Podcast appearances and mentions of richard kessler

What does it take to shape the future of hotel development while staying true to your vision? In this episode of The Turndown, Richard Kessler, Founder of The Kessler Collection, shares his journey from building budget hotels to becoming a visionary in boutique luxury.  From his first boutique hotel (before anyone really knew what that meant) to shaping the Autograph Collection with Mariott, Richard explains how art, music, and innovative design create guest experiences that keep people coming back. This conversation explores the realities of hotel development today and what it takes to succeed as an independent in a brand-driven world.

In this episode, Cody sits down with Richard Kessler, the visionary Chairman and CEO of The Kessler Collection. With over 50 years of experience in hospitality, Kessler has built a legacy of innovation, luxury, and excellence in hotel development and management.Kessler's impact on the industry is undeniable. He previously served as President and Chairman of Days Inns of America and has played a pivotal role in the boutique hotel movement. His passion for historic renovations has brought life to iconic properties like the Casa Monica Resort and Spa in St. Augustine, FL, The Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah, GA, and the transformative Plant Riverside District in Savannah. His influence also extends into the launch of Marriott's Autograph Collection, where he was the first and largest franchise operator in the U.S.Beyond hospitality, Kessler is deeply involved in philanthropy, supporting causes like the Treutlen House for abused children, the Kessler Reformation Collection at Emory University, and numerous scholarships for visual and performing arts education. His commitment to community and culture has shaped not only his properties but the industry as a whole.Tune in to hear Richard Kessler's inspiring journey, insights into hotel development, and his vision for the future of hospitality.Website: https://www.kesslercollection.com/ Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam@virtualgmpodcastCheckout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

Implementing art and music, seeing potential, and giving back are the key pillars that Mr. Richard Kessler brings to his business. As the Chairman and CEO of The Kessler Collection, and over 50 years of experience in the field of hospitality, Mr. Kessler shares in his unique story. Mr. Kessler discusses his transition from helping found Days Inn to pioneering boutique hotels before they were even a recognized category. He reflects on the resilience needed to navigate economic crises, his passion for creating beautiful spaces, and the significance of hospitality in making guests feel cared for and entertained. Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Kessler highlights his philanthropic efforts, including building an ecumenical family retreat center and an orphanage, driven by his vision of seeing and nurturing potential in people and places. The episode encapsulates his dedication to leaving a lasting impact through both his business ventures and charitable initiatives.Takeaways: Emphasize creating memorable and emotionally impactful experiences for guests.Recognize potential in both people and properties. Look for unique opportunities to transform properties into high-value assets.Be prepared for external challenges like economic downturns and industry-specific crises. Develop resilience and a problem-solving mindset to navigate tough times effectively.Incorporate elements that can set your property apart, such as boutique aesthetics and special themes.Engage directly with guests to understand their experiences and gather feedback. Use guest feedback to continuously improve service and offerings.Look for ways to give back to the community and support charitable causes, in any way that you can.Quote of the Show:“ It's a process of caring for people and entertaining people all at the same time. Some people need more care, some people need more entertainment.” - Richard KesslerLinks:Website: https://www.kesslercollection.com/https://www.newebenezer.org/ Shout Outs:0:51 - Days Inn https://corporate.wyndhamhotels.com/our-brands/days-inn/ 3:54 - The New Ebenezer https://www.newebenezer.org/  4:09 - Georgia Tech https://www.gatech.edu/ 5:44 - University of Georgia https://www.uga.edu/ 7:17 - Cecil Day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_B._Day 10:48 - Motel 6 https://www.motel6.com/en/home.html 10:59 - Holiday Inn https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/reservation 22:37 - Paul Volcker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Volcker 26:43 - Mulberry Inn https://www.innatmulberrygrove.com/ 27:13 - The Pirate's House https://thepirateshouse.com/ 36:40 - Marriott https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 37:35 - The Bohemian Hotel https://www.kesslercollection.com/bohemian-savannah/ 39:02 - The Grand Bohemian https://www.kesslercollection.com/bohemian-orlando/ 51:34 - Treutlen House https://treutlenhouse.com/ 53:09 - From Houses to Homes https://www.fromhousestohomes.org/ 

