Technology Archives - Page 3 of 19

Tonya Hicks and Nicole Jones, Women Do Everything

September 27, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Tonya Hicks and Nicole Jones, Women Do Everything

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Tonya Hicks and Nicole Jones, Women Do Everything (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 527)

Tonya Hicks and Nicole Jones, Women Do Everything, LLC, joined host John Ray to share the tremendous work their organization does empowering and encouraging women to pursue male-dominated occupations. Tonya and Nicole discussed the Women Do Everything Summit and Career Expo to be held on October 1, 2022. They also explained the challenges facing women in the workforce, who the Summit is designed for, the tracks and speakers, their vision for women in the workforce, and much more.

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

Women Do Everything, LLC

Women Do Everything, LLC was founded by Tonya Hicks in 2015 as a social enterprise on a mission to change the future of work for women by providing the tools necessary to gain access to high-paying careers and contracts in male-dominated industries.

Her passion was inspired, in part, by her own career journey. Hicks was the first Black woman to be certified as a journeyman electrician in her home state of Mississippi. She is also the CEO of her electrical engineering firm Power Solutions, which she founded 22 years ago at the age of 28. (In the United States, only 2.4% of electricians are women, and just 9.5% of electrical contracting businesses are owned by women.)

“Women have always stepped up selflessly, leaving their jobs behind and limiting their own earning potential,” said Hicks. “Women need equitable career and job opportunities that pay a livable wage, benefits that support women’s health, and access to affordable housing. The life of the working woman has changed drastically and it’s time the working world responds.”

Tonya Hicks will bring this message to the masses when her Women Do Everything (WDE) Summit and Career Expo kicks off in Atlanta on Saturday, October 1, 2022. The event will feature some of today’s most accomplished women entrepreneurs, executives and community leaders who will gather to offer insight, advice and even jobs to the hundreds who will be in attendance. The festivities will then continue with a free career expo starting at 9:00 AM at Georgia State University’s Center Parc Stadium.

Company Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Tonya L. Hicks, President and CEO, Power Solutions, Inc. and Women Do Everything, LLC

Tonya L. Hicks is the President and CEO of Power Solutions, Inc. and the Managing Principal of Women Do Everything, LLC. Ms. Hicks is a serial entrepreneur and journeyman wireman electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). She became the first woman – not to mention first African American woman – to become a journeyman wireman in Local 917 of IBEW in her hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. Ms. Hicks specializes in robotics, building automation, and high voltage equipment installation and repair.

In 2000, at the age of 28, Ms. Hicks founded Power Solutions, Inc.; an electrical contracting and facility maintenance company specializing in renewable energy, sustainability, and smart city technology. In 2015, Ms. Hicks launched Women Do Everything LLC; a workforce development and technology company helping women to thrive in male-dominated industries through employment or entrepreneurship.

Tonya Hicks serves on the board of C5 Georgia Leadership Foundation, Georgia Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and Board Chair for Partners in Action for Healthy Living (PAHL). In November 2019, Ms. Hicks was featured in Forbes Japan for expanding her business in Singapore and the New York Times for her progress as a tradeswoman and business owner in the construction industry. Ms. Hicks is a Leadership Atlanta Class of 2022 alumni and a Sustainability Ambassador for the City of Atlanta.

Tonya is a graduate of the inaugural classes of the City of Atlanta Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI), Women Export University by UPS, The Bridge Accelerator by Microsoft, and the African Diaspora Network (ABLE) Program. Ms. Hicks has received several honors and awards but most importantly she’s proud to be called “Mom” by her sons: Rashadim (28) and Vincent (16).

Ms. Hicks enjoys golf, cooking, gardening, and volunteering on community projects.

Company Website | LinkedIn

Nicole Jones, Co-Founder, Women Do Everything, LLC and Founder/CEO ‘The Perfect Fit’ Global HR Solutions

Nicole is a co-founder of Women Do Everything, LLC and works on community efforts for the organization. She has a twenty-year career in Human Resources.

In addition to helping coordinate the Women Do Everything Summit, Nicole is a speaker in the Work Track of the Summit happening on October 1st, 2022 at Center Park Stadium. The inaugural summit includes panel discussions, one-on-one networking and a career expo curated for women trying to find profitable new opportunities in a post-pandemic economy.

