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Curated Collection Of The Best Interviews From Our Sandy Springs Studio





Jim Browning with YPN Companies, Inc., Alan Pandiani with The Aspire Group, and Geoff Stella with Sprout Organic Foods

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Jim Browning / YPN Companies, Inc. Linkedin Dunwoody Chamber TwitterFacebook

Jim is the Chief Profit Generator, CEO and owner of YPNTM Companies, Inc. and CEO & Co-Founder of YPN Strategies, LLC. He is “Dedicated to Your Success”

Jim has over 37 years of diverse business experience in the field of sales, marketing, information systems, training, business development and operations on the national and regional/local levels.

Starting his career as a clerk in retail grocery then onto a career with Coca-Cola in many roles and markets, Jim’s leadership spanned from managing teams from 3 to over 319 and budgets in excess of $295M.

Through this journey, Jim acquired the skills and passion for leadership, team and personal development for his giving role at YPNTM Companies, Inc.

Since leaving Coca-Cola in 2005, he has created seven companies. Throughout this journey, Jim continued to focus on business relationships, personal relationships and networking. Jim is author of “Relationships Matter,” “LinkedIn® for Business” and many more.

Jim is one of the world’s largest and most respected social networkers on such tools as LinkedIn®, SunZu®, Facebook®, Xing and Twitter® with more than 81 million connections overall. On LinkedIn® alone, Jim has over 29,967 1st level contacts with a total network of +34,865,204 people. Jim is a Globally Ranked “Top 25” networker.

He has trained over 29,353 people on the benefits of social media, through church and non-profit “Jobs Ministries”. He is sought after as a lecturer and keynote speaker having spoken at ACPI, Right Management, ASTD, Georgia State University, Emory University, Georgia Tech, CLO, NAAAHR, ASA, Vistage, Execunet, NGA, ROFDA, SHRM and others.

Alan Pandiani / The Aspire Group Dunwoody Chamber Twitter

As Manager, New Business Development, Alan is responsible for acquiring new partnerships to Aspires client base as well as expanding current initiatives for existing partnerships. Alan is charged with diagnosing the needs of current and potential client partners to provide them with a comprehensive recommendation for optimal operation. Alan, originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, became a member of the Aspire family in May of 2011 at Aspire’s Georgia Tech Fan Relationship Management Center (FRMC). During his time at the Georgia Tech FRMC, he was promoted twice and set multiple records for all-time revenue and total revenue in a selling year before transitioning into his current role in July 2013. Alan received both his bachelor’s degree (09′) and MBA (11′) from Providence College where he was also a student-athlete for the Friars on the Men’s track team.

Geoff Stella / Sprout Organic Foods Dunwoody Chamber TwitterFacebook

 

Special Edition: Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce

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Scott Sylva/Farm Burger TwitterFacebook

Scott joined Farm Burger in 2013, to take the helm as GM at the Georgetown Shopping Center location right here in Dunwoody. He came to the job with a background in restaurant management as well as sales and implementation experience on restaurant point of sale systems. He’s excited to be a part of a company that helps local farms while at the same time provides great food to his local community, as he lives right here in the Dunwoody area.

Shannon Ferreira/Seasons 52

Seasons 52 is a fresh grill and wine bar that celebrates living well. Our Executive Chef, Fred Schrock opened Seasons 52 at Perimeter almost 8 years ago. He is joined by Brian Farkas, Managing Partner in providing a level of Service to our guests that is second to none. Shannon Ferreira, Sales Manager is responsible for all private functions and large party reservations. Seasons 52 offers two private dining rooms that seat 30-35 in each space and open up together to seat 70. Seasons 52 also has an intimate Chef’s Table that seats up to 8 guests which is perfect for small meetings.

Beth Summers/Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce

Desiree Scales Interviews John Bradburn and Stephanie Barger about Zero Waste

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John Bradburn

John Bradburn is the global manager of waste-reduction efforts at General Motors. In this role, he leads the company’s landfill-free initiative, which has resulted in 110 GM operations around the world that reuse, recycle, and convert to energy all wastes from daily operations.  John is an established expert in waste reduction and recycling, and frequently mentors other companies pursuing zero-waste goals. 

John’s responsibilities also include directing the company’s design-for-the-environment activities, creating and implementing sustainable process and process technologies that reduce the company’s environmental impact and costs.  He collaborates with suppliers, product and manufacturing engineers, and external stakeholder groups. 

Under John’s leadership, GM recycled or reused 90 percent of  waste generated globally through various resource conservation efforts in 2012. Betweeen 2000 and 2010, the company reduced nonrecycled manufacturing waste by 73 percent. 

John is frequently called on to speak at various sustainability-focused events and has been recognized by the Society of Automotive Engineers with four Environmental Excellence in Transportation awards for material development and reuse and recycling projects. John has worked for GM for more than 36 years.

