Podcasts about irvine company

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Best podcasts about irvine company

Latest podcast episodes about irvine company

Critical Mass Radio Show
Critical Mass Business Talk Show: Ric Franzi Interviews Craig Cooke - Author, Speaker, Business Mentor & REF Forum Leader (Episode 1593)

Critical Mass Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 28:25


Craig Cooke is a successful entrepreneur who had the foresight to start a “digital first” company utilizing the Internet long before “digital first,” “digital transformation,” and other buzzwords of today were created. With extremely limited resources of $1,300 and an Apple computer, he started RhythmNet.com. Over the years of struggle, adaptation, and repositioning the brand, “Rhythm“ was sold to a world-class digital creative agency in 2019. Craig stayed with the company for just over 3 years, completing a 26-year marathon of running the company as CEO. During his tenure at Rhythm®, Craig worked with middle market to large enterprise companies, such as American Honda Motors, Beats by Dr. Dre, ZO Skin Health, Irvine Company, The Travel Corporation, Segway, U.S. Bank, FivePoint, Online Trading Academy, Allergan, Abbott Labs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and many other B2C and B2B brands. Craig has also participated as a speaker in many conferences and seminars, including “Connections” by ExactTarget, The “Res Conference” by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, The Integrated Marketing Forum, and numerous other events. He has also served on the boards of the California American Indian Chamber of Commerce as Vice-President and the American Advertising Federation as Interactive Chair. Today, Craig shares his business wisdom, experience, and expertise in three key areas: executive leadership, brand development, and marketing communications. He continues his training in martial arts, continuously learning and evolving his skills. Also, he has studied and served as a practitioner of Chinese Medical Qigong since 2015, bringing energy healing to hundreds of people. He has a Doctorate Degree of Chinese Energetic Medicine from the Temple of Change and Transformation. Craig incorporates his skills, knowledge, and expertise in energetic practices into the world of business to provide a truly unique perspective and method in working with professionals across a wide variety of industries. Outside of his consulting and qigong practice, Craig enjoys spending time with his wife, two kids, and two dogs in Southern California. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at REF Orange County.

PR 360
The Importance of Mentorship in PR with Tiffany Aguinaldo

PR 360

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 25:05


Tiffany Aguinaldo is an Account Director at Forge—a creative studio recently ranked the #4 fastest-growing private company in Orange County. Tiffany leads business development and PR at Forge and brings 15 years of experience with major brands like Hoag, Toyota, and The Irvine Company. She's also the 2024 President of the Orange County PRSA. In this episode, she discusses the value of mentorship, Forge's rapid rise, and her involvement with Disney Forward. Key Takeaways:- Mentorship is crucial for young professionals in PR- Understanding your audience is essential in PR today- Forge offers a unique experience for clients through personalized serviceEpisode Timeline:0:30Introduction to Tiffany Aguinaldo2:15Mentorship in public relations4:20What are young people in PR most concerned about?7:00 Tod's advice for young people in communications8:45Forge's incredible growth11:00What separates Forge from other agencies?13:15Forge's success stories15:30The Disney Forward event18:25Tiffany's reflections on her early career at GRC22:00Tiffany's thought leadership philosophyThis episode's guest:• Tiffany Aguinaldo on LinkedIn• Forge's websiteSubscribe and leave a 5-star review: https://pod.link/1496390646Contact Us!•Join the conversation by leaving a comment!•Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn!Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tuesday's Thanks
Episode 145 - Gerard Widder

Tuesday's Thanks

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 47:01


In this episode, Brian is joined by Gerard Widder, VicePresident & General Manager of the Fashion Island Shopping Center located in Newport Beach, California. A member of the Irvine Company family of retail and entertainment centers, it is the epicenter of Southern California style andculture. Fashion Island is the premier destination for locals and tourists alike to come together, meet, shop, dine and immerse themselves in an extraordinarily distinctive retail experience. With over 150 stores and 30 restaurants and theatres, Fashion Island has something for everyone. Tune in to hear who Gerard Thanks for helping him along the way.

ROAD TO GROWTH : Success as an Entrepreneur
Bradley Girard - Owner of BGS Connect: Consulting & Design Services for Small Mid-Sized Businesses

ROAD TO GROWTH : Success as an Entrepreneur

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 33:30


In this episode of the Road to Growth podcast, we are pleased to introduce you to Bradley Girard. As an award-winning Creative Director and Consultant with over 30 years of experience in B2B, B2C, and nonprofit sectors. He excels at helping small start-ups and mid-sized companies elevate their brands. He focus on fostering collaboration with his clients to achieve their organizational goals. He has a strong background in graphic design, photography, podcasting, video production, and marketing.   Throughout his diverse client portfolio, He take pride in understanding and translating the client's vision into the appropriate medium. From his early days as a freelance designer to building a successful boutique agency staffed with talented creative professionals, He has consistently upheld strong business ethics. Quality, flexibility, and uncompromising craftsmanship are the foundations of long-term business relationships.   He has collaborated with notable clients, including the San Francisco 49ers, Del Taco, Quiksilver, Toshiba, Verio Healthcare, Mandy Li Collection, CPS Insurance, The Irvine Company, Oceanside Glasstile, Ladera Ranch Magazine, and GISH Biomedical. He firmly believe that to prosper professionally, one must challenge oneself by stepping outside of one's comfort zone and taking on projects that promote growth and expand knowledge. He is confident in his ability to manage any project that comes his way, even outside his current expertise. His skills extend across various mediums, including print, advertising, publishing, display, online media, trade shows, photography, and podcasting. One of his proudest achievements was developing the brand and identity of The Rippel Foundation from the ground up. He has won 14 international design, print, and marketing awards and has been featured in industry blogs and the HOW Design Promotion Issue. Learn more and connect with Bradley Girard by visiting him on   Website: https://www.bgsconnect.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleygirard/     Be sure to follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/to_growth on Facebook: facebook.com/Road2Growth   Subscribe to our podcast across the web: https://www.theenriquezgroup.com/blog Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Cdmacc iTunes: https://apple.co/2F4zAcn Castbox: http://bit.ly/2F4NfQq Google Play: http://bit.ly/2TxUYQ2 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKnzMRkl-PurAb32mCLCMeA?view_as=subscriber   If you are looking to be a Guest on Podcasts please click below  https://kitcaster.com/rtg/  For any San Diego Real Estate Questions Please Follow Us at web: www.TheEnriquezGroup.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKnzMRkl-PurAb32mCLCMeA or Call : 858 -345 - 7829 Recently reduced properties in San Diego County * Click **** bit.ly/3cbT65C **** Here* ************************************************************ Sponsor = www.MelodyClouds.com

ICONIC HOUR
Your Brain is in Charge! | Richard Fleming Explains How our Neurology Impacts How We Experience Design

ICONIC HOUR

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 58:42


Did you know that you are hard-wired to experience different spaces and design in your own way? On today's podcast, Richard Fleming shares how designing to the five senses provides the ultimate design experience, and how to design spaces for productivity, comfort and inspiration. BACK STORY Richard Fleming is a neuro-architect, innovator, and entrepreneur for 20+ years creating transformative, people-centric environments that engage all the human senses. He is committed to creating user experiences (UX) that challenge traditional paradigms and lead to innovation and positive human approach. He designed over 10K built projects for international powerhouse brands such as the Walt Disney Company, Apple, Starbucks, Ferrari, the City of London, UCLA, and real estate developer the Irvine Company. Richard is an awarding winning innovator and, as Principal Architect for Walt Disney Co, received the prestigious Spirit of Disney Award, recognizing his outstanding business contributions to the company's innovations, values, and culture. Richard co-founded Ryzzz, a wearable/portable device that uses AI to gamify cognition/neuroscience and circadian rhythms, earning him recognition as one of the Top 8 Tech Stars and advisory member of IntelliTwin, a healthcare and information technology product recognized as a Top 5 Finalist in the Innovations in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AiMed) International Conference. He is a member of the Salk Institute: Cognitive Sciences, the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture. Richard is also an author, keynote speaker, and frequent media commentator, working on his new book exploring the intersections of architecture and neuroscience. Richard's boundless enthusiasm and talent for science and design innovation hones his experience working in diverse cultural hubs such as California, London, Milan, and Paris.   Website: richardflemingarchitect.com Instagram: @fleming.neuroarchitect LinkedIn: Richard T. Fleming, Neuro Architect     SUBSCRIBE TO ICONIC HOUR If you enjoyed today's podcast, I'd be so appreciative if you'd take two minutes to subscribe, rate and review ICONIC HOUR. It makes a huge difference for our growth. Thanks so much!   ICONIC LIFE MAGAZINE  Stay in touch with ICONIC LIFE magazine. We invite you to join our digital VIP list and SUBSCRIBE!   JOIN OUR ICONIC COMMUNITY Website: iconiclife.com Instagram: @iconiclifemag Facebook: Iconic Life YouTube: ICONIC LIFE   FOLLOW RENEE DEE Instagram: @iconicreneedee LinkedIn: Renee Dee   Thanks for being a part of our community to Live Beautifully.  

Commercial Real Estate Investing From A-Z
Becoming The Wealthiest Real Estate Investor in the World: How He Overcame Major Problems in Land Development (Part 2)

Commercial Real Estate Investing From A-Z

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 18:02


How to overcome the largest problems and issues in land development? What are some tips in creative financing, collaborative problem-solving, and long-term planning for infrastructure development? We continue the interview with Pike Oliver and Michael Stockstill, authors of Transforming the Irvine Ranch book.Read the entire interview here: https://tinyurl.com/y8dvzpbfBuy the Transforming the Irvine Ranch book here: https://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Irvine-Ranch-William-American/dp/103212783XWhat are some of the largest problems you have worked on? How did you overcome them?Michael: Let me start with transportation in the late 70s. For various factors, Orange County was not getting its fair share of state or federal transportation money and there just was not enough money to build the level of infrastructure that was needed. There was a change in law, allowing Santa Clara County to impose its own sales tax and use it for transportation. The Irvine company took the lead in gathering people in the county, and other jobs, primarily other big businesses. People were suspect that a developer would be asking that they raise their taxes for the good of everybody and so a coalition was put together, I worked on that for probably 8 years. The citizens in Orange County were pretty conservative and we put it on the ballot "Let's raise the sales tax by a penny for transportation" That got beat very badly. We regrouped. We came back a second time and finally a third time. After a change in state law, we got 55% to make that happen but that was an 8-year effort to make that happen and it took an awful lot of time. The Irvine Company was the leader, both behind the scenes and publicly in making that happen.Pike: We would survey people in the community at least twice a year. One of the things I've always been fascinated by what came back was that two things would make a difference in the community's acceptance of continued growth: 1) adequate roadways and 2) adequate good schools; so, the company put a big focus on that.How did you tackle the water quality issue which is a major issue that came in at the end of things?Pike: It was an issue that came up with a little area called Crystal Cove, at the end of the whole effort. The approach the company took is the same approach it always took which is to find the experts, get them involved, tell them to work out a solution that will be acceptable to the people whose primary mission in life is water quality, and figure out how it can be done and still allow the company to achieve its goals.Michael: In the 30-40 years that this has been done, the specialized attorneys, the consultants, the engineers, when El Toro was an issue, people that understood jet noise, there was just an army of people that worked for the Irvine company on a consulting basis that helped to make this happen. The bill has to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars over time for those people to give their expertise and, as Pike said, that was a real big part of dealing with bureaucrats, with regulators. Once you're willing to speak their language and try to meet them halfway and have facts to deal with, that makes a big difference. The Irvine company was rarely confrontational. It rarely raised its voice, if you will, and it could look long-term and say, "We can solve this, it may take some time, but let's put the resources to it."Pike Oliverpike@urbanexus.comMichael Stockstillstockstill49@gmail.comwww.thebigplanbook.com

Bridging the Gap
The Difference Between Information and Data

Bridging the Gap

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 22:29


We're in a new era of construction—does that imply a new era of data management, as well? Live at Advancing Preconstruction 2024, Darrell Torres of Irvine Company joins the podcast to discuss the balance between ambition and “keeping it simple,” the power of data management platforms to set companies apart from their competitors, and the most effective ways to achieve buy-in when you introduce new processes and technology.  Darrell Torres is Sr. Director of Preconstruction at Irvine Company. He has more than two decades of experience in the construction industry in California and Colorado. His diverse range of project expertise includes residential, office/mixed-use developments, higher education, healthcare and cultural buildings. TODD TAKES Essential Data Management in Preconstruction Proper data management is foundational for success in preconstruction, ensuring that all project details are accurately tracked and accessible. Interoperability between systems allows for seamless integration of data, streamlining communication and decision-making processes across various construction platforms. Leveraging AI in Preconstruction Artificial Intelligence offers transformative potential in the preconstruction phase, enhancing precision in project planning and risk assessment. By integrating AI, teams can predict outcomes more accurately and optimize resources more effectively, paving the way for smarter construction practices. Building a Collaborative Culture Early On Establishing a culture of collaboration early in the project lifecycle is critical for aligning all stakeholders and fostering commitment. Regular and open communication among all parties encourages proactive problem-solving and ensures that everyone's interests are represented and addressed.   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn   Thank you to our sponsors! Applied Software Applied Software LinkedIn   Other Relevant Links: Darrell's LinkedIn Irvine Company

You Evolving Now
Leadership Nuggets with Special Guest, Winn Claybaugh

You Evolving Now

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 53:56


Take a leadership journey with Winn Claybaugh and I as she shares powerful leadership nuggets to enhance not only your Leadership & Work/Life Harmony... but also that of those you're leading!Winn Claybaugh is the author of Be Nice (Or Else!); the host of MASTERS PodcastClub, a popular beauty-industry podcast series with over 1 million downloads; and “oneof the best motivational speakers in the country,” according to CNN's Larry King, whowrote the foreword for Winn's book. A national speaker for major corporations, Winnhas helped thousands of businesses build their brands and create successful workingcultures. His clients include Southwest Airlines, Hyatt Hotels, the Irvine Company, VidalSassoon, Entertainment Tonight, Mattel, For Rent magazine, and many others. Winn'snumerous awards and accolades include the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor,which recognizes individuals who have made it their mission to share their knowledge,courage, compassion, talents, and generosity with those less fortunate. A business owner for more than 38 years with over 16,000 people in his organization, Winn is the founder, co-owner, and dean of hair care giant Paul Mitchell's school division. Recognizing his immense contributions to that industry, American Salon named Winn one of the five “Industry Leaders Who Helped Revolutionize Education.” For his leadership of the Paul Mitchell Schools' annual FUNraising campaign, which hasdonated countless volunteer hours and raised more than $22 million for multiplecharitable organizations, Winn has been honored with Friendly House's Humanitarian of the Year award, Thirst Project's Vision Award, and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking's (Cast) Visionary Leadership Award.Links:www.winnclaybaugh.comwww.masterspodcastclub.comYouTube channel: www.youtube.com/winnclaybaughwww.paulmitchell.eduwww.paulmitchellschoolsfunraising.orgFacebook: @WinnClaybaughpageTwitter, Instagram, Clubhouse: @ WinnClaybaugh

Commercial Real Estate Investing From A-Z
The Richest Real Estate Investor in The World (Part 3 - Final Part!)

