CY6 - Check Your Six

Episode 160 brought Morris Hartley from H & H Products into the GRP Studios for his podcast which was totally sweet. We have had several podcast in a row that guests have called in so it was good to have someone in the studio!! H & H has been around since 1964 and has been through a recession(at least a couple), oil embargo, Y2K, 9-11, 2008 crash, Covid, tariffs but have weathered the storm and are growing by nearly doubling their staff in the past year. We talked about employee issues and challenges coming out of Covid, supplier challenges, trucking issues, pivoting around product shortages, the potential changes coming from the FDA on food products used in syrups and mixes. We also talked about the culture of H & H and how their faith has been the foundation on pretty much everything that they have built over the last 65 years!! You can find out more about what they do at https://hhproductscompany.com/ and if you are in need of what they provide, then give them a call.Email us at tim@grpstudios.comEmail us at tim@grpstudios.com

The call came from across the pond into the GRP Studios for Episode 159 of the Check Your Six podcast. Katie Tamblin, author of The Lean-Agile Dilemma and mathematical guru called in from England to talk about her book and the problems that can come from companies that have become chunky, more than 10 years old, 500+ employees and investors own at least 51% of the shares. We talked about the importance of data from existing platforms, over the importance of simply adding new software to company operations. How AI, like so many businesses, may be impacting what they do and how they approach software upgrades for companies. We talked about kids and cell phones/social media and a book called the Anxious Generation that was influential in helping her husband start a non-profit called Klickster, https://klickster.org/  to help parents navigate the issues that are coming from children having access to technology. It was great having her on and you can find out more about her at her website..https://www.katietamblin.com/Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Ken Coats phoned in from South Florida for this episode of the Check Your Six podcast. Although Ken started on a path towards being a lawyer, life sometimes changes and his interest in IT before the whole Y2K boondoggle, spawned what would be his career as an IT specialist. Currently the owner of Kentech Consulting, Inc , he has become the premier provider of background checks for companies looking to hire staff. His work and experience in Chicago growing up and where the company originated nearly 20 years ago, has given him a unique perspective on the industry. It has also fueled his passion for giving back and helping those in the inner city as a mentor with various organizations to help give them opportunities that they might not get. We talked about the younger generation being a part of the solution in regards to law enforcement and community issues instead of just complaining about it. How AI may or may not impact his business model and how it can be used to his advantage. You can find out more about him at https://www.ekentech.com/Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Fantastic day today when my son, Austin stopped by the studio as a guest on the Check Your Six podcast. We talked about a few things, both of the podcasts that he generates, Frightmares and All Juice, No Gin as well as the short film that he and Gabby, his wife are in the process of creating. Frightmares is at about 311 episodes at the time of this recording and covers just about all things horror from movies to books to events and everything in between. Gave a shout out to Chris Bishop and his book The Scare Zone and to one of his favorite guest on the show, Eduardo Sanchez, director of The Blair Witch Project!!. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frightmares/id1452661594?i=1000704588564  We also talked about his latest podcast, All Juice No Gin and the journey that Austin and his buddy Cramer are on with sobriety.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-juice-no-gin/id1788489711?i=1000704908771 Talked about the short comedy horror film that is coming out in the summer called Dust Bunnies and the fun and challenges they were involved with putting that together. Also had to give a shout out to The Orlando Law Group after I talked about Austin working there...he doesn't, it is The Mortgage Firm but just because they are awesome I wanted to give them a shout out!! https://www.theorlandolawgroup.com/ All in all, a great morning sitting with my son and listening to what is going on in his life. Of course the best thing is the incredible granddaughter that we have been blessed with and get to see every day during the week, CJ...good day indeedEmail us at tim@grpstudios.com

