The Claw (business)

This week The "Better You" Project highlights Spencer Humphrey and Neil Rollins, co-owners of Black Tie Catering in Atlanta.

They began their business based on a hobby and recently won a National Conference as being one of the top caterers in Atlanta. They told humorous stories of success and failure during their journey. You will both laugh and be inspired after you hear about the 270 turkeys they cooked or having to grill outside in Chicago in February. The owners of Black Tie Catering took risks and it has definitely paid off.

Direct download: 2-11-2013_The_Better_You_Project_Black_Tie_Catering_podcast.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Travis Truett of Akimbo is a fellow serial entrepreneur. 
 
He was the Co-founder of retickr, a “retired” stock ticker for Mac desktops that allowed users to customize their streams. Selling point was “read, share, back to what you were doing in three clicks”. He is also the Co-founder of Fireplug, an iPhone application that bridges the gap between information and knowledge and Co-founder of Ambition, enterprise sales software that allows employees to compete against each other, similar to Fantasy Football. Listen to our interview as Travis talks about the challenges and solutions of being a serial entrepreneur.
Direct download: 2-11-2013_The_Better_You_Project_Travis_Truitt_.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Campus Bellhops is the solution to the mass-moving needs of college students.  Don’t think moving company; we’re just two awesome college guys that show up to do all the work for you.  Big year in 2013: 60 Universities, 3500 Bellhops, LOTS OF HAPPY MOMS.

Listen as Cameron Doody and Stephen Vlahos share their story of building a business one move at a time.

Direct download: 2-11-2013_The_Better_you_Project_Campus_Bellhops.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Dr. Shelley Prevost is a co-founder and Director of Happiness at Lamp Post Group, a Venture Capital Incubator in Chattanooga, TN.There she guides founders to infuse values, meaning, and positive relationships into their company culture from the very beginning.  She also writes about psychology and startup culture for Inc.com and Nooga.com.

Direct download: 2-4-2013_The_Better_You_Project_Shelly_Prevost.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Eric Holtzclaw and Susan McMullen interview the Leaders of LPG, Ted Alling and Allan Davis.

Lamp Post Group is a venture incubator. LPG combines the resources of a startup incubator with the financial investment capabilities of a venture capital firm. LPG believes in starting companies the right way - with consistent principles and a culture of empowerment.

LPG companies range in industry and stage of growth all the way from recent college graduates working in social data mining to an established manufacturing firm looking to grow.

Ted Alling

At just 33 years old, Ted has already established himself as one of the leading entrepreneurs in the South and is widely regarded as the leading young business-person in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ted is now a managing partner of the Lamp Post Group, where he actively recruits and mentors entrepreneurs. Along with his co-founders Allan Davis and Barry Large, Ted’s visionary leadership as CEO of Access America Transport led directly to its organic growth into $150 million in revenue in 2010 after nine consecutive years of organic growth. Ted also founded AAT Carriers, an asset based trucking company specializing in the transport of weapons and hazardous materials, as well as Reliance Partners, a full-service insurance agency. A native of Vestavia Hills, AL, Ted earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Samford University where he and his partners were named Outstanding Young Alumni of the Year in 2010. Ted currently serves on the board of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. Ted resides on Lookout Mountain with his wife of 10 years and three children.
 
Allan Davis
Allan’s bold and often unorthodox perspective has made him an effective counter-balance to traditional business theory and practice allowing him and his companies to push the envelope and develop innovative solutions. In his role as a managing partner at Lamp Post, Allan helps entrepreneurs understand what they do best and then how to empower others to scale out beyond just the founder’s circle. His efficacy for strategic long-term planning and reverse engineering has made him the person largely credited for Access America’s explosive growth from startup to over $150 million in revenue in under 10 years. During his tenure as COO Access America has expanded to seven locations across the U.S and received dozens of awards and recognitions for its forward thinking approach to meeting the transportation and logistics needs of its customers. Allan graduated from McCallie School in Chattanooga in 1996 before attending Samford University where he graduated in 2000 with a B.S. in Management. In 2010, Allan also became a graduate of Singularity University’s Executive Program.
Direct download: 2-4-2013_The_Better_You_Project_Lamp_Post_Group.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Reni is the conceptual designer and owner of BLISS AND TELL BRANDING COMPANY…a boutique design and branding firm located in San Diego California, with national and international clients.  Reni has successfully found a niche among the creative and hospitality industries offering design, marketing and branding services (both print and digital). Today, after 13 years in the design industry, B&T branding company is a full service creative branding house that specializes in creating complete visual style for boutique-like companies as well as grand celebrations.

Direct download: 1-30-2013The_Better_You_Project_Reni.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Kathleen Fields is the Founder and Principal Designer of A Feathered Nest. In today's competitive real estate market, every showing is critical.  There is no second chance to make a first impression.  A Feathered Nest is a professional home staging company that will decorate your home to appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers. Listen as Kathleen shares with us how she transitioned from a fortune 500 company to a stay at home mom and then decided in her mid forties to go back to school and completely change her focus and career.

Direct download: 1-21-2013_TBYN_Kathleen_Fields.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Marian Parsons, aka Miss Mustard Seed, is founder and owner of Mustard Seed Interiors.

Mustard Seed Interiors LLC is a small business that was born out of a love for antiques, decorating on a budget, and giving old pieces of furniture new life. While the primary focus of the retail business is painted and refinished furniture, MSI also carries upholstered pieces, found objects, vintage-inspired painted signs and handmade accessories for the home.  All of these products are currently available for sale on the first floor in the lobby of The Old Lucketts Store in Leesburg, VA.

 

Direct download: 3-25-2013_The_Better_You_Project_Marian_Parsons.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Shayne Walsey, President of Urban Enterprises has been with the company her entire life!

As the daughter of the founder, Jill Brown, Walsey began her apprentice at the dinner table.  Having managed all aspects of the business from customer service to sales to client relations, Walsey has been running the business for the last 5 years.

Walsey is passionate about her family, her new baby, her hometown – Atlanta! – and growing her business!

Direct download: 12-19-2012_The_Better_You_Project_Shayne_Walsey.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Dr. Ann Vertel inspires women 35-65 to live fearless, rich, and radiant. As a success expert, speaker, and trainer, she leads a dynamic community of women embracing who they really are by answering the call to lead others in their life and life’s work.

As a retired Naval Officer, as well as a psychologist, an entrepreneur, and the leading academic authority on the success factors of online women entrepreneurs, Ann is uniquely positioned to help women step up and lead in the entrepreneurial world.After a successful twenty-year career as a Naval Officer, Ann decided she wanted her second career to be one where she made the rules. Her mantra became, “My rules. My hours. My dress code.”

Besides loving her work-at-home lifestyle, if it involves tropical beaches, West Highland Terriers, travel, cruises, family, friends, or chocolate she’s “in!”Ann lives with her husband and daughter in sunny San Diego.

Connect with Ann at: http://AnnVertel.com

“Inspiring Women to Live Fearless, Rich, and Radiant”

Direct download: 11-28-2012_The_Better_You_Project_Ann_Vertel.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT