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Episode Directory
February 2012
- 2/29/2012: Author Sam Carpenter Says Work the System to Work Less and Earn More Coming Soon
- 2/22/2012: Rob Biesenbach Covers Communication Tips from his Book: Act Like You Mean Business Coming Soon
- 2/15/2012: Guest Dr. Nido Qubein Says: Choices and Companions Will Determine your Life Listen Now
- 2/8/2012: Services of Women’s Business Development Center with special guest Emilia DiMenco Listen Now
- 2/1/2012: Franchising ABCs Listen Now
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
Joe Abraham
A serial entrepreneur, Joe has been involved in the startup and growth of over 20 companies. He is CEO of BOSI - The LinkedIn meets match.com for entrepreneurs. Joe is author of the book Entrepreneurial DNA: The Breakthrough Discovery That Aligns Your Business to Your Unique Strengths. He is an advisor to several entrepreneurship centers and university incubators around the country and a keynote speaker on topics related to entrepreneurship and free enterprise. View Guest page
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Feras Alhlou
Feras Alhlou, President and Founder of E-Nor, is a Digital Marketing Evangelist who travels the globe as a frequent speaker at web analytics and digital marketing & optimization industry conferences including SES, SMX, eMetrics (Marketing Optimization Summit) and Google Analytics User Events. Alhlou’s deep industry knowledge and forward thinking perspective are a core benefit to businesses, agencies and marketing consultants he counsels, including Fortune 25 and Fortune 500 companies. Alhlou is passionate about improving companies’ ROI and led his organization to implement and launch successful analytics and marketing optimization strategies for E-Nor’s diversified client base. Under his leadership, E-Nor achieved multiple Google qualifications including Google Analytics Certified Partner. View Guest page
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Chris Amundson
Chicago born and raised, Chris Amundson, President Accounting Solutions, Ltd., at twelve left a successful child acting career to focus on education. At DePaul University he studied Accounting, Marketing, and International Studies. After graduation he founded Accounting Services, a Chicago firm serving small businesses, estates, trusts, and the families who own them. In 2000, he began anew with Accounting Solutions, Ltd., specializing in: Accounting and Financial Statement Reporting, Tax Preparation and Audit Representation, and Tax Planning and Consulting. He helps clients achieve long and short term goals. Visit both AccountingSolutionsLtd.com and AmundsonGroup.com to learn of Chris’s real estate development and holding company (2000) with over 50,000 square feet on Chicago’s north side. Chris enjoys his wife, daughter, sailing and winemaking (The Amundson Family Winery averages one hundred gallons yearly). This summer he will submit his novel The Bendis for publication. View Guest page
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Nick Barton
Nick Barton serves as the Vice President of Business Operations for Vortex Staffing. In his role, Mr. Barton is responsible for the strategic direction of the company in addition to the branding initiatives for Vortex Staffing and its clientele. Prior to founding Vortex Staffing, Mr. Barton was a successful sales professional with a Fortune 500 company in the Information Technology space. During that time, Mr. Barton captured many of the key skills, contacts and experiences necessary to now be considered an expert in the Information Technology arena. Mr. Barton received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern Illinois. Nick’s successes can be directly tied to his dedication, creativity and willingness to think outside the traditional bounds. Mr. Barton is happily married and a proud father of a beautiful baby girl! View Guest page
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Jen Bazan
Jen Bazan, PT, DPT Jen received her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. She was a competitive gymnast at the high school and collegiate level. She received her Doctor of Physical therapy from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She has seven years of experience in an outpatient physical therapy setting. Jen’s special interests include ACL injury prevention, gymnastics/cheer, and overhead throwing. View Guest page
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Jim Beach
Jim Beach’s first book, School for Startups, was published by McGraw-Hill in June 2011. Jim has started businesses and has taught entrepreneurship around the world. At the age of 25, Jim founded American Computer Experience. From 1993 to 2000, Jim grew the company with no capital infusion to $12 million in annual revenue and to over 60 permanent and 700 temporary employees, operating in 39 states and in three countries. Jim taught entrepreneurship at Georgia State University for nine years and in 2009, Jim founded The Entrepreneur School, www.TheEntrepreneurSchool.com, a web resource devoted to teaching his philosophy of low risk entrepreneurship. View Guest page
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Better Business Bureau
As a private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation. View Guest page
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Rob Biesenbach
Rob Biesenbach is a corporate communications consultant, actor, author, and speaker. During his 25-year career in corporate communications and PR, he has counseled a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to startups. He has managed a successful solo practice for more than a decade, served as vice president at Ogilvy PR Worldwide and press secretary to the Ohio Attorney General, among other positions. He is also a Second City trained actor and improviser who has appeared in more than 150 theatrical, commercial and film productions in the past decade. Rob’s book, Act Like You Mean Business: Essential Communication Lessons from Stage and Screen, published by Brigantine Media, offers a wealth of advice and tips on how to communicate more creatively and effectively. It has been called "required reading for every Fortune 500 CEO." Rob is an engaging and charismatic public speaker who regularly addresses national audiences of business leaders. www.ActLikeYouMeanBusiness.com View Guest page
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John Boda
Hi I'm John Boda - musician/singer/guitarist/entertainer full time for the senior market in the Chicago area since 1995. My previous work history was in radio broadcasting, although I was always involved with music performances and various bands since I was a teen. I ended up spending 14 years in radio at 7 different stations as on air host/program director/music director including WCFL Chicago. But this was not a stable career! Upon getting married at age 34 and being terminated again due to downsizing, I moved into working in the senior market as a "psycho-social" aid using music to help seniors and disabled younger people. While in that capacity, I discovered that there was a market for doing the same full time at different facilities and there were budgets to pay for this. Since 1995 I have been performing an average of 500 dates per year all over the Chicago area and continue at this time. www.johnboda.com. View Guest page
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Greg Borzo
Born in Chicago, award-winning journalist Greg Borzo has been a reporter/editor at Modern Railroads, Traffic World, American Medical Assn., Field Museum, Momentum and University of Chicago. Borzo wrote The Chicago "L" (Arcadia 2007), which covers the history of Chicago’s biggest “mover & shaker.” More than 30 media outlets have favorably reviewed it (www.thechicagol.com). His latest book, Where to Bike Chicago: Best Biking City and Suburbs (BA Press 2011), describes, rates and maps Chicagoland’s best 72 bike rides. Fifteen plus media outlets have favorably reviewed it (www.wheretobikechicago.com). While writing this book in 2010, Borzo cycled 2,000 miles. Borzo is an independent writer and an accomplished public speaker. He conducts tours about the “L,” bikes and Chicago history for the Chicago History Museum, Chicago Cycling Club and others – on foot, by bike and on the “L.” He lives in the South Loop to fully enjoy Chicago's many opportunities. View Guest page
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Frank and Joe Bosco
Frank and Joe Bosco studied nutrition and business in college after their father opened a GNC franchise. But, it was ten years working with GNC customers on the front lines which taught them what herbs, nutrients, and products net a health change. The brothers teamed up in 2003 to create Pride Nutrition which uses only the finest natural ingredients to ensure the best absorption, quality and safety. Frank and Joe thrill to the success stories that their products enable whether that's better health or improved performance. Their work is a mission that brings them true satisfaction. Having participated in sports through school themselves, the Boscos are keenly committed to helping young atheletes maximize their genetic potential through proper nourishment and filling identified nutritional deficiencies. The Boscos work with many high schools including Montini High School (State Football Champion the past 2 years) in educating the younger athletes about the importance of high quality nutrition. View Guest page
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Gail Brown
Gail Brown is a Nutrition Coach & Wellness Educator. She has been teaching people how to improve their health for over 14 years. As a widely requested speaker in her field, Gail has the ability to make complicated material simple, applicable and entertaining. In 2003, along with Tom Gosche, Gail founded Engaging Speakers, a network of experts in their respective fields that offer their time & talents to speak to organizations & corporations. This organization fills a need for program directors & meeting planners searching for excellent, pre-screened speakers for their meetings, seminars & conventions. It has also become a platform for excellent speakers passionate about their topics to network with each other, hone their skills & share their knowledge. Engaging Speakers helps business owners, entrepreneurs & sales professionals “speak their way to more business”. Gail lives in Lake in the Hills with her husband, Tim & their son, Nathan. View Guest page
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Jackie Camacho-Ruiz
Jackie Camacho-Ruiz is the founder of award-winning marketing/public relations agency JJR Marketing (www.jjrmarketing.com) and author of The Little Book of Business Secrets That Work! (www.bizsecretsthatwork.com). Jackie is recognized as an Emerging Leader by the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing (CADM), a winner of the Entrepreneurial Award by The Business Ledger, and a finalist for the Latina Entrepreneur of the Year, among others. Jackie has contributed to several local and national publications and is a regular radio and TV guest. View Guest page
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Sam Carpenter
• After 15 years of a routine 80-100 hr work weeks running his business Sam reduced his hours to just 2 and multiplied his income twenty fold. • Author of Work The System – The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less. • Co-Founder of Work The System Academy. • International Speaker. • President and CEO of Centratel (www.centratel.com), the premier telephone answering service in the United States. • Background in engineering, publishing, telecommunications and journalism. • Resident of Bend, Oregon, author and speaker Sam Carpenter has been featured by hundreds of media, including NPR, ESPN radio, US News Radio, and Small Business Television. • Founded and operates Kashmir Family Aid (www.kashmirfamily.org), a non-profit that aids surviving school children of the Northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir earthquake of October 2005. • Sam’s outside interests include mountaineering, skiing, cycling, reading, travelling, photography and writing. View Guest page
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Jen Coffel
Jen Coffel is the President of Success Solutions, Inc and the author/co-founder of an awareness program called No Toxin Zone. She is a true visionary entrepreneur with a passion for helping others. She has successfully created two lucrative businesses ranging from Occupational Therapy as well as an Independent Marketing Business. She has been recognized by ABC News and the Chicago Tribune for offering one of a kind private disability services. She sold her private therapy practice in 2002 to be home with her children. In 2004, she began her marketing business www.LoveMyWorkAtHome.com. With 4 young children she has earned close to a million dollars working from home. Jen's father was diagnosed with cancer in 2004. This cancer battle with her father truly impacted her decision and shaped her vision to educate people about the need to create healthier lives. Jen began a non-profit www.HandingHope.org to give back and bring hope to families battling cancer. View Guest page
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Emilia DiMenco
After completing a 31-year career as an Executive Vice President with the Harris Bank’s Corporate and Commercial Banking team, Emilia DiMenco is the Chief Operating Officer of the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), a nationally and internationally recognized women’s business assistance center providing a continuum of business development services to prospective and established women entrepreneurs. Throughout her 31-year tenure at Harris, Emilia has been a strong leader across many facets of the organization. She has held line of business, relationship management and leadership positions in Corporate Banking, Capital Markets, Corporate Cash Management, Business Banking and Marketing. As an Executive Vice President, Emilia reported to the CEO or Vice Chair of Harris for over a third of her career and served on the Bank’s Management Committee. Emilia had P&L responsibility for 80% of her career and managed budgets in excess of $200 million with revenues multiples greater. View Guest page