Questions and Topics in the Interview:

Description of the Conference
Why did you want to create this event?
What makes it different from other similar conferences?
What results to you want your attendees to take from the conference?
What drew you to work in a male-dominated profession?

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.

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts

August 26, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts

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North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 504)

During the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration, Tracey Grace of IBEX IT Business Experts sat down with North Fulton Business Radio host John Ray to share her work at IBEX IT Business Experts, why she and her firm support the Chamber so strongly, her keynote address at the GNFCC Small Business Awards luncheon, and more.

This show was originally broadcast live from the Grand Opening celebration and ribbon cutting of the new offices of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce at the 10000 Building at Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia, on August 18, 2022.

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

IBEX IT Business Experts

IBEX IT Business Experts (IBEX) is a Training, Technology and Consulting Services firm, laser-focused on assisting companies and government agencies to be more effective and efficient in their execution.

IBEX is a women-owned, minority-owned, SBA 8(a) certified business and is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion inside and outside of the company. For the 3rd year in a row, IBEX has been named the 802nd fastest-growing privately-owned company in America by Inc. 5000 and #31 in Georgia, after having placed #1897 in 2018, #806 in 2019. In 2020, IBEX obtained ISO 9001:2015 certification for its Quality Management System.

Company website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Tracey Grace, MBA, ITIL, President and CEO, IBEX IT Business Experts

Originally from New Jersey, Tracey attended the University of Pittsburgh where she obtained her BA in Economics and Spanish and was then awarded a Graduate Tuition Fellowship to fully fund her MBA in Marketing, which she completed in 11 months. Before breaking into the technology industry by founding IBEX IT Business Experts in 2012, Tracey led successful sales teams at international corporations including Learning Tree and FedEx.

At IBEX, Tracey helps organizations like NASA, CDC, and Cox Communications implement IT solutions and train workers on innovative technologies. As a minority woman founder, Tracey knows that IBEX brings value beyond technology training; IBEX also serves a major need in connecting organizations with underrepresented groups. Although her professional expertise lies in IT solutions, government contracting and best practices, she is a uniquely powerful authority on topics like diversity, networking, and leadership.

2021 marks a big year for IBEX, with the launch of Certifiably Diverse, a new supplier diversity software. Certifiably Diverse helps clients like the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to increase their supplier diversity spend providing the smartest way to communicate, collaborate, and network with diverse suppliers. Additionally, IBEX has maintained its place on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies for 4 years straight and won Greater North Fulton Small Business of the Year and the Georgia Fast 40 Award, given to the top 40 fastest-growing Georgia-based mid-market companies.

Tracey enjoys serving others and giving back. She serves on several non-profit boards including North Fulton Community Charities, Jane Addams Peace Association, and is Co-Chair of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council’s Minority Business Input Committee, where she assists minority businesses throughout the state.

LinkedIn | Twitter

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

IBEX Protegé
Certifiably Diverse
GNFCC Small Business Award
Tracey’s GNFCC involvement
Her keynote address at the Small Business Awards luncheon

Joel Thain joins Randy Brunson on “Stewarding Family Wealth 2.0” ep: 2

July 21, 2022 by Amanda Pearch

Forsyth Studio

Joel Thain joins Randy Brunson on “Stewarding Family Wealth 2.0” ep: 2

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Joel Thain Randy Brunson

Joel Thain and the IntegriCom team deliver Reliable IT Services for business. Following a process that has been proven over decades, their clients gain peace of mind as they fully manage their IT—from cybersecurity and cloud services to networks, computers, and telephone systems. They build and value friendly and loyal relationships and strive to serve clients in a selfless, joyful, and professional way. Their personal touch is a blend of technology and integrity. Joel is passionate about his family and making a positive impact in the community.

Randy Brunson is the President of Centurion Advisory Group. He studied engineering and marketing at UT Chattanooga. Randy currently holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) and CKA designation and makes it a priority to stay on top of his knowledge in the financial industry through continuing professional educational opportunities and reading. Randy has completed studies in qualified plan design, estate planning and business transition planning and he enjoys speaking and writing on these topics.

