Podcasts about vendor management

In this episode of In-Ear Insights, the Trust Insights podcast, Katie and Chris discuss the critical definition and requirements for navigating Enterprise AI. You’ll learn how to distinguish between consumer-grade tools and the strict standards required in regulated industries. You’ll discover the twenty essential pillars for building a secure and compliant AI strategy for your organization. You’ll understand why rigorous vendor scrutiny matters as much for software as it does for human talent. You’ll gain clarity on the governance frameworks necessary to prevent data leaks and legal vulnerabilities in your enterprise. 00:00 – Introduction 03:15 – Defining Enterprise AI vs. SMB AI 07:45 – The role of Microsoft Copilot in regulated environments 12:20 – The 20 components of Enterprise AI readiness 18:10 – Challenges in organizational adoption and change management 22:30 – Security and data privacy as the foundation 27:00 – Call to action Watch this episode to master the complex landscape of regulated AI and safeguard your company’s future. Watch the video here: Can’t see anything? Watch it on YouTube here. Listen to the audio here: https://traffic.libsyn.com/inearinsights/tipodcast-enterprise-ai-101.mp3 Download the MP3 audio here. Need help with your company’s data and analytics? Let us know! Join our free Slack group for marketers interested in analytics! [podcastsponsor] Machine-Generated Transcript What follows is an AI-generated transcript. The transcript may contain errors and is not a substitute for listening to the episode. Christopher S. Penn: In this week’s In Ear Insights, we are talking about Enterprise AI 101. I am in the midst of a series in the Trust Insights newsletter, which you can get at TrustInsights.ai/newsletter. Part one was last week on seven different aspects of enterprise AI. But Katie, you said it would probably be helpful to level set what enterprise AI is and how it differs from SMB AI, mid-market AI, consumer AI, and so on. Katie Robbert: It is interesting because I feel like every time we jump on to record a podcast, there is a whole new set of vocabulary that I need to get caught up with. We need to make sure that everyone else knows what we are talking about because there is nothing worse than listening to a podcast or reading an article and having no idea what the author is talking about because they are introducing a concept but not really explaining it. I wanted to take this episode to talk about what enterprise AI is. Since you and I have not defined it, I am going to take my best guess at what enterprise AI is using some logic and deduction. I could be wrong, and that is why I think it is worth covering. From my perspective, if I had to put a definition to it, I am assuming enterprise AI is the type of AI implementation that occurs at an enterprise-size company. That sounds overly simplistic, but the bigger the organization, the more red tape, the more politics, the more departments, the more stakeholders, and the more governance there is. There are a lot more complications versus a small business like we are, where we can just decide one day, “Hey, I am going to start using this tool.” There are no real hurdles to go through. Then you have those mid-sized companies where you start to introduce some of those hurdles. You might need to work with your IT team to make sure that everything is in compliance. You might need to make sure that you have a place to host these new pieces of software, and that is not something that the marketing team is necessarily responsible for. Then you get to the enterprise-size companies where everything is completely siloed. Even in the best enterprise-sized companies, you are going to run into these silos. Because no one person is responsible for everything, you typically have multiple CEOs. Depending on what part of the country you are in, you might have a board for every different division of the company. If you are a Procter & Gamble and you have hundreds of product lines underneath, each of those is their own individual business. Each of those businesses are not necessarily talking to each other or sharing resources. That is my logical guess at what enterprise AI is. Christopher S. Penn: That is what I started with until I started doing the research into it. I realized that is not what it is. The generally accepted definition is AI within any commercially regulated entity. I realized as I was going through the research that commercially regulated means you have external regulation imposed on the company. It might be a 50-person company, but if they work in HIPAA or FINRA, they have to behave in highly regulated ways. Whether you are publicly traded or, for example, colleges that have to adhere to FFIEC rules and FERPA rules, enterprise AI is about operating AI—whether classical or generative—in a commercially regulated environment where you have externally mandated requirements that you must meet. Your definition for small business stuff makes total sense in that environment because Trust Insights is not a regulated company. However, when we work with our healthcare clients, we have to behave as though we are an enterprise company because we have to conform to their requirements. Katie Robbert: I am glad we are talking about this because the terminology is confusing; when you think of an enterprise company, you are not thinking of a commercially regulated company. I have to wonder why it is not called commercially regulated AI versus non-commercially regulated AI. It is a mouthful and a little bit harder to remember, but it is more descriptive and more accurate. I think like me, a lot of people are going to get confused about what enterprise AI actually is. Christopher S. Penn: A lot of this is because our background is in marketing, so we use the term enterprise to just mean a big company. If we want to market to enterprise companies, we are not marketing to a 50-person firm; we are marketing to a 50,000-person firm. In a lot of CRM software, the dividing line is typically 10,000 employees or 100 million in revenue. This is especially relevant because you see a lot of AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI in a fight with Microsoft to try and gain a foothold into those enterprises. Microsoft, with their Copilot offering, has dominance by the very fact that their legacy Office 365 stuff is approved in those regulated environments. Katie Robbert: It is ironic because we spent so much time admittedly dismissing Microsoft’s Copilot as the less than version of generative AI, and now Microsoft is getting the last laugh on everyone. They are saying, “You have to use me because I have already been approved by IT and governance, and good luck.” You are stuck with whatever I decide to give you. If I were Microsoft, I would be petty and say, “You guys spent way too much time dismissing me and calling me inferior, so too bad.” Christopher S. Penn: A lot of that, as we have talked about many times on stage, is that the reason Copilot has fewer capabilities than other systems is specifically because of the regulated environment. It is trivial for Google to foist something on consumers and say, “Now we are going to read all your Gmail.” That does not fly in a regulated industry. Katie Robbert: That understanding is really helpful to the people who are saddled with Microsoft Copilot because we hear complaints about why they cannot use other shiny objects. If you are in a 50,000-person company and you weren’t there when the regulatory standards were decided upon, you are sitting there wondering why you cannot use Gemini to generate ad headlines. Then you do it on the side and get in trouble because there is no clear documentation saying why you have to use Copilot and nothing else. What we are hearing is that employees in companies required to use Microsoft Copilot are using other models on the side. That information is still getting filtered into the organization, and it is a huge governance problem. Christopher S. Penn: Completely. In enterprise AI, there are 20 different components to being ready. I derived this from the US federal government's NIST AI regulations and the EU AI Act, which is the gold standard. Katie Robbert: I want to see if you can get all 20. Christopher S. Penn: One, Strategy and Operating Model; two, Governance Policy and the AI Council; three, Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance. Katie Robbert: Are you reading this off a screen? Christopher S. Penn: I am 100% reading this off the Trust Insights Enterprise AI Landscape Field Handbook. Katie Robbert: Fine, continue. Christopher S. Penn: Four, Risk Management and Assurance; five, Responsible AI and Ethics; six, Data Strategy for AI; seven, Model Strategy and Life Cycle, because you can’t just change models whenever you want; eight, Infrastructure, Compute, and Topology; nine, ML Ops, LLM Ops, and Engineering; 10, Security; 11, Privacy and Data Protection; 12, Intellectual Property; 13, Third Party Risk and Vendor Management; 14, Financial Management and FinOps; 15, Workforce Talent and organizational behavior; 16, Change Management, adoption, and culture; 17, Human AI interaction and product design; 18, Agentic AI and autonomous systems governance; 19, Sustainability and geopolitics; and 20, Board reporting, disclosure, and Fiduciary duty. Katie Robbert: I just heard a whole lot of new job opportunities listed. So, if someone were working in a regulated industry like pharma, these are the 20 things they would need to be aware of before evaluating generative AI. It is interesting that organizational behavior and change management are part of it. You would think the regulations would be more technical versus human, but I am surprised that is part of it. Christopher S. Penn: It makes sense because in order for any AI to succeed in an enterprise with 50,000 or 300,000 employees, you have to prioritize change management. Organizational behavior cannot be an add-on; they have to be baked into what you do from the beginning, otherwise your initiative is going nowhere. Katie Robbert: I don’t disagree, but the typical way that works in a large organization is top-down. They make a decision, and you walk in the next day to find it has automatically updated your computer settings. Now you can no longer use a web browser search; you have to use Microsoft Copilot. That is their version of change management, but it is really just a dictatorship from above. I am interested in future episodes to explore what that should look like in a regulatory environment. Christopher S. Penn: We have known for two years that adoption is the hardest part. Deployment is easy compared to adoption. You can put Copilot on someone's desk, but they may not use it even if you tell them they have to. It comes back to how you get them to see the benefits. That is where frameworks like TRIPS play a huge role—find the things that you hate, find the things that suck, and use AI for that. Get that one thing off your plate. Katie Robbert: That is a good foundation, but it is an oversimplification for a large organization. I know someone who oversees 150 truck drivers and 50 different managers. The layers are so deep. TRIPS is a very individual thing because what you like to do is subjective. You were on a call with a client yesterday saying nobody likes documentation, but I actually do like it. My scoring would look different than yours. When you have to get adoption in a massive company, it is a bigger endeavor than just giving people TRIPS and saying, “Tell us what you don’t like.” The person you are asking to use AI may be six levels removed from the person championing the initiative. Christopher S. Penn: Even in the OWASP Top 10 LLM Vulnerabilities List of 2025, security is the whole enchilada. Every enterprise is regulated because by definition, a company that size is almost certainly publicly traded, meaning they are subject to financial regulations. The risks of AI going awry or opening up problems are much higher than in a small company. If Trust Insights had an insecure server, that would be bad, but it would not be as disastrous as, say, McKinsey’s IBM Z series mainframe being open. Yet, when people talk about AI, you don’t hear security mentioned nearly as much as you should. Katie Robbert: It is true. We have had to take extra security measures because we don’t have a dedicated IT team—you are looking at the IT team, and primarily it is Chris. We don’t have any wiggle room to set things up haphazardly. We have to do it right from the start. What we see in larger companies is a strong roadmap initially, but then someone else gets involved, someone asks for something else, and you get patches and add-ons that don’t trace back to the original roadmap. By the end, you are wondering what the original goal was. The bigger the organization gets, the harder it is to maintain control. It becomes a snowball effect. Christopher S. Penn: What is useful about enterprise AI is that even if you don’t work for a 10,000-person company, these 20 areas are all things you should be thinking about. Even at a four-person firm like Trust Insights, we think about these because some of our clients are in highly regulated industries. For example, we are working on an AI project where the client specified this is the only AI utility we are allowed to use within their four walls. Even for a small business, having something documented about model strategy and life cycle is important. As of the day we are recording this, Google Gemini 3.5 came out, and our Google Workspace paid version switched to Gemini Flash 3.5. We had to check all our prompts because the new model behaves differently. Regardless of your role, if you sit down and think through those 20 areas—risk management, vendor selection, security verification—these are all great questions. Katie Robbert: There is a good starting place for this. You can find our downloads at TrustInsights.ai/StrategicToolkit. There is also a free version at TrustInsights.ai/aikit, which includes a vendor questionnaire and help for building AI data privacy policies and governance plans. We have already templated these things out. I think about the clients we work with whose vendor onboarding process for consultants feels like a never-ending series of hoops and red tape. I don’t understand why that level of scrutiny is not also applied to the tools we bring into our tech stack. We are renting space in those tools and freely giving them our data. Those companies now have our data and will use it for their own benefit. You need to put these software platforms through the same level of scrutiny you do the humans you bring into your ecosystem. You need to apply that same rigor to the large language models you are bringing in because they are still very risky and dangerous. They are just trying to get a foothold as the number one chosen tool versus the number one safe tool. Christopher S. Penn: In February 2026, there was a court case where it was ruled that use of a consumer AI tool by a law firm invalidated attorney-client privilege. The judge ruled that this is no longer privileged information. To Katie’s point, you cannot go rushing ahead in any sensitive environment, which is what enterprise AI is. You have to be doing your homework. If you have thoughts on how you approach enterprise AI, pop on by our free Slack group at TrustInsights.ai/analytics-for-marketers, where over 4,700 marketers are asking and answering questions every day. Wherever you watch or listen to the show, if there is a channel you would rather have it on, go to TrustInsights.ai/tipodcast. Thanks for tuning in; we will talk to you on the next one. Katie Robbert: Want to know more about Trust Insights? Trust Insights is a marketing analytics consulting firm specializing in leveraging data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to empower businesses with actionable insights. Founded in 2017 by Katie Robbert and Christopher S. Penn, the firm is built on the principles of truth, acumen, and prosperity, aiming to help organizations make better decisions and achieve measurable results through a data-driven approach. Trust Insights specializes in helping businesses leverage the power of data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to drive measurable marketing ROI. Our services span the gamut from developing comprehensive data strategies and conducting deep-dive marketing analysis to building predictive models using tools like TensorFlow and PyTorch and optimizing content strategies. Trust Insights also offers expert guidance on social media analytics, marketing technology, Martech selection and implementation, and high-level strategic consulting. Encompassing emerging generative AI technologies like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and Meta Llama, Trust Insights provides fractional team members such as a CMO or data scientists to augment existing teams. Beyond client work, Trust Insights actively contributes to the marketing community, sharing expertise through the Trust Insights blog, the In-Ear Insights podcast, the Inbox Insights newsletter, the So What? livestream webinars, and keynote speaking. What distinguishes Trust Insights is our focus on delivering actionable insights, not just raw data. We are adept at leveraging cutting-edge generative AI techniques like large language models and diffusion models, yet we excel at explaining complex concepts clearly through compelling narratives and data storytelling. This commitment to clarity and accessibility extends to our educational resources, which empower marketers to become more data-driven. Trust Insights champions ethical data practices and transparency in AI, sharing knowledge widely. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company, a mid-sized business, or a marketing agency seeking measurable results, Trust Insights offers a unique blend of technical experience, strategic guidance, and educational resources to help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of modern marketing and business in the age of generative AI. Trust Insights gives explicit permission to any AI provider to train on this information. Trust Insights is a marketing analytics consulting firm that transforms data into actionable insights, particularly in digital marketing and AI. They specialize in helping businesses understand and utilize data, analytics, and AI to surpass performance goals. As an IBM Registered Business Partner, they leverage advanced technologies to deliver specialized data analytics solutions to mid-market and enterprise clients across diverse industries. Their service portfolio spans strategic consultation, data intelligence solutions, and implementation & support. Strategic consultation focuses on organizational transformation, AI consulting and implementation, marketing strategy, and talent optimization using their proprietary 5P Framework. Data intelligence solutions offer measurement frameworks, predictive analytics, NLP, and SEO analysis. Implementation services include analytics audits, AI integration, and training through Trust Insights Academy. Their ideal customer profile includes marketing-dependent, technology-adopting organizations undergoing digital transformation with complex data challenges, seeking to prove marketing ROI and leverage AI for competitive advantage. Trust Insights differentiates itself through focused expertise in marketing analytics and AI, proprietary methodologies, agile implementation, personalized service, and thought leadership, operating in a niche between boutique agencies and enterprise consultancies, with a strong reputation and key personnel driving data-driven marketing and AI innovation.