Brooklyn, Jets football same as it ever was, Alana and Lisa collateral Jets damage, Watching the Jets is a separate kind of bravery, Dave and I care less about the Jets now than we used to, JetsCast Inspired by Milo Time available each week during the NFL regular season, Milo's birthday November 7, The List of Things Milo Loved growing quite a bit recently, Farmer's market in our neighborhood, Migliorelli's apple cider is available there, Milo loved the apple cider, Milo always loved apple cider, Apple cider is a bit of a snack, Not that thirst quenching, Visit to the Muchnicks (Jeff, Lydia, Alex, Ben) in Lacakwaxen, Owl Court, Migliorelli farm stand on the way to Owl Court, Apple cider doughnuts too, Farmer's market next to MS 51 (5th Ave. and 4th St.), Farmer's market on the Upper West Side, Jericho Cider Mill, Daryl grew up in Jericho in Nassau County, Lisa grew up in Huntington in Suffolk county, Running across Rte. 106/107 to go to the Jericho Cider Mill, Richard Kessler is the biggest proponent of the Jericho Cider Mill, The Frapple, Lisa's dad also loves the Jericho Cider Mill and he loves Turlock melons, just like Irwin Fishberg, Alana's dad, Apple Crumb Cake also delicious, Big Cider

Studio Henry, Henry Hillman, New York Mets, David Hillman's Mets fandom, Yankee Stadium, Citifield, Shea Stadium, Citifield superior to Yankee Stadium, Matt Viscardi, Richard Kessler as a Yankees fan, Daryl born the day the Mets won the World Series in 1969, Yankees are like the Dallas Cowboys, Yankee Stadium characterless, Ballparks in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh superior to Yankee Stadium, Definition of the "Come-With" guy, Michelle Toll, Bill O'Flanagan, Spencer and Caity Toll O'Flanagan, Bill's story about college Milo, Milo coming food shopping, Milo always saying yes to joining, Milo coming walking, Milo always happy to get up and do things, Milo loved playing games more than just sitting, Milo could not be rushed, Young Max Kessler as more Type A and efficient, Milo always traveling at Milo Time, Dave Hillman also a dedicated stimuli receiver, Walking to pre-school with Milo, Max requiring 10-15 minutes to get to pre-school, Milo taking double the time to do the same walk, Milo making us adjust to his schedule, Alana and I realizing we should allow him to do his thing on his schedule, Why are we rushing Milo?, Trips to the grocery store are difficult now but used to be fun with him, Milo always comfortable talking to adults, Jen Schonborn, Milo's exchange with Jen Schonborn, The Mop, Milo as a guy who did things his way at his own speed 

Chris Haber, Alana Fishberg, Connecticut, International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers, Sounds Delicious, Seinfeld Episodes, Florida Coasts, West Coast of Florida, Naples, Florida, Richard Kessler, Barbara Kessler, Gordon Kessler, Katie Allen Kessler, Noah Kessler, Zachary Kessler, Spring Break, Cousin Relationships, Miniature Golf, Candyland, Max Kessler, Plumpy, Stacking the Deck, Uncle Daddy Got Plumpy, Regina's Ice Cream, Edy's Ice Cream, Papa Marty, Healthy Eating, Jogging, One Hamburger Per Year, July 4, Baseball Tournament, Golf Cart, Dent in the Refrigerator, Frozen Custard, Better Than Ice Cream, Healthier Than Ice Cream, Grandpa Richard, TCBY, Tasti D-Light, King Bed, Disclosing to Grandparents, Breaking News, Culver's Frozen Custard Container, Callback, Broken Ankle

Jerry Seinfeld, Morty Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Irwin Fishberg, Terry Fishberg, Richard Kessler, Barbara Kessler, Seinfeld, Jake Tapper, Larry David, Netflix, HBO, Max Kessler, Lacie Foreht, Shaquille O'Neal, Marnie Naiburg, Jeff Smith, Milo Z, David Hillman, No Hugging no Learning, Elaine Benes, Alana Fishberg 

