AmiSights: Financing the Future For Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Lisa Zarda, Executive Director of the U.S. Swim School Association, on the challenges swim schools faced during the pandemic and how her association helped them overcome them.

Lisa's career in association management spans over twenty years and includes receiving her certified association executive designation in 2010 as well as the Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) designation in 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, in Exercise & Sports Science with an emphasis in Recreation Management and a minor in Business Administration from Carthage College in Kenosha, WI.

Over the years she has held volunteer leadership positions with both the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Arizona Society of Association Executives (AzSAE). She recently completed the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.

Her career has included association work with the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee and the American Association of Cosmetology Schools which has allowed her to build upon the commonalities found even in unrelated industries.

Lisa has been married for over 16 years and has an eleven-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son that keep her on her toes. When there is some downtime, she enjoys watching football, traveling (especially to beaches), and spending time with her family in Cave Creek, Arizona.

Recorded 03/29/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Natasha Miller, Founder and CEO of Entire Productions, about her new book and her transformation during the pandemic.

Natasha Miller isn't your average CEO. She sits at the helm of Entire Productions, the go-to experience design, event and entertainment production company in San Francisco, and has been on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America for three years in a row. Natasha's passion and commitment to giving back drive her invariable contributions and participation with numerous charitable organizations. She is also performing as a jazz vocalist and a trained classical violinist.

Natasha is a proud graduate of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and has studied entrepreneurship at the Harvard Business School and MIT and is a member of The Recording Academy (Grammys), ASCAP, SF Travel, and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). She resides in San Francisco, CA where she is a member and on the board of EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization).

Recorded 03/28/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dorian Wiederholt Kassar, teacher and coach, about his new coaching business and what made him start it.

Dorian is a business owner, teacher, and coach. Since 2017, he has worked with over 4,000 teens and tweens sharing the principles and practices of mental health, connection, and authenticity. Dorian has trained with incredible mentors in the fields of coaching, martial arts, social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and healing. Through them, he learned the paths of peace, joy, connection, power, and abundance.

Dorian leads workshops and gives presentations at many schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and coaches young men to become more authentic and empowered versions of themselves. He was a presenter at Rancho La Puerta's Family Week in 2019 and 2021. Dorian's mission is to bring out the greatness of every young person he works with so they can thrive.

Dorian's mentors include Les Brown, one of the world's foremost motivational speakers, and Katie Salvage, the Director of Training at Challenge Day.

Recorded 03/09/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks, about their journey working together, building their company, and the highs and lows.

John Cronin and his Dad, Mark X. Cronin are the co-founders of John's Crazy Socks, a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness. In five years, they bootstrapped their start up into the world's largest sock store with multi-million-dollar sales in 88 nations. John may have Down syndrome, but he always says, "Down syndrome never holds me back."

More than half of their employees have a differing ability and every day, John & Mark show what their colleagues can do. They are fierce advocates for the rights of the differently abled and have testified twice before the U.S. Congress and spoken at the United Nations and recorded two TEDx Talks.

John and Mark are winners of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year and the Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman Humanitarian of the Year Award. They have addressed audiences across the U.S., Canada and Mexico speaking before social service agencies, fundraisers, universities, and corporations (e.g., Microsoft, EY & Bank of America).

Recorded on FB Live on 04/28/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Kyle McClelland, President at Have Lights Will Travel, on his story of running a business through the pandemic.

Kyle got his start at Have Lights Will Travel in 2005, after asking Reg Willison, founder, when he was going to hire him. Kyle started work the very next day, and after his graduation from the University of Reno four years later, he asked Reg another question – when would he sell him the business? The pair worked out an arrangement, and in 2017, Kyle finished buying out Reg and became the full owner of Have Lights Will Travel. With the framework of this long-running northern Nevada lighting contractor well established, Kyle had big plans for additional growth and performance.

By 2019, he had expanded the business into southern Nevada and points of California, and he's currently in the process of securing licenses in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, and Colorado. Along the way, Have Lights has developed a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and technologically advanced companies in town, with a highly customized approach to customer service. While the focus is always the same – delivering the best option to the customer – Have Lights recognizes that every project has its own unique challenges, and the company is known for its innovative approach and experienced team.

Kyle's vision for Have Lights also includes a deep commitment to the community. As an active member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, which exists to build better businesses, Have Lights is proud to maintain a company culture in which every team member is valued and supported. It's the basis for the core values at Have Lights: trust and respect, accountability, constant improvement, cutting edge, caring for others, and optimism. These are the kinds of values that build both a family and a company proud to stand behind its team and its work.

Recorded 03/08/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews John Dame, Owner & Managing Partner, Dame Leadership, on everything he has learned coaching clients throughout the pandemic, and what's next!

JD received a B.S. in marketing from Pennsylvania State University in 1973. He pursued a career in radio broadcasting for 32 years. His time spent in broadcasting was leveraged as a rich learning platform for his evolution as a business strategist.

JD's reputation for insightful evaluation, planning, and a passion for driving results have grown his involvement with companies and organizations internationally. He has a fine-tuned understanding of the risks, challenges, and opportunities facing both seasoned and emerging CEOs allowing him to specialize in executive team coaching and strategic planning. His approach to strategic planning is simple and allows an organization to quickly execute better and drive results.He offers a step-by-step guide of the process in his book, Fast Track Strategic Planning.

