Podcast appearances and mentions of charlotte chamber

With over 30 years of experience in the computer software industry, Rudy Alexander is a visionary with proven ability to bring technology to market and developing successful companies. In his current role as President of Breadware, his knowledge of IoT and what the future of tech looks like offers a unique perspective. Rudy has an extensive background in mergers ,acquisitions and capital structure in both domestic and international companies. Rudy was the co-founder of 11Giraffes, which developed and provided software to assist retailers in using their digital media more effectively. He has authored several white papers in the software industry and was featured on World Business Review. Rudy was honored with the Charlotte Chamber's Entrepreneur of the Year Award and is a founding member of Charlotte's Business Innovation and Growth Council. Episode in a Tweet: I'm overly optimistic and have to find the balance between being optimistic and keeping it real. Sometimes you have to come out and say it like it is, no matter how hard it is to hear. Background: In this week's episode of Reflect Forward, I interview Rudy Alexander, President of Breadware. Breadware is a subsidiary of StoneAge, and I thought it would be fun to interview Rudy so you all could get an inside peak of what it's actually like to lead in a StoneAge company. Breadware is an IoT (Internet of Things) Solutions company that helps industrial OEMs build smart products and solutions, transforming indiusrty through data insights. Rudy shares his insight on how he has transformed as a leader as he has transformed Breadware. We discuss humitly, transparency, and how he continues to learn about himself everday. How to find Rudy: Website: https://breadware.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudy-alexander-148ab66/ Please consider ordering my book, The Ownership Mindset, on Amazon or Barnes and Noble Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn. Subscribe to my podcast Reflect Forward on iTunes Or check out my new YouTube Channel, where you can watch full-length episodes of Advice From a CEO! And if you are looking for a keynote speaker or a podcast guest, click here to book a meeting with me to discuss what you are looking for!

Episode Summary: Our guest today is a Chief Referral Ninja Master, who helps others grow their business using referrals. Joining us is Stacey Brown Randall, a coaching consultant, award-winning author, and speaker. Stacey is the podcast host of Roadmap to Grow Your Business, a podcast offering more insights into growing your business through referral. In this episode, join Stacey and me to learn new tactics to help grow your business and the best ways to generate referrals without asking. We also discuss the importance of an organized database and the best practices to re-engage potential leads! Top Takeaways: Stacey Brown Randall's Advice for New Agents “I would tell a new agent that is just getting started – your relationships are going to serve you, feed you, and pick you up when things go sideways, as they have been known to do more now than ever.” “You have to take time making sure when you are developing these relationships, you are coming at it from a place not trying to sell them a home or get a referral… but ultimately at the end of the day, you're looking to help them.”   “The truth is that a database is made up of referral sources, clients, current clients, previous clients, and strategic partners. There are just so many different categorizations, and if you don't start with something, it can get really hard to get back.” – Stacey Brown Randall [17:50] “I think that the truth is, if I'm referred to someone, I am less inclined to check them out online, and I'm more inclined to take the recommendation of my friend if I truly trust my friend. But the reviews and testimonials build your credibility for every other type of prospect or lead you're going to have. If I do go check you out after being referred and I see other people who love working with you, it only solidifies my decision.” – Stacey Brown Randall [19:47] Episode Highlights: [00:19] Intro [00:45] Meet Stacey Brown Randall – Referral Ninja Expert [01:49] Living in the Carolinas [02:27] Attending the University of South Carolina [04:32] Dreams of Being a Broadcast Journalist [06:58] Weaving the Way to Business Consulting [12:59] Best Ways to Help Grow Your Business [15:13] The Importance of Taking Care of Your Database [18:19] Verified Reviews in Referral Strategies [21:06] Setting the Expectation for Reviews [22:27] Tips to Reconnecting a Neglected Database [27:53] Referral Seed Example [32:17] Stacey's Advice for New Agents [33:42] Connect with Stacey [34:59] Closing Thoughts [35:13] Outro Episode Notes: Today, joining us is Stacey Brown Randall, Chief Referral Ninja Master, helping business owners achieve their referral goals. Stacey Brown Randall grew up in Greenville, South Carolina spending only a few years living in Colorado before spending the rest of her time before college back in South Carolina. Stacey studied at the University of South Carolina, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Broadcast Journalism. Stacey Brown Randall had dreams of being a broadcast journalist and received multiple offers after graduation but decided to turn them down to seek other opportunities. Instead of a journalism career, Stacey landed her first job at a non-profit company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stacey received many great opportunities and connections and became the Director of Marketing and Business Development for the Charlotte Magazine and Workforce Development Director for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. In 2009, Stacey Brown Randall founded Randall Research, an HR consulting firm, for over four years before returning to corporate work in the financial space. Looking for an escape route to get out of corporate America, Stacey received her productivity and business coaching certification. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Stacey started her second business in 2013, where through her coaching program, Stacey helps...

Join Russell Hughes and I on a very informative and opinionated episode on today's real estate market and what we think you can do to adjust to still succeed.  Managing Principal Hughes Realty Advisors Licensed in NC, SC, GA and CA Russell has experience in negotiating office leases and build-to-suit transactions both locally and on a national level for his clients. Russell began his commercial real estate career in 1998 in Los Angeles. For the past eighteen years, he has worked with companies in the financial services entertainment, advertising, and Biotech industries, as well as Fortune 500 companies. Through his tenacity and understanding of the monetary value embedded in every lease, Russell provides his clients with the best possible opportunities and solutions. His SIOR designation and LEED AP credential proves his desire to go a step above. Russell's dedication to the needs of his clients is the foundation of his success. Recent Assignments Ascension Law, Heartwood Trees, Ice Age Investments, Compare Foods, S&ME national portfolio, Levine Properties; Dimensional Fund Advisors; Netflix; Montgomery & Co.; Canon USA; Cannon Design; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; First Look Studios; Altour International; Shell Oil; Heyday Films; KB Homes; Learning Annex; Lion's Gate Entertainment; McElroy Advertising; WKT Public Relations; Countrywide Home Loans, National Payment Networks, RBZ. LLP Education University of Michigan-Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy ; Real Estate license in North and South Carolina, California and New York; Community Involvement Union County Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, Junior Achievement of the Carolinas Board, Arts and Science Council Board, Olde Providence Foundation Board, Charlotte Chamber, USGBC Charlotte Chapter, Executive Committee Board of Governors Cedars Sinai Projects As the national representative for S&ME, Russell was responsible for their Charlotte office 30,000 SF sale lease back. Renewing the headquarters in Raleigh, Integrating real estate nationally from mergers, and over 150,000 SF of national portfolio work. Russell represented over 400,000 square foot of new acquisitions, relocations, and renewals for KB home on a national basis. Transactions included their Corporate Headquarters, 80,000 sq. ft. in Las Vegas, 30,000 sq. ft. in Charleston, Indianapolis, Reno, Sarasota, and Phoenix. The team coordinated all aspects of leasing from acquisition, analysis, project management, and lease administration on behalf of KB Home throughout their portfolio. Representing RGG as Director of Leasing on 300,000 sq. ft. Modify-to-Suit in Las Vegas, developing property for Fortune 100 company headquarters. Russell Hughes: www.hughesra.comRich State of Mind Links:Website: www.richstateofmind.comInstagram : @rich_statebrand and @rich_invests_Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/anthanerichiePlease like and subscribe to my channel.See our cool wealth building and real estate T-shirt designs in the links below :Rich State of Mind Store :https://bit.ly/RichState--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anSupport the show