Marty Fischer grew up in southeast Georgia near Savannah and is a 1974 graduate of Georgia Southern College with a BS Degree in Speech-Public Relations.  Marty got his start in the hunting and shooting industry when he served as the Vice President and General Manager of Cherokee Rose Shooting Resort in Griffin, Georgia from April 1990 through December 1992.  In January 1993 Marty founded SportShooting Consultants, Ltd, a company that specializes in gun club design, event target setting and management as well as business consulting for the hunting and clay target industries.  To date Fischer has designed and/or set competition targets on more than 175 sporting courses throughout North America. He has done design work for the likes of the Ted Turner family (Kinloch Plantation on the Santee River in SC), Henry Kravis, (7 Lakes Lodge in Meeker, CO, now owned by golfer Greg Norman) managing partner of Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts in New York, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walters, noted hotelier Richard Kessler and his Kessler Canyon Ranch in DeBeque, CO.  He recently did an initial private design and clay target installation for Gaylon Lawrence, Jr. in Wilson, Arkansas.  Additional public facility phases are being planned and priced at this time.     Recent courses of note include a redesign of the Brays Island Sporting Clays course in South Carolina and two 15 station championship layouts for the Clark County Shooting Park in Las Vegas, Nevada; sporting clays, 5-Stand, shooting school venues for The Orvis Shooting Grounds at Pursell Farms in Alabama; two 14 station layouts for the Garland Mountain Sporting Clays facility in north metro Atlanta, GA and a 5-Stand, Wobble Trap, 10 station corporate courses at The Kiawah Sporting Club in SC and at historic Millpond Plantation in Thomasville, GA as well as two 15 station sporting clays courses for Dead Zero Shooting Park in Spencer, TN.   He recently finished a project called The Clays at Lone Oaks Farm, a $2.3 million clay target project for the University of Tennessee.  His next full-service design for completion is a sporting clays facility in Weirton, WV.  At any given time, he has three to five different design jobs underway.  Fischer became one of the first National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) Level III Shooting Instructors.  This level of coaching expertise represents the highest instructor level awarded by the NSCA.  Marty is also the Head Coach of the Georgia Southern University Clay Target Team, which competes for Regional and National Collegiate Clay Target Championships.  Under his guidance, Georgia Southern won back-to-back ACUI divisional national championships in 2021 and 2022.

MW Richard “RJ” Kessler was elected and installed Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York on October 23, 2021 in Utica, New York. MW Kessler joins us to discuss his vision as Grand Master, “Masons Make a Difference.”

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority A continuation of our conversation with Richard Kessler. In this portion, he goes in depth into the making of the new Plant Riverside District. He is joined by architect Christian Sottile. Listen to part one here: https://omny.fm/shows/from-the-newsroom-savannah-now/difference-makers-episode-59-savannah-native-richa#sharing Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority From selling okra on his bicycle to helping build Days Inn into one of the country's most successful roadside hotel chains to creating the Plant Riverside District, Savannah native Richard Kessler is an American business icon. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Words matter. To accompany his blog on mcdonaldhopkins.com, "“ANY REASON” may mean “SOME REASON” in Triggering a Post-employment Restrictive Covenant," McDonald Hopkins attorney Richard Kessler joins MH Business Exchange host Mike Witzke to discuss how the lack of consistency of triggering verbiage will impact the applicability and ultimate enforceability of a post-employment restrictive covenant.