It was an absolute pleasure having Kijuan Amey as my guest on the Check Your Six Podcast today. Air Force veteran, business owner, author, speaker, musician and survivor of a horrific motorcycle accident back in 2017 that took his eyesight but did not take his vision. Kijuan or "Kiwi" as he likes to be addressed, called in and spent about an hour talking about his life that was on the fast track to excellence, suddenly derailed but the accident. We talked about his journey from waking up after the accident, the panic that sets in when you realize your life is forever changed. The support he received from his family, especially his Uncle Versal, the mindset that he needed to recognize the depression that was creeping in so that he would not be another veteran suicide statistic. "I am not here for you to look at me, I am here to connect with you" , "I lost my sight but I did not lose my vision", "music is me" are just some of his points that come from his book, "Don't Focus On Me- From Motorcycle Accident to Miracle". His story is amazing, his outlook is honest and refreshing and he was a blast to have on the show!!You can check out who his is on his website, https://ameymotivation.com/Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Marine Veteran Patrick Trujillo, phoned in for Episode 155 of the Check Your Six podcast and talked about the Warrior Scholar Project and the impact it has made on his life. After Patrick left the Marines, he found himself, like many veterans, somewhat lost with little or no direction in his life and future. It took a kick in the backside from a former member of his squad that had gotten out of the Marine Corps and gone through the Warrior Scholar Project. Patrick talked about his reluctance in going back to school at his advanced age, at least in his mind, and the fear that he was just not college material. The Warrior Scholar Project is available to all veterans free of charge that are looking to decide if college is right for them. The only cost involved is getting yourself to one the participating schools, once you are there, it will remind you of book camp, without all of the DI or TI yelling!!! You can find out more about what they do at https://www.warrior-scholar.org/ so if you are a veteran and are looking to see if college might be an option for you, regardless of your age. check them out!!Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 154 of the Check Your Six podcast brought a ground breaking, barrier breaking lady into the GRP Studios that was the first female TV anchor in Central Florida, Carol Nelson-Pond. Carol was the first woman in Central Florida that broke the barrier of women in TV and radio that could interview, host and anchor just like the men that were currently in power in the industry during the 70's. She had some great stories of how she was able to break through that barrier, just a few of the hundreds of interviews that she completed including Ronald Regan, Henry Kissinger, Tom Hanks and the barriers that she is now facing being an older individual in the American healthcare system. We did not even get to the good stuff about the events at the Citrus Club, the other things that have happened during the time she has spent in Orlando but did reflect on her time spent with Rupert Holmes, you might know him as the writer/singer/composer of "Escape" better known as the "Pina Colada Song". Carol is truly groundbreaker and every single woman that sits at a news desk as a reporter or anchor can probably attribute their success in part to her. You can check out her book, No Women Allowed, Breaking Barriers at this Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08CZZDXSTEmail us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 153 of the Check Your Six podcast brought Van Carlson via the remote connection from Idaho to talk about the 831b plan for businesses. The Boise State Bronco grad talked about a program for businesses that most of us small business owners know nothing about, the 831(b) plan. An often unused tax code from the 80's that a lot of CPA or accountants do not know about or understand but could be very important in helping to mitigate risk. SRA 831b Admin is really tailored to support small and medium-sized businesses, and their plans are designed to provide a comprehensive safety net for risks that are often overlooked by traditional insurance policies. Van and his team are not just checking boxes and signing up businesses, they are really more about education and information that allows businesses to make smart decisions. You can find our more about what they do at www.831b.com so reach out and see if this is something that you need to address.Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Texas sized marketing was the topic today on the 152 episode of the Check Your Six podcast. Amber Gaige, the 3rd generation entrepreneur from Texas called and talked about going beyond just marketing with her business, Far Beyond Marketing!! Besides being a best selling author, speaker, she is also laser focused on giving her clients the tools necessary for business owners to help create, maintain and showcase their brand. Her "4-C" approach to go far beyond marketing starts with Clear Copy, followed by Consistent Branding, Customer Demographics and finally Channel Management which are the 4 pillars she uses to help businesses grow and scale. Amber and her team at Far Beyond Marketing are all about you and what you want to see your business become. You can check out more about her on her website and you guessed it, https://farbeyondmarketing.com/ Check it out and see if she can do for you!!Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 151 of the Check Your Six podcast had Chris Bell stop by the GRP Studios to talk about toxic living!! A drummer and graduate from Florida A&M talked about the path that he is on to create living spaces that are free of toxic air pollutants, so we can all breathe a little easier. We talked about the influences that have shaped his life including his parents and  in-laws that have continued to support him to follow his passions. Talking about food toxins led us to the fact that we both agreed that we are fans of dark chocolate and peanut butter, even if dark chocolate is supposed to be bad for you, we're not sure if those studies are accurate. Also went down the rabbit hole of the toxicity of microwaves and what they are doing to our food. He did covered a lot of the benefits of the line of Pure Living products that include not using laundry soap and washing everything in cold water...still trying to figure that one out. Great time with Chris today, loved the shout out he gave to his wife Faith, his kids and his in-laws. You can find out more about what he does by going to www.pureliving03.comEmail us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 150 of the Check Your Six podcast talked about something pretty close to home for me, dealing with Alzheimers and dementia. My father was diagnosed back in the 70's with Alzheimers before it was as well known or researched as it has been over the last nearly 50 years. Denise Ward, the Florida Region Strategy and Program Development director for the national Alzheimer's Association, stopped by the studio to talk about the subject matter of Alzheimer's and dementia. We talked about some of the symptoms, what to look for in our own self analysis or in friends or family members when it comes to this affliction. She talked about the importance of sharing your stories and experiences, the willingness to open up about family members that are suffering with Alzheimer's and looking at clinical trials as a way to explore options for treatment. Also referenced studies that are looking at the potential for the connection with diabetes and perhaps identifying it as Diabetes 3 to help further understand how our diet may be impacting the condition as well. There are things that I can understand how to fight when it comes to conditions like cancer but Alzheimer's is different. Watching someone you have loved and admired for their strength and wisdom, be reduced to someone that is lost and perhaps angry because they can't understand what is happening is much harder. You can find out more about what the do at their website, https://www.alz.org/. There is hope, but it will take all of us to make it happen. You can also contact Denise at dlward@azl.org if you would like to contact her directly.Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Shalisa Griffin, the Director of Development for The Sharing Center in Longwood stopped by GRP Studios, also in Longwood, for her time on the Check Your Six podcast. We talked about Shakira's journey from going to school for an IT career that was "sidelined" by a high school basketball coach in NJ, David Bellani, that developed her love for sports management and planning. A change of majors, some time with the NCAA in Indianapolis, the DeVoss Sports Business Program along with some time at UCF, an intern job here in Orlando that turned into full time with the Orlando Sports Commission. She really thought that her path would continue with sports management but some time off and self reflection made her realize that while she was doing "good" in bringing in events to Central Florida, she was supposed to be doing something more. That, led her to working with The Sharing Center in Longwood in helping to reshape the community with the issues of poverty and homelessness. You can find out more about what they do at https://thesharingcenter.org/ and you can reach Shalisa at shalisa.griffin@thesharingcenter.orgEmail us at tim@grpstudios.com