Join Russell Hughes and I on a very informative and opinionated episode on today's real estate market and what we think you can do to adjust to still succeed.  Managing Principal Hughes Realty Advisors Licensed in NC, SC, GA and CA Russell has experience in negotiating office leases and build-to-suit transactions both locally and on a national level for his clients. Russell began his commercial real estate career in 1998 in Los Angeles. For the past eighteen years, he has worked with companies in the financial services entertainment, advertising, and Biotech industries, as well as Fortune 500 companies. Through his tenacity and understanding of the monetary value embedded in every lease, Russell provides his clients with the best possible opportunities and solutions. His SIOR designation and LEED AP credential proves his desire to go a step above. Russell's dedication to the needs of his clients is the foundation of his success. Recent Assignments Ascension Law, Heartwood Trees, Ice Age Investments, Compare Foods, S&ME national portfolio, Levine Properties; Dimensional Fund Advisors; Netflix; Montgomery & Co.; Canon USA; Cannon Design; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; First Look Studios; Altour International; Shell Oil; Heyday Films; KB Homes; Learning Annex; Lion's Gate Entertainment; McElroy Advertising; WKT Public Relations; Countrywide Home Loans, National Payment Networks, RBZ. LLP Education University of Michigan-Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy ; Real Estate license in North and South Carolina, California and New York; Community Involvement Union County Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, Junior Achievement of the Carolinas Board, Arts and Science Council Board, Olde Providence Foundation Board, Charlotte Chamber, USGBC Charlotte Chapter, Executive Committee Board of Governors Cedars Sinai Projects As the national representative for S&ME, Russell was responsible for their Charlotte office 30,000 SF sale lease back. Renewing the headquarters in Raleigh, Integrating real estate nationally from mergers, and over 150,000 SF of national portfolio work. Russell represented over 400,000 square foot of new acquisitions, relocations, and renewals for KB home on a national basis. Transactions included their Corporate Headquarters, 80,000 sq. ft. in Las Vegas, 30,000 sq. ft. in Charleston, Indianapolis, Reno, Sarasota, and Phoenix. The team coordinated all aspects of leasing from acquisition, analysis, project management, and lease administration on behalf of KB Home throughout their portfolio. Representing RGG as Director of Leasing on 300,000 sq. ft. Modify-to-Suit in Las Vegas, developing property for Fortune 100 company headquarters. Russell Hughes: www.hughesra.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthane-richie/support

MEET OUR GUEST: An entrepreneur residing in Charlotte, NC. Ussery started her career in Charlotte interning with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and Duke Energy. She then lived and worked for 20 years in Detroit, MI directing internal and external communication activities for C-Suite executives in statewide government and private global companies. She partnered with Erika Boyd to co-create the Detroit Vegan Soul restaurant brand in 2012. The pair own and operate two restaurants and have provided employment opportunities for many people who otherwise would not have the opportunity to work and advance in the food industry. Website: https://www.DetroitVeganSoul.com Subscribe to Pivot! A Vegan Business Interview Series on Soundwise

Episode Summary: Our guest today is a Chief Referral Ninja Master, who helps others grow their business using referrals. Joining us is Stacey Brown Randall, a coaching consultant, award-winning author, and speaker. Stacey is the podcast host of Roadmap to Grow Your Business, a podcast offering more insights into growing your business through referral.  In this episode, join Stacey and me to learn new tactics to help grow your business and the best ways to generate referrals without asking. We also discuss the importance of an organized database and the best practices to re-engage potential leads!   Top Takeaways:  Stacey Brown Randall's Advice for New Agents "I would tell a new agent that is just getting started – your relationships are going to serve you, feed you, and pick you up when things go sideways, as they have been known to do more now than ever." "You have to take time making sure when you are developing these relationships, you are coming at it from a place not trying to sell them a home or get a referral… but ultimately at the end of the day, you're looking to help them."   "The truth is that a database is made up of referral sources, clients, current clients, previous clients, and strategic partners. There are just so many different categorizations, and if you don't start with something, it can get really hard to get back." – Stacey Brown Randall [17:50] "I think that the truth is, if I'm referred to someone, I am less inclined to check them out online, and I'm more inclined to take the recommendation of my friend if I truly trust my friend. But the reviews and testimonials build your credibility for every other type of prospect or lead you're going to have. If I do go check you out after being referred and I see other people who love working with you, it only solidifies my decision." – Stacey Brown Randall [19:47] Episode Highlights: [00:19] Intro  [00:45] Meet Stacey Brown Randall – Referral Ninja Expert  [01:49] Living in the Carolinas  [02:27] Attending the University of South Carolina  [04:32] Dreams of Being a Broadcast Journalist  [06:58] Weaving the Way to Business Consulting  [12:59] Best Ways to Help Grow Your Business  [15:13] The Importance of Taking Care of Your Database  [18:19] Verified Reviews in Referral Strategies  [21:06] Setting the Expectation for Reviews  [22:27] Tips to Reconnecting a Neglected Database  [27:53] Referral Seed Example  [32:17] Stacey's Advice for New Agents  [33:42] Connect with Stacey  [34:59] Closing Thoughts  [35:13] Outro  Episode Notes:  Today, joining us is Stacey Brown Randall, Chief Referral Ninja Master, helping business owners achieve their referral goals. Stacey Brown Randall grew up in Greenville, South Carolina spending only a few years living in Colorado before spending the rest of her time before college back in South Carolina. Stacey studied at the University of South Carolina, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Broadcast Journalism. Stacey Brown Randall had dreams of being a broadcast journalist and received multiple offers after graduation but decided to turn them down to seek other opportunities.  Instead of a journalism career, Stacey landed her first job at a non-profit company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stacey received many great opportunities and connections and became the Director of Marketing and Business Development for the Charlotte Magazine and Workforce Development Director for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. In 2009, Stacey Brown Randall founded Randall Research, an HR consulting firm, for over four years before returning to corporate work in the financial space. Looking for an escape route to get out of corporate America, Stacey received her productivity and business coaching certification.  Based in Charlotte, North...