Stewarding Family Wealth is presented by

Broadcasted LIVE from the Forsyth Business RadioX Studio in Cumming, Georgia

Produced by Amanda Pearch

Using Public Safety Tech to Improve Community Relations E23

March 1, 2022 by Karen

AZ TechCast

Using Public Safety Tech to Improve Community Relations E23

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Using Public Safety Tech to Improve Community Relations E23

What technologies are law enforcement agencies and private-sector businesses adopting to protect public safety through a more informed lens? How can these entities implement these technologies effectively to produce more equitable outcomes, particularly for communities of color? And finally, which decisions should be made by humans and which ones can be made by AI?

The February 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s TechCast podcast featured public safety experts including Lauren M. Cziok, public safety senior manager at Accenture; Jason Hartford, vice president of Axon devices at Axon; Gretchen Peri, senior director at Slalom and Robin S. Reed, co-founder and principal at EmFluent, LLC and president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona. These leaders joined Steve Zylstra, Council president and CEO, and Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, in exploring technology’s role in public safety and how new innovations can help first responders make better-informed decisions in real time.

Throughout this hour-long episode, this panel of public safety specialists explained the recent evolution of public safety technologies to emphasize racial and social equity. They acknowledge that historically, law enforcement has been slow to change, and hasn’t always progressed as quickly as it needs to in order to respond to society’s needs.

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers.

Our 674,000people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities.

Lauren Cziok serves as Accenture’s North America Public Safety Lead, delivering technology projects and strategic support to law enforcement agencies around the world.

As a former crime analyst from a US state agency, Lauren has experience in Intelligence Analysis, Investigative Support, Public Safety Business Processes and Operations Systems for State, Local, Federal, and International Public Safety Agencies.

Lauren comes from a family of police officers with a combined 75+ years of service, which has fueled her passion for providing Public Safety Agencies with the tools and skills to further their goals of trust and legitimacy through Analytics.

Follow Accenture on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

With over 26 years of advancing technology, Axon is dedicated to a bold and powerful mission to Protect Life and Obsolete the Bullet. Axon is the global leader of connected public safety technologies. We stand for protecting life, protecting truth, transparency, and accountability.

Rick Smith founded Axon (formerly TASER International) following the deaths of two high school friends who were gunned down in an act of road rage. This tragedy sparked a passion in Rick to seek new technologies that would enable people to protect themselves without deploying lethal force.

Axon’s connected body-worn camera technology and evidence-management cloud are designed to help police officers work efficiently actively and transparently. Axon’s mission from the start has been to make the bullet obsolete, reduce social conflict and ensure criminal justice systems are fair and effective.

Following recent events, Axon has doubled down on its focus to eradicate racism and excessive force in the justice system.

Jason Hartford is a technology product management, marketing, planning and supply chain leader with over 15 years experience in team development, process improvement and change management.

He has experience in managing across multiple industries, go-to-market models and high/low volume businesses and is recognized as a product management leader in developing innovative experiences and capabilities.

He has proven abilities in forming, managing and developing diverse, multi-cultural high performance teams and has a consistent reputation for delivering high-quality results in fast-paced, high-accountability work environments.

Finally, Jason has demonstrated success in developing innovative processes and solutions that improve profitability, enable increased revenue and improve asset management.

Follow Axon on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The EmFluent team are trusted business advisors who provide the highest levels of applied experience, industry knowledge, expertise, and white-glove service.

We engage with organizations to improve strategic and tactical execution through comprehensive workforce analytics and custom-developed solutions.

Robin Reed is the co-founder and Principal with EmFluent, an Executive Performance Consulting company that focuses on leadership strategy, talent optimization and sales arbitrage.

Robin is also President and CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona and is recognized as a professional speaker and has spoken nationally and internationally on the topics of business development, strategy execution, talent optimization, sales arbitrage and mergers and acquisition.

Originally from Northern California, Robin currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and is an avid golfer who enjoys getting out on the course 3-4 times per week.

Robin holds several board seats including:

Phoenix College President’s Advisory Board: Co-Chair since 2018
Treasure House: Board Member since 2019
Valley of the Sun United Way: Board Member Since 2020
Arizona State University, Knowledge Exchange for Resilience (KER), Council of Resilience Leaders
ASU W.P. Carey School of Business, AZNext – Steering Committee

Connect with Robin on LinkedIn and follow EmFluent on Facebook.