Had a great conversation with Chris Ham, the Executive Director for The Rescue Outreach Mission in Sanford today on the Check Your Six podcast. The last episode for 2024 was a great way to talk end the year and talk about the issues and challenges that our community has with homeless population here in Central Florida. As Seminole County's only homeless shelter, they have done a fantastic job over the past several years changing the view of homelessness and providing assistance through the partnerships they have in the business community and through our county officials. The Seminole County Commissioners, county and local police and fire departments are fantastic partners in helping to meet this crisis. Respect, compassion and dignity are the key phrases for the Rescue Outreach Mission and the nearly 100,000 meals they will serve and the individuals and families that they provide shelter for each year are examples of those pillars. The face of homeless has changed over the years, it is not what it used to be and I was thankful that Chris was able to sit down and talk about their role. You can contact them at www.romclf.org for more information.Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Wendy Cox Blair, the CEO for The Arbor School stopped by the GRP Studios for Episode 147 on the Check Your Six Podcast. The Arbor School is doing some FANTASTIC things here in Central Florida helping kids with developmental challenges such as ADD, ADHD, Autism and the like. We talked about how The Arbor School not only teaches them the basic school studies but also helps them develop their problem solving skills, creating schedules for single tasks that helps them focus on one thing at a time. We talked about bullying, what The Arbor School does in cases with students that continue that behavior. How they engage the students outside the school to give them a "normal' life experience. Talked about the running club, their first 5K, the golf club and the things that the students create and sell to help support the school. Shout out also to Tavo Mendez with Rock & Brews in Oviedo and the entire Rock & Brews corporate community that uses the name badges that The Arbor School creates in ALL of their locations. This really is a great place for kids facing those challenges.Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 146 of the Check Your Six podcast brought Brian Nagel back into the GRP Studios to talk about stepping out on his own in creating his new LLC, Waverly Resources. We talked a lot of aspects of business on this episode, financing, how to save some money if you have a company that has more than 50 mobile devices,  HR services, partnering with other companies that can help businesses become more cost effective among other topics. Brian has has 3 decades of helping businesses, especially in the healthcare field become more profitable, be able to scale and provide better service. You can find out more about he does at his website, https://www.waverlyresources.com/ or contact him at brian@waverlyresources.comEmail us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 145 brought Daniel Komforti into the GRP Studios for his time on the Check Your Six podcast. Daniel is a UCF grad that owns and operates New Horizons Physical Therapy and helps those in need of some excellent care during the rehab process from injuries or just every day wear and tear on our bodies. Daniel really a little bit different than the "PT Mills" that some many are used to going to, he is more concerned with educating his clients and helping them understand the process they are going through as opposed to just treating symptoms. When he says that rehab is not just a series of exercises on a table, he means it and really tries to give clients the tools they need to help improve their condition. You can find him at his website,  https://newhorizonsrehabilitation.com/ and get more details on who he is and what he offers his clients!Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Bethanne Weiss was in before Hurricane Milton blessed us with his presence and talked about having ""More Joy, Less OY" on the latest episode of the Check Your Six podcast. The self proclaimed Queen of More Joy and Less Oy talked about the struggles she faced in overcoming physical issues that led her down the path to better health and wellness. We covered some of the topics in her book, "Move Your Asset - From the Chair and Not The Bank", about her self described cross between Fran Drescher, a tame drill sergeant(never met one of those) and an entertaining circus clown, about putting the fun back in fitness and making "tiny tweaks" that can have big impact in your life. We also talked about her journey with both of her parents and a documentary that was done about her called Confessions of A Caregiver that aired on WESH-TV and her help in getting an Emmy for WFTV 9 in the series, Blindsided: The Reality of Caring for Aging Parents. You can check her out at here website...https://www.bethannewellness.com/Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

I have been away for a bit over the past month so I am a little behind in getting episodes completed for the podcast but the Check Your Six podcast is "Back In The Saddle Again, thanks to Aerosmith, talking about BOI reporting. In case you are not aware of it as a business, especially a small business, you have until January 1, 2025 to file your BOI report on fincen.gov for your business. I covered this topic with Jennifer Englert with the The Orlando Law Group back in 12-25-2023 and today is a little bit more about the website, who needs to file, some questions from the website and some general concern about what this will mean for small business. To quote the website,"This law creates a new beneficial ownership information reporting requirement as part of the U.S. government's efforts to make it harder for bad actors to hide or benefit from their ill-gotten gains through shell companies or other opaque ownership structures." The unspecified government agencies that will have access to this information and the unspecified groups or individuals that can request access to this information to me is a little concerning, but we will see!! There may be more to come on this topic.Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Chris Storms with Young Life Central Florida stopped by GRP Studios for his time today on the Check Your Six podcast. Chris is a Navy veteran, graduate of UCF, go Knights, and is currently the full time area director for Young Life Central Florida. Chris and I talked about the state of the youth in Florida, the need for volunteers and mentors to reach some of the middle school and high school kids that need that connection. Talked about the "Caring For Kids" mentality that is showcased on the younglife.org and targets a lot of different groups of kids that can benefit from these programs. Also talked about the spike in teen and young adult suicide that we have seen post covid and perhaps some of the hope that Young Life offers. Their mission is simple, introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. Check them out at https://younglife.org/find/ and click on the locations tab to find one near you!

