Business Scale Insights continues our September, 2020 series on RESILIENCE with Glen Benjamin.  Glen is an expert with over 40 years experience helping organzations, large and small, become more resilient, better and more optimal functioning. 

Glen is a long-term South Florida resident who has worked in the Technology industry for nearly 40 years in a variety of Sales and Partner/Channel roles for organizations such as HP, Citrix, AT&T, Sprint/Nextel, CenturyLink and is currently a Client Executive for a South Florida-based IT Services Provider, LAN Infotech. Glen has a diverse background in Technology with specializations in Cybersecurity, Edge Devices, Cloud, Connectivity, Business Continuity, Social Media and Mobility-IoT to successfully deliver End-to-End Solutions for his clients.

He has been a member of TechLauderdale and the South Florida Technology (SFTA) as well as its predecessor, the South Florida Telecom Forum (SFTF) for about 20 years and for the past 4 years has been a Board Member of TechLauderdale along with our keynote event that is held annually, ITPalooza. Glen has volunteered his time for a variety of local charities such as the South Florida Institute on Aging (SoFIA), The Superhero Leadership Academy, The Dan Marino Foundation, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society amongst other organizations.

In my personal time, Glen enjoys spending time with his Granddaughter and family and being a fanatic for the Miami Dolphins.

Feel free to reach out and connect with Glen at:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 954-974-6262

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenbenjamin/

Blog: http://mobilitycloud.me

Twitter and Skype: @glenbenjamin

Business Scale Insights has dedicated the month of September to covering the topic of RESILIENCE.  If ever our community, stakeholders, leaders needed resilience, it is NOW.     This podcast series is a MUST for anyone attempting to live and thrive in 2020.  If there is any podcast series that is required listening during these troubled times, it is THIS series.

Joining us for another episode to discuss creating resilient leaders is Dr. Thomas Gordon. Tom is the Founder and Partner at TAGA Consulting.  http://www.tagaconsulting.com/

Dr. Gordon provides strategic counsel to Fortune 500 enterprises and executives globally. He assists clients to anticipate and respond decisively to complex challenges, design high performance goals, develop the accountabilities to achieve them, and establish the systems to track and reinforce their progress. He draws upon systems thinking, communications, and human dynamics expertise to deliver distinctive leadership and organizational changesolutions.

A licensed psychologist, Tom graduated cum laude from Harvard University; earned his M.A.  and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan; and completed post-doctoral mass media and conflict resolution study at the University of Pennsylvania/Annenberg School of Communications.

Tom’s career spans 35+ years –as college professor, health and mental health systems manager, psychotherapist, leadership coach, and organizational advisor. His faculty affiliations include: The University of Michigan, Temple University, The University of Pennsylvania, Antioch College, Goddard College, Department of Psychiatry/Thomas Jefferson University, and Family Medicine/Medical University of South Carolina.

He  is married, the father of 5 adult children, and grandfather to 7. Tom is an avid, lifelong learner: He travels globally for cross-cultural study and exchange, has coached adolescent basketball, speaks Spanish and Swahili, plays tenor saxophone, and mentors rising professionals.

Business Scale Insights podcast is launching a series focused on one concept: RESILIENCE. If ever our community, stakeholders, leaders needed resilience, it is NOW.     This podcast series is a MUST for anyone attempting to live and thrive in 2020.  If there is any podcast series that is required listening during these troubled times, it is THIS series. 

There is no one better to launch a podcast series on resilience that leadership coach and consultant, Tom Gordon. Tom is the Founder and Partner at TAGA Consulting.  http://www.tagaconsulting.com/

Tom Gordon provides strategic counsel to Fortune 500 enterprises and executives globally. Tom assists clients to anticipate and respond decisively to complex challenges, design high performance goals, develop the accountabilities to achieve them, and establish the systems

A licensed psychologist, Tom graduated cum laude from Harvard University; earned his M.A.  and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan; and completed post-doctoral mass media and conflict resolution study at the University of Pennsylvania/Annenberg School of

Tom’s career spans 35+ years –as college professor, health and mental health systems manager, psychotherapist, leadership coach, and organizational advisor. His faculty affiliations include: The University of Michigan, Temple University, The University of

Tom is married, the father of 5 adult children, and grandfather to 7. Tom is an avid, lifelong learner: He travels globally for cross-cultural study and exchange, has coached adolescent basketball, speaks Spanish and Swahili, plays tenor saxophone, and mentors rising

Business Scale Insights is continuing its focus on Black Businesses in light of National Black Business Month in the US.  Our focus on this episode on the critical need for business financing in the black community to support entrepreneurial ecosystems.  BSI reached out to Black Angels Miami Executive Director Kevin Cadette to get his insights on the need and how to successfully navigate business financing from VCs and Angels for black entrepreneurs. 

Kevin Cadette is a startup industry veteran and technology leader.  A founder of multiple startups and former technology executive with multiple Fortune 50 companies, his experience spans a wide spectrum from bootstrapped start-ups to global corporations. 

Check out Black Angels Miami 

https://www.blackangels.miami/

On this episode we continue the series discussing in this series the impact of COVID-19 on black lives and businesses in light of the social and economic unrest in the U.S. right now.    We invited Jerome Hutchinson, Founder of the International Career and Business Alliance, to discuss why he believes black businesses matter in the U.S. 

ICABA® ,International Career and Business Alliance, Inc., is a career and business development company assisting accomplished professionals and entrepreneurs achieve their career, business and lifestyle aspirations through valuable connections, information and opportunities.

He is also he Managing Partner of JHJ Marketing Group, LLC, a South Florida based marketing agency providing its clients with culturally relevant strategies executed through engagement marketing, experiential marketing, advertising, public relations and social media.