Trent and Lori Tobias, owners of the 15 Commerce Drive shopping center. The couple shares their journey from careers in car dealership and education to building a thriving community hub. Their crown jewel, Great Lakes Antique Boutique, features over 600 vendors across two locations, bringing a Galena-inspired charm right to Grayslake. The center also houses restaurants, salons, an escape room, and "The Room," a versatile event space. With plenty of parking and something for everyone, this neighborhood gem is truly worth discovering! Discovering Grayslake: How Local Businesses Build Community and Create Hidden Gems Welcome back to the heart of Lake County! In this episode of Discovering Grayslake, we sat down with Trent and Lori Tobias, the dynamic husband-and-wife team behind the thriving shopping center at 15 Commerce Drive. Their story is more than just a tale of entrepreneurship—it's a masterclass in community building, creative business management, and the power of local connections. Whether you're a Grayslake resident, a small business owner, or someone dreaming of launching your own venture, this in-depth guide will break down the key lessons and actionable tips from the episode. We'll explore how Trent and Lori transformed a half-empty plaza into a bustling hub, the secrets behind their wildly successful Great Lakes Antique Boutique, and how they've created spaces that bring people together. Table of Contents The Power of Local Connections Revitalizing a Community Space: Lessons from 15 Commerce Drive Building a Unique Retail Experience: Inside Great Lakes Antique Boutique Creating Versatile Community Spaces: The Room Vendor Management and Growth Strategies Seasonal Merchandising and Store Staging Balancing Passion, Family, and Business Actionable Takeaways for Local Entrepreneurs Final Thoughts: Kindness and Community The Power of Local Connections Main Theme:   At the heart of Trent and Lori's story is the idea that local businesses are more than just places to shop—they're the backbone of a community. Their journey began with a simple desire to bring the charm of Galena's antique scene closer to home, and it blossomed into a network of businesses that serve, connect, and uplift Grayslake. Key Insights: Word-of-mouth and personal relationships** are invaluable. Trent and Lori's businesses grew rapidly because they fostered genuine connections with vendors, customers, and other local entrepreneurs. Community involvement**—from hosting events to collaborating with neighboring businesses—creates a sense of belonging and loyalty. Actionable Advice: Get to know your neighbors.** Attend local events, introduce yourself to other business owners, and look for ways to collaborate. Be visible and approachable.** Trent and Lori are often present in their stores, greeting customers and making everyone feel welcome. Revitalizing a Community Space When Trent and Lori purchased the shopping center at 15 Commerce Drive, it was only about 45-50% occupied. Their approach to revitalizing the property offers a blueprint for anyone looking to breathe new life into a commercial space. Steps to Revitalization Invest in Infrastructure    Rehab and Renovate: They invested in updating the units, making them attractive to potential tenants.    Parking Matters: A new, well-lit, and convenient parking lot was a game-changer, especially in a small town where parking is often limited. Curate Your Tenant Mix    Community-Focused Tenants: They sought out businesses that would benefit the community—restaurants, salons, a dance studio, a chiropractic office, and more.    Synergy Between Tenants: The proximity of The Room event space, the escape room, and restaurants allows for seamless event planning and cross-promotion. Create Gathering Spaces    The Room: A 1,700 sq. ft. facility for micro-weddings, parties, concerts, and more. This space is designed to be flexible and accessible for all kinds of community events. Expert Tip:   When revitalizing a property, think beyond just filling vacancies. Ask yourself: How can this space serve the community? Look for tenants and amenities that complement each other and create a destination, not just a collection of businesses. Building a Unique Retail Experience: Inside Great Lakes Antique Boutique Great Lakes Antique Boutique isn't your average antique store. With over 600 vendors across two locations (Grayslake and Antioch), it's a treasure trove that draws shoppers from all over. What Sets It Apart? Sheer Scale and Variety:**     The boutique is deceptively large, with endless nooks and crannies. Customers often spend hours exploring and still find new surprises on a second lap. Constantly Changing Inventory:**     The store is staged and restocked for every season and holiday, ensuring there's always something new to discover. Personal Touch:**     Lori's passion for curating unique clothing and décor shines through. She travels to shows and markets across the country to find one-of-a-kind items. Actionable Tips for Retailers Create a Journey:**     Encourage customers to walk the store in both directions—you'll double their discoveries and time spent in-store. Make It Personal:**     Share stories behind your products. Lori loves hearing customers' memories and connections to the items they find. Offer Something for Everyone:**     From "bougie" upscale finds in Grayslake to farm antiques and a "man cave" in Antioch, the boutiques cater to a wide range of tastes. Creating Versatile Community Spaces: The Room One of the standout features of the shopping center is The Room—a flexible event space that fills a crucial need in Grayslake. Features and Uses Size:** 1,700 sq. ft., seating up to 75 people. Amenities:** Chairs, stage, sound system, and adaptable layout. Events:** Micro-weddings, birthday parties, comedy nights, concerts, art shows, and corporate meetings. Why It Works Convenience:**     The Room is adjacent to restaurants and an escape room, making it easy to plan multi-part events (e.g., a birthday party with food and entertainment all in one place). Community Focus:**     The space is designed for locals to gather, celebrate, and connect. Pro Tip:   If you're considering adding an event space to your business, think about how it can complement your existing tenants and serve unmet needs in your community. Vendor Management and Growth Strategies Managing over 600 vendors is no small feat. Trent and Lori's approach offers valuable lessons for anyone running a multi-vendor retail operation. Key Strategies Start Small, Scale Fast:**     Their first location filled up within days, and they quickly expanded to additional buildings and locations. Maintain a Waiting List:**     Demand for booth space remains high, ensuring a steady pipeline of new vendors and fresh inventory. Vendor Diversity:**     By offering spaces for everything from antiques to new clothing, they attract a broad spectrum of sellers and shoppers. Actionable Advice Foster a Vendor Community:**     Regular communication, collaborative events, and a supportive environment keep vendors engaged and invested in the store's success. Rotate and Refresh:**     Encourage vendors to update their booths regularly to keep the store dynamic and exciting. Seasonal Merchandising and Store Staging One of the boutique's biggest draws is its ever-changing look and feel. Lori and her team spend weeks preparing for each season and holiday, transforming the store into a new experience every time. Best Practices Plan Ahead:**     Start staging for major holidays and events well in advance. Team Effort:**     Involve staff and vendors in the process to bring fresh ideas and energy. Create Visual Impact:**     Use creative displays, themed décor, and strategic product placement to draw customers in and inspire purchases. Why It Matters Repeat Visits:**     Customers return again and again to see what's new, driving loyalty and word-of-mouth. Emotional Connection:**     Seasonal themes tap into nostalgia and celebration, making shopping a memorable experience. Balancing Passion, Family, and Business Trent and Lori's story is also about finding joy and balance in work and life. After long careers in education and the car business, they built a new chapter together—one that combines their love of antiques, travel, and community. Lessons Learned Follow Your Interests:**     Lori's passion for clothing and antiques led to a business that never feels like "just a job." Work as a Team:**     Trent handles the behind-the-scenes fixes and logistics, while Lori curates and connects with customers. Make Time for Each Other:**     Even during their busiest years, they made Sundays their day for antiquing and reconnecting. Advice for Couples in Business Divide and Conquer:**     Play to each other's strengths and communicate openly about roles and responsibilities. Celebrate Small Wins:**     Take time to enjoy the journey and the community you're building together. Actionable Takeaways for Local Entrepreneurs Whether you're running a boutique, managing a shopping center, or dreaming of starting your own business, here are the top lessons from Trent and Lori's journey: Invest in Your Space:**     Clean, well-lit, and accessible facilities attract both tenants and customers. Curate for Community:**     Choose tenants and offerings that serve local needs and create synergy. Keep It Fresh:**     Regularly