Richard Kessler built one of the most famous stores in America. You might remember his name from https://www.mondaymorningmemo.com/newsletters/origins/ (the Monday Morning Memo about origin stories) published on March 20, 2017.  Here is Kessler's origin story in a 60-second radio ad:My Dad was a house painter. He taught me to sand and scrape paint until my fingers were aching and raw. But I wanted to make him proud, so I always worked hard. I'll never forget the day we opened our brown bags at lunch time and he said, “Son. I'm proud of how hard you work, but I hope that someday you'll get a job where you can wear a tie.” And because I wanted to make him proud, I decided to open a jewelry store. I watched as my Dad took his last seven hundred dollars out of his sock drawer to help me get started. But he never got to see that store.  He died just before it was open. I lived on wieners and beans for the next 11 years until I finally figured it out:  Lose the tie… And be a regular guy just like your Dad.  That's when things turned around for me. I've been sharing the story of that 700 dollars with young entrepreneurs in High Schools and Colleges for years. America's newest and best Kesslers Diamond Center is about to open in front of Cabela's next to the Rivertown Mall in Grandville. I'm Richard Kessler, and I'm hoping to become your jeweler. Richard Kessler is a celebrity in his hometown of Milwaukee, with 50% of the population of that city having heard at least 3 of his radio ads every week, fifty-two-weeks in a row, for the past 30 years. Richard's daughter, Monica, was his sidekick on the radio for 5 years, then became the principal voice of the Kesslers ad campaign when Richard retired. But Richard Kessler also has a son.Hi, I'm Rob Kessler, yeah that Kessler, son of Richard and brother to Monica. I invented a new kind of shirt that makes guys look fantastic.  You'll see what I mean the moment you look in the mirror after trying one on. “Wow! Is that me?” And you can try one on right now at Harleys Menswear. My company is called goTieless and your new shirt has my patented, Million Dollar Collar. Shirt-makers all over the world are trying to license the Million Dollar Collar, but I'm not sure I want to do that. But I AM sure I want you to see yourself in the mirror wearing one. Average dress shirts were designed to be worn with a tie.  goTIELESS shirts are designed to make you look like you've been spending time in the gym. Seriously, go to Harleys Menswear and try one on and look in the mirror.  WOW!! My website is goTIELESS dot com. You're going to look AMAZING in the casual dress shirts I designed for you.  goTIELESS dot com. Dad says “Hi” by the way.  For real.  goTIELESS dot com. Line 1: Introduce the unknown and unfamiliar by relating it to the known and familiar. “Hi, I'm Rob Kessler, yeah that Kessler, son of Richard and brother to Monica.” Line 2: Replace predictable words with unexpected words that mean the same thing. Not “I designed a shirt…” but, “I invented a shirt…” Also, bring the customer into the picture by saying “…that makes guys look FANTASTIC.” Line 3: Amplify the customer's curiosity by putting them squarely in the center of the picture you're painting. “You'll see what I mean the moment you look in the mirror after trying one on. ‘Wow! Is that me?'” Line 4: Cause the customer to imagine themselves taking the action you want them to take. “And you can try one on right now at Harleys Menswear.” Line 5a: Introduce the domain name you need them to remember, then answer the question that lurks in the mind of the listener: What did Rob Kessler invent that makes guys look fantastic? “My company is called goTIELESS and your new

On Episode 35 of MH Business Exchange, McDonald Hopkins attorneys Richard Kessler and Tim Lowe join host Mike Witzke to discuss how employers can protect their investment in human capital through provisions like non-compete agreements, non-solicitation agreements and confidentiality restrictions. Topics covered include the differences between post-employment restrictions, understanding what provisions are suitable for various companies, and where and how long restrictions can typically be enforced.

Rob Kessler is on a mission – a mission to eradicate men’s ties. Aware that 100% of business-casual shirts are designed for ties – yet 90% of the time men don’t wear neckties – he’s invented an entirely new category of shirts – goTIELESS. Rob comes from good entrepreneurial stock. His pop, Richard Kessler, the Diamond Engagement Ring ‘King’ of Wisconsin, taught him a thing or two about sales and marketing. And it shows. This week Rob tells host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart how he and his partners aim to collar the men’s fashion market. HOLIDAY GIVING GUIDE: All Kids Bike® – ON A MISSION TO TEACH EVERY CHILD IN AMERICA HOW TO RIDE A BIKE IN KINDERGARTEN PE CLASS Chapel Dulcinea – The First (and Finest) Free Wedding Chapel in the World The Stories Behind the Smiles – Photographs and Essays Celebrating the Magic of a Healthy Smile (by Avital Rotbart) Photo: Rob Kessler, goTIELESSPosted: November 18, 2019Monday Morning Run Time: 50 minutes and 23 seconds

The June 9th episode of Monday Morning Radio features a full-length interview with Richard Kessler, co-founder of Kessler’s Diamonds. This is an excerpt featuring Host Dean Rotbart.

