Inspiring Future Tech Leaders Through a Unique Partnership, with Michele Curtis, Fiserv, and Ehab Jaleel, Amana Academy

April 23, 2024 by John Ray

Michele Curtis, Fiserv, Kali Boatright, GNFCC, and Ehab Jaleel, Amana Academy

North Fulton Studio

Inspiring Future Tech Leaders Through a Unique Partnership, with Michele Curtis, Fiserv, and Ehab Jaleel, Amana Academy

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Inspiring Future Tech Leaders Through a Unique Partnership, with Michele Curtis, Fiserv, and Ehab Jaleel, Amana Academy

On this episode of GNFCC 400 Insider, host Kali Boatwright highlights a special collaboration between Fiserv, a leader in financial services technology worldwide, and Amana Academy, a charter school in Alpharetta that specializes in STEAM education for fifth through eighth graders. Guests Michele Curtis, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Fiserv, and Ehab Jaleel, Executive Director of Amana Academy, discuss the inception and objectives of the Future Techies program, its impact on students and the local community, expectations from the students, and the broader implications for talent development and workforce readiness in North Fulton. Michele and Ehab also share insights into the program’s development, hands-on learning experiences, and the crucial role of industry-education partnerships in fostering the next generation of FinTech leaders.

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

Michele Curtis, Fiserv, Inc.

As Vice President of Corporate Communications at Fiserv, Michele leads strategic communications programs that drive associate engagement, brand strategy and corporate culture. With more than 20 years of corporate communications experience, Michele currently serves as the executive director of Future Techies, an afterschool STEAM program conducted in partnership with Amana Academy.

Prior to joining Fiserv in 2018, Michele served as Director of Global Corporate Communications at Verifone, where she led executive and internal communications, public relations, mergers and acquisitions, change management, message development, brand building and crisis communications. She has also held a variety of roles, managing global, national and regional brands such as The Home Depot, Macy’s and a range of B-to-B and retail clients.

Michele holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and English literature from the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Alpharetta, the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the International Association of Business Communicators, PayTech Women, and the Technology Association of Georgia.

Fiserv, Inc.

Fiserv, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, aspires to move money and information in a way that moves the world. As a global leader in payments and financial technology, the company helps clients achieve best-in-class results through a commitment to innovation and excellence in areas including account processing and digital banking solutions; card issuer processing and network services; payments; e-commerce; merchant acquiring and processing; and the Clover® cloud-based point-of-sale and business management platform. Fiserv is a member of the S&P 500® Index and has been recognized as one of Fortune® World’s Most Admired Companies™ for nine of the last 10 years.

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

Ehab Jaleel, Executive Director, Amana Academy Charter Schools

Ehab Jaleel has a zeal for pursuing innovation and mobilizing new ventures with an eye toward making a difference in his community and the world. He aspires to be a “weaver”—building community connections and weaving a rich social fabric.

A graduate of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2016, Ehab is a corporate professional turned nonprofit leader/educator. He is Executive Director of Amana Academy Charter Schools, an emerging network of metro-Atlanta public schools. He co-founded Amana’s flagship school in 2005 in Alpharetta, GA, a STEM-themed EL Education credentialed Title-1 school that is among the highest performing schools in Georgia. Amana’s first replica school is in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta at their Camp Timber Ridge.

Ehab’s education and community focus extends to a number of organizations, including the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s Tech400 Committee, the Advisory Council for North Fulton Community Charities, as a board member of the Atlanta International Night Market, and as a Regional Director for the Georgia Tech President Scholars Selection Committee. He led the governance committee on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Charter Schools Association, and he served as a board member at U-Beyond, a youth mentorship & professional development organization.

In 2014 Ehab was included in the list of Georgia’s 100 Most Influential Muslims; and in 2015, The Alif Institute recognized him with the Arab American High Achiever award.

Born in Jordan, Ehab immigrated to the United States at the age of six and resided in Albany, NY, until his family moved to Florida’s Tampa Bay area. He has also lived in Louisville, KY while working for General Electric, but most of his adult life has been in metro Atlanta, where he earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and where he worked at The Coca-Cola Company’s headquarters in operational marketing and innovation roles for fifteen years.

Ehab resides in Milton, Georgia, with his wife, Lara ‘Lemiya’ Alexander. They have three adult daughters, the eldest an equestrian, the second a veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, and the youngest attending his alma mater studying Environmental Public Policy and minoring in Japanese. He is a foodie who enjoys global travel, fitness, outdoor adventure, and following Formula 1 racing.