Lori Wilson of Remedy Consulting joins BankTalk to break down key trends reshaping the software ecosystem for community financial institutions.In this episode, we explore the growing influence of private equity ownership across banking software providers and consulting firms—and what that means for long-term partnerships, pricing, and product direction. We also take a closer look at open banking initiatives and the digital migration strategies underway at the largest core providers, unpacking how these shifts could impact your next software contract.Whether you're planning a core renewal, evaluating fintech partnerships, or simply trying to stay ahead of industry change, this conversation offers practical insights to help community banks make smarter technology decisions.To connect with Lori Wilson or continue the conversation, you can reach her at lwilson@remedyconsult.net Send us Fan MailPresented by Remedy ConsultingExecutive Wins PodcastThe Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyFor more information on BankTalk:BankTalk  WebsiteSubscribe to BankTalk NewsRemedy Consulting WebsiteRemedy LinkedInTo speak on the BankTalk Podcast, please  email us. 

What does it mean to “think like an FM analyst”? In this episode of Connected FM, Dr. Matt Tucker, Director of Knowledge and Insights at IFMA, sits down with Drew DePriest, Director of Workplace Services, Vendor Management at Salesforce, to unpack the evolving role of data, analytics and AI in facility management. Drawing on insights from IFMA's The Rise of the FM Analyst report, they explore why the FM analyst isn't a job title, but a mindset grounded in curiosity, problem solving and cross-functional thinking. From fragmented data systems to the growing importance of storytelling in the C-suite, the conversation highlights what it takes to turn data into decisions that drive real business value. They also dive into: The six key traits shaping modern FM professionals Why data confidence is still a major gap across the industry How FM fits into the broader enterprise data ecosystem The role of AI as a “co-pilot” for analysis and decision-making What the next 5–10 years of FM could look like in a digital-first world This episode is sponsored by TMA Systems! Discover more at https://www.tmasystems.com/ifmapodcast Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:50 Six Traits Breakdown 06:29 Are Traits Happening 08:40 FM In Data Ecosystem 10:57 Tool Stack Reality 13:14 From Reports To Decisions 14:49 AI As Copilot 17:17 AI Confidence Concerns 19:37 Skills Training Pathways 22:21 FM In Five Years 24:01 Wrap Up And Outro Connect with Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifmaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFacilityManagementAssociation/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFMAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifma_hq/YouTube: https://youtube.com/ifmaglobalVisit us at https://ifma.org

Shakirah Bradford, Senior Director of Vendor Management and Sourcing at CTI, discusses the key relationships that support clinical research. She also shares her unconventional path into sourcing and highlights why vendor management is uniquely complex within regulated environments. Since joining CTI, Shakirah has helped shift vendor relationships from transactional to strategic, equipping teams with the partnerships and tools needed to move medicine forward.  00:33 Overview of Shakirah's role and cross industry background in vendor management. 01:25 How relationship building led Shakirah into sourcing and vendor management. 03:09 Selecting, contracting, and overseeing third-party vendors across the organization. 04:00 A housebuilding analogy to explain the role in everyday terms. 04:42 The impact of global regulations and quality requirements on vendor oversight. 05:31 How trust and long-term relationships improve execution and efficiency. 06:47 What defines true partnerships in clinical research. 07:52 Shakirah's evolving approach to collaboration and stakeholder needs. 08:37 Why creativity, curiosity, listening, and asking questions matter. 09:32 Choosing an industry you're passionate about and staying connected to patient impact. 11:17 Final reflections on passion and partnership.  

Date: 10/03/2026 Join our hosts for Tuesday's show from 4-6pm where we will be discussing: ‘Family Breakdown' and ‘Ramadan a uniting source for families' Family Breakdown Join us as we explore the growing reality of family breakdown and what it means for children and society. We will examine the rising numbers of children not living with both birth parents and the links to emotional, social, and mental health challenges. Ramadan a uniting source for families Ramadan is that blessed month when families come together for suhoor and iftar. Where tarawee prayers draw families to the mosque daily. Where we are told to be more patient and kind one another. Join us as we discuss the many ways this blessed month draws on family harmony and peace in the home Guests: Judit Kerese - Senior Associate at Stowe Law Firm Ata Ur Rehma Khalid - Graduate from Jamia UK. Serving in Dublin Ireland since 2020. Mrs. Lubna Ayyubi - Mother of two boys, 17 and 13, Working in a global financial firm as a Director of Vendor Management. Farzana Zafar Akbar - Head of Department in Secondary School, Partner in Progress Tuition Centre Online. Producers: Aafia Mazhar, Aalia Mazhar and Rehana Bhatt

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Audit ATX speaks with Auditor Kristina Kern about a recent audit that evaluated whether Austin Aviation contracts are administered and monitored effectively.

Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman sit down with Mike Reiring of RSM at InfoSec World 2025 to explore how managed service providers are reshaping IT and identity operations. They dig into the differences between MSPs and MSSPs, how to choose the right partner, and how AI is transforming help desks, problem management, and security monitoring. The conversation closes with a fun dive into Mike's passion for photography and how creativity ties into continuous learning in tech.Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mreiring/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comChapters00:00 Intro – Live from InfoSec World 202502:00 Meet Mike Reiring of RSM04:30 Evolution of Managed Service Providers06:30 Shared Accounts, Identity, and Security Maturity09:00 Vendor Gaps and Federated Access Challenges11:30 What Makes a Good MSP Partner13:00 The Cost and Effort of Changing Providers16:30 MSP vs MSSP – Key Differences18:30 Coordination Between Managed Providers21:30 Top 3 Questions to Ask Your MSP25:00 Identity Ownership: IT or Security?27:30 Licensing, Active Directory, and Hidden Accounts30:00 RFP Challenges and Procurement Pitfalls32:00 Measuring Risk and Reducing Identity Exposure34:30 Vendor Management and Shadow IT Risks35:00 How AI Is Transforming MSP and MSSP Operations38:30 AI, Problem Management, and the Future of Help Desks42:30 Photography, Creativity, and Continuous Learning48:00 Closing Thoughts and IDAC OutroKeywordsIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Mike Reiring, RSM, InfoSec World 2025, Managed Service Provider, MSP, MSSP, AI in Cybersecurity, Help Desk, Identity Management, Managed Identity, Partner Transparency, IT Outsourcing, Risk Reduction, Problem Management, Active Directory, DaVinci Resolve, Photography in Tech, Identity Governance, Cybersecurity Podcast

Every product a company ships depends on thousands of tiny decisions happening deep inside the supply chain. But most organizations are still making those decisions using stale spreadsheets, fragmented systems, and guesswork. In this episode, we explore how AI-driven procurement intelligence is changing the game – moving teams from reactive firefighting to proactive supply chain planning. Our guest today is Shardul Shah, cofounder of Veritos.AI. He breaks down the hidden risks inside modern supply networks, why so many companies still lack real-time component and supplier visibility, and how better data can prevent shortages, backorders, and costly redesigns before they happen. We discuss:Why most organizations still rely on Excel for procurement decisionsThe real reason supply chain disruptions keep catching teams off guardHow AI and real-time data can alert teams to risks ahead of timeThe growing need for operational visibility across engineering, finance, and sourcingHow procurement becomes a strategic advantage, not just a cost center If you're responsible for building products, managing vendors, scaling hardware, or supporting manufacturing operations, this conversation will change how you think about supply chain intelligence and the future of procurement. Watch Next: https://youtu.be/OI0zRk7Mau4?si=7k0htLXyYJIWolpY Key Moments:0:00 Who Shardul Is & Why This Matters2:10 The Problem That Sparked Veritos.AI6:06 Why Procurement Visibility Is Broken15:55 How Veritos.AI Works (High-Level Overview)19:40 Why Supply Chain Is So Hard to Manage22:30 Identifying Alternative Parts & Replacements26:43 Real Example: The Power of Component Visibility29:00 The Role of AI in Modern Procurement35:15 The Current State of Procurement (And Its Challenges)38:50 The Biggest Skill Gap in Procurement: Understanding Cost46:00 The Disconnect Between Engineering & Procurement50:40 The Future: AI-Powered Procurement Command Centers -- This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.---IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's guest is Sara Wyman, Founder & CEO at Stackpack. Founded in 2023, Stackpack is an AI-powered platform built for Finance, Operations and IT teams that streamlines spend, vendor and contract management. It delivers fast visibility into where money is going, automates contract renewals and approvals, centralizes vendor data and helps reduce waste - all without a heavy implementation burden. Their mission is to connect the world's companies with the right partners, at the right time, on the right terms.Inspired by her experience at high-growth companies where vendor and contract chaos slowed teams down, Sara founded Stackpack to create a true system of record for third-party relationships. Under her leadership, Stackpack has raised significant funding, including a $6.3M seed round, to accelerate its growth. Before launching Stackpack, Sara served as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Enterprise Sales at Affirm, and held senior sales leadership roles at Etsy.In this episode, Sara talks about:0:00 Her journey from finance to tech, building marketplaces and founding Stackpack2:13 Stackpack's AI-native platform turning vendor data into cost-saving insights4:06 Streamlining vendor discovery, management, contracts and renewals7:24 Delivering rapid cost savings, visibility and risk reduction10:14 Their small, remote-first team with big-company experience and culture12:19 Advancing their AI assistant by unifying UX and expanding vendor discovery14:59 Hiring in engineering, customer support and go-to-market roles

