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Artisan Design Studio, Walk Your Plans Atlanta Win GNFCC Honors

October 30, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Artisan Design Studio, Walk Your Plans Atlanta Win GNFCC Honors

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Artisan Design Studio, Walk Your Plans Atlanta Win GNFCC Honors (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 109)

This edition of the GNFCC 400 Insider podcast features two entrepreneurs who are changing what “seeing the plan” means for homeowners and builders in our region. Ryan Williams, owner of Artisan Design Studio, shares how a small design firm can grow without losing its soul. She discusses pricing for outcomes, opening a retail studio to create community touchpoints, and why disciplined books and a good CPA are growth tools, not afterthoughts.

Mary Atchley, co-owner of Walk Your Plans Atlanta and co-founder of Design & Build XR, explains how clients make better decisions when they can literally walk their floor plans at full scale. Then she layers in extended reality to preview kitchens, baths, and additions on-site or in their studio, reducing rework and surprises.

Together, Mary and Ryan trade practical lessons: how to decide when to expand, where to invest first, what metrics to watch, and how to balance momentum with margin. They also highlight their shared work with Sunshine on a Ranney Day, creating accessible spaces for families who need them most. If you’re building, renovating, or growing a design-related business, this conversation is a blueprint for smarter decisions and happier clients.

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®.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

XR goes beyond 2D: Walk Your Plans Atlanta launched Design & Build XR to layer AR/VR and on-site visualization so clients understand unbuilt spaces and reduce surprises.
Category creation is hard work: Educating a successful industry to try a new modality takes daily consistency and clear value stories.
Boutique by design: Artisan Design Studio grew from a home office to a retail studio after past lessons on scaling, prioritizing process and the craft of design.
Community at the center: Both Artisan Design Studio and Walk Your Plans Atlanta volunteer with Sunshine on a Ranney Day, creating accessible bedrooms, baths, and therapy spaces for kids and families.
Make it easy to connect: Artisan’s Roswell storefront hosts events, while Walk Your Plans Atlanta invites prospects to see work online and on social.
Mindset for year one: Guard time, choose communities wisely, and keep showing up. Consistency compounds.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to the GNFCC 400 Insider podcast
00:26 Celebrating Small Business Award Winners
01:06 Meet two of the Award Winners: Artisan Design Studio and Walk Your Plans Atlanta
02:15 Journey of Entrepreneurship: Challenges and Inspirations
05:05 Innovations and Expansions in Business
12:28 Community Involvement and Giving Back
20:00 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
27:06 Connecting with the Businesses
28:59 Conclusion and Farewell

Ryan Morgan Williams, Artisan Design Studio

**Ryan Williams, Artisan Design Studios**

Principal designer Ryan Williams owns Artisan Design Studio. Williams has been practicing interior design for twenty years and has been a business owner for more than 15 of those.

With utmost attention given to learning about her clients and their families, Williams prioritizes making sure she is not only creating breathtaking spaces for them but also improving their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. As a member of a custom home-building family in Atlanta, Williams advocates for her clients through building and remodeling, as well as full furnishings projects. She prides herself on being the expert in the room but also a friend at the table.

Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Furnishings & Interiors from the University of Georgia. She is an Atlanta native and she currently lives with her husband and two children in Roswell.

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Mary Atchley, Walk Your Plans Atlanta

Mary Atchley is the owner and driving force behind Walk Your Plans Atlanta, a cutting-edge business that enables clients to experience life-sized floor plans before construction begins. Bringing over 20 years of expertise in marketing, brand strategy, and entrepreneurship, Atchley created a platform that bridges the gap between abstract blueprints and real-life spatial understanding so homeowners, architects, and commercial developers can make informed, confident decisions. Her visionary leadership and relentless focus on client service have transformed Walk Your Plans Atlanta into a destination for immersive, collaborative design walkthroughs, helping Atlanta’s building community identify issues early, optimize layouts, and minimize costly post-construction changes.