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Kevin Doyle
The early morning of July 4, 1993 is a day Kevin Doyle will never forget; a day that helped him get to where he is today. His mother Sheilah A. Doyle was followed home from her job as a nurse on the night shift at Little Company of Mary Hospital by two men looking to get parts from her car. These two men brutally murdered her and left her in the trunk of the car to be found by police. Despite this tragedy experienced at only seventeen, Kevin pushed himself through the pain to success and is now helping others do that as well. He is the currently the president of 3Points (www.3points.com), a full-service IT services company that helps small businesses thrive in today’s fast paced and competitive world by delivering technology solutions that drive their success. Further, Kevin recently founded the Sheilah A. Doyle Foundation (www.sadfund.org), an organization that provides support and assistance to children ages 7-17 whose parent or legal guardian was the victim of murder. View Guest page
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Jim Fannin
Jim Fannin coaches champions. His thought management system empowers people to “be the best they can be” without inconvenience. Period! For thirty-plus years, he himself has coached a Who’s Who list of the world’s best athletes and business leaders from 24 Major League Baseball All-Stars to Fortune 500 businesses. His clients include among others: NY Times best selling author Tom Greanias; 1996 Olympic gold medalist Dan O’Brien; New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez; Boston Red Sox Manny Ramirez, Mike Timlin,& Alex Cora; Top PGA Tour players Luke Donald and Charles Howell III; and NBA All-Star Grant Hill. Plus he coaches coaches: David Leadbetter, voted World’s #1 golf instructor by Golf Magazine; Lou Piniella of the Chicago Cubs; Peter Nowak, US Olympic soccer coach; and Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics. Besides sports, Jim has coached key executives from thirty-six industries including: IBM, Honda, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Merrill Lynch, Allstate and GE Healthcare. View Guest page
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Jim Feldman
For over 35 years Jim Feldman had been a successful entrepreneur, marketing consultant and keynote speaker. In 2009, the economy’s collapse caused him to lose almost everything. At that point, he lost his largest client, had to close one office and layoff employees. He had to start from scratch. After many sleepless nights, Jim realized it was time to take a dose of my own medicine. As a professional speaker, he had been speaking about change management for over 30 years. So he decided to use the recession as an opportunity to articulate a new way of approaching life – financially, personally and career-wise. Afterwards he wrote a book about it and reinvented himself as a change management adviser. He has also created positive change for business and charity clients including: Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, Apple, Microsoft, Disney, McDonald’s, Wynn Las Vegas, March of Dimes, Department of Defense, Y-ME, Coca-Cola, Verizon, Toyota and Frito-Lay. View Guest page
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Brian R. Fons
Brian R. Fons is an attorney with the Chicago office of Corporate Creations. After obtaining his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1996 and obtaining a license to practice law in Florida and Illinois, Brian began his company in 1997. Brian has been a regular speaker for the Chicago Bar association and the author of several published articles. He has been invited to speak for the Small Business Association and Small Business Development Centers throughout the state. Corporate Creations provides formation and maintenance of any type of business entity in any state. With a nationwide registered agent network and an online entity management system, Corporate Creations has become a leader in registered agent and corporate document services. View Guest page
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JD GERSHBEIN
JD GERSHBEIN, CEO of OWLISH COMMUNICATIONS, is a specialist in the Art and Science of LinkedIn. He is a trusted asset to top executives, managers, entrepreneurs, professional service providers, salespeople, and individuals involved in the search for their next great opportunity. Dubbed “LinkedIn’s #1 Brand Ambassador” and “The LinkedIn Black Belt,” JD is considered one of the top LinkedIn strategists in the world and a pioneer in the design and delivery of LinkedIn educational programs. A globally known A-list LinkedIn speaker and media figure, JD has been featured on FOX TV News, in the Chicago Tribune, has guested on prominent coast-to-coast business talk radio programs, and contributed numerous articles to online publications. JD is also an Adjunct Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart School of Business where he teaches the school’s first-ever social media course. His first book (due out early 2012), deals with the neuroscience of social business. View Guest page
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Jim Gessner
Originally from western New York State, disabled Vietnam Veteran Jim Gessner, majored in Business Administration at State University of New York at Alfred. He worked in Production Control at Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation in Dansville, NY and worked with Howard Perrine from Shop Management. In 1985, with the energy field decline, Jim was laid off. Perrine had left Foster Wheeler in 1980. Jim then moved to Illinois to be an Assistant General Governor at the International Headquarters of the Loyal Order of Moose at Mooseheart, IL. Five years later while shopping at a local mall, Jim and his wife ran into his previous colleague Howard and his wife. After eight years apart since Foster, the two got together to compare notes. Perrine had this idea for an Automatic Recycling System for high rise buildings and offered Jim a position in his start-up company, and thus, Nu-Recycling Technology, Inc. was born. The rest, as they say, is history! View Guest page
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Rick Gillis
