Kris Altiere/Moneypenny
Moneypenny is a leading provider of outsourced communication solutions, specializing in virtual receptionist, live chat, and customer service support. Their services combine cutting-edge technology with a personal touch to help businesses deliver exceptional customer experiences while saving time and resources.
Fielding Alderman/PDI Kitchen, Bath, and Lighting
Plumbing Distributors, Inc., more commonly known as PDI, was founded in 1973 in Lawrenceville, Ga. The family-owned business was born out of a passion for identifying and fulfilling the needs of customers while exemplifying first-class service. Now in its 50th year of serving customers, PDI is recognized as an industry leader in wholesale distribution and as a vibrant kitchen, bath, and lighting retailer. Today, the independently owned company operates 26 locations across Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, including the first two Kohler Signature Showrooms in the Southeast region.
PDI comprises more than 400 employees and continues to flourish through a combination of successful partnerships, acquisitions, and a commitment to its core values of: accountability, commitment, flexibility, integrity, loyalty, and teamwork. Visit relyonpdi.com to shop all of your kitchen, bath, and lighting needs. Not sure if they carry the appliance brand you’re looking for? Give them a call at (800) 262-9231 or visit their website for their full line card. Follow PDI on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for the latest news and updates.
Don Ansley/ACG Solutions
ACG Solutions offers cutting-edge IT managed services, providing clients with comprehensive and tailored solutions to meet their technology needs. Specializing in the installation and maintenance of security cameras and access control systems. ACG ensures the safety and security of our client’s premises.
ACG has also established itself as a leader in data cabling and network design. Offering advanced infrastructure that supports seamless connectivity and efficient data transfer. In the realm of telecommunications , ACG delivers state-of-the-art business telephone systems, meeting the communication demands of modern enterprises.
Gwinnett Business Radio is presented by
This was such an impactful conversation with Susan Anable, Vice President of Public Affairs- Southwest Region with COX Communications. She gave us insight into the history, the people, and the passion of the employees. We could have listened to the stories of the culture and the people all day, but unfortunately the show is only 60 minutes.
If you thought you knew about the great culture at COX and the amazing people that work there, there is so much more that Susan tells on the podcast. This podcast dives into areas of the company culture that our host didn’t even know about. It’s a company culture all about connections and doing the right thing.
This is a great episode to listen to if you are trying to grow the culture at your company, if you are looking to partner with an great company, if you want to hear about a company that is supporting the community, and if you want to hear about people just doing the right thing and making a difference.
Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through broadband applications and services. The largest private telecom company in America, we proudly serve six million homes and businesses across 18 states.
In metro Phoenix, we serve approximately 2.5 million product subscribers, and in Southern Arizona, approximately 400,000 product subscribers, with residential and business digital television, 1G high speed Internet, security systems and digital telephone service over its own nationwide IP network. We’re dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities and the characteristics that makes each one unique.
The 3,100 Arizona employees of Cox are proud to have topped numerous J.D. Power and Associates’ studies of customer satisfaction and for many years top “Ranking Arizona-Best of Arizona Business” list. Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in 1898 by Governor James M. Cox.
Susan Anable, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, Southwest Region, has been with Cox Communications since 2001. She is responsible for media relations, community relations, government affairs and internal communications for Cox in Arizona and Nevada.
From 1991 to 2001, Susan was part of the Arizona State Senate Research Staff, serving as Staff Director and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Analyst when she left to join Cox in 2001.
Susan serves on the Executive Committee of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, and recently passed the gavel after serving as Chair of the Board for two terms. She is the past Public Affairs Chair and Board member of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
She is a former President and member of the Phoenix Suns Charities Board and serves on the Cox Charities Board. In 2015, Susan was named to the Banner Health Foundation Board of Directors.
Susan was appointed to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s Workforce Arizona Council in 2016 and has served as an appointee on numerous City of Phoenix Task Forces dealing with regulatory simplification, pension reform and technology. Susan is the past President of the Southwest Cable Communications Association and a past member of the Executive Board of the Arizona Tax Research Association. In 2019, Susan was recognized as a “Woman to Watch” by Women in Cable Television (WICT), and as Woman of the Year by the Arizona Capitol Times in its 2019 Women of Achievement Awards. She has also won numerous company and industry awards for government relations and public affairs initiatives.
Originally from Wyoming, Susan came to Arizona to attend school, graduating summa cum laude with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from The Walter Cronkite School of Broadcast Journalism at Arizona State University in 1991, and is a graduate of the Cable Television Public Affairs Association’s Institute for Public Affairs.
She is married to Mike Anable and they have two adult children, Nicholas and Ellise. They reside in Phoenix where Susan loves to hike, run and spend as much time outdoors with her family.
Culture Crush is officially relaunched! We are thankful to Debra Caron who launched and hosted the show originally. Culture Crush is back with a new host but the same focus- highlighting what makes a great company culture and how it affects the overall success of a company. 