Commercial Real Estate Investing From A-Z

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 22:38


We continue our education of the history of The Irvine Company, picking up where we left of in the 1980's through 2013. Excerpts from the book: The Irvine Ranch: a Time for People" by Martin A. Brower. Read this entire episode here: https://tinyurl.com/y6s85em4About 4,000 residential ground leases made over a 15-year period were coming up for renewal. The new rent, set at 5, 6, or 7% of the fair market value of the land, had been written so that rent would remain flat for an original 20 or 25 years. At expiration, the Company could charge 5, 6, or 7% of the new fair market value, but few foresaw how steeply land values would rise during the two decades. The residents created a Committee of 4000 to ask the company to discard the leases they had signed and to obtain more favorable conditions. They secured extensive news media coverage, took advertisements, held mass rallies, and won favorable community support, and as a result, the Company's credibility plummeted. The Company made the Committee of 4,000 a new offer. The leaseholders could buy their land at an average of 50% of its appraised market value, and because interest rates were high, the Company would permit homeowners to pay for the land over a 30-year period with a variable-rate loan beginning at 10% - an acceptable interest rate in the mid-1980s.Key takeaways:Donate land to create a university or anything that will attract a lot of people to live in the area, build around it.Donate a lot to the community to help your company have a good public image.There were many trials and tribulations, even when the city entitled something; some activists were able to reverse that.They went through all economic cycles. They very rarely, if ever, sell, which is something I fully believe and agree with.I heard from someone familiar with being a tenant that they are very strict landlords; you can't have one thing out of place.I personally looked at some of their multifamily apartments, and they are very well run.He is very particular about how things look; he would remove trees that looked “old school” and put palm trees to make a certain area look better, and now I notice that every shopping center he owns has palm trees.He made his execs work very hard; I met someone here that knew one of his VPs, and when this VP was taking a vacation, Bren made him come back to work due to a problem, and it turned out that the problem wasn't that big of a deal. To me, what that says is that the VPs were highly paid, and also that we all need to resolve an issue very quickly when it arises at that level, or at any level, in my opinion. Don't ever let things linger.Nothing lasts forever; if you made a mistake on one thing here, you fix it for the next one.Key takeaways on purchasing The Irvine Company:Be where the people are, go to the events that they go to, be in front of them. One of the partners that Bren had was at a horseshoe, and he ran into an Irvine Company family member, and that started the conversation of “has the ranch been sold yet,” which led to this person partnering up with multiple people, including Bren, to make the initial 50% purchase.Talk to the people who will get the deal done, in this case, they contacted the same lender. Bren always worked with the top people in the industry, whether they were CPAs, attorneys, lenders. Always go to the top for a significant opportunity.Get the seller what they want, in this case, one of the heiresses, Joann, to be a 10% stakeholder on that initial purchase.Corporations have a target number they will stop bidding at; this one was just under 20x of annual earnings, this one 3 million below the 20x annual...

The Thoughtful Entrepreneur
1841 - Power of Ancient Wisdom in Modern Business with Craig Cooke

The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 20:43 Transcription Available


In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks to the Principal Consultant of C-Squared Professional Consulting, Craig Cooke. Craig has been at the helm of a successful digital marketing agency for over two decades, honing his expertise in marketing communications, brand development, and leadership. But what truly sets him apart is his passion for Chinese medical qigong, a practice he's integrating into his consulting work. As he pursues a doctorate in Chinese energy medicine, Craig is on a mission to offer a unique perspective that blends business and holistic well-being. Craig shared how qigong has been a transformative force in his life. Running a company for 26 years is no small feat, and the stress and responsibilities that come with it can be overwhelming. However, through qigong, Craig found the balance and clarity needed to navigate the complexities of business leadership. He even demonstrated a simple yet powerful qigong exercise called "pulling down the heavens," which integrates mind, body, and breath to foster inner harmony.Craig emphasized the importance of personal experience in understanding the true benefits of these practices. It's not just about the theory; it's about feeling the positive impact on one's well-being and performance.Craig's vision extends beyond his current consulting work. Post-exit, he aspires to create and share content that inspires and empowers others to reach their full potential. His book, "Business Kung Fu: Modern Strategy, Ancient Truth," is a testament to this vision. Aimed at entrepreneurs, the book distills lessons and principles from his journey in Chinese kung fu and how they can be applied to the entrepreneurial experience.Key Points from the Episode:Introduction of Craig Cooke and his backgroundCraig's consulting focus areasCraig's passion for Chinese medical qigong and its integration into his consulting workExplanation of the practice of qigong and its benefitsDiscussion on the value of meditation and qigongCraig's post-exit plans and desire to inspire and empower othersOverview of Craig's book "Business Kung Fu" and its relevance to entrepreneursAbout Craig Cooke:Craig Cooke is a visionary entrepreneur who pioneered the "digital first" approach, establishing RhythmNet.com with a mere $1,300 and an Apple computer alongside college friends. His strategic insight into internet dynamics predated today's commonplace digital terms. After overcoming numerous challenges, Craig successfully positioned and sold "Rhythm" to a premier digital creative agency in 2019. Serving as CEO for over three years, he completed a remarkable 26-year stint at the company. Craig's leadership at Rhythm® included collaborations with notable brands like American Honda Motors, Beats by Dr. Dre, ZO Skin Health, Irvine Company, The Travel Corporation, Segway, U.S. Bank, FivePoint, Online Trading Academy, Allergan, Abbott Labs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and various other B2C and B2B entities. His enduring legacy is marked by navigating Rhythm through evolution, showcasing adaptability and resilience in the ever-evolving digital space.About C-Squared Professional Consulting:C-Squared Professional Consulting stands as a pinnacle in delivering comprehensive business leadership, brand strategy, and marketing communications solutions, particularly emphasizing digital...

Commercial Real Estate Investing From A-Z
The Richest Real Estate Investor in The World (Part 2)

Commercial Real Estate Investing From A-Z

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 21:09


We continue the introduction to the richest real estate investor in the globe, the owner of The Irvine Company, Donald Bren.Read the entire episode here: https://tinyurl.com/m2ehfys71970'sAt that point, cities and the County were increasingly imposing costly demands on the developer. These demands included roads, flood control channels, parks, and schools — all of which were previously provided by the cities and the County. The James Irvine Foundation became serious about selling The Irvine Company to comply with the Tax Reform Act. When thinking of purchasing the company, Bren combined forces with Taubman, Allen, and the others. Understanding from Bren the need to have heiress Joan Irvine Smith on their side, Taubman and Bren had decided to allow Joan Irvine Smith to become an 11% partner of the consortium, allowing her to retain partial ownership of the Company she loved after the proposed purchase — which she relished. On May 18, 1977, Mobil bid $336.6 million. The next day, May 19, the consortium bid $337.4 million — more than one-third higher than Mobil's original offer. At noon the following day, May 20, 1977, Mobil announced that it would not attempt to outbid the consortium. The consortium was prepared to go higher. The court approved the price, declared Taubman-Allen-Irvine the winner, and the sale of The Irvine Company was completed. Therefore, 112 years after James Irvine acquired the Irvine Ranch, the company became a Michigan corporation.The consortium purchased the company for $337.4 million. Key to the financing of the acquisition was the $100 million loan, which was assembled by a group of 9 banks. The timing of the acquisition could not have been better, as the nation came out of the 1973-74 recession, and the economy grew warm in 1976 and 1977.1980'sIn 1983, Bren made a startling move. He offered to buy out Taubman and his partners by launching his own leveraged buyout of The Irvine Company, for their 51 percent of the Company, for which they had contributed less than $100 million six years earlier, Bren offered the “Eastern” shareholders $516 million. Determining that they had made a sizeable profit and uncertain about the future resulting from the heated “greedy eastern carpetbagger” campaign and the residential leasehold crisis, the Taubman-led easterners agreed to accept Bren's offer. Orange County newspaper reporters tried to uncover why these astute businessmen would sell a company which appeared to have an unlimited financial future, but Taubman would only comment “My father always told me you take some and you leave some.” To his hometown “Detroit Free Press” he boasted: “This was a better deal than the Louisiana Purchase.” But Joan Irvine Smith objected to the buyout price as being too low, and objected to Bren's saddling the Company with a $560 million debt (the $516 million buyout plus interest due to five banks making the loan). This valued the company at just over $1B and her 11% shares at about $100M. She filed suit. With the buyout also came $560M of debt. Bren worked with First Boston Company on financing the buyout, and he worked closely with accountants Kenneth Leventhal & Company on how to make the payments. The lawsuit lasted quite a few years in the 80s and after endless months of discovery, depositions, the trial which was in Michigan (where the company was incorporated) resulted in the judge awarding her $256M including accumulated interest.Join our newsletter here: www.montecarlorei.com

Riderflex
Riderflex Podcast - Guest Interview #419 - Sean Richards

Riderflex

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 53:37


Sean Richards steps into the role of Senior Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships at Vincit California, bringing a wealth of experience from an 18-year career spanning client management, business development, and marketing across diverse sectors. Before joining Vincit, Richards honed his skills as Senior Director of Marketing at the Irvine Company, where he specialized in digital marketing and the integration of marketing technologies. His career also includes significant stints in business development and partnership management at leading marketing agencies in California and Arizona. A graduate with a bachelor's degree in Design Management from Arizona State University, Richards is recognized for his visionary approach to digital marketing strategies and offline-to-online transformations. His appointment is a strategic move by Vincit California aimed at enhancing its digital strategy offerings and fostering exceptional customer experiences, aligning with the CEO's vision for the company. Vincit, a global powerhouse in digital technology, transcends the conventional boundaries of digital innovation to drive business success. Specializing in a wide array of digital services, from mobile and web applications to cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence and virtual reality, Vincit is dedicated to leveraging technology not just for innovation's sake but as a strategic tool for business transformation. Listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd with the ticker symbol VINCIT, the company stands as a testament to the potential of digital technology to not only enhance business operations but to fundamentally redefine them, embodying a commitment to excellence, employee satisfaction, and forward-thinking solutions. Meet Vincit: https://www.vincit.com/ Watch the Full Interview: https://youtu.be/9yllgKpWiZ0 Unlock career success with "Riderflex Guide 2.0: Mastering Job Interviews." Over 30 years of recruitment expertise. Strategies for new graduates, seasoned professionals. Master virtual interviews,  and challenging questions. Get your copy today at: https://tinyurl.com/Mastering-Job-Interviews Listen to real stories from successful business leaders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs on the Riderflex podcast hosted by CEO Steve Urban. The Riderflex Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NDLaxEqkMsnlYrc5ntAPw Trust Riderflex, a premier headhunter and employment agency based in Colorado, to recruit top talent for your team. Visit https://riderflex.com/ to learn more about our executive recruiting services. Podcast Sponsor: Kura Home Services, Air Duct Cleaning & Home Maintenance. For All your Home Maintenance needs!   https://www.kurahome.com/kura-home-services-colorado/ #VincitCalifornia #DigitalStrategy #InnovationLeaders #ClientSuccess #BusinessGrowth #riderflexpodcast #careeradvice #entrepreneur #ColoradoRecruitingFirm #Colorado #National #Riderflex #TalentAcquisition #Employment #JobTips #ResumeTips --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/riderflex/support

Commercial Real Estate Investing From A-Z
The Richest Real Estate Investor in The World (Part 1)

Commercial Real Estate Investing From A-Z

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 17:52


A little background on the history of The Irvine Company.Read this entire episode here: http://tinyurl.com/55zadwbjIn 1864, James Irvine and three partners bought a 101,000-acre ranch, for around $26k. Much of that is now a city called Irvine, in California. It was initially a ranch focused on agriculture and it also encompassed coastal land. In the early 1900's they started developing some of the real estate, and in the 1950's they started large scale planned community development, also known as master planned communities, which encompasses building everything from residential to commercial and industrial buildings. The city of Irvine became one of the largest planned communities in the US.I recently read the book The Irvine Ranch: A Time For People by Martin A. Brower, and I will be sharing what I highlighted from the book below for my own knowledge.50'sNovices in such real estate transactions, The Irvine Company prepared lease and sale agreements which did not require development as proposed nor reversion of the land to the Company if not used by the lessee or purchaser.60'sAs they were expanding and continuously growing, one of their developments in the 60's pioneered the “zero lot line” concept, in which a house is placed on its neighbor's property line, resulting in one wide side yard rather than two small and useless side yards for each home. The unique plan placed groups of homes around a series of central green parks. Homes were priced from $27,000 to $32,000, a step below the prices in Turtle Rock Hills.As with all other Irvine Company village centers, included architecture consistent with its community, an attractive service station with pumps away from the streets, and with a supermarket and shops opening from a broad walkway rather than directly from the parking lot.Master planned to group buildings by size and use, the IIC was developed with strict covenants regulating land coverage, architectural design, landscaping and sound, odor and visual emissions. They were known for their innovative planning concepts.70'sThe Company's Residential Division had developed strict guidelines for each village which builders had to obey if they wanted to be invited to build homes on the Ranch. One of the homebuilders in Greentree — The Bren Company — was felt not to be cooperating. It was determined that Bren would never again be invited to build on the Irvine Ranch.When a citizen spokesman completed an attack one of of the Irvine company's plan for a new project and the city stood with him, the president at the time Raymond Watson, applauded. “You're not supposed to applaud,” chided Company director of public relations Martin Brower. “Sure I am, this is real democracy in action, with each of us respecting the other's role”.We will continue this exploration on the next post as I will highlight how Donald Bren became a partial owner of The Irvine Company and how he then became the sole owner of The Irvine Company.Subscribe to our newsletter here: www.montecarlorei.com

National Review's Radio Free California Podcast
Episode 313: America's Unlocked Back Door

National Review's Radio Free California Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 96:29


Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Gov. Leland Stanford's inaugural address, January 10, 1862 ‘Veep-for-Palestine' Kamala Harris is undermining Biden's presidencyCalifornia's fast-food casualtiesWorld's first AI-powered restaurant soon opening doors in PasadenaCalifornia retailers are now required to have gender-neutral toy aislesAnother California gift to TexasResponse continues to Lithium-ion battery fire on cargo ship off AlaskaBill could ban youth football in California if approvedRuben's Bakery survived pandemic and riot only to be ransacked during a street takeoverResidents protest Irvine Company plan to build 1,180 houses in wildlife corridorCalifornia Democrat pushes wealth tax as $68 billion deficit looms. Why it's getting attentionCalifornia is broke. We cannot afford universal healthcare for illegal immigrants.Devin Mathis blog: #Noob legislators using Medi-Cal expansion to fearmongerCarl Demaio's Reform California

Volume Up by The Tease
When Was The Last Time You Volunteered At A Beauty School?