Rick Gillis is a pioneer of 21st century job search. Rick has aggressively studied the practice of job seeking from the perspective of both the employer and employee. It is based on these observations that he wrote his latest book: “The Real Secret to Finding a Job? Make Me Money or Save Me Money!” Rick’s 4th book, “Job! 3 Steps to Your Next” is due for publication this coming Spring. Rick founded The Really Useful Job Search Company after recognizing that the disconnect between job seekers and professional recruiters is profound. Rick raises eyebrows at live events by saying that “Job seeker’s don’t know how to compete.” Rick’s ‘claim to fame’ is his creation of the Short-Form/”Pre-Resume” and his ‘mandatory’ Personal Inventory Worksheet—a record of a person’s professional and personal achievements. Rick is an acknowledged expert in web based applicant-tracking systems, resume-filtering software and, of course, Internet employment protocols. View Guest page
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Danny Glover
Born and raised in Downers Grove, IL, Danny Glover lived about two blocks away from a locally known restaurant and bar called Skuddlebutts. Bill, the Owner, had always told him when he was 15 to come in and work for him; so that is exactly what Danny did. In 2003, he started working for Skuddlebutts as a bus boy. In 2007, the real estate market had gone down a little bit, and Danny and his sister made an investment in a small 3 bedroom house in Romeoville. At 19 years old, he was a landlord and bought his second home at 21. In 2006, while taking classes at the College of Dupage, Danny was working closely with Bill at Skuddlebutts learning all areas of the business. In 2009 Bill and he started speaking very seriously about Danny purchasing the operation. After months of meeting with bankers and investors, at the age of 22, Danny was able to secure the financing, and work out a deal to purchase the long standing community landmark. When Danny took over Skuddlebutts in 2009, he started another company “Party People Rental Co”, doing event rentals, such as Tents, Tables, Chairs, and Linen. View Guest page
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Amy Goebbert
Amy Goebbert, PT, DPT Amy received her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she played four years of Division I basketball. She then went on to achieve her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Northwestern University Medical School. She has nine years of clinic experience in an outpatient physical therapy setting. Amy’s special interests include custom orthotic fabrication, ACL injury prevention, video gait/running analysis and women’s health. View Guest page
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Dale Irvin
Dale Irvin is the world's only Professional Summarizer. He attends meetings and conventions, listening carefully to every word. Then, periodically, he gives the audience a summary of what just happened in the form of a comedic monologue written on the spot. One client said it best; "What Billy Crystal brings to the Academy Awards, you brought to our meeting. Dale is the author of eight books and is a member of the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame. You can see a sample of his work every Friday in Dale Irvin's Friday Funnies, a recap of the odder stories in the news in the form of a You Tube video. Subscribe for free at www.daleirvin.com. View Guest page
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Jordan Kimmel
Mr. Kimmel developed the MAGNET® Stock Selection Process, a proprietary stock selection model that blends value, growth and momentum. He has released three books on the subject, most recently The Magnet Method of Investing (Wiley, 2009). His first book, Magnet® Investing, introduced the Magnet model that was licensed and used by institutions. Jordan appears regularly on CNBC and Fox Business News, and hosts two weekly radio shows, “Magnet Investing with Jordan Kimmel,” on the VoiceAmerica Business Network in addition to “Trust Across America™” that discusses the factors needed to restore trust in business. Mr. Kimmel is quoted frequently in national newspapers including The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Jordan can be contacted in New York City at 212-537-5676. View Guest page
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Brandon Lewin
Brandon is the founder and President of DoughNuttz, Inc. DoughNuttz is an Internet marketing firm that specializes in generating qualified leads and expanding the reach of businesses. The firm was founded in April of 2009 As a sought after speaker and renown specialist in the field of digital marketing; Brandon has worked with over a hundred companies and individuals on devising a powerful and profitable internet and social media marketing plan that works. Brandon has spoken to groups like Vistage International, ACA, the City of Chicago, and the SBAC. From his experiences of thousands of hours on LinkedIn and the combination of his professional training in sales and marketing; he has created a program and system that creates LinkedIn to Profitability. Brandon is currently writing a book as a How To guide for anyone who wants to increase profits by using LinkedIn Marketing. He believes in a simplistic approach to marketing with the Internet. View Guest page
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Carole Lieberman
Carole Lieberman, M.D. is America's Psychiatrist, and the host of "Dr. Carole's Couch" on Voiceamerica's Variety Channel. She is a three-time Emmy award-winner, who has appeared on top shows like: Oprah, Dr. Phil, Today, Good Morning America, Nancy Grace, Larry King, O'Reilly Factor, Entertainment Tonight and more. Bestselling author Dr. Carole's latest award-winning book is Bad Girls: Why Men Love Them & How Good Girls Can Learn Their Secrets. As a psychiatric expert witness at civil and criminal trials, she has many high-profile clients as she has in her star-studded, Beverly Hills psychiatric practice. She is on the Clinical Faculty of UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute. View Guest page
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Chris Mack
CrossFit's three partners including Chris Mack work full-time jobs and a part-time business that grew from a fitness passion. Two worked out together in their garage using the California-based HOTSide CrossFit training. As friends joined them, they started a business as a CrossFit affiliate for which they pay annually. They leased space with 10 clients. In one year, they have grown to 65 customers. Adding a third partner they with 4 others teach the classes. The program uses weights and no machines which making for little business overhead. CrossFit targets "life" fitness, learning proper movement which will avoid later problems and weakness. The sense of community creates the unique workout difference at CrossFit. Clients enjoy camaraderie and mutual support. The partners seek to "make the best experience for the folks". The entrepreneurs like a profit, but love the work and satisfaction of clients' improved fitness results. Visit: www.hotsidecf.com. View Guest page
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Stephanie Mansour
