a crisis.
  • Leaders should ask four key questions during any crisis: What do we know? What don’t we know? What are we doing about it? Who else needs to know?
  • Emotional regulation starts with the leader. If you overreact, your team will escalate. If you stay calm, they have room to respond effectively.
  • Decisiveness is a skill that can be trained, not just a personality trait. It flows from having clear values and drawing on diverse input.
  • Leaders should cultivate approachability, empathy, fierce advocacy for their team, and clarity in communication before the crisis hits.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:51 Interview with Major General Jack Briggs Begins
Retired Major General Jack Briggs03:04 Jack Briggs’ Military Background and Leadership Experience
06:55 Key Characteristics of Effective Crisis Decision Makers
10:34 The Importance of Humility and Team Input in Decision Making
14:14 Defining Crisis vs. Problem
17:25 Four Core Questions for Crisis Decision Making
25:34 Deliberative vs. Impulsive Decision Making
28:47 The Role of Emotions in Leadership
32:29 Handling Rapidly Evolving Situations
35:21 Developing Crisis Management Skills
40:19 Applying Crisis Management in Higher Education
45:34 Essential Leadership Qualities for Complex Times
47:49 Conclusion and Contact Information

Major General Jack Briggs (Retired)

Major General Jack Briggs (Retired)
Major General Jack Briggs (Retired)

Major General Jack Briggs is a retired United States Air Force officer with over 31 years of distinguished service, culminating in senior leadership roles including Director of Operations for U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. In this role, he was the principal adviser on operational matters, overseeing strategic guidance for land, maritime, homeland defense air operations, and defense support to civil authorities within the North American area of responsibility.

He graduated as a distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986 and has extensive experience as a fighter pilot, having flown 225 combat sorties in operations such as Desert Storm, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. His career also includes command at squadron and wing levels, NATO staff positions, and serving as executive officer to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander of U.S. European Command.

After retiring from the Air Force in 2017, Major General Briggs transitioned into leadership roles in higher education and non-profit sectors. He served as Vice President for Global Resiliency and Security at New York University, where he managed emergency management and security for multiple campuses worldwide. He later became President & CEO of Springs Rescue Mission in Colorado Springs, the largest homeless shelter and addiction recovery program in southern Colorado, driven by his faith and commitment to serving vulnerable populations, including homeless veterans.

Currently, Major General Briggs is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety Operations at the University of Colorado Boulder, overseeing emergency management, flight operations, and security operations. He also holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Innovation, applying his military leadership experience to transform organizations and sharpen decision-making capabilities in crisis environments.

LinkedIn | For speaking, consulting and media opportunities, please connect with his agency, Voices to Connect

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 870 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 businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, host of  North Fulton Business Radio and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Tagged With: Beyond Computer Solutions, confidence, crisis decision making, crisis leadership, Crisis Management, higher education, humility, John Ray, Leadership, leadership in higher education, Major General Jack Briggs (Retired), North Fulton Business Radio, renasant bank

Celebrating Two Distinguished Award Winners: Ken Davis, Renasant Bank, and Jack Murphy, North Fulton Improvement Network

May 2, 2025 by John Ray

Celebrating Two Distinguished Award Winners: Ken Davis, Renasant Bank, and Jack Murphy, North Fulton Improvement Network, on The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast
North Fulton Studio
Celebrating Two Distinguished Award Winners: Ken Davis, Renasant Bank, and Jack Murphy, North Fulton Improvement Network
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Celebrating Two Distinguished Award Winners: Ken Davis, Renasant Bank, and Jack Murphy, North Fulton Improvement Network, on The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast

Celebrating Two Distinguished Award Winners: Ken Davis, Renasant Bank, and Jack Murphy, North Fulton Improvement Network (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 106)

In this episode of The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast, hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber, we meet two distinguished award recipients, Ken Davis and Jack Murphy. Ken, the GNFCC 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award winner and regional president of Renasant Bank, and Jack, GNFCC 2025 Citizen of the Year and leader of the North Fulton Improvement Network, discuss their extensive contributions to the community. They share their backgrounds, the impactful civic positions they’ve held, and initiatives they’ve championed, including workforce housing and community charitable efforts. Both leaders emphasize the importance of community involvement and provide insights and advice for others looking to make a difference.

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

Ken Davis, Renasant Bank, 2025 GNFCC Lifetime Achievement Award

Ken Davis, Renasant Bank, 2025 GNFCC Lifetime Achievement Award winner, as heard on The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast
Ken Davis, Renasant Bank, 2025 GNFCC Lifetime Achievement Award winner

Ken Davis is the Georgia Division President at Renasant Bank, where his leadership has been instrumental in expanding the bank’s presence and increasing both commercial and consumer loan and deposit shares. He brings over 40 years of experience in finance and banking.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University and serving six years in the U.S. Army, Ken began his banking career in Atlanta. Prior to joining Renasant Bank, he held executive roles at other regional banks. Ken is also a graduate of the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

Ken is actively involved in his community, serving as a member of the Rotary Club of Roswell. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of North Fulton Community Charities. During his time living in and supporting the North Fulton Community, he has also served on the Board of Directors for the Gwinnett Chamber, Johns Creek Chamber, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, North Metro Miracle League, March of Dimes of North Fulton, Ed Isakson Alpharetta YMCA, and the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Ken was part of the teams that selected executive directors for the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Greater North Fulton Chamber. His efforts in these organizations reflect his passion for enhancing the quality of life in North Fulton.

LinkedIn

Jack Murphy, North Fulton Improvement Network, 2025 GNFCC Citizen of the Year Award

Jack Murphy, North Fulton Improvement Network, 2025 GNFCC Citizen of the Year Award, as heard on The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast
Jack Murphy, North Fulton Improvement Network, 2025 GNFCC Citizen of the Year Award

Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network. He is also in his 22nd year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to the Chamber, Jack worked for and with Fortune 500 companies in operations, human resources, training, and quality areas. Jack was a senior adjunct professor for Quality & Operations Management at Keller Graduate School for 14 years.

He has served on both the National and Georgia boards of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, responsible for Diversity, Advocacy, & Systemic Change. Jack is currently the national SVDP chair of Systemic Change and Advocacy.

Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and an M.Ed. from UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife, Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, Georgia.

LinkedIn

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast
00:38 Meet the Award Winners: Ken Davis and Jack Murphy
01:29 Ken Davis: Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
01:57 Jack Murphy: Citizen of the Year Community Service Award Winner
02:43 Community Leadership and Civic Engagement
08:50 Personal Journeys and Inspirations
18:16 Challenges and Triumphs in Leadership
21:51 Future of North Fulton: Exciting Developments
26:32 Advice for Aspiring Community Leaders
30:22 Conclusion and Contact Information

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC)
Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

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.

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, GNFCCAs 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.

Tagged With: community involvement, GNFCC, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Jack Murphy, Kali Boatright, Ken Davis, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, North Fulton, North Fulton Improvement Network, renasant bank, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, workforce housing

Driving Economic Development in Roswell with Roswell Inc, with Steve Stroud and John Asbell

May 7, 2024 by John Ray

Steve Stroud and John Asbell, Roswell Inc.
North Fulton Business Radio
Driving Economic Development in Roswell with Roswell Inc, with Steve Stroud and John Asbell
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Steve Stroud and John Asbell, Roswell Inc.

Driving Economic Development in Roswell with Roswell Inc, with Steve Stroud and John Asbell (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 768)

This episode of North Fulton Business Radio, hosted by John Ray, features an interview with Steve Stroud, Executive Director of Roswell Inc, and John Asbell, President of the Board at Roswell Inc and Manager of External Affairs for North Fulton and Forsyth at Georgia Power. The episode discusses the mission and impact of Roswell Inc, a public-private partnership focused on economic development in Roswell, Georgia. Steve Stroud shares insights into how Roswell Inc supports local businesses through understanding and collaboration, while John Asbell emphasizes Georgia Power’s commitment to fostering economic growth in the region. Success stories illustrate Roswell Inc’s role in attracting, retaining, and supporting businesses, highlighting the importance of infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and community engagement in driving economic development. The episode also touches on future projects and the unique challenges and opportunities of economic development in Roswell.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Roswell Inc

As the economic and business development organization for the City of Roswell, Roswell Inc serves as a catalyst for a sustainable, innovative, and vibrant local business community. Their vision is for Roswell to be the best city in the region for innovative, community-minded businesses and entrepreneurs. As a 501(c)6 nonprofit, they have worked with the City of Roswell through a public-private partnership since 2012.

For small businesses and Fortune 500 corporations alike, Roswell Inc supports business success within the city through four core service areas:

  • Business attraction and recruitment
  • Business retention and expansion
  • Industry support
  • Business development

They believe that working in all four of these areas is essential to building a strong, vibrant, and sustainable economy, and this holistic view of economic development is at the heart of their organization. Whether your organization is preparing to launch, expand, or relocate, Roswell Inc opens the door for you.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter)

Steve Stroud, Executive Director, Roswell Inc

Steve Stroud
Steve Stroud

Steve Stroud is the Executive Director of Roswell Inc, an organization dedicated to fostering economic development through a public-private partnership with the City of Roswell. With over 11 years in this role, Steve has led numerous initiatives to recruit, retain, and promote businesses within the city. Under his leadership, Roswell Inc has successfully marketed an expanded Opportunity Zone, increased the number of certified businesses, and launched various networking, educational, and informative programs aimed at assisting and retaining local businesses.

Steve’s tenure at Roswell Inc includes overseeing more than 550 recruitment, retention, and expansion projects that have created or retained over 6,200 jobs, with notable projects such as the GM Innovation Center, GreyOrange, and the Southern Post mixed-use development. He has fostered open communication lines among business owners, developers, citizens, corporations, nonprofits, and various entities, enhancing the quality of the community.

An active community leader, Steve has served on numerous boards, including the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, North Fulton Community Charities, United Way of North Fulton, and Synovus Bank (Atlanta region). His earlier professional experience includes operating Stroud’s Printing & Design in Roswell for 30 years.

A lifelong Roswell native, Steve resides in the city with his wife and daughters. He attended Georgia State University, focusing on political science. Steve’s extensive board memberships and community involvement continue to play a crucial role in shaping the economic landscape and community development of Roswell.

LinkedIn

John Asbell, Manager for External Affairs, North Fulton and Forsyth, Georgia Power, and President of the Board for Roswell Inc

John Asbell
John Asbell

John Asbell is an experienced customer operations and external affairs professional with a demonstrated history of achieving successful business results in the utilities industry. With over 28 years at Georgia Power, he has held leadership roles in sales, customer service, and public relations, including responsibilities in call center operations, key account management, human resources, economic development, and government and community affairs.

In addition to his work with Roswell Inc, John has also been a vital contributor to numerous community and philanthropic efforts. He was named the first chairman of the board for THINC Academy, a school that focuses on machining and manufacturing education, in 2015. His work has led to significant recognition for Georgia Power’s support of legislative affairs in Forsyth County. Moreover, John has been active in the company’s employee volunteer efforts, participating in initiatives such as a Thanksgiving food drive in the North Fulton area and support for a veteran family.

John continues to impact his community and industry through his extensive involvement and leadership.

LinkedIn

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:33 Introducing Roswell Inc: Driving Economic Development
01:58 The Mission and Impact of Roswell Inc
06:22 Georgia Power’s Role and Commitment to Roswell
10:11 The Broader Scope of Economic Development in Roswell
19:45 The Importance of Supporting Existing Businesses
21:17 Strategic Economic Development Insights
21:25 Attracting New Businesses to Roswell
22:28 Leveraging Regional Relationships for Growth
26:28 Future Developments and Infrastructure in Roswell
30:44 Success Stories and Economic Impact
36:33 Closing Remarks and Additional Resources

Renasant Bank and Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant support North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant BankRenasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $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.

Casa Nuova Italian RestaurantCasa Nuova is a proud family-owned and operated restaurant, serving classic, authentic and traditional Italian cuisine and top tier hospitality since 1998.

Casa Nuova is a cook-to-order kitchen, serving traditional fare including pasta, chicken, seafood, veal, vegetarian and gluten-free options, plus daily specials. They are a farm-to-table establishment, meaning that in the summertime, they cultivate their own vegetables in their garden, steps away from the restaurant, including tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, sunflowers and more!

Celebrating more than 25 years, Casa Nuova has become a true staple in the Alpharetta area, serving more than three generations of families, including friends old and new, visiting near and far from all over the metro Atlanta area and beyond.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 760 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 our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show welcomes a wide variety of business, non-profit, and community leaders to get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their 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 leans left. Some media leans right. We lean business.