Episode 141 of the Check Your Six Podcast had an intern flavor to it this time when Sean and April brought some of the interns that they had working with Edge Consulting and the Be The Change Today Foundation into GRP Studios. It was a chance for the interns to close out their summer internship by participating in a LinkedIn workshop and creating their profile, getting headshots from Jerry Katz, getting makeup done and talking about their summer adventure as interns. Some great observations as they moved throughout Central Florida with the Seminole Chamber Councils, Longwood Commission meetings, Longwood Rotary meeting and several other aspects of small business here in Central Florida. Thanks as well to Tony Boni and the Be The Change Today Foundation for being part of this event building the future of young business individuals.

Estate planning, wills, trusts and a lot of things legal were on tap today when Jamie Cuzmar with Cuzmar Law stopped by the GRP Studios for his time on the Check Your Six podcast. Jamie spent the first 20 years of his career working in corporate America with a good chunk of that being in the communications field, specifically the BrightHouse/Spectrum/Charter Communications companies. A series of fortunate events led to him getting his law degree, partially through his employer, and him making the decision to start earning money for himself instead of big business. He decide to focus and specialize in estate planning and has since opened Cuzman Law and helps people wad through the challenge of getting all of your asset ducks in a row through estate planning. Requirements for a legal will, probate, Homestead Exemptions here in Florida, setting up trusts, Ladybird Deeds for homes are just some of the things we discussed along with the way he gives back with discounts to Veterans, his work with the Seminole County School Board and the Take Stock In Children project with Seminole Schools. Lots of good information and great discussion with Jamie and planning for the future and reducing the burden on those left behind!

Episode 139 of the Check Your Six podcast brought James Gies with Zoom Room Dog Training into the GRP Studios to talk about his business as a franchise owner of Zoom Room. He shared his story of growing up in Michigan, making the decision to go to that school in Ann Arbor for his BS(appropriate for a degree from that institution) then the wiser decision to get his Masters from Michigan State, Go Sparty! He speaks German, Russian and talked about his time in Moscow and the impact that the woman that housed him and several other individuals who had been a survivor of Communism taking over in Russia and the challenges that she and her parents faced. Her attitude and outlook was something that shaped James for much of his adult life and how he approached challenges. His time with the restaurant industry, his claim to fame working at the Apple Store in the Florida mall, opening his business just before Covid, some of the challenges he faces and how he operates his business. Great conversation with someone that truly enjoys what he does and it pretty good at it!!

Episode 138 brought a little bit of the northern states flavor into the podcast when we went on location to the old RDV Complex, which is now the Genesis Healthclub Sportsplex, to chat with Central Florida Warrior Hockey members Nick "Millsey" Mills, Anthony "Pop" Popkowski and Mike "Just Mike" Eidelstein about Warriors Hockey. All three of these gentlemen are veterans and we talked about what Warriors Hockey was about, why it was so important to have something like this for veterans and growing this to become the league for veterans, as well as other individuals, throughout the US. Nick had taken a pretty nasty fall so he was probably suffering from a little bit of concussion symptoms but still talked about why he is involved and what it means to him to be a part of it. Always love it when I can have a couple of other veterans on the show, it just makes it feel like home some ways!

Episode 137 of the Check Your Six Podcast brought Seminole County Public Schools into GRP Studios. We have done quite a bit of work with SCPS from a video standpoint but this time I had the pleasure of having Kristin Thole in the studio. She is one of the facilitators for the CTE Business Partnership Programs that they have at SCPS and some of the things that it offers. She explained about what the CTE Programs are all about, how they can tie in with the business's in Seminole, the recent spring Expo that they had showcasing the businesses looking might be looking for summer interns for their business. There are a lot of people and businesses that work with SCPS in a variety of ways to help promote their business but to also help grow the students that are coming through the school system. People like Sean Esler with Edge Consulting, Tony Boni with Be The Change Today Foundation, Debbie Rodriguez with iBuild, Michael Janerio with Gizmo Productions and Jennifer Englert with The Orlando Law Group are just some of the people that continue to pour into providing help and resources that allow for the best potential for students!! The ability for a student to graduate from one of the Seminole County Public Schools with an AA degree already completed is amazing and just another example of what if available to our kids!! You can check out more of what Kirstin was talking about here. https://www.scps.k12.fl.us/cms/one.aspx?portalId=1854109&pageId=2057984