Stephanie Mansour, CEO of Step It Up with Steph, is a nationally known Health & Fitness Expert & has been featured on CNN, WGN, & TV stations across the country for her holistic & unique approach to being healthy & fit anywhere, anytime. Creator of the Cubicle Crunch (a series of stretches you can do at your desk) & other quick, easy ways to be more healthy, Stephanie motivates everyday people to Step It Up. With her no diets, no guilt, & no scale mentality, Stephanie is dramatically changing the way we view food & exercise. Stephanie has been named a top 50 inspiring trainers on Twitter by Masters in Health Care, one of Chicago’s top 30 female entrepreneurs under 30 by ME: In Focus Magazine, & regarded as Chicago’s Premier Private Trainer. She's a highly sought after in-home private trainer & coach for women in Chicago, combining yoga, pilates, personal training, and body image & confidence coaching. She's the creator of the workbook 30 Days to Love Your Body & Your Life. View Guest page
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John Mautner
John Mautner is a leader in the field of small business growth and profitability. The strategies and principals have lead John to build and sell four companies before turning 40. Inc. Magazine awarded his first businesses as an INC. 500 winner and one of America's 500 fastest growing companies. In 2001, John founded The Cycle-of-Success Institute or COSi a business school that teaches companies on how rapidly grows sales and profits. COSi’s has over 4,000 graduates of the program. Governor Pat Quinn named March 16th “COSi Day” in The State of Illinois because COSi grows businesses that are growing communities. In addition to founding COSi, John speaks nationwide to CEO’s on the tools for business success. John launched a live talk radio show in Chicago “Small Business Talk” on AM-1530. John has been featured in MS-NBC, Yahoo Finance and he is a profit improvement columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine and a member of the USA Today Small Business Panel. View Guest page
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Scott Miller
I was born and raised in Rochester NY and met my future wife at State University College at Cortland. She was hired by EDS and moved to Chicago. I followed and got a job working for the Northern Trust, then EDS, and then Ameritech (14 years). We originally bought a house in Villa Park, moved to Bloomingdale, then to Geneva, where we currently live. I have my wife, two kids (UIC grad and Senior at Loras College), and two cats (one of which is very nice). I left the business world (good story) and after one year of looking for work started my own business. I had had experience via my own painting business as a college student. I decided to do it again and find I like the tangible rewards and building trust with customers. View Guest page
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Erica Crohn Minchella
Contact Erica at 847-677-6722 or visit www.reallegal solutions.net. Erica Crohn Minchella has practiced law for almost 30 years, first concentrating in consumer and small business bankruptcies and then expanding into real estate law. With recent economic shifts impacting both residential and commercial real estate, the combined bankruptcy and real estate concentrations have allowed her to help her clients navigate through both inflated and ballooned loans, undervalued properties and aggressive bank actions using bankruptcy, litigation and negotiation as the tools. Erica is sought out by lawyers and other professional groups as a speaker on strategy analysis for clients in distressed real estate transactions. She further blogs on her website on key issues of real estate distress and finance. Erica is the Founder and President of the Association of Foreclosure Defense Attorneys, based in the Chicago Metropolitan Area and in January, 2012 will be President of the Skokie Chamber of Commerce which has 600 member businesses. View Guest page
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Jeff Nowak
Labor and employment attorney Jeff Nowak of Franczek Radelet in Chicago, IL, represents private and public employers in labor and employment law. He counsels and litigates employment discrimination and traditional labor claims, and has extensive trial experience before labor arbitrators, judges and juries, in both federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. He represents employers in retail, banking and financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, and higher education. Jeff offers employers expertise in employee medical issues. He maintains the blog www.fmlainsights.com to help employers navigate the Family and Medical Leave Act. He hosts a monthly podcast on common FMLA issues employers face. Jeff loves labor and employment law as he wants to work with people. In particular, he likes to help employers manage workplace issues to minimize legal risk and save the employer time, money and resources. View Guest page
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Brian Pfeiffer
Brian Pfeiffer Born in Chicago January 27th, 1973. Brian was born with party in his blood from monster eight keg parties at his parents pool when they were out of town in High School to the Party Frat Sigma Pi at Northern Illinois University, he always enjoyed a great party. We knew that he could turn a great party into a profitable business, but after 10 years of business Surrealchicago, Vegas, and Miami have all become synonymous with great events and sexy people. Brian earned his MBA in Finance in 1998 but didn't go the finance route, instead the entrepreneur in him took over and he found a way to have a great time and make money doing it. Check out Surrealchicago.com and Surrealvegas.com for an insight to all the great events View Guest page
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Jon Porter
Jon Porter is the owner/operator of Chicago Pizza Tours a bus guided tour of culturally significant & neighborhood pizzerias in Chicago. Born 9/19/77 Jon was raised in Elmhurst, a suburb 10 miles west of Chicago. Growing up, Jon and his grade school friends had a real passion for pizza that was cultivated by parents that also had strong feelings for the perfect food. Jon attended EIU from '95-'99 where he studied business before leaving to work for his father's business in the promotional products industry. For 10 years Jon worked at Porter Specialty Advertising in a sales position but quickly learned in small business you need to do everything. As the economy took a turn for the worse, Jon lost key accounts in a commission driven job. This downturn provided the opportunity to start CPT. "I told my wife, we can hang on to what we've saved & try to ride this economy out, or we can take that money, build a website, buy a bus and I can start taking strangers out for pizza!" View Guest page
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Nido Qubein