Richard Kessler was the diamond engagement ring “King” in the state of Wisconsin for 35 years. His ubiquitous radio commercials, created in conjunction with Roy H. Williams Marketing, were legendary in the state, and not only were his Kessler’s Diamonds’ stores extraordinarily successful, Richard also became a well-known local personality and philanthropist. One of the first and most popular guests ever on Monday Morning Radio, Richard recently retired from the jewelry business and is now on to other pursuits. But the techniques he used to build Kessler’s Diamonds – including instituting an employee stock ownership plan – remain invaluable gems. For flawless entrepreneurial advice, clarity, and value, host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart assures listeners that his latest conversation with Richard is pure gold.  By the way, if you’d like to hear Dean’s full interview with Richard back in July 2012, all you need to do is click here. Photo: Richard Kessler, Founder, Kessler's DiamondsPosted: June 10, 2019Monday Morning Run Time: 49:40

Director of KPMG's Cyber Security Advisory Services, Richard Kessler, breaks down how a Unified Governance Model can help executives implement effective Cyber Security Strategy in any size of organization. Kessler explains why so many business executives view their engagement with Cyber Security professionals as a challenge instead of an enabler to their business, and lays out a strategy for cyber security executives to overcome those perceptions to engage their peers in Risk, Big Data, Digital Transformation, and other areas to become a trusted broker and partner with the global heads of their peer domains. Kessler discusses why Change Management is so important to organizations, how a thorough understanding of Data Security and Governance can mature your program and even accelerate your career, and why implementing an Agile Enterprise is so imperative to a successful Cyber Security Strategy.

“He knew how to lead by listening and teaching.”– Erwin C. Hargrove, a professor of political science at Vanderbilt University, writing in 1998 about a leader he much admired. I, too, have known brilliant leaders like that; men and women who lead by listening and teaching.Brian Scudamore, Lori Barr, Richard Kessler, Cathy Thorpe, Erik Church, Sarah Casebier, David Rehr, Michele Miller, Brian Alter, Richard D. Grant and David St. James to name just a few. I mentioned one such leader, Dewey Jenkins, in last week's Monday Morning Memo. Another of them, Ken Sim, is currently running for mayor of Vancouver. According to Professor Hargrove, the key to leadership is to hearken to “the better angels of our nature,” a phrase he borrowed from Abraham Lincoln, who used it in his first inaugural address on March 4, 1861. But we didn't listen to Lincoln. We chose civil war just 6 weeks later.The leader that Professor Hargrove admired who “knew how to lead by listening and teaching,” was another American president who encouraged us during a different time of social upheaval – the Great Depression. “In February 1933, a man shot at [Franklin Delano] Roosevelt, who was riding in an open car in Miami, but succeeded in killing Anton Cermak, the mayor of Chicago, who was with the president-elect. FDR was calm and deci­sive, ordering the driver to go immediately to the hospital, paying no attention to his own security, and talking to the wounded man. His calm courage impressed all who saw him.” – Erwin C. Hargrove, The President As A Leader: Appealing to the Better Angels of Our Nature, p. 79 (1998) The Stanford Library review of Professor Hargrove's book ends with this statement: “In harking back to Lincoln's evocation of the better angels of our nature, Hargrove reminds us that we may, even as leaders, be better versions of ourselves.” And the key to becoming that “better version of ourselves” is to become focused listeners and patient teachers. The reason history repeats itself is because we don't pay attention the first time.Anti-intellectualism in American Life was written in 1964 by Richard Hofstadter, a professor of American History at Columbia University. It won him the Pulitzer Prize. It was his second. He won his first Pulitzer for his 1955 book, The Age of Reform. Reading these books has caused me to develop a theory.Can I share my observations with you? Our obsession with the internet has led us to believe that we are smarter and wiser than any previous generation. We quietly assume that anyone over 40 is a dinosaur, and that every famous historical figure was innocently naive. “But they couldn't help it,” we sympathize, “because they didn't know everything like we do now.” We ignore the centuries of experience of previous generations. We are teaching. But we are not listening.And those who teach – without listening – share their own preferences as though those preferences were wisdom. But what do I know? I'm over 40. Roy H. Williams

