AmiSights: Financing the Future For Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

Welcome back to the AmiSights Podcast! Today we welcome our new Co-Host, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka the SBA Queen. On this episode, we talk to Josh Watson, founder of EIS Automation, a Las Vegas-based manufacturing automation company focusing on product handling and end-of-line solutions. This is a must see episode for entrepreneurs in exponential growth mode. We discuss how to finance growth and how saying no can lead to success. Josh, who grew up in the printing industry, worked for a larger company when he decided to go out on his own in 2012. However, he maintained a consulting contract with his former employer until 2017. Since then, he has seen steady growth, including a big bump during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, when he was considered an essential service catering to the medical space.  Although he has considered adding angel investors, he realizes that comes with risk, especially since he is in the hardware world, which is very capital-intensive and has much longer build times than just a software business.  He reached his “aha moment” last year when he realized he was in a position to pick and choose his customers rather than accepting every bid that came across his desk.  "You have to look at where you want to go and not get distracted by the shiny things on the side of the road," he said. "Not every opportunity should be taken, especially if you have a goal in mind in the direction you want to go." He is weighing his immediate and long-term needs with higher interest rates. After all, interest rates can go down, and the monthly payment is the point to worry about.   Looking back, he realizes he needs to trust the process and not sweat the small stuff.  "You always cook it hotter than you eat it. So a lot of situations resolved themselves," he said. "It requires a lot of personal growth." We learned a lot from Josh, and we’re sure you will too. Recorded 02/22/2023.

In today’s podcast, I talk to Eric Schurenberg, editor-in-chief of Amplify Publishing Group and former CEO of Inc. and Fast Company. After a long and successful career as a writer and editor, Eric manages a "concierge book publishing company." The opportunity was created, he says, by the "broken state of traditional book publishing in which book publishers are no longer able to fulfill the model of being the impresario for your book." Instead, in the hybrid model, the author is the client and can make most of the decisions and keep most of the money. Eric is also heading the Newsroom Trust Project, a not-for-profit startup he describes as a "boot camp for working journalists to help them engage with…the declining state of trust in the profession." We discussed media integrity, which is leading to our divided country. With all the information and the opportunity for anyone to be a "reporter" on the internet, who do you trust? Whether it is a self-published subscription-based platform like Substack or a large organization with ample resources like the New York Times, news organizations need to control how they are seen out in the world and how they can deliver information worthy of people's trust, Eric says. And remember, those in the middle are responsible for keeping checks and balances on local and state government. It’s a fascinating topic that has no easy answers. Listen to our conversation here. Recorded 02/10/2023. 

In today’s podcast, I sat down with Scott Empringham, CEO and Owner of Empringham Media. We talked about what an entrepreneur should know about embracing A.I. technology and how to explode their business in 90 days or less with his 8-step social media framework. Much has changed in the marketing world over the past 20 years, and Scott has seen it all, including almost losing everything a couple of years ago when two of his largest clients went out of business. He picked up the pieces quickly and started over using his own 8-step framework, and now he is busier than ever teaching his clients how to win using digital marketing. “It was a horrible thing I went through, but the best thing I went through to help small businesses and rebuild my own business,” he said. “I shifted my focus from big car companies to working with small businesses.” He explains the process he takes businesses through to build and maintain their marketing strategy. The first question that needs to be asked is, "who is my ideal customer, and what problems can I solve for them?" He also discusses how to use AI intelligently and shares his favorite success story, which involves a mom-and-pop restaurant that adapted and thrived during the pandemic. Scott is a recognized digital marketing and social media expert with 20+ years of expertise helping over 1,000 entrepreneurs, small businesses, and Fortune 50 companies (Ford, HomeDepot, etc.). His services include providing step-by-step growth strategies via an on-demand social media course, VIP mastermind coaching for CEOs and marketers, and full-service agency support. Scott’s committed to helping small businesses and offers a complimentary monthly workshop to help businesses answer three key questions: “Where do I start?”, “What do I say?”, “How do I get it all done in less time and less money?” Recorded 01/24/2023. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Seth Barnes, Co-Founder and CMO of Raddish, on building a business with your spouse - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Seth is the Co-Founder and CMO of Raddish, a cooking club for kids! Each month tens of thousands of kids learn to cook with Raddish's thematic kits, activities, and tools discovering that the kitchen is the tastiest place to learn. In his role, he oversees marketing, product, technology, and customer service. Before Raddish Seth held senior marketing roles at Savings.com, Edmunds.com and United Online. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Raddish Founder Samantha Barnes and their two children. Recorded 01/25/2023. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Josh Linkner, Author & Speaker, to discuss how the pandemic grounded him as a speaker - but did it change his life forever?  Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He’s an internationally recognized expert on innovation and is the author of four books on the subject including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming, and The Road to Reinvention. Josh is passionate about starting and building companies. He’s the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm - and was previously the CEO and founding partner of Detroit Venture Partners. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale. Today, Josh serves as Chairman and co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is a recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession for greasy pizza. Recorded 01/20/2023. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Stephan Aarstol, Founder of Tower Paddle Boards, on if he had to do it all over again, would he have gone on Shark Tank? With over two decades of Internet experience at the executive level, Stephan is an Internet industry veteran. He has founded a number of ventures including the No Middleman Project, Tower Electric Bikes, Tower Paddle Boards, the Tower Beach Club, Sidepot Gaming, and more. Founded in 2010 and funded by billionaire Mark Cuban, Tower Paddle Boards is one of the biggest success stories in Shark Tank history. With only $100K in lifetime sales at the time of the 2011 pitch, Cuban invested just $150K, and since then Tower has done well over $40M in sales. In 2014 with a staff of just 5 people and revenues of $5M, Tower was named the #1 fastest growing private company in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal. A year later Tower was #239 on the INC 500 list of America's fastest growing companies. Tower was the #1 brand out of over 2 million 3rd party sellers signed up for the pilot Amazon Exclusives program, and he and his company were mentioned by name in Jeff Bezos’ 2015 annual letter to stockholders. Tower was named to Internet Retailer's 2016 "Hot 100" list of the world's most innovative e-retailers. Stephan holds an MBA in New Venture Management from the University of San Diego. He is a widely published entrepreneurial thought leader and he speaks regularly at Harvard Business School on the recently published HBS case study, “Selling on Amazon at Tower Paddle Boards”. In 2015, to challenge long held delusions about unhealthy start-up work culture, Stephan moved his whole company to a 5-hour workday and would later write a book titled “The Five Hour Workday” about the experience, which would spread the idea to tens of millions of people worldwide, and get press in over 20 countries (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and more). He was subsequently hailed, "The World's Best Boss" by Hamburg Germany's #2 newspaper, MorgenPost, and "America's Best Boss" by the UK's Daily Mail. Recorded 01/18/2023. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Josh Nickell, VP of the American Rental Association (ARA), on the biggest challenges ahead for businesses in the equipment rental industry.  Josh is a rental industry specialist focused on helping businesses get more out of less. Businesses, like rental, face new challenges and increased complexity and have the potential to reshape our economy. Josh grew up in the rental industry as a 3rd generation rental entrepreneur. Over the last 20+ years, Josh has had the opportunity to run one of the fastest-growing rental companies in the country (4x Inc. Magazine — Inc. 5000 winner). In addition, he’s spent time at a national rental company, consulted with local rental companies, served as a board advisor for startups and rental marketplaces, and worked in rental-specific software for companies worldwide. Recorded 01/17/2023. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Michael Caito, owner and CEO of Management Action Programs (MAP), to discuss what MAP is, how it works, and how it compares to EOS or Scaling Up.  Michael’s entrepreneurial roots date back to the early 1990s when he and two partners launched Restaurants on the Run with a mere $6,000. Michael spent the next 20 years building that business. When the company sold in 2015, it was valued at 12x EBITDA and scaled 10 markets, 600 people, and $40 million in revenue. Michael contributes much of that growth and success to his implementation of the MAP Management System™. In December 2017, Michael purchased MAP, the very company that helped him so much over the years. A member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization for 20+ years, he’s served as a past Global Chairman and traveled to over 25 countries, engaging with countless company owners and organizations. Michael is also active in the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). Recorded 01/13/2023.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jimmy Walicek, Co-Founder and COO of CLUBWAKA, on his journey managing CLUBWAKA pre, during, and post-pandemic.  Jimmy is the Co-Founder and COO (Chief Opportunity Officer) of CLUBWAKA, a company that offers sports leagues, social activities, and events for adults over 21 with the mission of fostering lifelong friendships. With over 25 years of experience in the customer service industry, he holds degrees in Engineering and Economics from the University of Virginia and is actively involved in EO Richmond, an organization that helps entrepreneurs achieve their full potential through networking, collaboration, and continued learning. Recorded 01/12/2023.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Stas Balanevsky on the life of a Certified EOS Implementer - the lows highs, and challenges. Stas is an entrepreneur with more than 35 years of experience in sales, marketing, business development, and business management. He has worked in a wide range of industries including medical devices, sporting goods, digital media, retail and e-commerce, and international finance. From 1994 to 2007, Stas was the Vice President and Co-Founder of V&S Corporation, an international healthcare equipment and supply integration business focused on creating, financing, and delivering healthcare projects in the developing world. Following his exit from V&S, Stas held EVP and GM positions in digital marketing companies that focused on digital and performance marketing campaigns. His primary responsibilities included business development, complex negotiations, and business management. Stas is currently a Certified EOS Implementer. He is a local speaker, and a member of the Western New York Vistage trusted advisor group and serves on the board of Holimont Ski Club. Recorded 12/23/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Peter Schwartz, Vistage Chair and CEO Coach, on what he means when he talks about helping leaders develop their inner and outer game. Peter has over 30 years of experience taking early-stage concepts and companies to maturity. He has been a Chair with Vistage Worldwide since 2005. In 2013, Peter was named Best Practice Chair for the Washington DC/Baltimore market. A Master Chair and 4-time STAR award winner, Peter was selected from over 550 Vistage Chairs to receive the Robert Nourse “Vistage Chair of the Year” award in May 2016. In 2020, Peter received the “Don Cope Memorial” Award, the highest honor a Vistage Chair can receive. As a Vistage Chair and CEO Coach, Peter became fascinated with leadership development early in his Vistage Career. He believes leadership development is at the center of the Vistage Value Proposition. Consequently, he has obtained a number of certifications in leadership development, in particular, The Leadership Circle and The Leadership System. Peter uses this instrument/program extensively in his Vistage Practice. Recently 13 senior leaders of a Fortune 50 company formed a “Vistage Inside Group”. This group went on a year-long leadership development journey utilizing the TLC 360 profiles and the accompanying Leadership System. Peter resides in Reston, VA, and Mt Pleasant, SC. He graduated with a BS in Psychology from Old Dominion University. He is a graduate of Georgetown University's Leadership Coaching Certification; Harvard’s “Immunity to Change” Coaching program; and is currently leading the Vistage/Stanford Executive Leaders Program for select Vistage CEOs in the Mid-Atlantic. Recorded 12/21/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Patrick Donohue, founder of Hill Capital Corporation, about his book, Breakout Valuation, and his key lessons for entrepreneurs. Patrick is an entrepreneur and valuation expert who got his start with a lemonade stand at age four and bought shares of Coca-Cola at age ten. As an investor, stock analyst, and advisor to numerous entrepreneurial ventures, he offers unique insights into the dynamics of money and business. The founder of Hill Capital Corporation, a private investment fund that finances and supports emerging growth companies, Patrick holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, has served on the boards of Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Minnesota and the CFA Society of Minnesota and founded 1 Million Cups Eden Prairie. Recorded 12/07/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Eric Rozenberg, acquisition entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and two times Amazon bestselling author, on how he's thinking about his search to acquire his next company and how he is going to finance it.  Eric Rozenberg has helped thousands of entrepreneurs grow and manage their business better. His purpose is to inspire people with integrity and honesty, help them take action, get results, and develop their business and their Life. For two decades in his previous life, Eric has consulted with Fortune 500 companies and produced award-winning sales meetings, incentive trips, product launches, and conferences in more than 50 countries across diverse industries. He believes organizations must create meetings and events that are not only breathtakingly memorable but which bring corporate strategies to life and amplify team motivation/performance. His podcast "The Business of Meetings" is the first podcast in the Meetings & Events Industry dedicated to business owners. Every Tuesday, listeners learn something new they can apply in their business and/or get inspired by amazing guests. His first book, Meeting at C-Level, is the first book on the « Why ? » of a meeting. It has been endorsed by 20 of the most influential leaders from the corporate and association worlds and helps professionals to position themselves as strategic partner. His second book, Before It’s Too Late, A Love Letter to my Daughters and America, is a story of grit, perseverance, and courage. It describes why and how he and his wife brought their daughters to America and why it is the greatest country on Earth. Eric is a current member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and The Strategic Forum. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Demoucelle Parkinson Foundation in Belgium and was the first European to serve as Chairman of the International Board of Meetings Professional International (MPI), the largest professional association in the Meetings and Events Industry. Recorded 12/08/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jenny Feterovich, Executive Producer at Arcadius Productions Inc. about her favorite stories and lessons learned from her TV Show, Start Up. Partners Gary Bredow and Jenny Feterovich are responsible for producing the critically acclaimed and Emmy nominated PBS series "Start Up" and "A Craftsman's Legacy", internationally distributed documentaries "High Tech Soul", "Urban Roots", and "Bridging the Gap" as well as branded content for major corporations including American Express, Chrysler, The UPS Store, State Farm, Coca-Cola, Ford, and Microsoft. Arcadius is responsible for over 1500 hours of national television programming.  As the Executive Producers of the PBS series "Start UP," going into its 5th season in the fall of 2017, they show extraordinary people that have followed their dream of creating a small business.  As one of the top 4 business shows on TV, they have helped paved the way for other popular business focused programs. Arcadius is dedicated to telling real stories and giving viewers the unique opportunity to see life through the experiences of our characters. Recorded 11/21/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jeff Berkowitz, founder and CEO of Delve, on assessing political and reputational risks — and what those can do to businesses that don’t take them seriously.  Jeff is the founder and CEO of Delve, Washington’s preeminent competitive intelligence and risk advisory firm. Delve helps heavily regulated and highly scrutinized sectors − including energy and utilities, life sciences, financial services, and beyond − anticipate and mitigate public affairs challenges. Founded in 2015, Delve specializes in helping companies, industry groups, and advocacy coalitions stay ahead of the curve on the political and reputational risks and opportunities at the intersection of policy and business. Today, the firm provides high-stakes counsel and insights to C-suite executives, public affairs professionals, and their teams across a range of sectors. Recognized by POLITICO as an “opposition research and policy ace” and "one of the best-known policy and opposition researchers in D.C." by The Daily Beast, Jeff previously served as the Research Director of the Republican National Committee (RNC), where he served three tours under four chairmen across five election cycles. At the RNC, Jeff helped to craft the GOP response to current events and long-term initiatives, ranging from Supreme Court nominations to Obamacare to the Dodd-Frank financial regulations. Jeff also served on staff or advised on five major presidential campaigns and has shepherded research and messaging operations at The White House, the U.S. Department of State, and several prominent private sector and non-profit organizations. As a member of the Forbes Business Council and a leader in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Jeff provides both commentary and guidance to businesses and industries of all sizes. He also sits on the board of the America’s Future Foundation, a nationwide network fostering the next generation of liberty-minded leaders. Recorded 11/18/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Josh Sweeney, President of FounderScale, on bleeding-edge strategies and tactics for scaling a B2B business.  Josh Sweeney is a seasoned entrepreneur, whose relentless drive has given him the platform to build big ideas and even bigger companies.  One of his successes, Atcore Systems, was acquired in 2016 by a leading partner in the CRM industry.  Experiencing the impact of various sales and marketing challenges over the years, Josh founded FounderScale. He has made it his mission to help founder-led organizations increase sales. Because of his passion for growth and forward-thinking, he donates his time to the Entrepreneur Organization of Atlanta, guiding and promoting other entrepreneurs through experience sharing and camaraderie. Recorded 11/18/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews George Peichel, CFO of Pure Prairie Farms, on the new food processing plant he is building and his journey to get there. A Minnesota native, George is an experienced professional with over 30 years of financial experience in building high-growth businesses in the meat and agribusiness industries. Prior to joining Pure Prairie Farms, George served as Chief Executive Officer for Prairie’s Best Farms, where he produced results through his leadership and sound business acumen. In his years of overseeing poultry farming and live operations at Prairie’s Best Farms, he helped to create and manage a live network of 75 barns and three million square feet through his expertise.  In addition to agriculture, George had spent a significant amount of his career in banking, followed by a senior leadership role at Christensen Farms, where he led the company’s impactful large-scale expansion and advancement efforts. Through executing robust strategies within his role, George helped to increase revenue from $30 million to one billion dollars within seventeen years.  George is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, and he, along with his wife, Mary, operate a hog finishing operation. Recorded 11/14/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Angela Kalemis, a Certified EOS Implementer and Community Coach at EOS Worldwide, on how someone finds the best coach.  Angela grew up in an entrepreneurial household. Working in the family business exposed her to the struggles, difficulties, and instability that owners face. Angela’s professional career spanned several large corporations – her longest tenure was 17+ years at Booz Allen, a global technology leader where she helped develop management systems to win and execute $2B in government work. Angela is a Certified Forum Facilitator by YPO and has the privilege of working with business leaders around the world. Married to a serial entrepreneur who runs a company that had tremendous growth but hit the ceiling who got more and more frustrated as he struggled to take the business to the next level, she originally began mastering EOS with the intention of implementing it in his company, but immediately connected to the system and found a passion for helping other business owners. Angela knows the challenges of growing and running businesses and how to powerfully apply the EOS tools to create structure, discipline, and accountability to help leaders get what they want out of their business and live a better life. If you are frustrated with your business, Angela can help you achieve your vision. Recorded on 10/31/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Noah Rosenfarb, Financial Advisor to the Half Percent at Freedom Family Office, about how entrepreneurs think about risk. Noah is a 3rd generation CPA that built Freedom Family Office to help entrepreneurs produce predictable income, create their ideal life and build their legacy. He has written four books, took a company he founded public, sold eight companies, and completed over 45 real estate investments. Noah openly shares the tools, resources and strategies he’s used to become “Rich Beyond Money” – a mantra he encourages others to practice.  He shares original and curated content on Facebook and LinkedIn related to wealth, taxes, investing, real estate, and lifestyle. As a lifelong learner, Noah is an active member of EO South Florida, YPO Global One, Strategic Coach, and Long Angle. Noah lives in Parkland, Florida with his wife, Amanda and their two kids. He’s passionate about travel and is fortunate to have visited 70 countries on 5 continents. Recorded 10/28/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dr. Troy Hall on talent retention and tips to keep employees in today's world. Featured on the Today Show, ABC, Beyond the Business Radio Show, and CEO World, Dr. Troy Hall is an award-winning culture strategist, radio show host, speaker, author, and talent retention expert. As the author of the Best Selling Title, Cohesion Culture: Proven Principles to Retain Your Top Talent, and co-author of a Best New Book Release, Mission Matters: World’s Leading Entrepreneurs Reveal Their Top Tips for Success, Dr. Troy was once told he did not have the talent to write. His mom, Fanny, reminded him, “It’s not the successes or failures that shape your life, it’s how you handle them.” His doctorate in Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship has sent him across the globe to help leaders create cultures of cohesion and retain top talent in their organizations. With more than 40 years of practical leadership experience and a Ph.D. in Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship, Dr. Troy's passion is helping others succeed. His consulting and executive coaching sessions have positively impacted organizational leaders around the globe on how to create cultures of cohesion to retain their top talent. From the U.S. to Canada and the United Kingdom, from the Middle East to Africa, Asia, and Australia, Dr. Troy has spoken at global conferences as a subject matter expert on the topics of culture & leadership, strategy, and change. Dr. Troy  is distinguished as an International Development Educator and recipient of the South Carolina State House Resolution for his Global Leadership Exchange program, an international mentoring program. Dr. Troy developed the industry-recognized mentoring program for the Carolinas Credit Union League Protégé program. Using his executive performance coaching skills, he mentors emerging leaders through the College of Charleston's International MBA program where he also serves as a consulting advisor. Dr. Troy has served on the boards of the School of Business for Charleston Southern University and Lowcountry Orphan Relief and is an advocate voice for raising funds and awareness for the South Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. For insights into his award-winning approach of developing a Cohesion Culture™, connect with Dr. Troy. Be sure to take the “quiz” to determine if your organization is on the right path. Ask Dr. Troy about culture and leadership advice by connecting with him on all social media platforms @DrTroyHall. "You don’t have to know everything, you just need to be teachable." - Dr. Troy Recorded 10/11/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Bill Flynn, CEO of Catalyst Growth Advisors, on how to take the guesswork out of growth.  Bill has accomplished much, failed often, and learned many useful lessons from thirty years of studying the science of success. He is best described as a pragmatic Simon Sinek; an optimist and an operator. Bill embodies his core purpose - simplified servanthood - by spending each working moment to help create a compassionately productive society by enabling enlightened leaders to focus on the few things that truly matter to their teams and key stakeholders. He has worked for and advised hundreds of companies, including startups, where he has a long track record of success spanning multiple industries. Bill has been a VP of Sales eight times, twice a CMO, and once a GM of a division of a $100MM IT services company before he pivoted to becoming a business growth coach in 2015. Prior to that, he had five successful outcomes, two IPOs, and seven acquisitions, including a turnaround during the 2008 financial crisis. As a coach, in addition to being connected with MG 100, Women’s Business Collaborative, MassMEP, Small Giants, and EforAll, Bill has earned certifications from ScalingUp, Gravitas Impact, Metronome United, Predictive Index, and The Neuroleadership Institute. Recorded 10/07/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Verne Harnish, Owner and CEO of Scaling Up, on the biggest challenges businesses face today in this post pandemic world and how he and his coaches are helping their clients through them. Verne is a world-leading expert, speaker, author, and entrepreneur in the field of business growth. He has spent more than 30 years educating entrepreneurial teams. As part of his personal mission to support entrepreneurs, he co-founded Growth Institute, a premier online training company that has helped mid-market companies in over 50 countries learn and implement the latest business methodologies. He also founded the world-renowned Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and chaired for 15 years EO's premier CEO program, the "Birthing of Giants", held at MIT. Verne is also the Founder and CEO of Scaling Up, a global executive education and coaching company with over 180 partners on six continents. Known as the "Growth Guy" syndicated columnist, Verne is also a regular columnist for Fortune magazine. He's the author of Scaling Up, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits and, along with the editors of Fortune, authored The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time, for which Jim Collins wrote the foreword. With his expertise in high demand, Verne chairs annual Growth Summits in North America, Europe, and Asia and continues to teach in the MIT-based executive program he founded. He is also a private investor in many scaleups. Verne is a father of four who enjoys piano, tennis, and magic as a card-carrying member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Recorded 09/12/2022.