Dr. Nido Qubein came to the US as a teenager with little knowledge of English, no contacts and only $50. His life has been an amazing success story. He is president of High Point University with 4,500 students from 51 countries. He is chairman of Great Harvest Bread Company with 220 stores and he serves on the boards of BB&T, La-Z-Boy Corporation, and DOTS, a fashion apparel company with 420 stores in 26 states. He is the youngest person ever inducted in the International Hall of Fame and is the founder of the prestigious National Speakers Foundation in Phoenix, AZ. He has been the recipient of many honors including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans, three honorary doctorates, Sales and Marketing International's Ambassador of Free Enterprise, Citizen of the Year and Philanthropist of the Year in his home city of High Point, North Carolina, induction into the Global Society for Outstanding Business Leadership, and dozens more. View Guest page
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Jeff Reimer
Jeff Reimer is chairman of the board of directors, president of global operations at Paragon Micro, Inc., and executive leader of Paragon Micro Services, LLC. Paragon Micro, Inc is a leading global solution provider of technology products and services for businesses, government, education and healthcare. Reimer is responsible for the strategic direction of Paragon Micro, Inc., Paragon Micro Services LLC, as well as providing day to day leadership of the management teams. Paragon Micro was named to CRN’s VAR500 list as one of the top 500 technology companies in the United States. In addition, Paragon Micro, Inc. was named the 5th fastest growing company named to the VAR500. Reimer joined Paragon Micro, Inc. in 2008. Previously, he served as chairman and chief financial officer for Chicago FX, Inc (5 years) as well as a sales leader at CDW (13 years). Reimer is a 1996 graduate of Eastern Illinois University where he earned a Bachelor degree in Marketing and Communications. View Guest page
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Ann Rogers
For 29 years Together We Cope (TWC) has bridged the gap for south suburban Chicago residents in temporary crisis by providing food, shelter, clothing and referrals, empowering them to return to self-sufficiency. Special back-to-school and holiday programs help children succeed in school and build self-esteem. Partnerships with HUD, United Way, Salvation Army, Chambers of Commerce, faith communities and service organizations (e.g. Rotary and Kiwanis) enable TWC to provide new and innovative services. In 1989 TWC served 2984 people with 11.8 tons of food; in 2009 over 44,000 people were assisted with almost $1.5 million worth of food, clothing and financial assistance. What began as a small group of compassionate neighbors is now the largest prevention agency in southwest suburban Cook County, IL. Today, with a small part-time staff and many dedicated volunteers, TWC can truly say that together, the community has coped with every adversity it has encountered. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Tom Salonek
Tom Salonek is the founder and CEO of Intertech, a Minneapolis-based technology consulting and training firm. In 2005, he was named one of Minnesota’s Top Business Leaders under 40. Intertech has been named twice to INC 500’s list of fastest growing companies, and is also a seven-time winner of the Business Journal’s Best Places to Work award. In 2003, Salonek founded the Intertech Foundation to financially assist families with critically ill children. Tom Salonek has completed executive education at the Harvard School of Business and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a past instructor at the University of St. Thomas Management Center. He holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of St. Thomas. Tom is the author of Building a Winning Business and has written more than 50 articles on business, leadership and technology, and blogs regularly at http://www.TomSalonek.com. View Guest page
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Jeff Shea
Jeff Shea has a long history of creating success in business. His passion for entrepreneurship, and developing others has led him down his current path as CEO and Co-Founder of Payline Data. Jeff is no stranger to hard work, and started working full-time while still in High School. As a college freshman, he earned the National Manager of the Year award at a nationwide sales company. Upon graduation he joined New Image to create the largest installation program in the USA and Canada for Home Depot's painting & garage floor coating departments. In 2009 Jeff Shea Co-Founded Payline Data with his mission to grow a business and create an impact for charitable organizations worldwide. Jeff's passions lie in leadership, with a true aspiration to help others succeed to their highest potential. Recently Jeff was honored as the 2011 Young Entrepreneur by the Daily Herald Business Ledger. He also serves as Treasurer for the American Lung Association Auxiliary Board in Chicago. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Jake Siebert
Jake studied Politics and Economics at Illinois State University. Upon graduating, he took a job in NYC. Fast forward nearly 18 months, and he was introduced to Jeff. After their first meeting, when Jeff told him about the business concept, Jake was shocked at the simplicity behind the concept, and encouraged by the fact nobody else had thought of this yet. As they say, the rest is history. Starting as an account executive with the company, he has since earned a senior management role. Jake serves all merchant types well and has a focus on small to mid-size businesses, along with developing and maintaining strategic relationships with financial institutions. He has a great understanding of merchant needs, and he is great to work with. Jake initially began working with smaller businesses in his local community, and has more recently begun working with larger firms in the Chicago-metropolitan area. In his eyes, the sky is the limit, but he will never forget where he came from. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Eric Soderholm
Eric Soderholm was a nine and one-half year major league baseball player with the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees. He won the “Comeback Player of the Year” by The Sporting News in 1977. Knee injuries ended his baseball career at 31, and he has grown to become a successful business man in the Chicagoland area with Front Row Tickets and Soder World Healing Arts Center and Spa in Willowbrook. He is now retired and enjoys golf and his family. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Tom Stanley