Slalom is a global consulting firm focused on strategy, technology, and business transformation. They redefine what’s possible, and create what’s next.

At Slalom, personal connection meets global scale. They build deep relationships with their clients in 41 markets around the world, while sharing insights across markets to bring the full breadth of Slalom’s expertise to every engagement.

Slalom’s regional Build Centers are hubs for innovation, attracting top talent to rapidly co-create the technology products of tomorrow. They also nurture strong partnerships with over 400 leading technology providers, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Tableau.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Seattle, Slalom has organically grown to over 11,000 employees. Their Phoenix office has over 150 advisors, strategists, and engineers dedicated to serving the Greater Phoenix community. They believe in hiring locally and have a business model that allows consultants to serve clients in the same communities in which they live.

Slalom works with many Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies—along with startups, non-profits, public sector, and many other innovative organizations across the state of Arizona.

Gretchen Peri serves as Slalom’s US Lead for Public Sector, helping Slalom build better tomorrows for all with its state and local government, education, and non-profit clients. During her 10 years with Slalom, she has held a variety of roles including leading the Seattle market’s Public Sector Practice, Innovation Program, and Women’s Leadership Network.

Gretchen began her career working at the US Immigration and Naturalization Service and the US Mission to the United Nations. Her early experiences in public sector inspired in her a passion for helping government agencies deliver the best public services to their communities.

After completing her MPA, Gretchen spent several years consulting justice and public safety agencies on how to best leverage technology to improve operations and integrated justice data sharing. She joined Slalom in 2011 where she started the firm’s inaugural Public Sector practice. Today, Slalom serves its government, education, and non-profit clients across the globe through a network of 40+ local markets.

In the community, Gretchen serves on the King County Strategic Advisory Council, providing guidance to appointed and elected leaders on how King County can best use technology to enable a community where everyone can thrive. She has been honored as a Puget Sound Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 Business Leader and is co-founder of the PSBJ 40U40 Alumni Advisory Board, whose purpose is to bring business leaders together from private, public, and non-profit industries to help solve our deepest local challenges.

Gretchen and her husband live on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, with their two children and a small army of farm animals.

Follow Slalom on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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.

Technology in North Fulton, with Darwin Newton, Siemens Infrastructure, and Ben Cagle, Cagle Consulting Partners

February 28, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Technology in North Fulton, with Darwin Newton, Siemens Infrastructure, and Ben Cagle, Cagle Consulting Partners

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Technology in North Fulton, with Darwin Newton, Siemens Infrastructure, and Ben Cagle, Cagle Consulting Partners (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 72)

Darwin Newton, Siemens Infrastructure, and Ben Cagle, Cagle Consulting Partners, are spearheading GNFCC’s Tech400 Alliance. Darwin and Ben joined host Tori Kerlin to spotlight the thriving tech environment along the GA 400 corridor and throughout North Fulton. They covered different sectors of tech in the region, The Bailey, a planned tech-centric multiplex on Northwinds Parkway, the crucial role of education, new initiatives by Siemens, and much more. The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®

Siemens

Siemens is a global innovator focusing on digitalization, electrification and automation for the process and manufacturing industries, and is a leader in power generation and distribution, intelligent infrastructure, and distributed energy systems. For more than 160 years, the company has developed technologies that support multiple American industries including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and infrastructure.

For more information about the Siemens STEM Day Sweepstakes, click here.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Darwin Newton, PE, MBA, Head of Operations, Smart Infrastructure Electrical Services at Siemens

Darwin serves as the Head of Operations for the Electrical Service Business segment at Siemens Infrastructure. In that capacity, he leads a team of professional engineers, technicians, specialists, and project managers, in the construction installation configuration of large power systems.

Originally from the Virgin Islands, Darwin Newton worked there on substation and plant projects and then joined Siemens in the U.S. in 2000.

Cagle Consulting Partners

Cagle Consulting Partners (CCP) is an Advisory Firm focused on helping clients: • Accelerate Revenue Growth • Respond to Rapidly Changing Markets • Building/Scaling Organizations • Sell into Large Global Customers.