We talked hoops, gyms and Kayla's Korner when Cynthia Wyatt dropped by GRP Studios to chat on the Check Your Six Podcast. Cynthia is the Owner/CEO of In The Paint Gymnasium and In Kayla's Korner, Inc that was created in memory of her daughter Kayla. Cynthia has used her love of basketball to perhaps take a little bit of a different approach to some of the challenges to kids that want to be in sports but might not have the opportunity. It is called "In The Paint Gymnasium" because it was simply a dream to start with to set up a pole barn and have a place that kids could come to play hoops. It has morphed into something much larger now with the potential desire for the  development of leagues, a facility that can also house a school and things way beyond the scope of the initial vision. It all comes from the directive of In Kayla's Korner, Inc that is a program that looks to bring together sports and education for underprivileged kids to uplift, empower and provide opportunities to engage in sports activities while simultaneously prompting their educational development. You can find out more about In Kayla's Korner, Inc here to see what it is all about. https://inkaylaskorner.org/

For Episode 135 of the Check Your Six podcast, Land Buying guru Brent Bowers called in and talked about his journey into buying and selling land. A Florida born native, 8 year Army Veteran that turned from buying and selling homes through Zach Buys Homes(interesting story on that name) to focusing on the purchasing and selling of land nation wide. He talked about some of the early stages in his home buying and selling stage of life, the transition into land buying after listening to a podcast ironically, and now providing a great way for others to do the same. He talked about not being able to do EVERYTHING as a business owner, fighting your ego, advice from fractional CFO's, hiring talent that allows you to do what you are good at, the benefit of having an executive assistant, the need in his industry for a good real estate attorney and a lot of other information. He provides all kinds on information on his website and YouTube channel and has helped countless others find their way in the industry of buying and selling land!! You can check him out on his YouTube channel to see what he does!!   https://www.youtube.com/@brentlbowers

Jacqui Williams and Andria Estrella-Roa, came back into GRP Studios to talk  some more about Veteran mental health on the Check Your Six Podcast. This time around Jacqui and Andria talked about changing the narrative about suicide, no longer "committing" suicide, it is death by suicide. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, behavioral reactions to feelings, as well as what Little "T" and Big "T" represent. Veterans that are getting out of the military and those returning to active combat situations are approached differently in therapy. Survival brain vs learning brain for veterans while in service or in a civilian setting and that it is not a light switch you can turn on and off. Their recognition that they can't save everyone in their field, they just need to help as many as they can. You can go to www.golfyankeesix.com to see more about what they do and the resources that are available!!

Honored and proud to have two young ladies, Jacqui Williams and Andria Estrella-Roa, stop by GRP Studios to talk about Veteran mental health on the Check Your Six Podcast. Both Jacqui and Andria are licensed marriage and family therapist, they have know each other for years and have recently joined forces to create Golf Yankee Six which focuses on the issues and challenges that veterans and their families face when they are returning from combat situations or redoing civilian life after the military. Great conversation today about those 22 vets per day that are taking their lives and looking at a very permanent solution to a temporary problem. The resources that are available from GYS and other organizations that they partner with, the new 988 crisis line that is available and when it is called and the #1 is pressed, it takes you to veteran specific counselors that can help. They also talked about some of the groups and companies that they work with like the Camaraderie Foundation here in Central Florida as well as C&D Printing that provides all of their printed product.  You can go to www.golfyankeesix.com to see more about what they do and the resources that are available!!

Episode 132 of the Check Your Six podcast brought some Jamaican flair into the GRP Studios when Shannalee Millsap, aka Chef Shanna dropped in for the podcast. Jamaican born and raised, she is now living in Central Florida and giving us all a "taste" of what Jamaica is like. She starting her love for cooking with her grandmother, Mama Shirley, and took that love and turned it into the business she has today, JamRockEatz. She talked about learning to cook without a recipe, washing meat before you season it, tasting the food before it is cooked so you will know what it tastes like when it is cooked. She also talked about her lessons learned from YouTube about starting her business, learning about servant leadership from mentors, what integrity means and using a brand consultant to help identify her brand. Great conversation and you can find out more about her here...https://jamrockeatz.com/

Kenneth "PK" Clark spent some time in the GPR Studios talking about Vibrant Families, Inc on the Check Your Six podcast. PK is the Founder and Executive Director of Vibrant Families and is looking to make a change and impact the lives of young men in Central Florida that are part of a single parent family. PK shared his background of growing up without a father, living life as a young African-American male where the only role models are the drug dealers and gang bangers. He shared about his transition to a family that adopted him, even though his mother still stayed close by, that experience opened up a whole new world to him. What Vibrant Families is starting to do through the Seminole County Public School system is amazing and I look forward to seeing more of what they can do in helping to build brighter futures for underserved communities, at-risk youth and fatherless boys. You can find out more about them here at: https://www.vibrantfamilies.org/

Episode 130 of the Check Your Six podcast brought Ed Zausch into the GRP Studios to talk about his two business ventures, Daddy's Chicken Shack and The Vitamin Shoppe. Ed already had a successful business in Indiana that he expanded in Florida but like many businesses, the events in 2020 had a serious impact on his business. He closed the Florida expansion but decided against going back and forth to Indiana every week and looked into opening a new business venture in Florida. Today focused mostly on the Daddy's Chicken Shack franchise that he has opened but did also cover The Vitamin Shoppe, his son's fight back from an auto accident, the different styles of the franchise business models for Daddy's Chicken Shack and the The Vitamin Shoppe as well as a look at hiring staff and other challenges of owning a franchise business. You can check out Daddy's Chicken Shack here, https://daddyschickenshack.com/locations/7025-county-road-46a-lake-mary-florida/ to see what they have to offer!!