Director of KPMG's Cyber Security Advisory Services, Richard Kessler, breaks down how a Unified Governance Model can help executives implement effective Cyber Security Strategy in any size of organization. Kessler explains why so many business executives view their engagement with Cyber Security professionals as a challenge instead of an enabler to their business, and lays out a strategy for cyber security executives to overcome those perceptions to engage their peers in Risk, Big Data, Digital Transformation, and other areas to become a trusted broker and partner with the global heads of their peer domains. Kessler discusses why Change Management is so important to organizations, how a thorough understanding of Data Security and Governance can mature your program and even accelerate your career, and why implementing an Agile Enterprise is so imperative to a successful Cyber Security Strategy.

There are two kinds of advertising.The goal of the first is to make yours the company the customer thinks of immediately and feels the best about when they – or any of their friends – need what you sell. This is called a http://www.mondaymorningmemo.com/newsletters/swordfish_thoughts/ (“relational”) ad campaign. It works better and better with each passing year. The goal of the second kind of advertising is to cause the reader/listener/viewer to buy something from you immediately. I began my career writing these “transactional” ads. I was good at it. This type of campaign is called “direct response.” Transactional ads work less and less well the longer you run them. Today I write only the first kind. If you have the staying power to build a relational ad campaign, you're going to need to remember your origins. You're going to have to write your Genesis Story. There are two kinds of staying power. The first is financial. Here's my advice: Don't launch a relational ad campaign so big that you would not be able to sustain it indefinitely. If you say, “I can fund this for 6 months, but by then it needs to be self-supporting,” then you're spending more than you can afford. It's impossible to predict the moment of breakthrough, that moment when all your previously fruitless efforts will begin to radiate results like a newborn sun. This is why you have to have the second kind of staying power: emotional staying power. Three or four months into your campaign, you're going to begin to panic. But the only thing worse than never launching a relational ad campaign is to launch one and then abandon it. Relational ad campaigns are never about having the lowest price. A customer who switches to you for reasons of price alone will just as quickly switch from you for the same reason. And there is nothing that some other company can't do a little worse and sell a little cheaper. People don't bond with companies so easily as they bond with people. We bond with people we like, people we feel good about, people we think we know. Here are three examples of well-told stories of origin:“My Dad was a house painter. He taught me to sand and scrape old paint until my fingers were aching and raw. But I wanted to make him proud, so I always worked hard. I'll never forget the day we opened our brown bags at lunchtime and he said, “Son. I'm proud of how hard you work, but I hope that someday you'll get a job where you can wear a tie.” And because I wanted to make him proud, I decided to open a jewelry store. I watched as my Dad took his last seven hundred dollars out of his sock drawer to help me get started. But he never got to see that store. He died just before it was open. I lived on wieners and beans for the next 11 years until I finally figured it out:  Lose the tie… And be a regular guy just like your Dad. That's when things turned around for me. I've been sharing the story of that 700 dollars with young entrepreneurs in High Schools and Colleges for years. America's newest and best Kesslers Diamonds is about to open in front of Cabela's next to the Rivertown Mall in Grandville. I'm Richard Kessler, and I'm hoping to become your jeweler.” Your origin story doesn't have to be your first ad. Some of the most successful stories of origin have been introduced after the advertiser had already become a household word.Tom Heflin was a railroad conductor. His wife had a sister. That sister had two little boys. One day she took those boys on a train to Winslow, Arizona to spend a few days with them. Tom took those boys out into the desert to collect rocks. One of the little boys grew up to be a pediatrician. The other just kept pickin' up rocks. I've never been able to explain what got into me that day …but it's never left me. It has something to do with how the beauty of nature is made permanent,...