Atchley’s deep commitment to the local community matches her passion for innovation. She has ensured that Walk Your Plans Atlanta provides complimentary access to families sponsored by Sunshine on a Ranney Day, supporting ADA-compliant renovations for children with special needs. Recognized for her ability to foster lasting relationships and deliver tailored technology solutions, Mary Atchley is also active in regional leadership and professional organizations, including Leadership North Fulton and Women in Sport & Events (WISE). Her work continues to propel industry standards forward, making the design and construction process more transparent, collaborative, and client-focused throughout the greater Atlanta area.

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast

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.

As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.

GNFCC promotes the interests of their members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play, and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

Roswell Program of Path to Shine

March 10, 2023 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Roswell Program of Path to Shine

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The Roswell Program of Path To Shine, Inc. (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 619)

North Fulton Business Radio Host John Ray went on the road to visit the children and mentors of the Roswell program of Path to Shine, an after-school mentoring and tutoring program for children at Mimosa Elementary School. John was joined by Judith Windsor, Program Director, who discussed the children they serve, the results which come from their mentorship model, how interested individuals can become a mentor, and more. John also interviewed children in the program, including Javier, Kayden, Karla, Inielka, Lia, Asia, Mia, Candler, Andy, Kathryn, Diego, Jesus, Matthew, and Ross.

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

Path To Shine, Inc.

Path To Shine®, Inc. is a mentoring and tutoring program for elementary school children in North and Middle Georgia.

Its purpose is to provide academic and social support to encourage children to thrive in school and build self-confidence to achieve their dreams.

PTS’s success stems from its principles to maintain a ratio of no more than one Mentor to two students, to have a flexible structure that adapts to each local community, and to consistently seek collaboration with other organizations.

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

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.

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 bankers’ 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 life 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/.

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Ribbon Cutting for the new Assurance Financial office in Roswell, GA

December 3, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Ribbon Cutting for the new Assurance Financial office in Roswell, GA

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ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Ribbon Cutting for the new Assurance Financial office in Roswell, GA

On this special edition of ATL Developments, North Fulton Business RadioX® host John Ray broadcast live from the ribbon cutting of the new Assurance Financial office in Roswell, led by Geoff Smith. John interviewed several key Assurance Financial executives who attended the celebration as well as real estate agents who came to support Geoff. The turnout was amazing, and Geoff was so busy that John and Geoff didn’t get to have a conversation until the next day by phone! Congratulations to Geoff and the rest of the Assurance Financial team on the new Roswell office!

Regular episodes of ATL Developments with Geoff Smith are broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Kenny Hodges, President & CEO, Assurance Financial

Kenny Hodges is the President and CEO of Assurance Financial. After working with Wells Fargo for seven years out of college, he founded Assurance Financial in 2001 and has grown the company to over 20 branch offices supported by two operations centers. He is a licensed mortgage banker through the National Mortgage Licensing System Registry and has 27 years of mortgage lending experience. Kenny earned a B.S. in Entrepreneurship Management from Louisiana Tech University where he was elected to serve as the Student Government Association President. He is an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association and the Louisiana Mortgage Lenders Association where he is a past Board President. He is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Louisiana and is a past Chapter Chair. Kenny currently serves on the Louisiana Tech University College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board. Kenny is married with three children and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Clavis Smith

Clavis entered the mortgage business in 1989 and has held numerous positions in mortgage origination and sales production before moving exclusively into sales leadership in 2014. He joined Assurance Financial in 2018 as the Eastern Regional Sales Manager. His experience in retail mortgage production provides great guidance and support to branch leaders and loan production personnel. Clavis is also very active in both state and national Mortgage Banker’s Associations advocating on issues to support the industry. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and currently resides in Glen Allen, VA with his wife. He has four children and one grandchild, and enjoys fishing on the Chesapeake Bay or playing tennis and golf in his spare time.

Chris Bartelski, Realtor and Educator

Chris’ passion for helping his wonderful clients find their home comes from his family house. Filled with 2 energetic boys, 2 cats, and a dog, it’s everything he ever wanted. It’s a gift that he will never take for granted. Using his experience as a marketer and associate broker, his purpose is to help you find your happy.

Website | LinkedIn

Damian Cook, Atlanta Branch Manager, Assurance Financial

Damian Cook is a Branch Manager and Loan Officer in the Atlanta Branch of Assurance Financial. Recognized for outstanding service, Damian has helped more than 775 clients become homeowners. Over 95% of borrowers who participated in a survey gave Assurance Financial the highest satisfaction rating. 100% of those rated Damian Cook’s attention to detail and customer service excellence as their primary reasons for the high satisfaction rating.

A native Georgian, Damian is involved with several organizations; he is as an active member of Dunwoody Baptist Church, Committee Chair of Young Life Perimeter North, and a volunteer of the Atlanta Food Bank. Damian enjoys CrossFit and traveling and spending time with his wife and three children. He graduated from the University of Alabama and received his master’s degree from Mercer University.

Damian is a recipient of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia Gold Award, and the 2016 Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia Platinum Award. He is licensed with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry in the state of Georgia.

Michael Hernandez, The Hernandez Group

Michael & Roxie joined the Atlanta Board of Realtors in July of 1995. Roxie immediately began helping buyers and sellers with their real estate needs, earning “Rookie of the Year” while Michael finalized the sale of his family business.

In 1998, Michael joined Roxie forming the Hernandez Group. They have since added a full-time Team Coordinator, several agents specializing in buyer representation, a full-time Business Development Department and a Multi-Lingual Agent, further improving the level of service they provide their clients.

The Hernandez Group is dedicated to building relationships and committed to providing the highest level of customer service that is embodied by all in their office. They take the extra steps necessary to fully grasp their clients’ needs: whether it’s buying or selling their first home, downsizing from their estate home, starting an investment portfolio with rental property, giving advice such as whether to build onto their current home or move to a larger home or looking for land to build their perfect home.

When you work with the Hernandez Group you get the full service and attention their highly qualified team believes you deserve.The Hernandez Group specializes in: Single Family Homes, Luxury Homes, Estate Sales, Condo/Townhomes, Lease Purchase Programs, New Construction, Relocation (In/Out of Georgia), Investment/Rental Properties,1031 Tax Free Exchanges & Self-directed IRA’s.

Geoff Smith, Host of ATL Developments with Geoff Smith

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith covers all things economic development in the Atlanta Metro area. From everything inside the Beltline to Avalon and beyond, Geoff Smith interviews the movers and shakers making the ATL one of the best places to live, work and play. An archive of past episodes can be found here.

Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial working with Real Estate agents and homebuyers to help them get happily to their closing table. Geoff is an authority on the latest economic development trends shaping the Atlanta Metro area. His interviews reveal an inside perspective at how things get done in the ATL.

Geoff is an active member of his community serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, as well as holding the position of chairman for the Chamber’s Education Committee. He is also Secretary of the Roswell Youth Baseball Association and coaches his sons in football, baseball and basketball. Geoff enjoys golf, camping and traveling with his wife and two sons. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Hans Meier, Hans Wooden Puzzles

December 3, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Hans Meier, Hans Wooden Puzzles

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Hans Meier, Hans Wooden Puzzles (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 415)

Recorded during a remote broadcast from the Ribbon Cutting of the new Assurance Financial office led by Geoff Smith, Hans Meier, Hans Wooden Puzzles, and host John Ray had a “mic test” which turned into a brief and fun conversation. Hans and John discussed the Pro Alliance meeting at the Greater North Fulton Chamber and the “Rudolph Awards” which Hans passes out at Pro Alliance during the holidays. They also celebrated Geoff, his new Assurance Financial branch, and how Geoff goes out of his way to use Chamber members. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Hans Meier, Owner, Hans Wooden Puzzles

Hans creates custom wooden puzzles 3-D (Animals, Dogs, Cats, Horse and etc), puzzles flat, solving puzzles, and wooden cutouts. He is a world-renowned woodworker who specializes in scroll saw work. Prior to the pandemic, he was selling the bulk of his items at craft shows during the Spring, Summer, and Fall. He is currently selling at the Lakewood 400 Antique Mall the third weekend of every month.