Hutchinson made history when he and his Father launched WYCS-TV, Kentucky’s first African American owned television station in his hometown of Louisville, Ky. WYCS-TV signed on-air March 6, 1996. As a serial entrepreneur, Hutchinson’s business interests have included broadcasting, information technology, retailing, and a marketing consultancy. Hutchinson has also enjoyed a successful career as a radio executive from 2002 through 2008 serving as General Sales Manager for three of the nation’s top five urban radio stations: Houston’sKMJQ--FM, Majic 102, Atlanta’s WVEE--FM, V--103, and Miami’s WEDR--FM, 99 JAMZ

Since arriving in South Florida in 2005, Hutchinson has been active in the community serving on the boards of 100 Black Men of Greater Ft. Lauderdale, the Broward Alliance, BB&T Bank Advisory Board (Broward County), Nova Southeastern University Ambassadors Board, the BrowardWorkforce Development Board, the Broward Presidents Community Council, Board Chairman, Broward Health Foundation, Florida Memorial University Business School Advisory Board and the Broward Alliance Governor’s Council. He is also an alumnus of the 2008-09 Leadership BrowardClass XXVII. He has received numerous awards for business and civic leadership; in 2015, the Collective Empowerment Group presented him the “Grand Champion” award and the TJ Reddick Bar Association presented him their “Business Leadership” award. In 2016, the Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce recognized Hutchinson as a “Man of Distinction”.

 In 2017, Hutchinson received the Vanguard Award from the Mosaic Group. Hutchinson has also been featured in local and national media for his civic and business leadership. Hutchinson is single and has two (2) daughters, Kristin and Naomi. He is an active member of Potential Church and resides in Sunrise, Florida.

In this episode, we tackle the issue of ethic diversity in the workplace in light of racial tensions in the United States after the death of George Floyd and many others. 

Business Scale Insights is dedicated to providing critical resources to businesses to help them serve their customers and communities better. In light of that, the podcast is committed to addressing this issue with a series on the topic.  Much like this podcast has addressed the COVID-19 crisis with critical information to help businesses survive and thrive, we believe that diversity and inclusion in business and the workplace is truly a "life or death" issue for many in America.   And without diversity in business and the workplace, MANY communities CANNOT BREATHE and CANNOT SURVIVE.  

Carla Harris, CEO of The People Institute, will discuss diversity and inclusion in the workplace on this episode. 

As the CEO & Managing Director of The People Institute, Carla's sole mission is to help companies and organizations serve clients better by focusing on the dynamics of workplace culture and cultivating synergy across teams. Formerly known as ImageWorks, Carla embarked on her journey in 1997 when she founded the company to assist C-level executives further enhance their professional image in order to be more effective in their roles. In 2018, ImageWorks became The People Institute in order to further align Carla's quest of leading the charge to shift organizational focus from the bottom line to the heart of the people who influence the organizational productivity. "People are the heartbeat of any organization. Focus on the people and the performance will come," Carla says, as her background in assisting both public and private-sector clients have continuously fueled her calling to help others show up as their absolute best.

On this episdoe of Business Scale Insights, I interview Jane Doremus Vice President, Consulting Services with Right Management.

Jane is a wealth of information and really gives gems of wisdom for professionals downsized due to COVID-19.  She identifies resources and strategies that professionals need to rebound from the downturn or change industries. 

This is DEFINITELY an episode that you need to share with those who you know have been downsized or who you anticipate being downsized in the near future. 

 Jane draws on over 25 years of experience in staffing and career coaching to Right Management. Jane is a seasoned expert who guides professional candidates on managing career development and growth. She has successfully transitioned candidates in a wide variety functions and diverse industries by providing creative, practical and inspirational leadership.   Jane is an expert utilizing all aspects of social media and successfully guides candidates to create their own personal media brand through a variety of social media sites where appropriate. Jane has been an instrumental in creating and facilitating Social Media initiatives which include LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and personal websites. 

Jane is also the co-creator of Right Management, Florida/Caribbean’s podcast Landed! Advice on Landing the Job of Your Dreams. She keeps abreast of new trends, tools and resources available via the constant changing social media arena.

For more information about Right Management, please visit the website: www.rightflorida.com

On this episode of Business Scale Insights, Dan Pace, COO of First Financial, shares his expertise with our audience on Financing Opportunities for Small Businesses During COVID-19.  Dan has decades of experience in financing small businesses and expertise with SBA loan products.  

Dan goes into detail about specific opportunities that small businesses now have under the CARES Act to have loan payments deferred for six months.  And he also goes into detail about the various loan products offered by First Financial for small business owners. 

First Financial provides flexible and creative financing for its customers and First Financial believes in establishing a positive relationship right from the beginning. They have a range of small business financing options designed to fit your needs.

To find out more about First Financial's loan products, please visit the website: 

https://ffcash.net/sba-express-loan/

On today's episode, I interview Danielle St. Luce.  Danielle works for BBIF Florida, a statewide Community Development Financial Institution, as their Regional Director in the South Florida market. Her focus is on financing and educating underbanked clients throughout the Miami metro area.

Danielle will talk about what underserved small business owners need to know about accessing capital loans during the pandemic.  Sadly, many small businesses are being left behind during the pandemic and need to understand how to best financially navigate the crisis.

Danielle spent her college years in Togo, West Africa where she completed her baccalaureate before moving to the United States for university. After graduating from Cornell University with her bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, she returned to the South Florida area to work in the non-profit world. Before working in finance, she started in education and moved to the arts. She has continued working with small arts organizations in the Overtown area as a consultant specializing in educating small teams in operations and sales.

In work and in life, Danielle consistently seeks individuals and institutions working towards creating equity in an inequitable world. Both professionally and personally, she finds herself involved with working groups focused on a range issues from Opportunity Zones to facilitating dialogue among divergent groups.