Volume Up by The Tease

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 56:53


Interview with Winn ClaybaughWinn Claybaugh is the founder, co-owner, and dean of Paul Mitchell Advanced Education, a franchisor of more than 100 cosmetology and/or barbering schools throughout the United States. The young company was ranked three years in a row (2006–2008) in the top 10 of Franchise Times magazine's Fast 55, a ranking of the fastest-growing young franchises, and has repeatedly ranked in the Top 50 and earned Best in Category in Franchise Business Review's Franchisee Satisfaction Awards.A popular seminar leader and keynote speaker, Winn travels extensively as an educator and consultant, inspiring audiences ranging from housewives and college students to CEOs. He has been the National Motivational Expert for Paul Mitchell, a frequent speaker at every major beauty industry event, and a speaker at the 2017 California Women's Conference. He has helped thousands of businesses build their brands and create successful working cultures; his clients have included Southwest Airlines, the Irvine Company, Vidal Sassoon, Entertainment Tonight, Mattel, For Rent magazine, and many other businesses from hospitals to apartment communities.Since 1995, Winn has interviewed over 325 beauty and business professionals, artists, educators, and mentors for his popular MASTERS series. Now available on all major podcast platforms, MASTERS by Winn Claybaugh has more than 1 million podcast downloads. Winn is also a featured contributor to online publications that reach millions of subscribers and a popular guest on national podcasts and radio shows. He currently serves on the boards of directors of three nonprofit organizations: Bright Pink, Beauty Changes Lives, and the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, which he co-founded.From 2004 to 2023, Winn led the Paul Mitchell School network to collectively raise over $25 million for multiple charitable organizations such as Leeza's Care Connection, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Larry King Cardiac Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs, and many more. Links:www.winnclaybaugh.com www.mastersbywinnclaybaugh.com https://vimeo.com/140170785 www.youtube.com/winnclaybaugh https://www.facebook.com/winnclaybaughpage https://www.instagram.com/winnclaybaugh/ https://linktr.ee/winnclaybaugh www.paulmitchell.edu www.paulmitchellschoolsfunraising.org https://www.instagram.com/paulmitchelledu/ News from TheTease.com:https://www.thetease.com/december-tech-touch-ups/

Purpose-Driven Wealth
Episode 103 - Your Slice of the Sunset - Fractional Ownership of Vacation Homes

Purpose-Driven Wealth

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 32:10


Podcast: Purpose-Driven Wealth Episode: Episode 103 - Your Slice of the Sunset - Fractional Ownership of Vacation Homes     When we go on vacations, we can't help but wonder how it would feel to own something like that vacation spot you enjoyed. What if you can participate in an investment specifically dealing with vacation rentals?   In this episode of the Purpose-Driven Wealth podcast, Mo Bina talks with Jack Donnell about Fundhomes, and the basics of a fractional investment model in vacation rentals. They also talk about the effect of inflation on these assets, as well as risks associate with them. The fractional investing model can work with alternative investments, as its space is very diverse and new asset classes are coming out every now and then.     Here's what you will expect in this episode:   A fractional investing platform for vacation rentals How do they curate and vet investment properties? A combination of income plays and appreciation. Taking into account market corrections and loss of value. Preferred markets or geographical areas. Correlation of these investments compared to traditional ones. The effect of inflation on different assets Types of risks associated with vacation rentals. Types of investment offered and investors they work with Connecting and pooling investors with others Having a deep background in property management Encouraging people to try fractional investing model in alts.       About Jack Donnell:   Jack Donnell is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in customer success, marketing, and project management. Currently, Jack serves as a Customer Success Associate at Instacart in the United States, where he has been contributing for the past 2 months. Prior to this, he worked as a Growth Marketing Manager at Fundhomes in Newport Beach, California, for 1 year and 2 months. Jack also gained extensive experience as a Customer Success Manager - Onboarding at Sprout Social, Inc. in Seattle, Washington, for 1 year and 6 months, excelling in customer satisfaction and social media marketing strategies. His expertise extends to areas such as product marketing, social listening, Facebook Ads, Google Ads, UTM, Google Analytics, API integrations, and social media marketing. With a background that includes project management and engineering, Jack's professional journey includes roles at SmartSpace AI, Irvine Company, and 10th Street Aquatics. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration and Management from Brandman University and a Bachelor of Business Management from Montana State University-Bozeman, with a strong foundation in management and marketing.         Jack Donnell Links:   Website: www.fundhomes.com Email: team@fundhomes.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-donnell/       Connect with Mo Bina on… Website: https://www.high-risecapital.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ISsEKBHlkX7lk9b68SKLA/featured Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highrisecapital/ Medium: https://mobina.medium.com/   For more information on passive investing in commercial real estate, please check out our free eBook — More Doors, More Profits — by clicking here: https://www.high-risecapital.com/resources-index

Critical Mass Radio Show
Critical Mass Business Talk Show: Ric Franzi Interviews Craig Cooke, Entrepreneur & Author of Business Kung Fu (Episode 1465)

Critical Mass Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 30:44


Craig Cooke is the author of the newly released book Business Kung Fu. A successful entrepreneur, Craig had the foresight to start a “digital first” company utilizing the Internet long before “digital first,” “digital transformation,” and other buzzwords of today were created. With extremely limited resources of $1,300 and an Apple computer, he started RhythmNet.com with a couple friends from college. Over the years of struggle, adaptation, and repositioning the brand, “Rhythm“ was sold to a world-class digital creative agency in 2019. Craig stayed with the company for just over 3 years, completing a 26-year marathon of running the company as CEO. During his tenure at Rhythm®, Craig worked with middle market to large enterprise companies, such as American Honda Motors, Beats by Dr. Dre, ZO Skin Health, Irvine Company, The Travel Corporation, Segway, U.S. Bank, FivePoint, Online Trading Academy,Allergan, Abbott Labs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and many other B2C and B2B brands. During the course of leading Rhythm® to success, numerous organizational achievements were attained, including been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies, five years in a row, and listed among the top 15 Advertising and Marketing Agencies in Orange County by the Orange County Business Journal. In addition to the organization achievements above, Craig has been honored with several personal awards and recognitions, including being named one of the 5=40 under 40 of Orange County Professionals by OC Metro Business Magazine in 2009. Today, Craig shares his business wisdom, experience, and expertise in three key areas: executive leadership, brand development, and marketing communications. He continues his training in martial arts, continuously learning and evolving his skills. Also, he has studied and served as a practitioner of Chinese Medical Qigong since 2015, bringing energy healing to hundreds of people. Currently, Craig is pursuing a doctorate of Chinese Energy Medicine from the Temple of Change and Transformation. Craig incorporates his skills, knowledge, and expertise in energetic practices into the world of business to provide a truly unique perspective and method in working with professionals across a wide variety of industries. Outside of his consulting and qigong practice, Craig enjoys spending time with his wife, two kids, and two dogs in Southern California. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com. Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews... YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m #orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

The Wow Factor
Scot Sellers | Chairman of Maui Land & Pineapple Co. | Don't Wait to Prioritize Your Passions

The Wow Factor

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 34:41


Scot Sellers is Chairman of Maui Land & Pineapple Co, which develops, manages, and sells real estate on Maui. Scot brings to the table extensive expertise of a 40-year career developing homes and communities across the country. Scot served as Chairman and CEO of Archstone, one of the world's largest multi-family housing companies, overseeing housing development, acquisition, and operation in over 50 cities. Scot also served many years on the international board of Habitat for Humanity and has continued to support the organization to provide shelter to those in need worldwide, including on Maui. He currently serves as a director for several innovative real estate companies, including The Howard Hughes Corporation, Milhaus, and The Irvine Company, and on the National Board of ACE Scholarships.  My inspiring guest this week is Scot Sellers, we really did a deep dive into leadership in our conversation, and I'm sure you'll find huge value in what he has to say.  Scot shares how he determines the right direction to follow by unlocking the creativity in his mind using a prayer journal to help him work through difficult decisions. He discusses his early career and the moves that helped him develop and hone his leadership skills. Scot also shares more about why it's so important to prioritize your relationships and how to plan your time so that you can pursue your passions right now instead of waiting for a moment that may never come.  “Stand up and do what is right, even in the face of criticism.” - Scot Sellers “If you take what people say about you too seriously, it can really derail you.” - Scot Sellers “Be willing to take a risk. And because by taking those risks, that's what makes you alive.”  -  Scot Sellers This Week on The Wow Factor: What Scot learned about hard work from growing up on a subsistence farm The high school bullying experience that inspired Scot to study and understand human behavior and relationships Why Scot changed his career path from medicine to business and subsequently found a job in real estate through sheer perseverance How Scot and his team grew Archstone from $100 million in assets to over 20 billion in assets in just 15 years Scot's ten life lessons and why one of them is to stand up and do what is right, even in the face of criticism How the ‘as soon as mentality' works and why if there's something that you really want to do, don't wait How to plan your time so you have more time to pursue your passions Figuring out how your actions line up with your priorities How Scot finds his direction by praying, reading scripture, and looking for the wisdom God gives us Scot Sellers's Word of Wisdom: Be willing to take that risk that you're concerned about because that's what helps you grow and learn. I would also advise people to focus on their relationships because they are ultimately the most gratifying part of life. From a leadership perspective, make sure your teammates know that you care about them and that they are part of achieving something together. That's when you accomplish things way beyond your own individual ability. Connect with Scot Sellers:  Maui Land and Pineapple  Regret Free Living by Scot Sellers  Resources: Chris Wright, Chairman and CEO at Liberty Energy, The Wow Factor Episode 175  Connect with The WOW Factor: The WOW Factor Website Connect with Brad Formsma via email Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook Brad Formsma on Twitter  

Critical Mass Radio Show
Critical Mass Business Talk Show: Ric Franzi Interviews Lori Torres, Founder & Former CEO of Parcel Pending (Episode 1445)

Critical Mass Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 21:08


Lori A. Torres is the founder and prior CEO of Parcel Pending, the nation's leading provider of innovative package management solutions. She is a successful entrepreneur with more than 25 years of real estate experience. Additionally, she has been recognized on multiple occasions for her leadership and was named 2017 “Innovator of the Year” by the Orange County Business Journal. Lori has also been chosen as one of the 13 entrepreneurs admitted into the EY Entrepreneurial Winning WomenTM 2017 North America class and was a Regional EY Entrepreneur of the Year winner in 2019. Lori founded Parcel Pending in 2013 to provide seamless package management solutions to property managers, residents and couriers alike. She served as the company's CEO since its inception until leaving in August 2021. Today, Parcel Pending is the global package management industry leader in the multi-family, commercial, retail and universities space with over 200+ employees and serves tens of thousands of customers across North America. Lori sold the company to Neopost/Quadient in 2019 and remained CEO for over two years. During her 13-year tenure at The Irvine Company, Lori held various senior positions, including SVP of property operations. Lori was responsible for the operational oversight of the company's entire multifamily portfolio, consisting of 1,200 property management associates operating over 44,000 apartment homes. In addition to the Irvine Company, Lori served as senior regional manager at BRE Properties, Inc. from 1996 to 2000, and regional manager at McNeil Real Estate Management Company from 1986 to 1996. She has also served as president of the South Coast Apartment Association, Orange County in 2009, board member of California Apartment Association from 2010 to 2012 and board member of the CAA South Coast Apartment Association, Orange County from 2005 to 2011. Lori held a board position at both UCI Beall Applied Innovation and Families Forward, a non-profit helping families avoid homelessness. Lori is now advising companies in both the real estate space and entrepreneurs. Lori holds a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. She is a Certified Property Manager, (CPM), IREM. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com. Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews... YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m #orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Mallett and Michelle on Dripping Springs
Ep.86 If Not Now, When? (Keenan Smith-Architect, Adjunct Associate Professor at UT and Principal of City Lights Design Alliance)