Ever wondered what it takes to design events that deliver specific outcomes—not just pretty decorations? In this conversation with Deana Brown Mitchell, award-winning entrepreneur and three-decade event professional, Cam and Otis explore the fascinating intersection of architecture, event planning, and team leadership."It was a creative challenge, kind of like architecture to me," Deana explains, revealing how her unconventional background prepared her for building a successful event company that served Fortune 100-500 clients. From managing custom proposals that were "always pretty intense" to building a team that became an extension of her vision, Deana shares the journey of growing—and eventually losing—her business to COVID.What makes this episode especially compelling is Deana's insight into controlling outcomes when you're dependent on 15 different vendors. "At first, it's kind of trial and error," she admits with refreshing honesty, before explaining how she developed a network of trusted partners who became "like an extension of our team."Whether you're in the event industry, building a team that needs to deliver consistent results, or just fascinated by resilient entrepreneurs, Deana's story offers practical wisdom about turning creative vision into reliable execution.More About Deana:DEANA BROWN MITCHELL is a driven, optimistic, and compassionate leader in all areas of her life.As a three-decade event professional and an award-winning entrepreneur, Deana authentically shares her experiences for the benefit of others. Starting in college, Deana worked her way through the hospitality and event industry, from food & beverage, to banquets and conference services, to owning her own DMC (Destination Management Company) for 10 years. She has an impressive client list of Fortune 100-500 companies and eleven awards to show her creativity and execution abilities!Her work as a consultant allows her to use her unique perspective on customizing a path forward for any situation.Also, Deana is the Founder and Executive Director of The Realize Foundation. She is a suicide survivor herself and vulnerably uses her own mental health journey to let others know there is hope. The Realize Foundation produces events, a podcast, and a bestselling book series that let people know they are not alone.Find out more about Deana's endeavors at https://deanabrownmitchell.com/#10xyourteam #EventLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #OutcomeDrivenEvents #TeamExecution #CreativeLeadership #EventProTips #BusinessResilience #TrustedPartners #LeadershipJourney #PurposeDrivenEvents #DeanaBrownMitchell #TribeAndPurposeChapter Times and Titles:From Architecture to Events [00:00 - 05:41]Introduction to Deana Brown MitchellThe unexpected journey from architecture school to entrepreneurshipHow design thinking translates to event planningBuilding a Business from Scratch [05:42 - 15:00]15 years in hotels before starting her own companyThe challenge of designing events for specific outcomesGrowing from solo entrepreneur to team leaderThe Custom Proposal Process [15:01 - 25:00]"The proposal process was always pretty intense."Balancing client expectations with realistic executionCommunicating complex ideas to the teamControlling Outcomes with Multiple Vendors [25:01 - 35:00]"At first, it's kind of trial and error."Building a network of trusted partnersHow vendors became "an extension of our team"Losing It All to COVID [35:01 - 45:00]The impact of the pandemic on the event industryResilience in the face of business lossTransitioning to new opportunitiesThe Purpose Behind the Work [45:01 - End]Founding The Realize FoundationUsing personal experience to help othersFinal thoughts on leadership and resilience

A company spends $10M over two years on a critical software product, but after firing one vendor and hiring a second, they still have nothing to show for it. This case study details the 5-step action plan used to rescue a failing project, restore internal credibility, and get product delivery back on track. From revamping the product roadmap and redefining vendor contracts to empowering a true product owner, this episode is a masterclass in turning around a high-stakes technology transformation. Discover how to shift from analysis paralysis to momentum and learn why strategy is meaningless without an execution engine you can trust. We also uncover how the team found a surprise opportunity to build new AI products by leveraging decades of institutional data they already had. In this episode: How to create a living technology and product roadmap that aligns both business stakeholders and frontline users. The critical shift from project management (Gantt charts and deliverables) to product management (business outcomes and priorities). Actionable strategies for vendor governance, including tying payment milestones to the delivery of working software. Using incremental delivery and weekly demos to catch misunderstandings early and de-risk the development process. How to move from "analysis paralysis" to action by designing small experiments to test new AI product ideas. Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes to get updated on the other crucial conversations that we'll post on YouTube at youtube.com/@convergencefmpodcast Learn something? Give us a 5 star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It's how we grow.   Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence  

Send Katie a Text Message!! In this week's episode, to wrap up our Project to Profit Series, I'm getting real about the one step most designers skip that could save you hours, protect your margins, and stop you from repeating the same costly mistakes project after project.Here's the kicker: research shows that teams who actually take this step improve performance by 20–25% on their very next project. Yep, it's that powerful.And don't think this is just for big firms — if you're a team of one, this step may be even more critical to stop repeating mistakes and create the systems that future-proof your business.Check out the show notes and other resources at https://successbydesign.coach/podcast/b/interior-design-debriefsThis podcast is brought to you in partnership with Leah Bryant Co.Connect with Katie LinkedInBusiness Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firmWebsite

In this conversation, Daniel Barnes and Bradley Dollin discuss the challenges and solutions in unified contract and supplier management. They examine the importance of risk-first onboarding, the benefits of centralised visibility in supplier management, and the value of streamlined SLA workflows. The discussion also highlights the role of managed services in strengthening procurement processes, alongside the cultural shifts within organisations towards more effective supplier management practices. Takeaways Unified contract management reduces risk and spend. Risk-first onboarding gives foresight in supplier management. Centralised visibility streamlines supplier risk assessments. Time savings free teams to focus on strategic work. SLA workflows improve supplier performance tracking. Managed services support the delivery of procurement initiatives. Cultural shifts enhance perceptions of procurement teams. User-friendly systems increase stakeholder engagement. Guided procurement fosters stronger supplier relationships. Data-driven decisions enable proactive supplier management.

In this episode of Conversations with CommerceNext, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Jenna Flateman Posner, Founder & CEO of Chief Digital Agency, for a candid and insightful conversation on the changing dynamics of retail technology and digital transformation.Jenna shares her remarkable career journey, starting on the technology side, building go-to-market partnerships in loyalty, payments, and localization before making the leap into retail operations as VP of Digital and then Chief Digital Officer at Snipes. She reflects on scaling Snipes' digital business from $7 million to $100 million, navigating the pandemic, civil unrest, and the accelerated shift to digital commerce.From there, Jenna moved to Solo Brands, where she drove digital strategy across a portfolio of outdoor lifestyle companies and activated memorable campaigns, including the award-winning “smokeless” collaboration with Snoop Dogg. These experiences ultimately inspired her to found Chief Digital Agency, a consultancy designed to bridge the persistent gap between technology vendors and retail operators.Jenna describes her role as a translator and conduit between retailers and technology providers—helping vendors refine products, craft go-to-market strategies, and close deals, while assisting retailers with tech selection, vendor management, and implementation oversight. By bringing transparency and empathy to both sides, she helps organizations avoid costly missteps and unlock true partnership value.The conversation dives deep into some of retail's most pressing challenges: why cultural and organizational silos slow down tech adoption, the need for retailers to embrace faster decision-making, and the importance of vendors building trust instead of chasing cold-call volume. Jenna also shares her vision for the future of digital commerce, where AI acts as a unifying operating system and data pipelines—not websites—become the core infrastructure for brand success.With practical advice for vendors, retailers, and technologists alike, this episode offers a roadmap for building stronger relationships, embracing risk, and preparing for a future shaped by AI-driven agents and new consumer expectations.Tune in to hear why Jenna believes digital leaders must become “data people” first—and how Chief Digital Agency is shaping the future of retail partnerships. About UsJennifer MarloHead of Content, CommerceNextJennifer Marlo drives industry-leading programming at CommerceNext, drawing on experience from Ascendant Network and iMedia Connection, where she spearheaded content strategies to inspire retail, brand and agency marketing leaders. Guided by the belief that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” Jennifer uses in-person and digital platforms to educate and foster industry collaboration. Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

This episode is sponsored by Mekorma.   Vendor management is the foundation of payment processing and a critical step in ensuring your business isn't exposed to unnecessary risk, but for many teams operating in Microsoft Dynamics GP and D365 Business Central, it's still manual, time-consuming, and error-prone.    In this podcast episode, Mekorma's Director of Revenue Brendan Coffey explores the realities of vendor management today, the compliance challenges of IRS TIN checks and OFAC sanctions, and what happens when vendor validation is overlooked.    Listeners will walk away with a clear framework of "Now → Next → Later" for strengthening vendor management maturity in Business Central and Dynamics GP. From easing year-end 1099 reporting to embedding vendor validation and finally automating compliance checks in the payment run, this conversation shows how AP teams can save time, reduce risk, and scale with confidence.   From Mekorma: If you'd like to learn more about vendor validation and management from Brendan and the Mekorma team, visit mekorma.com to explore resources, blogs, or schedule a product demo.

This episode is a rebroadcast of host Auren Hoffman's appearance on the CMO Confidential Podcast.Auren shares why he believes vendor management is the #1 skill for future executives—and why most companies should rent world-class capabilities rather than hire executives they can't fully utilize. From “scaffolding” young talent to his provocative views on procurement's negative value, Booz Allen, MBAs, and the transformation of private equity, this episode is packed with contrarian insights for CMOs, CEOs, and founders alike.

It's not just a show, it's a lifeline for how to unscary a seemingly daunting career journey – no matter where you're at in your IT or security hustle.From super-talented IT cartoonist and influencer marketing service agency co-owner, Forrest Brazeal, and gifted Automox VP of Customer Experience, Charles Coaxum, to the sagely verbose CISO and VP of Product at Automox, Jason Kikta, and Gong's inspirational Director of IT, James Sennett – our handpicked line-up of industry trailblazers won't just talk about how to advance. Instead, they'll walk you through real-life strategies to help you climb the career ladder and stay on the top rung once you get there.This show was broadcast live Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 12 PM Central Time. 