Chip Colandreo from Lake Mary Life Publishing stopped by the GRP Studios for his recording of the 129th episode of the Check Your Six Podcast. A Florida boy from Niceville that grew up in Lake Mary, graduated from Lake Mary High, became a UCF Knight and now is helping to run and publish the currently 4 publications for Lake Mary Life Publishing. We talked a lot about the print media industry, the challenges of a media heavy society that may not read like it used to, engaging people where they are at in their information consumption stage and creating fantastic stories. Chip shared a a couple of up coming articles for the March publications that showcase what the magazines are all about. He talked about the way that they give back with a strong presence in the way they promote local non-profits and why it is so important to do that. He also talked about our joint participation in the newly formed Longwood Rotary and the Be The Change Today Foundation, both giving into the strong arm twisting from our(I could not say honorable because there is supposed to be truth in advertising) current Mayor Tony Boni!! All in all, it was great hearing what Lake Mary Life Publishing is doing for the Central Florida Community. You can find them at  https://www.lakemarylife.com/ and discover who they are!

Episode 128 of the Check Your Six podcast brought Doug and Katie Nutaitis into the GRP Studios to talk about both of their businesses, Crown Trophy in Orlando and Mighty Dog Roofing in Altamonte Springs. Both are born and raised in the desert of Arizona, ASU grads, that decided to move to Florida after a very abrupt end to careers that they had planned on having in Arizona. They both talk about the challenges of opening a business, what they were looking for in a new business adventure and why they did it as well as the decision to add another business to the mix. Like most of first time small business owners, and we have mentioned it a lot on the show, you don't know what you don't know until you realize you don't know it!! Great having them in the studio and telling me all about what they are doing. You can find them here for Might Dog  https://www.mightydogroofing.com/north-orlando-florida and here for Crown Trophy https://www.crowntrophy.com/?fbclid=IwAR0Zo3zJZ_rJ9Q4Bdv05fEgFYUoRN75iwtWnys4k09qIn53N61SHezvwuHY

Retired Air Force CMSgt Greg Bicknell stopped by the GRP Studios for his session of the Check Your Six podcast. Greg is now part of the Center For Independent Living(CIL) here in the 7 county Central Florida area and we has able to correct a lot of the thinking that I had, as well as many others, about exactly what it is that the CIL does for people. I always thought it was a place that people could go to live that needed assisted living and it really isn't that at all. He talked about the programs like the Family Disability Navigator, Workforce Transition, Aspire to Hire, Foundations to Freedom and several other programs that CIL provides to anyone that has a need. He talked about what it is like to see those that are recipients of these programs and how it impacts them, and those that provide the service. Great talking with another Air Force brother that loves what he does. You can check them out at https://cilorlando.org/ and find out more about all of the programs and services they provide!!

Episode 126 of the Check Your Six podcast had a very unique aroma when Raul Pabon, with Smart Scoops, stopped by the GRP Studios for his recording. Raul is truly the example of a new business owner, he and his partners opened this in December of 2023 so his is still getting his feet wet(pun totally intended). We have seen some of the marketing they have been doing locally with road sights that tell exactly what the business does, "We Scoop Poop", so as you can imagine, this was fun. Raul is a fantastic young man and it was a pleasure having him in the studio having him walk me through, well not actually, more like guide me through the poop scooping business. They are doing their best to clean up this town, one yard at a time!! You can see more of what they do at their website, https://smartscoops.com/ and get the details about the process and services. 

Episode 125 of the Check Your Six Podcast had Rebecca Waldron stop by the GRP Studios to talk about running multiple business locations and really two totally different business models. Jack The Dipper Ice Cream "Parlor" and the Revive Hair Collective are the two businesses that Rebecca runs out of locations in Longwood Florida and she talked about some of the challenges she has for both of these businesses. Finding stylists that are a compliment to the studio and have the same work patterns and trust levels, balancing the required details for each business of inventory levels for products, her community involvement and how they give back with the Jack The Dipper location to local non-profits and a lot more!! You can find out more at https://www.jackthedipper.com/locations-hoursand at https://www.revivehairorlando.com/. #icecream #hairstylist #smallbusiness #grpstudios #checkyoursixpodcast #podcast

Jennifer Englert with The Orlando Law Group made another visit to the GRP Studios for Episode 124 of the Check Your Six Podcast to deliver a Christmas present from the US Government! Jennifer had sent out one of their weekly emails about the new Corporate Transparency Act from 2021 that is supposed to take effect on Jan 1st 2024 and will require BOI or Beneficial Ownership Reporting for almost all small business entities. We had a lot of fun talking about this, like we usually do when Jennifer is in the studio but also talked about what this might mean to a lot of us small business owners. Of course, we all probably agree that most Government programs are a complete successes, so we can imagine that a program that is supposed to be up and running on 1-1-24 that does even have anywhere to report this information will be a tremendous success. You an check out more about The Orlando Law Group here,  http://www.theorlandolawgroup.com/ so when you have questions, you can call them and then can help you out!!