Mallett and Michelle on Dripping Springs

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 75:14


Monologue:Historic Sites in TXRecord Breaking Heat?Safer Community ActConstable Ron Hood retires/Ben Gieselman runs for vacancyIn memory of Hailey HodsdenGuest:Keenan E. Smith, AIA is the Founding Principal of City Lights Design Alliance- a multidisciplinary, collaborative, client-oriented design practice in Dripping Springs, Texas. The practice focuses on the thoughtful making and integration of Architecture, Urban Design, and Community Planning at a wide range of scales- from the House to the Region. Prior to establishing City Lights Design in 1990, Keenan was Manager of Urban Planning and Design for the Irvine Company in Orange County, California.  There, he had development planning and urban design responsibilities for projects of up to 8,000 dwelling units.  Returning to Texas in 2000, he designed and built the family homestead and a studio in Dripping Springs.  Keenan has worked around the world from Austin to Southern California to Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and Dubai, UAE offices. Keenan has been a Registered Architect since 1983 and is an active member of the American Institute of Architects and the Congress for the New Urbanism.Steve Mallett and Michelle Lewis meet the most interesting people, and discover the places and events that make Dripping Springs, Texas, a Hill Country oasis. Learn why every year, hundreds of people move to this small town just outside of Austin. Every episode features a local resident who's talent and past will make you want to know more about what draws so many unique people to this historical town. From ranchers to engineers, cowboys to entrepreneurs, bankers to bull riders. New episodes weekly.Support the showThis show is brought to you by the Real Estate Pro's at The Mallett Integrity Team. Look them up when you are buying or selling real estate in the Dripping Springs or Austin area. Real Estate Done Right! Call them at 512-627-7018.This show is sponsored by the Lending Pros at Capital Farm Credit. Lending in Texas for over 100 years they can help you buy your dream ranch, ranchette or provide interim financing for construction for your land improvements. Call them at 512-892-4425.We are sponsored by M. Elliott Design. Tailored experience. Design as an investment. They can help you design for renovations, new construction or with the right furniture; each item is selected, tailored, and procured. Call Montana at 512-781-0224.Thanks for listening! Please follow us & leave a review. Apple PodcastsMallett and Michelle on InstagramOur Website - Sign up for latest updates. We love your feedback & comments. Email: mallettandmichelle@gmail.com

Transforming Cities
Arun Paul of Priya Living

Transforming Cities

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2022 40:44


Arun started his place-making career at The Irvine Company, where he helped create best-in-class residential communities throughout coastal California. He then spent many of his formative years in the resort industry, where he co-founded two companies, both of which created several of the world's most acclaimed resort communities.  Arun brings his unique experience with placemaking to his most personal project yet, Priya Living, a company he founded so that his own parents, and other immigrant families like his, would have a place to call home.Related links for this episode:· Priya Living· Arun on LinkedIn· Irvine Company· Amangiri· Nomadland (book)· Grupo HabitaBe sure to support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing! Visit Authentic Form & Function for more information: https://authenticff.com© 2022 Authentic Form & Function

california priya irvine company
The Real Estate JAM
Episode 108: People First Investing w/ Lauren Hardy

The Real Estate JAM

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 32:21


The concept of valuing assets in the digital world is still pretty new. You might be wondering, what use could you possibly have for non-tangible real estate? Join JD and Melissa as they speak with Lauren Hardy on how to start virtual real estate investing. Lauren will share where to get the most out of this exciting trend! Stay tuned!   Here's what to expect on the podcast: How can you start virtual real estate investing? What are the factors to consider when entering a virtual market? Why should you find a joint venture partner? How can you find property deals virtually? And much more!   About Lauren: Lauren Hardy is a real estate investor with a “People First” approach to business. Investing in hundreds of properties in her career, Lauren has the unique reputation of being a successful “virtual investor” having not lived in many of the states she's invested in. Lauren is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton's Mihaylo College of Business and Finance with over 10 years of experience in Real Estate. She began her real estate career in 2007, working in the corporate sector for companies such as Sperry Van Ness, Subway Restaurants, and The Irvine Company.  She's wholesaled, flipped, and developed hundreds of houses in 4 states. She currently runs a successful investment company and has a coaching program that teaches others how to do the same. Lauren co-hosts the #1 wholesaling podcast “Wholesaling Inc” and has had over 350 students go through her coaching program “Virtual Investing Mastery.” Her student's achievements and growth is what keeps her inspired and motivated every day.  She spends most of her time creating content that will help others in the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey.  Lauren currently lives with her two daughters in Southern California and spends most of her free time outside on the beach.    Connect with Lauren Hardy! Website: https://www.laurenhardyco.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisMomFlips Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thismomflips/?hl=en   Connect with JD and Melissa! Website: https://therealestatejam.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealestatejam/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealestatejam/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa_CWAV1OvH81yp6fITB4lg Shorefront Investments: https://shorefront-investments.com/  Email: therealestatejam@gmail.com  

Whistleblower of the Week
Stephanie Van de Motter: Part II

Whistleblower of the Week

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2022 53:08


“This is about all whistleblowers.” In this episode of the Whistleblower of the Week podcast, FBI whistleblower Jane Turner continues her conversation with Stephanie Van de Motter, who blew the whistle on safety concerns at a luxury apartment building in Santa Monica. In the last episode, Van de Motter provided background on her journey to getting a dream job at 1221 Ocean Avenue and excelling at her job and then detailed her whistleblower story and how the situation took a turn for the worst. In this episode, she picks up her story by talking about being constructively discharged from her role at the apartment building, going through the arbitration, and the fight to get attorney's fees. Turner and Van de Motter talk about the struggles of being women whistleblowers, and Van de Motter describes the hardships she faced at a job following her job with the Irvine Company where she blew the whistle. Van de Motter then discusses her transition to becoming a whistleblower advocate and talks about the Silenced No More Foundation, a peer-to-peer support group for whistleblowers. She highlights aspirations for the foundation and goals to inspire and aid the next generation of whistleblowers through personal storytelling and providing platforms for whistleblowers to share their experiences. Listen to the podcast on WNN or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Amazon. Subscribe on your favorite platform, and be sure to listen to part I of Van de Motter's story on WNN as well! 

Whistleblower of the Week
Stephanie Van de Motter: Part I

Whistleblower of the Week

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 56:39


“Whistleblowing is a process and not an event.” In this episode of the Whistleblower of the Week podcast, FBI whistleblower Jane Turner talks with Stephanie Van de Motter, who worked and lived in 1221 Ocean Avenue, a luxury apartment building in Santa Monica owned by the Irvine Company. Van de Motter talks about her journey from Michigan to California and the dream job she landed, where she brushed shoulders with the rich and famous and created a community at the apartment building. She details her discovery of a systemic mold and water intrusion problem at the complex. Van de Motter then talks about the ways in which the company first tried to hide the problems and then fix the issues — but in ways that endangered residents, defied safety standards, and prioritized profits. Van de Motter recalls her whistleblower journey, her fight for attorney's fees, and describes how the company retaliated against her. She provides insights into the personal toll retaliation has taken on her and how she has been blackballed in her industry. Finally, she talks with Turner about her hope for the future generations of whistleblowers and starts to discuss her advocacy for whistleblower rights and the foundation she started, the Silenced No More Foundation. Part II of Van de Motter's episode, where she talks more about her advocacy work and gives more insight into her case, will be published on April 11: stay tuned! Listen to the podcast on the WNN website or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Amazon. Subscribe on your favorite platform!

Watching Paint Dry
Investing in Real Estate Opportunities With Natasha Vinitsky, Senior Property Manager for R&C Brown Associates

Watching Paint Dry

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 50:05


Natasha Vinitsky is the Senior Property Manager at R&C Brown Associates, a privately held real estate investment company that specializes in acquisition, redevelopment, leasing, and management in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has years of experience working in the commercial real estate industry as the Property Manager for Longfellow Real Estate Partners, LLC, the Assistant Manager of Operations for Irvine Company, and the Assistant Property Manager for BioMed Realty.  Natasha has a bachelor's in communications from Notre Dame de Namur University. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family. In this episode… How can you build value in your leased buildings and manage the risks that come with ownership? What does it take to create a comprehensive portfolio for steady growth and scalability? Natasha Vinitsky has extensive experience working in the commercial real estate industry, which she uses to help cultivate healthy relationships with her tenants. She says it's essential for you to find the right balance and opportunity for development. The result? A place of value that you've helped create.  In this episode of Watching Paint Dry, Greg Owens sits down with Natasha Vinitsky, Senior Property Manager at R&C Brown Associates, to discuss the complexities of managing and creating value in rental properties. Natasha talks about cultivating a sense of merit with tenants and distributors, the financial ecosystem surrounding building maintenance, and how to establish a network of properties for your real estate portfolio. 

Capitol Weekly Podcast
The Irvine Leadership Awards

Capitol Weekly Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2022 35:24


:38 How are the Leadership Award winners chosen?2:39 Brandon Smith & Royal Ramey, The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program4:40 The political pitfalls of inmate firefighters6:29  Naindeep Singh, the Jakara Movement 8:38 Do these groups also get government funding?9:34 Camila Chávez, the Dolores Huerta Foundation11:12 How is the Irvine Foundation different from the Irvine Company?13:13 What are the logistics behind the Awards program?15:13 DeVone Boggan, Advance Peace 20:06 How do you measure success?21:12 Serita Cox, iFoster24:21 Dr. Noha Aboelata, Roots Community Health Center 27:43 The #WorstWeekCAWant to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.ioProduced by White Hot

The AFIRE Podcast
What Are We Doing in the Office: Part 1 (ep. 2022.03)

The AFIRE Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 22:14


There's been a lot of discussion through COVID about work from home and the eventual return to office space. Yet, most predictions are either that everything will return to normal—or nothing will ever be normal again. The reality is likely neither of these two extremes...but what will it be? In this two-part episode of the AFIRE Podcast, Doug Holte, former President of Irvine Company and current founder and CEO of AgileWorkweekInvestments, explores what "work" has become and how office space will change. Holte is actively investing in new property technology and commercial property platforms to create an efficient and agile workweek. He's working within the tremendous forces of change in our work to find better, more productive, and more balanced approaches to the office sector. According to Holte, building the future of the workplace is a complicated task. Among other things, we need to ask better questions around our needs from the workplace. Whatever we create, can we build it without throwing out all that we already have?

The AFIRE Podcast
What Are We Doing in the Office: Part 2 (ep. 2022.03)

The AFIRE Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 20:32


There's been a lot of discussion through COVID about work from home and the eventual return to office space. Yet, most predictions are either that everything will return to normal—or nothing will ever be normal again. The reality is likely neither of these two extremes...but what will it be? In this two-part episode of the AFIRE Podcast, Doug Holte, former President of Irvine Company and current founder and CEO of AgileWorkweekInvestments, explores what "work" has become and how office space will change. and commercial property platforms to create an efficient and agile workweek. He's working within the tremendous forces of change in our work to find better, more productive, and more balanced approaches to the office sector. According to Holte, building the future of the workplace is a complicated task. Among other things, we need to ask better questions around our needs from the workplace. Whatever we create, can we build it without throwing out all that we already have?

How Did They Do It? Real Estate
SA294 | Closing Deals and Managing Investment Properties Virtually with Lauren Hardy

How Did They Do It? Real Estate

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 23:19


If you think investing out of state is not safe and not a good idea, you might think twice after hearing this episode. Join us to get some tips as Lauren Hardy shares her strategies for investing in out-of-state properties and how to minimize the risks of investing virtually.Key Takeaways To Listen ForWays to educate yourself before you invest in real estateImportance of creating direct mail campaigns and doing follow-upsTips to manage a full-time job while investing in real estateHow to overcome the fear of investing virtually and out of stateResources Mentioned In This EpisodeFree Apartment Syndication Due Diligence Checklist for Passive InvestorAbout Lauren Hardy Lauren Hardy is a real estate investor with a “People First” approach to business. Investing in hundreds of properties in her career, including developing spec houses in Nashville Tennessee, Lauren has the unique reputation of being a successful “virtual investor” having not lived in many of the states she's invested in.She is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton's Mihaylo College of Business and Finance with over 10 years of experience in Real Estate. She began her real estate career in 2007 working in the corporate sector for companies such as Sperry Van Ness, Subway Restaurants and The Irvine Company. She has developed a reputation in the industry for persevering in extremely competitive markets by constantly following the market changes and being flexible and willing to move market territories when needed. Lauren currently lives with her two daughters in Southern California and travels to her market territories several times a year.Connect with Lauren Website: Lauren HardyInstagram: @thismomflipsYoutube: Laurene HardyTo Connect With UsPlease visit our website: www.bonavestcapital.com and please click here, to leave a rating and review!SponsorThinking About Creating and Growing Your Own Podcast But Not Sure Where To Start?Visit GrowYourShow.com and Schedule a call with Adam A. Adams

Hire Power Radio
How to Terminate an Employee with Dignity - Lori Torres

Hire Power Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2021 28:27


The first time I was fired was when I was 16 years old and working at Numero Uno Pizza. It happened really strangely, I went in to pick up my paycheck and the manager let me know that this paycheck would be my last one as I was no longer employed there.  No warning and no explanation. Bewildered, I simply walked out the door, walked across the street and was hired by their competitor.  The way in which the whole experience went down, left me feeling embarrassed & resentful.  Never again did I eat at that restaurant because of the way they made me feel.  Our guest today: Lori Torres, Founder & Former CEO of Parcel Pending  The nation's leading provider of innovative package management solutions. Prior to Parcel Pending, Lori was SVP of property operations at The Irvine Company.  She has been recognized on multiple occasions for her leadership, including being named 2017 “Innovator of the Year” by the Orange County Business Journal and chosen as one of 13 entrepreneurs admitted into the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ 2017 North America class. Lori worked to build a world class organization and is going to share her wisdom. Today we discuss: Making the difficult decision to part ways  How to fire a person in a way that leaves everyone feeling good about themselves Challenge today? When is the right time to make a change and terminate someone? Can you afford to do it, do you have the bandwidth Taking the time to really understand  Have an intervention- performance improvement plan, use to be successful Articulate to really improve the person's performance Everything possible to make sure they are successful Accountability tool &   Why is this important to the company? Benefits: often find someone better Help the person you are terminating to the world, Embrace the people management side of the business Termination is part of the evolution of the company Change needs to happen, This is the game we are playing, these are the rules, here's how we move forward What you need at $3mil is different at $10M   Rick's Nuggets Be proactive in your hiring Hiring for growth first - start with the end in mind “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou How do we solve the problem?  Identify performance issues first Candid open, specific conversation Time frame to meet the expectations Check in: not meeting expectations,  Provide a performance improvement plan Whatree performance is now, when they are not meeting expectations, when we are going to convenience to review Termination Reason for termination: Labor attorney- worth the money to handle things properly Quick conversation : next step, it is not working Part ways with dignity!  Severance with a legal document release of liability & non-disparagement  Walk them out the door and wish them well Offer help to help them move forward Sample Termination Rick gets Fired! Rick's Nuggets Really take seriously the performance metrics that were set for your people in the job description Evidence to support the hire first! Key Takeaways -Value: Really spend the time to hire correct people. It's like dating, Interview a lot When the person is not performing, invest the time to  Have non-confrontational conversations with people Guest Links: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/loritorres/ Company: https://www.parcelpending.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParcelPending Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parcelpending Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parcelpending/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFj7yh4kDC7Jx5CDUYnar7A   This show is proudly sponsored by Criteria Corp: https://www.criteriacorp.com/  

Accelerate OC
Doug Holte - Founder & CEO of Agile Workweek Investments

Accelerate OC

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2021 49:35


Doug Holte is the Founder and CEO of Agile Workweek Investments, his startup that is investing in disruptive technologies and modernized properties for a more efficient and agile workweek.  Doug's inspiration for AWI was not Covid, but rather accelerated by it; the changes he began to see in how people want to live and work started several years ago. Doug has had an illustrious career in commercial real estate, most recently as President of Irvine Company for over 10 years, and a longtime senior partner and West Coast leader at Hines.  He's also currently a senior advisor to a new proptech venture capital fund, and on the board of important Orange County organizations such as UCI Beall Applied Innovation and CEO Leadership Alliance. He is a visionary with a huge heart for an inclusive, collaborative and supportive community that works for everyone, and he leads by example in his efforts there.  I'm always inspired by our conversations and appreciate his friendship. Doug is also a great storyteller, which you'll experience in our conversation. It is so exciting to see him building on the vision he has, and to have him on the podcast.  Hear about the inception of AWI, Doug's amazing journey into the entrepreneurial realm, and how everything has now changed in how most of us will design and live our (work) weeks moving forward. Thanks also to show sponsor, Collective Genius, for helping high performance teams to be agile, aligned and more effective.  