On this week's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jeff Bruno, founder and CEO of B.Modelr, on how businesses manage performance. Jeff has over twenty years of experience in financial and operating strategy. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from George Washington University and a Master’s Degree in International Business Administration from the Fox School of Business at Temple University. Jeff started his career in the retail brokerage world at Prudential Securities before several stints in the start-up or small business space before his current role as CEO. Over the past 18 months, Jeff describes his journey of rebranding from Your Outsourced CFO to B.Modelr - or Business Modeler. “We are business model specialists who use modeling, measurement, and analysis to glean insight, illustrate logic, gauge [business] performance, and inform decision making.” B.Modelr is based out of Philadelphia and works with companies nationwide. Jeff and his team help companies find clarity on their business concept, focus on the highest value areas, and decision making is supported by quantitative analysis. Jeff has a great family with a beautiful wife and three amazing kids. While not focusing on growing his business, Jeff loves dinner out with his wife, board games with his son, and drawing contests with his two younger daughters. Recorded 09/09/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Eric Griffin (better known as Griff), co-founder of Mobile Outfitters, on the biggest lessons learned during his entrepreneurial journey.  Griff co-founded Mobile Outfitters, a 5x Inc. 5000 company, which is a U.S. manufacturer, innovator, and consumer brand of mobile accessories, with 900 retail locations spanning 55 countries. Mobile Outfitters is best known for its award-winning RapidCut system, an all-in-one solution for on-demand manufacturing of mobile screen protection and 360° full body skins directly in retail stores, completely eliminating the need for inventory. Griff is passionate about business strategy, vision, startups, sales development, product design, and marketing. Finding an opportunity, bringing it to life from napkin sketch to reality, and creating a game plan that turns potential opportunity into a brand that employees and customers are enthusiastic about is his favorite thing to do. Talking with people who are interested in (or are already) building sustainable, responsible, growing companies is a close second. Griff is also a board member of the Philadelphia chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a non-profit network exclusively for entrepreneurs, chairman of the board at Back on my Feet Philly, a non-profit combatting homelessness through the power of running, co-founder of GSW Apartments, a 33 unit real estate development and property management company, and co-founder of PAW5, a consumer brand of puzzle feeders and enrichment products for dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys helping Philly not-for-profits, running, gardening, woodworking, cooking, and coffee. Recorded 08/30/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Elisabeth Garson, Executive Creative Director of Steel Owl, about her creative journey, her favorite projects, and what she is working on now. Elisabeth is an Executive Creative Director and an Experience Producer that builds interactive brand experiences, and develops gamification for corporate training (learn as you play). She’s given dozens of lectures on experiential design, advertising, escape rooms and more. She authored two industry books and is the owner of Steel Owl Productions, with the award-winning game room, Escape The 1980s. Her current work blends interactive, off-screen experiences with advertising and learning. In 2015, she founded Steel Owl Productions, a company that works with brands looking to promote or train via real-life experiences. She's developed interactive experiences for the museum industry, training industry and Fortune 500 companies. Prior to Steel Owl Productions, Garson worked in Advertising for 20 years as a Creative Director. Her clients included large companies (Comcast, Advanta, The Franklin Mint), medium sized businesses and start-ups. From craft beer…to cable TV — her creative work explored consumer experience, from the perspective of targeted audience research. This knowledge acted as the primary building block for the Steel Owl business model, including game development, company branding, and puzzles to create player engagement. In addition, she created several Philadelphia events including the sold-out “Dating Game Live” (set up like the 1980s show) and a sold out “Happening Event” where participants purchased tickets to something that was happening (but they didn’t know what it was). She was the co-creator of an independent short film that created outlandish experiences for unsuspecting deliverymen. She also the developed The Philadelphia Arts Market concept for the City of Philadelphia, which is still in process of development, and on-hold for the moment. Over the years, Garson’s endeavors have attracted press from The Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS 3, NBC 10, ABC 6, KYW News Radio, Time Magazine and dozens of others. Recorded 08/26/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dave Mastovich, founder & CEO of MASSolutions, on how to eliminate BS marketing tactics and replace them with proven growth strategies. Dave has helped companies achieve top and bottom line growth through marketing and storytelling for decades. He helped grow the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center into a multibillion dollar healthcare system and drove record breaking  recruitment in both size and academic talent for Duquesne University  as a senior executive leader before starting MASSolutions, the world’s only No BULL$H!# Marketing Consultancy. He started MASSolutions because he wanted any company, regardless of size or industry, to be able to leverage real marketing through his No BS Go To Market System. He and his team help companies achieve massive growth through strategic marketing, customer experience solutions and top and bottom line storytelling. Dave has been quoted or published in Entrepreneur, Inc, Fortune, ABC News and many other outlets on Marketing, Branding and Crisis Communications. He’s author of the book Get Where You Want to Go Through Marketing, Selling and Story Telling and host of the No BS Marketing Show podcast with nearly 500 episodes over 7 years. His blog has  been featured in over 50 media outlets with readership of more than 1 million. Dave is also a nationally-recognized speaker. Recorded 08/17/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews David Friedman, CEO of High Performing Culture, on the new rules about corporate culture in the post-pandemic world.  David is an author, speaker, CEO, and the developer of the CultureWise® operating system. His company helps organizations to create, drive, and maintain high-performing cultures, with a proven system that’s straightforward, practical, and easy to use. The principles that David teaches are based on the process he developed while serving as the President of RSI, an employee benefits consulting firm headquartered in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Under his leadership and direction, RSI grew from 2 employees to a staff of more than 100 professionals and annual revenues in excess of $16 million. The firm won numerous awards including being named one of the Best Places to Work in the Philadelphia region 3 times and one of the Best Places to Work in NJ 4 times. In 2006, RSI earned the NJ Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence – Gold Level, the highest award for total quality available in the state.  In 2008, RSI became a division of Arthur J. Gallagher & Associates (AJG), one of the largest insurance brokers in the world. David served as the Area President for Gallagher until his retirement in July of 2010. In 2011, David published his first book, Fundamentally Different, based on the insights he learned and taught during his leadership career. His second book, Culture by Design, was published in 2018 and has already been called “the most useful book ever written on organizational culture.” In 2021, David published the 2nd edition of Culture by Design, which includes insights and strategies for managing culture in the new remote/hybrid work environment.  Today, in addition to leading CultureWise, he’s a frequent guest speaker and seminar leader on leadership, organizational culture, and building high-performance teams. In the last 7 years alone, he’s led more than 500 workshops for more than 5,000 CEOs. In 2021, David was recognized by Vistage International as their Speaker of the Year. He also serves as a consultant to scores of companies around the country. David is a 1983 graduate of the College of William & Mary with a degree in philosophy. Recorded 08/15/2022.

On this week’s episode, Ami Kassar interviews John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority, on the toughest issues facing the small business community today, and how his organization is helping. John has used his long experience as a small business owner to build Small Business Majority into a nationally recognized organization focused on empowering America's entrepreneurs to build a thriving and inclusive economy. Small Business Majority is the leading advocate for critical public policy issues facing America’s small businesses—particularly access to capital, healthcare, taxes, retirement/asset building and numerous workforce issues. In the past few years John has spearheaded the growth of Small Business Majority’s Venturize.org portal, providing critical practical resources to our nation’s 30 million small businesses and independent self-employed entrepreneurs. Prior to launching Small Business Majority 16 years ago, John was the founder and CEO of ACI Interactive, an award-winning international interactive communications company. Information Week named ACI's signature product one of the nation's top 100 e-business innovations, and the company was cited by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the top 100 fastest growing private companies in the Bay Area. Earlier, John was the chief operating officer of a pioneering multimedia business, an attorney in New York, an aide to the mayor of Philadelphia and a staff member on Capitol Hill. John is a frequent speaker on small business policy issues and a regular guest on TV and radio, including MSNBC's Your Business, PBS NewsHour, Fox News, Bloomberg TV, NPR's Marketplace and the CBS Evening News. In 2009 he was an active participant at the White House summit on healthcare reform. He testifies regularly before congressional committees, and has briefed White House officials and congressional leadership on small business policy issues. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Access to Markets initiative, and he recently served as Board Chair of California's Insure the Uninsured Project. He has led a study group at Harvard's Kennedy School of Politics, and has served on the Association for Enterprise Opportunity's Economic Impact Council and Micro Capital Task Force. John is conversational in Spanish. Recorded 08/11/2022.