CCP currently serves large Global Enterprises (IBM, Cisco, SAS), Mid-Market Firms, and diverse Technology Start-Up clients in Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, IoT, and Blockchain.

Ben Cagle, Managing Partner, Cagle Consulting Partners

Ben Cagle is Managing Partner of Cagle Consulting Partners (CCP), an Advisory Firm. Prior to founding CCP, Ben served as a Division President for a Global 100 Enterprise. Ben had P&L responsibility for a global business unit (several $ hundred million in revenue) and was on the core team leading an industry consolidation initiative (with McKinsey & Company).

Transitioning from “industry” into global management consulting, Ben served in various Consulting Partner, Practice/Industry Leader, Solution Innovation, Marketing, and Thought Leadership roles. Ben’s global enterprise consulting leadership experience includes positions at HP Enterprise (formerly EDS), DXC Technology (formerly CSC Consulting), and Hitachi Consulting with clients across four continents.

Ben also has led various NASDAQ, VC-backed Software/SaaS, and entrepreneurial companies focused on Advanced Data Analytics, Market Insights, and Brand/Marketing Strategy targeting multiple industries.

Ben is an Alpharetta, Ga. native and currently resides in Alpharetta with his wife, Sara. He graduated of the Georgia Institute of Technology, is active in various Technology and Start-up organizations, and currently serves as the Chairman of Tech400 (sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce).

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

The GNFCC 400 Insider 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. For more information on GNFCC events, follow this link.

For the complete show archive of GNFCC 400 Insider, go to GNFCC400Insider.com. The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Made in AZ: The Rise of Arizona’s Manufacturing Sector E19

October 26, 2021 by Karen

Made-in-AZ-The-Rise-of-Arizonas-Manufacturing-Sector-feature

AZ TechCast

Made in AZ: The Rise of Arizona's Manufacturing Sector E19

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Made in AZ: The Rise of Arizona’s Manufacturing Sector E19

Made in Arizona. It’s a phrase that is becoming more familiar as the state’s manufacturing sector continues to grow and add a rapidly increasing number of manufacturing jobs. Between the development of technologies improving efficiency and reducing costs, automation of manufacturing processes and a business-friendly climate, Arizona’s manufacturing landscape is being recognized on a national stage.

In the Arizona Technology Council’s October 2021 episode of AZTechCast, Mike Buseman, EVP and chief operating officer at Benchmark; Brett Dooley, technical sales engineer at In-Position Technologies; and Mike McCormack, president and CEO at CP North America joined Phoenix Business RadioX owner and president, Karen Nowicki, to discuss the rapid evolution and development of Arizona’s manufacturing sector.

Throughout this hour-long episode, this panel of experts explored the various factors that have contributed to Arizona’s rise in manufacturing over the past decade, the newest technologies manufacturers are utilizing to improve efficiency and reduce costs, the automation being implemented to compete with foreign sources and the largest manufacturing challenges they are facing in a post-COVID world, particularly around supply chain and talent acquisition and retention.

Benchmark provides comprehensive solutions across the entire product life cycle; leading through its innovative technology and engineering design services; leveraging its optimized global supply chain; and delivering world-class manufacturing services in the following industries: commercial aerospace, defense, advanced computing, next-generation telecommunications, medical, complex industrials, and semiconductor capital equipment.

Benchmark’s global operations include facilities in seven countries and its common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHE.

Mike Buseman serves as Benchmark’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for all worldwide manufacturing operations. Mike is an accomplished executive with broad experience in operations, quality and customer relationship management. He has an extensive background in EMS and related industries.

Mike served as Chief Global Logistics and Operations Officer of Avnet, Inc., a global electronics components company, and was Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing Operations at Plexus Corp., having served as their Vice President of Global Technology, Quality and Facilities previously.

Additionally, Mike served as Vice President and General Manager of Operations of Celestica, Inc., as well as their Director of Operations, Engineering, and Technology. Mike began his career in 1983 with Unisys, Inc., holding positions of increasing responsibility, including Principal Process Engineer and Director of Advanced Design Manufacturing Services.

Mike holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from South Dakota State University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn and follow Benchmark on Facebook and Twitter.

In-Position Technologies is a robotic automation company who partners with both suppliers and customers to deliver automation. Their charter is to be a value-added partner in the automation process.