Lockbox
Ep 038: Industrial Intelligence: Lessons from Commercial Broker

Lockbox

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2021 53:46


Justin Smith Episode 038 Industrial Intelligence: Lessons from Commercial Broker Justin Smith -The Lockbox Podcast with Jeffrey Brogger  Almost every city throughout the country is changing because of the need for warehouses of different sizes. The Amazons and ecommerce fulfillment centers of the world require millions of square footage here and globally. Industrial real estate is the focus for Justin Smith, who has worked in the market for 17 years at Lee and Associates, based in Irvine, California. He holds MBA and Masters of Real Estate Development degrees from USC, and is a member of the global Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), an association of top producers within the industry.  Justin has completed over 500 assignments across the US and has negotiated leases with some of the largest landlords in the world, including Prologis, Blackstone, GLP, Rexford Industrial, and The Irvine Company. He has represented executives in e-commerce, logistics, food and beverage, cold storage, automotive, aerospace, life sciences, and many other industries. Justin is also the author of two books, Turn Your Warehouse into your Strategic Advantage and Industrial Intelligence. In our conversation, we talk about the working in the commercial real estate industry, including: How neighborhoods are changing because of demands for warehouse space. Attributing success to taking ownership of responsibilities. The difference between SWOT and SWAT. Strategic Coach–the coaching program for entrepreneurs. Selling from one investor to the other. Enjoy the show! Connect with Justin: Website: https://smithcre.com/ Book: https://geni.us/IndustrialIntelligence Connect with Jeff: https://steezy.digital/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.brogger  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-brogger/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeffbrogger FREE DOWNLOAD: The Ultimate Real Estate Goal Setting Framework This SMART spreadsheet will automatically breakdown the number of phone calls, appointments, or open houses you need in order to achieve your income goal!!! Click below to download this SMART spreadsheet today! https://steezy.digital/ultimate-real-estate-goal-setting-framework Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror
8: How David Slayed Goliath and Saved Upper Newport Bay

Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 28:11


Frank and Fran Robinson, an unassuming couple who moved to Newport Beach in 1962, learned about the already-approved plans to turn the Upper Newport Bay—also known as the Back Back—into a massive development of extended shorelines, homes, a marina, businesses, and a waterskiing and rowing venue. Even though the dredging had already begun, the Robinsons decided to take on the Irvine Company, one of the largest land developers in the country, to preserve for the public one of California largest estuaries. After a decade-long battle, David slayed Goliath and saved the Back Bay. Guest: Cassandra Radcliff, author of "Saving Upper Newport Bay: How Frank and Frances Robinson Fought to Preserve One of California's Last Estuaries." 

Robert Mack Group Real Estate Podcast
How Sellers Are Transitioning

Robert Mack Group Real Estate Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021


These strategies will help sellers transition between homes. How are our sellers transitioning in this housing market? First, let me put things into perspective. The reason we're talking about this is that inventory is historically low. There are actually more buyers in our market than we have homes for sale. When a great property pops up and it's priced to sell, we're seeing a swarm of buyers attack it and do whatever it takes to get it. This is creating challenges for sellers because those who have to sell then buy are having trouble finding a replacement property. Many of them don't want to put their homes on the market because they won't have anywhere to go after they sell. This is the bottleneck effect we've been dealing with for the past three or four months. Thus, we've come up with specific ways to help our sellers transition: 1. The rent-back. In the past, for sellers transitioning, we'd asked for a moving timeline of a month or two. Nowadays, sellers are asking for whatever they need. Sometimes it's a month or two, sometimes it's three to six months, sometimes it's up to a year. Regardless of what strategy you use, there will always be pros and cons. A shorter rent-back will be open to more buyers, while a longer rent-back will limit the number of people who can actually accommodate that rent-back. Sometimes with a rent-back, you pay the buyer the cost of owning the property. Other times, it's a discounted rate. With how aggressive the market is, we're seeing a lot of buyers let sellers have a free rent-back for however long they need in order to sweeten the deal. 2. Contingent sale. As a seller, you can list your property, field offers, and accept an offer contingent upon finding another place. Basically, you negotiate a certain amount of time with the buyer to find another place so both escrows can be done at the same time. If you can't find a place, though, the deal is off and you're not selling. That creates certainty for our seller, but not so much for the buyer. Again, there are pros and cons. “Regardless of which of these strategies you use, there will always be pros and cons.” 3. The staycation. Let's say you sell your property and negotiate a rent-back timeline to ease into your transition. Then, you can hire a pod company to take all your stuff, move it to their storage facility, and then rent an Airbnb for three to six months. There are a lot of them out there that come fully furnished and allow you to negotiate many different terms. This allows you to have a vacation from your normal life while you're looking for your next property. It's a fun way to create a short-term transitionary period without having to move all your things twice. 4. A short-term rental. You can go to the Irvine Company, any type of apartment community, or even find a private-party landlord and request to rent their property for six months. 5. Buy first, then sell. I'd say only about 10% of our buyers and sellers have the ability to do this. After you move everything into your new home, you can sell your property as a vacant one. This is the best way to sell a property, but again, many sellers can't do it. If you're looking to sell your current home and buy another property and are worried about the transition, my team has a solution for you. If you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to speak with you.

THIS IS WHAT I’M SAYING
Jennifer Temple, Chief Communications Officer, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise

THIS IS WHAT I’M SAYING

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 52:26


Fantastic discussion with Jennifer about the importance of strategic communications, media relations, employee communications, product marketing-and so much more. We discuss misinformation and how easily it is spread, how to create calm during times of great chaos, and how she led communications internally and externally for HPE during the first Covid-19 shutdown. She is a best in class comms pro and has also worked with Hill & Knowlton, Wells Fargo and The Irvine Company.

Stick Taps with Fratty
Stick Taps with Fratty Episode 10

Stick Taps with Fratty

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 20:03


Beer: Green Cheek Beer Company - Another Lager For Sam - Germain-style Schwarzbier (Black Lager) | 4.8% Website: https://www.greencheekbeer.com/ Stick Taps go out to the Irvine Company maintenance crew for all the help with the A/C and Heater these past weeks. Follow me on instagram @really_rad --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

taps heater irvine company
CRUSHING IT IN REAL ESTATE
72. Achieving Work Life Balance via Real Estate Investing with Lauren Hardy

CRUSHING IT IN REAL ESTATE

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 40:37


Lauren Hardy is a real estate investor with a “People First” approach to business. Investing in hundreds of properties in her career, including developing spec houses in Nashville Tennessee, Lauren has the unique reputation of being a successful “virtual investor” having not lived in many of the states she's invested in. Lauren is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton's Mihaylo College of Business and Finance with over 10 years experience in Real Estate. She began her real estate career in 2007 working in the corporate sector for companies such at Sperry Van Ness, Subway Restaurants and The Irvine Company. After her first daughter was born her values changed along with her perspective of how companies can improve in giving their employees more work life balance. After becoming a mother she dreamed of creating a business that would give her personal and professional satisfaction, but with the flexibility to make sure she wouldn't miss the important moments of her family life. She has only ever worked in real estate so launching her own real estate investment company made sense. Lauren has developed a reputation in the industry for persevering in extremely competitive markets by constantly following the market changes and being flexible and willing to move market territories when needed. Lauren currently lives with her two daughters in Southern California and travels to her market territories several times a year. https://www.youtube.com/thismomflips https://www.instagram.com/thismomflips/ https://www.facebook.com/thismomflips/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/crushingitinrealestate/support