Amana Academy Charter Schools

Amana Academy is a K–8 tuition-free public charter school open to all students who are eligible to attend Fulton County Schools.

The Georgia Department of Education and the Fulton County Schools system approved the establishment of Amana Academy’s Alpharetta campus in 2005. Amana is now one of Georgia’s most well-regarded charter schools.

Amana chose the Harvard-based EL Education (Expeditionary Learning) model* because of its equal emphasis on academic achievement and character education. With high standardized test scores, an integrated STEM curriculum, a focus on stewardship and ethical character, and Arabic world-language instruction across all grade levels, Amana is a success story in the world of whole-child education.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome to GNFCC 400 Insider: Fostering STEAM Education and Future Tech Leaders
01:00 Exploring the FISERV and Amana Academy Partnership
01:31 Guest Backgrounds and Program Involvement
03:30 Understanding FinTech and Its Importance
07:04 The Future Techies Program: A Deep Dive
11:49 Impact and Aspirations: Building Future Leaders
23:42 Expanding the Talent Pipeline: A Community Effort
27:27 Closing Thoughts and How to Learn More

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

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

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

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1,400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth, and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

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

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

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

Digital Accessibility and Inclusion Making the Web a Better Place for All E21

January 22, 2024 by Karen

Changing the Perception of Blindness

Digital Accessibility and Inclusion Making the Web a Better Place for All E21

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Digital Accessibility and Inclusion Making the Web a Better Place for All E21

In this episode of Changing the Perception of Blindness, host David Steinmetz explores digital accessibility with experts Kai Wong from Teladoc Health and Phil Yatvin from Level Access. They discuss the pivotal role of allies in fostering inclusivity for people who are blind, sharing personal motivations rooted in experiences of exclusion. Kai, a senior manager of digital accessibility, emphasizes inclusivity at Teladoc Health, while Phil, a strategic partnerships executive, advocates for accessible employment opportunities.

The conversation highlights the symbiotic relationship between accessibility and usability, underscoring the need for positive user experiences. The guests also address challenges posed by overlays, emphasize the importance of genuine efforts in design, and explore standards, enforcement, and proactive strategies for digital accessibility, reflecting their commitment to positive change in this realm.

Listen now to gain valuable insights and be part of the journey toward a more inclusive digital landscape.

Teladoc Health was founded on a simple, yet revolutionary idea: that everyone should have access to the best healthcare, anywhere in the world on their terms. Today, they are delivering on our mission by providing whole-person virtual care that includes primary care, mental health, chronic condition management and more.

Kai Wong (she/her/they/them), Senior Manager of Digital Accessibility at Teladoc Health, is passionate about making the digital world accessible for people with disabilities.

Kai strongly believes in the transformative power of accessible technology for better health outcomes. Kai was a 2021 DC FemTech Award Recipient, has a US patent pending related to accessibility technology, and holds certifications related to health education and quality assurance.

At Teladoc Health, a global leader in virtual health and whole person care, Kai actively champions digital accessibility by baking it into the software development lifecycle and partnering with cross functional leaders to make it a priority.

Additionally, Kai founded Accessibility Champions for Change and serves as the first Digital Accessibility Partner on the THRIVE BRG’s leadership team.

Kai is known for their unique ability to make complex topics like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) engaging and enjoyable to learn about, especially for quality engineers, product managers, and web/mobile app developers.

Connect with Kai on LinkedIn.

The Level Access digital accessibility solution combines the most robust platform and deepest bench of accessibility expertise to help organizations create accessible and legally compliant websites, mobile apps, software, and other technology. They have supported the accessibility initiatives of thousands of organizations, from Fortune 500 enterprises to public sector and government agencies, educational institutions, and private sector businesses of all sizes.

Level Access is proud of their diverse team of engineers, programmers, and consultants, many of whom have disabilities themselves. These lived experiences help them identify accessibility needs and issues, and more effectively create and test digital experiences to ensure maximum usability for all.

In addition, dozens of their Accessibility Services colleagues have worked as either staff members or contractors for the Section 508 compliance teams in U.S. Federal Government agencies.

With experiences in consulting, special education, and developing non-profit social enterprises businesses that focus on employment of professionals with disabilities, Phil has a deep understanding of the apex of business and disability inclusion.

Phil Yatvin excels at helping organizations understand the never-ending benefits of creating inclusive experiences for all. He breaks down flawed mindsets organizations have about employees and customers with disabilities so that they can improve business outcomes while also becoming more inclusive.