I catch up with one of our area's finest artists, organizers and creative mind, Boris "Bluz" Rogers and we kick it around a bit over his career in the Spoken Word world, his Poetry,Hip Hop and where it's taken him and how it has been a blessing to give back to his community!Peep his Bio from Reverbnation:From humble southern beginnings Bluz has risen through the ranks of spoken word entertainment. He is the slam master and coach of SlamCharlotte, A competitive team of poets whom he led to back to back National Poetry Slam victories in 2007 and 2008. Bluz is the 2008 LEAF Festival poetry slam champion. In 2003, Bluz solidified a spot hosting a segment on Charlotte's #1 urban Radio station every Friday morning at 9:50am.Bluz has been performing spoken word and hosting events for 7 years. He was the host of the RedBull StreetStyle Contest, Fresh fest B-BOY break dance contest and participated in the Redbull “SayWhat” spoken word workshop. An active member in the community, Bluz has worked on several projects with organizations such Junior Achievement, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Wachovia, Bank Of America, CBS Radio, Radio Disney, ESPN, SPEED TV, BET, and NASCAR where he wrote and performed several intros for the Nationally televised showed NASCAR:TODAY in which he won an Emmy.Bluz has shared the stage with several distinguished poets, Taylor Mali, Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Gil Scott Heron and he has opened for many national recording artist such as Outkast, Amel Larrieux, Yung Jeezy, Little Brother, Pink Floyd, Last Poets, D'Angelo, John Legend, Soulganic, Del La Sol, KRS ONE and more. He is the author of a book of poetry(Articulate Slang), released 3 cds, and featured at world famous Nuyorican poets Café and Bowery Poetry Club. All of these accomplishments pale in comparison to his role as father to three beautiful children, husband to a dynamic wife, and friend to a core of poets known as the Concrete Generation who constantly help him push the limit of poetry. Bluz remains a visionary in the art of spoken word and slam poetry. His relentless pursuit to reinvent himself and the art form keep him in the upper echelon of poetry. This is Bluz.

Thanks for joining for another episode of the #SquarePizzaPod. We're joined by Carrie Cook, the Founding ED of GreenLight Fund Charlotte. At Greenlight Carrie is incubating and scaling innovative organizations with proven impact to address unmet community needs—we'll get into what that looks like for the Charlotte in the episode. We also talk through how Carrie is taking on Charlotte's affordable housing crisis one real estate project at a time and some of the insights she's gleaned as she's grown this passion project.Carrie is a #boss (see full bio below) and we could have chatted for hours. Learn more about Greenlight Fund here and follow Carrie on IG here.Bio:Carrie B. Cook is the Founding Executive Director of GreenLight Fund Charlotte. In her role as founding ED, Carrie brings together stakeholders from philanthropy, nonprofits, private sector, government and community leaders to invest in solutions and drive measurable results that improve opportunity and mobility for low-income Charlotteans. She will incubate and scale innovative organizations with proven impact to address unmet community needs.Carrie previously worked for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, as the VP of Talent Development and Economic Growth. While at the chamber, she helped lead the campaign to pass the largest school bond in Mecklenburg County history – a nearly billion-dollar campaign for 29 high need public school projects. Carrie’s career also includes roles with the United States Senate, and AmeriCorp as a Public Ally Fellow.Driven by curiosity and a sense of adventure, Carrie set out on a journey to visit every continent with her Mom. They did just that in 2017 after returning from Antarctica, and exploring more than 25 countries around the world over a decade. She believes these travel experiences connecting with people, ideas and cultures around the world shape her ability to live on purpose and do meaningful work.Carrie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Public Administration degree with a focus on Education Policy and Economic Development from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a graduate of the Business Management for Nonprofit Leaders program at Wake Forest University, School of Business.Carrie is committed to empowering people and solving complex problems both locally and globally. In 2011 Carrie received the Young Public Administrator of the Year Award from the National Forum of Black Public Administrators, and in 2012 she was selected as one of nine leaders under 30 in Charlotte for the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community. Carrie was recognized as the 2013 Emerging Leader Woman of Achievement by the YWCA Central Carolinas for her commitment to empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting social justice. The United Negro College Fund recognized Carrie with their inaugural Maya Angelou Young Leader Award in 2016 and in 2018 she received the Woman of the Year Award from the Mecklenburg Times.A passionate, experienced social entrepreneur, Carrie founded EmpowHERment, Inc. in 2012 – a nonprofit organization committed to mentorship, talent development and advocacy for girls and women.Carrie is an active member with several organizations and boards including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Junior League of Charlotte and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Advisory Board. Carrie is grateful to live, serve and play in her hometown of Charlotte, NC. She credits her faith, family, community and sense of humor for an incredible life journey.Support the show (http://Scherm.co)