On this week's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Finnian Kelly, creator of Intentionality.com, on how the pandemic has changed entrepreneurs' mindsets. As a sought-after speaker, retreat facilitator, and executive coach, Finnian has been dubbed “the Business Mystic” because of his unique ability to put consciousness into business and inspire leaders to find new levels of meaning and purpose through their creative endeavors. This approach flowed through his term as President of the Colorado Chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) - the largest and most influential community of entrepreneurs in the world. Finnian helps people ‘love their path’ so they can feel content with a life lived in the now. As an entrepreneur, Finnian built and exited two multi-million dollar companies in the financial industry. He’s the Creator and Chief Visionary Officer of Intentionality.com, where he offers coaching and courses to guide people through the four paths of the Intentionality Framework. Finnian is also a retreat facilitator providing entrepreneurs with unique, mind-shifting experiences so they can awaken and connect deeply with their business and their true self. Finnian has appeared on Sky Business, on ABC as a political commentator, and on Ten’s morning shows as a financial expert. As a guest writer, Finnian has published articles on Money Management, Smart Company, Business Insider, and more. He was also featured as an Undercover Angel in the popular National Geographic documentary series. This was a project where he was dropped into an underprivileged community to discover their core issues, build trust and come up with a project that would support their needs. He funded the entire program himself and worked with community leaders to form a family education center in Fakulteta, Bulgaria. As a lifelong learner, Finnian has degrees in maths, physics, finance, leadership, teaching, and a master’s degree of science in positive psychology. He spent 7 years in the Australian Defence Force and graduated from one of the most prestigious leadership organizations in the World, The Royal Military College of Duntroon. Above all, Finnian is a conscious being - committed to embodying Intentionality and inspiring others to do the same. Finnian travels the world spreading Intentionality on speaking tours, exploring new places and cultures, and chasing powder as a ridiculously passionate skier! Recorded 08/10/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Mason (The Chutzpah Guy) Harris, Founder of The Chutzpah Institute, on what is chutzpah and whether or not it can be taught in an organization.  Born with a “plastic spoon in his mouth” to immigrants who found both safety and opportunity in the U.S., Mason is an observer of people and a lifelong student of self-improvement and business. His education, both formal – Queens College (BA) and University at Buffalo (MBA), and informal, the streets of New York, exposed him to many different people. Mason was fascinated by their personalities and stories. There were introverts and extroverts, and feeling comfortable with both traits, Mason eventually learned that he is an ambivert. Mason also learned that actions, perseverance, and risk-taking led to more successful lives. These behaviors, among others, are the foundation of Mason’s work on understanding and sharing "chutzpah." Interviews, research, and a worldwide pandemic led to finally writing his book, The Chutzpah Advantage, and teaching others the skillset for "going bigger, being bolder, and doing better." Recorded 08/08/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Marcia O'Connor, CEO and Founder of the O’Connor Group, on how the employment market has changed post covid and what employees have to do to stay ahead. Marcia started The O’Connor Group with $10K of her own savings. It was time to build the company she’s been talking about doing for the prior 10 years!  One day her then 6-year-old son looked up at her and said “Mom, can I see you more”.  You can imagine how she felt, and said ‘Yes, yes you will”.  Marcia had gone on vacation that July and brought the book The Alchemist and came back and quit her job. That month, The O’Connor Group was born. The O’Connor Group was founded on September 1, 2007. Originally started as a retained search recruiting firm geared to positions in the $80K to $150K range. Marcia’s expertise was in the Talent Strategy world and consulting. Within six months she added an HR Consulting division. It wasn’t easy to start the company in 2007, right before an unknown recession. Failure was NOT an option for Marcia; she was the breadwinner. Marcia was fortunate to have one of her former employers refer her to her first client and she hasn’t looked back since. Marcia grew the company organically and didn’t hire her first full-time employee until after three years, and she is still with the company today! 2009 was a very difficult time for Marcia. 5 out of 6 clients called to let her know that they were running out of funds and would no longer need the assistance of one of Marcia’s consultants. She had one client left!  It was hard for her to get work and it typically took around 3 months for a client to pay. Marcia dipped into her own 401K savings plan to help pay payroll at that time. A good friend referred another client that helped Marcia move her company to the next level. Marcia helps build HR and talent teams with the right talent in place.  75% of her clients come from referrals and most of those referrals come from current clients!  Currently, The O’Connor Group works with over 150 clients a month and now has 80 employees.  Marcia expects to have 100 employees by year-end.  “It’s been an honor to run a company that is fun, exciting, and growing. If you take care of your people, they take good care of you!” Recorded on 08/05/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Drew Geisler, president of Mainline Metals, about how he is managing supply chain issues and the challenges of managing a commodities business through and after the pandemic.  Andrew started his career in the steel industry at the age of 19, when he was hired by Mainline Metals as a co-op student. Under Bob Dubin’s tutelage, Andrew learned the art of cold-calling and how to find and sell surplus and excess steel. Once graduated from Drexel University with a degree in materials engineering, Andrew was hired by Mainline Metals. Andrew’s rigor and ambition have been integral to his personal success and to Mainline Metals’ growth as a company. Andrew cultivated his entrepreneurial skills from a young age, having started multiple businesses while in high school and college. Then, after making Mainline Metals his home for the last 30 years, Andrew became the President of Mainline Metals at 40 years old. In addition to his role at Mainline Metals, Andrew is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization of Philadelphia. Within the organization, Andrew is a member of the executive board of the steel and metals network, in which he continues to grow professionally, personally and with his family. For Andrew, personal growth is an important aspect of leadership. Having a community that cultivates growth and continuous learning helps him keep his head focused and enforces his mission of bringing his best self to the office every day. Recorded 07/25/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Mo Fathelbab, Founder and president of Forum Resources Network, and co-founder of Harvard Business School Alumni Forums, to discuss what makes forums great - and what to avoid. Mo is the author of two best-selling books, Forum: The Secret Advantage of Successful Leaders and The Friendship Advantage - 7 Keys to Building Relationships that Transform Culture and Drive Productivity.  Prior to that Mo served as executive director of Entrepreneurs' Organization (1991-1997) where he created the peer to peer Forum program content and initiated 100s of CEO Forums. Mo has worked with over 20,000 CEOs and Entrepreneurs over the course of nearly 3 decades in 33 countries. Forum Resources Network's clients include Google, Young Presidents' Organization, HBS Alumni, Pathstone Federal Street, and the Atlantic Council Millennium Fellows. Mo has delivered Keynote addresses to large audiences including TEDx, Conscious Capitalism, Scale Up, SOS, and Global Leaders Organization. Personally, Mo is dedicated to health and fitness. He loves skiing, sailing, yoga, and stand-up paddle boarding. He has completed 3 marathons, an Ironman and in 2018 placed first in USA Yoga's Midwest regional championships for men over 50. Mo serves on the board of Young Presidents' Organization Gold Washington & Baltimore and on the advisory board of Beyond CEO Coaching. Mo lives in Alexandria VA with his much better half Sally and their son Eli. Recorded 07/18/2022.

Today on AmiSights, the podcast, we have the CEO & Owner of B-Unlimited, Ben Clark! In 1994, B-Unlimited began as a screen printing company in the hills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Ben purchased the business in 2006 with big dreams of elevated artwork, thoughtful print, and impeccable service. In this episode, Ben shares what it was like growing up with learning differences. He discusses his struggles and frustrations through college when trying to find his path. Ben explains that his learning differences were a good thing because that pushed him into entrepreneurship. When faced with failure, Ben tells us that he relies heavily on faith and family. He walks us through how he kept going through those challenging times to find his niche. In his late thirties, Ben got into the apparel business and fell in love with the creative environment. He loves bringing people together and enjoyed building his organization and culture. Now, with over 250 employees, Ben dives into his current challenges, like trying to keep that culture the same after 10 years. Ben didn’t start with a mission statement, but explains an ethos - on the wall said “Be Yourself, Be Unique, Be Unlimited”. B-Unlimited sells licensed custom apparel for universities, and got started in the fraternal and sorority arena. Although their main focus is custom collegiate apparel, they specialize in many other products in all different markets. “Yeah, we make great t-shirts. But our true end-goal is to celebrate and love all people.” Recorded 07/12/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Ryan Surace, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of Surace & Stanton, on how to know if you have the right accounting department.  With over 15 years of experience, Ryan is especially skilled in providing high quality accounting and taxation services across a range of industry sectors.  His experience in the financial arena gives him particular strength in auditing and assurance, taxation, analytics, business planning and budgeting, SEC compliance and filing, succession planning, and internal accounting functions.  His clients are small and mid-sized companies across a range of sectors including manufacturing, wholesalers, construction contractors, and real estate. Ryan is passionate about developing successful strategies with closely held business owners and individuals who are looking for security in their financial future.  He provides best in class advisory and strategic planning on all areas related to tax and financial concerns and consults on the full range of back office services.  Ryan is skilled at helping ensure strategies are based on timely and reliable financial information, which in turn helps ensure success.  In addition, he has particular interest and competence in advising entrepreneurs and start ups and serves on the Board of the Philadelphia Chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a global thought leader on entrepreneurship. Whether you are acquiring an existing business or starting your own, Ryan provides trustworthy and sound financial, accounting, and tax advice that will position you for success. Ryan received a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Scranton. He started his accounting career at EY (Ernst & Young) and prior to co-founding Surace & Stanton, Ryan was a partner at a prestigious regional accounting firm. Ryan is excited to work with his wife! Ryan & Colleen live in Springfield, Pennsylvania with their three daughters. When out of the office, Ryan enjoys barbecuing, running, and tinkering with his fantasy football team. Recorded 07/06/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Tamara Loehr, Co-Founder of Beusail Academy, a serial entrepreneur very much focused on impact - all about giving back and helping bridge the gap in female entrepreneurship.  Tamara is a globally recognized entrepreneur, mum of two young girls, wife and artist (former songwriter and forever painting). Tamara started her first business at the age of 19 years old after graduating from university with a Bachelor of Visual Arts. This marketing agency is still in operation and services national and international clients, as well as the businesses she owns under her investment company. Tamara and her agency specialized in online sales which lead her to become a sort after expert on the topic. Tamara travels internationally speaking on the topic of how to grow businesses online, as well as sharing her experience in growing wellness brands from under $1M to over $10M without capital. Her ‘sweat equity’ model saw swift success, leading to her winning a range of global awards including a Gold Stevie® Awards for Women in Business for ‘Fast Growing Company of the in 2016. Tamara’s focus is now on ethical brands in the Beauty and Wellness space. All her brands follow a strict mandate; Vegan, Cruelty-free, clean, female founded, sustainable and impactful. All products have giving embedded as a cost of goods,  generating impacts to United Nations Sustainability Goals. Tamara has since delved into the world of Community Channel Marketing (CCM) which aims to disrupt the Multi-level Marketing (MLM)/direct selling industry. Her online channel ‘Beusail’ is designed to promote ethical brands, whilst developing the next wave of female entrepreneurs. Beusail is a new breed of online marketplace whereby anyone can ‘co-sell’ products with 2 clicks of a button and earn up to 30% commission on every sale. Consumers can leverage their power of influence on their social media channels to gain additional source of income. Tamara’s legacy is to contribute 10M Buy1Give1 impacts per annum. As a subscriber to the ‘profit and purpose’ philosophy, Tamara passionately believes business will change the world’s problems, not government. She also acknowledges that this is no longer isolated to billionaire entrepreneurs but businesses of any size. Originally a member of The Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), Tamara was the first president in Queensland to take the role in under three years as a member. With her business interests now being in America, along with her focus on impact, Tamara is a founding member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Impacts Chapter, as well as a YPO Hollywood chapter. Balance is BS. How to have a Work. Life. Blend: Tamara Loehr’s book is a focused on the 42% of women in America who are now the breadwinners and know balance doesn’t work. Tamara has figured out a new solution after 20+ years as a global entrepreneur. How to ditch expectations, uphold your values and embrace a work-life blend. Tamara’s book calls bullshit on ‘balance’ and presents a better way: it gives women permission to blend their work and personal lives together without getting burnt out. Every chapter is supported by practical exercises readers can complete to identify their values, align their energies with what matters to them most, set expectations with key people in their lives and map out the life they actually want. Recorded 04/04/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Wendy Pease, owner and president of Rapport International, to discuss why words matter. Wendy Pease is the owner and president of Rapport International, a language services company that provides high-quality translation and interpretation services with a specialty in global marketing, legal, and medical services. Throughout her career, she has worked with hundreds of companies to help them communicate across more than 200 languages and cultures. Wendy is a frequent speaker, writer, blogger, trainer, advisor, and master networker. She’s the author of the book “The Language of Global Marketing”, and the host of the Global Marketing Show podcast, which features experts on opportunities and challenges in increasing multilingual lead gen and revenue. She also leads a global speed networking group and moderates the Boston chapter of Soft Land Partners. Wendy’s passionate about connecting people across languages and cultures. She lived in Mexico, Taiwan, and the Philippines where she fell in love with differing cultures and came to understand that we are all human, no matter the language we speak. Recorded 04/07/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Russell Hunter, owner and CEO of Colorado Mountain School, an entrepreneur who bought a business during the pandemic - we’ll discover what he’s learned and how it’s going. After graduating with an accounting degree, Russell spent a very short nine months working as a Public Accountant. He chose to step off the tracks and become an outdoor educator and mountain guide. After two decades of leading others in the mountains, Russell saw an opportunity to become an owner of a mountain guide service and an avalanche education school.  As an owner/CEO, Russell brings together all of his experiences as an accountant, leader, adventure seeker, and risk manager to lead his two companies. Russell strives to advance a growing industry into a more professional industry that provides opportunities for guides and instructors to make a real livelihood doing what they love to do, teaching others to play in the mountains, and igniting passionate living! Recorded 06/03/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jim Schleckser, CEO of Inc. CEO Project, to discuss the most important lessons learned by his clients during the pandemic. Jim helps leaders grow their companies by helping them open their point of constraint, the kink in the hose through curated CEO Peer Groups. He has extensive leadership experience with organizations in both public and private environments and across multiple industries. Jim has built, acquired, and led several companies, including international businesses with multiple operating business units. Prior to founding the Inc. CEO Project, Jim was the president of Spirent Communications PLC, a global publicly traded telecommunications business valued at $1.6 Billion. Jim is active with many non-profit organizations, including National Association of Corporate Directors, Boy Scouts of America and Youth With A Mission. He was previously Chair of Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area. He is currently on the boards of Defenders, Daniel Defense, and AltoVista. Jim is an engineer, an avid soccer player, a Certified sommelier, and recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. He has done business in 40 countries and is the author of two best-selling books “Great CEOs are Lazy” and “Professional Drinking”. Recorded 04/11/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Smriti Sinha, owner of Natural Healing House, on what it was like to buy a business during the pandemic and how it’s going. Smriti Sinha (Sims) is an entrepreneurial leader, who is passionate about building innovative products by marrying consumer-centered creativity with analytical business strategy. Smriti recently transitioned from leading innovation and product development at Fortune 100 companies, to the exciting world of e-commerce. She runs a small business in the health and wellness niche, called Natural Healing House. Natural Healing House offers physician grade vitamins and supplements as well as homeopathy products to customers in the US and Canada. Natural Healing House is a mission driven business, committed to providing wellness products curated by experts, that offer customers the highest quality ingredients at affordable prices. Prior to running this business, Sims was the Vice President of Digital Product & Strategy at Prudential Financial, where she launched a digital life insurance product targeted at new parents. This product makes life insurance accessible and affordable for customers at a time in their life when they need additional financial protection. Smriti's financial services experience also includes running the global pricing portfolio for Business Travel at American Express. With a proven track record in launching digital products across financial services, life insurance, travel, and technology, Smriti has developed a unique perspective on innovating in highly regulated industries. She now brings her brand of fun and energy to the e-commerce space, with a focus on health and wellness. A self-proclaimed foodie and travel enthusiast, Smriti has traveled extensively and lived and worked in Europe and Asia, before settling down in New Jersey. Smriti is a native of India, where she earned a B.A. degree in economics and an M.B.A. and lives in New Jersey with her husband and 8-year-old son. Here is a special offer just for the AmiSights audience, 10% off Natural Healing House - use code: SPECIAL10. This can be applied at checkout and is valid on all products.  Recorded 06/02/2022. 

