Cheers To Business

On this episode, Karen talks with Sherrica Hunt, the Director of Institutional Advancement at Bishop State Community College. Sherrica shares her career journey from Mobile, AL to literally around the world and back to Bishop State, where she says she has found the best fit for her skills, experience, and authentic self. Plus, we hear how Bishop State is evolving and growing to be an educational and innovation hub that is working to create a symbiotic and beneficial environment for students, the local business market, and the whole community.

Key Takeaways

- Community Colleges can be an affordable and valuable secret weapon for educational opportunities and business resources for their whole community.

- Bishop State wants to create a space where anyone can come and get educational, business, manufacturing, and technical training so that our citizens can be productive.

- Beware of advice and lessons from mentors and teachers who do not have a track record of executing at a high level of success.

- Always bring your authentic self and strive to add value when starting a new career, project, or any interaction.

Resources:

Sherrica Hunt  -   LinkedIn     

Bishop State Foundation  -  How To Give

Cheers To:

To have a successful department, business, or organization, you cannot have toxicity. - Sherrica Hunt

We can teach you everything you need to know, but we can't teach you what God has given you. - Sherrica Hunt

On this episode, Karen talks to John Serda, owner of Serda Brewing. John talks about coming to grip with having to admit that his beer brands were not working with his market and audience. With tap room sales falling, retail production stopped, and dealing with a pandemic shutdown John starts to change everything about his company from the beers, the labels, the brewery leadership, and his brewmaster. In this candid and fascinating conversation John tells us how they decided to make the changes, how the changes are going and how much courage it takes to take a hard and honest look at your product, processes, and purpose.

Read AL.com's >>> For Mobile Beermaker, 2020’s Upheavals Made Rebirth A Complex Brew

Key Takeaways

- Make a product for your market, not just for yourself.

- Don’t look at only external factors when your product or service business is failing

- When cutting your budget to mitigate poor sales beware to not cut the most important expenses like marketing and workforce.

- To save a company, a total rebuilding from the ground up might be the best way to move forward.

Resources

John Serda  -  Facebook

Serda Brewing  -  Facebook  |   Instagram   |   Website

Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at DocRx.com.

When no one is going to let the good times roll with Mobile's month-long and city-wide Mardi Gras celebration, it's more than just a city missing a great party. Not having Mardi Gras, and especially all the parades, means millions of dollars of lost tax revenue, and hundreds of businesses, artists, and companies have been put into financial jeopardy. Instead of taking this laying down, Susan Sarver and Stacy Wellborn have started the Mobile Porch Parade to keep Mardi Gras revelry alive in Mobile, Alabama. Plus, in the process, they are saving a ton of jobs, giving a new permanent revenue source for desperate float builders for years to come, and uplifting the spirits of old and young during this most festive time in our city.

On this episode, Karen talks with Stacy Wellborn and explains Mobile Porch Parade in detail, why it was started, what has been the immediate impact with the community, and how anyone can get involved.

Check out the Mardi Gras Spirit on Mobile Porch Parade >>>

Mobile Porch Parade:

Key Takeaways

- Float builders have found a new revenue source with the Mobile Porch Parade.

- Mardi Gras being canceled due to COVID-19 is going to be devastating to the local.

- Creating or providing a valuable service that increases community involvement and positivity is a recipe for success.

- Work to build a stronger local community around your business and ask locals to support you when you're in need.

Resources:

Mobile Porch Parade  -  Facebook   |    Instagram   |   Website   |    Map

Stacy Wellborn  -  LinkedIn  |   Instagram

Suzanne Sarver  -  Instagram  |   Dribbble

Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at DocRx.com.

Last November, Karen talked with FOY Superfoods owner Liz Garza about the origins of Mobile, Alabama's first and only Juicery and Fresh Eats Restaurant, how she is managing her 2 locations during COVID, and how she and her husband kept the store open while they had to quarantine. Plus, Liz shares her insights on innovating, creating new revenue streams, leading by example, and preparing her staff to keep FOY running in any crisis.

Check out the healthy and fresh eats at FOY SUPERFOODS >>>

Key Takeaways

- Train and trust your staff to be able to run your business without you having to be there 24/7.

- Create systems and processes not to let your business "work you."

- Work to build a stronger local community around your business and ask locals to support you when you're in need.

Resources:

Liz Garza  -  Facebook  |   LinkedIn

FOY Superfoods   -   Facebook  |  Instagram

Cheers To:

We need to get stay at the top of people's minds. When they think of health food, I want them to think of FOY. - Liz Garza

I don't know how long we can sustain of operating at a loss like this, but it's a dream and it's a passion project. And it's something that I am going to take out kicking and screaming. - Liz Garza

If you do your job, you should not be needed as a business owner. It should want be able to run without you. - Karen Simmons

If everything is dependent upon the business owner, and if you go down, the business is done. - Karen Simmons

Karen has been screaming from the rooftops, "calm down during this COVID crisis. look around,  and see if there is some opportunity for your business in this chaos!" On this episode, Karen talks with Ashley Smith, the Vice President of Wholesale Pharmacy at DocRX, about how she and her company took control of the COVID-19 business chaos, their processes, and their services and products to serve their existing and new clients better. Their pivot to PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) products and fulfillment has led to new revenue streams, saved jobs at DocRX, and has helped many companies get back open quickly and safely. This a true COVID-19 business success story!

{Editor's Note: Karen consults with DOCRX and they are the presenting sponsor of this Podcast}

Key Takeaways

- Always look for an opportunity to fill and need, especially when your competition is distracted.

- Be a valuable resource for your customers, industry, and your own internal stakeholders.

- Strive to always maintain your company's mission and promise, even in a crisis.

- Control the controllables in your business, supply chain, and delivery.