Baby Got Backstory
BGBS 037: Cambria Jacobs | EGYM | Fit for Life

Baby Got Backstory

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2020 61:00


Joining us today is Cambria Jacobs, Chief Marketing Officer of EGYM, a global fitness technology leader that uses smart gym equipment to support their members' fitness journey by providing data-based guidance for motivation and measurable results. Have you wanted to live a healthier lifestyle but felt immediately intimidated by what to do when entering a gym? Maybe you've walked over to a big hunk of gym equipment and thought to yourself, “How do I adjust the speed?” or “Where does this pin go?” If you've ever felt this way, EGYM was created to strengthen people just like you. Not only is Cambria is a rockstar at EGYM, she's also had nothing short of a remarkable career path to get here. From the start of her career as a marketing assistant after college, Cambria has used her “scrappy” talents to take the companies she works for to amazing new heights. She stresses the importance of feeling that “Friday night lights” energy to fire up the passion she needs to get work done. Cambria reminds us that it's not your performance that matters, its how you showed up, how hard you worked, and the lessons you learned along the way. With that said, what will you do with what you've learned today? In this episode, you'll learn… EGYM's gamified equipment has lead them to become a global powerhouse at the intersection of exercise and health How Cambria's childhood love of Connie Chung and Jane Pauley taught her about taking complex stories and packaging them in a digestible and meaningful way One of the biggest challenges for companies is how to communicate effectively to each other and their audiences Cambria reminisces on her youth in Newport Beach and how her development plan for the area at 15-years-old helped her realize her gift for communication When data is prevalent, look at trends and trust the experts. When the line is blurred, trust your gut Why video conferencing was exclusive to Fortune 500 companies in the age of suitcase cellphones Your first job, major in college, or your performance in either doesn't really matter. It matters how you show up and where you decide to take what you absorb.  The importance of being brave and taking the leap for your passions, even when you're diving into a whole new world When in doubt, return to the customer When dealing with a scary situation, focus on where everyone can align to foster community and build strength Push hard, but don't forget to pause and be proud as you climb each summit Resources Cambria Jacob's LinkedIn EGYM Facebook Page EGYM Instagram Quotes [17:52] “Yes, we all communicate, but very few of us do it well, and so that really became my path of being so intrigued by the words and the styles and the channels that different leaders around the world had selected throughout periods of time.”   [21:13] “You don't need to be so afraid to make sure you're always choosing the (right) words. Sometimes getting out of your own way and...really speaking from the gut and trusting what you've learned, sometimes that'll take you way farther.” [29:36] “It doesn't matter how you perform...but it's all of the lessons along the way: that you showed up, that you worked hard, the friends that you made, the families that you're having dinner with at the dinner table, how you're talking about who you are, and what you're seeing in the world is so impressionable.” [42:50] “When I wake up in the morning, I want to be fired up. I want to be excited to do better for our customers, for my teammates. I want to know what's next, I want to feel...that ‘Friday night light' energy and when I don't have it for me personally, I can't be a great leader.” [57:26] “There's nothing I love more than taking all of the amazing insights and turning that into something fresh and letting (the employees) that have put their blood, sweat, and tears into something...really walk away and be incredibly proud.”  Podcast Transcript Cambria Jacobs 0:02 I was looking to how could I perhaps marry what I was becoming more, you know, I was a mother at this time I had been married and divorced and ready to really take that, you know, maturity and try to be bold and brave and break out of what I had always known, do something different. And that was when I really was looking into how can I get into health, wellness, more lifestyle, both business to business and business to consumer marketing because to me, I had much more personal passion in that field. But I was also I didn't, that's not where my connections were. That wasn't where my network was. And so that was a bit of a brave, bold and scary time, but I decided to pursue it. Marc Gutman 0:51 podcasting, Colorado, this is the baby got backstory podcast, we dive into the story behind the story of today's money. Inspiring storytellers, creators and entrepreneurs. I like big back stories and I cannot lie. I am your host, Marc Gutman, Marc Gutman, and on today's episode of Baby got backstory. How scrappy young girl from Orange County with dreams of being in the next Connie Chung found her way West and became a global Chief Marketing Officer for a leading fitness technology company. Hey, now here's my regular ask. If you like and enjoy the show, please take a minute or two to rate and review us over at iTunes. Assuming you like the show. iTunes uses these as part of the algorithm that determines ratings on the apple charts. And ratings help us to build an audience which then helps us to continue to produce the show. Alright, with that out of the way on today's episode, we are talking to Cambria Jacobs, the global Chief Marketing Officer of EGYM This episode is a special one for me. I first met Cambria 20 years ago while we are working at a technology startup in Boulder, Colorado called rain dance, the hot tech of the time, audio and web conferencing. Go figure. anyone listening using that technology today? Well, when I met Cambria, this was New Tech. It was hot. And I can tell you, it didn't always work. But the very first moment I met Cambria, I knew she had it. I didn't know what it was then. And I really didn't even know what professional marketers and a company did back then. But I knew she was smart, and she was pivotal and helping to shape the overall company's strategy. And Cambria has had a remarkable career and marketing and she's nowhere close to winding it down. But today she's the global Chief Marketing Officer of EGYM, which is a global fitness technology leader that provides fitness and health facilities with intelligent workout solutions. Built on connected gym equipment and software, EGYM empowers gym operators to deliver a comprehensive experience through its smart gym equipment and digital solutions to support their members fitness journey and provide data based guidance to help them stay motivated and achieve their goal of a healthier life. with improved physical and mental wellness, Cambria will give us some examples of what that is specifically in this episode, so you can get a sense of what EGYM does. Together with her team. They've reinvented the EGYM brand to represent what the fitness technology company has evolved into, a global player at the intersection of exercise and health. Cambria is so smart and I could talk to her for hours. After the interview we talked about doing a follow up interview diving deep on marketing and branding specific topics. So keep a lookout for that one. But in the meantime, put on your listening ears because Cambria Jacobs is sharing 20 years of marketing experience In this is her story Cambria thanks thanks for joining us. We have a long history together, which I hope to discuss in this episode. But before we get to that, why don't you go ahead and tell us your position and the company you work with and what you guys do. What is EGYM? Cambria Jacobs 4:25 Awesome, thanks Marc. So my name is Cambria Jacobs, I'm the global Chief Marketing Officer at EGYM, EGYM I'm actually was founded right around 10 years ago. And our mission was to make the gym work for everyone, which I think right now in terms of the global pandemic is something that we all could feel safe and ready to work out into place that actually delivers that, but we really have grown from a from a small team into a multinational company. We've launched several generations of smart strength Equipment lines that really have expanded over time. And when you look at a gym, we're a global fitness technology leader. We provide fitness and health facilities with really smart and intelligent workout systems across the globe. It's designed really not about just showing up to the gym and getting your workout in, but how we can actually deliver results measurable results to the person who is working out as well as to the gym owner who's making an investment in both their hardware, their software and their total system. Marc Gutman 5:32 So command example like like where my I actually come into contact with with your technology. Cambria Jacobs 5:38 Absolutely. So in North America in particular, the YMCA is we're actually some of our early our early customers and it's perfect, especially when you look at the mission of making the gym work for everyone and then aligning that with the YMCA mission where it truly is that that perfect mix of of America. Where everyone is welcome. The alignment was pretty clear. And what was really great to see with the YMCA is, is that they were looking for a solution that if you can imagine when you go into a gym, maybe you're just coming back after having your second child. Maybe you're older and you're recovering from a stroke. And at the YMCA is that's a place that you feel pretty safe. But when you walk over to do actual strength training, looking at that whole wall and trying to remember how do I adjust that speed, how much weight can I really lift? Where did I put that pin? A lot of times people like that, which we refer to as the health seekers. So really the 80% of us here in North America, that's super intimidating. And so the YMCA is in particular have been a great place where they looked at that and saw our equipment where you actually get on a machine, you take your RFID and it knows who you are, and it'll actually do a strength test for you and it's all like that. Played Pac Man, essentially, it's all gamified. And so I'm chasing some, you know, dots on a screen while I'm pushing what I can and pulling what I can. And then it remembers it, it remembers where my seat was, was positioned, it remembers how how hard I was able to push, and then every six weeks, it will allow me to do another strength test. So essentially, when I come back, all I have to do is again, swipe my RFID. It knows exactly where I was last time I sit on and I get going. And I can go ahead and get my strength training workout accomplished in 30 minutes or less. And I instantly have all of my data about how effective I was, how much better I was, perhaps than last time how I'm progressing. I can see all of that data in real time on all of my digital devices, if you know what if I've downloaded the app, all of it is integrated. So that part is just really exciting for where you can see that at least in North America, and that's in the YMCA or the nonprofit sector. But additionally, we also are in Gold's Gym in Southern California. We also are have boutique concepts. So those concepts that are a little bit different in, in Florida. So we've got folks in all different regions, but the YMCA would be the most prevalent here in North America. Marc Gutman 8:19 And that's incredible. I feel like you just described me I didn't realize I was a health seeker but like one of my biggest one of my biggest like, issues with going to the gym or even like, like when you're like in a cycling class or whatever is truly like, where where I was I set last time, like, how do I set this up, like, I always feel like and then I'm intimidated because I feel like a idiot in the gym. Like, I don't know how to do anything and, and I don't want to be you know, seen as that person that doesn't know how to work the machine that I'm on. And so I just, I feel like that's so amazing in a in a service and a technology in a solution that that everyone truly needs. So I'm really looking forward to, to seeing that deployed a little bit more widely into some of the other things I'm a lifetime fitness person. So if you can make that happen, that'd be cool. Cambria Jacobs 9:03 Absolutely we are, we're all there lifetime fitness, that would be just such an amazing opportunity to expand that net to help. Like we said, health seekers like us that again, we're not alone. 80% of us here in North America would fall into that bucket. And we're not going after the experts because we have the peloton and someone that really expert in equipment that is dialed in, and they know how to use it. So they don't need necessarily as much guidance. So let's not try to attack that market where they're feeling like their needs are already being met. How about the rest of us that are trying to just get healthier and, and be fit for the life we want to live. Marc Gutman 9:38 And so global cmo sounds really, really awesome. And in my world, that's about as high as you go in the marketing realm. So you've done quite well, but like I have to ask, you know, when you were eight years old, was Cambria, a little Cambria? Was she dreaming of becoming a marketer? Like what was your childhood like and and would you want to be one When you're little, Cambria Jacobs 10:01 Ah, what a fun question. I would say when I was little I. So growing up in the, you know, born in the early 70s. And so being a small child in the late 70s and 80s, I would say Connie Chung and Jane Polly seemed to be a couple of my childhood heroes as strange as that sounds. So I actually always wanted to be on the Today Show or Good Morning America as a morning newscaster. And I wanted to be that since I was like six or seven years old. So no, I mean, I guess in a way communication was always something that I was drawn to I loved, complex stories that that that seemed way too complicated for the everyday person to really understand and then to see them show up, package it in a way that was digestible for I guess the rest of us always just seemed like something that was was fun and cool, and really helpful and meaningful, at least for our family. And it was also at time that I remember of just being together in the early mornings before the rest of the day ensued. Marc Gutman 11:05 That's weird. I mean, I'm, I'm a child of that era too. And you know, all my stories of bonding are over movies and things like that. I think this is part of the generation but you were growing up, I believe in Southern California. Is that right? Cambria Jacobs 11:18 Yes, I was born and raised in Newport Beach, California before I headed to college at the University of Colorado Boulder. And where I have remained ever since. Marc Gutman 11:30 Yeah, and what were your interests as you got a little older, maybe not even quite to college, but as you were in California, I mean, it was a pretty typical it was it this like kind of, you know, warm, sunset II kind of existence where you're hanging out at the beach and it's a little bit like Saved by the Bell or like, what was it like then? Cambria Jacobs 11:48 Yeah, I would say that Orange County at that time you port beach in particular was definitely I wouldn't call it a sleepy beach town because I think it had progressed from that by the time you know, the 80s and 90s. But but certainly much, much rougher around the edges than perhaps it has now where it certainly seems to be much more perfectly polished I would say. And I feel really lucky. I can't speak for the other classes that they grew up in that time. But we had a really strong group of parents and I went to Corona Del Mar High School, we had great teachers and leaders, and we were very close. My class was just a few hundred people. And so, yes, being down on the beach, tower five big Corona was the hangout and we had fun and didn't ever take it too far. For the most part, again, depends on the group you were in, but it was a it was a good it was it was definitely not 90210 and we felt supported connected. It was about Friday Night Lights, just like all cities and towns. But yeah, we had the opportunity in the amazing luxury of then ending that day, or starting that day at the beach. driving down the street to see a sunset. Catalina in the background. But yeah, I mean, I would say it was pretty similar to a lot of towns a lot of growing up just, you know, with also a lot more privilege and opportunity. So feel felt very, very fortunate. Marc Gutman 13:15 We're interested at that time, both academically and non academic. Cambria Jacobs 13:20 You know, I think for me, I mean, honestly, I was definitely that kid that, you know, socializing was was certainly a priority of mine. I didn't necessarily put a lot of thought into what was going to be next. But I always knew that obviously, I would go to college, I wanted to go out of state, I wanted to really push beyond Orange County and see what was was out there and my parents really pushed me to not take the University of Southern California path and to get out and meet people that grew up in other places. And so for me, I really appreciated and loved and felt so lucky to grow up where I did, and it's still remains one of my, my top places to go home as I still call it. But what I always knew is that I did want to travel, I did want to expand and I wanted to do something different, bigger and better. But what that looked like, especially in high school, I had absolutely no idea. Marc Gutman 14:17 And I think that that's typical, right? Like, I think most of us don't don't necessarily know what we want to do after and I think that's a big part of, of being that age and figuring it out and exploring but so you decided to go to University of Colorado at Boulder, and like why they're like, of all the places. Why? Why be above? Cambria Jacobs 14:37 Yeah, exactly. Well, I think, you know, I would love to say that I searched it out. I did all the research, I really had grown in terms of my vision of knowing what was next for me and therefore very methodically made that decision. But truth be told, it definitely was, you know, in that time the era of Southern California's Southern Californians invading Boulder, Colorado and I came out with a handful of kids from Corona Del Mar. My older brother also went to the University of Colorado was a Sigma Chi and was a gorgeous place. So that certainly had a heavy weighting on that decision. And then of course, once I started the application process and interviewing, I really became I started to create my own vision of why Boulder, Colorado and that came from kids that I met that were from back east and from the Midwest. It came from seeing these mountains that were so crystal clear and so detailed that they almost didn't even seem real to me, and then having the opportunity to start working in Boulder, Colorado through college, waitressing at one of the most famous dive restaurants in town Juanita has really expanded my colorful social network. It really started to defeat into what I was looking for which was just a little bit more of not the same of more experiences more backgrounds that I didn't have even though boulder colorado I would not say is still the the mecca of diversity. Marc Gutman 16:16 Not not quiet. It wasn't. It's not now but we're working on it. So when you were in college, like what were your interests besides the social aspect? It sounds like you had that nail but were you studying marketing? Did you start to map out a vision for your, your, your life in your career after college? Cambria Jacobs 16:36 I had a couple of really great professors at the University of Colorado, and the classes I was still taking were still pretty broad and yes, marketing, you know, as I as I entered and communication always still remained as not only something that I was drawn to but something that had been, you know, really communicated back to me that it seemed to come naturally to me and that perhaps up Something that you should lean into more. So I started to really double down in that area. And I did so in a way that I started looking really about better understanding rhetoric, the power of it. And and then as I was able to secure an internship with a new and emerging tech startup here in Boulder, right around my junior year, I realized that much of what I had been taking for granted that you know, in terms of communication, in terms of how people are, are marketing in the different strategies, something that seemed a lot like common sense to me was actually something that this company in particular, and then I would learn many, if not all companies, it's one of their biggest challenges is how do we communicate as a company with each other? And how do we communicate with our customers or shareholders all of those key stakeholders and, and while Yes, we all communicate, but very few and few of us do it well, and so that really became my my path of being so intrigued by the words and the styles and the channels that different leaders around the world had selected throughout periods of time. And then the impact that has had on so many milestones again across our world, and that really began to draw me in. And then having my first internship in the marketing team really gave me a better understanding of how that then could be applied and use to actually tie it back into measurable results beyond just what what felt like it helped alleviate some challenges or friction actually resulted in company company and customer benefits. And that was a connection that had I not had that internship. I don't know if I would have been able to make that connection at that time. Marc Gutman 18:47 Yeah, it's such a powerful connection. I mean, it's one I still struggle with today. I mean, like, I get caught up in the things that that make me in the client feel good and sometimes forget about those measurement. results and actually having the business outcome. And I think a lot of people in this space struggle with that at times, especially when you slant a little bit more towards the creative. But when you were, you know, you mentioned this, this idea that you were there was reflected back upon you that, you know, you have this gift for communication. Do you remember any moment in particular, any professor or anyone that really connected with you on that and what they told you, Cambria Jacobs 19:27 you know, I look back, actually, it would be even earlier than that, I look back at a project that we had to do in high school. And that sort of that triggered me into really thinking more about it, and it was at a time in Southern California. Irvine Company is one of the largest development firms it was at the time, Donald Bren, which is funny that you know, a child of 14 or 15, 15 would remember a developer you know, a company however, that was one of the main industries I would say in in Orange County, and looking at growth and the growth plans in Southern California at that time and our beaches and the open space. And we had a project to be able to say, you know, if you could partner with anyone, and be able to do a presentation, who would it be? And what would it look like? And I took the opportunity to really do a, a slow growth development plan that would still appeal to to one of the biggest developers in Southern California and present it in a way that would be compelling for him to invest, even though the short term revenue would be less than desirable. And as I gave that presentation to a mix panel, the amount of engagement and accolades, so definitely a celebration of a talent, and then actually some creative thinking that came out of that. You know, some well esteemed professionals was really sort of that that juice that I needed to be able to continue pursuing that. And then fast forward, you know, maybe six years later in the internship presentation where I was really pushed that you don't need to be so afraid to make sure you're always choosing the wrong words, sometimes getting out of your own way. And just, you know, really speaking from the gut, and trusting what you've learned, sometimes that'll take you way farther. And that opportunity that I finally did that it was less prescriptive was the opportunity that I really got the best grade in that class and that confidence boost to to stop really always questioning everything you're going to do and start trusting your gut as you're building up your experience continued to be something that that I followed into my my early career, Marc Gutman 21:48 and Is that how you continue to make decisions today are you typically a gut based decision maker, Cambria Jacobs 21:53 you know, I would say in the in the early days, you know, having not a lot of experience less, less So and then I'm smart enough to know also that as data becomes much more prevalent, much more aware, really looking at trends, things of that nature. But I think that comes with with just experience and visibility into those data into that did those data sets so less about less about gut unless it's a decision breaker, more about trusting the experts that are around you doing a lot of listening looking at trends, I think that is definitely much more a part of my decision making now and then gut when, when it's not super clear, the the line is, is a little bit blurred. You go back on to what do you know and and also surrounding yourself with fantastic people that ideally have more expertise in areas that you do not. Marc Gutman 22:50 Yeah, and I know that you have a daughter who is finishing high school and getting into college and so it's such a kind of an exciting time and a parallel I'm thinking about you and in your college career and so when she or not when she when you left college when you left Boulder, did you know what you were going to do? Did you have a job lined up? Are you like, Hey, I'm ready to go or what did that look like for you? Cambria Jacobs 23:16 So I always look back in that time and just feel so incredibly fortunate. I had the opportunity to connect with four amazing ex Air Force men who had created the startup link VTC, which at the time, which is in the mid 90s, was a very innovative video conferencing company and work really focused on fortune 500. So, Pfizer, Wells Fargo of the world, we're really our biggest accounts and everyone at the company was definitely 30 or younger and was that that early tech startup vibe in Boulder and I was lucky enough through university of colorado to land a marketing internship within that company and as I graduated, I was able to interview and was offered a marketing assistant role at that company so I was able to do the the six week American backpack through Europe trip and then come back to a job working with really some of the best teammates I've ever had and continue actually being some of my very dear friends and and leaders that inspired me and continue to be some of the best leaders I've I've ever worked with. Marc Gutman 24:33 It's like the American College dream You know, like you go to college and get a job it's not so common anymore. Cambria Jacobs 24:40 I it was it was one of those things that but I knew at the time I definitely did not take that for granted. I knew at the time how very fortunate I was the way things played out. Marc Gutman 24:51 Yeah, so take us back a little bit because you know, this interviews being recorded on zoom, you and I we came to our computers. We had very little issue. We just hit more button we're talking to each other seeing each other our lips are synced. It was such an easy experience today and especially in the middle of this pandemic, I mean people are living on video and and it just all seems to work but what was it like back then like like, you know, why was it just for Fortune 500 companies Cambria Jacobs 25:16 oh my gosh well back then I feel like a very old person right now back then kids It was a try to get an ISDN line installed to your your office let alone your home. So you had enough bandwidth to actually be able to have the you know, have video and audio and then they also had these incredibly complex and expensive systems that actually would have enough resolution to be able to actually capture a video that was worth anything, let alone the quality of these you know, fortune 500 companies. And then of course it would not be as simple as just clicking a button you know between the early network challenges the you know, hardware challenges software. challenges, etc. I mean, it was it was an entirely different world back then. And like anything we can think of the cell phones back in the 80s, where people had to carry around a giant suitcase, I would say it's probably similar to that experience and which now of course, it's it's a device that everyone has everyone uses, much like, how this pandemic has now, you know, allowed us to have zoom calls and hangouts with our grandparents. So really similar technology path of part of the early adopter phase where it was, you know, you need to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in that equipment and then thousands and thousands every month for the support and then businesses like Lync BTC competex of the world that were outside of, you know, British Telecom that were also popping up so the very early telecom startups that were coming up in the in the 90s. Marc Gutman 26:53 Yeah, and why was it x Air Force like what What was that all about? The leaders Yeah. Cambria Jacobs 27:00 Yeah, I mean great question. I don't know the actual drive as to why they landed in technology. But I do know that these were were four different gentlemen that all had really different areas of expertise but what they shared was exceptional leadership, very charismatic, incredibly intelligent and technology and communication was just a natural fit for them. And it actually they started in California before they decided to move to Colorado and together they had the ability to do a lot of you know building databases themselves with Paul Brabarian and an early now CEO of Spiro right of the Gemla Jeals of the world who have taken you know, companies public sense of, you know, being able to raise funds and help an early company be really financially responsible a Joel Daly who could train the most technical skills to fresh college graduates, while also inspiring them to, to really show up and give more than they ever thought possible and then followed by Art Zaly who was the epitome of a sales and marketing leader that that made his team feels that they could accomplish the world and rewarded them every step of the way. And almost like you know, your your favorite father where you wanted to make sure that that he was proud of you as the customer was so together, they just had a really special mix of talent, leadership and incredible intelligence. Marc Gutman 28:37 Yeah, for those listening, if you go ahead and Google those names, you will see where they've all gone and they've gone on to amazing great things. It's a bit like having the all star team or the Beatles at the beginning of your career and then you know where they went after. So it's, it's pretty cool that you were able to to start your career and really get your foundational worldview in business and skills from those from the Leaders I mean, I know and you know, the things that are really still with me today are from my, my first jobs and from what I've