They do this by supplying products coupled with training, and integration resources coupled with know-how.

With offices located throughout the Western United States, In-Position Technologies has been helping both end users and original equipment manufacturers automate for more than 20 years.

Brett Dooley is a mechanical engineer with In-Position Technologies. He collaborates with business owners and engineers to develop targeted solutions for motion control and automation challenges.

He can assist in a broad range of applications, including autonomous mobile robotics and logistics, machine tending, vision, laser marking, laboratory automation, as well as OEM product development.

He uses his wide experience in business development, industrial repair, and a decade as an electronics tech in the US Navy submarine force to ensure delivery of an effective and robust automation system.

Connect with Brett on Instagram, Twittter and LinkedIn and follow In-Position Technologies on Facebook.

CP North America is an independently operated U.S.-based company, encompassing a family of brands including CP Technologies, CP Systems and CP Aeronautics.

CP Technologies is a U.S. designer and vertically integrated manufacturer of rugged and custom computing solutions for defense applications.

CP Systems is a U.S. designer and vertically integrated manufacturer of custom and rugged, high-performance computing solutions serving the industrial, commercial, and agriculture markets.

Focused on cost-effective unmanned combat-proven ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) solutions, CP Aeronautics provides integrated turnkey systems and subsystems based on platforms, payloads, communications, and ground control stations for defense and civil applications.

Mike McCormack is the President and CEO of CP North America. To this role, he brings Extensive general management and leadership experience, full profit and loss experience, and the management of Sales, Distribution, and Manufacturing organizations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

This has included an understanding of managing businesses across cultures and geographies that has led to double-digit growth in challenging environments. He attended the University of California, San Diego, and earned an MBA in International Business at The Open University.

Follow CP North America on LinkedIn.

About AZ TechCast

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

About Your Hosts

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

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.

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.

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

Troy Cobb, Cinch I.T.

June 21, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Troy Cobb, Cinch I.T.

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Troy Cobb, Cinch I.T. (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 366)

For Troy Cobb, transferring his IT experience and skills from the Marine Corps to owning a Cinch I.T. franchise in Atlanta was a perfectly natural progression. In this conversation with host John Ray, Troy shares the values that set Cinch I.T. apart from its competitors, explains why customer experience is such an emphasis for his firm, offers advice for other veterans thinking about business ownership, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Cinch I.T.

Cinch I.T., Inc. was established in 2004. Like so many computer support companies, it started as a one-man shop in a 10×10 office with no windows. But even then, the focus was on building great relationships with their clients. Over the years, Cinch I.T. has been fortunate enough to see unbelievable growth.

They have added some of the most brilliant minds in our industry to the team, expanded into a 12,000 sq ft corporate office complex, and we have been honored to receive numerous awards, including being named one of the Top 501 Managed Service Providers Globally by Future Channels.

Cinch I.T. has established itself as one of the most highly-regarded I.T. company and computer service providers in the United States. The reason is simple. They have spent years shaping the entire company to meet YOUR needs.

With Support plans designed to create lasting relationships, together they ensure immediate and long-term success.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Troy Cobb, Owner/Sales Director, Cinch I.T.

Troy Cobb became the owner and sales director for the Cinch I.T. Atlanta office in January 2020.

Troy is a USMC Desert Shield/Storm Veteran with over 20 years of experience in the I.T. industry. Originally from New Jersey. he has lived in Atlanta for over twenty years.

He is married to Tanya Cobb, an incredible Nurse/Hero at Emory University Midtown Hospital.

Questions and Topics in This Interview

Troy’s military service and business career
Why Troy chose to open a Cinch I.T. franchise
As a veteran-owned business, Troy’s advice for veterans who want to own their own business
Information Technology services
Compliance
Cybersecurity
Ransomware attacks

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.

Sean Barker, cloudEQ

May 5, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Sean Barker, cloudEQ

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Sean Barker, cloudEQ (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 354)

Sean Barker founded cloudEQ to provide cloud migration and related IT services to enterprise-level clients. He joined host John Ray to discuss the dynamics which drive large companies to the cloud, why cloudEQ’s work is not just technology based but also people focused, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

cloudEQ

cloudEQ is a professional services company providing customized cloud-based solutions.