“The persistent achievement gap between haves and have-nots in our society is chiefly a verbal gap. There is no greater practical attainment in the modern world than acquiring a bellyful of words. A large vocabulary is the single most reliable predictor of practical, real-world competence…” - Professor E.D. Hirsh Over one third of our middle school readers are struggling. Vocabulary is the key. The single most accurate predictor of how well a reader understands text is general vocabulary knowledge. Studies show it can grow to a disparity of 30,000 words by eighth grade when intentional, rigorous intervention is not applied. Additionally, these studies confirm there is a direct correlation between “word bank” size and success in school. Word Lab Web, a vocabulary based reading program for the middle grades, is teacher created, affordable, and in the cloud. It provides personalized, self-paced learning so students can gain authentic word knowledge and practice a variety of comprehension skills. Three half-hour sessions a week provide great gains in reading scores. The tool is the brainchild of Carla and Richard Kessler. Carla is a 25 year veteran middle grade teacher and former Title I Coordinator and Learning Specialist. Recognized for her skills in innovative curriculum with measurable results, she implemented action research for Word Lab Web in the classroom. Richard, a software engineer, is a veteran coder and IT manager. He has kept Word Lab Web on the leading edge of technology from its origins as a desktop program to its current platform in the Cloud. Join us as we not only explore lessons learned from their transition into entrepreneurship, but an overview of Word Lab Web and its success.

In the current violinist-eat-violinist atmosphere for graduates of conservatories and university music schools, some institutions of higher musical learning are trying to bring academic training closer to the realities of the job market. "Curricula that might have been relevant in 1890 or 1990 might not be as relevant today,” Richard Kessler, dean of the Mannes College, The New School for Music, explains in this Conducting Business podcast. Mannes, one of New York’s three big conservatories, is in the process of revamping its entire curriculum, adding required courses in music entrepreneurship along with studies in technology, composition and improvisation. It is aligning itself more closely with its parent institution, the New School, while scaling back traditional music theory and history coursework. The idea: to broaden the range of skills music students have to compete in the real world. “If you’re really committed to learning, you can assess these programs, no matter how traditional, no matter how long-standing and in some cases no matter how revered,” Kessler added. New for-profit models are also being explored. The University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and Universal Music Classics, the world’s largest recording label, last month announced a partnership designed to “grow the next generation” of classical music artists and audiences. A new curriculum requires all of the school’s undergraduates, regardless of major, to take classes in music business, technology and entrepreneurship. Elizabeth Sobol, the president and CEO of Universal Classics, said that the venture "addresses a bigger problem we’re having right now: we’re not training the next generation of industry impresarios and industry business leaders." Conservatories, she said, are also not reflecting a growing desire for nontraditional concert experiences in spaces like bars, clubs and parks. Performance opportunities for classically-trained musicians have long been limited in a pop culture world. A 2010 study by Indiana University underscored that point, finding that 49 percent of recent music conservatory alumni are doing work “somewhat” or “closely” related to their training, while just 19 percent spend “a majority of their work time as musicians.” But curricular reform can be difficult for tradition-bound conservatories, where elite private teachers have considerable clout and a business course may seem like a distraction. What's more, young artists may not have an aptitude for formulating marketing plans or booking tour dates. David Cutler, author of The Savvy Musician, and director of music entrepreneurship at the University of South Carolina, argues that there are ways to fold entrepreneurial training into an existing school curriculum. “An example of this might be the traditional degree recital,” he explained. Most undergraduate performance majors are required to do a recital as a requirement for their degrees. "If it’s important for us to attract new audiences, maybe we can use this as a playground for doing actually that. So perhaps part of the recital requirement might be: you need to get 200 people there to get an A, or 150 people there to get a B." Students might also be graded on how they can rethink the presentation to include multimedia or other visual elements. Cutler added, “There’s some good news here in that more schools are changing their model to include more 21st century skills.” Listen to the full segment above and tell us what you think in the comments box below: How should conservatories better prepare students for the realities of the job market?