He also creates custom wood gifts for business customers.

Hans is now involved as a volunteer making canes for Canes for Heroes. CFH donates canes and walking sticks at no charge to veterans throughout the country

Hans Wooden Puzzles website | Canes for Heroes website | Donate to Canes for Heroes

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.

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.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked from scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Kathy French, Ameris Bank

September 16, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Kathy French, Ameris Bank

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Kathy French, Ameris Bank (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 391)

Kathy French, Vice President of Ameris Bank at the Hembree Road branch, is a long-standing presence both at the bank and in Roswell. She and host John Ray discussed her banking career, what makes Ameris different, the personal service she and her team deliver, her community work as well as that of the bank itself, her passion for visiting U.S. National Parks, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Ameris Bank

Ameris Bank manages more than $22 billion in assets and more than 200 financial centers across the Southeast. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ameris Bank is fiercely committed to bringing financial peace of mind to the communities it serves.

A subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp (NASDAQ: ABCB), Ameris Bank offers a full range of financial services, including traditional banking and lending products, treasury and cash management, wealth management, insurance premium financing, and mortgage and refinancing solutions. Learn more about Ameris Bank and its full range of financial services at www.amerisbank.com.

Company website | LinkedIn

Kathy French, Vice President, Ameris Bank

Kathy French started in banking over 39 years ago, took one detour, and went right back. She enjoys banking and building relationships. She started in 1984 with Fidelity Bank (now Ameris Bank) as a teller and worked her way up. She is currently the Branch Manager and has been in this position for the past 20 years. She is an experienced business development officer, consumer lender, and small business lender. She listens to her customer’s needs and finds the best solution to help them achieve their financial goals. Kathy is dedicated to working in her3 community where she volunteers with our local chamber and Kiwanis Club.

Kathy loves to be outdoors and enjoys nature and our national parks.

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.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven ready, cooked from scratch meals to go they call “Let us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Lisa Weltsch and Ashlan Riess, Street Studio Creative

August 24, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Lisa Weltsch and Ashlan Riess, Street Studio Creative

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Lisa Weltsch and Ashlan Riess, Street Studio Creative (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 382)

Street Studio Creative is a powerhouse of creative talent. Founder Lisa Weltsch and PR Director Ashlan Riess joined host John Ray to talk about the breadth of their services as a full-service branding and marketing agency based in Roswell serving small to midsize businesses. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Street Studio Creative

Personalized and customized marketing and Graphic design services, specializing in giving businesses a presence with a clearly identifiable brand, look, feel, and position in the marketplace.

As a creative resource, they communicate your message consistently, through a variety of media. With budget-friendly options, they are an ideal choice for the small to midsize business that wants to take their company to the next level.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Lisa Weltsch, CEO/Founder, Street Studio Creative

Lisa has dedicated more than 30 years to her career developing her skills and talent as a graphic designer with an eye for retail design, print and promotions for Atlanta-based clients to include Kinkos, Mori Luggage and Value Music Concepts Inc. Fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit that comes naturally to Lisa, she has evolved as a creative marketer, by combining her passion for design and her sense of visual communications to blaze her own trails, as Street Studio Creative.

Born and raised in LA during the ‘70s, Lisa grew up as one of the original San Fernando “Valley Girls.” In the ‘80s in San Francisco, Lisa studied design in college, as well as danced and taught dance professionally (fun fact: she has even danced on MTV videos). Flash (dance) forward to 2009, Lisa created her first brand as an entrepreneur and businesswoman, “Street Studio Dance and Fitness” in Roswell, where she learned all aspects of building a brand from scratch.

