Bifocal

Lauren Zak, Director of Account Development for Concept shares how she is modifying her sales approach to meet the sales needs of today's customers.  She talks about how she is incorporating more video into her daily routine and how video is becoming more and more prominent.  She discusses how her routine has drastically changed and the adjustment she made.  She talks in-depth about how companies approach to sales is changing and how their sales approach is becoming more strategic.  Lauren talks about new demands being put on sales managers, specifically how they are being tasked to become more sales strategic and process oriented.  Lauren talks about the role of CRM and how CRM is high priority in companies today.  She talks about why companies are moving quickly to incorporating CRM more and more into their daily sales activities.  Lauren talks about some of the challenges companies are facing today as it relates to remote work forces.  She shares companies are working hard to manage culture with their remote workforce.  With the absence of networking events, Lauren shares things she has been doing to offset that.  Lastly, she discusses how companies are looking for real Partners now.  She said companies are relying on Partners more now than ever for skill sets, expertise and knowledge they don't have.

www.conceptltd.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dan-harsh-associates-ltd
Facebook: https://facebook.com/danharsh.associates
Website: https://www.danharsh.com/
Podcast: https://bifocal.buzzsprout.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN6Hd8E4nbJd6ncXg0yzRfQ?  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danharsh.associates/?hl=en
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bifocal/id1499876537 
Music: www.bensound.com

Joshua Holmes is an accomplished entrepreneur.  He is the owner of Ethode Web & Mobile Development firm and Partner of LightSpeed Hosting.  Joshua shares how he started his two businesses.  He discusses how Ethode, his web development business opened the door for LightSpeed which provides hosting and other cloud services.  As an entrepreneur, he discussed in detail the steps he went through to start each business.  He shares how he got started in the computer industry and how his father was influential in getting him introduced and exposure to computer hardware.  He talks in detail about setting up LightSpeed Hosting, his data center.  Joshua talks about companies utilizing virtual desktop in today's business climate.  He talks about all the benefits of virtual desktop to businesses and employees.  Joshua shares how Ethode developed the website for LeBron James' I Promise School, LeBron James Foundation, and the LeBron James website.  He shares how working with the University of Akron provided him the opportunity to do the three websites for LeBron James.  Joshua Holmes is an inspirational entrepreneur with a very interesting story.

www.ethode.com
www.lightspeedhosting.com 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dan-harsh-associates-ltd
Facebook: https://facebook.com/danharsh.associates
Website: https://www.danharsh.com/
Podcast: https://bifocal.buzzsprout.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN6Hd8E4nbJd6ncXg0yzRfQ?  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danharsh.associates/?hl=en
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bifocal/id1499876537 
Music: www.bensound.com

Dean Manke, Sr. Director of Academic Affairs of Invictus High School shares how Invictus helps high school dropouts achieve their diploma.  Invictus is a Dropout Recovery High School designed to help students with challenging circumstances and often trauma filled backgrounds achieve their high school diploma.  Dean shares how Invictus is designed to meet the needs of the students and to create an environment conducive to meet their needs. He shares inspirational stories and individual student triumphs and successes.  Dean is full of passion and commitment to helping these students.  He talks about the similarities and differences between Invictus and a typical high school.  

Paul Brilla, owner and franchisee of FastSigns talks about how he got invovled with FastSigns.  He shares how his FastSigns journey started inside McDonalds. He talks about what it's like to be a franchisee and how FastSigns the franchisor supports him.  He talks about all the services FastSigns offers and shares what many people do not know about all that FastSigns provides.  He gives insight to where the sign business is moving.

Doug Weintraub, CEO of Bounce Innovation Hub talks about Bounce.  He shares all the programs Bounce offers including the Accelerator Program which offers mentorship, professional development, potential investment, office space and more.  He discusses their Incubator Program designed for growing startups developing a proprietary technology product or service.  He shares their GROW program for non-tech and minority/female owned businesses.

Gavin Ramsey, Business Application Principal for Microsoft shares how Microsoft is helping customers through COVID-19.  He discusses how large enterprise companies worked through deploying work forces to a work from home environment. He talks about how CRM is a strategy not a product and how user adoption is critical.  He reviews the demands that were placed on Microsoft Teams for collaboration and discusses in detail the Microsoft Dynamics 365 umbrella.

Dick Kiko Jr., CEO/Broker/Auctioneer for Kiko Realtors, Auctioneers, Advisors talks about trends in real estate.  Dick discusses the impact of interest rates, unemployment rates, COVID-19, and baby boomers downsizing.  He compares and contrasts the benefits of listing real estate vs. auctioning real estate and how the auction process works.  Dick shares his views on where he thinks the market is trending.

Justin McInturff, Director Sales & Marketing for Concept shares how companies are restructuring sales post COVID-19.  He discusses sales budget realignment, sales structure changes, sales strategy changes, and more.  He describes the three components of a successful sales engine and how companies must move that direction to be competitive.  He talks about integrated sales strategies and how sales and marketing must work together. Justin describes how customers are much more educated today compared to the past and how that is causing sales groups and sales personnel to change.  He discuss companies using multiple vendors vs. one sole vendor.

Mark Kavinsky, owner of SkyNet Solutions shares how network security and data security have been elevated because of COVID-19.  He shares how he started his IT Managed Services business and how he helps companies with networking support services.  He gives examples of how companies will address cloud technology moving forward and the changes to managing networks.

Chris Finnecy, co-owner of TrellisPoint, shares how they started their Microsoft Dynamics CRM company.  He shares how their CRM experience with SalesLogix and other platforms helped them when forming TrellisPoint.  He talks about how sales and managing a pipeline was critical in the early days. Chris stresses the importance of business owners taking care of their employees and how companies are only as good as the employees they employ.  Chris shares the value of planning and trying to look at every angle before starting your business.