Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one anothers successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

First up we had on anchor-turned-publisher Gloria Lane, who produces Atlanta Social Season Magazine with amazing aplomb, holding down the dual roles of editor and publisher.

Active in the community, Lane is a member of the Marietta Rotary Club, served as a founding member of the Outstanding Young People of Atlanta, a member of Leadership Georgia and the first female president of the Atlanta Press Club. She also got involved with a little thing called the Beastly Feast in its first year. Planning this fundraiser for Zoo Atlanta was an eye-opening experience, Lane said. “We had to beg a barbecue establishment to donate food and arrange to borrow a dance floor and get a band!” With no expense budget, Lane and the other volunteer committee members staged the event with success – and even made some money. Today, the Beastly Feast raises more than $1 million in one night.

Gloria went on to chair other successful events, such as the Humane Society’s Pedigreed Affair at the illustrious Piedmont Driving Club and a day-long seminar for AT&T, introducing new products to Atlanta women.

Lane left television to be a stay-at-home mom and, eventually, a magazine publisher. Over the years, she’d grown weary of the negativity embraced by TV news with its mantra, “If it bleeds, it leads.” She wanted to report on the positive. In 1981, against the advice of friends and colleagues, she launched Season Magazine to spotlight charitable events, dedicated volunteers and upbeat happenings in Atlanta. The response was so tremendous the magazine went from an annual to a quarterly. Now she has begun Atlanta Social Season, a newly redesigned publication getting back to the heart of Atlantans. “In nearly 25 years, we have never published a negative word,” Lane says, “and we never will!”

While the magazine continues to cover Atlanta’s social scene, the editorial content includes include profiles, local interviews with Atlanta’s top philanthropists, fashion, travel, health & beauty, art, dining and home & design. “We are still keeping with the original mission to showcase Atlantans doing great things for our wonderful city,” Lane says. For more information please go to Gloria’s website www.seasonmagazine.com

Next up we had on Joe Lindenmayer President of TSS Photography talking about how he develops new products to cater to consumer needs, working with home-based franchisees, successfully building a home-based business concept into the nation’s industry leader, and TSS Photography”s unique apprentice concept to train new franchisees.

After 25 years as the nation’s leading youth photography franchise, TSS Photography has a great deal to commemorate: 230 locations throughout 42 states, 165 franchisees across the nation taking photos of more than 1.5 million children annually, a product line consisting of more than 200 novelty photo items and a brand synonymous with today’s most progressive youth photography products and services.

Joe explained “We credit our tremendous growth and marketplace endurance to the recruitment of dedicated franchisees who consistently exemplify the TSS Photography brand in markets throughout the country by providing professional and hassle-free customer service, product innovation and community care and involvement.”
Since its founding in 1983, TSS Photography has evolved its product and service offerings to remain the leader in the youth photography industry. In addition to offering a wide variety of photography services for schools, youth sports, corporations, special events and other community organizations, TSS franchisees help parents turn their children’s ordinary portraits into lasting keepsakes.

Children’s digital photos can be electronically formatted on more than 200 different novelty products at the TSS corporate laboratory in Atlanta. The evolution to digital equipment has helped franchisees step up their quality services with reduced turnaround time, immediate photo quality feedback, and increased online re-ordering options for customers. Some of the most popular products include a mock Sports Illustrated magazine cover, trading cards and cozy throws and pillows. Innovative customer offerings also include life-size wall images called ‘WallPix ^TM,’ photo memo boards and photo mug mates, to name just a few.

TSS launched the unique “Young Masters” program, where images of children’s artwork can be transferred onto mugs, mouse pads, sweatshirts, and other products that can be used everyday.

Joe said “Parents end up discarding much of their kids’ artwork because they simply run out of room on the fridge.We help parents turn these precious pieces of their children’s youth into beautiful, functional memorabilia.”