Our focus is on cloud execution tailored to meet your goals and work with you to evaluate your current cloud model to improve performance, increase security, deliver automation, reduce cost and optimize your cloud environment.

cloudEQ is a professional services company specializing in Several areas of “Cloud” based services.

Optimization for performance and cost-efficiency
DevOps – Automation for repetitive tasks and application deployment
Application Development of services, corporate and mobile
Security to ensure systems and data are safe and secure
Transformation to take advantage of more efficient technologies
Migrations to move your systems from your datacenters to the cloud
Production Support for client applications as well as performance enhancements
Operations Support to help manage client day-to-day services and systems

cloudEQ’s priorities are always keeping the focus on the customer and the business value generated, providing extensive expertise in creating robust, secure, high-performing DevOps design, implementation and support, using Agile methodology, always keeping clients in the loop, and complete project visibility and multiple open lines of communication from day one.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Sean C. Barker, CEO, cloudEQ

Sean C. Barker founded cloudEQ and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Barker founded cloudEQ after a successful career as an entrepreneur and executive in Fortune 100 companies. He has over twenty-five years of experience in IT and IT leadership in infrastructure, operations application development, SaaS, PaaS, and program management.

Prior to founding cloudEQ he founded Omadas; a consulting firm with clients across the globe and served as the COO of Boardwalk Entertainment group where he holds a patent for a Mobile Replacement Dialogue Recording system. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, he was the CTO and VP IT at Ingram Micro (NYSE:IM $40B revenue) and Director IT WellPoint health Networks/Anthem (NYSE: ANTM $100B revenue).

He holds a B.A. in Business and an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from American Intercontinental University.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Tell us about cloudEQ? What do you do? Why is it relevant now?
Why are you focused on the cloud and what makes the cloud relevant now?
What are some examples of the work cloudEQ does?
Has COVID affected cloudEQ or your clients?
What makes cloudEQ different?
What are you particularly proud of at cloudEQ?

Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Grant Edwards and Kevin Carlson, TechCXO

December 16, 2020 by John Ray

Business Beat

Frazier & Deeter's Business Beat: Grant Edwards and Kevin Carlson, TechCXO

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Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Grant Edwards and Kevin Carlson, TechCXO

Grant Edwards and Kevin Carlson of TechCXO are more than just “interims-for-hire” filling a role. As a fractional CFO and fractional CTO, respectively, Kevin and Grant become a part of their respective clients’ teams to bring seasoned executive knowhow and collaboratively drive impactful solutions. They joined host Roger Lusby on this edition of “Business Beat,” presented by Alpharetta CPA firm Frazier & Deeter.

TechCXO

TechCXO provides companies with on demand executives. TechCXO was founded on the premise that high potential companies can greatly benefit from proven, interim executives who they otherwise may not be able to access due to cost, availability or because they do not necessarily need them full time. Our purpose is to provide the best executive talent available… on demand.

Grant Edwards, Partner, TechCXO

Grant Edwards is a hands-on, results-driven executive with expertise in finance operations, SEC reporting, corporate governance, and strategic planning. Grant has been the CFO for multiple early stage companies, many of which of had successful exits. These include an energy company that grew from inception to over $70 million in annual revenues, an entertainment and theatre company, a durable medical equipment company, a receivable factoring business and an executive travel company.

His Big 4 CPA experience includes positions with Deloitte & Touche and Arthur Andersen. He also served as Senior Director of SEC Reporting and Corporate Controller for Shinogi & Co. (formerly Sciele Pharma) where he launched all initial accounting policies and procedures, designed to shepherd the company through a period of massive growth, from $100MM to over $500MM in annual revenue. He effectively managed a team of 32 employees and a full spectrum of corporate finance functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, financial reporting (internal and external) and revenue recognition.

As Vice President, Corporate Controller & Treasurer for Harbinger Group, Inc., Grant managed all finance, accounting, and treasury functions for this NYSE-listed BDC/Holding Company/Private Equity company, while contributing additional service as an active member of the Disclosure, Pension and 401K Committee.

Grant is also an adjunct professor for accounting at Georgia State University.