Monica R. Allen graduated from Hampton University and The College of William and Mary with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Psychology respectively, and she received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organization and Management – Business concentration from Capella University. She is currently the Director of Strategic Planning and Evaluation for Mecklenburg County – the most populous County in the State of NorthCarolina. Her accountabilities focus on leading, developing and executing the County's corporate performance management, strategic planning and program evaluation initiatives.Her accomplishments in the role as Director include successfully implementing a three year strategic business planning framework for Mecklenburg County to include the development of the FY2017-2019 Corporate Strategic Business Plan and consulting with approximately 24 departments on their three-year strategic business plans also for FY2017-2019. Recently, Monica refined the strategic business planning framework and is now assisting the organization with development of the FY2020- 2022 strategic business plans (corporate and departments).In addition to the success of designing and implementing a three-year strategic approach for moving the County forward, Monica has also implemented the first ever Performance Management System for the County, which was a multi-year engagement with the Microsoft Corporation. This effort has allowed the County to regularly and consistently monitor and manage performance throughout Mecklenburg County government.Monica is also the owner of Insight Performance Management Group, LLC, which is a consulting firm specializing in change management, strategy development and execution, performance management, and organizational development. Her firm has primarily worked with non-profit organizations whereby she has helped with the development of strategic plans along with tactical plans that reference steps to effective execution of strategy. Her clients have included, but are not limited to, the Town of Chapel Hill, Promising Pages, EmpowHERment, Women's Intercultural Exchange, and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte – Harris Y Branch. Some of her work has been pro bono as a means of giving back to her community. Monica enjoys actively serving on various community Boards and serves as a mentor to several youth and adults in Charlotte, actively attends church, loves to travel, watch and attend sporting events, read mediation and spiritual books, and work as an Adjunct Instructor for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – School ofGovernment. She was also recently appointed to serve as the National Forum for Black Public Administrators – Chair of Strategic Planning and was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Association for Strategic Planning. Both appointments occurred in 2019.Monica was the recipient of the 2016 Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Public Servant Award. She also recently won two awards for her work in strategic planning and performance management. She received the Association for Strategic Planning - 2017 Richard M. Goodman Award for Strategic Planning, as well as led efforts in performance management resulting in Mecklenburg County receiving the International City/County Management Association's 2017 Certificate of Distinction for Performance Management. Her most recent recognition was as one of Mecklenburg Times 50 Most Influential Women in 2018.Although Monica lived most of her childhood in Oklahoma City, she is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She currently resides in Charlotte, NC. Podcast Music by Dj QuadsSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BlkWomenRising)