TSS Photography also increases its market share through alliances with national organizations and sports leagues such as the Babe Ruth League, Inc., National Recreation and Parks Association, YMCA and Police Athletic League. In addition, TSS Photography has a history of deep-rooted philanthropy within the corporate culture, giving back to the community as a vital partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

For more information about TSS Photography please go to their website www.tssphotography.com and for more information about Young Masters please go to their website www.youngmastersart.com

Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one anothers successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

First up we had on Katherine Fein with SandySpringsCommunity.com. Sandy Springs Community is an online resource for the City of Sandy Springs. The website provides valuable information for the people of Sandy Springs including a directory of all the businesses in that community. The site also offers visitors a trusted resource for finding the best deals and best businesses in the area. So if you are looking for a restaurant, doctor, spa, salon, mechanic or anyone else in Sandy Springs, Katherine’s website should be the first place you look. Every business in Sandy Springs should contact Katherine and get their business listed in her directory – it is FREE of charge. Please go to www.sandyspringscommunity.com for more information.

Next up we had on Mike Lassiter, president of Rising Roll Gourmet. Rising Roll was founded in 1996 by chefs. They use made from scratch recipes and have been Zagat rated for 10 straight years. Mike was kind enough to bring some breakfast paninis and breakfast burritos into the studio and they didn’t last long. They were delicious. It’s no wonder Rising Roll was voted Best Sandwich Shop in Atlanta by Atlanta Magazine. Mike also mentioned that he owns Franchising Concepts, a company that helps franchise great concepts like Rising Roll Gourmet. Mike is also working on franchising Justix, a healthy meal concept and Ageless Remedies, a medical skincare and apothecary. Sandy Springs residents be on the lookout for the flagship Rising Roll Gourmet which will be opening soon at the corner of Hammond Drive and Peachtree Dunwoody Road. And remember they are not only a great sandwich choice for breakfast or lunch they also cater! For more information please go to their website www.risingroll.com.

We closed the show with Elaine Sterling, an internationally trained, certified, licensed Beauty Therapist and Educator. Before opening the Elaine Sterling Institute, Elaine was the Director of Education of a large skincare school in Atlanta and the Esthetic and Training Driector of one of the largest day spa groups in Atlanta. For more information about her skincare training classes and her beauty products please go to her website www.elainesterling.com

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show

Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one anothers successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

First up we had Richard Brock who literally pioneered the Sales Force Automation industry in 1984 when he founded Brock Control Systems (now FirstWave). Sales and Marketing Automation Magazine named him one of the 10 most influential people in CRM.

In 1990, Richard was named Georgia’s High Technology Entrepreneur of the Year. Formerly the Chairman of the Technology Association of Georgia, he has assumed numerous industry leadership positions and has received many accolades throughout his entrepreneurial career. He has served as President and Board Member of the Business & Technology Alliance, President of the Entrepreneur”s Division and Board Member of the Information Technology Association of America, President and Board
Member of the Southeast Software Association, Chairman of Georgia High Technology Month and Board Member of the Technology Executives Roundtable and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Electronics Association Southeast Council. FirstWave provides on-demand marketing automation solutions that generate, score and nurture leads for B2B marketers.

FirstWave offers powerful demand generation solutions that enable marketing and sales to automatically qualify and prioritize leads; track, score and nurture leads based on behavior; and measure the overall success of marketing campaigns (online and offline) in one view. FirstWave enables organizations to increase marketing ROI while maximizing resources. For more information about Richard and his firm please go to his website www.firstwave.netet

Next we were fortunate to have int the studio, Dr. Sally Jamara, a Founding Partner in the Atlanta office of Traversa. She has been consulting and leading major organizational change in global organizations for over twenty years. Sally is retained to consult with Board of Directors, CEOs, senior executive team members and high potential leaders. She works with executives as a trusted advisor to align their teams to support the efficient and effective delivery of the corporate strategy. Sally provides the road map to make organization change successful for both the organization and the individual.
Dr. Jamara has been consulting with companies in the consulting, consumer product, financial services, high technology, hospitality, non profit, and real estate industry. Previously, Sally was Senior Vice President of America’s Human Resources for Bass Hotels & Resorts, Inc. In addition to her significant Human Resources experience, she has been Vice President of Customer Service and Sales, managing the P&L and overseeing client development. Sally has been the recipient of numerous executive leadership awards including: Executive Committee Award, Outstanding Teamwork Award and multiple Top Performer Awards in a number of different companies. For more information on Traversa and Sally please go her website www.traversaconsulting.com
Next we had on Theo Gilbert-Jamison, author of the book, The Six Principles of Service Excellence. Theo is also Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Performance Solutions by Design, an elite performance consulting firm that caters to luxury and premium brands with an emphasis on creating the ultimate customer experience.