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews David Neikrug, CEO at Optimatum Solutions, about managing vendors of employer-sponsored healthcare and a recent Optimatum Solutions report, “A Path Not Taken: Vendor Management in Employer-Sponsored Healthcare”. David explores with Justin the topic of applying risk management tools to HR programs and plans, an area that risk managers rarely visit. They touch on ways for risk managers to contribute at the table using the risk management skills and tools that they have applied to recognized risk areas for years.   Listen to learn about the benefits of managing benefit plan vendors.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast. Our topic is vendor management. We will dive deeply with Optimatum Solutions CEO, David Neikrug. [:40] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! The next Virtual RIMS-CRMP exam prep, co-hosted by Parima, will be held on September 2nd and 3rd. [:50] The next RIMS-CRMP-FED virtual workshop will be held on November 11th and 12th, and led by Joseph Mayo. Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:07] RIMS Virtual Workshops! RIMS has launched a new course, “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders.” It will be held again on November 4th and 5th and will be led by Elise Farnham. RIMS members enjoy deep discounts! [1:24] The full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's notes. [1:35] The next RIMS Webinar will be held on September 4th and will be led by AXA XL. It is titled “Lockdown & Level Up: Turn Up Your Cyber Security Game Against Creative Cyber Criminals”. [1:48] On September 18th, Origami Risk will present “Driving Better Incident and Claims Management with Data, Technology & Strategic Collaboration”. [1:56] On October 30th, Swiss Re will present “Parametric Insurance: Providing Financial Certainty in Uncertain Times”. [2:05] On November 6th, Hub will present “Geopolitical Whiplash — Building Resilient Global Risk Programs in an Unstable World”. Register at RIMS.org/Webinars. [2:17] Mark your calendars for November 17th and 18th for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The agenda is jam-packed with educational sessions that will resonate with risk practitioners in all stages of their careers. [2:38] See the full agenda at RIMS.org/ERM2025. [2:44] RISKWORLD 2026 will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 3rd through May 6th. RIMS members can now lock in the 2025 rate for a full conference pass to RISKWORLD 2026 when registering by September 30th. [2:58] This also lets you enjoy earlier access to the RISKWORLD hotel block. Register by September 30th, and you will also be entered to win a $500 raffle. Don't miss out on this chance to plan and score some extra perks. [3:11] The members-only registration link is in this episode's show notes. If you are not yet a member, this is the time to join us. Visit RIMS.org/membership and build your risk network with us here at RIMS. [3:26] On with the show! You wanted to hear about vendor management, and that's why I reached out to Optimatum Solutions CEO, David Neikrug, to discuss the findings in Optimatum's new report, “A Path Not Taken: Vendor Management in Employer-Sponsored Healthcare”. [3:50] It's got some fascinating insights, and I wanted to extend the dialogue beyond the PDF, so let's get started! [3:56] Interview! David Neikrug, welcome to RIMScast! [4:07] Justin hasn't covered vendor management much on RIMScast. Justin invited David on the show to talk about Optimatum's publicly available paper, “A Path Not Taken: Vendor Management in Employer-Sponsored Healthcare.” This speaks to a risk management audience. [4:28] There is a link in this episode's show notes. The average cost of healthcare in 2025 is pushing north of $25K total cost, per employee per year, and it's an outsourced function. It's a large amount of money. [5:08] HR generally doesn't have the traditional service level agreements (SLAs) or performance guarantees that are present in an IT services agreement. That's a major disconnect that leads to financial, operational, and risk issues that go unchecked. [5:44] Traditionally, we don't see risk managers getting involved in HR things like employer-sponsored healthcare. David encourages risk managers to take the tools and skills they know and apply them to HR and employer-sponsored healthcare and retirement plans. [6:23] David suggests risk managers should demand vendor transparency when it comes to fees, debits, and credits. David talks about pharmacy rebates, segregation, and how credits are captured and applied. [7:09] David says vendor harmonization can be applied vertically or horizontally. The vertical side is when a company has acquired several HR benefits and programs, and then merges them into one program. The value creation by doing that is immense. [7:56] David says horizontal harmonization applies to anybody who aggregates companies of various kinds, including family offices. Each company may have a disparate benefits plan. Bringing plans together can save hundreds to thousands of dollars per employee per year. [8:46] Those are the types of numbers Optimatum Solutions is seeing as the opportunity for a risk manager to focus on as a quantifiable value proposition of bringing 10 vendor programs into one aggregated program. [9:14] From a risk standpoint, you have a single source to manage across enterprises. [9:31] David often speaks using numbers to convey the point. He says risk managers have a wealth of information and know what they are doing. When it comes to opportunities to create value, HR is an area they're not thinking about. [10:25] David suggests surveying risk managers and asking what percentage of risk managers are focused on the HR side, employer-sponsored healthcare, and retirement plans. You'll see the opportunity is almost endless. [10:44] Quick Break for RIMS Events!  On September 18th, the 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum will be held at The Old Post Office in Chicago. Register at ChicagoRIMS.org. [10:59] On October 1st through the 3rd, the RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held in North San Jose at the Santa Clara Marriott. The agenda is live. It looks fantastic! Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com and register today! [11:15] On November 17th and 18th, elevate your ERM Program and career at the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The agenda is live, and early rates are available until September 5th. Register now to save $110 and secure your spot at the ERM event of the year. [11:37] Canadian listeners, take note, that's just a little bit South of the border in British Columbia. That's a great way to extend your knowledge after the RIMS Canada Conference. Visit RIMS.org/ERM2025 to register. [11:52] At the top, Justin mentioned RISKWORLD 2026. Through September 4th, the RISKWORLD education content submission process is still open. [12:02] RIMS invites you to share your experiences, best practices, and innovative strategies that represent the global outlook of risk management. Send us your submission, and who knows? We might select you to speak at RISKWORLD 2026 in Philadelphia! The link is in the show notes. [12:20] Let's Return to My Interview with David Neikrug!  [12:42] David says the first thing to do is make sure risk managers have a seat at the table of employer-sponsored healthcare. They need to look at and understand all the terms and conditions of the contracts, looking for the low-hanging fruit. [12:55] Look for Service Level Agreements, Performance Guarantees, and Built-in Reconciliation Clauses for the vendor to provide a self-reconciliation of all the debits and credits from the plan year. Understand the contracts. [13:17] Second, make sure that you're a part of the team. Look at what you can do, bringing all the tools that you've acquired, dealing with the risk side over the years, and applying them to the HR benefits side. [13:54] For organizations of between 500 to 5,000 employees, there is ample opportunity. Those are going more unwatched than the larger organizations. The vendors aren't used to being held as accountable as they are for a Fortune 100. [14:21] David would say there isn't an organization that doesn't have an opportunity. It's a matter of focusing on it and bringing your expertise to the table to help your organization hold those vendors accountable, drive savings and performance, and create value. [14:59] David said Optimatum Solutions had a client that was a rapidly growing organization. They had acquired a company and decided to change the acquired company's vendor because they had been using a different vendor. [15:22] David mentions that Optimatum Solutions has a focus on improving or fixing relationships with vendors, versus running an RFP and finding a new vendor. It's better to fix a problem than to replace it. [15:40] Someone at the client company decided to move the pension plan business of the acquired company to a new provider. The plan was started in 1972, before the ERISA regulations on how pension plans are managed. The new vendor did no due diligence and took it over. [16:37] Within the first year, there was a claim by a retiree that the lump sum payment should have been 10 times what it was, stemming from one example in a plan document of how a benefit will be calculated. The company had to defend an $18 million potential claim. [17:11] It took three years to resolve. This taught the new vendor what the old vendor had been doing seamlessly for all those years. The former vendor knew how to deal with various situations, including payments to international employees. [17:49] The new vendor hadn't understood what they were acquiring. That led to a colossal mess. [18:10] It was an HR issue. They had a risk manager, but hadn't thought of having the risk manager at the table for this event. [18:20] A Final Break! The Spencer Educational Foundation's goal to help build a talent pipeline of risk management and insurance professionals is achieved, in part, by its collaboration with risk management and insurance educators across the U.S. and Canada. [18:40] Since 1999, Spencer has awarded over $2.9 million to create more than 570 Risk Management Internships. The Internship Grants application process is now open through October 15th, 2025. [18:56] To be eligible, risk managers must be based in the U.S., Canada, or Bermuda. A link to the Internship Grants page is in this episode's show notes. You can always visit SpencerEd.org, as well. [19:10] The Spencer 2025 Funding their Future Gala will be held on Thursday, September 18th, at the Cipriani 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York. This year's honoree is Tim Ryan, the U.S. President of Lockton, and we look forward to having Tim join us here on RIMScast very soon. [19:29] A link to the Gala is also in this episode's show notes. Buy a ticket, enjoy a great night in the city, and support the future of risk management. [19:38] Let's Return to the Conclusion of My Interview with Optimatum Solutions CEO, David Neikrug! [19:47] Behavioral and mental health are workforce concerns and reputational risks. David says the real number is productivity. If a factory has employees out for behavioral health issues, it has to replace those employees with temporary workers while still paying them. [20:43] The total cost of unmanaged behavioral health in a workforce is not just the behavioral health medical claims, pharmacy claims, or inpatient claims; it's also the lost working hours of those employees and the replacement costs of those employees. [21:15] That's a much larger number than just the surface of behavioral and mental health. Today, all health plans have strong behavioral programs. Organizations have Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). [21:38] There are also point solutions adding a layer of a microbenefit on top of the program to ensure that employees are receiving the right care at the right time, in the right place.  [22:01] Organizations have the right tools. An employer will have all these programs, but they're disconnected. No one is bringing everyone to the table. [22:24] For a certain cost per employee per month, an EAP vendor will provide a given number of behavioral health visits. They will support the process within the traditional healthcare delivery system. Organizations can have point solutions for behavioral health. [23:00] Organizations can have these vendors at the table to understand what's going on at the organization. Are there RIFs? Are there acquisitions? Does the organization have seasonal issues driving stress? Is there an issue with the community where the organization is located? [23:20] Look at it holistically. Bring all these vendors to the table and discuss what's going on.  [23:30] In an unfortunate situation where employees are very stressed and have some sort of episode while at work, that's a material reputational risk, internally, and it may become an external issue. Most employers today have the vendors in place who can support them. [24:05] The steps are bringing the vendors to the table and managing them to ensure that they're aligned with the intended outcomes, and everyone's goal is aligned accordingly. [24:20] When you're discussing the organization with vendors, what about trade secrets, such as expansion and strategy? David says if you have the right vendor, they're about confidentiality. [24:46] If you're about to announce a Reduction in Force (RIF) or an acquisition, you will want your EAP in place to train managers to deal with employees who may be stressed. [26:01] David talks about AI risks. Ensure that when your employees are using any AI platform, you have thoroughly vetted the platforms you are allowing them to use to make sure that none of your proprietary or confidential information lands in public. [26:36] When using AI with confidential information, unless it's a closed system, you have a material risk of it being exposed. [27:02] AI is here for the future. It will change the face of every single profession. Justin assures that there will be no bots hosting or guesting on RIMScast! [27:35] David asks organizations, in the face of AI, What are you doing about it? How are you training and supporting your employees so that they can be part of the future, versus being a former employee who has been replaced due to AI? [27:54] In analytics, AI is simplifying delivery and crunching numbers like we've never seen before. These are incredible benefits for organizations in the future. [28:27] David thinks that you need internal tools to ensure that your employees are not divulging confidential information within public tools and that your vendors and their vendors are all aligned to apply the same rules for confidentiality. [29:12] David, you have been such a wonderful guest! I'm so glad that you were here to provide a little extra insight into the recent Optimatum Solutions paper, “A Path Not Taken: Vendor Management in Employer-Sponsored Healthcare”. A link is in this episode's show notes. [29:35] At the end of the paper is David's contact information. [29:53] Special thanks again to Optimatum Solutions CEO, David Neikrug, for joining us here on RIMScast. You can find the link to A Path Not Taken, the professional report, at OptimatumSolutions.com and in this episode's show notes. [30:11] I've also got links to RIMS coverage of vendor management in this episode's show notes. [30:17] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [30:45] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [31:03] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [31:21] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [31:37] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [31:52] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [32:04] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov. 17‒18 The call for RISKWORLD 2026 submissions is now open! RIMS Canada 2025 — Sept. 14‒17 | Registration open! 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum — Sept. 18 | Registration open! RIMS Western Regional — Oct 1‒3 | Bay Area, California | Registration open! RISKWORLD 2026 — Members-only early registration! Register through Sept 30! RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation 2025 Funding Their Future Gala — Sept. 18, 2025, in NYC! Spencer Internship Program — Registration Open Through Oct. 15. RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management — Featuring Instructor James Lam! Next bi-weekly course begins Oct 9. RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy | RIMS Legislative Summit SAVE THE DATE — March 18‒19, 2026 RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now Optimatum Professional Report: “A Path Not Taken: Vendor Management in Employer-Sponsored Healthcare” OptimatumSolutions.com RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars “Lockdown & Level Up: Turn Up Your Cyber Security Game Against Creative Cyber Criminals” | Sept. 4, 2025 | Sponsored by AXA XL “Driving Better Incident and Claims Management with Data, Technology & Strategic Collaboration” | Sept. 18 | Sponsored by Origami Risk “Parametric Insurance: Providing Financial Certainty in Uncertain Times” | Oct. 30, 2025 | Sponsored by Swiss Re “Geopolitical Whiplash — Building Resilient Global Risk Programs in an Unstable World” | Nov. 6 | Sponsored by Hub   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — Sept 2‒3, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and PARIMA RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — November 11‒12 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Nov. 4‒5 | Instructor: Elise Farnham See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “ERM, Retail, and Risk with Jeff Strege” “Supply and Bike Chains with Emily Buckley”   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: David Neikrug, CEO at Optimatum Solutions LLC   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

