Business Coach

Guest Jeri D. Towler P.C., Attorney at Law jeritowler@cox.net405-844-2222 Jeri Towler is an Oklahoma based attorney specializing in non profit law. She discusses the ins and outs of the 501 (c) 3 applications, qualifications and process. Jeri started her private firm after years in the corporate law arena. If you are thinking about starting a not for profit listen in and get all the details.

Guest Dottie Overal US Small Business Administration District Director Oklahoma District Office www.sba.gov/ok, Dorothy.overal@sba.gov 405-609-8011Dottie shares with the listeners all of the services and benefits offered by the US Small Business Administration as well as the changes affecting the program as it relates to the American Reinvestment Recovery Act and stimulus programs.

Guest Shani Rashidi MHR, PHR Sr. Vice President of Administration Urban League of Greater OKC 3900 N. MLK, OKC, OK 73111 405-424-5243. Shani and I discuss the programs for individuals and small business. The Urban Leagues small business luncheons cover the basic requirements for starting your business. Guest from the small business service sector, banks and other funding and service providers shares their knowledge at these luncheons.

Guest Gail Parker Owner/President A1 Staffing, Inc. 7465 NW 23rd St. Bethany Oklahoma 73008405-787-7600 gail@a1staffingok.com Gail Parker shares with us her journey through 14 years of working for staffing companies to starting her own business. The business plan and customer service surveys of the industry helped Gail to plan, build, and operate a successful organization.

Guest Charles Jordan PACT Program Manager www.PACTFoundation.orgA personal experience motivated Charles to start a non-profit organization to assist victims of abuse. He shares his experience in becoming a Congressional District Program 501( c) 3 non-profit. This is a great tool for other mission driven individuals.

Guest Robert Floyd The Floyd Training Firm, LLC 1800 N. Interstate DR. Norman OK 73072 405-290-1403 www.floydtraining.com My conversation with Robert covers his sales background with the family owned business and his desire to leave to start his own company, The Floyd Training Firm. Training is one of the first cost cutting actions companies take. We share valuable information about how great training adds value to small companies and can increase the bottom line. It is very important for small businesses to train their employees while building a culture of quality and service.

Guest Annette Colbert-Latham CEO/Founder, Visage Production, Inc. 1000 West Wilshire Blvd, Suite 302 OKC OK 73116, 405-848-2237 http://www.visagefilmstudios.comAnnette talks about the entertainment industry in Oklahoma, her start in the business, with valuable information on copyrights, and trademarks. Annette has years of experience in the industry as a writer, producer, and director. We discuss her start of Visage Production Inc. and how she works with small business.

Guest Kevin Elmore Financial Advisor kevinelmore@sbcglobal.net Kevin discusses the financial considerations of using retirement income for a new business start-up. What percent of your retirement should you invest in a new business start-up? How to better position your finances to move to your next career choice.

Guest Steve Davis Reach Out and Read 405-525-3513 http://www.reachoutandread.org steve.davis01@yahoo.comMr. Davis shares the organizations mission to help increase the reading levels of our youth. We talk about the need for a literate work force for small business to grow and operate more efficiently.

Guest Kenneth James Agent, State Farm Insurance 4312 Classen Blvd. OKC OK 73118 405-293-9361 kennethjames@kennethjamesagent.com State Farm Agent Kenneth James shares with us the opportunity he was presented to use his corporate sales experience to start his insurance agency. Kenneth had the drive and motivation to sell a quality product to his clients and an opportunity to own his own business. He also talks about insurance needs of the small business owner.

Guest State Representative Mike Shelton Oklahoma House of Representative mikeshelton@okhouse.gov Rep. Shelton shares his support for the career technology training Metro Technology Centers provides. There is a need for technical career options for our youth and retraining adults in this challenging economy. We discuss the new Metro Career Academy which uses the Communities in Schools concept. Representative Shelton discusses the importance of relationships with all of your local politicians and community business organizations. He is also working on a new idea to use an unemployment lump sum benefit payout to start a new business.

Guest Donna C. Bacy Attorney at Law Steele Financial Services 641 NE 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK 405-424-5510 While searching for a full time position as an attorney Donna decides to open her own practice of legal consulting to other firms. Her goal was to create an economic resource for her family and teach others how to accumulate wealth and protect their assets. Donna speaks on the ins and outs of Sole Proprietors to C Corporations. This information is one of the first issues a start up should consider in their organizational structure.

Guest Alethia Haynes Timmons Attorney at Law Timmons and Associates LLC 527 N. W. 23rd, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73103 405-602-5393 Alethia shares with us how she started her law firm using self financing. She purchased equipment and furniture in advance of opening and partnered with two other attorneys to purchase the building they would office in. Alethia also talks about hiring employees and the need to be through in selecting who you are bringing into your business. She emphasizes that customer service is key to service companies and the importance of your employees representing the company in a positive manner.

Guest Wilson Guilbeaux Jr. Cognition LLC, Sr. VP, http://www.CognitionLLC.com WGuilbeaux@CognitionLLC.com Cognition LLC is a Leader in Interoperability and Systems Engineering. The company was formed in 2001 by Wilson and four other retired Air Force officers. Based in Virginia with offices in Washington DC, Cognition LLC is a research and development company for C4ISR (Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Inelegance, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance). Clients served are military and private companies. We discuss how they run a virtual company from the ownership and employee supervision standpoint.

Guest Monique Terrell Sparkle Internet Image Solutions The Virtual Marketing Company monique@sparkletoday.com http://www.sparkletoday.com/ Monique shares the small business benefits of the new media use of social networking and how to grow your business using the services. It allows small businesses to get the word out on new products and services. She shares the important how-too skills of business social networking. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn are discussed along with the use of internet radio, web TV and podcasting.