On the twentieth entry of The Link Up with Latesha, our incredible host Latesha Byrd, founder of Byrd Career Consulting, discusses the first three I's of transformation - intentionality, initiative, and investment in improvement. She also talks a bit about how success can be scary and how to combat that fear.Learn more about Latesha on the BCC website or connect with her through her socials! LinkedIn, IG, Twitter, FBStop by LateshaByrd.com! Click here to check out Latesha's shop, and don't forget the 60% discount code GETTHECOINS!Check out Latesha's YouTube channel!BCC's socials: LinkedIn, IG, Twitter, FBVisit our website!TRANSCRIPTLatesha: Hello, hello. Welcome to The Link Up with Latesha. I am so excited to be back with you all today. Happy February. January was a long year. January was a long year. Like, why was January 565 days? If you're like me, you're probably feeling a sense of relief now that it is February. If you all have set New Year's resolutions and set New Year's goals, and maybe it didn't go as planned in January. I know mine didn't, so I'm here with you. Start over. Start over. It's okay. You can always pick back up and start over. I did not hit my gym fitness goals for January, but you know what? I have been in the gym for the past week and I feel wonderful. So focus on where you're going, not where you've been, all right? So what we are talking about today, we are talking about transformation. We're talking about the five I's of transformation. That is what the focus is. 2020 is going to be such a phenomenal, impactful year for many of us. This is going to be a year of change. I really believe that this is going to be a year of transformation. So no matter where you are in your professional journey, whether you are starting a business, wanting to take your side hustle into a full-time hustle, looking for a new career--new year, new career. Maybe you are trying to get promoted and move up, going after that big promotion this year, or maybe you just started at a company. You're really just trying to get your footing and you want to hit the ground running and do a great job. This, today's episode, is for every single one of you. Transformation is something that is important for me this year, because where I want to go is going to--in terms of my goals, my business goals, my personal goals, it's going to require a different version of me to get there. It's going to require a different level of discipline to get there. The motivation is there. Sometimes it's not though, which is why discipline is so key. [laughs] And it's going to require a different level of focus. If you feel like this is you, I think you will get a lot out of today's episode. This is actually going to be a two-part episode because there's so much meat and gems in here I don't think I can get this in just in one episode. So in terms of what I have going on--thank you for asking [laughs]--what you all should expect to see from me, at least over the next couple months, is still doing a lot of speaking engagements. If you are going to be attending the Black Enterprise Women of Power summit in Vegas, I will be leading a panel discussion and doing some on-site coaching. So that's in Vegas March 5th through the 9th, I think. Wonderful conference. I love going every--well, this is my second year going, but I love that conference, and I hope to see you there. So I'm still continuing to do a lot of speaking--I'ma pull up in your city. So, you know, if you or your organization needs a speaker, maybe leading an ERG discussion, a roundtable, keynoting, a workshop or anything related to career development, you know how to find me. My email is hello@lateshabyrd.com. Hit me up. So speaking of Black Enterprise Women of Power summit, I'll be in New Orleans in a couple of weeks speaking. I will be doing a workshop with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce with their young professionals auxilary board. And outside of, you know--I'm probably leaving a couple of things out in terms of speaking. I'm speaking at a women's tech conference here in Charlotte here called Fleurix. But outside of speaking, I'm going to be--ah, man, I can't tell you guys too much just yet. Just know that one of my goals this year is to build an online shop where I will be selling a ton of digital products that will help you in your career. So you will see resume templates, interview guides, courses. I just did a LinkedIn course last week. That will be on my site up and running over the next week or two, so stay tuned for that. Let me know what you all want to hear from me. I'm planning on doing another digital course or masterclass on I believe interviewing, so more to come from that. I want to make sure that the information that I'm providing, the value I'm providing, to everyone is easily accessible so you can pick it up whenever you need it or whatever period of your career you're in. You know, I watn to be able to meet your needs and meet you where you are and provide that insight and value. So let's go ahead and hop into it for today. A lot of things to cover. I'm gonna be getting really personal about my journey and what I've been through to focus on this thing called, you know, a complete transformation. Over the past five years I have been on a quest to just change my lifestyle, change who I am, and it has definitely, you know, birthed a new person. I have grown so much since starting my business, since, you know, progressing throughout my career, being in different spaces, so I wanted to share a little bit about this. I actually did a keynote at UNC Chapel Hill for a women's empowerment brunch with about 120 undergraduate and graduate students and faculty, and in this keynote this is when I really shared the five I's of transformation. When we think about women's empowerment sometimes it can be--like, we think "Oh, we get cute, we get dressed up, and we just sit around and talk about how great the world is and we sing kumbaya and we tell everyone to do their best and "You'll be okay," right? So when I was asked to do this women's empowerment keynote--now, y'all know me by now. I'ma be really, really real. [laughs] Like, I am not going to sit up here and say, "You are gonna be great, and you just keep on going." Like, nah, bruh. You know? That's not me. So I wanted to kind of break it down in a way where this framework can essentially be followed by anyone if they're looking to not only feel empowered but they're looking to make a transformation. So going into it, like I said, today's part one, next time will be part two, so please listen to both. The first thing I want to say when it comes to women's empowerment is that--well, I don't even want to say women's empowerment because I know we have some male listeners out there. Shout-out to y'all. But empowerment in general, any time where I've really had to feel empowered or where I have felt empowered, I have been scared out of my mind. Why is an emotion that's supposed to feel so powerful also extremely scary at the same time? For example, the most empowering moments I have experienced have stemmed from me doing something completely out of my comfort zone. Breaking up with a boyfriend, leaving a job, [laughs] letting go of a toxic family member, right? Things that were supposed to be the most empowering have stemmed from me doing something completely out of my comfort zone, knowing that not only was it necessary but it was a requirement in order to get me to my greater self. So I personally think that empowerment is just a lot more than feeling empowered. It's really about pushing past the fear of failure, the fear of rejection, the fear of starting over. Not only is that empowering, but it's frightening, yet freeing, at the same time. So if we can be really real about empowerment, empowerment is not just waking up and feeling great about what you're doing. It's about pushing through the fear of the unknown. That's how you get to that point of feeling empowered. So I want you all, all of my listeners, to just think about a moment in your life when you had to push past the fear, you had to push outside of your comfort zone, and you felt although maybe really scared kind of going into it, you ended up feeling completely empowered after doing so. So just take a few seconds and think about that. “When was the last time I have pushed past my fear?” Was it negotiating salary for a job? Was it actually applying for a job? [laughs] Not being sure if, you know, you would hear back? Was it interviewing for a job? On the personal front, finally joining a gym… but actually, like, showing up to the gym, [laughs] and showing up consistently, or hiring a personal trainer. I mean, there's so many different ways where we all can feel empowered, but again, it takes us making a choice to do something maybe that we're not as familiar with. So my most empowering moment--and again, this was really when I began this journey of transformation. Again, transformation isn't overnight. It's gonna take years, years and years. So my most empowering moment took place when I turned 25. I was going through what some might call a quarter-life crisis... and yes, this is a real thing. [laughs] Career publication The Muse calls it "a period of intense soul-searching and stress occurring in your mid-twenties to early thirties, typically because you're feeling you're not achieving your full potential or you are falling behind." That's the definition of a quarter-life crisis, and according to The Guardian, a quarter-life crisis affects 86% of millennials who report being bogged down by insecurities, disappointments, loneliness, and depression. That is what they have said about the quarter-life crisis. So, like I said, it is a real thing. Anyways, I hit my quarter-life crisis and made a decision to embrace this newfound journey of transformation when I realized I just wasn't happy in my job, I wasn't fulfilled in my career, and yeah, I may have been getting paid--I was able to take trips with my girlfriends, I was able to pay my bills, you know, but I just was going through the motions of life, and I came to this realization that I wanted no more, and that's when I started to completely transform. So just for some context, I was 25 years old. I was working a boring corporate job. I was in a dead-end relationship. You know, my boyfriend was kind of schmoozing off of me. I worked and paid the bills, and he did not work... yeah, ladies, trust me, I've been there. Been there, done that. [laughs] I won't go into too much detail, but I was very unhappy in all facets. But the crazy thing was is that I was told "If you do all of these things, you'll be successful. You'll be happy. Go to school. Get the degree. Get your corporate job. Get a good man," right? So I went even further. I got a Master's degree, and I was working at one of the largest professional services firms in the world. I had bought a brand new car off the lot. I lived in a really cool loft. And from the outside in, it seemed like everything was great. Like, I would see people and they would say the usual "Oh, girl, you're killing it. You're doing your thing. I see you out here." Y'all know how we gas each other up, or people would say--this is my favorite one--"I see you out here living the life," right? [laughs] And I would just smile awkwardly and brush off their compliments, knowing that although their intention was to be thoughtful, they did not know that there was a mask on my face, and I was hiding behind a mask that portrayed a strong, ambitious, focused young woman, but on the inside I was actually confused, burnt out, and unfulfilled, wondering if all of her work was in vain. Have you all ever been hiding behind a mask for so long that it's like you put on this front that everything is going well on the outside, but you know that it's not, and then you also can feel guilty maybe about that feeling of unsatisfaction or unfulfillment. You can