JD is affiliated with Vistage International, the world's largest CEO membership organization (based on revenue), as a Group Chair and the Best Practice Chair for South Central Pennsylvania. Vistage comprises 13,000 members in 15 countries with members generating nearly $300 billion in annual revenue and employing more than 2.1 million people. JD's clients produce $5 billion in annual revenue and employ over 5,000 people.

His current focus has turned toward the role of purpose in the business environment, the new challenge of transitioning to a millennial-based workforce, and growing leadership teams within his client companies. Currently in the sixth year, the Evolution Leadership Conference series is designed to help leaders move from the old "command and control" leadership style to a more Purposeful leadership style. In 2021 over 500 leaders and executives attended the conference.

Recorded 03/07/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Brooke Lively, CEO and Founder of Cathedral Capital, on the best advice for business owners about how to get on top of their numbers and stay in control of their business.

Brooke is the CEO and Founder of Cathedral Capital, a team of CFOs and Profitability Strategists who help entrepreneurs turn their businesses into profitable companies. After earning her MBA in Investments and Corporate Finance, Brooke built a 7- figure company in under 2 years. As a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), she and her team work with Hall of Famers, INC 5000 businesses, CEOs, and Small Business Owners.

With expertise in growth management, creative problem solving, and profitability strategy, Brooke has been named 'Top 25 Women to Watch,' 2016 - 2020 Diversity Journal 'Women Worth Watching', and 'Fort Worth's 2016 CFOs of the Year'. She is a highly regarded international speaker and the author of several books, including an international best-seller. Brooke has been featured in international media including CNBC, Forbes, US News and World Report, Fort Worth Business Press, Authority Magazine, and on podcasts such as The American Bar Association Modern Law Library, The Entrepreneur Way, and The Law Entrepreneur.

Recorded 02/28/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Daniel Shemtob, Restaurateur & Chef, on managing his businesses throughout the pandemic.

Daniel Shemtob's success is fueled by deep seeded passion, eccentric creativity, and love for community. Being raised to value hard work & intentional effort has helped him get to where he is today.

Despite skipping college and foregoing studying at any of the world's most renowned culinary institutions, Daniel's success has never been hindered by a lack of traditional education.

From food trucks, fast casual restaurants, to fine dining, all styles of catering and his work wear footwear brand... Daniel has no shortage of entrepreneurial ventures under his belt these days.

His career has propelled him into two Food Network show wins, and multiple accolades that have helped further his vision into the world.

Recorded 02/25/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Mike Regan, Co-Founder and Chief of Relationship Development at TrazAct Technologies, on managing his business throughout the pandemic.

Mr. Regan is well known and active within the logistics industry. He serves on the Boards of numerous industry groups such as the National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council (NASSTRAC), as the Chairman of the Advocacy Committee. He's also active in several industry organizations, such as the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), where he is a 2014 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the YPO/WPO Manufacturing Excellence Network.

Mr. Regan has been a featured contributor and has published several blogs in industry publications such as Logisti Management, and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and the Journal of Commerce numerous times. Prior to founding TranzAct, he worked for the Bank of America, PriceWaterhouse, and the Union Pacific Corporation.

TranzAct helps shippers reduce their transportation spend while providing the tools necessary to make better business decisions on an ongoing basis.

Recorded 02/24/2022.

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Brad Stevens, Founder/CEO of Outsource Access, about the pros and cons of global outsourcing.

Brad Stevens is a lifetime entrepreneur, 9-year EO Member and Founder/CEO of Outsource Access, an offshore virtual services firm he built to over 400 employees in just over two and a half years that was the only outsourcing firm to win Inc Magazine's "Best in Business" award for making an impact beyond the P&L. He also co-founded a service called 1on1connections.com that connects together member organizations and conferences at scale. His prior company was in the dental/beauty industry with 8,000 accounts in 18 countries.

Brad walks-the-walk every day with expertise on scaling, automation, outsourcing and high-performance offshore virtual teams. He has spoken in 12 countries for over 100 organizations with high 9 ratings including EO, YPO, Vistage and sharing the stage with John Maxwell at his Leadership Institute. He is a published TEDx Speaker with over 200,000 views on the topic of How Personal Global Economies Are Redefining Entrepreneurship and created the podcast Automate & Delegate - What Should You NOT Be Doing in Life and Business.

Brad is also a 9-year member of the Global Entrepreneurs' Organization currently serving as the EO US East Regional Director for Member Engagement across 22 chapters and nearly 2000 members. He has also served as President for the EO Atlanta Chapter.

Brad has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs and was chosen to run a think-tank at the United Nations for his entrepreneurial expertise and charitable contributions. A top 10 global film school also created a documentary about Brad's business and philanthropic efforts and he has been featured in Inc Magazine, the Wall Street Business Network, and on the cover of Small Business Magazine. Brad graduated from the Wharton Business School with Finance and Marketing Concentrations and recently completed a Harvard Business School Executive Education Program on Inspiring Entrepreneurial Strategy. He lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Cindy, a passionate educator for 13 years, and their two children that keep them quite busy, Ella and Brayden.

Recorded 02/23/22.