Whether the goal is to improve employee morale and productivity, grow market reach, or mitigate legal risk, Phil connects the dots for business leaders and empowers them to create sustainable digital inclusion strategies.

Now part of the Strategic Partnerships team at Level Access, he works with organizations and agencies that create digital experiences including websites, mobile apps, software, and other content, to ensure the assets they create for clients is inclusive to all.

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn.

About Your Host

As the manager of Community and Public Relations, David Steinmetz uses his expertise, education, and personal experiences to “change the perception of blindness.”

Diagnosed with RP, a blinding retinal disease, at the age of 19, David uses his personal story to drive change that leads to improved employment outcomes and community integration for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Mr. Steinmetz graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Economics. Additionally, Steinmetz has continued his education by graduating from the Business Management Training (BMT) program provided by Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.

In 2008, David was the national recipient of the National Industries for the Blind Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement award. This prestigious award recognized Mr. Steinmetz for his career achievements and community service work.

David Steinmetz is a member of the Governors’ Council on Blindness & Visual Impairments, is a Board Member at the Arizona Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (ACBVI) and serves his community through the Chandler Lions Club.

Connect with David on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About the Show

Changing the Perception of Blindness; One Conversation at a Time is dedicated to breaking down barriers, de-mystifying blindness and promoting real world solutions that empower people who are blind to live a full and inclusive life.

Host, David Steinmetz connects with organizations, industry professionals and thought leaders who are working to bridge the gap that creates a world accessible for all.

About Arizona Industries for the Blind

Arizona Industries for the Blind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating employment opportunities for people who are blind. It’s employees, more than half of whom are blind, deliver a variety of products and services, including a full-service Warehousing and Distribution Center, confidential Digital Data Scan (DDS) services for private businesses and government and the operation of Base Supply Centers located at each of Arizona’s three military bases under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Labor’s AbilityOne program.

Follow AIFB on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Exploring Arizona’s Entrepreneurial Support Hubs E27

June 27, 2022 by Karen

Exploring-Arizonas-Entrepreneurial-Support-Hubs-feature

AZ TechCast

Exploring Arizona's Entrepreneurial Support Hubs E27

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Exploring Arizona’s Entrepreneurial Support Hubs E27

For years now, Arizona has caught the nation’s attention as the “Silicon Desert”, a major hot spot for technology companies and budding startups. Between the state’s lower business costs, more affordable standard of living and growing talent pool, it’s no surprise that Phoenix and Tucson are rapidly climbing the ranks of emerging international startup ecosystems.

The June 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured startup ecosystem experts including Stephanie Bermudez, founder & CEO of Startup Unidos; Eric Smith, executive director of The University of Arizona Center for Innovation; and Diana Vowels, CEO of StartupAZ. These leaders joined Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, and Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, in discussing the statewide entrepreneurial support hubs that are helping to elevate technology-minded startup founders.

Throughout this hour-long episode, this panel of startup experts spoke at length about the evolution of Arizona’s regional startup ecosystems over the past five to ten years. Arizona used to be where companies put their back offices or inside sales operations because large technology companies did not realize the full potential of Arizona. At the time, startup ecosystems were also successful independently, but had not yet come together to support companies across the state. Over the past several years, the group of panelists has been very impressed by how the pieces are coming together to collectively support the growth of up-and-coming startup founders and their ventures.

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is a startup incubator network with locations across the Southern Arizona region. The UACI offers leaders of science and technology startups the expertise, connections to the University of Arizona, incubation programs and office and lab space needed to turn ideas and inventions into strong, scalable and sustainable businesses that ultimately provide high-paying jobs and fuel Southern Arizona’s economy.

As Arizona’s leading incubation organization with nearly two decades of successful outcomes, UACI is a critical component of Arizona’s innovation ecosystem. This is done through providing access to people, programming and places that help entrepreneurs take their companies from idea to market.

Startups go through a structured program that takes them through a continuum of education provided by mentors, advisors and community collaborators. The University of Arizona Center for Innovation also provides access to service providers, industry cluster groups, interns and connections to potential customers and strategic partners. Entrepreneurs utilize various physical spaces that include offices, wet and dry labs, meeting rooms, a prototyping center, collaboration areas and the infrastructure to support these spaces.

Eric Smith brings with him almost a decade’s worth of technology commercialization experience and a passion for entrepreneurship.