On this interview, Ami Kassar interviews Justin Donald, Lifestyle Investor® and Entrepreneur, on what lifestyle investing mean and why is it important in an inflationary world.  Entrepreneur Magazine calls Justin Donald the “Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing.” He’s a master of low-risk cash flow investing, specializing in simplifying complex financial strategies, structuring deals, and disciplined investment systems that consistently produce profitable results. His ethos is to “create wealth without creating a job.” In the span of 21 months, and before his 37th birthday, Justin’s investments drove enough passive income for both he and his wife Jennifer to leave their jobs. Following his simple investment system and 10 Commandments of Lifestyle Investing, Justin negotiated deals with over 100 companies, multiplied his net worth to over eight figures, and maintained a family-centric lifestyle in less than 2 years. Just 2 years later, he doubled his net worth again. He now consults and advises entrepreneurs, executives, and successful media personalities on lifestyle investing. Justin has also appeared on nearly 100 podcasts, including Entrepreneurs on Fire, The Mike Dillard Show, Making Bank, Achieve Your Goals, Capability Amplifier, Tractionville, Inside Personal Growth, Conscious Millionaire, Franchise Secrets, the Accelerated Investor, and Unbecoming. Justin distilled his lessons and proven investment system that reliably generates repeatable returns into The Lifestyle Investor podcast and the best-selling book The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cash Flow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom, released in January 2021. The Lifestyle Investor was an instant hit, making the USA Today best seller list, breaking #8 on all of Amazon.com, and #1 on the Wall Street Journal’s best seller list. All proceeds from copies of The Lifestyle Investor go to Love Justice International, a nonprofit fighting human trafficking in 17 countries. Justin is a lifelong leader and trainer with a track record of achievement. In his 20s, he worked with Cutco/Vector and quickly became one of the top managers in the company, and one of the youngest to achieve Hall of Fame status. His personal playbook of best practices was deployed nationwide as a training program to onboard sales representatives. While in this role, Justin began investing heavily in real estate and owns several profitable real estate related businesses, a large portfolio of multifamily rentals, OrangeTheory Fitness franchises, and several other successful operating companies. His entrepreneurial ventures include IFM Restoration, a residential maintenance and rehab company founded in 2016. IFM recently funded its Series A with S3 Ventures, the largest venture capital firm in Texas, leading the round. Justin is a member of Tiger 21 and a board member of Front Row Foundation International. He and Jennifer contribute to various causes privately and through their church, fighting cancer, building clean water wells in third-world countries and other humanitarian efforts. Additionally, they sponsor multiple children through Compassion International. The Donalds are based in Austin, Texas, and love adventure-based international travel with their beloved daughter. Recorded 04/14/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Lisa Zarda, Executive Director of the U.S. Swim School Association, on the challenges swim schools faced during the pandemic and how her association helped them overcome them. Lisa’s career in association management spans over twenty years and includes receiving her certified association executive designation in 2010 as well as the Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) designation in 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, in Exercise & Sports Science with an emphasis in Recreation Management and a minor in Business Administration from Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. Over the years she has held volunteer leadership positions with both the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Arizona Society of Association Executives (AzSAE). She recently completed the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business. Her career has included association work with the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee and the American Association of Cosmetology Schools which has allowed her to build upon the commonalities found even in unrelated industries. Lisa has been married for over 16 years and has an eleven-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son that keep her on her toes. When there is some downtime, she enjoys watching football, traveling (especially to beaches), and spending time with her family in Cave Creek, Arizona. Recorded 03/29/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Natasha Miller, Founder and CEO of Entire Productions, about her new book and her transformation during the pandemic. Natasha Miller isn’t your average CEO. She sits at the helm of Entire Productions, the go-to experience design, event and entertainment production company in San Francisco, and has been on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America for three years in a row. Natasha’s passion and commitment to giving back drive her invariable contributions and participation with numerous charitable organizations. She is also performing as a jazz vocalist and a trained classical violinist.  Natasha is a proud graduate of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and has studied entrepreneurship at the Harvard Business School and MIT and is a member of The Recording Academy (Grammys), ASCAP, SF Travel, and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). She resides in San Francisco, CA where she is a member and on the board of EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization).  Recorded 03/28/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dorian Wiederholt Kassar, teacher and coach, about his new coaching business and what made him start it. Dorian is a business owner, teacher, and coach. Since 2017, he has worked with over 4,000 teens and tweens sharing the principles and practices of mental health, connection, and authenticity. Dorian has trained with incredible mentors in the fields of coaching, martial arts, social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and healing. Through them, he learned the paths of peace, joy, connection, power, and abundance. Dorian leads workshops and gives presentations at many schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and coaches young men to become more authentic and empowered versions of themselves. He was a presenter at Rancho La Puerta’s Family Week in 2019 and 2021. Dorian’s mission is to bring out the greatness of every young person he works with so they can thrive. Dorian’s mentors include Les Brown, one of the world’s foremost motivational speakers, and Katie Salvage, the Director of Training at Challenge Day. Recorded 03/09/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks, about their journey working together, building their company, and the highs and lows. John Cronin and his Dad, Mark X. Cronin are the co-founders of John's Crazy Socks, a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness. In five years, they bootstrapped their start up into the world's largest sock store with multi-million-dollar sales in 88 nations. John may have Down syndrome, but he always says, "Down syndrome never holds me back." More than half of their employees have a differing ability and every day, John & Mark show what their colleagues can do. They are fierce advocates for the rights of the differently abled and have testified twice before the U.S. Congress and spoken at the United Nations and recorded two TEDx Talks. John and Mark are winners of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year and the Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman Humanitarian of the Year Award. They have addressed audiences across the U.S., Canada and Mexico speaking before social service agencies, fundraisers, universities, and corporations (e.g., Microsoft, EY & Bank of America). Recorded on FB Live on 04/28/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Kyle McClelland, President at Have Lights Will Travel, on his story of running a business through the pandemic.  Kyle got his start at Have Lights Will Travel in 2005, after asking Reg Willison, founder, when he was going to hire him. Kyle started work the very next day, and after his graduation from the University of Reno four years later, he asked Reg another question – when would he sell him the business? The pair worked out an arrangement, and in 2017, Kyle finished buying out Reg and became the full owner of Have Lights Will Travel. With the framework of this long-running northern Nevada lighting contractor well established, Kyle had big plans for additional growth and performance. By 2019, he had expanded the business into southern Nevada and points of California, and he’s currently in the process of securing licenses in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, and Colorado. Along the way, Have Lights has developed a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and technologically advanced companies in town, with a highly customized approach to customer service. While the focus is always the same – delivering the best option to the customer – Have Lights recognizes that every project has its own unique challenges, and the company is known for its innovative approach and experienced team. Kyle’s vision for Have Lights also includes a deep commitment to the community. As an active member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, which exists to build better businesses, Have Lights is proud to maintain a company culture in which every team member is valued and supported. It’s the basis for the core values at Have Lights: trust and respect, accountability, constant improvement, cutting edge, caring for others, and optimism. These are the kinds of values that build both a family and a company proud to stand behind its team and its work. Recorded 03/08/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews John Dame, Owner & Managing Partner, Dame Leadership, on everything he has learned coaching clients throughout the pandemic, and what's next!  JD received a B.S. in marketing from Pennsylvania State University in 1973. He pursued a career in radio broadcasting for 32 years. His time spent in broadcasting was leveraged as a rich learning platform for his evolution as a business strategist. JD’s reputation for insightful evaluation, planning, and a passion for driving results have grown his involvement with companies and organizations internationally. He has a fine-tuned understanding of the risks, challenges, and opportunities facing both seasoned and emerging CEOs allowing him to specialize in executive team coaching and strategic planning. His approach to strategic planning is simple and allows an organization to quickly execute better and drive results.He offers a step-by-step guide of the process in his book, Fast Track Strategic Planning. JD is affiliated with Vistage International, the world’s largest CEO membership organization (based on revenue), as a Group Chair and the Best Practice Chair for South Central Pennsylvania. Vistage comprises 13,000 members in 15 countries with members generating nearly $300 billion in annual revenue and employing more than 2.1 million people. JD’s clients produce $5 billion in annual revenue and employ over 5,000 people. His current focus has turned toward the role of purpose in the business environment, the new challenge of transitioning to a millennial-based workforce, and growing leadership teams within his client companies. Currently in the sixth year, the Evolution Leadership Conference series is designed to help leaders move from the old “command and control” leadership style to a more Purposeful leadership style. In 2021 over 500 leaders and executives attended the conference. Recorded 03/07/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Brooke Lively, CEO and Founder of Cathedral Capital, on the best advice for business owners about how to get on top of their numbers and stay in control of their business. Brooke is the CEO and Founder of Cathedral Capital, a team of CFOs and Profitability Strategists who help entrepreneurs turn their businesses into profitable companies. After earning her MBA in Investments and Corporate Finance, Brooke built a 7- figure company in under 2 years. As a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), she and her team work with Hall of Famers, INC 5000 businesses, CEOs, and Small Business Owners. With expertise in growth management, creative problem solving, and profitability strategy, Brooke has been named ‘Top 25 Women to Watch,’ 2016 - 2020 Diversity Journal ‘Women Worth Watching’, and ‘Fort Worth’s 2016 CFOs of the Year’. She is a highly regarded international speaker and the author of several books, including an international best-seller. Brooke has been featured in international media including CNBC, Forbes, US News and World Report, Fort Worth Business Press, Authority Magazine, and on podcasts such as The American Bar Association Modern Law Library, The Entrepreneur Way, and The Law Entrepreneur. Recorded 02/28/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Daniel Shemtob, Restaurateur & Chef, on managing his businesses throughout the pandemic.  Daniel Shemtob’s success is fueled by deep seeded passion, eccentric creativity, and love for community. Being raised to value hard work & intentional effort has helped him get to where he is today. Despite skipping college and foregoing studying at any of the world’s most renowned culinary institutions, Daniel's success has never been hindered by a lack of traditional education. From food trucks, fast casual restaurants, to fine dining, all styles of catering and his work wear footwear brand... Daniel has no shortage of entrepreneurial ventures under his belt these days. His career has propelled him into two Food Network show wins, and multiple accolades that have helped further his vision into the world. Recorded 02/25/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Mike Regan, Co-Founder and Chief of Relationship Development at TrazAct Technologies, on managing his business throughout the pandemic.  Mr. Regan is well known and active within the logistics industry. He serves on the Boards of numerous industry groups such as the National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council (NASSTRAC), as the Chairman of the Advocacy Committee. He’s also active in several industry organizations, such as the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), where he is a 2014 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the YPO/WPO Manufacturing Excellence Network. Mr. Regan has been a featured contributor and has published several blogs in industry publications such as Logisti Management, and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and the Journal of Commerce numerous times. Prior to founding TranzAct, he worked for the Bank of America, PriceWaterhouse, and the Union Pacific Corporation. TranzAct helps shippers reduce their transportation spend while providing the tools necessary to make better business decisions on an ongoing basis.  Recorded 02/24/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Brad Stevens, Founder/CEO of Outsource Access, about the pros and cons of global outsourcing. Brad Stevens is a lifetime entrepreneur, 9-year EO Member and Founder/CEO of Outsource Access, an offshore virtual services firm he built to over 400 employees in just over two and a half years that was the only outsourcing firm to win Inc Magazine’s “Best in Business” award for making an impact beyond the P&L.  He also co-founded a service called 1on1connections.com that connects together member organizations and conferences at scale. His prior company was in the dental/beauty industry with 8,000 accounts in 18 countries. Brad walks-the-walk every day with expertise on scaling, automation, outsourcing and high-performance offshore virtual teams. He has spoken in 12 countries for over 100 organizations with high 9 ratings including EO, YPO, Vistage and sharing the stage with John Maxwell at his Leadership Institute.  He is a published TEDx Speaker with over 200,000 views on the topic of How Personal Global Economies Are Redefining Entrepreneurship and created the podcast Automate & Delegate - What Should You NOT Be Doing in Life and Business. Brad is also a 9-year member of the Global Entrepreneurs’ Organization currently serving as the EO US East Regional Director for Member Engagement across 22 chapters and nearly 2000 members.  He has also served as President for the EO Atlanta Chapter. Brad has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs and was chosen to run a think-tank at the United Nations for his entrepreneurial expertise and charitable contributions. A top 10 global film school also created a documentary about Brad’s business and philanthropic efforts and he has been featured in Inc Magazine, the Wall Street Business Network, and on the cover of Small Business Magazine. Brad graduated from the Wharton Business School with Finance and Marketing Concentrations and recently completed a Harvard Business School Executive Education Program on Inspiring Entrepreneurial Strategy.  He lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Cindy, a passionate educator for 13 years, and their two children that keep them quite busy, Ella and Brayden. Recorded 02/23/22.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Gerald Brisson, President and Owner of Transworld Business Advisors of Houston, on the current state of the mergers and acquisitions market. Gerry has thirty years global business experience which includes managing international business units, directing global marketing, directing global procurement, sales, and operations. Gerry has been involved in hundreds of negotiations across 5 continents and dozens of business sales. He has held executive leadership positions in 3 Fortune 500 companies covering 50+ countries across North America, Latin America, Central America, The Caribbean, Asia, Europe, and Africa. He started Transworld Business Advisors of Houston in 2013 and quickly built his team into the top business brokerage firm in the Houston Metropolitan area. Houston is a market with over 220,000 businesses and a population of over 7 million. He has successfully sold hundreds of businesses with a focus on main street and lower middle market transactions. The Houston Transworld office is consistently ranked in the top 2 franchise operations in the country. Gerry's uniquely diverse global business experience includes contract and lease negotiations, retail network development, new business development, global and local marketing, global retail brand management, retail revenue stream development, contract & lease negotiations, strategic global procurement, franchise development, general and operational management, and global franchise development. development. Gerry is thrilled to have the opportunity to leverage his extensive business experience to assist others in realizing their business & life goals. Recorded 02/21/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Tony Conant, CEO of the American Rental Association, on managing a trade association through the pandemic. Tony is the Chief Executive Officer at American Rental Association; a trade association representing 11,000 rental locations and over 1,000 manufacturers and suppliers to the equipment and event rental industry. He is responsible for enabling operational excellence across the organization and building capabilities to support ARA’s strategic plan. His professional experience includes over 20 years working in operations and supply chain functions at world-class companies such as Intel, BASF, Whirlpool and Bank of America. Prior to ARA, he was the Chief Operating Officer at the Institute for Supply Management, a not-for-profit association focused on the supply chain management profession. Tony’s passion is leadership and team development. He delivers high-energy presentations on these topics that inspire others to challenge the status quo. Audiences appreciate his affable manner and practical strategies they can apply personally and professionally. He earned a BS degree in Operations Management from Madonna University and an MBA from the University of Florida. He also completed his Six Sigma Black Belt certification from the University of California at San Diego and earned the Certified Association Executive designation from ASAE in 2020. He is married to Amy and they enjoy spending time with their 10 year old son Beau. The Conants are a hockey family that enjoys travel, sports and classic cars. Recorded 02/16/22.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Ian Goff, owner of Goff Tents & Events and Purdon Rental, about his story managing an events rental business during the pandemic and what he learned.  Ian Goff, CERP, is the owner of Goff Tents & Events and Purdon Rental, both full service party and event rental stores throughout Central Kentucky. Ian also has over 20 years of experience in various aspects of the event rental industry including manufacturing, installation, event coordination, and strategic planning for large scale festivals and concerts. Goff has served as President of the American Rental Association's Kentucky chapter since 2014, which was named national chapter of the year in 2015. He has been awarded ARA's National Outstanding Leadership award, Region 5 Person of the year as well as being named 10 to watch under 40. Ian resides in Lexington, KY with his wife Katlyn and four children Owen (11), Miles (9), Presley (6), and Andersen (5). They enjoy spending their time away from work with family and friends and are active members of Big Hill Christian Church. Recorded 02/04/2022. 