Episode 123 of the Check Your Six Podcast brought 3 lovely ladies into the GRP Studios to talk about Exit Global Realty. Wendy Wagner, Kristina Peacock and Alena Rivera all joined me today and explained how a meeting that may or may not have included wine and napkins resulted in them joining forces and becoming a part of what is Exit Global Realty. These ladies obviously love what they do, they love the clients/customers that they deal with on a regular basis and they love giving back to the community in both personal and professional ways. We talked about competition, (or is it really competition), how they are different from some of the other realtors in the industry, how they approach business, the ability to work 24/7 and how a rising tide lifts all of the boats!!! Great time with these ladies, love their passion for what they do. You can check them out at https://www.exitglobalrealty.com/

Andrew Brainard with Trans-Med Care Long Distance Medical Transportation paid a visit to GRP Studios to record Episode 122 of the Check Your Six podcast. Andrew and I have talked on a couple of occasions and were finally able to connect and get him in to talk about what he does. First he helped me understand the operation of non-emergency medical transport, how he serves the public, the safety measures he takes, the care they give to those that are being transported and a variety of other parts of his business. We talked about finding workers for the transport vans, the concerns that some family members might have about using Trans-Med Care, which I was surprised to discover the top concern as well as the way that Trans-Med Care gives back to the community with organizations like the Alzheimer's Association. He talked about non-emergency transport being somewhat like the Wild West with little to no regulation or oversight and how he is helping in creating those guidelines. Love what they do and their passion for people. You can find out more about them here..https://trans-medcare.com so check them out if you need to transport anyone in a non-emergency condition just about any distance.

Episode 121 of the Check Your Six podcast brought John Blum into the GRP Studios representing Five Star Claims Adjusting. Being a homeowner is a great position to be in but sometimes as we have said on the program before, "you don't know what you don't know until you realize you don't know it". John talked a lot about so many things that Joe Average homeowner or business owner(who leases) may not realize about their homeowners insurance policy. Things that may be covered or may not be covered, changes in the law and regulations that can impact what you can claim. The need for a Law & Ordinance Provision in your insurance policy that covers things somewhat like replacement value for a car insurance policy does. Asking for the license when an adjuster shows up to provide that assessment of you home, why you need a claims adjuster and so much more!! Still have a lot to learn about why claims adjusters are so valuable. You can check them out at https://www.fivestarclaimsadjusting.com

I had the pleasure of having Eric Hale stop by the GRP Studios today to record his session about DreamQuest Tiny Neighborhoods Inc. Coming from a small town in Southern Idaho(they didn't have a traffic light) and working his way through the construction industry, facilities management and seeing all of the things that are done wrong from a construction standpoint, he decided to do something to address the affordable housing issue starting in Florida. This was not at all what I expected whenI invited him on the podcast a month or so ago, I did not expect someone that was passionate about solving a real problem with some outside the box, or house, thinking. I am excited to see where he ends up taking this and what kind of an impact he can make!! You can check out more of what they do on the website...https://dqtn.org

Our good friend Dr. Jim Rybacki stopped by GRP Studios today for some filming and some podcast time. We have been working with Dr. Rybacki for several years with his EGMN/Essential Guide to Medical News and the EGPD/Essential Guide to Prescription drugs content that covers a wide range of medical news and information. We talked today about how he ended up where he is today(he was almost a Dentist), his passion for what he does and the walk that he and his wife took after her diagnosis of breast cancer. His website, www.doctorjimrybacki.com is a fantastic resource for just about anything you need to know with 15 separate health channels that are available for you to view or subscribe too.

Amy Kirkland with Seminole State College stopped by GRP Studios today to talk about Seminole State College and how you can "Go State and Go Far".  Seminole State presented at a Seminole Chamber meeting a few months back and really did a fantastic job letting the attendees know about all off the programs that they offer for students, business owners and the community as a whole. Amy is very passionate about what she does and is was evident during the podcast in all of the things she talked about. Advice for business owners, the partnership with UCF, the SBDC and all of the resources that are available through the programs at Seminole State College. Some of the things like the nursing programs that are tops in the nation is just one example of the quality of education and information that is available!!

Episode 117 of the Check Your Six podcast brought Andy Lawniczak into the GRP Studios to talk about printing, wrapping, not "rapping" and other challenges Andy has with creating excellent product for his clients. Andy is a faith based company and is committed to doing things in a manner that reflect that faith in the way he treats and service those that use Creative Wraps. He talked about how he arrived in Central Florida and I thanked him for spending lots of money when he would come to Disney, helps with my wife's retirement? Like many of us, Andy does get requests to do things for free or really cheap and while that might be a good thing to do, sometimes we get the feeling that those asking the questions don't understand that if everything is done for free, sooner or later nothing gets done!! It was great to listen to him talk about how he continues to grow and develop this business!!