Smith’s current role at the UA Center for Innovation comes after serving as the commercialization network manager for Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), the UA’s office responsible for moving UA research and technological innovation into the marketplace.

While at TLA, he focused on building and leveraging a network of domain experts and business leaders who consult on University technologies to help reveal their commercial relevance as they are prepared for the market.

Smith holds a BSBA in business management and entrepreneurship and an MBA from the University of Arizona.

Follow UACI on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Since 2017, Startup Unidos has cultivated collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship in border communities throughout the Arizona-Sonora region through ground-level programming that nurtures emerging companies, assists growing firms, builds the workforce of the future and supports partner organizations in reaching underserved pockets of the community.

Stéphanie Bermúdez is an Ambos Nogales native and Latinx innovator, who has invested more than 15 years in understanding the local culture, building relationships, and earning the respect and loyalty of people and organizations at all levels of society.

Her innovative ideas create cross-border communities and environments that expand on binational relationships to encourage collaboration and co-inspiration. She focuses on building up entrepreneurial communities and networks, through events, training, consulting and research that extends beyond Southern Arizona.

Stéphanie displays an unwavering commitment to making an impact and is passionate about taking her experiences and shaping binational business opportunities with Mexico and the United States.

She is actively working with startups and aspiring youth across the Arizona-Sonora by developing and implementing Startup Unidos, entrepreneurial and workforce education, capacity building and youth programs, such as Waste Not: Borderlands Innovations in Food Waste Management, Emprende Amigo, and Borderoots.

Follow Startup Unidos on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

StartupAZ exists to help Arizona’s most innovative startup companies improve their leadership, performance, and connections, while inspiring generosity and philanthropy within their communities.

The organization was created to catalyze Arizona’s technology and innovation ecosystem by connecting and empowering entrepreneurs.

Diana Vowels is a community builder with a passion for driving the tech ecosystem forward in Phoenix.

She is the CEO of StartupAZ, the organization created to catalyze Arizona’s technology and innovation ecosystem by connecting and empowering entrepreneurs.

Diana, who has long been at the forefront of Arizona’s technology and startup community, joined StartupAZ in 2021 to help expand the organization’s talent attraction and development mission.

Prior to joining the team, she served as VP/Community and General Manager of Galvanize, where she led the launch of the software engineering and data science bootcamps and built the co-working space into a vital part of Phoenix’s startup fabric.

She currently serves on the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley and Invest Southwest board of directors, and was the 2021 chair for the annual Invest Southwest Venture Madness. Diana is a graduate of University of Missouri and has held executive roles in public and private companies in media, healthcare and technology.

Personal: Spouse, David Vowels, healthcare leader and two daughters.

Connect with Diana on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About AZ TechCast

AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.

Through the art of connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s guests will share their expertise, success stories, news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling the state’s growing technology ecosystem.

About Your Hosts

Steve Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona.

Zylstra serves on numerous councils, committees and boards, was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, and “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.

Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.

In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bianca Buliga is a trilingual first-generation American of Romanian ethnicity. A marketing professional with experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Bianca currently works as Director, Marketing & Communications for the Arizona Technology Council.

Previously, Bianca worked as Marketing Communications Lead at Proctorio, a learning integrity platform that offers remote proctoring software ensuring exam integrity for learners around the world.

Bianca also worked as Senior Marketing Manager at SEED SPOT, a social impact incubator that educates, accelerates, and invests in impact-driven entrepreneurs creating market-based solutions to social problems. In January of 2020, Bianca was selected as an awardee of the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange Program and traveled to the African island of Mauritius to run entrepreneurship programming for 15 impact-driven ecopreneurs on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Bianca has also completed comprehensive consulting projects for IBM, ESAN Business School, and the Peruvian government, and interned at the Arizona House of Representatives and U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.

Bianca earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Northern Arizona University in 2014 and her Master’s degree in Global Affairs and Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2017. She is an avid reader, yogi, and world traveler always planning her next trip.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Richard Simms with Tyrannosaurus Tech

October 20, 2020 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

Richard Simms with Tyrannosaurus Tech

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Richard Simms is the CEO and Cofounder of Tyrannosaurus Tech. Tyrannosaurus Tech is an award-winning Atlanta-based custom software development agency focused on bringing new and innovative digital products to market in healthcare, public health, and education.

Notable clients include The Ron Clark Academy, The Task Force for Global Health, and Emory University. Richard previous cofounded Tech Talent South, a top-ranked coding bootcamp focused on intensive in-person programs teaching software design and development skills.