Kevin Carlson, Partner, TechCXO

Kevin is a veteran technology executive with a unique combination of technology expertise and business acumen. A four-time CTO of both services and product companies, he has worked with numerous organizations across various industries in technology leadership and executive-level roles in North America and Europe. He is also a technology thought-leader, with in-depth working knowledge of current technologies such as mobile application development, AI, predictive analytics, privacy, security, and technical architecture.

Serving as fractional CTO for a number of companies, he is an expert at helping clients leverage technology effectively and manage the change inherent in the technology world. Seeing companies transform through the thoughtful application of technology solutions has been a career-long goal. Throughout his career, Kevin never lost the desire to code and prototype solutions . He believes that in order to gain a full understanding of how things work, it’s necessary to get into the details and determine how they apply to solving a business problem. Equally as rewarding as helping business strategize and plan on technology solutions, he still likes get in the trenches with software engineers and work through making a system more performant or find an elusive bug.

A founder of multiple startups, he stays active in the startup community by mentoring founders and providing technology leadership. He is currently a mentor for The Farm, Comcast’s Accelerator located in Atlanta, GA.

Among Kevin’s career highlights he is serving or has served as:

Board of Advisors, ChartSpan Medical Technologies – As an advisor to Chartspan whose flagship product is a first of it’s kind, fully automated personal healthcare record management system that operates on a mobile platform. Chartspan allows an individual to take ownership of their personal health information, manage the information for an individual or entire family and control which healthcare providers receive the information.

Vice President of Development, DataFinch Technologies – Led and managed development teams for three products, mentoring and fostering collaboration between team members in development, user experience, quality assurance, project management, and technical writing. Responsible for helping set technology strategy, working with product management to prioritize effort, and ensuring the timely delivery of quality software.

CTO/CSO, Optaros – Set technology direction and strategy for world-class digital agency focused on eCommerce for B2C and B2B. Responsible for global technical resource pool and for working with partners and clients to set eCommerce technology strategy.

CTO, Verteris – Chief Technology Officer for firm that provides software and information services to legal and financial services organizations.

CTO, Delivery Services, Viant – Responsible for technical strategy and direction for Viant in all areas of the company. Key responsibilities include business development, enterprise marketing, recruiting, service model development, and other broad ranging managerial duties within the technology community. Responsible for the management of over 500 technology staff members in 8 offices worldwide.

Founder & Managing Partner, Advanced Systems Group – Founded and managed a technology focused consulting firm that provided focused services to companies developing software either for internal use or the retail market. Flagship clients include: IBM, Peachtree Software, Equifax.

In addition, Kevin is a published writer, songwriter, blogger and speaker. When he isn’t busy helping his clients, he is active in the music industry and voting member of NARAS. Several of his original songs have been licensed for TV shows and he actively writes and records new music.

Kevin received his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia State University; and completed executive education studies in Leadership in Professional Services Firms from the Harvard Business School.

Read more of Kevin’s insight at his blog: FractionalCTO and on Twitter @thatcarlson.

Company Website

Company LinkedIn

Grant Edwards LinkedIn

Kevin Carlson LinkedIn

Frazier & Deeter

The Alpharetta office of Frazier & Deeter is home to a thriving CPA tax practice, a growing advisory practice and an Employee Benefit Plan Services group. CPAs and advisors in the Frazier & Deeter Alpharetta office serve clients across North Georgia and around the country with services such as personal tax planning, estate planning, business tax planning, business tax compliance, state and local tax planning, financial statement reviews, financial statement audits, employee benefit plan audits, internal audit outsourcing, cyber security, data privacy, SOX and other regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions and more. Alpharetta CPAs serve clients ranging from business owners and executives to large corporations.

Roger Lusby, host of Frazier & Deeter’s “Business Beat,” is an Alpharetta CPA and Alpharetta Office Managing Partner for Frazier & Deeter. He is also a member of the Tax Department in charge of coordinating tax and accounting services for our clientele. His responsibilities include a review of a variety of tax returns with an emphasis in the individual, estate, and corporate areas. Client assistance is also provided in the areas of financial planning, executive compensation and stock option planning, estate and succession planning, international planning (FBAR, SFOP), health care, real estate, manufacturing, technology and service companies.

You can find Frazier & Deeter on social media:

LinkedIn
Facebook
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An episode archive of Frazier & Deeter’s “Business Beat” can be found here.