On the episode, Ami Kassar interviews Tim McDiarmid, Founder and Owner at Tim the Girl Catering, The Good Kind & Ivy Hall Events, on managing a restaurant through the pandemic.  Tim grew up in Canada and always dreamt of being a chef. She loved watching her mother cook and aspired to one day work in a restaurant in New York City. As a young woman, Tim headed to the “Big Apple” in search of fulfilling her dreams. She lived and worked in New York for nearly 20 years in every restaurant position imaginable from front of house, back of house, bartender, and eventually as a chef. This was a great learning experience, allowing her to observe all aspects of running a restaurant. Tim was able to really hone in on her craft and gain lots of knowledge from other culinary leaders in the community. In 2004, Tim and her husband (at the time) had a son, Tappen. Unfortunately, the relationship was toxic and she needed to escape. So in 2011, Tim packed up her six year old son, and together they moved to San Antonio, TX. It was the hardest thing she’s ever done. Living in a big city, with no family, as a single parent was difficult. She had to be scrappy and work hard. It was here that Tim began cooking from home and started her catering business, Tim The Girl Catering. This allowed Tim more time to focus on her son, continue her passion, and grow what is now a very successful group of businesses. In 2015, Tim had the opportunity to open her very own restaurant, called The Good Kind. The concept specializes in healthy grab-n-go breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack items, plus large and small scale catering. The Good Kind builds on Tim the Girl Catering’s vision to provide the San Antonio community with food that is clean, nourishing, sustainable, and delicious. The restaurant started as an incubator project in a popular downtown San Antonio shopping area called The Pearl. They had a Food Hall, which allowed Tim to grow and save for the chance of moving into her own space. Soon she was able to move into a beautiful garden property in the Southtown neighborhood of San Antonio. Here Tim was able to open a permanent restaurant for The Good Kind and run an event venue, called Ivy Hall Events. It’s a beautiful garden space that can host weddings, birthdays, corporate events, and more. The three businesses work together beautifully allowing Tim to provide delicious food on the property, as well as for off-site events. Recorded 02/02/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jason Kruger, President & Founder of Signature Analytics, on what the pandemic has taught businesses about accounting and finance, and what the future holds. Jason is a leader and business advisor focused on helping business owners, leaders, and executives improve performance by providing greater visibility into their financials so they can achieve their goals through value-added financial information. Signature Analytics’ 5-step process for client success focuses first on goal and roadmap development, ensuring confidence in timely and accurate accounting, and finally through bringing clarity to a company’s financial information through reporting to drive forward-looking decisions that impact business value, margins, improved cash flows, etc. Following our process from the beginning ensures we understand our client's goals and puts us on a path to mutual success. Since starting Signature Analytics and working with a variety of small to enterprise level businesses over the last 20 years, Jason has a clear understanding of what it takes to push a company to cut costs, improve reporting, and enhance operational efficiencies in order to strengthen its financial position. Recorded 02/01/2022. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Gail Davis, founder and president of GDA Speakers, about managing a speaking bureau during the pandemic and what she learned. Gail Davis’ decades of experience in corporate marketing and event management served as the launchpad for GDA Speakers. Before establishing the company in 1999, she spent 20 years managing the events of the Dallas-based global technology conglomerate─Electronic Data Systems (EDS)─founded by Ross Perot. While at EDS she discovered Nando Parrado, a heroic survivor of the 1972 Andes plane crash. Parrado presented an unforgettable speech at EDS’ marquee event. Shortly after his successful keynote, Parrado signed an exclusive agreement with Davis as it was her efforts that convinced him to share his story after so many years. It was this partnership with Parrado which eventually anchored the creation of GDA Speakers. Davis is credited with bringing Parrado’s harrowing experience to life in The New York Times best-selling book, Miracle in the Andes. Twenty-three years later, GDA Speakers continues to represent Parrado. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Andes crash, his story will be told through the upcoming Netflix movie, The Snow Society. Davis continues to discover new talent and under her passionate leadership, GDA Speakers has vetted and curated highly qualified speakers who they deliver to clients with confidence. Her successful business approach led to her being named the 2011-2012 President of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB). Previously developing new and improved education programs in her role as an IASB Governor, she has won numerous awards including the 2015 John Palmer Award, 2011 President’s Award, 2010 Above and Beyond Award, and the 2007 Pace Setter Award. Davis is a frequent guest on podcasts sharing entrepreneurial insights, lessons in innovative leadership, and her vast knowledge of the speaker industry. Davis is an active member of the Entrepreneur Organization and a supporter of numerous community organizations. She was the co-chair of the 2014 Soup’s On! Luncheon, the major fundraising force of The Stewpot Alliance - with that luncheon being the most successful to date. Named to the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College Board of Visitors, she went on to be awarded the 2018 Gaylord Distinguished Alumni Award. She was also honored by the Dallas Business Journal as one of Dallas’ Top 25 Women in Business. Being drawn to the mountains, Davis enjoys hiking and has recently traversed 43 miles in Zion National Park. Merging her love for hiking and serving the community, she has also hiked the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim as a part of a fundraiser for Project Athena and has walked over 120 miles on the Camino de Santiago hike in Spain. She is an Oklahoma native, graduating from the Gaylord College at the University of Oklahoma, and currently resides in Dallas, Texas. Recorded 01/31/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Daniel Marcos, co-founder and CEO of Growth Institute, on the evolving platform for virtual learning for entrepreneurs, what has changed and where does he see it going? Daniel is the co-founder and CEO of Growth Institute, the leading online executive education company for C-level executives at fast-growing firms. He is a keynote speaker and a CEO Coach, with a mission to help 1 million entrepreneurs scale their impact and reduce drama in the process. He is a member of YPO and EO and is a certified coach in the Scaling Up methodology. He is a graduate of EO’s premiere CEO program, the “Birthing of Giants”, and he holds a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from ITESM (Monterrey Tech) and an MBA from Babson College. Daniel was an early entrepreneur. He started a t-shirt business at the age of eight and then partnered with a car detailing franchise to provide cleaning services throughout his high school years. In the year 2000, he built an online trading business that was acquired within six months by what was Argentina's largest financial player at the time. Daniel’s next business launched just before the untimely crash of the financial markets in 2008. His business was shut down and Daniel took on $1 million in debt. Despite the recent setback, Daniel had an abundance of experience and successes under his belt and had recently been recognized in Expansion Magazine's “30 under 30”. As a serial entrepreneur, Daniel quickly realized that CEOs are often the bottleneck of the company. In the same way that you can’t solve a problem without first elevating your mindset, a business can’t evolve beyond what the CEO can handle.  Daniel partnered with Verne Harnish in 2012 to bring executive training to the masses. What was once reserved for a small niche of wealthy companies is now available to all CEOs and their Executive Teams. In less than a decade, Growth Institute has been recognized among the top 5,000 fastest-growing companies in the USA, with over 40,000 members across 64 countries. Recorded 01/25/22.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Herb Cogliano, International Business Growth Advisor & Certified Scaling Up Coach, discussing how companies remain flexible during these uncertain times, examples of companies that have done well through the pandemic as well as companies that have done poorly.  Herb Cogliano spearheads his own advisory practice based on the award-winning books Scaling Up and the Rockefeller Habits. As an international business growth advisor and experienced CEO Scaling Up practitioner, he has learned firsthand what it takes to overcome many business challenges. Herb is pursuing his passion of working with leaders of growth companies to achieve freedom by helping them create industry leading strategies and flawless execution within their organizations. He is also a Scaling Up Professor for a global Masters Scaling Up Business Course. Herb was formerly CEO of Sullivan and Cogliano Designers, a 53-year privately held family owned, Technology Staffing and Workforce Solutions firm and in 1993, he also founded the Sullivan and Cogliano education business. A resident of Westford, Herb graduated from Westford Academy in 1983, and received his BSBA from Boston College in 1987 and his MBA from the University of Massachusetts (International Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma) in 2016. Sullivan and Cogliano joined a select group of companies that have appeared on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company list multiple times. The Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth over a four-year period. This achievement puts us in a unique position, especially if you consider that over 27 million businesses are registered in the USA. His firm was a Multiyear recipient of Boston and South Florida Business Journal Best Places to Work Award. This honor recognizes Sullivan and Cogliano's achievements for changing the business landscape, in creating a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees through a combination of employee satisfaction, working conditions, and company culture. Herb serves on the Carroll School of Management Board of Advisors at Boston College. He has been a member of the American Staffing Association, and formerly served on its Board of Directors as Chapter Relations Committee Chair. He is past president of the Massachusetts Association of Staffing Services, and previously served on the boards of Employment Resources, Inc. and Junior Achievement. Recorded 01/20/22.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Deborah Moses Elton, CEO of VerisVisalign, on how digital transformation evolved over the pandemic, and how it impacts businesses of all shapes and sizes. Deborah is the CEO of VerisVisalign. The local IT services company is a long-term Microsoft Partner, specializing in Microsoft technologies and process optimization. The company is a certified woman-owned enterprise, with certifications from PA, MD, DE (WBE), the Federal government (WOSB), and the National Council of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She attended Montgomery County Community College (Pennsylvania) and Temple University, and has furthered her career with certifications in management, leadership, and information technology areas. She holds memberships in several local executive organizations. She has served many years as a mentor in Temple University’s annual Be Your Own Boss Bowl business plan competition.  Deborah is an active speaker and trainer, and an ITIL® Expert in the IT Service Management practitioner realm (ITIL®). She is a former recipient of the Brava! Award, and the company has several times been honored on the Philly 100 list. Deborah is also the author of Change Your Life! The CORE Approach ™ to Creating the Life You Want, a personal change methodology based on the concepts of Choice, Opportunity, Responsibility, and Expectation.  She is married and lives with her husband in suburban Philadelphia, is a mom to four grown children, three grandchildren, and several fur babies. She is an active leader in the local community and fund-raising events, and can often be seen on the stage of local theatres. Recorded 10/25/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Rich Armstrong, President at The Great Game of Business, discussing some of the most exciting transformations he has seen when companies have used the Great Game of Business. Rich Armstrong has thirty years of experience in improving business performance and employee engagement through open-book management and employee ownership, with service as a business coach and as a current executive at SRC Holdings Corporation, a thirty-seven-year old employee-owned company and one of the United States’ top one hundred largest majority employee-owned companies. Rich has been instrumental in the ongoing development of SRC Holdings’ open-book management and employee-ownership practices through practical, “firsthand” experience leading several of SRC’s business units. This experience has enabled him to successfully apply these practices in both small- and large-scale company implementations around the world. He coauthored Get in the Game as well as the update of the number one bestseller, The Great Game of Business—20th Anniversary Edition. Rich is a graduate of Pittsburg State University and serves on the board of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO). He cherishes his time with his wife, Alicia, and four children, Ryan, Ethan, Rylee, and Jackson. Rich’s guilty pleasure is making music in his home studio and playing in his ’90s rock tribute band. Recorded 11/13/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Justin Rosenberg, founder and CEO of honeygrow, on lessons learned from managing a chain of restaurants during the pandemic.  Justin is the Founder and CEO of honeygrow, a fast-casual stir-fry and salad concept founded in Philadelphia in 2012. With a mission to create a unique, spirited brand focused on simple, wholesome foods, Rosenberg has led the company's creation and growth, which will consist of 26 units by year end. Prior to launching honeygrow, Rosenberg worked as an Asset Manager and Manager of Energy Services for PREIT in Philadelphia, where he was responsible for purchasing and hedging strategies, energy costing, solar power development, capital budgeting, retail re-merchandising strategies, and forecasting for a portfolio of over 35 national shopping centers and malls throughout the US. After seven years in the finance and real estate industry, Rosenberg decided it was time to pursue his true passions of entrepreneurialism, cooking, and creative brand-building. Influenced by his recent adoption of a plant-based diet and his love for design and music, he drew inspiration for a concept set to differentiate itself from the rest. To prepare himself for this new venture, Justin staged at various restaurants from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. to gain further experience in kitchen operations, cooking, and leadership. In 2012, the first honeygrow location opened in the Rittenhouse neighborhood of Philadelphia, and Rosenberg’s vision catapulted to the next level. Since that day, honeygrow would continue to expand its unit count and team, with sights set for becoming an enduring, sustainable organization. The company has raised over $70 million in equity financing and has grown into the Boston, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington DC, and the New York City metro areas. In 2020, Justin received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Greater Philadelphia region and in 2021, was distinguished as a member of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class. Justin resides in the Philadelphia suburbs with his wife, three children, and Goldendoodle, Bowie. His passions outside of honeygrow include Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, cooking, all-things guitar, hiking, and surfing. He is a member of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Corporate Council and a board member of the Common Market Mid-Atlantic. Recorded 10/06/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Anna David, the New York Times bestselling author of two novels and six non-fiction books, on if someone wants to write a book, why should they do it and what should they do next? Anna David is the New York Times bestselling author of two novels and six non-fiction books. She’s been published in the New York Times, Time, LA Times, Vanity Fair, Playboy, Vice, Cosmo, The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed and Salon, among many others, written about in Forbes, Martha Stewart Living, Entrepreneur, Allure, and Women’s Health and has appeared repeatedly on Today, The Talk, Good Morning America, and numerous other programs. She’s been a featured speaker at three different TedX events and her company, Legacy Launch Pad, writes and publishes books for thought leaders. Legacy Launch Pad recently re-launched David’s first book, Party Girl, which is being developed into a movie by an Oscar winning producing team. Recorded 10/04/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Chris Krimitsos, Chief Creative Officer at Podfest Multimedia Expo, on everything our listeners need to know about podcasting - and more!  Chris holds the Guinness World Records™ title for the largest attendance for a virtual podcasting conference in one week, and is a leading expert on podcasting and on-demand audio. His international conference, PodFest, is the longest-running continuous in-person podcasting event in the world and attracts thousands of attendees from over 50 countries each year. Running parallel with that event, Chris also successfully birthed VidFest, as part of his efforts to build the home for all creators. With two decades and over 2,000 live events under his belt, Chris has worked with the world’s most influential voices in marketing, audio, and technology. Those experiences inspired his best-selling book, Start Ugly, which has quickly become the go-to guide for entrepreneurs and influencers who are beginning their creative journey. He’s not just an educator though. His penchant for being an on-demand innovator is seen in Chris’ own Kid-Friendly Podcast Network having garnered over a million podcast downloads. As a podcast consultant and coach, he has helped ventures such as the Women’s Meditation Network grow to millions of monthly downloads. As the go-to authority, Chris is the person to be contacted when the experts need to understand how the on-demand audio space will continue to evolve. Recorded 10/01/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Bridget Weston, CEO of the SCORE Association, about SCORE: How can people sign up to mentor, how people can find help, and how mentoring and SCORE have changed as a result of the pandemic. Bridget is the CEO of the SCORE Association, which provides free mentoring and education to current and aspiring small business owners through its network of 10,000 volunteers. A respected thought leader in the small business landscape, Ms. Weston has testified before the House Small Business Committee and appeared on MSNBC. Ms. Weston earned her MBA from Temple University and a BS in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Recorded 09/30/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Steve Baker, Vice President of The Great Game of Business, Inc., to discuss the Great Game of Business:   What it is and how it works.  Steve co-authored Get in the Game as well as the update of the number one bestseller, The Great Game of Business—20th Anniversary Edition. Known for his engaging and irreverent style, Steve is a top-rated, sought-after speaker and coach on open-book management, strategy and execution, leadership, and employee engagement.  His audiences range from Harvard University to the Department of Defense, and he is a regular at Inc. magazine’s Inc. 5000 Conference. He has served on the Board of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and SRC Holding’s Ownership Culture Initiative.  Steve is an award-winning artist and lives in Springfield, Missouri, with his trophy wife, JoAnn, and three above-average children. Recorded 09/30/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dennis Najjar, co-founder of AccountingDepartment.com, to discuss how a business owner knows when they have the right level of accounting and bookkeeping support.  As one of the two founding masterminds behind AccountingDepartment.com, Dennis Najjar, CPA, CGMA took his extensive expertise in public accounting and his process-driven approach to problem solving and transformed it into AccountingDepartment.com. Throughout his career, Dennis has worked exclusively with small, medium, and start-up businesses, giving him the knowledge and experience to oversee the AccountingDepartment.com team in helping clients with strategic business planning for future success and growth.  In public accounting since 1982, Dennis joined Coopers & Lybrand after graduating from Rutgers University; in 1986, he started the public accounting firm Dennis M. Najjar, CPA; his practice has an emphasis on tax planning and preparation for corporations, partnerships and individuals. This background enabled Dennis to focus on developing an unparalleled solution for business owners to gain control over their accounting departments, which he brought to fruition when he co-founded AccountingDepartment.com in 2004.  In addition to founding and managing AccountingDepartment.com, Dennis serves as a speaker for Vistage International, focusing on educating business owners on how to establish accountability in their accounting departments through best practices, processes, procedures, and the integrated use of accounting technology. He was the founding author of the About.com Accounting Channel (now TheBalance.com) and is a current contributor to Vistage Financial Management publications. He has served extensively as an expert source in various financial articles and journals, including Entrepreneur magazine and Lorman educational webinars. He holds an active membership in AICPA, NJCPA, and FICPA; and is also a member of Vistage International. Recorded 09/30/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Rhett Buttle, Founder of Public Private Strategies, on the Biden Administrations' small business agenda:  How things are going and what's next? Rhett Buttle is the Founder of Public Private Strategies (PPS). PPS creates opportunities where the public and private sectors meet bringing together diverse allies including foundations, associations, corporations, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to solve pressing societal challenges. By harnessing the power of the private sector, PPS build coalitions, activate campaigns, and create strategic partnerships to drive desired policy and market outcomes.  Rhett is also a Senior Fellow at The Aspen Institute. In his role at Aspen, Rhett focuses his efforts on advancing the innovative Reconnecting Work and Wealth Initiative – a cutting edge effort at the Aspen Institute that engages several of the Institute’s largest policy programs and their stakeholder networks in an ambitious re-visioning of the ways that 21st Century labor and financial markets can deliver inclusive growth and shared prosperity. Before founding Public Private Strategies, Rhett was the Business Engagement Director at Hillary for America serving as Secretary Clinton’s liaison and private sector advisor during her run for President. Before joining the campaign, Rhett was President & Managing Director of a national business advocacy organization where he led an organization of over 25 people actively doing policy and advocacy work both nationally and in 10 states across the country. In 2014, Rhett was appointed by President Obama to The White House Business Council and served as the Director of Private Sector Engagement in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, he was the main liaison between the department and the business community. He is an expert on healthcare policy issues as it relates to the employer community. He worked on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, public private partnerships for the Ebola response & the President’s Precision Medicine Initiative. He was a key player in the Administration’s effort to transform the healthcare system to one that is more focused on value and patient centered care. Buttle has also served in the Office of the President at George Washington University, in the Office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and has worked on several presidential, state, and local campaigns. Rhett frequently engages with the media and has been featured in the New York Times, CNN, WSJ and several business publications. He has spoken on business issues at the Aspen Institute, the Harvard Institute of Politics, and the Center for American Progress. He also serves on the boards of several organizations. Rhett holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego and a master’s degree from The George Washington University. In addition, he is active in many volunteer & professional organizations including American Legion Boys State. Rhett was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. In 2016, he was honored by the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce as their Business Advocate of the Year.   Recorded 09/29/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Eric Weaver, Senior Advisor to City First Enterprises, the Aspen Institute’s Business Ownership Initiative, Community Capital Advisors, and Accion Opportunity Fund, on assess to capital to the underserved: what's going on and what's changing. Eric brings over three decades of experience in community economic development and community development finance. After graduating from Harvard University, he began his career as a relief worker in El Salvador, bringing aid to internally displaced refugees during the civil war there in the 1980s. He then worked as a community organizer and project manager at an affordable housing non-profit in Washington, DC, near where he grew up in Bethesda, MD. After moving west to pursue an MBA at Stanford, he ended up staying in California for 30 years. In 1992, he founded what is now the nation’s leading small and microbusiness lending CDFI—Opportunity Fund (now Accion Opportunity Fund). When Eric stepped down as CEO in 2017, Opportunity Fund had over 100 employees and a small business loan portfolio under management of over $100 million. The company has also been a leader in Individual Development Accounts, Affordable Housing lending, New Markets Tax Credit lending, and advocacy on the issue of curbing irresponsible and predatory small business lending. Last year, Opportunity Fund surpassed $1 billion in cumulative community investment. He and his family moved back to his home state of Maryland in 2020. He now serves as a Senior Advisor to four organizations: City First Enterprises, the Aspen Institute’s Business Ownership Initiative, Community Capital Advisors, and Accion Opportunity Fund. Recorded 09/28/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews David Nilssen, CEO of Doxa7, about his new company and why global outsourcing is important.  David is the CEO of Doxa7, which helps businesses build and scale up high-performing, global teams. In 2007, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) named him the National Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and his businesses have been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” seven times. They have also been included on many Inc 5000 lists, including the Inc 500 in 2008.  As an investor, David has provided funding to companies in neuropharma, online travel, personal financial management, transportation, digital administration, and more. Today, he serves as the Global Learning Chair for the Entrepreneurs Organization.  David is an avid cyclist, travel addict, and a food and wine snob. He lives in Boise, ID with his wife and two daughters. Recorded 09/24/2021.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Andy Cagnetta, CEO of Transworld Business Advisors, on what's going on in the mergers and acquisitions market as well as tips and tricks for buyers and sellers. Andy came down to Florida in 1995. While looking to buy a business, he encountered a company named Transworld Business Brokers. He continued his search for a business but was offered a position at Transworld as an agent. He joined the company and quickly became one of South Florida’s top performers. Now over 40 years old, Transworld Business Advisors is the number one business brokerage and an international franchisor through a partnership with United Franchise Group. They have currently over 600 business brokers in the organization and have over 5,000 businesses for sale. They also have 200+ franchisees in the US and several internationally. Andy is a recognized speaker and trainer in the subject of business sales, valuation, and negotiations. He has taught his self-authored negotiations class to associations, construction companies, media sales teams, government agencies, high school & university students. His signature charity event "Andy's Family Pasta Dinner" is in its 19th year and has raised over $1,900,000. He is father to two. Rachel, Lauren and his wife, Allison are Hollywood residents (Allison since 1970, Andy since 1994). Recorded 09/23/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dave Whorton, founder of the Tugboat Institute®, to discuss some of the observations, decision-making patterns, and business lessons learned coming out of the pandemic. Dave founded Tugboat Institute® in 2013 to connect, support, and inspire purpose driven leaders of Evergreen® businesses. Dave is responsible for all aspects of Tugboat Institute including setting the long-term strategy, curating the experiences, and developing relevant programming for Tugboat Institute along with championing and celebrating the importance of Evergreen companies. Dave believes Evergreen leaders and their businesses are simply capitalism at its best.  Prior to founding Tugboat Institute, Dave founded Tugboat Ventures® in 2006 and co-founded four companies, including drugstore.com and Good Technology. Dave holds a BS in Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.  Dave and his wife have been happily married for over two decades and count themselves lucky to have raised their son and daughter in Sun Valley, Idaho. Dave is also a voracious reader. When he puts down the books, he can be found hiking, golfing, and cycling with his family. Recorded 09/17/2021.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jeff Clapper, President & Owner of 8th & Walton, on everything that’s changed with Walmart in the last year. Jeff is the President & Owner of 8th & Walton and enjoys leading the company's mission to educate suppliers on becoming better partners with Walmart. His retail career began in magazine publishing, as the Newsstand Sales Director for Pack-O-Fun, Inc, a 55-year-old publisher of six consumer crafting magazines, calling on key national retail accounts including Walmart. He later led the business as Publisher and independently brokered its sale to Amos Press, Inc. in 2006. In 2007, Jeff launched an online golf video game, which he sold to World Golf Tour in 2010. He holds a BA in Economics, Philosophy, and Music from Ohio Wesleyan University. Recorded 09/14/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Robert Clinkenbeard, CEO of The Radix Group, about the Radix Group & Scaling up: what it is, how it works, and how he helps businesses and people with it. Robert co-founded one of the largest landscape companies (ILM) in the South West Region of the United States back in 2001.  The company grew to 350+ employees with 5 branches and revenue of more than $20MM. The company had a very successful exit back in 2016. Robert is now CEO of The Radix Group, which has offices in Greenville, Phoenix, and the UK. The Radix Group specializes in challenging, collaborative business, executive, and leadership coaching programs for CEOs, Presidents and business owners. Since Robert has had the experience to scale a company up quickly he is now focused on coaching other CEO’s and Key Executives in business and personal growth. He is currently becoming certified with Gazelles International Coaches and is closely working with various peer and mastermind groups. Robert is the past President of the AZ Chapter of the Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO) and has helped grow the EO Accelerator program globally to 9 regions. He also currently serves on the EO Western Regional Council’s Board as an Area Director. In December 2017 he completed his two-year term as the President of the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association. Robert was raised in Edinburgh, Scotland and moved to Arizona in 1999 to find a better lifestyle, new opportunities and to widen his traveling options. Robert has been married for eight years to his wife, Faith, and is kept busy with five children. He played competitive rugby and soccer for 20 years and has competed in 4 Ironman triathlon events so he fully understands discipline, strategy, and execution. Recorded 09/13/2021.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Karie Kaufmann, Business & Executive Coach and Scaling Up Strategic Planning Facilitator, about Scaling Up, what it is, how it works, and how she helps businesses and people with it. Karie is a master coach and facilitator, having coached over 1,000 high growth companies since 2005. Her clients have achieved double and triple-digit growth in profitability, accomplished through implementation of the Scaling Up framework and Rockefeller Habits. She helps business leaders work through roadblocks and growing pains, build amazing teams, and enable sustainable growth… all while enjoying the ride. She is an international speaker, Global Hall of Fame Coach, and has won 14 major coaching awards. She also serves on the board of Newbreak church, and is a lifetime partner and financial contributor to B1G1: Business for Good. Happily married for 18 years, Karie and her husband, Scott, live in San Diego with their two children (ages 8 and 11) and Frank, the golden doodle. Recorded 09/13/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Deb Gabor, Founder and CEO of Sol Marketing, on branding in this current world - best cases and worst cases of company responses to the pandemic.  “Leading Expert" doesn't come close to describing Deb Gabor's passion for brands. More accurate? Brand Guru. Brand Impresario. Brand Evangelist. She's written the book on branding (twice!) with bestsellers Branding is Sex and Irrational Loyalty. She's the founder and CEO of Sol Marketing, a strategy-led marketing firm obsessed with solving major business and branding problems for clients in every industry. Companies throughout the world use Deb’s Brand Values Pyramid, Ideal Customer Archetype, and “Brand Swagger Questions” to align their teams and articulate their brands to audiences. Deb and her team at Sol Marketing have introduced her revolutionary brand strategy for organizations ranging from international household names like Allrecipes, The Associated Press, Dell, Microsoft, NBC Universal, NPR, NTT Data, and Siemens, to exciting emerging brands like hint water and Indagare. Deb also lends her brand authority with frequent contributions and commentary to major news outlets such as Entrepreneur, Forbes, FORTUNE, Inc., MediaPost, New York Times, NPR, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Business and marketing organizations regularly call on Deb as a keynote speaker and workshop leader, relying on her as an inspiration for executives to embrace the power of branding to create Marketing That Sells. Recorded 08/30/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Colleen McKenna, Founder and CEO of Intero Advisory, on how LinkedIn marketing and hiring have changed and how business owners should be taking advantage of it. Colleen launched Intero Advisory for individuals and companies focused on increasing their sales and talent initiatives. Since 2011 Intero Advisory, a LinkedIn consulting, coaching and training firm has been engaged by more than 600 companies who have increased their presence, revenue, and hiring opportunities applying Colleen’s insight, strategy, and techniques and to tens of thousands of business professionals. Her membership site, blog, and podcast reach a global audience and more than 600 companies have benefited from her expertise. The Intero team, over an 18 month period sourced more than 80,000 LinkedIn profiles for clients across the country for lead generation and recruiting. On behalf of one client, Intero secured more than 2.3 million in new revenue. With a personal approach to business, Colleen and Intero shake up the status quo by maximizing an individual’s network, personal brand, and expertise. Colleen has worked with and for startups to market leaders like Xerox, Consolidated Graphics, and Carefirst. She earned her M.A. in publication design from the University of Baltimore and a B.S. in mass communication from Towson University. Recorded 08/27/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Mikki Williams, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, TED Speaker, Storyteller, Executive Speech Coach, and Vistage Master Chair, about how presenting online is different from presenting in person and how she teaches these skills. Mikki Williams is a CSP, certified speaking professional, a member of the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame, and a TEDx speaker. A global celebrity speaker and transformational storyteller, she was chosen as one of the best speakers in the country by Meetings and Convention Magazine along with Tony Robbins, Bill Gates, and Lou Holtz.  Mikki is an award-winning Vistage speaker, the world’s leading executive organization, and a Master Chair of two of their peer advisory boards. If that’s not enough, this busy entrepreneur runs Speaker Schools, The Mikki Mouth Club, Keynote Kamp, Outrageous Orators, and she was recognized in Forbes as a top executive speech coach. She has spoken in every US state, every Canadian province, and every continent except Antarctica…where she can’t wear her stiletto’s. Recorded 08/25/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Claudia Williams, Chief Frientorship® Officer, Executive Coach & Leadership Mentor, Speaker & Workplace Trainer, and Author about her philosophy of Frientorship, how it works, and how it evolved during the pandemic. Claudia improves the lives of leaders and their teams so they can thrive together to deliver superior business results and lead fulfilling lives. In her role as a Vistage Chair, she increases the effectiveness and enhances the lives of CEOs, key executives, and those they influence and impact, including their teams, customers, and clients. Claudia brings together a select, non-competitive group of CEOs and executives to harness the power of unbiased peers and purposeful education for professional and personal growth. As a result, they make better decisions, grow 2.2 times faster than their peers, and live rewarding lives. In her work as a consultant, Claudia works to inspire leaders and motivate employees to love what they do and love the places where they work. Through Frientorship®, a combination of key principles of friendship, mentorship, and leadership, we can create a self-sustaining method to develop ourselves and our teams so that we are leaving in place an individual or a team who is ready to stand up and lead when we are done leading. Relationships matter and this methodology puts people at the forefront of a winning business and employee engagement strategy – one that delivers financial results along with business continuity. Immediately prior to starting The Human Zone, Claudia served as Associate General Counsel, Global HR & Litigation, for The Hershey Company. She founded The Human Zone after spending more than a decade as an attorney coaching leaders of organizations of all sizes through challenging situations. Claudia believes in giving back to the community and building professional and personal legacies to last for generations to come. Recorded 08/26/2021. 