feel guilty about it. Like, "How dare--" And this is how I felt. Like, "How dare I be unfulfilled or unhappy when I have this wonderful job?" You know? I'm getting a paycheck, right? So I was wearing this mask. I was wearing this mask, so when people would say "Oh, you're living the life, and everything's going well," you know, you just smile, brush it off. I know I'm not the only one that's been there. But like I said, from the outside looking in, it all looked amazing, but from the inside looking out, man, I was hiding. I was hiding. So there's this book that I read called You Are A Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living by Jen Sincero. I love, love, love that book. So when I decided to make the decision to start transforming my life, this book was something that truly, truly helped me. And so in the book she says that, you know, people don't deem themselves as creative. I used to be that person. Like, I have friends that are painters and writers and musicians and interior designers, and they seem to be super creative, and I would always tell them, like, "Y'all, I am not a creative person," and they say, "No, you are creative. What are you talking about? You create things for your business. You create ideas and strategies. Like, you area a creative." So in this book she says the people that they're not a creative person, everyone is creative. If you are alive, you're creating. You are an artist, and masterpiece is your life. Your world is the canvas. Your ideas are the sketches. Your thoughts, words, and attitudes are the paint. Your actions are the strokes. And if you don't like how your painting is turning out, you can evaluate your painting style or the tools you're using to figure out what needs to be changed in order to master and switch up your approach. So that being said, y'all, we are all creating our own reality. We are all creating our own future. And so from me a feeling that I could not go on anymore and I had to make some tough and hard decisions, plus the desire of really wanting to tap into my most fullest, truest, and highest self. This is when I started to make some changes, and I started to think about "What will not happen if I stay here?" Not what will happen, but what will not happen. And then often times we realize that we have so much more to gain than we have to lose. So since 25, if you guys have been listening to the podcast you know my journey. I changed careers completely, launched a busines, Byrd Career Consulting. We've served almost 1,000 professionals domestically and all over the world. Last year was a phenomenal year for me. I made 150 in revenue, projected on to earn a quarter-million this year, and since being committed to this journey of transformation, it's really brought me on some stages that I honestly would have never imagined, like being featured in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Vogue Business, Magazine [?], being able to speak with you all here on Living Corporate. I'm on NBC Charlotte once a month giving career tips, and I have helped a lot of people find their own way in their journeys and professional lives, but the most important thing for me now, five years in, is I have found my peace, I have found my purpose, and I have found my stride. So I want to go ahead and start breaking down the I's. I think I said the five I's earlier. My bad. It's actually six I's. [laughs] Six I's. So the first one, the first one is intention. Set a mental image of what you want to be. Before I kind of go into intention a little bit more, have you all heard about something called chronophobia? This is actually a real thing, and that is the fear of the future. That is the fear of the future. There is this--I'm on Twitter a lot, as you guys probably know by now, and so someone had Tweeted something and said, "Whenever I worry about the future, I remember that I make it myself." Whenever I worry about the future, I remember that I make it myself. I thought that was so profound. Just remember, yo, like, we create our own futures. You do not need to have chronophobia, the fear of the future. Not when you are responsible for creating it. And you don't have to accept the life that's been given to you. So to make a transformation, the first I is intention, setting a mental image of what you want to be. There is this quote that I heard, and I don't know who said it, I wish I could credit that person, but they said, "Visualize your highest self and then start showing up as her or him." So when I decided to embark on this journey of entrepreneurship, my goal at the age of 25 was to become the most well-known go-to person in my industry as a career coach. I wanted to be that person for all things career and professional development-related. Again, my business started as a hobby, y'all. I didn't know that this was what I would be doing. I did not know that this is what I would be doing. My business started as a hobby. It started as me helping those around me, and then I said, "Oh, more and more people want help with their resumes. I could make money from this." So I set the intention to become a business owner, and not just a person running a business, but an authority in this field. And so when I set that intention, I actually had to show up as that person that I wanted to be. That took me researching, reading up on anything career development related. I have so many books on career growth, on navigating corporate America. I started to brand myself as a speaker in this area. So it's all about intentionality. No one gave me permission to start this business. No one gave me permission to call myself a career coach. Now, keep in mind I do have certifications. I'm a certified career coach, certified life coach, so I'm not just out here calling myself a coach just because. [laughs] But understand that intentionality is important. We only have one life to live. And this actually will--when it comes to being intentional, yes, set that mental future image of yourself, but it's also going to take some vulnerability, you know? And that means knowing where you want to be and knowing where you are not and being really honest with yourself about what it will take for you to get there. So that's the first I, intentionality. The second I is initiative. So once you've set that intention, that second I is initiative. This is when you really need to start taking ownership of your career. I realized that in order to completely take the power back and get in control of my life I had to take some initiative, and Fast Company--there's an article in Fast Company that talks about how to feel less anxious about the future. One it's saying to be open to uncertainty, so once you take that initiative you have to be committed to the journey, not necessarily the destination, and be okay with, you know, the journey, knowing that the result may not go exactly as planned, but you have to be committed to the journey. When I set an initiative or a new thing, for instance, starting to launch these masterclasses, my first three were completely free. My last one I ended up charging for because I was giving out so much value, and I had to be okay with having one person pay, two people pay, or, you know, five people, but I was committed to the journey, not necessarily the result. So take initiative. Be open to uncertainty. The other thing is to let yourself imagine the best. Don't go into it having these self-limiting thoughts and beliefs, because we can be our own biggest enemies. Often times during my coaching sessions, my clients, I will tell them when they sound really discouraged or feel like giving up, "You are speaking and operating from a place of defeat, and that's not what winners do." So if you want to see a real transformation here, you have to let yourself imagine the best. So the first I intention, setting that intention, and the second I is initiative, actually starting to execute, starting to plan out that journey and, again, be committed to it. The third I is investment. So there's two kind of I's for this, but the third is investment and improvement. Those are my two I's for this. It was hard for me to choose between one or the other, but I said, "Oh, we actually need to invest in our improvement." [laughs] So it kind of goes hand in hand. So investment and improvement. Sometimes we may be really, really good at setting goals and setting that intention and taking initiative but then not staying committed. For those that may set New Year's resolutions, you know, it's now February 7th, so we're about, what, 38 days into the new year? Studies have shown that 90% of resolutions fail, okay? So as you all have been setting your goals, you're thinking about that future image of yourself, who and where you want to be by the end of this year, you are ready to take some action, you have to make sure that you are investing and improving every single day. Consciousness needs to change before your behavior can. Understand that. So your thoughts fuel your actions. Your actions become habits. Your habits become a lifestyle. Those things and goals that you want to achieve will be shown improvement through your everyday intentions, your everyday actions, but it first starts with the mindset. Are you scared of living up to the standard that you set for yourself? Because sometimes success is scary. For me, I come from a household where we didn't have a lot growing up, and so honestly when I hit my first six figures in business I was like, "Oh, shoot. I cannot--wait, what am I supposed to do? Oh, my gosh," you know? [laughs] And now it's kind of like, "Okay, six figures. Not a big, big deal." I mean, it is, but I got a lot of people I pay, other things I want to invest--you know, use to invest that money back into my business. Like, now I'm trying to make even more. Anyways though, sometimes success can be scary. The more attention and eyes on you, the more people looking up to you, more family members maybe asking you for money, right? So it's important to make sure that you are best investing in improvement, and I mean personal improvement. That book that I mentioned written by Jen Sincero, she talks about going into the spiritual gym. So she talks about studying self-help books, defeating self-defeat, meditating, listening to powerful podcasts or interviews or motivational speeches, journaling, making gratitude lists, exercising, listening to music that makes your soul feel good, you know? I love Lizzo. I love Solange. And I'm not gonna lie, I love Meg thee Stallion, and her music makes me feel empowered. [laughs] Even when I'm in the gym, like, that's basically what I listen to. Writing your goals down, reading affirmations and saying affirmations and affirming yourself. You have to make self-improvement a lifestyle, a lifestyle of daily improvement. So be committed to getting better each day, taking on each new day as an opportunity, but most importantly I want you all to, as you set your intentions and you think about taking that initiative and now you're investing into this daily improvement, take your goals and then break them down into actions, and these actions should turn into habits. You can set goals all day. You can set a goal of wanting to lose weight, but if that's not tied to any actions--and not just go to the gym and eat healthy, but where is your meal plan? What days are you going to the gym? How much time are you spending in the gym? What is your workout that you're doing? How are you able to make it easy in your life for you to do these things? I keep my gym clothes hanging up right by my mirror that's, you know, on my way out of the bedroom, so I'm reminded every time or every morning, "Girl, put them gym clothes on and go to the gym." So I'm gonna stop there for part one, so I will pick back up in part two. I hope that this is helpful, man. This is the six I's of transformation. We're trying to transform all 2020, so stay tuned for part two.