John Ray, Business RadioX - North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors
John Ray, Business RadioX – North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank 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, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

John Ray, The Generosity MindsetJohn Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants 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.

Tagged With: Business Development, business expansion, business recruitment, business retention, Casa Nuova, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, economic development, Georgia Power, industry support, renasant bank, Roswell, Roswell Inc., Steve Stroud

Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, and Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta

February 26, 2024 by John Ray

Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, and Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta
Family Business Radio
Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, and Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta
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Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, and Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta

Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, and Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta (Family Business Radio, Episode 53)

On this episode of Family Business Radio, host Anthony Chen welcomed three outstanding business leaders to discuss their professional journeys and their respective areas of expertise. The first guest, Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical, shared her experiences of managing a business together with her husband, including the transition from Chicago to Florida and setting up a new division. Further discussion revolved around managing family pressure while running a business. Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank, discussed his experiences in banking and finance and how changes in the Small Business Administration have opened new opportunities, particularly for younger businesses. Former business owner turned commercial real estate professional Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta, emphasized the importance of accurate and clear communication in real estate transactions and the added value of having a tenant-only representative to advocate for clients.

Anthony closed the show with thoughts on asking questions of your advisors.

Family Business Radio is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network.

Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical

Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical
Robin Roden, K & J Mechanical

Robin Roden is President of K & J Mechanical, Inc. She is MWBE-certified and certified in firestopping. She started her journey into the construction field back in 2012 in the Chicagoland area, before relocating to Florida in 2018. Robin’s responsibilities include accounting tasks, payroll, company insurance coordination, and office management. Robin gained her knowledge of the construction industry by working alongside her husband, James, who has over 20 years of experience in the trade. She self-taught herself when it came to the accounting end of the business and gained her knowledge of managing the business through repetition. Robin plans to further her education in January by working on her master’s degree in business management with a focus on construction. This will only help her grow her business with her husband and allow her to gain even more knowledge in the industry.

K & J Mechanical is a family-owned mechanical, plumbing, and firestop construction company. K & J Mechanical started back in Chicago, Illinois, before incorporating in Florida in 2018. K & J is certified in firestopping and MWBE certified as well. The company services areas from Gainsville all the way down to Naples, Florida. All of their employees have extensive experience in the trade, which makes K & J the business they are. They have grown their reputation by providing top notch service and clean work. Their employees are not just employees to them; they are like family. Their employees are also what make this company go and reach the success level it has gotten to today.

K&J Mechanical, 5320 Lena Rd., Suite 109, Bradenton, FL 34211. Serving Pinellas County, FL; Bradenton, FL; Lee County, FL; Sarasota County, FL; Hillsborough County, FL; and Gainesville, FL.

Company Website | Company Instagram | Company Facebook

Chip Gjertsen, Senior Vice President and SBA Senior Banker, Renasant Bank

Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank
Chip Gjertsen, Renasant Bank

Chip Gjertsen is a Senior Vice President and SBA Senior Banker with Renasant Bank. He has been an SBA lender for two decades.

As a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender, Renasant Bank can process and approve SBA loans, expediting the application process. SBA loans typically come with competitive interest rates, lower down payments, and longer repayment terms, making them more affordable and manageable for borrowers.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, we have grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with approximately $17.5 billion in assets and 196 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

Renasant’s success stems from each of our teammates’ commitment to diversity and inclusion, and investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people we serve. At Renasant Bank, we understand you because we work and live alongside you every day.

Website | Renasant SBA website | Renasant LinkedIn | Renasant Instagram | Renasant Facebook | Chip Gjertsen LinkedIn

Scott Ward, Vice President, ITRA Global Atlanta

Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta
Scott Ward, ITRA Global Atlanta

Scott Ward is a veteran of over 25 years of owning businesses. Successfully representing and consulting other business owners in lease negotiations in the technology, creative media, retail, and manufacturing industries, Scott’s unique perspective keeps in mind the owner/tenant’s long-term cash flow needs as a catalyst for the future health of his client’s company.

Examples of Scott’s work include a young tech company expanding for the first time and helping to enable its current growth to include private and government clients worldwide. An industrial cabinet manufacturer successfully expanded to handle over 40 percent growth. Media agencies that need flexibility in their space to address the demands of sudden surges or shrinkage in client needs. And retail/franchise situations that come with issues of territory, visibility, and access.  Scott has mentored five former employees to own their own businesses and applies these techniques in formulating winning space solutions for his clients.

Scott’s contacts and involvement in citywide groups give him an innovative perspective on trends in traffic, population, education, and economics. He is part of enabling organizations throughout metro Atlanta to realize their missions by serving on boards or as an officer in Rotary International (Treasurer/International Director), The Chattahoochee Nature Center Board, The North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Scouts BSA (adult training), Toastmasters International, The Georgia Production Partnership (membership, industry relations, and governmental relations), and the Atlanta Theatre to Go Board. He is also a member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors.

Scott is a graduate of the University of Florida. Scott is also a public speaker and presentation coach. He loves fly fishing and sailing, and he has been known to swing a golf club or two! His family’s accomplishments overwhelm him with pride. If you would like to share a coffee, please reach out!

Company Website | Company LinkedIn   Scott Ward LinkedIn

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Remarks
00:44 Interview with Robin Roden: Origin Story of K&J Mechanical
01:54 The Journey of Starting a Family Business
04:40 Balancing Family and Business
11:34 The Importance of Quality Work in Construction
14:09 Contact Information and Closing Remarks
14:34 Interview with Chip Gersten: His Journey into Banking
18:36 Changes in the SBA World and New Opportunities
26:06 Understanding Business Real Estate
27:43 The Role of Estate Planning in Business
28:19 Reaching Out to Professionals
29:40 Introduction to Scott Ward: Commercial Real Estate
31:20 The Importance of Tenant Representation
37:30 Navigating Commercial Real Estate Contracts
41:11 Advice for New Business Owners
47:41 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

 

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

This show is sponsored and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. Securities and advisory services are offered through OSAIC, member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned, and other entities and/or marketing names, products, or services referenced here are independent of OSAIC. The main office address is 575 Broadhollow Rd., Melville, NY 11747. You can reach Anthony at 631-465-9090, ext. 5075, or by email at anthonychen@lfnllc.com.