Prior to launching Performance Solutions by Design in 2003, Theo was Vice President of Training & Organizational Effectiveness for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. During a 17-year career with The Ritz-Carlton, she oversaw the daily operations of The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center and was also responsible for the company’s worldwide training and development initiatives.

Today, Theo works closely with a diverse group of organizations, ranging from automotive, legal and financial services, to education, hospitality, healthcare, professional golf and home building. She recently co-authored a new book with her business partner Vivian Bright, titled The Leadership Book of Numbers, and is also currently working on her third book, Becoming a Level Three Organization, scheduled to be published in 2009. To learn more about Theo and her firm please go to her website www.psbydesign.com

We closed the show with Margo Geller. Margo is a distinguished Personal, Business and Financial Coach who has lived and worked in Atlanta for over 20 years.
She began her career as a psychotherapist then evolved into coaching after a financial planning firm hired her to act as a financial therapist for their clients. Margo is currently working on her e2e program – a unique, highly personal coaching program where she prepares her clients to make the journey from being an employee to an entrepreneur. For more information about Margo, her networking events and her brand new e2e program please go to her website www.margogeller.com

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show

Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one anothers successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

Erik Wolf with Zero-G Creative was kind enough to guest host for Amy this morning. Check out Erik’s website at www.ZeroGCreative.com

Our guests this morning were serial entrepreneur Brian Cork founder of brian cork Human Capital. Brian is a leader in executive recruiting and executive coaching. He explained the difference between an entrepreneur, an intrapreneur and a corporate employee. He also explained his philosophy about business and success, You can learn more about Brian and his firm at www.bchcroi.com or on his personal blog www.briancork.blogspot.com

You can check out Brian at the Vinings Club for a Catalyst Magazine sponsored talk on Raising Capital on September 11. Go to www.catalystmag.com to register. Brian is also speaking at Radford University’s Economic Summit in October – go to Brian’s website for more information on that. Also a big congratulations to Brian for in inclusion on the Inc magazine Top 500 companies list and also to being named one of Catalyst Magazine top 25 Entrepreneurs…both honors are for the second year in a row.

We also had on Holly Green is the CEO and Managing Director of THE HUMAN FACTOR, Inc. based in San Diego, California. She has over 20 years of executive level and operations experience in FORTUNE 100, entrepreneurial, and management consulting organizations.
Her book, More Than A Minute: How To Be An Effective Leader & Manager In Today’s Changing World lends voice to her corporate experience and goes beyond the theory of leading and managing by providing practical action oriented information to those aspiring for greatness in business. For more information about Holly and her firm please go to her website www.thehumanfactor.biz or www.morethanaminute.com Holly will be in Atlanta speaking about Bursting Your Bubbles on October 10. Check out her website to register and to get more information.

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show

Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one anothers successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

This morning we had our social media special featuring Teo Graca with NetTeams and LinkedIn Specialist Sean Nelson with Acuity Benefits Solutions.
We started off with Teo explaining his company’s turnkey membership management system and how it bridges the gap between face to face online networking. The idea was developed by President and CEO Teo Graca who has over 25 years of design research including experience with the State Department, the Military, Fedex, Lockheed Martin and other Fortune 100 companies. Mr. Graca has leveraged this intensive background to develop the Net-Teams community solution to customer relationship management. His burning passion to develop a single networking platform for multiple networks has produced an easy-to-use and intuitive system. It is focused on users in the small to mid-sized business market, but can be used within larger companies too. For more information please go to Teo’s website www.net-teams.com

Next up we had on Sean Nelson, author of Got LinkedIn, From Clueless to Connected in 6 Days. He is also President of Acuity Benefits Solutions. Sean shared some of his best tips to maximize the powerful networking tool LinkedIn. He believes the vast majority of people who have a profile on LinkedIn are not using it to its fullest potential. He also explained how he uses linked in while networking offline as well as online. For more information about his book or his company please go to his website www.linked101.com or www.acuitybenefits.biz

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.
Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one another’s successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

This morning we were fortunate to interview former Olympic level decathlete Spud Alford. Spud has founded an innovative game compnay called Zelosport. Zelosport creates products that put families back together again in the kitchens and living rooms playing wholesome games and building lasting memories. And with Finger Football, as well as all the games that have followed, the playing field is level…regardless of age, size, shape, athletic skills or ability, everyone has the same chance at winning. This game is licensed by the NFL and many collegiate teams as well.