Tom grew up maintaining/rehabbing family-owned homes with his dad and granddad. He purchased several apartment buildings soon after graduation from high school which paid his way through college and grad school, and he started a health club chain he soon sold to focus on real estate. His expertise include: business development, marketing, client development, multi-disciplinary team management, and project delivery. He’s run successful companies with happy customers. Tom’s Progressive Vision Management economically builds worship houses, retirement facilities and multi-family properties. In real estate, Tom and partner help investors build generational wealth via partnering in High Rise Investments, LLC. Currently Tom speaks and a mentors in the real estate sector while again producing income for many via real estate holdings. He and his wife value fitness and are training for “The Race Across the Sky”, a 100-mile bikeathon. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Sean Stephensen
Sean Stephensen was predicted not to survive at birth because of a rare bone disorder that stunted his growth and caused his bones to be extremely fragile. Despite his challenges, he took a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world, including Tony Robbins, Richard Branson, President Clinton, and his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Sean has appeared on everything from The Oprah Show to Youtube videos with a million views. The Biography Channel did an hour feature on his life called, "Three Foot Giant." Sean's message has been heard at live events in over 15 countries and 47 states over the past 15 years. As a board certified therapist, Sean uses humor and compassion to develop a safe and controlled environment where individuals open up their hearts and minds for lasting empowerment to occur. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Michael Stuart
We provide creative solutions to help families achieve their dreams using client-centered, cutting-edge estate and exit planning methods, assist clients with funding their plans to ensure those plans will work as designed, and use state-of-the-art funding strategies and tools, including: • Comprehensive Estate Planning • Charitable Trusts • Wealth Replacement Trusts • Business Continuation and Exit Planning • Family Limited Partnerships and Family Limited Liability Companies • Asset Protection Trusts, Grantor Retained Income Trusts • Business Entity Formation and Maintenance • Families with Special Needs Michael is a widely recognized attorney and CPA with over 30 years of extensive experience in Business, Trust and Estate Planning. Among his clients and financial advisors, he has earned the reputation as a responsible, reliable and thoughtful Business, Trusts and Estates counselor. The firm offers ongoing client education on estate and exit options. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Lynda Tourloukis
Lynda Tourloukis is a Professional Life Development Coach, Motivational Speaker and Laughter Director who works with Individuals to Organizations to discover more of what life has to offer. Lynda uses joyful techniques to empower and add enthusiasm back into day-to-day living by creating an awareness of choice with a focus on how amazing we are. Lynda uses the tool of laughter to “enlighten up” and loosen up and is a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher/Trainer. Leading a daily laughter call that operates everyday of the year, founding laughter clubs and resource and support groups for laughter leaders as well as being the foremost authority on laughter in Illinois, Lynda presents laughter programs for groups from prisons to schools to corporate groups to demonstrate effective and efficient choices that also feel good to make. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Andrea Trovato
Andrea Trovato is president of RonTro Enterprises, a metal precision laser cutting company she began with her spouse, Ron, in October of 1999. A native of New York City, Trovato moved to Florida to launch her paralegal career in 1985. After eight years, she met Ron and then moved to Chicago. Soon they married, and Trovato was a stay-at-home mom until she and her husband began their business in 1999. The Trovato’s, who built their business from the ground up, saw their company steadily prosper. At the peak, they bought and updated a larger building. In 2007, though, the economy’s downturn significantly set Trovato’s company back. After struggling three years, RonTro Enterprises has recovered beautifully and is now growing again. Andrea Trovato’s greatest lesson learned is to always have a back up plan. Personally, Trovato is passionate about her family of five, her faith, and any chance that comes her way to help others. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Tony Vari
I started my career in the computer software/technical sales back in the middle 1980's. I was an extremely successful sales person with several annual top sales position awards year after year. I quickly propelled my talents into sales management where I continued to be the number 1 region for the company. I then went into a software start up company in which I started the Midwest region and build up all sales, support and hiring of the staff. Then the high tech bubble crashed. I found myself unemployed and looking for the next market segment. After sitting around for six months I had decided to get into what I really enjoyed all of my life. That was the building. So I started a drywall company and grew that into a $1 million in revenue company in six months and I was attending school at night to become a General Contractor. I then started Dynamic Developers, LLC a land development and residential and commercial builder. Here we are today. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Tammy Virgili
I started in the field of long-term care in ‘92, as a CNA, and received my nursing license in July of ’95. I then began working as an Assistant Director of an Alzheimer’s Unit, where I spent the first 3 years of my nursing career. Over time, I took on roles as Nurse Manager, Admissions and Marketing Director, and Medicare Unit Director. In ‘02, I began working toward my Nursing Home Administrator’s License. I completed the Long-Term Care Administration Program, at College of DuPage, with honors, and passed my State and Federal Boards in ‘03. Since then, I’ve worked as Executive Director for Assisted Living companies, as Corporate Director of Marketing for a skilled nursing home chain, and as Director of Operations for a multi-site Assisted Living facility. Recently, I accepted a position as a Community Administrator for Providence Life Services, at the Downers Grove location: Saratoga Grove Retirement and Assisted Living. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
David R. Waldman