Anthony Chen started his career in financial services with MetLife in Buffalo, NY, in 2008. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, he considers himself a full-blooded New Yorker while now enjoying his Atlanta, GA, home. Specializing in family businesses and their owners, Anthony works to protect what is most important to them. From preserving to creating wealth, Anthony partners with CPAs and attorneys to help address all of the concerns and help clients achieve their goals. By using a combination of financial products ranging from life, disability, and long-term care insurance to many investment options through Royal Alliance, Anthony looks to be the eyes and ears for his client’s financial foundation. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid long-distance runner.

The complete show archive of Family Business Radio can be found by following this link.

Tagged With: Anthony Chen, Chip Gjertsen, commercial real estate, financial advisor, firestopping, ITRA Global Atlanta, K & J Mechanical, Lighthouse Financial, renasant bank, Robin Roden, SBA Lending, Scott Ward

Redefining Workplace Communication, with Ken Madren, PermaTherm, Inc.

January 8, 2024 by John Ray

Redefining Workplace Communication, Ken Madren, PermaTherm
North Fulton Studio
Redefining Workplace Communication, with Ken Madren, PermaTherm, Inc.
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Redefining Workplace Communication, Ken Madren, PermaTherm

Redefining Workplace Communication, with Ken Madren, PermaTherm, Inc.

Ken Madren: One of the things that we’re doing at PermaTherm that is helping mitigate some past misunderstandings and miscommunications on the common words is we delete them. We don’t use the word “work” because work has so many definitions.

Can you believe that? Can you believe that the word “work” has more than one definition? It literally has a very definition from each person who walks in the door, what time does my day start? What time is my day in this is how I would work it. This is how you would work it. I’m working and they are.

So we change the names of things like that, that are critical paths and processes. And we make some pretty silly names out of things like work. For example, that word when we talk shop is now “keyholing.” It’s time to keyhole. What’s that? And we may be talking about progressing projects through our pipeline.

You would typically go work the pipeline. And there’s a lot of different ways to work the pipeline, but there’s one way at PermaTherm. And we’re talking about working the pipeline, but our best practices require that we keyhole The pipeline. When you do that, you destabilize everybody who’s supposed to keyhole the pipeline because no one knows what that is.

But when you build that definition together, everybody knows what that is. And we’ve found that to be an insidious eroder of progress. And we’ve found that simple element of take a word that everybody knows. Throw it in the trash can as it relates to critical process and come up with a new word and everybody define it together.

Now, really only a few people are leading that discussion, but you will find when it’s a word like keyhole, everybody wants to understand it because their job is, and everybody does add a piece or there. And in the end you, when you’re talking, everybody knows what you’re talking about. So in my career, it seemed like the silliest of things to do.

Everybody knows what work is. It’s been one of the most productive things. And there’s other instances like that, but that’s just one example of language and what we all think is good communication and how it can impede progress within your organization.

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


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.

Tagged With: Ken Madren, One Minute Interview, PermaTherm, productivity, renasant bank, workplace communication

Effective Marketing for the Home Services Industry, with Richard Blount, Four Winds Marketing

November 29, 2023 by John Ray

Four Winds Marketing
North Fulton Business Radio
Effective Marketing for the Home Services Industry, with Richard Blount, Four Winds Marketing
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Four Winds Marketing

Effective Marketing for the Home Services Industry, with Richard Blount, Four Winds Marketing  (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 722)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray spoke with Richard Blount of Four Winds Marketing. They discussed the importance of SEO and effective marketing for home service providers, focusing on the need for a professionally designed, functional website that caters to the end user and fosters immediate engagement. Richard highlighted how SEO involves technical, on-page, and off-page aspects, and he underlined the need to refresh a business’s look every four to five years to remain updated and relevant. Richard also shared success stories of businesses that experienced significant growth through his effective online marketing strategies.

North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Four Winds Marketing

Four Winds Marketing is a full-service creative and digital marketing agency.

They increase online traffic and engagement for more booked appointments and visibility. They provide services such as website development, SEO, SEM/PPC, Social Media, Email Marketing, and SaaS solutions.

Four Wind’s primary clients are in the home services industry, like electricians, HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, tree services, etc.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Richard Blount, CEO, Four Winds Marketing

Richard Blount, CEO, Four Winds Marketing

Richard is a rare cross-brained breed, possessing a unique blend of analytical skills and creative talent. With a background in finance at WDW (Walt Disney World), he has developed a keen ability to dissect and analyze complex data sets and spreadsheets. Driven by his passion for design and marketing, Richard ventured into agencies where he excelled in graphic design, web development, and marketing. His exceptional skills and innovative mindset earned him recognition in the form of multiple awards.

Recognizing that attractive websites alone were not enough, Richard delved into the realm of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Through extensive study and relentless determination, he achieved exceptional results for his clients, ensuring their websites ranked high on Google and gained maximum visibility in search engine results. Although Richard’s ability has been to apply his analytical skills, design expertise, and marketing experience to a wide range of clients, he is narrowing his company’s focus to maximizing opportunities within the Home Services Industries.

By combining data-driven insights, captivating design elements, and strategic marketing approaches, he helps Home Services businesses thrive in the competitive digital landscape. Richard understands the unique challenges and requirements of these industries, and his multidisciplinary approach allows him to create comprehensive solutions that drive growth and success for his clients.

Richard’s unwavering commitment to excellence and his ability to leverage his diverse skill set make him a trusted partner in the Home Services industry.

LinkedIn

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

  • 02:17 Richard’s Journey into Marketing
  • 04:01 Richard’s Unique Blend of Finance and Marketing
  • 04:27 The Importance of SEO and Website Functionality
  • 10:25 The Impact of Professionalism in Marketing
  • 17:26 The Importance of Regularly Updating Your Website and Logo
  • 21:47 The Mystery of SEO Explained
  • 26:03 Success Stories from Four Winds Marketing

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank 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, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

RenasantBank

 

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $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.

Since 2000, Office Angels® has been restoring joy to the lives of small business owners, enabling them to focus on what they do best. At the same time, we honor and support 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 Angels who have the talent and experience necessary to handle work that is essential to creating and maintaining a successful small business. Need help with administrative tasks, bookkeeping, marketing, presentations, workshops, speaking engagements, and more? Visit us at https://officeangels.us/.

TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00] Richard Blount: Live from the Business RadioX studio inside Renasant Bank, the bank that specializes in understanding you, it’s time for North Fulton business radio.
[00:00:19] John Ray: And hello again, everyone. Welcome to another edition of North Fulton business radio. I’m John Ray and folks, we are broadcasting from inside Renasant bank in beautiful Alpharetta. And if you’re tired of the big bank experience, the mega banks who really don’t want to talk to you live, they want a computer to talk to you.
[00:00:39] John Ray: If you are at one of those banks, you know what I’m talking about. If you’re tired of that kind of experience, Renasant, I think has found a magic combination between being big enough to handle pretty much any need you can throw at them, but they’re small enough to deliver their services in a personal way.
[00:00:58] John Ray: I’ve found that myself, and I think you will too. If you’ll go to renasantbank. com. And find one of their local offices and give them a call and guess what? They answer the phone. Imagine that Renasant bank, understanding you, member FDIC. And now I want to welcome Richard Blount. Richard is with Four Winds Marketing Agency, Richard.
[00:01:22] John Ray: Welcome.
[00:01:23] Richard Blount: Thank you. Good to be here.
[00:01:24] John Ray: Yeah. Great to have you here. Let’s talk about you and your firm. How’re you serving folks out there?
[00:01:29] Richard Blount: We are a full-service online marketing agency providing websites, SEO, social media, all that fun stuff for promoting businesses. We mainly focus on home service, um, companies and just help them.
[00:01:49] Richard Blount: grow. That’s our favorite thing to do.
[00:01:51] John Ray: And let’s, for those that don’t know, I’m sure most people do, but let’s define home services specifically.
[00:01:58] Richard Blount: That covers anything from roofing to landscaping. So HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, all that kind of stuff. Just
[00:02:08] Richard Blount: about anybody that pulls up in with a truck in front of a home and is going inside or outside to work, right?
[00:02:15] John Ray: Yeah. Yeah. Got it. Let’s talk about a little bit about your backstory and what your journey has been and how you got into marketing.
[00:02:25] Richard Blount: That’s a pretty loaded question. It was definitely not a straight line. I’ve been drawing since I was five. And then but my mom said I should be an artist when I grew up, but I wanted to be rich.
[00:02:39] Richard Blount: I didn’t want to be a poor, starving artist. And so I ended up heading more toward got a job at Disney working in finance, worked my way up. And I was the only one on a team of 70 people that had Happy Meal toys all over his cubicle. Had posters up, and if a report needed to look pretty, give it to Richard, he’d, that’s what he does.
[00:03:04] Richard Blount: And so I was involved in a lot of creative things throughout my entire life. And then, finally left Disney, and, in my early thirties and got on with an ad agency down just outside of Orlando. And worked my way up art director and then moved around a little bit. Ended up in a.
[00:03:25] Richard Blount: And it’s a great place. With paper there, they had an internal agency and where we were servicing all their clients doing print online, digital websites, all that kind of stuff. And we were rocking it. It was a lot of fun. And I won awards and got recognized. And but, newspaper industry started to Take a dive.
[00:03:49] Richard Blount: And I was doing a lot of freelance and then just got a vision for starting the company in 2015 and launched it January 1st, 2016.
[00:04:00] John Ray: That’s terrific. Now you’re unusual. You in a good way because not many people have a successful. in the finance side of business and then make this shift over to marketing.
[00:04:16] John Ray: So what did, what does that say about you and your talents? And I guess what is that background in finance? How does that help you with your clients today?
[00:04:27] Richard Blount: Oh
[00:04:28] Richard Blount: yeah. I found that to be very helpful, especially when it comes to doing SEO work and and just running a business in and of itself because I’m used to spreadsheets.
[00:04:39] Richard Blount: I can look at numbers and yeah, I loved math as a kid. I did well in math and science and art, those were my go to places. And so I just worked in that that realm, for me, it was just natural just to do the finance thing and it’s all tracking and and all that.
[00:04:59] Richard Blount: And so it transfers over very well, especially trying to run your own business, cause you got to switch hats a lot. Sure. And so being able to stay profitable with your own business and then with SEO, it’s very much math based and creative based. You’ve got to have both mindsets in order to try to.
[00:05:19] Richard Blount: work the algorithm sorry, the algorithms that that Google uses and just to track your numbers, your conversion rates, your impressions. I could get into a lot of technical stuff right there, but it really helps. Yeah.
[00:05:32] John Ray: That makes a lot of sense. And algorithms come out of math.
[00:05:36] John Ray: Yeah. And. Google is full of data people.
[00:05:40] Richard Blount: Yeah. Yeah. And you start to see patterns. And so we could do a lot of testing as far as so it’s a wonderful mix between the psychology of people who are searching the internet and the math that Google is using to try to serve up the correct information that people are searching for.
[00:05:59] Richard Blount: And so just, We do a B testing on different things. So just changing the color of something, the image the layout a little bit and have a big impact on that. So I think just being able to go back and study the numbers and look at how things are working and looking at the trends really helps a lot and is a lot more interesting than finance.
[00:06:22] Richard Blount: Finance was okay, but it was. There was a reason why I had posters up and I started a newsletter within the company. Really? Yeah. And then, cause I would write, I would do illustrations for it and stuff like that. And cause I was always about all is all about fostering a team and bringing people together.
[00:06:40] Richard Blount: That was my thing that I enjoyed doing.
[00:06:42] John Ray: That’s pretty cool. Yeah. And I can see how, when There are probably a few people down the hall or around the corner or what have you. When they needed a little more fun in their day, they came to see you, right?
[00:06:53] Richard Blount: Oh, yeah.
[00:06:57] Richard Blount: And if they didn’t, I would stop by and see them. . , that’s right.
[00:07:02] John Ray: The holdouts you would go find. I love it. I would, I love it. Richard Pilot is with us folks. He is the CEO of his own firm. Four wins. Marketing. So you’ve decided to form your own firm along the way, and why the focus on home services for you?
[00:07:19] Richard Blount: A couple of reasons. The first house I built was built in 1940 so it needed work. , I was horrible at doing the work myself, so I was constantly reaching out to electricians, plumbers, and roofers because the things I would try to do myself. I failed miserably and
[00:07:38] John Ray: I identify with that.
[00:07:39] Richard Blount: Yeah.
[00:07:40] Richard Blount: I really grew to respect what they do and I really appreciated honest home service providers, because there are a lot of ones out there that don’t put out good work, but there are ones that do a good work and I respect them. And then actually the second house I built was in, I bought was built in the forties.
[00:08:02] Richard Blount: My third house was built in the fifties, and then when we moved up here to Atlanta, this house was built in 1970. And my wife was like, this is an old house. I’m like, what? It’s new to me. This is fantastic.
[00:08:16] Richard Blount: It’s 30 years newer than the ones I’m usually used
[00:08:19] Richard Blount: to, right? Exactly. Yeah. And yeah, we’ve I’ve always dealt with.