Culture is not just a tag word to be thrown around. It is not something you throw in job descriptions to draw people to applying for jobs within a company.
According to Marcus Buckingham and Ashely Goodall in their book Nine Lies About Work, “Culture is the tenants of how we behave. It’s like a family creed. This is how we operate and treat each other in the family.”
On this long form podcast we will highlight companies local to Arizona and beyond that are crushing it with great culture!
We will talk with company leaders to learn about real-life experiences, tips, and best practices for creating a healthy work environment where employees are finding joy and satisfaction in their work while also striving and growing within the company.
Kindra Maples is your new host taking the lead on the relaunch of Culture Crush! She is spartan racer, past animal trainer, previous magician’s assistant, and has a weakness for Oreo cookie shakes. Her journey working with people actually started working with animals as a teenager (don’t worry we won’t go that far back for her bio).
She worked for over 15 years in the zoo industry working with animals and the public. Her passion of working with animals shifted into working with people in education, operations and leadership roles. From there her passion of leadership and helping people develop has continued to grow.
Then came the opportunity for relaunching the Culture Crush Podcast and she jumped on it. Leadership, growth, and strong company cultures are all areas that Kindra is interested in diving into further.
We want to thank a few people for their behind the scenes effort in helping this relaunch to come to life. James Johnson with Tailored Penguin Media Company LLC.– It is a small, but powerful video production company with a goal to deliver the very best by articulating the vision of your brand in a visually creative way. Gordon Murray with Flash PhotoVideo, LLC. -Flash Gordon has been photographing since high school and evolving since then with new products that will equip, encourage, engage, and enable. Renee Blundon with Renee Blundon Design – She is not only one of the best free divers (that’s not how she helped with the podcast) but she is great with graphics design and taking the direction for the vision that you have while also adding creative ideas to bring to your vision to life.
These are just a few of the folks that supported the relaunch of the podcast. If you would like to be part of the Culture Crush team or would like to support underwriting the show- please reach out: culturecrushpodcast@gmail.com
When it comes to business, regardless of the industry, communication is key! Meet two communication experts who live and work right here in Arizona: Deborah Johnson, CEO of High-Stakes Communication and Jim Hall, Cloud Communications Consultant and the President of Tempe South Rotary. Listen in as they share their secrets to success!
After more than 30 years in the tough world of television production, Deborah Johnson established High-Stakes Communication in 2008, leveraging decades of experience and expertise in a new venture. Deborah’s goal was to provide distinct communications services for high-stakes or high-risk situations: trial, deposition, divorce proceedings, media interviews, speeches or industry presentations, or crisis communication situations.
Founded on the fundamental principle that every person has a right to tell their story and everyone has a right to be heard. Their mission focuses on providing their clients with the skills and materials to deliver high-impact messages, no matter what the setting – in the courtroom, the boardroom or in front of the media. They help each individual come across or “show up” in a way they can be heard and understood. To help make that all-important emotional connection with their listeners. Then they help them craft meaningful messages with powerful content.
High-Stales Communication work spans the globe: England, Australia, Vancouver, BC, Washington, DC, Seattle, Portland, Orange County, Atlantic City, Dallas, Nashville, and throughout the Southwest.
In working with clients, they stand as a partner in their journey and success. High-Stakes Communication conducts business with a strong Midwest work ethic and a commitment to excellence. Nothing less is acceptable.
To learn more about High-Stakes Communication and to connect with Deborah:
www.high-stakescommunication.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahjohnsonphoenix/
Jim Hall, the Cloud Communications Specialist with Crexendo has been consulting on technology for businesses since 1985, working in telecom since 2011. Jim enjoys heping businesses define current and future business needs, budget and planning how to implement the best system. Jim is currently President of Tempe South Rotary and an active member of the International Facililities Management Association (IFMA) and the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.
Crexendo is a leader in telecom technology having been awarded the Internet Telephony Excellence Award for the last 5 years and the Communications Solutions Product of the Year for the last 4 years.
Crexendo knows that business operations are dependent on communication with prospects, customers, vendors and employees. Operations have traditionally been structured around the capacity of the comunication systems in use. With the availability of faster and lower cost inernet, the flexibility, efficiency and scalability of cloud telecommunications can free businesses from the contstraints of traditional telecom and this is what.
To learn more about Crexendo and to connect with Jim:
http://www.crexendo.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhallvoip/
jhall@crexendo.com
On this week’s episode I featured long-time acquaintance, Carrie Dimino, and Brett Davis, of P Marshall and Associates, an Atlanta-based engineering firm. The company initially started with a focus in telecommunications, providing services around antenna systems and other telecom needs.
As their relationships with their clients grew, their happy customers were frequently asking if the firm could provide engineering support for needs in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and others, prompting P Marshall and Associates to expand their repertoire to include experts in these areas as well.