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Steve Dobbins, Founder and CEO of The Dobbins Group, on how marketing has changed and evolved throughout the pandemic. Steve is a seasoned marketing and communications pro, with a passion for compelling content, brand building, audience engagement, purpose-driven business, and growing dream teams. For more than 20 years, Steve has worked side-by-side with CEOs, helping them grow their brands and blow through their goals. His areas of expertise include content strategy, digital media, social media, event marketing, visual branding, experience design, media relations, product development, and global marketing. Clients have included IBM, SWIMS, Casco Contractors and Design Studio, AchieveNEXT, YPO, Alliance Resource Group, the CREATiON Companies, Prime Power, the Tarsadia Foundation, and many more. Steve is a passionate leader, lifetime learner, and eternal optimist who believes in the power of business to transform lives and create a better world for us all. His leadership journey has taken him around the world, wearing many hats, from small business owner and entrepreneur to chief marketing officer and SVP of strategic new initiatives. In April 2016, Steve co-founded a new socially-driven fitness brand, evolve, where every purchase includes a giveback to a nonprofit fighting for social justice. In August 2016, he launched The Dobbins Group, a consultancy focused on providing strategic marketing and communications support to diverse clients around the world. Always up for a new challenge, Steve competed in his first Half IRONMAN in December 2018 and ran his first full marathon in San Francisco in July 2019. Recorded 08/06/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Anita Campbell, Founder and CEO of SmallBizTrends.com, on challenges small businesses have had in her community during the pandemic and how they're coming out of it. Anita is the Founder and CEO of Small Business Trends LLC. She bootstrapped the company from a nascent idea. Previously she was a General Counsel and CEO of a technology subsidiary of Bell & Howell. She founded this site in 2003 and was named one of the 30 Small Business IT Influencers to Follow in 2020 by BizTech Magazine. Small Business Trends is an award-winning hub of more than two million entrepreneurs, business owners, influencers, and experts. The site features over 20,000 pages of content, reviews tech products, cover small business news, and interview movers and shakers. They spotlight other small businesses and startups. The core focus is practical content with targeted tips, trends and answers to your toughest questions. Recorded 07/08/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Megan Bruneau, M.A., therapist, executive coach, writer, speaker, and podcast host about emotional issues and mental health among entrepreneurs coming out of the pandemic.  Megan has a master of arts in counseling psychology and a bachelor of arts in psychology and social work. With 12+ years experience providing crisis support, therapy, and coaching, she’s a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #6420) in the province of British Columbia and sees clients globally as a coach. By sharing her personal experiences alongside her professional expertise, Megan seeks to change the way people relate to their inner and outer worlds.  Quoted by Deepak Chopra as the “Millennials’ therapist,” Megan’s no-BS, relatable voice has garnered over 30MM views and landed appearances on The T.D. Jakes Show, Good Morning America and New York 1 Morning News. Transparent about her own mental health, eating disorder history, frequent heartaches and uncertain entrepreneurial life in New York City, Megan’s vulnerable and humorous writing-style has inspired dozens of viral articles – making her a Huffington Post – homepage regular, MindBodyGreen, and Forbes favorite. After years of struggling with depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, she came to realize she was the one getting in her own way. She healed her relationship with herself and now teaches entrepreneurs and high achievers how to do the same – so they can do the sh*t that scares them and create the life they deserve. Find her book, How To Be Alone (And Together): 72 Lessons on Being at Peace With Yourself on Amazon, and follow her on Instagram @meganjbruneau. Recorded 07/13/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar sits down with Megha Kulshreshtha to learn all about her nonprofit, Food Connect! Megha is the Founder and Executive Director of Food Connect, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between surplus food and hunger through collaboration and technology. Food Connect has helped distribute over 3 million on-demand meals through their last mile transport and logistics support in the hunger relief space. Megha has over 10 years of experience in data, technology, and process solutions. She started her career in Finance as a Data Analyst and then as a Portfolio Analyst for US Equities at Aberdeen Asset Management. For the last 7 years, Megha has dedicated her technical background towards streamlining inefficiencies in the hunger relief space. The Food Connect app has helped over 800+ food vendors across the country donate their surplus food in real time. Over 750+ shelters have received free food donations through the app. Currently, Food Connect helps deliver on average 30,000+ meals a week. Megha continues to lead Food Connect's product testing and development to help track and understand real time shelter needs. Food Connect's work has been recognized nationally in the hunger relief space for its innovation in collaboration, integrations, and food equity initiatives. Recorded 07/13/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews David Anderson, CEO of Off Madison Ave, Founder of LighthousePE, Global Board Chair of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), Author, Speaker, and Executive Coach, on what he learned leading EO through the pandemic and his positive outlook on this rare opportunity.  David is an experienced entrepreneur whose leadership path has taken him from president of his college fraternity to the White House. Along the way, David has seen leadership at the highest levels and the lowest. He has experienced success, but also failure. Having learned from many successes and the hard knocks of business and life, his focus is now on building businesses and sharing his expertise to allow others to learn, grow and prosper. For over 20 years, David lived the entrepreneurial dream by starting and operating his own businesses. What started as two people working out of a garage with VC funding (that is Visa Card funding!) has resulted in a winding, and sometimes bumpy road that includes the 20+ year-old marketing agency Off Madison Ave with multiple mergers and acquisitions, a publishing company startup (which was a big failure), several real estate ventures and most recently, starting and building a SaaS-based software company, LighthousePE. David also serves in leadership for the member-driven global Entrepreneurs Organization, EO, and has published his first book, Leader is Not a Title. Additionally, David coaches and mentors entrepreneurs all while putting two sons through college and being somewhat of a good husband to my wife of 25 years. Recorded 06/21/21.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Beth Hoff Blackmer, Owner and President of Aspen Rent-All, Inc. on lessons learned as president of the ARA through the pandemic. Her father decided to sell the business in 1999 after his manager became ill. With urging from some family friends, Beth decided to step into the business in August of 1999 with absolutely no background in the rental industry. Taking a big step into the great unknown, she purchased the business from her father in January of 2000. Thankfully in the fall of 1999, she attended a regional ARA event as well as the Alert software user conference and met many wonderful people who helped her tremendously over those first few years.  Since 2007, she has been very involved with different aspects of the ARA where she has gained insights, found valued colleagues, and discovered a treasured circle of friends. When she started, she had little or no experience with any of the equipment; now she is proud to say that she can operate all the equipment in the fleet. She has tripled the revenue of the business since purchasing it. Beth is married to Kent Blackmer and resides in a rural and mountainous setting. They have two Labrador retriever dogs and two horses. She enjoys skiing, riding horses, cycling, diving, and traveling with Kent. Recorded 06/11/2021. 