[00:08:23] Richard Blount: Window people, garage people, roofers. And so I watched their marketing. I watch, I look at their websites. I look at what they’re doing to reach out to people and it’s all stuff I can identify with. And I, again, I respect it. And As I, in the agencies that I worked in, they cater to everybody from termite people to security people, from dentists to lawyers.
[00:08:51] Richard Blount: You name it. We did a website or advertising forum. And so when I started the company, that was my, I just kept the same mindset, but it naturally just worked out that around 20 to 40 percent of my clients ended up being in the home service industry. Anyway, either contractor contractors or HVAC people, stuff like that.
[00:09:14] Richard Blount: And and those are the ones I had the most success with as far as uh, building out their websites, their online marketing, doing their their SEO and even social media. things like that. There are a lot of fun and I like working with people who do a good job because I like to do a good job for them and so that’s we’re starting to you know zero in on that and focus on that industry specifically and instead of trying to cater to everyone I’m gonna just go ahead and focus on the industries I respect and with the ones that I have the best So I can show them, what we can do.
[00:09:54] John Ray: Yeah. That, that, that makes sense. You said something there that I’m curious about, and I would imagine a lot of home services people are too, those contractors out there that they are honest. And there’s a lot of them out there that, that. Yeah. They’re, they are, they’re honest.
[00:10:13] John Ray: They do great work. They. Tell clients things that cost them money sometimes because they’re honest. How do you communicate that in your marketing effectively?
[00:10:25] Richard Blount: Oh, about about them being honest and
[00:10:28] John Ray: being, because everybody says they’re honest and trustworthy, right? And that’s almost a cliche in some of this marketing that home services folks do. The ones that really How do they, though, have that philosophy of way of doing business? How do they communicate that effectively in their marketing?
[00:10:45] Richard Blount: Well, a lot of it shows in the quality of the marketing itself.
[00:10:51] Richard Blount: When it’s a subtle thing to see graphics and messaging that come across from a professional standpoint versus, somebody who’s not in, in the industry, there are really cliche kind of things that people will say, but then there is the more, I don’t know how to say it. Just there, there’s a, an essence in doing the marketing itself, just in the graphic work in the messaging and the, even the colors that are used.
[00:11:29] Richard Blount: tHere’s a lot of things that play subconsciously into the viewer’s mind when they’re looking at something, either if it’s a website, there are so many times people will try to put up a very simple website that doesn’t offer a lot of functionality and it’s just a postcard on the screen is basically all it is.
[00:11:52] Richard Blount: Whereas with a professional. So what we try to do is go, all right, look, let’s cater to the end user and give them an option to do an online booking to do an instant chat and to engage with you quickly where, and we can set it up so that you get texts or the the company gets texts so they can engage immediately with the viewer.
[00:12:18] Richard Blount: So like
[00:12:19] John Ray: through the chat feature, you mentioned
[00:12:21] Richard Blount: through the chat.
[00:12:22] John Ray: Oh, wow. Okay.
[00:12:23] Richard Blount: So
[00:12:23] Richard Blount: it’ll go straight from the chat to a text to the owner. Oh, wow. So that way the owner gets a text going, Hey, you’ve got a chat going on with your website and they can respond immediately. Oh, that’s great. And it keeps somebody from going on to the next person.
[00:12:39] Richard Blount: So as opposed to just having. Something on the website that says, Hey, I’m legit. Go check it out. As opposed to something that shows up on a website. That’s got my history to it and has functionality to it where people will actually stay on the page I guess if somebody’s on there for a second and a half.
[00:13:00] Richard Blount: Which is a lot of times average. It doesn’t sound
[00:13:04] John Ray: Okay, let’s just stop right there. Yeah a second and a half. That’s the average
[00:13:09] Richard Blount: Yeah, really one to two seconds is where somebody will be on a page and it doesn’t sound like a whole lot of time But you can get a gist of something We get it just instantly because of visuals.
[00:13:21] Richard Blount: And so by adding the functionality and doing providing more content, getting them to stay on there for four to five seconds to a minute then at that point, if you’ve got them engaged, they’re either texting or booking an online appointment or something like that. So at that point.
[00:13:41] Richard Blount: They’re invested. Sure. And they’ve spent a minute on your website. Yeah, that’s huge.
[00:13:45] John Ray: Wow. This is fascinating to me. And I’m sure a lot of business owners out there just shaking their heads at this, right? But that makes sense. If someone, if the average time on a website is one to two seconds, people are, they want an instant impression.
[00:14:03] John Ray: And that’s where the quality of the graphics, the art, the colors, everything you mentioned that’s where that comes into play.
[00:14:12] Richard Blount: Exactly. Okay. All that comes in because there’s a psychology to all of that. Sure. Because there’s. One or two things that people are looking for immediately. They’re looking for, what you do, where you’re at and how to contact you because they know they’re not going to get a price off of your website.
[00:14:30] Richard Blount: They need to like engage with you and they want to do it. Like 80 percent of people want to do it through a text. And if you have that feature on your website where they can chat and turn that right into a text. Then you’ve got them. Yeah. Yeah. You’re going to schedule an appointment, a phone call, and from there, your sales team takes it on.
[00:14:49] John Ray: Well,
[00:14:49] John Ray: and that feature among others, I’m sure you could talk about. Really reveals professionalism and that’s really what you’re talking about when you’re talking about features that show that you, that illustrate your trustworthiness. Exactly. That, that when you have a feature like that, as opposed to the last three websites that they checked that don’t.
[00:15:14] John Ray: You instantly differentiate yourself.
[00:15:16] Richard Blount: Yeah. Through the website you want there’s a lot of. pRofessionalism that goes into that. You want somebody to put that together who has a history of doing that. And so there’s just a lot of background work and a lot of stuff that comes in there.
[00:15:32] Richard Blount: It’s the whole thing where I think everybody’s heard the story where. There’s a boiler that’s not working in somebody’s basement, and they call somebody, they come in, they can’t figure out how to fix it. They call somebody else, they can’t fix it either. They call a third person, he walks him, takes a look around, waits a second, he takes out, he pulls out a hammer, hits it on the side, and then…
[00:15:58] Richard Blount: Boom. It’s running fine. He says, all right, that’ll be 1, 000. Like, how’s that 1, 000? You’re only there for a minute. aNybody could have hit that with a hammer. Yeah. But did you know where to hit it? Yeah. So that’s what we’re dealing with a lot of times, it’s hard to explain how I know where to hit the hammer where, but that’s how it works in, in, since I’ve been doing this since.
[00:16:22] Richard Blount: I think I started doing graphic design in the eighties and then built my first website in 1995. And I’ve been watching how SEO works ever since, that just analyzing how it all works. So I’ve got at this point, 25 plus years doing this. And so much of it has become almost instinct. And somebody asked me one time years ago, where do you get your inspiration?