John earned a Master of Science degree in hazardous waste management from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1995 and a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Michigan University. He is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager

Find John at http://uszwbc.org/2014-conference/conference-program/37-uszwbc/2014-national-conference/145-john-bradburn.

 

Stephanie Barger

Stephanie Barger is the Founder and Executive Director of U.S. Zero Waste Business Council.

 Miss Barger formed the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC) in January of 2012 to meet the growing need for educational resources, peer-to-peer networking and third-party certification for businesses across the nation.

She brings over 25 years of experience in environmental stewardship, employee training, management consulting and business relationship development.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Diego State University.  In her spare time, she raises guide dogs puppies for the blind and avocates for humane treatment of all creatures great and small.

She has spent the last 15 years leading Earth Resource Foundation (ERF) which runs a dynamic high school environmental leadership program.  ERF’s campaigns include curbing plastic pollution through Zero Waste, native plant restoration, smokefree beaches, watershed management and creating a future that is hopeful. The campaigns have been a huge success because of Miss Barger’s ability to collabrate with a wide and diverse range of community stakeholders (indigenous tribes, interfaith, government, for profit, at risk-youth, trade associations, health, social justice and environmental organizations).

Because of her strong belief that Zero Waste systems and process can help create a new economy where everyone wins, she developed and launched the ERF “Zero in on Zero Waste – Don’t Let Your Bottom-line go to Waste” business conference and workshop training program in 2005.  A certified trainer with California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA), she teaches a class on Zero Waste Businesses. Some of her clients/partnerships include City of Newport Beach – implementing the Polystyrene Ban at all restaurants, City of Burbank – Zero Waste Plan for the restaurant and grocery store sectors, County of Orange (Pollution Prevention through Zero Waste) and many business clients including St. Joseph’s Hertitage Health Care, Whole Foods Market, Reel Chefs Catering and Kean Coffee. 

In 2009, ERF was awarded a Federal Stimulus Grant, the California Green Jobs Program in Orange County providing training for at risk youth in Zero Waste and Career Development.  She helped write another Department of Labor grant which expanded the CRRA training program to over 500 unemployed and under-employed individuals. The grant also developed a Recycling, Resource Management and Zero Waste certificate and AA degree prgrams at three community colleges in Southern California. By continuing to collabrate with the grant partners, she hopes to bring this Zero Waste education to high schools and colleges nationwide.

Find Stephanie at http://www.uszwbc.org/about-uszwbc/board-of-directors/16-uszwbc/board-bio-s/14-stephanie-barger.

Sander Biehn Interviews Doug Lehman about Video Business

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Doug Lehman

 A proactive sales trainer and marketer that’s partnered with and work for companies and organizations like IBM, Sun Microsystems, The Coca-Cola Company, Cisco Systems, SkyTel and Youngstown State University, effectively closing sales to enterprise accounts, small to medium sized businesses and the consumer market across multiple industries.  Passionate about customer engagement training, leveraging the tools of social media and video to generate results.  Especially skilled in conducting product demonstrations and field training.

As a brand ambassador, I have a passion for social media marketing and love to position products and services through online video campaigns, interviews and projects. The art of storytelling with a fresh and candid perspective for your clients to conceptualize, visualize and recognize. Customer engagement using social selling and marketing techniques

What makes me unique as a brand ambassador and business development specialist?

Is my expertise and understanding of both the sales and marketing world.

As a Salesman….closing the deal

As a Marketer…..branding your company

As a Trainer…….being a trusted advisor

Find Doug at www.douglehman.net or at www.douglehman.com.

 

Desiree Scales and Sander Biehn Interviews Travis Mariea and Jackie Cannizzo

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Travis Mariea

 

Travis is a Managing Director and Co-Founder of the ecommerce marketing & web solutions agency, FactoryWeb. He has a background in building professional service technology & marketing practices in a fast paced startup environment.

Find Travis at factorywebsolutions.com and www.linkedin.com/in/travismariea

 

Jackie Cannizzo

 

Jackie Cannizzo is the Director of Instruction at the Country Club of Roswell in Roswell, GA and the Executive Director of the JCI Foundation and the Judson Collegiate Tournament Director. Originally from Syracuse, NY, Jackie has been at Country Club of Roswell for over 13 years. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a degree in Communications, where she played golf on a scholarship. Jackie played competitive golf for many years and has been teaching the game of golf for almost 25 years.  In 2009 Jackie founded and and became the President of the Esther Cannizzo Junior Golf Foundation. This foundation was established to help junior golfers in need of funding to accomplish their goals in golf. It was also created to honor Jackie’s mother whose life was cut short by cancer in 2008.

Find Jackie at www.judsongolf.com/.

Desiree Scales Interviews Ben Reed about Content Marketing

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Ben Reed

Ben Reed is Co-founder and Partner at PitchMaps.