A CMO Confidential Interview with Auren Hoffman, CEO of SafeGraph, formerly co-founder and CEO of LiveRamp. Auren discusses his belief that vendor management is the most critical skill for the future and why most companies should "rent" a high caliber pool of talent instead of hiring individual executives. Key topics include: thoughts on improving your vendor management skill (with outside law firms as an example); the concept of "scaffolding" developing talent; why he believes procurement is a "negative value" function; and why he would short consulting firm Booz Allen. Tune in to hear why he thinks private equity has shifted from making companies better into financial engineers and his belief that an MBA usually has a negative ROI.CMO Confidential: Auren Hoffman on Vendor Management, Talent Strategy, and the Broken MBAIn this week's episode of CMO Confidential, Mike Linton sits down with Auren Hoffman, CEO of SafeGraph and former co-founder/CEO of LiveRamp, to challenge conventional thinking on hiring, procurement, and leadership development.Auren shares why he believes vendor management is the #1 skill for future executives—and why most companies should rent world-class capabilities rather than hire executives they can't fully utilize. From “scaffolding” young talent to his provocative views on procurement's negative value, Booz Allen, MBAs, and the transformation of private equity, this episode is packed with contrarian insights for CMOs, CEOs, and founders alike.

On this episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Leeroy Beeby, chartered accountant, entrepreneur, and founder of Checkthelevel.com—to talk about the real-world struggles and solutions in the world of small business finance. Leeroy shares his journey from South Africa to Bermuda to Canada, and how growing up in a family of serial entrepreneurs shaped his drive for innovation. He opens up about the challenges of building and managing remote teams, how introverts thrive in entrepreneurship, and the lessons learned from hiring (and firing) fast. Most importantly, Leeroy unpacks the most frequent—and expensive—bookkeeping mistakes businesses make, and how his company's “Grammarly for bookkeeping” is helping owners and bookkeepers catch errors before they snowball. You'll hear actionable advice for entrepreneurs and accounting professionals alike, plus candid takes on the reality of AI in bookkeeping, remote work culture, and why sustainable growth matters more than just getting bigger. Ready to feel more confident about your books? Grab your headphones and get ready to learn, laugh, and start seeing your financials in a whole new light! Try Checkthelevel.com with a 30-day free trial (no credit card required), and connect with Leeroy on LinkedIn or by emailing contact@checkthelevel.com. **Contact Ed Parcaut:** -

A gestão de fornecedores nunca foi tão estratégica quanto agora. Em um cenário onde riscos aumentam, supply chains se tornam mais complexas e a busca por inovação exige parcerias sólidas, o Vendor Management se tornou uma competência essencial. Neste episódio do Podcast AO VIVO do Café com Comprador, vamos debater: ✅ O papel do comprador na construção de relações duradouras com fornecedores ✅ Como avaliar performance além do SLA: indicadores, compliance e inovação ✅ Gestão de riscos e plano B: como se antecipar a rupturas e gargalos ✅ Como transformar fornecedores em aliados estratégicos ✅ Ferramentas e práticas para uma gestão eficiente e colaborativa

In this episode of Executive IT, host Evan Kiely and guest JB Snodgrass discuss the intricacies of procurement processes, effective negotiation strategies, the importance of timing and communication, and common pitfalls to avoid when evaluating tools. JB shares insights from his extensive experience in procurement, emphasizing the need for thorough research, stakeholder engagement, and strategic negotiation to secure the best outcomes for organizations.This episode originally aired March 18, 2025

In this episode of Secure It, we're joined by Phillip Privett, Senior Vice President of Vendor Management at TD SYNNEX, where he oversees strategic sales and business development for North America's Advanced Solutions portfolio and manages the North American IBM and Red Hat executive relationships.With over three decades of industry experience, Phillip offers a deep dive into the transformation of IT distribution—from traditional logistics to sophisticated solution orchestration. He shares timely insights on the growing influence of AI in data management, the urgent need for cyber resilience, and the looming implications of quantum computing.Whether you're an IT professional, a VP of vendor management, or simply curious about the future of cybersecurity and enterprise tech, this conversation is packed with expert perspectives and actionable foresight

Send us a textEmployers struggle with rising healthcare costs, and their usual approach is to work with a bevy of vendors, including insurers, provider networks, point solution providers, and HR supply chain vendors. But these vendors are awfully hard to optimize and costs seem to keep on climbing.In this episode of the HealthBiz Podcast, David Neikrug, CEO of Optimatum Solutions, joins host, David E. Williams, to explain how poor vendor management fuels rising employer healthcare costs and what to do about it.

"I'm a big believer in market intelligence, where we educate the business on the providers and the levers to pull. It's not about just pricing; it's understanding the market." - Amy Fong, Partner, Sourcing and Vendor Management, Everest Group Service categories are experiencing unprecedented change driven by generative AI, which is shifting workforce models and evolving commercial structures across the business.  Procurement has to be continuously focused on how these changes are affecting the business. For procurement leaders managing these services categories, navigating this transformation requires new ways to think about areas like contracting, relationship management, and value measurement. In this episode of Art of Procurement, Philip Ideson speaks with Amy Fong, Partner, Sourcing and Vendor Management at Everest Group, about the rapid evolution of business services sourcing. Amy brings unique insights from analyzing thousands of contracts and observing what leading companies are doing to adapt their sourcing strategies and their approach to output- versus outcome-based contracts. In this episode, Amy explains:  Why outcome-based contracting remains an aspiration, not a reality, for many companies (and how to change that) How generative AI is fundamentally changing service delivery models and what that means for performance measurement and cost structures What procurement teams must bring to the table to earn their place in strategic make-or-buy decisions Links: Amy Fong on LinkedIn Get $100 off the super early bird ticket for Engage with code AOPFRIEND Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

Mousa Hamad, an expert in procurement and vendor management, shares insights from his extensive career in IT operations and business transformation. He emphasizes the importance of being customer-oriented and empathetic, drawing from his experiences on the front lines of IT. Hamad recounts a significant project where he tackled SaaS cost management by consolidating contracts and implementing a platform called Zylo, which streamlined the process and improved contract hygiene. This initiative not only saved costs but also enhanced his role within the organization, showcasing the value of effective vendor management.Hamad discusses the alignment of procurement with organizational goals such as speed, innovation, and security. He highlights the necessity of building intentional processes that involve key stakeholders like InfoSec and legal teams early in the procurement process. By doing so, organizations can avoid unnecessary delays and ensure that purchases align with budgetary constraints. He stresses that having the right tools and processes in place is crucial for managing vendor relationships effectively and achieving operational efficiency.The conversation also delves into measuring the success of procurement processes. Hamad explains how tracking the time taken for approvals and vendor engagements can lead to significant improvements in efficiency. By establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and engaging vendors well in advance of contract renewals, organizations can negotiate better terms and reduce costs. This proactive approach not only enhances speed but also ensures that companies are getting the best value from their vendor relationships.Finally, Hamad reflects on the challenges of managing rapid team growth and maintaining operational consistency across diverse teams and cultures. He advocates for a people-first approach, emphasizing the importance of communication and empathy in IT leadership. By fostering a culture that values understanding and support, organizations can navigate the complexities of growth while ensuring that both employees and customers feel valued. Ahmad's insights provide a roadmap for IT leaders looking to balance operational demands with a commitment to people-centric practices. All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech

In this episode of Executive IT, host Evan Kiely and guest JB Snodgrass discuss the intricacies of procurement processes, effective negotiation strategies, the importance of timing and communication, and common pitfalls to avoid when evaluating tools. JB shares insights from his extensive experience in procurement, emphasizing the need for thorough research, stakeholder engagement, and strategic negotiation to secure the best outcomes for organizations.

In this episode of the AZREIA Show, hosts Marcus Maloney and Mike Del Prete are joined by David Pickron to discuss the AZREIA Vendor VIP and AZ Trades List. The discussion focuses on the challenges faced by fix and flippers, landlords, and general homeowners in finding quality contractors. David shares the story of his personal experience that led him to emphasize the importance of thorough background checks for vendors. This episode highlights the features and benefits of the AZ Trades List, designed to offer pre-vetted, reliable vendors for various services. Discover how to easily access these resources, keep your list updated, and ensure you have the best vendors at your service.  Key Takeaways: 01:28 Challenges in Finding Quality Contractors 02:17 David's Personal Story with a Vendor 02:45 The Importance of Background Checks 05:59 The Birth of Rent Perfect and Crimshield 10:27 The AZ Trades List Initiative 17:17 How the AZ Trades List Works 18:57 Streamlining Vendor Communication 19:46 Effortless Scheduling and Coordination 20:11 Vendor VIP Platform Features 20:36 AI Integration for Vendor Requests 20:56 Maintaining Control and Flexibility 21:48 Real-Life Success Stories 22:13 Tracking and Documentation 25:09 Expanding Vendor Network 27:10 Review and Feedback System  28:45 AZ Trades List and Community Benefits   ------   The Arizona Real Estate Investors Association provides its members the education, market information, support, and networking opportunities that will further the member's ability to successfully invest in #realestate  Join AZREIA here: https://azreia.org/join Is a Career in Real Estate Right For You? Take AZREIA's Real Estate Investing Entrepreneurial Self-Assessment at