[00:16:48] Richard Blount: And I said, I get it from everywhere, every magazine, every billboard, every television ad, every, radio ad every email I get and a website I visit. There’s so much I soak in from that. And there are I used to keep files of all this kind of stuff, an inspiration file. So that when I needed to create something, because we used to work with so many different types of businesses, then I would just go to my inspiration file and just start going through that and then find yeah, and this is what inspired me to go in that direction or the other direction, something like that.
[00:17:26] John Ray: How often does a home services company need to refresh their look, whether it’s their logo, website, what have you? I asked that question because a lot of them, um, I think, and correct me if I’m wrong, but this is my perception. They get to a point where, they’ve got a pretty good call, pretty good business.
[00:17:49] John Ray: They’ve got established. Calling patterns based on their reviews and referrals and all that kind of thing, right? And they let the website slide, and they, maybe the logos a little dated or what have you. So how often should that refresh occur?
[00:18:05] Richard Blount: From what I’ve seen in the industry, every.
[00:18:07] Richard Blount: Four to five years, I would go in and refresh because styles are constantly changing. And people can can tell. When a website looks 10 years old or older, there’s functionality, there’s graphics, there’s messaging, there’s layouts, there’s all these different things. And then the website itself is actually getting faster.
[00:18:33] Richard Blount: So different hosting providers are speeding up or the software that they run helps speed things up. And so the websites need to stay up with that as well. So there’s a lot of. Back end stuff. It’s like a car. You’ve got to constantly take it in and get it tuned up or and fixed up or whatever on a regular basis.
[00:18:52] Richard Blount: But I would say what I’ve seen every four to five years you may have to go in and retool the website. I’m not saying that you need to replace it. If a company has been a business, I would say five to 10 years or more. They definitely don’t want to replace their website because their website already has a lot of history with Google.
[00:19:15] Richard Blount: And if you create a new website, then you’re breaking all those old links and creating new ones. And Google looks at it as though you’re starting fresh. In those cases, there’s retooling that can be done to a website to make it more modern and all that without breaking all those links and all that history with Google.
[00:19:37] Richard Blount: But with a company that is, say a company is like 5 years old or whatever, or even if they are 10 years old, But they’re not doing the kind of business that they want to be doing if they’re, they haven’t broken, say 200 or 500, 000 a year yet, or they’re in that range, then at that point a lot of times what I’ll do is I’ll look at how their Google ranking is and, a lot of research can be done.
[00:20:05] Richard Blount: And if we need to, it’s a, you’re fine to go ahead and, it. Build a new website and start from scratch and get that going. A lot of times it depends on the age of the company. And how, how busy they are. How many, clients that they have going and all that kind of stuff. And then even if they do, there’s still social media and Google ads and things like that could be done to help.
[00:20:32] Richard Blount: Boost that kind of stuff. But as far as their logo goes, that can always be updated. Shoot, Google has changed their logo. I lost track of how many times. It’s got to be well over 2000 times since they launched in 95, 96. Yeah. And AT& T, although they changed theirs, they modified it a little bit here and there.
[00:20:55] Richard Blount: So there’s, as far as changing the logo, people will have this idea that it’s taboo to change it. I’m like, no, you can always refresh it and, bring it up to, more current standards and there’s techniques and way to do it, that it makes sense. And same with messaging colors and stuff like that.
[00:21:13] Richard Blount: And actually it can be a good way to relaunch your company. So if you’ve been around for say five or 10 years. And you’re at a point where it’s just like you and two other guys, maybe got two trucks or three trucks or whatever, and you have aspirations of 10 trucks, then going through a rebranding can be a really good thing because it’s a relaunch and it’s a great way to foster up new press releases.
[00:21:40] Richard Blount: And do grand openings and all that kind of stuff. So there’s just a lot of things that can be done.
[00:21:44] John Ray: Yeah.
[00:21:45] John Ray: Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. SEO search engine optimization. Yeah, this is where you were talking about how. iT can be a mystery around what the right color is and all that.
[00:21:58] John Ray: Now we’re really getting the mysteries, right? SEO. And I, I think the average home services entrepreneur, they know they need to be found on web search, but they don’t know all the, what goes into that, right? And it’s hard to judge effectiveness, right? So what advice do you give them on that?
[00:22:23] Richard Blount: That’s
[00:22:24] Richard Blount: a SEO is a big one. Yeah. Cause I’ve seen it change from the beginning. Google constantly updates its algorithm and and they fine tune it and they will even work to hone it in on specific industries. They’ve done updates that really hit the financial industry earlier this year. And but if the SEO is done, then a website can survive an update by Google because there’s there’s white hat, black hat, gray hat, methodologies and white hat is, I just think about, think of it like in the old Westerns, the guy with the white hat did everything the way it was supposed to be done. The guy with the black hat.
[00:23:10] Richard Blount: He was always the outlaw, and sooner or later, the outlaw got caught, thrown in jail. So that’s what I would see happening. Or worse. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And Google provides Google Analytics. It’s a free tool that anybody can create an account with. And then hook that up to their website and it will show them the amount of traffic, the amount of where it’s coming from and how they’re showing up.
[00:23:38] Richard Blount: And then there’s another one that Google has called Google Search Console. And that will show people How many people clicked on it, what pages they clicked on and all that kind of stuff. So those are free. Google offers that for everybody. And for all our clients, what we do is we hook into their account or create an account for them.
[00:23:58] Richard Blount: Cause a lot of people don’t even want to mess with it, but we will set that up and we run reports to show them and the reports can be quite daunting. There’s a lot of information in there, but there’s key areas that we look at. I won’t get into all the technical stuff, but that will show us the results.
[00:24:19] Richard Blount: But with SEO, there are actually three aspects of it. There’s the technical SEO, which has to do with the The technical part of the website running fast, the the layout and things like that. That’s all the technical stuff. The meta tags and meta description, all the things that Google looks at.
[00:24:40] Richard Blount: Then there’s the on page SEO, which are all the things that are done to build out the website. So that it is more effective and will capture or, Capture is not the right word, but will attract more keywords. And then there’s off page SEO. And that’s to deal with other areas on the web that point back to your website.
[00:25:04] John Ray: Wow.
[00:25:06] John Ray: A good reason to have a, aUthority here, folks, Richard Blount, Four Winds Marketing. Wow. That’s pretty that gets deep fast.
[00:25:15] Richard Blount: It does get deep fast. Yeah. I’m trying to keep it short and sweet. Yeah.
[00:25:19] John Ray: Yeah. But what, here’s what I’m hearing out of this is that, you’ve got a background, in finance, it’s not just the numbers and you learn in finance that just cause you can measure it doesn’t mean it’s important.
[00:25:33] John Ray: Correct.