learned from my, my first mentors and bosses. And so it's interesting how those, you know, sometimes people say your first job doesn't matter and a lot of ways it doesn't except for the fact that you're gonna, you're really impressionable, and you're really learning and it really sets you know how you're going to view and see the world going forward. So so for Cambria Jacobs 29:26 childhood, right, I mean, it's, you know, doesn't really matter what you chose, you know, you were choosing to take in high school, the friends you made the sport she played, no, it doesn't matter how you perform in that, but it's all of the lessons along the way that you showed up that you worked hard, the friends that you need, the families that you're having dinner with at the dinner table, how you're talking about who you are, and what you're seeing in the world is so impressionable. And that same thing happens I think, as you enter into college and whatever that experiences regardless of how you perform or what your major is, and that same in that first job. About how you choose to show up and then what you're observing around you and where you decide to take that. Whether you're starting as you know, the you know, and you know, the very entry level or you're getting a mid level position. It's what do you do from that point? That I think is is the opportunity that you can make of yourself and how you want to be perceived by those that can really take you to whatever is next. Marc Gutman 30:23 Yeah, for sure. Absolutely. I couldn't agree more. This episode brought to you by wild story. Oh, wait, isn't that your company? It is. And without the generous support of wild story, this show would not be possible. A brand isn't a logo or a tagline or even your product. A brand is a person's gut feeling about a product service or company. It's what people say about you when you're not in the room. Wild story helps progressive founders and savvy marketers build purpose. And brands that connect their business goals with the customers they want to serve. So that both the business and the customer needs are met. This results in crazy, happy, loyal customers that purchase again and again. And this is great for business. If that sounds like something you and your team might want to learn more about, reach out @ www.wildstory.com. And we'd be happy to tell you more. Now back to our show. So you're at link VTC and what happens with that company and where do you go next? Cambria Jacobs 31:36 So in my, you know, fond memories, I felt like I was there for you know, five years when in fact it was it was more like a couple of years. But I think we all know in startup time that that felt and really the experience was probably five plus. And you know, I was able in that that young marketing assistant position to you know, receive a promotion, start to experience In an acquisition, acquiring companies able to experience what a rebrand looked like, and not just experience it, but be part of the team that led it with, with leaders that were much more experienced than I was at that time. And being young and ambitious, you know, thinking I knew more than I absolutely did at that time, was was getting antsy for what was next. And those founders, you know, you when you're part of a startup like that, it definitely feels like family and they to through these acquisitions, and, you know, we're starting to move on to what, what was next for them? And I remember at that time, as you know, early on, when I heard that I couldn't even imagine why would they break up the band? It was like your parents saying, you know, they were leaving. And it was it was really, I remember it being really hard for the company. I mean, there definitely were tears involved. And when I look back on that to create a culture at work, that people felt that personally aligned and involved in wanting to, to deliver so much excellent that they personally just you know, devastated when there was that time to move forward was was pretty impressive. And then also it led me really separate and look back and understand that there is a lifecycle and a value. And now it's time to take what you've learned and try to replicate the the best of the best into whatever was next. And luckily, one of those partners actually two of those partners split off, started a new company, along the same lines of technology and communication. But it was right around video streaming before video streaming was a thing and like broadcast.com and Vstream at the time and had invited me to take the marketing methodology philosophies, practices that we had built at link vtc. and apply them to their new startup and and so that that past started and they actually gave me the opportunity to start building my own team, even though I was about a few years out of school and and that was was what was next Marc Gutman 34:01 And what you think about that? Were you ready to do that? I mean, I know in my career sometimes I've, you know, I've set my sights on a particular role, well above myself, and I'm like, I want that role. And I can cite examples where getting that role was really this great moment of growth. I can also say, a time where I was like, you know, what, I probably should have went, the more you know, the slower path and worked my way into that role, because I wasn't ready, or I didn't learn what I needed to learn. So how were you at that role when you took the reins of marketing for the first time and had to lead your own team? Cambria Jacobs 34:37 Yeah. So I think I think a couple of things happen. Yeah, I agree with everything you just said. I will say that because the the partners that I was working for on that side of the house came from finance and tech. I think they the way they saw marketing was we need events and we need a trade show booth. And I know Cambria was really good at doing that in the early days that link so let's have her do that. Then. So I think that they were looking at marketing at that time. As you know, we had a really limited budget, we were a scrappy startup, and she's scrappy. And so I think based on that level of expectations, it was it was a good move for me. And then what what unfolded was, together we were able to really share what is marketing? How can it be bigger, I was allowed to surround myself with other professionals that had much more experience than I did as well as other partners and agencies that then allowed me to really learn on the job and be able to then hire a good team around that. So I would say it evolved slowly as funds became available as expertise became available. And then from there, I mean, it wound up being, you know, a 15 year job through acquisitions going public, multiple rebrands. And so you know, working at a job 14, 15 years is sort of unheard of these days, but truly it was, it was like working for your six different companies, and product evolution and all of that. So I think the amount of on the job training in a startup, but having the opportunity to surround yourself by experts, and amazing agencies and organizations allows you to take maybe a less traditional path. But Wow, you can't learn any more than than that. Unfortunately, you know, sometimes that can either your employer or your own detriment, because you're not going to get it right out of the gate. And there's a lot of trial and error. Marc Gutman 36:31 Yeah. And so what was going on with streaming at that time that I take off? Was that an incredibly successful business? Cambria Jacobs 36:38 Well, I would say if you if you asked our partners in the company, I think it absolutely was really successful business. I think there were some some missed opportunities on the the b2b space and you know, I think we all know the, you know, the broadcast.com story of, you know, one brand will win and I would say they came out ahead and sort of we were not the leader, but We sure put up a good fight. And a lot of the again, early adopter technology and services that we created, we were then able to pivot into more of a continued online collaboration that was, again, less heavy lifting like was back in the video conferencing days with, you know, timely processes and heavy infrastructure and all of that. And I think we pivoted quickly at a time to allow us to really still target, you know, b2b marketplaces with virtual communication tools, but do it in a much lighter weight fashion when web conferencing like the WebEx is of the world. We're all starting to come into play. And we were again ahead of the curve on that front also. Marc Gutman 37:42 Yeah, and I think that's where our stories first intertwined, I believe now we're at the point where you're talking about Evoke which soon came to be known as RainDance. And so we worked there that was it. That's where we met and that's where I first got, you know, my taste of Cambria and was just, you know, immediately impressed. And in new that you I don't even really know what marketing was at that time, I was just kind of like, what is it? Who are these people that the smart people in the company, they're doing all this cool stuff. And we worked there for a while. And like you said, again, like always on this like leading edge, it sounds like you've been like always on the tip of the spear always kind of first in and that's super exciting. And I remember working there and now even looking back at where like all the people we worked with are today. It's just like this crazy, you know, network alumni of people who have gone on to start companies and do all these amazing things. So it was just this amazing time that I know for myself. I didn't really appreciate at the time. You know, I was I was also scrappy, as you say and trying to do different things and trying to push on my career. And so working at that company having that opportunity. That's where we met but then that comes to an end for all of us to you know, at time there was an acquisition InterCall owned by West Corp. bought that company. And you know the kind of I used to tell my friends like when I first started working at RainDance that if Homer Simpson got a job at a startup that's what it would look like. Because it Paul Burbarian and on his like Razor scooter rushing around and there's all this food and everyone's just young and fun and crazy. And but it was interesting. It wasn't total excess and waste or anything like that it was just this like it had a definite character to it and a definite profile. And then we were purchased by West and interCall. And that changed a little bit they they had a different different model a different culture. And so after that, and after working for West for a while, where'd you go after that? Cambria Jacobs 39:39 Yeah, I mean, I think that gave me I think you summed that up perfectly. And I and I think going and starting at, at startups with that, that vibe, that culture and then getting the experience to then work for the big guys for West corporation with you know, thousands and thousands of employees all over the world. Getting that taste of what global marketing looked like how having teammates and teams now in other other continents, understanding really how those messages that we were coming up with were resonating with different types of customers. That all was really exciting and it helped me really grow and formalize my career on that stand front. Also working for a really seasoned chief marketing officer that had come from Motorola, Kathleen Senado. And really learning more business acumen understanding more about becoming a data driven marketer. That was a really good side to round out more of the branding and communication side that I had, had acquired. But I also knew and was showing up not as, as someone that was, was passionate about building that brand, because the brand that we had evolved into, wasn't necessarily something that that I was passionate about, nor was I becoming too great at. And it was really hard for me to take that look and say I've been in this, you know, tech communication field and startup field for so many years now. But I don't think it's doing it for me anymore. But I knew that I still really loved marketing and I was passionate about marketing, but my interests as, as a person and a professional had really grown and I was looking to how could I, perhaps, Mary, what I was becoming more, you know, I was I was a mother at this time I had been married and divorced and ready to really take the that, you know, maturity and, and try to be bold and brave and break out of what I had always known and do something different. And that was when I really was looking into how can I get into health, wellness, more lifestyle, both business to business and business to consumer marketing, because to me, I had much more personal passion in that field. But I was also I didn't have that's not where my connections were, that wasn't where my network was. And so that was, that was a bit of a brave, bold And scary time, but I decided to pursue it. Marc Gutman 42:03 Yeah. And so you mentioned that you had lost your passion for the brand. I mean, you're showing up to work, but you weren't necessarily feeling the brand. And that happens to all of us. But why is that important? Why is that? Why is that matter? Cambria Jacobs 42:15 You know, I think it's different for everyone. And I think it depends on the path that you're on and what your, your career or your job is, is how you position that into how that reflects on your identity, how you show up in the world, and for some people showing up and getting a paycheck and getting back to all of the other demands that life is is putting on you. Sometimes that works. And that's, that's good enough. And sometimes it's good enough always for people. It just isn't how I'm wired. And hitting the the cruise button is something that we all can do for a period of time. But when I wake up in the morning, I want to be fired up. I want to be excited to do better for our customers. For my teammates. I want to know what's up Next, I want to feel, you know that Friday night light energy, and when I don't have it for me personally, I can't be a great leader, I can't be good for our customers and deliver on what I was hired to do. And then that makes me not feel proud of myself. And then that means I'm not going to do my best work. And I think for any of us that have gone through those cycles in life outside of work, where within, that's a time where, you know, if you don't change, the same thing is gonna keep happening over and over again. And when you can't break out of that it's time to do something different. Marc Gutman 43:30 For sure. And you know, if there's one thing I know about you, or at least I think I know about you is that you're passionate about food, you're passionate about cooking and and creating a experience around the dinner table and using food as a way to bring family together and to really frame the moments that matter to you. And so, what I saw in your career was that you took this passion and you went out in you, as you just outlined, you went and you Found a role that really was was built all around food with a company called door to door organics and like, how did that work out? And I guess what I'm asking is, I think that a lot of people think, oh, if I only had a job built around my passion, it would be so awesome. It would be the best. Like if I just this thing that I love If I could just find a role around that thing, whether, you know, what am I into these days? You know, I'm into wake surfing, right? So like, if I found a job around wake surfing, I just be so much happier. Like, like, what's your take on it now that you went and did it and had that experience? Cambria Jacobs 44:37 I would say it was, it was everything and more that I was looking for, in terms of, I didn't realize how much I needed to. For me, the comfort was, was not bringing out the best in what I had. And so making a shift in an industry whether it was what To what I was passionate about, or just a big shift, I think the same result would have happened, that it just sort of awakens all the senses. And those things that you had done really well or that made a difference in in one industry can be even more powerful in another. So from a business perspective, it was really rewarding to really take you know, the years of planning and rebrands and communication strategies and then applying that to a consumer industry or another emerging industry, but that was all around really natural and organic food that was married with technology and and I could not have ever envisioned that that path would have happened. But again, you know, working your networks, talking to people really following and having those coffee meetings, things present themselves and I had the opportunity to be introduced to Chad Arnold, who was the chief executive officer at door-to-door Organics at that time. Start talking about those strategies that we were using at a conferencing company, our collaboration company, and how we were really enable enabled ourselves to sell into one decision maker and then engage the masses. And how could that then apply to online grocery? And how can we start to talk about building a brand that would really resonate with with smart, well educated, busy women trying to feed their families, how in the world could those those strategies and messages even be in the same ballpark? And what we found is that we are are more alike than different. And so so to me, that was that was something that was incredibly inspiring and then being able to actually show up at at a warehouse especially in the early days of training, and being there for you know, a 5am delivery of a fresh produce from Southern California berries and artichokes and garlic and I couldn't think of anything more inspiring to wake up to today. to essentially get the juices flowing, so it was, it was not anything I could have envisioned. But something that I just really put myself out there and I was willing like in the early days to do whatever it took just to get my toe into an industry that I felt I didn't know that much about only to learn that the years of experience and strategies in certain areas would actually have more power and impact into an industry like online grocery that thanks to the pandemic is now of course you know, not not ahead of the curve. But definitely you know, the the mainstream adopters are already in there. Marc Gutman 47:37 Yeah, so even with that when you were like you were on the tip of the spear again, you were like a little ahead of your time like people were having a hard time adopting and adapting to that model and it be it was just a tough model at the time given the market conditions and one can only think that you know, where you you know, was was was door to door around right now it would be crushing it right? Cambria Jacobs 48:00 Exactly I mean, you said it perfectly and I think you are right as that with link BTC with V stream turned you know, rain dance or evoke then rain dance. All of that is just very early adopter marketing, and in setting it up for what's next and and that same thing was true with with door to door but formalizing a strategy that really aligned to who is the early adopter, why is she that way? And how can we find more of her became something that, you know, we were able to grow from when I joined up, you know, 8 million upwards of, you know, over 80 million and in just a few years. And so, seeing that kind of growth and traction, while it might not be the end game of you know, maybe getting acquired by Amazon or going public for an online brochure, and back in those days, that success that we celebrated and built together as a team, from our delivery drivers to our pickers Packers, to the logistics crew and the marketing team was There are a lot of celebrations, with, of course, lots of heartache along the way. But that passion and teamwork and brand that we created for our customers, as well as the employees was second to none. Marc Gutman 49:13 Yeah, and it's such an exciting time and a big part of your career was spent in this very like what I would what I would term Colorado centric companies like very Colorado cool tech, like door to door organics. I mean, just like very kind of wearing that Colorado badge. But now you're at a company that's global. And I believe it's based in Germany, is that right? Cambria Jacobs 49:34 Correct. Munich, Germany, Marc Gutman 49:35 Munich, Germany. And so now completely shifting the the the the pattern that you have a new challenge for you, you're working for this global company. I mean, like what's hard or what's What don't we know about being a global cmo for a company like that? Cambria Jacobs 49:54 So I would say so each and while we have been around for 10 years, and they're very well known in in Germany for sure, or, you know, in the in the doc region, really I think what's what's so interesting and again, you know, with I think all of the topics that we're experiencing as as a world right now is, again, we're in a lot of areas where we're more alike than different. But yeah, those nuances are really important to understand. And what works in one place does not necessarily replicate and others. And so understanding and building a brand that again, was was big enough, like we make the gym work for everyone, and really identifying and nailing down what we all care about in life, which is becoming healthy and becoming Fit for Life. That's something that whether you're in the UK, or you're in Boulder, Colorado or Munich, Germany, we can all rally around that concept. And to me, that's the thing that makes all of the hard parts of the time changes the various languages the different things And nuances in the marketplace, if we can all rally on, what can we align on? And what can we agree on? That then makes it a lot less overwhelming and makes it a lot more clear to our market. And really, it gets us out of our own way at a lot of times, and I think that's, that's been half the battle is, is just really aligning on what do we stand for as a company? Who are we as individual EGYMies as we refer to ourselves? And how together can we really bring the world together around finding those health seekers and making the gym work for them so they can be fit for the life that they choose to lead, and boost their immunity system and really become healthier and stronger as a world? And to me, that is what gets me out of bed every day and is the most inspiring, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a movement that could not be more timely. Marc Gutman 51:52 Yeah. And so, you know, it's incredibly hard time for marketers during this pandemic in general, but I have to imagine And that for a company that's working with physical gyms and gym, you know, technology equipment that goes into those locations has to be really difficult in what's going on and I have some clients that are gym based like in the climbing climbing sector and stuff like that and it's been tough right i mean it's complete shutdown it's it's a really tough situation, how are you navigating that and what are you looking forward to in the future here. Cambria Jacobs 52:24 So it is an incredibly difficult situation right now for for gyms across the world. And I think as for a gym, you know, we also were set to launch a brand new brand roll out our brand at some of our biggest trade shows that were set to take place in March in April. So right at the beginning of the pandemic, at our the, you know, the largest fitness event in the world phoebo and then here in the United States, Ursa and then only for both of those shows to be canceled. And then the world goes on lockdown. So how do you launch a brand during a pandemic, let alone then making sure that regardless of what Hm. And our brand was doing, that we were also then putting our customers at the forefront. And that, you know, was really, it was an interesting question for all of us. You know, once you get through the Panic of Okay, this is not happening the world as we know it is shifting and changing. So what do we need to do to make sure that we're doing right by our companies, our shareholders, our employees, but also putting our customers first putting them at center stage, which is a core habit of ours at EGYM? And that allowed, again, similar to where where can we align versus what are all the scary things held us really get grounded as a company and together, we worked really hard to understand what are the biggest challenges that our customers are facing right now? And what as what as they will be looking at us as maybe they're their hardware provider, we're not selling steel. So what can we do to really rally around them and what we narrowed in on is the things that those gym owners needed most At this time was to stay close to their members to make sure that their members felt that they were still connected to that community that they had. Even though they weren't able to be in the four walls of the gym, they were still connected, that gym owner still cared about them, and they were able to still maintain their health through the scary time. So together, we worked on software packages, through our digital solutions that allowed those gym owners to then communicate through a mobile device to their members to build that kind of community to push out virtual workouts, to really for them to share competitions, even though they weren't in that gym, followed by how can they then help to reopen their gym safely to understand the rules and restrictions to be able to manage their members signing up for time slot so there weren't too many members in the gym at any one time to be able to manage there are times smartstrength circuit to be able to clean the equipment to move on to the next without being less than six feet from from someone else. So all of those tools and applications and even a program where once before you might be building for strength or weight loss, how about boosting your immunity? What can sports and science come together to actually help you have measurable outcomes on how you actually can improve your immunity as you're going back to the gym, being the health seeker that you are, so as a company, we really rallied around what can we do to help our customer through this time so when they're ready to reopen, they're better and stronger than ever before. And then prepared for you know, if and when the virus comes back and we have to shut down again so so from that time, it became all about the customer again, recommitting to the essence that we all know. It's what they say they are not we say we are really has has served us and lead us through this time of uncertainty and we're really excited to see as you know, all of German gyms are reopened. The UK is set a time Spain has set a time and is reopening In, in those countries and the way they've been handling it are seeing their curve go significantly down. So, and now we can have those conversations with gym owners about what's next. How can we not just keep doing what we did before. But now learning from all of these measurable outcomes we were able to see through this time, and actually double down and invest on that to be better and smarter in the future. Marc Gutman 56:21 I love that. And I love like this, this idea of like, when in doubt, just returned to the customer, and how can we serve them? And how can we benefit them? It's so powerful. I know. I know. We're coming to the end of our time. I just have a couple more questions for you. You know, you mentioned the rebrand there's probably nothing I love more than a good new brand or rebrand and then launching the brand so exciting, right? It's kind of like new love. It's like that you get to go out there and like it's just like really, really exciting. I mean, what do you love about that process? I mean, what excites you and I could hear it in your voice you know it modulated in changed for the better when you started talking about that rebrand. Like, why do you love that? Like, what's Why is that important to you? Cambria Jacobs 57:03 There's something really special about a rebrand because you take the best of what's been created over, you know, almost a decade and give it a fresh, shiny Polish a new face, essentially. And I love it because and I found this in my career that I'm not necessarily the person that's going to be in front of the camera all of the time. But there's nothing I love more than taking all of the, all of the amazing insights and turning that into something fresh and letting those people that have put their blood, sweat and tears into something and letting them really walk away and be incredibly proud. And I think sometimes these young companies, especially Everyone's so heads down, that you don't really see all of the amazing work and results that have been happening along the way because they haven't been packaged in a way that really makes sense to either the employees or to the industry. And so that's the thing that has been missing. most rewarding when I first flew to Munich and stood in the social area with, you know, hundreds of EGYMies, asking them about the names of all of the different products and services and features. And they came to me in multiple languages and multiple terms saying the same thing. And that confusion that was across the board for the employees was mirrored in our industries and customers. And so to be able to pull all of that together with with languages that are different, both in nationality and regions, but also in terms of just products and features, and pull them into one new economy language that was going to redefine the industry and the company as to who EGYM is what we stand for what we offer, and how we're going to change the world for the better is something that I can't imagine any marketer any person wouldn't want to be involved with, let alone help lead. So to me, that has been one of the the biggest and most exciting and the problem Moments is to give all of the economies and our customers something that they can look at and point to, and be really proud of, in addition to all of the measurable return on investment that we're able to deliver through all of our our offerings, Marc Gutman 59:15 and cameras, we come to a close here. You've accomplished so much, you've had such a quite career quite a career. Thank you for sharing that with us. If you're 20 year old self that that college age Cambria, you know, ran into you today, what do you think she'd say? Cambria Jacobs 59:32 I think she would say, You showed up. You were brave. Never settle, push harder. But be proud and happy with with where you are and make sure you take pause as you climb each of those summit's and sometimes you also pushing hard sometimes it's okay just to float for a little bit. So you can be stronger and ready for what's ahead. Marc Gutman 1:00:06 And that is Cambria Jacobs, global Chief Marketing Officer of a gym. I love how she referred to herself as scrappy. And I almost call this episode. She's scrappy, but decided to go a bit more traditional in the end. I'm always intrigued to see where Cambria his career leads. EGYM is lucky to have her and I have no doubt that EGYM will go on to greater things with her leading the marketing team. Thank you again to Cambria and the crew at EGYM. Keep making the gym easy for health seekers like me. Well, that's the show. Until next time, make sure to visit our website www.wildstory.com where you can subscribe to the show in iTunes, Stitcher or via RSS so you'll never miss an episode. I like big stories and I cannot lie, you other storytellers can't deny.