Resources

Ashley Smith    Website  |   LinkedIn

Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at DocRx.com.

On this episode, Karen talks with Dr. Darren Waters, owner and Medical Director of Greater Mobile Urgent Care. Dr. Waters discusses the challenges and opportunities that presented themselves to his Urgent Care practices when the COVID virus and lockdowns disrupted his normal clinical operations. Without laying off any employees, GMUC weathered low patient numbers, massive changes to the daily operations, and all the business unknowns to find new revenue streams while still delivering quality healthcare during a pandemic. Then Dr. Waters gives us the 411 on the new COVID vaccines being distributed throughout the U.S. Plus, Karen talks with Dr. Waters about his sharp entrepreneur instincts, partnering with a family member, and the most challenging issues at GMUC since March of 2020.

Key Takeaways

- If you find a need, fill that need, and make it available for a fair price, you have a business.

- There is opportunity in entropy and crisis.

- There is a lack of access to primary care in Lower Alabama, and urgent care bridges that gap.

- In a business crisis, you've got to find another niche, another way to get by. You have to be very fluid and adaptive.

Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at DocRx.com.

On this episode, Karen and Dr. Gia Wiggins of Morale Resource, LLC, have a serious talk about what they know, as of today, about the FRCA (Family First Corona Response Act), PPP forgiveness, and creating an official company telecommuting policy for your employees and staff. Karen shares some accounting and tax wisdom to navigate these tricky federal acts and Dr. Gia explains the HR and employment issues of these ever-changing federal programs. Now is the time to get all your records in order and know exactly the ins and outs of the 2020 FRCA and the PPP forgiveness submissions.

Key Takeaways

- The FRCA Speaker expires on December 31st unless something else is approved and extended.

- There are no additional hours, over 80 hours of payroll pay, that your company will get the credit for after December 31st.

- Make sure that they're keeping accurate employment and payout records; if not, correct them now.

- Find an HR or financial professional to help with any FRCA or PPP tracking, records, or reporting issues.

- All of your remote workers need to be under an official telecommuting agreement.

= Do not make any knee jerk reactions or payments. Consult with professionals for any FRCA, PPP, and PPP forgiveness questions or issues.

Resources

Gia Wiggins    Website  |   LinkedIn

Morale Resource    Website   |    Facebook

Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at docrx.com.

Learn More About Karen Simmons & CFO Consulting

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

CFO Consulting Services

Tis’ the season for things to get pretty relaxed or hectic around the office and workplace. So, Karen invited HR strategist and guru Dr. Gia Wiggins of Morale Resources to deliver some essential Christmas do’s and end of year business and HR preparations you need to be discussing and wrapping up. Plus, Karen drops her three biggest holiday business don’ts and some solid advice on employee bonuses. At Cheers To Business, we love the gift of Dr. Gia being in the studio and being able to share her brilliant insights and gleeful good cheer.
Enjoy the show!

Dr. Gia’s 3 Big Christmas Do's:

1. Plan for the unexpected.

2. Treat people the way that they would want to be treated through recognition and respect.

3. Be purposeful managing your business team for the work and projects that need to be completed before the end of the year.

Resources

Gia Wiggins    Website  |   LinkedIn

Morale Resource    Website   |    Facebook

Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at docrx.com.

Learn More About Karen Simmons & CFO Consulting

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

CFO Consulting Services

On this episode, Karen and Johnny let the listeners peek behind the podcast curtain when they share a Cheers To Business planning session for growing the show in the coming year. 2020 milestones will be reviewed, goals will be made, strategies will be formulated, and to-do lists will be completed to push the show into 2021. Listen close; the same issues discussed in this episode are the same issues in all types and sizes of other businesses. Are you preparing for next year?

This episode has been sponsored by DocRX

Karen and Johnny's Cheers To Business Plans for 2021

1. More focused shows and create more themed series.
2. Get back to fundamentals with more planning and prep.
3. Including more practical, tactical, and concrete information in the shows.
4. Less Facebook, more Linkedin. Find the right channels to target the business demographic.
5. More and better promotions for shows before and after the airing.
6. Start reposting and promoting relevant and evergreen shows from the past seasons.
7. Create specific show listener growth goals and KPIs.
8. Repurpose and maximize the use of all the past show content for other marketing uses and messages.

Karen and Johnny's Cheers To Business Goals For 2021

1. Document and adhere to the episode creation process.
2. Increase podcast listener growth of podcast plays on all channels by 25% by the end of Q2.
3. Incorporate more zoom, video content, and video vignette integration into the show and marketing.

Resources

Johnny Gwin    Website  |   Twitter

Deep Fried Studios    Website   |    Facebook

Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at docrx.com.

Learn More About Karen Simmons & CFO Consulting

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

CFO Consulting Services

On this episode, Karen talks with Cheers To Business podcast producer Johnny Gwin about his Deep Fried Studio's challenges, growth, and evolution in 2020. Johnny shares his struggles with his podcast studio into an internet media company due to his inability to find the staff and talent for him to be able to work on bigger projects and opportunities. Karen delivers some good advice from her past business successes and talks about the importance of managing expectations and personally defining what success looks like. Plus, Johnny shares some news on the big direction that Deep Fried Studios will be pushing forward in 2021.

Key Takeaways

- Manage expectations internally and externally with your company.

- Calculate and add "learning curve" and failure into any employment hire and training period.

- Nothing happens without optimism.

- Plan for future business obstacles but do not fixate on "what ifs." Plus, have solutions ready when you confront them.

- Develop a process to handle growth and disruption.

Resources

Johnny Gwin    Website  |   Twitter

Deep Fried Studios    Website   |    Facebook

Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at docrx.com.

Learn More About Karen Simmons & CFO Consulting

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

CFO Consulting Services