Starting in the Fall of 2008, you’ll begin to see and hear about the Finger Football national tournament holding local, state and a national championship. They’ll provide a structured league format so that anyone wanting to compete on a national level will have that opportunity.

Spud hopes you will give Zelosport and one of their many games like: finger baseball, finger golf, finger soccer and of course the game that started it all finger football the chance to be a part of your family and the many memories you will carry with you throughout your life. For more information about buying your own game please go to their website www.zelosport.com or www.fingerfootball.com
We kicked off the show with Brent Brooks and Michale Harper from Blank Stage Productions.

Brent began his career performing as an actor fifteen years ago, and was a founding member of the Atlanta based “Comedy Response Unit” improvisation troupe. Brent began working behind the camera as well, and started his current production company, Blank Stage Productions, three years ago. Brent’s first feature-length film, “Art of Suicide,” was an Official Selection in the 2007 Asheville Film Festival and won “Best Underground Film” at last year’s Indie Fest USA Film Festival.

Michael began creating his own stories at the age of eight. After years working as a freelance comic book writer and illustrator, he made the move into animation, and finally, to screenwriting. He is currently the Head Writer for Blank Stage Productions, and leads The Blank Page Screenwriters’ Group.

The Blank Stage is unique among Atlanta-based production companies in its multifaceted approach to client needs. Blank Stage is a full-spectrum video production company, with a functional “black box” theatre space for live performances, and an instructional component, offering classes and workshops on a variety of aspects of the performing arts. For more information about their upcoming performances like Mr Right Enough and all of their video production and improvisation workshops please go to their website www.blankstageproductions.com

We closed the show with master networker Chi Chi Okezie. She is the author of the top selling book SIMPLEnetworking. She shared some of her best tips on netwroking, business etiquette, cultural awareness and image consulting. For more information about netwroking, Chi Chi, her book and all of her upcoming appearances please go to her website www.snseminars.com

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.
Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one another’s successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

Our first guest this morning was Elizabeth Gordon, Author of the Amazon Best Seller The Chic Entrepreneur and President of Flourishing Business. Elizabeth told us all about her work with The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta and how she is able to help women owned businesses flourish. For more information please go to her website www.flourishingbusiness.com

Next we had on Dr Andrea Robbins and Brent Darnell co-hosts of The Total Leadership Conference, a four-day kickoff of to a yearlong program that will create fundamental behavioral change by focusing on individuals’ mind, body and life. The conference will take place from Sept. 25 – 28 in fabulous Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.

Hosted by Brent Darnell International, a training and consulting company that teaches people skills to technically trained professionals, and Naturally Balanced, a natural healthcare provider headed up by Dr. Andrea K. Robbins, DC, ND, The Total Leadership Conference will offer a myriad of interesting classes on improving communication, self-awareness, and wellness.

Prior to the conference, participants will be given emotional intelligence and health evaluations in order to assess their particular needs. During the conference, participants will create personal development and wellness plans and be given all the tools that they need to improve their leadership skills, improve their health, and reach their goals both personally and professionally. .

After the four-day kickoff, participants will be contacted by a health/wellness coach and a life/leadership coach throughout the year to encourage them, motivate them and give them what you need to become the best that you can be. Space is limited to the first 100 people. For more information, visit www.BrentDarnell.com or www.NaturallyBalanced.com.