With a strong network of friends and clients in the community, Lisa came to discover that creative marketing is the ideal vehicle for her talent. Street Studio Creative emerged to serve all local lifestyle businesses, restaurants, and brands with a sharp creative edge.

Today, she maintains the same vibrant spirit as ever, as well as her long-standing vision and belief that all business, communications, trends, customers, styles, vibes, come from the streets.

Ashlan Riess, Strategic Marketing Partner + PR Director, Street Studio Creative

With an ability to identify key opportunities and to meet the needs of each individual client, Ashlan oversees daily account activities, production and project initiatives.

She serves clients with top-notch, high-level strategic planning, development, communications, and properly amplifies and executes the client’s marketing goals for a seamless experience start to finish. Her deep knowledge of brand architecture, media strategy, and current trends, Ashlan’s solution-oriented nature sets her apart from the rest.

Ashlan’s focus is always on providing first-class client support, building trust and stronger relationships, which results in overall client satisfaction and positive experiences as we strive to meet deadlines along with business and marketing goals. She is an industry expert in retail, real estate, and hospitality.

Questions and Topics in This Interview

Who is Street Studio Creative?
What exactly do you do for your clients?
What makes you different from other marketing agencies?
Who is your ideal client?
Branding
Marketing Strategy
Creative/Idea makers
Marketing trends

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.

Lisa Thibault, Roswell Lifestyle

April 30, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Lisa Thibault, Roswell Lifestyle

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Lisa Thibault, Roswell Lifestyle (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 352)

Lisa Thibault joined John Ray in studio to share exciting news of the arrival of Roswell Lifestyle. This community-focused publication aims to become Roswell’s source of information, inspiration, and economic growth. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Lisa Thibault, Owner, Roswell Lifestyle

Inspired by community with 9 years focused in North Metro Atlanta, Lifestyle Publications is now expanding into Roswell. Led by Ms. Lisa Thibault, with 30 years of publishing and marketing experience, Lisa now serves as the publisher for the new Roswell Edition.

A home-grown Georgia Peach growing up in Vinings and playing basketball at Georgia State in college, she knows her way around the Atlanta marketplace very well. Lisa is still a local resident, active in the community and organizations and she promises to bring her energy and vast business network to this exciting new platform focusing on Roswell.

Roswell Lifestyle is putting its sights on best-in-class business representation, with exclusive local content, and connects our community to create an elevated new standard of luxury-style magazine, targeting the business leaders and high-end homeowners in one of the most sought-after communities here .

Lisa’s publication is raising the bar in the community to become a significant resource of information, inspiration and economic growth within Roswell! A partnership includes a variety of value-add opportunities that start with ad placements extending to various editorial features, PR, online, social media, and business networking. Their philosophy: Market local, spend local, means top-spenders STAY LOYAL and seek local places to support.

Company website | LinkedIn

Lifestyle Publications

Lifestyle Publications launched its flagship publication (Leawood Lifestyle) in September of 2009. The community-inspired content immediately became something that residents looked forward to receiving in their mailboxes each month. Uplifting content and good news about the community was a welcome friend to readers in the time of an economic downturn.

By mid-2011 Lifestyle produced four community-focused, monthly publications, which served nearly 60,000 homeowners in the most affluent suburbs of Kansas City. With such success in the Kansas City market, Lifestyle decided to license the rights to produce magazines around the country.

Lifestyle’s mission is to bring communities together by sharing local stories that appeal to readers. From learning about people in the community and neighborhood heroes, to introducing new restaurants and entertainment venues around town, each issue is created for the residents of the community. The goal is for readers to ‘run into’ someone they know in nearly every issue.