[00:25:37] John Ray: And you bring that background to it, right? You can help a business owners know what’s important. And in that daunting report and winnow it down to something that’s simple and easy to understand.
[00:25:48] Richard Blount: Exactly. I try to give them that and then I will look at the secondary stuff that is a little bit in the minutiae.
[00:25:56] Richard Blount: Yeah. But I know it can have an underlining effect and help me increase their search engine results. Yeah.
[00:26:02] John Ray: Terrific. I want to get to success stories here, Richard, as we come to a close. You’ve been at this for a while, worked with a lot of different home services professionals. Give us a success story or two to help illustrate the great work you do.
[00:26:19] Richard Blount: We did we were working with one electrician company and within three years we got them to a point where I remember my numbers because there’s quite a few their paid traffic increased 470%. Their organic traffic increased 810%. And what the difference between paid and organic is basically the ads that were being run for them increased how many people were coming to their website as and then working with the SEO alongside of that.
[00:26:55] Richard Blount: iNcrease it over 800 percent in the course of three years as a result. They increased from about, I think they had five or six people working at that time. Now they’ve got over 16 people working and the owner no longer has to work out in the field. He’s no longer in a truck, actually working the jobs.
[00:27:12] Richard Blount: He’s overseeing everybody at that point. Wow.
[00:27:15] John Ray: And then that’s a great place to be. Yeah.
[00:27:18] Richard Blount: Yeah. It’s either that or there was a one HVAC supplier. And, we worked with. And, yeah, we increased their traffic over 600 percent their monthly visitors rose 714 percent in the course of four years. Their visibility grew to a point.
[00:27:38] Richard Blount: Where we had an increase of their keywords by 875%. So keywords are, when you type in something in Google to look for something, that is a keyword. And the more keywords that you capture the more visibility you have. And they grew to a point where they were able to sell their company to a national company.
[00:27:58] Richard Blount: And so the owner was able to sell it for big bucks and retire. And
[00:28:02] John Ray: wow, lots of value there.
[00:28:04] Richard Blount: Yeah. So I, those are the things I like working towards.
[00:28:07] John Ray: Yeah. Wow. That’s fantastic. Richard Blount. Folks with Four Winds Marketing Richard, that’s that’s a great way to end this and I, I want to get to the most important question that people have, I’m sure right at this point, which is how they can get in touch with you.
[00:28:25] Richard Blount: Through our website, that’s our best bet. Of course. Yeah. That’s a four winds marketing dot us or United States. Or any spell out four wins F O U R W I N D S. Marketing. us
[00:28:39] John Ray: Terrific. RiChard Blount with Four Winds Marketing richard such great work and we’re excited to be able to highlight you and share your story and keep up that great work.
[00:28:51] John Ray: We appreciate you.
[00:28:52] Richard Blount: Thanks, john. I appreciated being here. Enjoyed talking to you. It was an honor.
[00:28:55] John Ray: Yeah, thank you so much. I appreciate that. Hey folks, just a quick reminder. If you are, Having some search problems in your business being your back office and what I mean are getting to the bottom of that administrative task pile you need to get done or maybe you’re having problem finding all those receipts and you when it comes to tax time, your bookkeeping is a mess.
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[00:29:41] John Ray: Let them take those issues off your plate and give them a call. Just describe what your problem is and let them know we sent you. Describe what your problem is and I think they’ll be able to help you. 6 7 8 5 2 8 0 5 0 0 is the number office angels dot us is the website. If you’re shy, I want to learn more, a little bit about them before you call.
[00:30:04] John Ray: But I just encourage you to be in touch. They do great work. And I know that myself because they do work for me and my business and I couldn’t work without them. And folks, just a quick reminder, if you’re listening to this show. Here at the end of November, 2023, I’ve got a book coming out. It’s called The Generosity Mindset Method for Business Success.
[00:30:27] John Ray: Raise your Confidence, your Value, and Your Prices. If you’re listening to this show later in December or in 2024, the book’s out , so go check it out. If you’re a a small firm or solo professional services provider, this might be a book that. You have an interest in might be helpful to you in your business.
[00:30:46] John Ray: Go to the generosity mindset. com to learn more, where to find the book. Also, I want to thank you, our listener. You have supported us significantly. Just very heartening ways over this last seven and a half years. As we have passed show number 700, you continue to like us on social media, you share the show and please keep doing that.
[00:31:09] John Ray: If you’ve heard something here that makes you think, Hey, I know. I’ve got a home services buddy that needs some help with this marketing. Maybe you need to share the show with that person. And they need to know about what Richard’s up to, but this is true for any of our shows. So when you hear something that makes you think, Hey, this would be a good person for someone else to know.
[00:31:28] John Ray: Please continue to do that. That’s how we get the word out on the great work that business leaders like Richard and the some 1100 others we’ve had on this show, the great work that they do. And it helps us fulfill our mission to be the voice of business in the North Fulton region. So for my guest, Richard Blount, I’m John Ray.
[00:31:49] John Ray: Join us next time here on North Fulton business radio.

 

Tagged With: Four Winds Marketing, google, home services company, John Ray, logo, marketing, North Fulton Business Radio, Office Angels, renasant bank, Richard Blount, SEO, The Generosity Mindset, website, website design

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