Greg Brown runs the Charlotte Angel Fund (http://www.cltangelfund.com/) which invests in early stage, mostly tech companies. Greg explains angel investing, how his fund is organized, thinking about valuation and other considerations that entrepreneurs looking to raise capital should consider. Greg and John also discuss HQ2, HB2, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, and the local startup scene. Greg also owns Cardinal Finance (http://www.cardinalfinance.net/), a fractional CFO company in Charlotte that works with many smaller businesses and helps with finance and strategy work. Greg discusses some of the mistakes that small business owners and entrepreneurs often make. Greg mentioned Innovate Charlotte as a great resource: https://inclt.org/ and also Pitch Breakfast: http://pitchbreakfast.com/

Nikki Haley - Keynote Speaker at the Charlotte Chamber’s Annual Meeting. What a cool meeting and speaker!

Networking has become a necessity in the professional world, but is it being done the right way? As Vice President of Special Projects for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Cherise Walker has both attended and planned her share of events. In her role, she is responsible for positioning the Chamber and its members through relationships, sponsorship, programs and initiatives and knows a thing or two about how to cultivate relationships through authentic engagement. Join us during this episode as she provides tried and true tips, approaches, strategies and action steps that you can implement immediately to begin your journey of building true relationships through engagement.

Amy Aussieker is executive director of Envision Charlotte, a public-private collaboration leading an effort to make the City of Charlotte a global Smart City. Before joining Envision Charlotte, Amy served as a strategic consultant for businesses in marketing, fundraising, social media and public relations. She served as a business development and community affairs executive with a commercial construction company and as Group Vice President for Sales and Marketing for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, where she was responsible for leadership, fundraising and community relations. She has started multiple businesses, including FABO Coffee Art Bar and Tank*s Tap Craft Beer Bar. Amy earned a B.A. in Communications from Purdue University.  This episode is perfect for anyone interested in smart cities, circular economies, idea generation, reincarnation and evolving over many lives. IN THIS EPISODE Amy explains Envision Charlotte and its two buckets of projects. She discusses its core mission and how it goes about it work. She talks about changing consumer behaviors in the land of plenty. She addresses the relationship between Envision Charlotte and Duke Energy. Amy defines what makes a smart city. She identifies the one area she would invest in to make a city smarter. She considers the human element of being a smart city. She talks about Envision America. Amy explains the Innovation Barn, waste streams and the circular economy. She answers why she does this work. She reflects on growing up in Indiana and a defining family experience. She discusses changing her major at Purdue University, being a social director, moving to Atlanta, and finding her way to Charlotte. Amy shares her entrepreneurial ventures and what comes up when her name is Googled. She reveals what is at the deep core of her curiosity.  She shares what comforts her and evolving as a soul. She talks about the life lessons she is re-learning. Amy identifies the book that rocked her world. plus Mark Peres' Personal Word Essay: Reincarnation Once Again To learn more, visit On Life and Meaning

Last time we spoke to Walt Frye (summer 2017 here) he was working on reinventing the Charlotte Regional Fund for Entrepreneurship (CFRE). Fast forward a year and Walt has made tremendous strides as Innovate Charlotte has become the execution arm for CRFE. Walt has taken on a job few probably wanted or truly understood since CRFE was initially funded by the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the city of Charlotte.  As such it's a political juggling job looking to balance the desires of the Chamber and the needs (political and other) of the city - along with other stakeholders.   Yet Walt has balanced that well and is in the process of growing a mentoring program through Innovate Charlotte which targets early stage companies in Charlotte (business process, validation stage, Charlotte based, and not too much investment/revenue). If successful the mentoring program has the opportunity to serve a great role in the city's entrepreneurial space. This mentoring program has been launched through an initiative with MIT - where Walt and several people visited Boston in February 2018 to get trained on the program.  Since coming back from Boston, they've a put together a great group of mentors - including two past guest on this podcast (T.J. Eberle and Keith Luedeman).  You can listen to T.J (Part I and Part II) and Keith (Part I and Part II). This is a community effort though.  Walt, nor anyone other individual, has the ability create this community by themselves.  It takes a concerted effort from current stakeholders who can't be selfish about their intent or with their time, money, and knowledge.  It has the potential to be so much bigger than any of them if allowed.  As such, a homegrown entrepreneurial ecosystem in Charlotte can support and create many of the things we need as a city - it just needs a chance to find its way without top down control. Walt has spend a year tackling some of these things and more.  I'm glad we have him doing it and look forward to sharing the podcast with you this week and next.   William Bissett is an Investment Advisor Representative with Secrest Blakey & Associates, a Registered Investment Adviser.  Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Secrest Blakey & Associates. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener.  Secrest Blakey & Associates does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance.  Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under the Securities Act, and a Qualified Purchaser as defined in Section 2(a)(51)(A) under the Company Act or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests.  Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.