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Kathleen Quinn Votaw, Founder and CEO of TalenTrust on how businesses need to be rethinking their people strategies as we get back to the "new normal".  Kathleen is the Founder and CEO of TalenTrust, a strategic recruiting and human capital consulting firm that has helped companies nationwide address immediate needs and drive long-term growth since 2003. She is the author of Solve the People Puzzle and a regularly published columnist and popular speaker on topics related to HR strategies and workplace culture. Kathleen has overcome a multitude of personal and business challenges in becoming a strong leader who was able to exceed TalenTrust’s growth goals throughout the Great Recession and become one of less than 2% of women business owners to break the million-dollar mark. Along this journey, she has formed the core belief that people-centric, relationship-based workplaces are the key to attracting and retaining the talent to take businesses to the next level. Based on her knowledge and experience, she is a key disrupter in her industry, with a mission to help HR professionals attain the skills needed to provide strategic value to their companies. She has helped more than 1,000 companies across multiple industries navigate uncertainty and continuous change to develop purpose-based, inclusive cultures; targeted recruitment strategies; and, most importantly, inspired employees who want to come to work each day. From proactive hiring processes to human-centric leadership, Quinn Votaw’s practical insights and actionable recommendations have impacted diverse organizations, including: John Hancock, Kaiser Permanente, the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Renaissance Executive Forum, EO, the Association of Corporate Growth, and Vistage International. Kathleen recently completed a Stanford Graduate School of Business program focused on strategy, innovation, and organizational design. She has received many awards, including the coveted Inc. 5000 for two consecutive years; 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year from Enterprising Women Magazine for her work to fuel lasting change in companies across the nation; and multiple achievement awards from Colorado Women’s Chamber, ColoradoBiz Magazine, and Denver Business Journal. Recorded 06/11/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Bill Gallagher, Scaling Up Business Coach and Podcast Host, on how companies are repivoting.  Bill is a business coach and master facilitator with over 30 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience. Bill has spent the last 15 years coaching and training others in leadership and performance and previously led 4 companies of his own and been a partner or executive in 2 others. Bill discovered the Rockefeller Habits and Scaling Up 20 years ago, has used them in his own companies. Today, Bill coaches leaders and teams across more than 25 cities in 11 countries and the host of the Scaling Up Business Podcast. He is a passionate and playful presenter and his clients, at all stages, share a hunger to grow successfully with an openness to new approaches and thinking. Bill Gallagher is the guy you want around to sustain growth, when you need to build consensus, or even when things explode and you need to get the team in action. Working alongside an entrepreneur, Bill is able to inspire people and companies, and then get them pulling together. An experienced entrepreneur and executive, he has created and run companies and business units ranging from startup to over US $500 million. Happily married for over 20 years, Bill and his wife, Lori, live in the Oakland hills. Their grown children, Jack and Sophie, are also entrepreneurial and live nearby. Recorded 06/08/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Greg Crabtree, Partner at Carr, Riggs & Ingram, on how he helps companies manage their books, and what's different about his unique approach. Greg Crabtree has over 40 years of in-depth experience, not only as a CPA, but also as a speaker, author, entrepreneur and financial expert. He is known for working with his clients on cash flow planning, business consultations, strategic planning facilitation, success planning, and transaction advisory services. Greg’s firm, Crabtree, Rowe & Berger, recently merged with Carr, Rigs, and Ingram, where he is now Partner in Charge. The CPA firm is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build the economic engine of their business. In 2011, Greg released his first book “Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits” which shares his core principles of how to turn your business into a wealth building engine.  In 2014, Greg contributed a chapter to Verne Harnish’s book, “Scaling Up” on how to improve profits though labor efficiency.  In 2020, Greg released his newest book, “Simple Numbers 2.0: Rule for Elite Profit and Cash Flow”.  Greg has also launched a new Executive Education program for EO in 2020 called Functional Finance for Entrepreneurs that will teach any entrepreneur the basics to understand their financials and use the data to drive exceptional business performance. Recorded 06/01/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dale Robinette, Business Growth Strategist, Founder of the RevX Formula, Vistage Master Chair, and certified Scaling Up Gazelles Coach to discuss what Dale has learned coaching business owners through the pandemic.  Dale Robinette has a 25-year history of successfully helping companies, across multiple industries ranging from start-ups to Fortune 50, achieve exponential growth. He is an expert at developing concise and actionable strategies that will allow your company, and its management team, to achieve results previously considered unattainable. Dale’s career originally focused on penetrating the electronics industry. He joined the U.S. Navy as an Electronics Warfare Technician to obtain technical expertise. After four years of military service, Dale completed a business degree with an emphasis in Marketing and was fortunate to be recruited as a Sales Executive by AMP Incorporated which was ultimately acquired by Tyco Electronics, the industry’s largest passive electronics company at $13 billion in revenue. After a few years, he became the leading salesperson out of 500 when promoted to Sales Manager, becoming the youngest Sales Manager in the 50-year history of the company. Two years later, Dale became the leading Sales Manager out of 14 in the U.S. and placed into an executive rotation with a wide variety of leadership positions. After 15 years at Tyco Electronics, Dale joined Peregrine Semiconductor as a Director of Product Marketing (GM) of the High Reliability Products Division. He built the business achieving a CAGR of 129%. After three years, he took on the role of Global Sales Director to help build out a global sales footprint. After three years, Peregrine was able to achieve 3X growth and get the company public. This allowed for an exit. Looking for a way to give back, Dale became a Vistage Chair to help fellow executives achieve business and personal success, while maintaining work/life balance. He built two Vistage groups within a record 7 months with high demand to participate in these exciting groups. The same year Dale started a company called EPIQ Space and became the leading website for the Satellite industry to promote their products and services. A year later, he became the Best Practice Chair or “Chair of local Chairs”, working with fellow Chairs to help develop their skills. He continues to further his passion of working with fellow executives to become better leaders, make better decisions and achieve better results.  Dale became a certified Scaling Up Gazelles Coach, to help CEOs and their executive teams execute on achieving their growth goals with proven tools and enviable results. Recorded 05/03/2021. 

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Casey Brown, President of Boost Profits, on pricing - specifically, has the pandemic changed how businesses should think about pricing, if at all?  Casey Brown is the President of Boost Profits, a firm that helps companies generate more sales at higher prices for improved profits. For over two decades, she has formulated and executed pricing strategies, pioneered innovative pricing content, and coached and trained teams to drive culture change and dramatic, sustainable results. With degrees in Chemical Engineering, Spanish and Business and career experience in engineering, Six Sigma and pricing strategy for multiple Fortune 500 companies, Casey brings unmatched expertise to help clients discover their true pricing power—and watch their profits rise as a result. Knowing it’s about so much more than numbers, Casey’s approach is insightful, empowering and proven to deliver results. Casey volunteers hundreds of hours annually around the world, focused on meeting children’s basic needs, including cleft lip and palate repair with Free to Smile Foundation. Recorded 04/12/2021. 

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Bo Burlingham, contributing writer for Forbes and author of five books, about Small Giants, how these companies have performed during the pandemic and what we can learn from their philosophy.  Bo has been writing about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship for 38 years, mostly for Inc. magazine, where he served as executive editor and then editor at large. He is currently a contributing writer for Forbes. Along the way, he has authored five books, the most recent being Finish Big: How Great Entrepreneurs Exit Their Companies on Top. He previously authored Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big, which was a finalist for the Financial Times/Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year award. That book inspired the Small Giants Community, which he cofounded with Paul Spiegelman. He has written three other books with coauthors, including two with Jack Stack, CEO of Springfield Holdings Corp. and the pioneer of open-book management—The Great Game of Business and A Stake in the Outcome— and one with serial entrepreneur Norm Brodsky entitled Street Smarts. Recorded 01/25/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jessica Fialkovich, President of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, on how to buy a business, how to sell a business and the status of the mergers and acquisitions market.  Jessica became a first-time entrepreneur at the age of 25 and since has been able to successfully establish, develop and sell multiple small businesses in a number of different industries. In the last eight years as the President of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain, Jessica has been able to build her business brokerage firm from a two-person team to one of the top firms in the country. Under her leadership, the office has been the number one franchise location in the world for the last five years, has made both the Inc 5000 and Denver Fastest Growing businesses for the last three, and been recognized by the Financial Times, Colorado Business Magazine and others. Jessica is also the Founder of Exit Factor, which teaches business owners how to buy and sell businesses for the most profit in the least amount of time. As an entrepreneur, Jessica is passionate about small businesses driving our economy. Because of this, she has committed to educating and supporting entrepreneurs and the small business community. She is active in the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the current President of the Colorado chapter of Entrepreneur’s Organization, and a supporter of Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute. Jessica is originally a Jersey Girl that now lives in Colorado with her husband and two dogs, Moose and Sailor. When she’s not working you can find her either enjoying the outdoors or attending a Bruce Springsteen concert. Recorded 01/20/21.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Carey Smith, Founding Contrarian of Unorthodox Ventures to discuss if Carey has been investing in businesses throughout the pandemic, and if so, how has his outlook changed.  A career entrepreneur, Carey Smith founded Big Ass Fans in 1999 and served as its CEO, or Chief Big Ass as he preferred, for 18 years. While other companies made and lost their fortunes, Carey’s contrarian business practices and relentless pursuit of new markets and high-quality products led to sustained, rapid growth. By 2017, Carey had grown the fan and light manufacturer to nearly $300 million in annual revenue and more than a thousand employees. And he’d done it without any outside investors. Ready for a new challenge, he sold Big Ass Fans for $500 million. The company’s stock appreciation rights program paid out $50 million to more than 100 loyal employees who shared Carey’s work ethic with 15 becoming overnight millionaires. Following the sale, Carey founded Unorthodox Ventures, his Austin-based twist on the business incubator that seeks to provide everything investment firms lacked when they approached him near daily at Big Ass Fans. Carey’s team consists of experts who help founders become serial entrepreneurs by providing support for everything from engineering and marketing to customer service and logistics.  Recorded on 01/13/2021. 

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jonathan Goldhill, Founder and President of The Goldhill Group about his new book, Disruptive Successor: a Guide for Driving Growth in your Family Business.  Jonathan Goldhill is an adviser, coach, consultant, trainer, facilitator, and business therapist with 30 years of experience in his craft.  He has been guiding closely-held and family-owned businesses since 1987. His passion for advising entrepreneurs and family businesses ignited a year earlier when his family’s business, one of the largest manufacturers of men’s clothing in the U.S. ceased operations and failed to survive into the fourth generation of family ownership. Jonathan has owned/managed several businesses that that grown into multimillion-dollar companies, including VEDC in Los Angeles, which grew from a fledgling organization into the largest business and economic development firm in the region. Some of his clients, including Anchor Loans, FPA Technology Services, Kings Hawaiian Bakery, K&D Landscaping, and Niner Bikes have achieved double-digit growth and were featured on lists of the fastest-growing companies and best places to work.  The Goldhill Group provides strategic thinking, execution planning, and accountability coaching to businesses.  Based in the Los Angeles metro area, we serve closely-held and family business clients in the lower to middle market nationwide. Raised outside New York City, Goldhill moved to California at age 20 to start his journey helping entrepreneurs find their freedom. At 30, he started advising, coaching and consulting with entrepreneurs and business owners. He is a lifelong learner.  He's read hundreds of business books, studied from personal development and business management experts combining insightful and practical expertise to his clients. Jonathan focuses on guiding Millennial and Gen Y leaders with humility to build great teams filled with humble, hungry, smart and talented people.  And he likes advising aging boomers and Gen X business owners to find freedom through succession and successful exits. Jonathan has an entrepreneur's spirit and desires to help entrepreneurs fulfill their desires of freedom of time, money, relationship and purpose. Recorded 01/11/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Scott Omelianuk, Editor in Chief of Inc. magazine and Inc.com, on his experience coming in as Editor in Chief just a few weeks before the pandemic hit.  Mr. Omelianuk recently joined Inc. as Editor in Chief, where he oversees the brand’s recognition programs, events, and content, and is charged with creating new lines of business to support the entrepreneurial community. Though in the role for less than a year, he has already redesigned Inc.’s digital and print properties, launched a data product for firms looking to invest in small businesses, partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on a series of SMB town halls and created its breakout Best in Business franchise. At the Stevens Institute of Technology—a U.S. News & World Report “Top 25 Innovation School”—he is a professor in the School of Business and Technology where he teaches marketing and entrepreneurship and serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at the University’s Venture Center. Prior to arriving at Inc., he advised start-ups and businesses in transition as a partner in HumanConsult.io, a consultancy at the intersection of content, commerce, and technology. There he employed the proprietary “Quid Si” methodology, a combination of rapid ideation, the lean canvas and transformation management to help businesses in transition develop strategic plans, sales and marketing strategies, investment theses and digital transitions. Additionally, he was co-founder of a wellness business for which he wrote the patent. Mr. Omelianuk is widely known for his 12-year tenure at This Old House, where, before its successful sale to private equity, he built a reputation as a creative strategist who took a beloved brand, polished its image, and built around it a tapestry of related businesses, including digital offshoots, Spanish-language TV, lead generation, affiliate revenue, licensed products, and a mobile game strategy. He oversaw English- and Spanish-language television shows, several websites, social channels and a magazine. In an intrapreneurial role at its parent company, Time Inc., he was a C-suite advisor, sought out partnerships and acquisitions and pioneered user-generated content, social video, AR, a mobile gaming strategy, lead generation and other now common digital technologies. Prior to This Old House Scott held senior positions in television, where he was variously an on-camera host and producer at Full Frontal Fashion and a partner at Kaufman Films, the creator of The Real Housewives franchise. Earlier in his career, Mr. Omelianuk was an architect of Esquire magazine’s renaissance, increasing revenue 75 percent, overseeing brand licensing, and while there authored four books in the Things a Man Should Know franchise, which he created and then co-wrote with Chopped host Ted Allen. As a journalist, he has covered style internationally for GQ, been a columnist at Details and contributed to the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other publications. Honored with Ad Age A-List and Media Vanguard awards, Scott is a sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship, marketing and branding, and often appears on television as a business, media and lifestyle expert. A graduate of Gettysburg College and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, where he obtained an MS in Journalism, he sits on the board of the MIT Enterprise Forum or New York City. Recorded 01/08/2021. 