An Atlanta native, Richard lives in Grant Park with his wife, daughter, and dog. In his spare time, he also serves as a Host Team Captain with Community Bucket, focusing on the non-profit’s “Tech Gives Back” volunteer events.

Follow Tyrannosaurus Tech on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Entrepreneurship/starting a business
The Atlanta tech and startup scene
Software development & design
Technology trends
Tech in public health and healthcare

About Our Sponsor

OnPay’s payroll services and HR software give you more time to focus on what’s most important. Rated “Excellent” by PC Magazine, we make it easy to pay employees fast, we automate all payroll taxes, and we even keep all your HR and benefits organized and compliant.

Our award-winning customer service includes an accuracy guarantee, deep integrations with popular accounting software, and we’ll even enter all your employee information for you — whether you have five employees or 500. Take a closer look to see all the ways we can save you time and money in the back office.

Follow OnPay on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Atlanta Cares Radio: Ashleigh Poff with Industry Impact, Esther Kim with Ethne Health and Cody Turner with Sofar Sounds

November 21, 2019 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

Atlanta Cares Radio: Ashleigh Poff with Industry Impact, Esther Kim with Ethne Health and Cody Turner with Sofar Sounds

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Ashleigh Poff , Founder of Industry Impact, is a passionate, charismatic event strategist and community engagement project manager who has built a network focused on social impact initiatives and cause-driven activations and experiences. Professionally, she has facilitated over $2.6M in value/contributions to global causes and conscious businesses providing and producing meaningful ways to invest in a better world for over 10 years.

Connect with Ashleigh on LinkedIn.

Esther Kim is a board certified Family Medicine physician and co-founder of Ethne Health– a nonprofit, medical clinic located in Clarkston GA. This community is often called the “most diverse square mile in America” with over 100 people groups and 60 languages represented. Ethne Health helps bridge the healthcare access gap in the community by providing quality holistic health care and by collaborating with other organizations because we believe that the health of our community does not happen in a vacuum.

Follow Ethne Health on Facebook.

Cody Turner, City Director of Sofar Atlanta.

Follow Sofar Sounds Atlanta on Facebook.

About Your Host

Grace Hayden is dedicated to building comprehensive wealth management strategies to suit each of her clients’ financial paths. By establishing and maintaining good relationships with her clients, Grace is able to set up her clients’ accounts based on their needs, goals, and objectives.

In addition to being a familiar face around Atlanta Planning Group, after obtaining two bachelor’s degrees in Economics from the University of Venice – Ca’ Foscari and Georgia State University, Grace went on to work for some of the most well-known names in the financial industry, including Jackson National and Invesco, a global asset manager headquartered in Atlanta.

In Grace’s spare time she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, traveling and exploring Atlanta’s culinary scene.

Episode 69: Calvin Williams’ Service Delivery Process

November 4, 2019 by Mike

Business Infrastructure

Episode 69: Calvin Williams’ Service Delivery Process

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Calvin Williams, Jr. is on a mission. He believes wealth management services should be accessible to everyone, not just the uber-rich. As such, he started Freeman Capital – an award-winning FinTech company with rapid expansion goals and high visibility. In this episode, Calvin details the service delivery process he implements to maintain a positive customer experience while managing a 100% remote team. He also shares the different technologies he leverages to keep it all together.

Special Guest: Calvin Williams, Jr., Founder & CEO – Freeman Capital

Location: Charlotte, NC USA

Show Notes:

Behind the Façade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success: book by Alicia Butler Pierre. Ch.6 features the service delivery blueprint Calvin referenced during interview.
Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen: book by Donald Miller.
Secret Service: Hidden Systems that Deliver Unforgettable Customer Service: book by John R. DiJulius III
Trello: a visual, kanban-style project management tool that facilitates task tracking.
Slack: an app that facilitates real-time/on-the-go communication and efficient teamwork; particularly useful for remote teams.
Zoom: a web-based tool that offers audio and video recording of webinars, conference calls, presentations, meetings and more. Also includes screen sharing for enhanced collaboration.
MS Excel: design and track the stages of your service delivery process with a spreadsheet.
Google Sheets: collaborate in real-time on the progress of your service delivery process.
Zapier: a middleware tool that connects your apps and software so that data connects and flows as seamlessly as possible to enhance process productivity and efficiency.
Loom: video recording software that can bring your whiteboarding or other demonstrations to life with your virtual team.