Michael Smith is president and CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP), a place-making organization that drives the economic, social and cultural development of the Center City of Charlotte. Before joining CCCP, Michael was Chief Financial Officer of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. He has held corporate roles at AT&T Communications, First Union Bank’s Capital Markets Group and By-Products Interactive. He served as the chairman of the board of directors for the International Downtown Association and on a number of regional boards including Boy Scouts of America Mecklenburg Council, the Belk College of Business at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the Hospitality and Tourism Alliance, and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Michael earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.  This episode is perfect for anyone interested in place-making, downtown development, the elements of a vibrant city, and leading a mission-based life. IN THIS EPISODE Michael describes his role leading urban development in the city of Charlotte. He explains CCCP's relationship to other authorities in Charlotte. He answers what he thinks he is particularly good at in his role and what he looks for in the people he hires. He describes the culture of his office and what he can better at as a leader. Michael addresses whether Charlotte is positioned for success in the 21st century city. He identifies what he is bullish about in Charlotte's economy. He considers why Charlotte hasn't made the list of having one of the best downtowns in the United States. He describes the assets and attributes of Charlotte's Center City. Michael addresses how Charlotte's Center City compares with other peer downtowns. He details the planned Charlotte Gateway Station and its current status. He shares what comes to mind when he thinks about his childhood and what he tries to echo to his own children. He explains why he studied commerce in college and recalls his time in graduate school. Michael describes the business he helped start and his moment of reflection and introspection that followed. He shares how he got the role at CCCP and answers whether he is the de-facto mayor of Charlotte. He reveals what is on his night stand for reading and how he begins his day. He discusses the role faith and Jesuit thinking plays in his life. Michael answers what's next for him and CCCP. plus Mark Peres' Personal Word Essay: Shaping Civilization To learn more, visit On Life and Meaning  

Michael Marsicano is ranked by Charlotte magazine as the most powerful person in the city of Charlotte. He is president and CEO of The Foundation For The Carolinas, a Charlotte-based community foundation that advances philanthropy and drives major civic leadership initiatives. Prior to joining the Foundation, Michael served as president and CEO of the Arts & Science Council in Charlotte, and as executive director of the Durham Arts Council and the Royal Arts Center in Durham, North Carolina. He has served on the boards of several national and local organizations, from Americans for the Arts to Duke University. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Charlotte Center City Partners Vision Award and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Innovator of the Year award. Michael earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, and a master's degree and a Ph.D. in education from Duke University. This episode is perfect for anyone interested in leading a community foundation and a career dedicated to the arts, philanthropy, education and citizenship IN THIS EPISODE Michael explains the work of the Foundation For The Carolinas. He shares his current strategic priorities, how his time is divided and how he sees his role in the community. He answers whether he thinks of himself as the person who has succeeded Hugh McColl, Jr., former CEO of Bank of America, as a visionary leader of Charlotte. He addresses the status of economic opportunity and upward mobility efforts in Charlotte. Michael reveals what he learned from and what could have been done differently in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force Leading on Opportunity report. He talks about the impact of the September 2016 protests in Charlotte on economic opportunity and upward mobility efforts and his personal response to those protests. He responds to the assertion that Charlotte doesn't need any more task forces. He considers whether civic leadership initiatives at the Foundation stifles emerging leadership outside the Foundation. He addresses whether the Foundation helps donors fund morally objectionable non-profit organizations. He responds to whether the Foundation is sensitive to public criticism. Michael shares where he grew up and how his parents would have described him. He talks about wearing blue jeans and what that might say about him. He reveals how his time at Duke shaped him and what catapulted his career. He discusses his sense of insecurity and how that shapes his leadership approach. Michael reflects on his time at the Arts & Sciences Council and whether the arts became more institutional under his watch. He answers how he feels being listed as the most powerful person in Charlotte. He identifies the challenge of hiring the next president of the Foundation. Michael shares what he values most. Mark Peres adds a personal word that begins this way, "Before my conversation with Michael for this podcast, I've had one or two discussions with Michael over the years and not for very long..." To learn more, visit On Life and Meaning    

Chris and Brian sit down with Celia Thompson of Catapult Fit. Catapult Fit is the name of Celia's Fitness Training Company. Celia is a fitness trainer for "The Honeybees," the Charlotte Hornets' professional dance team. Celia is also a Project Manager for Ready Fitness where she sells fitness equipment and designs fitness centers for all kinds of buildings including multifamily and apartment complexes, hotels and gyms. Celia is a member of The Greater Charlotte Apartment Association where she serves as the President of the Products and Services Council. Celia is also a member of The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. She is a part of the Healthy Charlotte Collaboration Team. Celia shares some of her personal story and tells us why fitness is such an important aspect of her life. She talks about how she enjoys giving back to the community and empowering people she gets to work with. She tells us what it's like to work with an NBA dance team and how it feels to compete in Fitness Competitions against the world's best athletes. www.thejoneszones.com @catapultfit on social media --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/undisputedawareness/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/undisputedawareness/support

We spoke with Chuck McShane of the Charlotte Chamber about the numbers behind Charlotte's economic success, learned the actual impact of breweries, bakeries and gyms in the area, and discussed the reality of income inequality in Charlotte. Chuck also hung around and taught us about the Charlotte gold rush and we were inspired by Supportive Guy.

Tom Murray (CRVA) and Bob Morgan (Chamber) discuss how their organizations work together to bring business to Charlotte, while also addressing the impact HB2 has had on the city. 

Lacker speaks at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce's Annual Economic Outlook Conference.

Lacker speaks at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce's Annual Economic Outlook Conference.

Welcome from Bob Morgan, president and CEO of the Charlotte Chamber

Natalie English, senior vice president of public policy, Charlotte Chamber