On today's episode, Ami Kassar sits down with Dave Nast, CEO of Nast Partners, to discuss how HR has changed during the pandemic, specifically how hiring has changed, and how to build teams virtually. David Nast is the CEO and Managing Partner of Nast Partners- based in the Greater Philadelphia area. David uses artificial intelligence, workforce analytics, and science-backed data to help businesses stop guessing and erase bias in their talent and execution decisions. Dave is a 3-time CEO, a Workplace Behavior Expert, and an Award-Winning Business Coach with over 30 years of experience in Human Capital Management, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, Talent Optimization, Sales, Change Management, Talent Acquisition, Training, Talent Management, and Executive Search. David holds certifications as a Workplace Behavioral Analyst, Business Coach, Talent Optimization Consultant, Corporate Trainer, Leadership Architect, LOS-Organizational Health Expert, and Interview Architect. As a Recruiter, he placed over 500 CEOs in his career, and as a Coach he has worked with thousands of CEOs, Business Owners, and Executives.  Using proven analytics, systems and strategies, David partners with his clients and delivers his services based on their unique needs. He is passionate about inspiring others to get results. David is a Top-Ranked Influencer on LinkedIn with over 25,000 followers. He writes for Talent (TLNT.com), Raconteur, and the Business Section of The Huffington Post. David is also a collaborator on the #1 Best-Seller, “The New ROI (Return on Individuals)” and he has been featured in Money Magazine and Fortune Magazine. Recorded on 01/06/2021. 

On today’s episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dr. Rebecca Heiss, author, founder and CEO of the 360-review mobile application, icueity, and professional speaker on her journey as a professional speaker and what happened in March 2020 and how she adapted.  Rebecca knows fear. As a biologist and stress expert, Dr. Rebecca Heiss is dedicated to helping us become self-aware and overcome our instinctual limitations – the ancient, often subconscious fears that hold us back from our optimal performance and our happiest lives. Her research has been designated “transformative” by the National Science Foundation and it is waking up audiences around the world.  As an author (Instinct, April 2021), founder and CEO of the 360-review mobile application, icueity, and highly sought-after professional speaker, Rebecca has found her calling in helping others recognize the power of biological applications in their lives. A former educator, Dr. Heiss spent much of her earlier career in the classroom at both the high school and college levels and was recruited to be a founding member of an innovative charter school with a focus on entrepreneurial thinking and impact-based learning.  Rebecca has been honored to speak internationally on her work, including multiple TEDx talks. Her “fear(less)” message inspires hope and actionable insights to train our brains to work for us, rather than against us in times of uncertainty. With surprising humor and palpable energy, no matter if Dr. Heiss is delivering virtually or on stage, she wins over audiences around the world with her interactive, inspiring and timely takeaways. She lives in South Carolina with her spoiled rotten dog named Guinness, and every day tries to live her life motto: “spread happy.” Recorded 12/28/2020. 

On today’s episode, Ami Kassar interviews Loren Feldman, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of 21 Hats on his journey from journalist to employee to entrepreneur, what he has learned, and how we can help. Loren Feldman is the founder and editor-in-chief of 21 Hats, an online platform for business owners. He hosts the 21 Hats Podcast, which has been tracking the experiences of six business owners in weekly conversations throughout the pandemic crisis, and he edits the 21 Hats Morning Report, a daily email newsletter for entrepreneurs. Previously, he was a senior editor covering entrepreneurship at Inc, Forbes, and the New York Times and hosted a call-in show for business owners, Mind Your Business, on Sirius XM. And he has spoken and moderated discussions at numerous conferences and seminars on entrepreneurship. Recorded 12/18/2020.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Matt Grammer, the Founder and CEO of Kentucky Counseling Center on his story, what changed when the pandemic hit and how he pivoted. KCC was formed in 2014 with a $250 investment and ranked #92 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2019. “I started KCC because I was frustrated with my father’s experience getting treatment for schizophrenia. When he finally found someone that could help, there was a 6 month waiting list and the doctor didn’t accept his insurance. Mental health care should be easy to find and affordable to receive.” - Matt Grammer Recorded 12/16/2020. 

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Emily Morgan, the founder of Delegate Solutions, on how she gets entrepreneurs comfortable with delegation and how to make delegation effective.  Emily and her remote team help leaders and their teams to strategically clear their plates so they can focus on higher-impact activities! She is the founder of Delegate Solutions, a Strategic Support(TM) Firm and the designer of the “Delegate Method” which helps leaders identify areas of their work they can delegate or automate for maximum efficiency. She’s helped hundreds of busy entrepreneurial leaders master delegation and design systems to support and grow their awesome businesses! This year alone, her team has cleared nearly 30,000 hours of tasks off the plates of overwhelmed business owners. Emily speaks nationally on the topic of virtual business, delegation, remote workforces, and flexwork culture. She’s been featured in Forbes, Inc., HuffPo, NY Times, NBC News, and Martha Stewart Radio. She is a Goldman Sachs 10kSB alum and is a graduate of UPenn. Delegate Solutions recently ranked among the top 100 fastest-growing companies in Philly. Recorded 12/14/2020.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Lynn Ozer, the new President of MultiFunding on her transition from the corporate banking world to the more entrepreneurial MultiFunding.  Lynn Ozer is a strategic and highly accomplished financial executive with vast expertise in small business lending departments, training existing and aspiring lenders on SBA’s loan origination policies and procedures, and advocating on local and national level for policies that prioritize small business. To this day, she serves on the Small Business Board of The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. As the first woman to chair the board of the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL), Lynn continues to instruct lenders for NAGGL and actively participates by serving on the government relations, technical issues and executive committees. In doing so, she has remained involved at a national level advocating for small businesses and monitoring the issues and trends in the industry. She has established capabilities in sales, credit, portfolio management, liquidation, and operations. She leverages outstanding leadership and communication skills to present opportunities to executive teams and cultivates relationships with key business partners. Lynn is a driven and focused top-performer who drives the ownership of business results, capitalizes on lucrative new opportunities, and consistently exceeds goals. Up until now, Lynn’s career, which started with a 5 year stint at the SBA, consisted of managing all aspects of SBA lending departments in community and regional banks. Lynn managed the SBA Lending Departments at Fulton Bank, Bucks County Bank, CoreStates, Jefferson Bank, Hudson United Bank, Patriot Bank and Susquehanna Bank. Her recent decision to join MultiFunding LLC emanated from a desire to become more personally involved with business owners. Now, she is able to help educate, structure and find creative financing solutions for business owners that extends beyond one banks credit box. Lynn now has the opportunity to help other lenders with loans they may be struggling to find a home for. If you are that lender, or an entrepreneur struggling with financing options, please contact MultiFunding as we would love to work with you.

On today’s episode, Ami Kassar interviews Randy Haykin, Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of The Gratitude Network. Randy explains The Gratitude Network, what is it, and how we can get involved! Randy is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, philanthropist and educator, and “wine angel” who lives and works in the Bay Area. Randy currently coaches CEOs and is a Vistage Chair, overseeing a peer group of 16 growth-stage CEOs in the Bay Area. In 2011, Randy founded the philanthropic venture entity The Gratitude Network to mentor social entrepreneurs globally. Today the organization has nearly 70 volunteers and has worked with more than 80 high-impact entrepreneurs around the world. The organization’s focus is on children and education. In 1997, Randy co-founded Outlook Ventures, a $200MM early-stage tech fund. The fund invested in 32 companies and had more than 20 IPO or A exits. Randy also created Haykin Capital in 2006 to provide “mentor capital” to early stage entrepreneurs and has funded over 30 angel deals to date. Prior to Gratitude and Outlook, Randy served as founding VP of Marketing & Sales at Yahoo and played early roles at Overture, NetChannel, Electric Minds, and AOL’s Greenhouse program, a successful venture incubator. He has also held management roles at Apple Computer, Paramount/Viacom. In addition to teaching at Berkeley, as an Educator, Randy has taught courses on innovation, entrepreneurship and finance at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business as well as Cambridge U. Judge School of Business. Randy holds a BA in Organizational Behavior and Management from Brown University, magna cum laude, and an MBA from Harvard. Randy has been singing in local choral groups (bass) since 2001 and enjoys practicing yoga. He and his wife, Patty have raised three girls in Pleasanton, CA, who are now all young adults and unleashed into the wilds… Recorded 12/11/2021.

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council on her efforts in Washington D.C. to help small businesses through the pandemic, the hot issues today, and what's next!  For twenty-five years Karen Kerrigan’s leadership, advocacy and training work has helped foster U.S. entrepreneurship and global business growth.  She is president & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council and is the group’s chief advocate for its members. Kerrigan regularly testifies before the U.S. Congress on the key issues impacting entrepreneurs, investment and the economy, and has been appointed to numerous federal advisory boards including the National Women’s Business Council, the U.S.-Iraq Business Dialog, the U.S. Treasury’s Taxpayer Advisory Panel, and the National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements. Kerrigan regularly engages with the President’s cabinet and key advisors, and has spoken or led roundtables at several White House economic summits, scores of events hosted by the Small Business Administration, U.S. Treasury Department, Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal government agencies and departments. Kerrigan is a collaborative and well-respected individual within the business community who has led numerous coalitions and initiatives with diverse partners and organizations.  Kerrigan chairs the newly formed Small Business Roundtable, a coalition of leading small business and entrepreneurship organizations dedicated to advancing policy, securing access and promoting inclusion to benefit the businesses at the heart of the American economy.  She has written hundreds of Op-Eds and newspaper columns, and regularly appears on national television and talk radio programs. Kerrigan regularly appears on Fox Business to provide analysis and commentary on the latest economic data, what’s driving the markets, and the outlook for the economy, entrepreneurship and small business growth. She lectures frequently at colleges and universities, making appearances at Harvard Business School, Georgetown University, University of Maryland, Ohio State University and many others including institutions outside of the United States. Kerrigan graduated from SUNY Cortland with a B.A. in Political Science, and resides in Northern Virginia. Recorded 12/09/2020

On today's episode, Ami Kassar speaks with Eric Keiles, Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Square 2 Marketing, to discuss marketing lessons learned during the pandemic, and what has changed forever.  Eric Keiles is a leading sales and marketing strategist focused on pioneering a new marketing methodology. Eric, along with his business partner Mike Lieberman, coined the concept, Reality Marketing™ to describe how businesses can utilize cost effective inbound marketing tactics to achieve dramatic revenue growth.  They are leading the revolution in how entrepreneurs change the way they think about marketing their companies.  Marketing Sherpa has called the duo “original and contrarian marketers”. Their popular first book, Reality Marketing Revolution is a thesis on the changing world of inbound marketing and the dramatic shift in buyer behavior.  It introduces concepts like “The Red & Blue Test”, “Being Remarkable” and the “Cup of Coffee Challenge”.  Verne Harnish, The “Growth Guy”, named the book, the “best how-to marketing book ever”.  Their second book, Fire Your Sales Team Today, is upsetting the traditional sales department by demonstrating through many real life examples how effective marketing makes the “traditional sales guy” obsolete.  It outlines a complete inbound sales process, too. Eric is also the editor of a weekly e-newsletter reaching almost 20,000 business owners and entrepreneurs focusing on this topic. Eric is also the founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Square 2 Marketing.  Square 2 Marketing was named the “Inbound Agency of the Year” by HubSpot in 2013 and 2015. A natural entrepreneur himself, Eric has founded and grown eight companies since 1997. Prior to founding Square 2 Marketing, Eric created The Stitches Catalog and The Logo Workshop, two national graphic design and promotional products companies.  He is a former franchisee of a national franchise and currently operates a travel and tourism hospitality group in Philadelphia. A popular writer and public speaker, Eric has provided expert insight on panels and speaking appearances throughout America’s entrepreneurial community. He also hosts Square 2 Marketing’s monthly workshop and webinar series to help business owners learn effective marketing strategies for their businesses. Eric is also a guest lecturer at several universities. A graduate of George Washington University (BA) and Temple University (MBA), Eric and his family reside in Center City Philadelphia. Recorded 01/04/2021. 

This week, Ami sits down with James Beckwith, President & CEO of Five Star Bank, to discuss what his bank has done during the pandemic, lessons learned, and opportunities that have arisen. James Beckwith is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Five Star Bank and its holding company, Five Star Bancorp.  With more than 20 years of experience, James joined Five Star Bank in 2003 after serving as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at National Bank of the Redwoods, in Santa Rosa, California.  James works with those who share his mission to improve the Capital Region and was a driving force behind the creation of the Five Pillar Program, an economic development initiative where cities, counties, and districts direct funds to local community banks for the purpose of reinvesting that money into local small-to-medium-sized businesses. James is a Private Sector Director with the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, a Board member and Chair Elect of Western Bankers Association, a Board member of the California Community Banking Network, a Board member of Crocker Art Museum, and a member of the Sacramento State University College of Business Advisory Council.  James is the past Board Chair of KVIE, Past Board Chair of Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Past Board Chair of Valley Vision. James' professional leadership and extensive community outreach includes support of numerous organizations, and especially, the vision and mission of Cristo Rey High School Sacramento and Make-A-Wish, among many others.  James graduated from San Francisco State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.  He is also a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. James was recognized by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce as the Businessman of the Year in 2020.  He was also named among the Most Admired CEO's of 2020 by the Sacramento Business Journal. Recorded 12/07/2020. 

On today’s episode, Ami interviews JeVon "JT" McCormick, discussing the impact of the pandemic on his business, and how his life lessons have pushed him through. JeVon was born the son of a black pimp father and a white orphan mother. Today, he’s the CEO of a multi-million dollar publishing company that was recently ranked the #1 Top Company Culture in America by Entrepreneur Magazine. He’s made millions in the stock market (even though he didn’t go to college), he was the President of a software company (even though he can’t code) and he’s currently the CEO of a publishing company (even though he can’t spell). JeVon is the President and CEO of Scribe Media, a publishing company that helps individuals from a variety of backgrounds write, publish, and market their books. Scribe Media has worked with more than 1700 authors, including members of The Nobel Peace Prize Committee, Nassim Taleb, and David Goggins, whose blockbuster book Can’t Hurt Me has sold over 2 million copies. In addition to his role at Scribe, JeVon is an author and highly sought after keynote speaker, delivering the message that “Everyone Has A Story” to enthusiastic audiences across the country. His book, I Got There: How a Mixed-Race Kid Overcame Racism, Poverty, and Abuse to Achieve the American Dream, tells the harrowing story of his struggle to succeed despite the overwhelming odds stacked against him. JeVon is passionate about conscious entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for at-risk youth. He has mentored young men and women in the juvenile justice system, as well as those in lower economic communities. JeVon currently serves as a board member for Conscious Capitalism and the StartEdUp  Foundation. His story and work have been featured on CNBC, and in Entrepreneur, Forbes, and  Inc. magazines. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Megan, and their four children Ava, Jaxon, Elle, and Jace. Recorded 12/04/2020.

It’s already February 1st, 2021 and you’ve guessed it! We’ve pivoted yet again and are excited to launch our new AmiSights Podcast.  This week’s special guest is Bob Coleman, Editor of the Coleman Report, a trade newsletter for small business bankers and a nationally recognized expert on small business financing. In our inaugural podcast, Ami sits down with Bob and discusses what the SBA has done during the pandemic, the differences compared to the Great Recession, the PPP, the EIDL, and their thoughts on what’s to come. The weekly AmiSights Podcast will feature dynamic interviews with entrepreneurs, thought leaders, various industry CEOs, industry professionals, public speakers, and more about their unique insights, practices, and valuable life experiences. Join Ami Kassar, CEO of MultiFunding, and his unique humor as we embark on this new adventure together.

In our inaugural podcast, Ami sits down with Bob Coleman, Editor of the Coleman Report, to discuss the PPP first and second round, the EIDL, what the SBA did from the start of the pandemic, and their thoughts on what’s next!  Author of “Money Money Everywhere and Not a Drop for Main Street“. Coleman is the Editor of the Coleman Report, a trade newsletter for small business bankers. He is the nationally recognized expert on small business financing. He has appeared on Fox Business News and CNN and has been quoted by all major financial media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Bloomberg. He has spoken at numerous small business banking events across the United States, including international engagements in the U.K. and Germany. Coleman has a B.A. in Medieval History from the University of California Santa Barbara and a M.B.A. in Real Estate Finance from the University of Southern California. Recorded on 12/02/2020.