Episode 116 of the Check Your Six podcast brought Brian Nagle with Real Time Services into the GRP Studios to talk about all kinds of stuff. We covered his move from the East Coast to Florida, his transition from mostly providing payroll funding for staffing companies to the PEO services that they are currently focusing on. The growth of some businesses during the craziness that affected all of us in 2020 to the downturn in those same industries, specifically the medical staffing businesses, with the changes that have happened in the medical industry. Brian loves what he does and is always looking out for businesses and how he can help them grow, even to some of us(me) that don't listen very well!! #peo #grpstudios #podcast #realtimeservices #payroll #small-business #checkyoursix #CY6

Alexis Daniel from the Urban Air Adventure Park in Altamonte Springs stopped by GRP Studios for Episode 114 of the Check Your Six Podcast. Based out of Texas, this location of Urban Air Adventure is a new addition to the Altamonte Springs business landscape.https://www.urbanair.com/florida-altamonte-springs/It is a lot more than just a trampoline park, there are a lot of activities that kids(and adults) of all ages can participate in. Besides the activity areas, they have a great area for parties and can handle more than a lot of "event spaces" for things like birthday parties, company team building events and just about any other meeting type. Nothing better in a team building event than battling a co-worker, or boss, on the battle beam!! You can reach Alexis at alexis@urbanairaltamontesprings.com to hear more about the facility! #urbanairadventurepark #grpstudios #CY6 #checkyoursix #podcast #small-business

Beth Robertson with Cookies for Kids' Cancer was "Being A Good Cookie " when she dropped into the GRP Studios for Episode 114 of the Check Your Six Podcast. I have listened to her presentation at some of the Seminole Chamber meetings but it was great to get more than 1 minute of what it is that she does. We had so much a great  conversation before the session even started, some that covered her background about her parents, specifically her mother, her journey through the diagnosis of cancer in her son, the lack of treatment for cancer in kids, the reason she is so passionate about what she is doing and even more. Cookies for Kids Cancer, https://cookiesforkidscancer.org/ is doing some fantastic work in making a difference in the lives of kids and their families that have pediatric cancer. Both through research and treatment programs that were not even available when Beth's son went through her treatment. It was great hearing her story. #pediatriccancer #kids #hope #GRPStudios #CheckYourSixPodcast #research #treatments

David Rubin stopped by GRP Studios for Episode 113 of the Check Your Six podcast. We had so much to cover with David starting with W1nners F1tness and yes, that is spelled correctly and Heroes Strong and how that all started. I think if you look up "Passion" in the dictionary, you will find a picture of David along with a description of those things that he is passionate about. His work with kids in developing the athletic skill set both on and off the field, as well as his appreciation to all those he calls "Heroes", the military, law enforcement, firefighters, educators and healthcare workers. It is a longer than normal episode but there was so much to cover we just let it roll. You can see all that he is involved with Heroes Strong at their website, https://www.heroesstrong.org including a very special event with NASCAR in August at the Daytona. If you would like to attend this race, you can go to the link and click on the Events tab for more information. #heroesstrong #educators #firefighters #healthcare #lawenforcement #checkyoursix #podcast

Craig Leysen rejoined me this week for the 112th episode of the Check Your Six podcast after being away for a bit. It was great to have him back in talking about veteran stuff. Most of it was talking about the benefits that veterans have available to them without even knowing it simply because we don't know where to start. We talked about using the https://www.va.gov site to get started in looking for the resources in your state. Using https://www.archives.gov/veterans/benefits to do a deeper dive into specific benefits and how you can obtain your service records. Using the VSO through your state VA department to start the process and a lot more. We just want to encourage veterans to use the benefits that you have earned through your service and get the help you need!! #veterans #military #VA #benefits 

Air Force Veteran Trish Murphy stopped by GRP Studios for the 111th Episode of the Check Your Six podcast to talk about a couple of business topics. The first is her business, Marketing Smarty Pants that deals with you guessed it, marketing for your business. Obviously not just marketing, Smarty Pants covers a lot of the concepts and programs that help your business become more visible and appealing to potential clients. We also talked about her involvement with FAVOB, the Florida Association of Veteran Owned Businesses, its development and growth especially over the last couple of years. How FAVOB is working at bringing those nearly 200,000 veteran owned businesses into one place that civilians, government contractors and other businesses can find Veteran owned companies to work with. With 5 branches at the time of this broadcast, the sky is the only limit to what could happen with FAVOB!You can check out her work with Smarty Pants at her website, https://www.marketingsmartypants.com

The 110th Episode of the Check Your Six Podcast brought Jason Quint into the GRP Studios to talk about kitchens both as the owner of Signature Kitchens and The Outdoor Kitchen Guy! Jason talked about his transition from the CFO of companies like Home Depot and Bed, Bath & Beyond to owning and running his own business. Like many entrepreneurs, Jason was sure that his experience and expertise in being the CFO of national chains would make this simple, if he could not double the business  in XXX amount of years, he was not as good as he thought. Well again, like many entrepreneurs, most of us were not prepared for what happened in 2020 in regard to business. Jason talked a lot about his strategy in building the business, how they pivoted and changed direction with some of his actions, all to help the business adapt and grow!!