The Franchise Maker is led by David R. Waldman who, prior to starting The Franchise Maker in 2005, had spent over seventeen years working for large service-based franchise organizations. As a franchise developer, he has witnessed the power in franchising. He is passionate about franchising businesses and understands that when a franchise structure is built correctly, the loyalty that is built within the franchise system can accelerate the entire system to greatness. His company works with businesses from all over the United States, taking them through an affordable, step-by-step process to franchise their business. Franchising a business can seem to be an extremely overwhelming process and it is made simple and smooth by the individualized attention that The Franchise Maker gives each client. Beyond the initial franchise development, The Franchise Maker offers its clients additional services designed to help and support their franchise sales efforts. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Devyanne Ward
Devyanne Ward is the President/CEO of Document Creations, Inc., A Xerox Sales Agency in Chicago. She has twenty-five years plus in sales, training, business development and management. She serves the Apostolic Church of God’s Senior Ministry providing “quality of life” services to senior citizens. A seven-year breast cancer survivor, she formed "Devy’s Debs" of the Annual American Cancer Society Walk for Breast Cancer.l View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Paulo Yih
Paulo Yih, COO and President, 5C Group, shares the insights from being born and raised in Shanghai, China; a teen life in San Paulo, Brazil; and adulthood in Wisconsin, USA. Speaking seven languages, Paulo has a Masters in Educational Psychology from University of Wisconsin-Platteville. In 2008, he joined 5C Group, an international investment consultant for three new renewable energies: wind, solar and LED. He promotes cross-culturalism, especially to youth, via education and overseas internships where relationships can develop future business networks. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Jimmy Z
Jimmy Z is a Team Builder and Sales Trainer of the highest caliber. He combines his unique abilities to bring Accelerated Learning Techniques and humor together to empower Sales and Management Teams to use what they learn and move directly into action to improve performance. Jimmy Z began in 1982 as Founder of Creative Achievement Worldwide, Inc. in Chicago. In 1989 Jim added a franchise/distributorship representing best selling author Anthony Robbins, and by 1994, Tony asked Jimmy Z to train his international promoters in Europe, Asia and North America. Jim has also taught classes for best selling authors Brian Tracy, Deepak Chopra and John Gray. Jim is a member of The National Speakers Association and has been featured in Who's Who in Sales and Marketing, and as one of the “Top Five” Sales Trainers with The Institute For Sales and Marketing Management in the United Kingdom. Call (888) GO2-GROW (888-462-4769) or go to TurboCoaching.com to book “Jimmy Z” for your group today! View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Tom Ziglar
As CEO of Ziglar, Inc., Tom Ziglar shares not only a last name with his father, Zig Ziglar, but he also carries on his philosophy, which is simply, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” Prior to being named CEO, Tom began his career in retail and direct sales. He joined the Zig Ziglar Corporation in 1987, learning every aspect of the business as he climbed from working in the warehouse to sales, to seminar promotion, to sales management and then on to leadership. With the Ziglar name, Tom has had a lot to live up to. But rather than try to fill his father’s shoes, Tom has created some of his own! He is boldly taking Ziglar, Inc., into the world of social communities, Twitter, blogs, and live video webcasts to present the tried and true message of hope, integrity and positive thinking to a whole new audience. He keeps Ziglar, Inc., ahead of the times with his innovative leadership. View Guest page
Episode Listing:
Show Links
Rob Biesenbach Covers Communication Tips from his Book: Act Like You Mean Business
February 22, 2012
Hosted by Rich Killian
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Rob Biesenbach, author of Act Like You Mean Business, says to draw on acting techniques to improve any and all communications. Treat each communication like a performance employing props, characters, and more. Listen in to learn how to maximize every exchange in your life via the tested tactics of talking that he covers in his book. Plus gain tips on more effective emailing and storytelling as well as overcoming the for some, terror for others, jitters of public speaking. He concludes with what makes emotion necessary for effective communication.
The American Businessperson
Wednesday at 12 Noon Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Business Channel
“The American Businessperson” talk show host Rich Killian will interview guests within two formats. In “The American Dream Hour” the success stories of both business owners and the employed include: what shaped their dreams, how they got started, what steps most helped them succeed, the lessons mistakes taught, and keeping focused amid hard times. Guests’ winning practices will help listeners gain new perspective to tackle challenges. In “The Expert Hour”, professionals present a business topic pertinent to business people. Both formats engage, educate, and motivate listeners to action. With the right know-how and work, dreams come true. The show will add possibilities and outline tactics business people can use to prevail with their ambitions.
Join in live every Wednesday at 12 Noon Pacific Time, 3 PM Eastern Time on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel, or on demand 24/7 at TheAmericanBusinessperson.com.
Rich Killian
In 1999 at age 25, U.S. Army veteran and Southern Illinois University graduate Rich Killian started his business career. Not finding work as a Civil Engineer, he started selling Real Estate during the week, worked in demolition as a laborer on weekends, and attended night school for his MBA at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
In 2000, he incorporated his first company, Prospect Equities® which is a nationally licensed real estate franchise system with a uniquely integrated full-service approach to both residential and commercial real estate brokerage. His concept has been coined, “The Freedom Concept of Real Estate” and Rich has been a successful entrepreneur since the inception of his first company. Rich has averaged an acquisition or formation of two companies per year and now controls over 20 companies and corporations. By 2003, Rich’s six companies formed Infinity Capital Holding Corporation (ICH) with Rich as Chairman.
In the 2008 recession, Rich offered his real estate and mortgage companies’ services to distressed home owners and renters at discounted fees, paid various mortgages and rents to help those in hardship while creating salaried jobs and opportunities for sales and management positions within his companies. In 2010, he founded The Hardship Home Foundation, a public charity which assists people in keeping their homes.
Today, Rich is Chairman of the Board for ICH and its 20-plus companies which produce over $1/2 billion in annual sales.
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