Next up we had on small business marketing expert and web design guru Erik Wolf with Zero-G Creative. Erik has leveraged his corporate experience in several diverse industries like packaged goods, information technology and journalism into a thriving small business marketing consulting business. Heading the marketing communications department of a global manufacturer helped prepare Erik for his work with small business owners at Zero-G Creative.
Working in the corporate sphere and tasked with the job of managing traditional advertising, marketing and design agencies as well as freelance designers, Erik quickly learned that the system was flawed – and that very few companies were well-suited to serve the small and medium-sized businesses that he worked for. Realizing that his experience made him uniquely qualified to help small business owners market their products and services. For more information about Erik and Zero-G Creative please go to his website www.zerogcreative.com

We closed the show with Darrell Rodgers, President of Emerald Data Networks. Darrell explained that he helps align his clients technology with their business objectives. In order to best determine the right solution Emerald takes the time to thoroughly understand their clients’ business and goals. Darrell shared that Emerald has just been awarded the 2008 Community Service Award from the Better Business Bureau for their help in wiping clean and finding new homes for old computers. To learn more about Emerald Data Netwroks and Darrell please go to his website www.emeralddata.net

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Today’s show is brought to you by TAB of Northwest Atlanta.The Alternative Board of Northwest Atlanta brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and strategic business coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one another’s successes and mistakes and create more valuable and profitable companies. Achieve Greater Success with Peer Advice and Coaching with TAB of Northwest Atlanta. www.tab-nwatlanta.com

<!–[endif]–>Our first guest this morning was Stone Payton a Sales & Marketing Troubleshooter who specializes in helping Training & Consulting firms Solve Their Sales Problem.
Affectionately known as “The Most Candid Consultant On The Planet,” and widely recognized as the man who literally wrote the book on SPEED®, Stone is no theorist. He works exclusively in the “No Bull” Zone, and has a real job just like you and your team. Several actually . . . serving as Chief Sales Officer, Trusted Advisor, Sales Troubleshooter, and Top Producer for some of the world’s most respected Training & Consulting firms.

For over 20 years, Stone has been helping organizations drive their business strategies more effectively. His unusual candor and energetic style provide a refreshing and much needed perspective to clients striving to improve their organizational SPEED (the ratio of results to time invested).

Mr. Payton is an accomplished speaker, published author, and co-founder of MarketMateTM a unique network of consulting firms and individual specialists solely dedicated to helping clients Grow Their Business Fast. He is speaking at a Growth Answers event on Wednesday August 20 at 7am at the Georgian Club for more information please go to www.growthanswers.com. For more information about Stone please go to his website www.marketmate.org or blog www.stonesells.blogspot.com
Next we had on Procurement Guru Norman Conway with Prorizon. Norman was just named the Pro to Know from Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine. Norman explained that if your company issues more than 500 POs per month, his Web-based e-procurement system can streamline and automate your processes, cutting costs by 45-75%, an average of $60 per PO. It”s so easy to implement you can go live on their Web services platform within 45 days without having to buy and implement software or overhaul your current systems. Prorizon helps you Streamline procurement processes; Maximize resource utilization; Standardize user-controlled buying; Track assets and Audit performance. For more information please go to Norman’s website www.prorizon.com

Next we had on Michael Thomas National President of the CRM Association. Michael explained that Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is now part of the mainstream. Customer strategy is “ordinary” and something that is a day-to-day concern for all enterprises, large or small. The business universe has shifted its focus from the company at its center to the customer at its hub.

As a result, the CRM industry has matured. More than ever, firms that do nothing but work involving the analysis and enrichment of customers abound. CRM as an industry has not just practitioners, but vendors, integrators, management consultants, boutique specialists, evangelists, analysts, pundits, bloggers, authors and even detractors!

As the industry has matured, so has the customer – not just the industry’s customer but the customer that CRM was created to support. The customer experience, formerly an art and a gut check, is now a cutting edge science that is necessary for business growth and differentiation in an era where customers are fully empowered and highly volatile.

CRM Association represents the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) industry and all its constituents. CRM represents what is now becoming an organized body of knowledge and strategy to be reckoned with. The CRM Association aims at representing the industry as not just a purveyor of knowledge and information, but an action-oriented association that will protect and promote the interests of customer relationship management and its institutions and provide the members with the tools that it needs to enrich and improve that customer experience – be it the member’s direct customers or the customers of the members customers. Please learn how to join Michael at his association’s big Return to Customer event August 26-27. For more on the CRMA please go to www.crmassociation.org or to learn more about Michael and his company Neighborhood America please go to www.neighborhoodamerica.com

We closed the show with Susan Knox Founder of Corporate Connections. Corporate Connections provides direct Access & Highly Targeted Introductions to individuals helping fill your Pipeline & Accelerate the growth of your business. Susan explained that People Do Business with people they Know, Like and Trust. The challenge is it may takes weeks, months and often years to get connected to the Right Relationships. Being a native Atlantan, Susan has spent the last 10 years of her career building Trusted Relationships which helps others expedite their business development initiatives. Corporate Connections Accelerates your opportunity to meet the right people at the right time at the right place. For more information about how you can tap into Susan’s Golden Rolodex please go to her website www.corporateconnections.us

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Remember if you want a pretty comprehensive listing of all kinds of Atlanta Events including Business Networking events please check out www.AtlantaEvent.com.
Before we got started we had big news from one of our recent guests, Bart Foster with SoloHealth. Remember Bart created that innovative EyeSite^TM self-service vision testing kiosk. Well, SoloHealth has been selected as a semi-finalist for the $100,000 entrepreneurial contest from a list of more than 1,500 entries. SoloHealth is the only Georgia company to make it to this stage of the competition. Online voters will select the top five finalists by going to www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/boostyourbusiness/, watching the finalists” 30-second videos, and voting for their favorite entrepreneur between now through Sept. 30. Winners will go to New York later in the fall to compete in the finals. So please support Bart by going to the Forbes website and voting for him.
Our first guest this morning was Blake Hauger with Waterford Loan Consulting, a fully licensed and professionally certified mortgage consulting firm. His compnay is not a mortgage broker or a lender. At Waterford they do the mortgage shopping for you.

They help eliminate the shopping headaches, last minute changes, and offer security during the mortgage process. They are making sure their clients get the best rates and terms from the mortgage brokers and lenders.
Who better to determine the mortgage rates, and closing cost than the person that works as a fiduciary for you? He has extensive experience in the industry and uses that insider knowledge to get his cleints the best deals. His service will not increase your closing cost. Instead on average he saves people $1000 to $2500 plus per loan. For more information please go to Blake’s website www.waterfordlc.com

Next up we had James Galloway with Intown Healthy Hound & City Kitty. This innovative retail store helps you feed, wash and treat your pet the natural way.
Owned by James and his wife Bridget, Intown Healthy Hound’s mission is to provide products and services to keep our community’s pets safe, happy and healthy. The store’s products and practices are designed to be environmentally-friendly as well.

Located in the heart of Grant Park, Intown Healthy Hound & City Kitty is also a great neighborhood gathering place after a romp in the park. For more information about James’ store as well as his home pet food delivery servie please check out his website www.intownhealthyhound.com
Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.

Podcast: Download

Please click on the POD button to listen to the latest Atlanta Business Radio show podcast broadcasting live each Wednesday at 10am EDT from Atlanta, GA, USA. Here’s how to listen to the podcast of our show.
First click on the title of the show you are interested in. Then there should be a player in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Now just press play and the show you chose should start playing. You can also download the show to listen on your mp3 player. We are now available on iTunes, click this link and you can find all our past shows. Press SUBSCRIBE and you will automatically get the latest show when you sync your iPod to your computer.Remember if you want a pretty comprehensive listing of all kinds of Atlanta Events including Business Networking events please check out www.atlantaevent.com.
Today we talked to Debbie Shannon COO of Action Secure Shredding. She started the business in October 2007 after a battle with identity theft. She and her partners have continued to grow the business to a thriving new company. All materials that the company shreds are recycled and shredded securely. She drives the truck as well as doing sales and marketing. She enjoys helping her community and looks forward to community shreds.

She has been in Atlanta for 9 years and calls Atlanta, Georgia home. She is a member of PowerCore and the Atlanta Downtown Express Network of the American Business Woman’s Association. In her spare time she is a plus model here in Atlanta as well as being a beauty queen with the Miss Plus America Pageant. For more information please check out her website www.actionsecureshredding.com

Also if you know of a business in Atlanta that we should know about please email Amy Otto at Amy @ atlantabusinessradio.com and we will try and get them on the show.