PitchMaps specializes in B2B core messaging and content marketing for companies ranging from Fortune 500s to younger, high-growth businesses. Typically, these companies are struggling with a complex message or a “me too” message that makes it difficult to stand out in a crowded marketplace. PitchMaps gives them a simpler, more meaningful way to talk about what they do, and then maps this message to their sales conversations and content marketing.

Ben is also very active in the local community. He currently serves as Chair of the Technology Association of Georgia’s Marketing Society and was previously President of the Georgia Tech Business Network. With an MBA focused in entrepreneurship and international business, Ben brings a passion for cross-cultural communication and has lived abroad in several different countries. Find Reed at pitchmaps.com.

Candy Sugarman with Visions Anew Institute, James Pews with The Startup Store, and Jane Goldner with The Goldner Group

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Candy Sugarman / Visions Anew Institute Linkedin Twitter Facebook

Candy Sugarman, the Executive Director of Visions Anew Institute brings a wealth of personal experience and professional training to the organization. She is on track to take this 15 year old Atlanta organization to become a national organization in 5 years. Candy has a passion for helping hurting people, the statistics of first time marriages ending in divorce is 50%. That means that half of the married population will face the pain and stress of dismantling their lives. These are hurting men, women and children who need support and guidance.

Visions Anew Institute is here to help these hurting people navigate this painful time in their lives, and help them to move on in productive, healthy ways.

James Pews / The Startup Store Linkedin Twitter Facebook

James “Jamie” Pews has a CPA background at Deloitte as well as corporate CFO experience. He is Founder & CEO of The Startup Store, an Atlanta-based firm that helps both startups get off the ground as well as established businesses ramp up to a higher level.

Their team of specialists provide discounted LLC Formation, Social Media Audits, Marketing Plans & Websites, QuickBooks, Payroll & Tax Return Preparation. They recently expanded into FL and now also offer CFO, HR and IT consulting services.

Jane Goldner, PhD / The Goldner Group Linkedin Twitter 

Dr. Jane Goldner is a 3-time author, national speaker and leadership coach with a focus on helping emerging and women leaders and their companies.

Jane’s first book, Driven to Success: A 10-Point Checkup for Achieving High Performance in Business, is a guide for leaders to get everyone focused on achieving corporate objectives. Her newest books, Women Driven to Success: You Can Have It YOUR All and her chapter in Roadmap to Success with Deepak Chopra & Ken Blanchard, provide women the understanding of how to integrate multiple roles without sacrificing their health, success, or peace of mind in order to lead with purpose, power, and passion. What Jane has discovered is that men are following her on Twitter and responding to her blogs. Her book is as relevant for men as it is for women.

She is an adjunct professor at the Coles School of Business Kennesaw State University.

Desiree Scales Interviews Jonathon Pierce About Customer Service

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Jonathon Pierce

 

Jonathon Pierce is President of Prestige Communications. He started working for Prestige in 2003 while attending Clayton State University.
With a back ground is in commercial HVAC, Jonathon completed a 5 year trade school and apprenticeship program at Mechanical Trades Institute. Jonathon is very proud and honored to have worked for 8 years in the HVAC field but he knew in his heart that his calling was somewhere else.
His mother Irene Pierce started her first Answering Service in 1982 in the family home when Jon was a child. He has been around the Teleservice industry most of his life. While neither Jonathon nor his mom had plans for him to work in the family business Jonathon needed a job to help supplement his income as he was attending CSU.
Almost instantaneously he and Irene realized this was more than a job to pay bills, but an opportunity to grow the business.  Jonathon began having ideas of how to streamline the call process and make the company more efficient. He also saw a need for training and proper etiquette for the modern answering service operator which would make them true Communications Specialist. Jonathon knew that with the right technology and training Prestige could broaden its scope of services to far more than an inbound answering service.
After completely modernizing the company by with equipment and technology upgrades and moving into the digital age Prestige grew nearly of 45% and, after 29 years in Riverdale GA, he moved the company to Fayetteville Ga. With Jonathon’s leadership Prestige is a past winner of the ATSI (Association of Teleservices International) Award of Excellence.  He admits it’s been a tough road but he is very pleased with the new location and overall situation of the company, as it is in a far better position for future expansion and growth.
It took Jon a while to really understand how Prestige helps people, but once he got it he really got it! He is out reminding folks every day of just how important it is for the average American to get a live local person that understands and empathizes with their needs on every call.
In this era of technology and Communications Age Jonathon strongly believes in cost savings and efficacy. Jonathon consults with companies every day to improve efficiency and save them money while still providing their callers with call experiences that exceed their expectations.
Jonathon has served on the executive board of directors of ATSI and two terms as president of STA (Southern Telemessaging Association). Jonathon is currently working to be a distinguished Toastmaster and certified in human behavior. He has a desire to educate businesses and individuals on the importance of quality human communications and interactions. Jonathon’s vision for Prestige is to have a physical presence in business communities around the nation and provide those businesses with live local voices that help to insure their caller’s expectations are exceeded.

Find Jonathon at www.connectingcallers.