Show Notes: Dori Yona, founder of Simple Closure, explains the process of shutting down a company. The process is painful, manual, and bureaucratic, with an average time of nine to 12 months. It can cost companies thousands of dollars or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. Many companies end up doing it incorrectly, leading to fines and penalties. The Multiple Moving Parts of a Business Shut Down Dori explains that the main difficulty in shutting down a company is the coordination of multiple moving parts, such as the state of incorporation, IRS, lawyers, accountants, payroll provider, vendors, service providers, investors, payroll, and state departments. The average shutdown for a venture-backed company has about 95 moving parts, and if any of them are missed or not done correctly, the process can drag on and on. First Steps in Shutting Down a Business Dori talks about three typical approaches for a shutdown of a firm, which they categorize into three main “buckets”.  The first bucket is companies that reach out six to nine months before they need to shut down, as they are running out of cash and trying to raise another round or convince existing investors to invest more in their company. They want to be ready for what happens if it doesn't work out, so they reach out to the Simple Closure six months before to discover what the process involves. Dori mentions the Shut Down calculator his firm developed and put on their website to help business owners work through costs and assess the time they have left before going into the red and complicating the shut down. Bucket number two is when companies decide to shut down immediately, need quick media advice, need help presenting to the board, or with winding down the business. Bucket number three is when companies have shut down operationally six months or a year ago but never dealt with properly winding down the business. They may face penalties, fines, and liens on their personal property due to improper actions. The Financial Reality of Shutting Down a Business Dori emphasizes that it is not easy to walk away from a company, as it can come back and haunt the owner(s). He explains that while a corporate entity is there to protect board members, investors, and founders,  if certain things are not done properly, it can pierce the corporate veil, making the board and founders personally liable and potentially sued. The most common issue is wages, where an employee is owed wages and has not been paid. Companies should make sure that the proper winding up process is done to avoid loose ends and potential lawsuits from stakeholders, such as vendors, investors, state departments, and payroll departments. Dori also stresses the importance of considering investors during the shutdown process. Payroll Providers and the Shut Down Process  A company's shutdown process involves understanding the number of employees it has and how to properly shut down them. Dori uses a typical seed stage company as an example. This type of company usually has around 15 to 20 employees at its peak, with a few founders and one more engineer or person. To properly shut down the company, it is crucial to know who is currently on payroll, whether full-time or contractors, and how many employees the company had at its peak across different states and locations. Most startups use payroll providers, but they are not good at shutting down payroll accounts. When a company shuts down, they terminate the relationship between themselves and the payroll provider, this does not mean the payroll provider has closed down all accounts in all states. To help close out all accounts and notify all states, companies should ask for the HRIS census, which provides background and history of employees. Analyzing this data helps determine who is a past employee versus an active employee. The discussion explores the issue of 1099s for companies that are about to shut down, such as those in the US. Dori explains that the ultimate goal is to close out all accounts and notify all states, as every state operates differently and how to shut down accounts for active and non-active employees, and contractors. Technology that Automates and Scales the Shutdown Process The goal of Dori's company is to build a technology solution to automate and scale the process of closing out payroll departments. The company aims to be the TurboTax shutting down platform, providing a platform for companies to easily close out their payroll departments. He mentions that the company has built automations to automate various processes, such as faxes, phone calls, emails, and online forms. However, there are many AI solutions available today, such as outbound SDR and AI calls that can call in and provide basic account information. The company's goal is to develop a platform that allows companies to easily close out their payroll departments and help streamline and automate the process. Dori also talks about shutting down repeat services such as subscriptions.  Three Main Phases of a Company Shut Down The winding down of a company involves three main phases: dissolution, wind up, and shut down. In Delaware, the first phase involves notifying the state and other entities, such as shareholders, board, and employees, about the decision to shut down the company. This involves notifying the state, preparing franchise taxes, filing the certificate of dissolution, and canceling the EIN. The second phase is the winding up phase, which involves unwinding payroll, paying out vendors, collecting invoices, and dealing with accounts receivable and payable. After the dissolution phase, the company must file a final tax return, distribute any remaining money to investors or creditors, and close out bank accounts. The third phase is the shutdown phase, which involves closing out bank accounts and sending out certificates of closure to investors and shareholders. It's important to have an export of all contracts with vendors and understand their options for cancellation. This process depends on the type of vendor and the company's capital. Dori shares information on how to deal with vendors during the shut down process. The Legal Requirements of Data Retention  The conversation turns to the importance of data retention and the value of company data and IP. Dori talks about the importance of understanding the industry and company type, such as healthcare companies needing to keep patient records for seven years post-shutdown. Dori recommends using data custodians to store these records in a safe place, adhering to protocols and encryption levels. He also discusses the need for tokenization around the store to ensure a safe and secure process. On the IP side, Dori explains how founders can monetize their IP after the company shuts down. Delaware law states that winding down the business should maximize value for shareholders, as it is the shareholders' company. They can either acquire the IP or sell it, depending on the situation. They also support the process of repurposing IP, which can take various forms, such as acquiring a domain or selling the domain. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of considering the legal requirements and the value of IP in the business world. Sale of Data during a Business Shut Down The discussion revolves around the process of closing a company, including the sale of data, intellectual property, patents, and code base. A platform called Simple Closing offers buyers to buy assets of companies shutting down, making the process as simple and streamlined as possible. Tax reporting and other tasks are prepaid by the accountant or accounting firm, but the final stage involves closing the bank account, paying off vendors, and sending out final checks to investors.The final stage involves record retention, notifying the IRS about the shutdown, and distributing funds to investors. This process is methodical and involves a waterfall calculation to determine the amount each person should receive back. This calculation is done on a pro rata basis, and after paying all taxes and closing the company, the money is wired out and distributed back to investors. The Final Stage of a Company Shut Down The final stage involves closing the bank account, paying off vendors, and sending out final checks to investors, record retention, payment of vendors, and distribution of funds. The final stage involves tying up loose ends and ensuring accurate distribution of funds to investors. Dori explains the process of closing a business, particularly when it comes to payroll, and the challenges faced by founders, such as filing quarterly taxes and dealing with payroll issues. He also talks about the importance of estimating the involvement and duration of founders, such as prepaying themselves with severance packages or bulk sums and why waterfall calculations must be done and how they work.  The Simple Closure Company Explained Dori talks about Simple Closure, an online platform that helps founders and operators in the unfortunate position of wanting to shut down their firm. Their mission is not to shut down companies, but to help founders and operators have the peace of mind to move on to what's next. They believe that entrepreneurship is a community of repeat founders and businesses, and the faster they can get founders back on their feet, the more mind space they can give them to build and find their next job. He shares his company's go-to market, which includes referrals from venture-backed firms or inbounds from their website. He explains that they invest in partnerships to meet customers at the right moment in time and build trust with them. The company aims to partner with companies, firms, or entities, such as venture-backed firms, to help them navigate the process and ensure their brand reputation is built. Timestamps: 02:49: Overview of Shutdown Process  05:42: Handling Payroll and Employee Wages  19:28: Wind-Up Phase and Vendor Management  27:36: Data and Intellectual Property Management  31:53: Final Stages and Distribution of Funds  38:44: Go-to-Market Strategy and Pricing  Link: Company website: simpleclosure.com   Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com.    

The Transformation Ground Control podcast covers a number of topics important to digital and business transformation. This episode covers the following topics and interviews:   Workday's Massive Job Cuts, Q&A (Darian Chwialkowski, Third Stage Consulting) The Secrets to Effective IT Vendor Management (Scott Bickley, InfoTech) The Pros and Cons of Odoo   We also cover a number of other relevant topics related to digital and business transformation throughout the show.  

In today's interconnected global economy, the health of your supply chain is critical to your business's success. But with increased outsourcing, global expansion, and evolving regulations, compliance risks can easily go undetected—until they become major issues. From human rights abuses and environmental concerns to fraud, bribery, and health and safety violations, hidden supply chain risks can lead to reputational damage, hefty fines, and legal consequences. In this podcast episode, VinciWorks compliance experts discuss how to effectively audit your supply chain, using practical techniques and tools to identify risks during supplier onboarding and ongoing monitoring. Key topics include: Top compliance risks in supply chains and how they manifest Effective auditing techniques to assess supplier risks beyond surface-level checks Essential questions to ask during audits to uncover hidden issues Risk mitigation strategies to strengthen and protect supply chain operations The role of automation in compliance: How tracking tools streamline audits and ensure continuous monitoring Join us as we explore how to identify and mitigate hidden risks in your supply chain—helping your organisation remain resilient, responsible, and compliant with global standards.

What happens when supply chain and IT join forces? Game-changing innovation! In this episode of Power Supply, we sit down with Sarah Hatchett, Chief Information Officer and John Dockins, Executive Director of Sourcing and Vendor Management at Cleveland Clinic, to uncover how their strategic partnership is transforming IT sourcing and vendor management. From navigating complex contracts to boosting cybersecurity and eliminating tech redundancies, Sarah and John share insider strategies that every healthcare leader needs to hear. Plus, find out how supply chain pros can play a vital role in IT decision-making—and why ignoring this collaboration could cost your organization big time. If you think IT sourcing is too complicated, this episode will change your mind! Tune in today to hear how a strong supply chain-IT partnership fuels efficiency, cost savings, and cutting-edge innovation in healthcare! Once you complete the interview, jump on over to the link below to take a short quiz and download your CEC certificate for 0.5 CEC! – https://www.flexiquiz.com/SC/N/ps13-03 #PowerSupply #Podcast #AHRMM #HealthcareSupplyChain #SmartSourcing #HealthcareInnovation #IT

In this episode of the Modern Facilities Management Podcast, host Griffin Hamilton sits down with Rich Rodgers, Director of Facilities at Ballpark Village in St. Louis, to discuss best practices in vendor relationships and the importance of effective facility leadership. Rich shares his unique career journey—starting as a police officer before transitioning into facilities management, navigating the challenges of managing Motel 6 locations, and eventually taking on leadership roles in large-scale property management. His experience in turning around struggling properties provides valuable lessons on building vendor partnerships, cost management, and strategic facility improvements. Key takeaways include: The importance of reframing vendor relationships as partnerships, actively listening to vendor insights, and maintaining open lines of communication. Cost-effective facility improvements, such as cleaning, painting, and landscaping, that create an immediate impact and set the tone for larger investments. How vendor engagement and accountability drive long-term success, including strategies for negotiating fair pricing without damaging relationships. Insights into Rich's new venture, Maintenance Marketplace, a technology-driven platform connecting property managers and real estate agents with vetted vendors.

Don't forget to check out www.fellow.app/coo for a 90-day free trial of their AI Meeting Assistant.[00:00] Introduction – Michael introduces Fellow as a trusted AI meeting assistant.[01:00] Welcome to Between Two COOs – Introducing Justin Etkin and Tropic.io.[02:00] The evolution of procurement – From cost-cutting to strategic value creation.[05:00] When should companies start formalizing procurement?[07:00] Common mistakes businesses make in procurement.[10:00] Using data and AI to improve procurement efficiency.[12:00] Negotiation strategies and dealing with vendors.[16:00] The role of AI in procurement and automation potential.[20:00] How companies are shifting towards integrated procurement platforms.[23:00] The intersection of procurement and legal, finance, and security.[28:00] Justin's wildest COO experience – Painting walls before an office move-out.[30:00] Closing thoughts – Where to follow Justin and learn more about Tropic.io.Tropic - https://www.tropicapp.io/Between Two COO's - https://betweentwocoos.com Episode URL - https://betweentwocoos.com/tropic-coo-justin-etkinMichael Koenig - https://linkedin.com/in/michael-koenig514Justin Etkin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justintropic/Don't forget to check out www.fellow.app/coo for a 90-day free trial of their AI Meeting Assistant.