Critical Mass Radio Show
Critical Mass Radio Show August 20, 2014 Mike Lewis

Critical Mass Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2014 26:22


Vice President at Hughes Marino, Mike Lewis joined Critical Mass Radio to share with our audiences how the success of Hughes Marino is based on creating a strong relationship with its clients. Named as Young Mover of the Year by the Irvine Company, Mike also talks about what its like being a millennial in this industry and how it has helped him in conducting his business.

Critical Mass Radio Show
Critical Mass Radio Show August 20, 2014 Steve West and Mike Lewis

Critical Mass Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2014 53:44


Founder of his own company Project Insight, entrepreneur Steve West joined our show to share with us how he is helping middle market companies through web based management software programs.  Vice President at Hughes Marino, Mike Lewis joined Critical Mass Radio to share with our audiences how the success of Hughes Marino is based on creating a strong relationship with its clients. Named as Young Mover of the Year by the Irvine Company, Mike also talks about what its like being a millennial in this industry and how it has helped him in conducting his business.

Business Rockstars
2/18/14 Ron McElroy Owner (ROC) Offices

Business Rockstars

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2014 82:16


On This Episode : Ron McElroy and Michael Paul Ron McElroy established himself as a proficient Commercial Real Estate Broker specializing in office properties throughout the greater John Wayne market from 1983 through 1992. During this period Ron represented landlords like The Irvine Company, Prudential Realty, and Koll Company as well as companies like Exxon, AST Research and Mobil Oil.In 1992 Ron launched REMC-Real Estate Management Corporation. Over the next fifteen years Ron's standard for Class A buildings and premier office environments, anchored with uncompromised service, set the industry bar to a new level. Ron successfully sold the fourteen sites encompassing over 1,000 companies to Synergy Workplaces, a Broadway Partners subsidiary based out of New York.Michael works to expand and develop the Swift Chip brand in the Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas. As a company, it is Swift Chip's mission to use their extensive expertise and partnerships with quality vendors to create a customized, cost effective IT solutions for the business owners we partner with. By providing the peace of mind that comes with being proactive with our clients' networks and educating our clients on the industry specific technologies that they should be implementing, we are a valuable resource for our clients as they look to grow their businesses.