SUITS BOOTS and BACKROADS Rogue Tech Evangelist Chris Huie

August 26, 2019 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

SUITS BOOTS and BACKROADS Rogue Tech Evangelist Chris Huie

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SUITS BOOTS and BACKROADS Rogue Tech Evangelist Chris Huie

Chris Huie is a machine learning and software engineering enthusiast that loves the local tech community. He champions STEM to various local communities and schools around the valley.

Chris also works with different organizations and companies to improve diversity and accessibility to technical education in Arizona.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Your Host

Angela Felix has been in technology for over 15 years, but her passion is and always will be helping people. She believes that there are people you must meet….and people you must experience. She recognizes the fact that technology pays the bills…or in her words “buys food and toilet paper”, but the real reward is the fulfillment she finds in helping others accomplish their goals. She’s a mother, a veteran, an advocate, and a firm believer in the American Dream.

About the Suits, Boots, and Backroads Podcast

With the help of technology, Phoenix Business RadioX, and some dear friends, Angela introduces you to people who are making a positive impact in the world. Suits, Boots, and Backroads guests are passionate about helping others. They are individuals who’ve run with an idea because they saw a need and want to be a part of the solution, not the problem. Angela believes these folks are out there making a real difference for our youth, homeless, education, veterans, and entrepreneurs; and with that in mind, Angela knows you need to get to know them too. So hang up the suit, throw on your boots, and let’s take a backroad!

Follow Angela on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and of course, here on Phoenix Business RadioX.

Melissa Drake with Girls in Tech E21

June 28, 2019 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Melissa Drake with Girls in Tech E21

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Melissa Drake with Girls in Tech E21

The Phoenix chapter of Girls in Tech (GIT), a global non-profit focused on the engagement, education, and empowerment of women in technology and entrepreneurship. Our goal is to promote the growth and success of entrepreneurial and innovative women in the technology space.

Girls in Tech was born out of a need to provide a place for women to cultivate ideas around their careers and business concepts involving technology and entrepreneurship.

Girls in Tech offers a variety of initiatives for women and girls to enhance their professional aspirations. Our programs include Catalyst Conference, Lady Pitch Night Competitions, GIT M (Mentorship Program), GIT Hackathons, Bootcamps, XChange, GIT Work, and Global Classroom.

Melissa Villegas Drake is a STEM teacher at Shadow Ridge High School in the Dysart Unified School District and is also a Co-Managing director for the Phoenix Chapter of Girls in Tech. Working as an engineer for fourteen years with the aerospace industry and semiconductor industry, she has enjoyed those experiences but she gets more satisfaction out of mentoring and teaching.

Melissa has served as National President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Being a member of this organization has made her a bigger advocate for students to obtain technical degrees and career opportunities with industries that believe in opportunities in tech.

Follow GIT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About 3C Amplified

3C Amplified is a space to highlight businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals collaborating to amplify their impact in the community. We share real world examples for how partnerships allow for growth both within our businesses and our communities. Listen in as we share how others are connecting, creating and collaborating and how you can be part of something greater.

About Jacqueline Destremps

Jacqueline Destremps is a creative marketing strategist and founded Another Hand Advantage, LLC in 2014 to help community minded small business owners and nonprofit professionals move forward more confidently with their marketing strategy. After graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in Psychology, she has spent her professional career working in both the nonprofit and for-profit sector.

She now enjoys being self-employed and the flexibility it provides to allow more time to volunteer, serve on nonprofit boards, choose pro-bono projects, run 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun (which she co-founded in 2014) and travel the world. Jacqueline believes in creating connections between businesses and nonprofits in the community to stimulate growth and collaboration.

Follow AHA on Twitter and Facebook.

ITEN WIRED RADIO- 2018 ITEN WIRED SUMMIT Wrap Up Show

November 16, 2018 by angishields

ITEN Wired Radio

ITEN WIRED RADIO- 2018 ITEN WIRED SUMMIT Wrap Up Show

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Jim Rhodes/Michelle Gadson/Jay Smith
Planning Committee Memebers

The ITEN WIRED Team

ITEN WIRED is a conference hosted by IT Gulf Coast and Florida West Economic Development Alliance. The annual summit provides networking and learning opportunities for executives, entrepreneurs, technology professionals and academia to foster local economic development efforts surrounding innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.

The ITEN WIRED planning team is composed of volunteers from IT Gulf Coast, Florida West Economic Development Alliance, and other members of our local IT community.