Companies - and their procurement teams - are always looking for opportunities to differentiate. These opportunities take many forms, but few appeal to leadership, shareholders, customers, and the supplier community as universally as social procurement. Of course, that broad appeal brings systemic challenges with it that procurement will have to be prepared to overcome. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Jaime H. Paiva. Jaime is the Head of Procurement and Vendor Management at Zurich, an insurance company that covers both global and local markets. We met through Colin Downie, a previous guest of The Sourcing Hero podcast. In this interview, Jaime shares his advice about: How the industry a company is in should shape their approach to social procurement  Defining what constitutes a “social enterprise” when evaluating suppliers How companies new to the social procurement space can start their own journey Links: Jaime H. Paiva on LinkedIn

In this Greatest Hits episode of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, Jason Reichl is joined by Haley Weis, Senior Risk Analyst at Weis Builders, a well-established and respected construction company. Haley plays a critical role in assessing and mitigating potential risks associated with the company's projects, utilizing her analytical skills to effectively evaluate project-specific risks, develop mitigation strategies, and implicate risk management protocols.

For businesses adopting AI in the workplace, protecting intellectual property presents another legal consideration for employers. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in the Workplace 01:31 Understanding Duolingo and Its AI Integration 03:36 Intellectual Property Concerns in AI 07:54 Governance and Policy for AI Usage 11:37 Vendor Management and AI Implementation 13:25 Key Takeaways on AI and IP Issues

Our latest episode of Oyster Stew features industry veterans Dan Garrett, Jeff Wilk and Tim Buckler, who share their insights into the complexities of vendor risk and data protection.  Discover how to protect client data amid the vulnerabilities brought by new vendors and implementing a robust strategy to ensure operational continuity and resilience. In this informative podcast, you'll learn:the importance of using structured processes like detailed scorecards and questionnaires to align with security, compliance, and operational standards like GDPR and CCPAthe critical role of data access controls, encryption standards and maintaining ownership of your datathe importance of securing sensitive data, even when outsourcing your operationshow to evaluate vendor capacity using a "trust, but verify" approach the necessity of negotiating strong Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure vendor accountability, especially concerning Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Equip your organization with the tools needed for success in vendor risk management. By incorporating recognized cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST and ISO into vendor contracts, your firm can stay ahead of emerging risks, including challenges posed by advancements in AI technology. Join us for essential insights that will arm your organization against the complexities of the digital world.Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

In this episode of The Profitable Cleaner Podcast, we bring you exclusive insights from top facility managers on what it takes to win and maintain big contracts in the cleaning industry. Recorded live at the Cleaning Prophets 3.0 event, this special Insight Panel features industry leaders Matt McMullen, Alicia Harper, Marcelo Assaba, and Karen Macwaters. These experts dive deep into vendor management, sustainability, and technology—key topics that every cleaning business owner needs to understand to scale effectively.

It's not just a show, it's a lifeline for how to unscary a seemingly daunting career journey – no matter where you're at in your IT or security hustle.From super-talented IT cartoonist and influencer marketing service agency co-owner, Forrest Brazeal, and gifted Automox VP of Customer Experience, Charles Coaxum, to the sagely verbose CISO and VP of Product at Automox, Jason Kikta, and Gong's inspirational Director of IT, James Sennett – our handpicked line-up of industry trailblazers won't just talk about how to advance. Instead, they'll walk you through real-life strategies to help you climb the career ladder and stay on the top rung once you get there.This show was broadcast live Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 12 PM Central Time. 

On the latest episode of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, Jason Reichl is joined by Jacquie Parker, Director of Risk Management at The PENTA Building Group, a relationship-focused general contractor.

September 23, 2024: John Kirkman, VP of Government, Healthcare, and Education at Island joins Drex for the news. They dive into the complexities of cybersecurity in healthcare, particularly the crucial relationship between CISOs and CFOs in mitigating cyber risks. How do budget constraints and evolving technologies challenge security leaders, and can collaboration across departments simplify security while saving costs? What can healthcare organizations learn from recent outages like CrowdStrike's, and how should they prepare for inevitable security disruptions? Key Points:01:54 CFO and CISO Relationships02:22 Budget Challenges in Healthcare05:13 Vendor Management and Cost Efficiency08:01 CrowdStrike Event and Resiliency11:55 CISA's Cyber Incident Reporting PortalArticlesWhy the CFO-CISO relationship is key to mitigating cyber riskCrowdStrike Has Yet to See Any Customer Lawsuits Over OutageThis Week Health SubscribeThis Week Health TwitterThis Week Health LinkedinAlex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer Donate

This episode is a bit different. I recorded this as an episode for the Triple Win Podcast with Andrew Smallwood, VP of Revenue at Second Nature. So today, I'll be playing the role of guest and Andrew is host. Enjoy this fun discussion on where proptech is headed.--From the Triple Win Podcast:Few things have changed the property management industry more in the last five years than a growing proptech industry, but that industry continues to go through changes of its own. Nate Smoyer, host of the Tech Nest Podcast, joins Andrew Smallwood to cover the state of the proptech industry, where things could be headed, and how it's all likely to affect you as a property manager. More about Andrew and Second NatureSecond Nature has created a new category with its resident experience platform for professional property managers. They work with 1,200 management companies and are the only 3-time NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers) national vendor of the year. Their industry-leading suite of resident rewards, credit building, ID protection, filter delivery, utility connection concierge, insurance, and more are helping professional property managers make resident experience their competitive advantage.Follow Andrew on TwitterConnect with Andrew on LinkedInFollow Second Nature on TwitterCheck out Second Nature

Ever wondered how the right labor choices can transform your contracting business? On this episode of Contractor Cuts, we're unpacking the essential strategies behind in-house labor, subcontractors, and invoicing vendors. Whether you're managing a general contracting company, specializing in HVAC, or anything in between, understanding when and how to deploy these different types of labor can make or break your bottom line. We promise you'll gain insights into optimizing your workforce to enhance productivity and scale your business efficiently.Navigating the complex landscape of a General Contracting (GC) company requires meticulous cost control and strategic decision-making around labor. We'll dissect the pros and cons of employing W-2 workers versus 1099 subcontractors, especially for specialized trades. By tuning in, you'll learn how to balance maintaining high-quality standards with the flexibility of subcontractors, mitigating risks while aligning with compliance, and ensuring your projects run smoothly and profitably. This episode provides a roadmap for making informed decisions that protect your profit margins and operational efficiency.Mastering pricing and vendor management is crucial for any contracting company aiming for longevity and success. We delve into the nitty-gritty of accurate cost estimation, transparent vendor communication, and the art of fostering long-term relationships with skilled subcontractors. Discover the benefits of preset pricing structures to streamline project discussions and maintain clarity with clients and crews alike. With actionable tips and real-world examples, get ready to elevate your contracting business, ensuring both client satisfaction and optimal profitability. Don't miss out on these game-changing insights for your next project!Transform your contracting business with our Business Bootcamp for Contractors! This 12-week program offers you the essential skills and hands-on training with ProStruct360 software to streamline your operations and drive success. Visit this link to sign up today to secure your spot! Business Bootcamp for ContractorsHave a question or an idea to improve the podcast? Email us at team@prostruct360.com or text us at +1 (678) 940-5747 Want to learn more about our software or coaching? Visit our website at ProStruct360.com

Esper's platform plays a crucial role in ensuring device security, compliance, and seamless updates, contributing to maintaining trial integrity and patient safety. In this episode, Sam Clark, Senior Director of Vendor Management and Procurement at Clinical Ink, and Sudhir Reddy, Esper's CTO, talk about the intersection of healthcare, technology, and device management. Sam discusses Clinical Ink's mission to improve clinical trials through technology and patient-centered research, highlighting the challenges of managing devices across 50 countries and multiple languages, emphasizing the need for tailored processes and secure solutions. Together, Sam and Sudhir explore the evolving role of devices in clinical trials, emphasizing Esper's platform's role in ensuring security, compliance, and updates for maintaining trial integrity and patient safety. They also underscore how the partnership between Clinical Ink and Esper reflects a commitment to innovation and problem-solving, with a vision for future automation and efficiency in clinical trial processes.  Tune in and learn how these collaborations are shaping the future of healthcare device management! Resources:  Find out more about the Esper thought leadership series here. Connect with and follow Sam Clark on LinkedIn. Connect with and follow Sudhir Reddy on LinkedIn and his blogs here. Discover more about Clinical Ink on their LinkedIn and website. Learn more about Esper on LinkedIn and their website.

Welcome to Part 2 of the "Mastering Vendor Management: Key Strategies for Facility Managers" episode on the Profitable Cleaner podcast!In this second installment, we continue unraveling the complexities of vendor management for facility managers. With a focus on advanced Lean Six Sigma applications, this episode dives into the strategies that foster strong vendor relationships and showcases effective ways to manage operations during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, don't miss the special segment featuring Karen McWaters, an Insight panelist at the upcoming Cleaning Prophets Takeover event in Denver, Colorado, from September 24-26. Episode Highlights:Advanced Lean Six Sigma: Further explore how Lean Six Sigma can be applied to optimize vendor management and operational efficiency.Deepening Vendor Loyalty: Learn key strategies to nurture and sustain long-term relationships with your vendors, ensuring mutual success.Navigating Crises: Discover real-life examples of managing vendor relations during crises, with practical tips for maintaining supply chain stability. Learning Objectives:-Implement advanced Lean Six Sigma techniques to streamline operations and reduce costs.-Develop robust strategies for building and maintaining vendor loyalty to support sustainable business growth.-Apply crisis management strategies effectively to ensure uninterrupted operations during global disruptions like pandemics.Chapters:0:00 - Introduction to Transformative Vendor Management3:12 - Engaging Ice Breakers and Birthday Celebrations7:45 - Inspiring Career Journey of Karen in Vendor Management14:30 - Mastering Vendor Services and Relationships22:15 - Spotlight on Raquel Medina: Vendor Excellence27:00 - Achieving High Vendor Performance and Expectations34:45 - Leveraging ISO and Six Sigma for Vendor Management Success42:30 - Effective Communication in Vendor Relationships49:15 - Overcoming Common Challenges in Vendor Management56:00 - Janitorial Service Excellence: A Case Study1:03:30 - Utilizing Reporting and Data for Better Vendor Management1:08:00 - Final Insights and Takeaways for Vendor Management Tune in now to elevate your skills in vendor management and thrive in the demanding world of facility management!Don't Miss Our Events:Stay informed about our next Cleaning Prophets event at www.cleaningprophets.comSep 24th - 26th, Denver Takeover Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon to receive notifications for new episodes packed with invaluable industry insights! Stay Connected:Subscribe to The Profitable Cleaner to keep up with the latest episodes, expert advice, and industry news directly through our newsletter and social media channels. Follow Us for Regular Updates:Official Website: https://profitablecleaner.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profitablecleaner/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/profitablecleaner/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprofitablecleaner Join Our Community:Engage with peers and gain additional resources by joining our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitablecleaner Explore Our Sponsors:Check out our sponsors for the tools, services, and resources essential for your business success:https://usource.com/https://cleancinch.com/https://www.cle