This week Glenn speaks with Phil Cordell, Global Head for Focused Service and Hampton Brand Management for Hilton Worldwide. In this segment we discuss how Hampton is adapting to today’s modern audience on the cusp of its 30th anniversary. This is a fascinating peek into customer behavior, psychology and how to keep hotel owners happy with their Forever Young initiative. Then we speak to Richard Kessler, Chairman and CEO and Mark Kessler, President & COO of the Kessler Collection of hotels. These men deliver incredibly high caliber guest experiences with phenomenal service. So we looked into figuring out just why they are able to do it. We also learn the story of how Richard built this company and how he created many of the concepts you see as standard in hotels today. Oh yeah, he invented deep themeing too. You will LOVE this interview. So get set for an exciting and entertaining show.

The commercial is short and to the point: "Please take me to Kesslers."  It lasts only 2 seconds.  But Kesslers Diamonds runs the "blink" ad, and others like it, twice an hour, every hour, on 30 or so different radio stations where the Wisconsin-based retail jewelery chain promotes itself.  It's not the only marketing that founder and President Richard Kessler engages in, but it is indicative of his unconventional style. On this edition of Monday Morning Radio, produced in cooperation with Business Unconventional on 710 KNUS AM in Denver, co-hosts David Biondo and Dean Rotbart trace the unlikely mega-success of Kesslers Diamonds and its two-decade plus association with Roy H. Williams Marketing of Austin. Don't be fooled.  Although Richard has yet to teach an actual course at The Wizard Academy, we defy any business owner - especially one whose company works in retail - to listen to this full audio and not come away with valuable, practical, entrepreneurial insights. Be sure to follow B. Unconventional on Twitter: @BUnRadio and subscribe to Roy H. Williams's Monday Morning Memo.  The best things in life really are free! Run Time: 30 min 16 secPhoto: Richard Kessler, Kesslers Diamonds 

Roy H. Williams points to Wisconsin's largest diamond and diamond engagement ring jeweler, Kesslers Diamonds, as an example of a company that caught the Pendulum at the right time and really succeeded from understanding how the Pendulum operates.  Kesslers Diamonds is owned by Richard Kessler. This is Part Three of Four. Roy advises listeners and readers of his new book, Pendulum, to stay away from "Me" advertising and instead make a connection with customers and prospects by speaking about something that both seller and buyer care about.  In the case of Kesslers Diamonds, that "something" was the fight against breast cancer. Roy is interviewed by B. Unconventional hosts Dean Rotbart and David Biondo.  Their weekly business radio newsmagazine is broadcast each Sunday morning at 8 a.m. (Mountain Time) on 710 KNUS AM in Denver.  It is also available as a live stream from www.710KNUS.com. Innovative business owners and entrepreneurs who would like to share their stories with Monday Morning Radio listeners are invited to contact us at: 303-800-6081.  Sponsorship opportunities are also available for those seeking to reach small business decision makers. Original Broadcast Date: June 10, 2012Photo:  Wizard Academy students 

Roy H. Williams points to Wisconsin's largest diamond and diamond engagement ring jeweler, Kesslers Diamonds, as an example of a company that caught the Pendulum at the right time and really succeeded from understanding how the Pendulum operates.  Kesslers Diamonds is owned by Richard Kessler.  This is Part Three of Four. Roy advises listeners and readers of his new book, Pendulum, to stay away from "Me" advertising and instead make a connection with customers and prospects by speaking about something that both seller and buyer care about.  In the case of Kesslers Diamonds, that "something" was the fight against breast cancer. Roy is interviewed by B. Unconventional hosts Dean Rotbart and David Biondo.  Their weekly business radio newsmagazine is broadcast each Sunday morning at 8 a.m. (Mountain Time) on 710 KNUS AM in Denver.  It is also available as a live stream from www.710KNUS.com. Innovative business owners and entrepreneurs who would like to share their stories with Monday Morning Radio listeners are invited to contact us at: 303-800-6081.  Sponsorship opportunities are also available for those seeking to reach small business decision makers. Original Broadcast Date: June 10, 2012