Company website

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Who receives the magazine?
How is it distributed? How often?
What content do you provide in the magazine?
Who is a good fit to become a partner in the magazine? What type of business?
What is the digital platform citylifestyle.com and how does it work?

“North Fulton Business Radio” is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

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

Doing Business in Roswell, with Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

November 11, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Doing Business in Roswell, with Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

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Doing Business in Roswell, with Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc. (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 306)

As Executive Director of Roswell Inc., Steve Stroud is the economic development leader for the City of Roswell, GA. He joins host John Ray to discuss how Roswell businesses are faring the pandemic, how Roswell Inc. has pivoted as an organization, and why the future for Roswell, even in a pandemic, is bright. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Steve Stroud, Executive Director, Roswell Inc.

Steve Stroud is a community leader, currently serving as the Executive Director of Roswell Inc, which promotes economic development through a public-private partnership with the City of Roswell. Under Stroud’s leadership, Roswell Inc has marketed an expanded Opportunity Zone, increasing the number of certified businesses, and launched networking, educational and informative programs to assist and retain local businesses. Stroud and his staff continue to forge an open line of communication between business owners, developers, citizens, corporations, nonprofits and various entities. Roswell Inc continues to foster these relationships to enhance the quality of the community.

An active member of the community, Stroud has been involved with civic and nonprofit organizations throughout North Fulton for more than 20 years, currently serving on the board of the Greater North Fulton Chamber, North Fulton Community Charities and United Way of North Fulton. Since the onset of COVID-19, Stroud has served on the Mayor’s Recovery Task Force in Roswell and the North Fulton Economic Recovery Task Force.

Stroud attended Georgia State University, with a focus in political science and previously, owned and operated Stroud’s Printing and Design for 30 years in Roswell, Georgia. A Roswell native, Stroud continues to reside in the city with his wife and three daughters.

Company website

Facebook

Twitter

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

How Roswell Inc has pivoted as an organization?
What is the current business climate in Roswell?
What are the latest market trends we are seeing?

North Fulton Business Radio” is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show can be found on all the major podcast apps by searching “North Fulton Business Radio.”

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.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Roswell, An Interview with Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

July 19, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Roswell, An Interview with Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

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**Steve Stroud, Kali Boatright, and Andy Williams**

Episode 26, All Things Roswell

What makes the City of Roswell so attractive to millennials, families, and empty-nesters? Why is Roswell such an attractive location for business? What are some of the signature events which draw visitors to Roswell? Join Host Kali Boatright as she poses these questions and more to Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc. The “GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau

**Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau**

Andy Williams is the Executive Director of Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau. Visit Roswell and the Roswell Visitors Center is the place for “All Things Roswell.” It is a convenient place to start your excursion whether you are looking for historic attractions, trails to hike, nature, entertainment, breweries, or Roswell’s extensive culinary scene.

Knowledgeable staff can assist with arrangements for a fun filled day, overnight stay, or a several day trip. The Roswell Visitors Center is located at the intersection of Hwy. 9 and Sloan Street in Roswell’s Historic District (just across the street from the Historic Town Square.) at 617 Atlanta Street; Roswell, GA 30075.

You can email info@visitroswellga.com, or call 770-640-3253 or 800-776-7935. The Visit Roswell website can be found at http://www.visitroswellga.com/.

Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

Steve Stroud is the Executive Director for Economic Development with Roswell Inc.

As the economic development and business advocacy organization for the City of Roswell, Roswell Inc. serves as a catalyst for a sustainable, innovative and vibrant business community in the city.

Their vision is for Roswell to be the best place in the region for innovative, community-minded businesses and entrepreneurs, and they accomplish this through four main areas of work—business attraction and recruitment, business retention and expansion, industry support programs, and business development.

As a 501(c)6 nonprofit, Roswell Inc. has worked with the City of Roswell through a public-private partnership since 2012 by serving as an advocate for business and economic growth.

For more information, go to https://roswellinc.org/ or call 678-823-4004.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce**

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” (formerly “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”) is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.