With Atlanta currently placing focus and energy on becoming a Smart City, and many builders and commercial property owners looking to integrate technology into their buildings, the firm is uniquely positioned to play a key role in helping to achieve these goals.
Brett explained how PM&A is able to design and install distributed antenna systems that integrate with existing structures and architecture as well as new construction. So, they’re able to make a cellular antenna that becomes part of a light pole, for example, but is essentially unnoticeable.
We also talked about how the company places great attention to the culture of the company. They have purposefully maintained a low-key, fun work environment to maximize employee satisfaction and creativity. Carrie shared some of the characteristics the firm is looking for in engineering experts who are looking to join their growing, innovative company.
Special Guests:
Carrie Dimino, Catalyst, P Marshall and Associates 
Brett Davis, Director of Wireless Initiatives, P Marshall and Associates
Doug Carter/EQUIP Leadership
EQUIP Leadership is the largest leadership non-profit in the world. Founded by leadership author and internationally-recognized leadership expert John C. Maxwell and his brother Larry Maxwell, EQUIP exists to mobilize Christian leaders to make a transformational impact in their world. EQUIP is training leaders in 182 nations around the world, impacting more than 5 million pastors, business people and community leaders.
Andrew Steinke/BCM One
At BCM One, they put your business at the center of a process that ensures they’re listening to, and addressing, your needs at every stage of your partnership.
From their initial questions to truly understand your business and goals, to the planning, deployment and support of your custom solution, they work tirelessly to bring you secure, best-in-class solutions from the universe of available options. They leverage their expertise, experience and decades-long industry relationships on your behalf. And because they’re “product-agnostic” and not beholden to a limited set of vendors, the only thing they ever sell is the absolutely best fit for your organization.
One source for truly integrated technology solutions. One call for unmatched service and support. One trusted partner. It’s why business of all shapes and sizes that turn to BCM One tend to stay, and grow, with them for years.
Sarah Chandler/Roswell Cultural Arts Center
The Roswell Cultural Arts Center (RCAC) is operated by the City of Roswell and hosts a plethora of events each year. Built in 1991 as a municipal auditorium, RCAC has gained momentum as a prominent performing arts center in the North Fulton area, housing its resident theater company – the Georgia Ensemble Theatre – as well as renting to community businesses and groups for performances throughout the year. In recent years, RCAC has begun its own programming, with its annual Summer Puppet Series and LIVE! in Roswell concert series (hosting Grammy-nominated artists) and its new monthly storytelling event, Story SLAM.
The telecom industry has been transformed by software in terms of available applications, functionality of traditional hard-wired technology and being able to combine all different technologies and modalities. Listen to this interview to learn what is currently available in the industry, where the industry is going and how the infrastructure and hardware suppliers are moving to keep up. Below are the experts who educated us.
Randy Berlin, President
DiscountCall.com, Inc.
The founder and president of DiscountCall.com, Inc., Berlin has been building relationships since 1996. In his role, Berlin oversees the sales, marketing and delivery of telecommunications services to all of DiscountCall’s Atlanta and national business customers, an organization of employees, agents, contractors and vendors reaching most cities in the continental U.S. Berlin is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in Sports Management.
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Mike Beaton, CEO and Founder
unicomconnect TM
Mike is CEO and Founder of unicomconnect™. He has 30 plus years experience in domestic and international communications and consulting services and has served as VP & GM for Network Enable at Unisys Corporation, EVP of Network Services for GE Capital Technology Management Group; and SVP Global Sales and Business Development for Masergy Communications, as well as Managing Director of Masergy International. Mike was born in South Africa where he attained a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Wits University. He is now a U.S. citizen.
unicomconnect™ provides secure, simple, scalable and affordable communications interoperability application solutions on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) basis to allow business enterprises and government agencies to communicate effectively with 24 x 7 x 365 service and always available technical and operational support for every day planned or unplanned events and emergencies. These services save lives and protect property. Interoperability is provided between any connected voice devices like radios, with any other connected voice, phone or cellular devices, together with any data, video or satellite devices. No new or upgrade equipment is required, regardless of device make, model, manufacturer or frequency. Interoperable applications are tailored to specific client requirements.
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Andrea Busse
Intela Text
Andrea Busse is CEO of IntelaText, Inc., is Chairman of the Board for the Safe Text Seal and is a sought-after speaker nationwide for her knowledge and success as the industry leader for image-based texting. Prior to IntelaText, Andrea Busse was mostly recognized for her patented achievements with MyCustomDay.com (Virtual Concierge Service) and Direct Success (Advertising Distribution). Mrs. Busse has worked in New York, Boston, Chicago and Florida but calls Atlanta home, where she resides with her husband and children.
Image-Based Texting (even Video Texting) your message to new customers as well as re-engaging existing customers gives you the edge over large corporations with multi-million dollar budgets and drives that same traffic to your business more effectively and more often.
