After years in the corporate world, Chris Hobbick noticed a gap: small businesses with fewer than 15 employees often needed IT support but couldn’t justify a full-time hire. Seizing the opportunity, he launched First Rate Tech Corp (www.firstratetechcorp.com), a thriving business that’s now a go-to resource for small enterprises. In this episode, discover how Chris transformed challenges into triumphs—revamping his pricing strategy with the innovative “10 Pack” and turning revenue declines into a lasting surge. Learn how he expanded his services to include stunning website design and development, growing his team to ten talented professionals. But that’s not all! Chris shares inspiring success stories from clients who experienced their own “upticks” after partnering with First Rate Tech Corp. With an eye on market demands and a commitment to affordability, Chris continually adapts and thrives. Tune in for insights on reinventing business strategies, meeting client needs, and achieving first-rate results!

️Exciting news! In my latest podcast episode, I chat with Benjy Dobrin, the Founder/Owner/Instructor of Benjy Dobrin Studios. We talk about how the pandemic transformed his business moving to Zoom teaching acting and providing corporate training.
Benjy shares his experience of now having an international business instead of a Denver-based one. He also discusses the nuances and conveniences of learning acting on Zoom, including how to french kiss and fight on the platform.
Did you know that BDS provides corporate training too? Benjy has taught lawyers how to address juries and finance folks how to address investors, among other scenarios. For actors, these classes are essential to landing work, especially since almost all initial auditions in Hollywood are now held on Zoom. Take a listen to hear how Benjy is currently teaching a #WWE wrestler to talk smack. BDS is here to help you improve your skills and succeed in your career!

Benjy is a Minnesota native, die-hard Vikings fan, and he likes the band Phish. Prior to opening Benjy Dobrin Studios, Benjy was an actor in Hollywood, CA. His students range from working actors, to folks who want to do it as a hobby to learn, to people in the business world, and more. Benjy's slogan is, "Work Hard. Dream Big. Celebrate Life." Visit benjydobrin.com for more information. You can also email him at [email protected] 

If you're unemployed and have a job interview Brothers Cleaners will clean your clothes for free. Powerful stuff!! The sign in the window caught me walking by. Generous, kind, and sharp marketing! Brothers Cleaners Owner & CEO Ben Hikler joins my podcast for C-Suite Executives. Brothers is a family owned and operated dry cleaners since 1916. Putting free cleaning for job interviewee's is motion is all Ben. He reveals how the promotion came to life and the reaction it's received. One free cleaning at one of his locations has endeared him to folks and earned his business a lifetime of loyalty from customers. Compassionate real marketing. Ben also reveals the hit his company, and the dry cleaning industry as whole took during the pandemic/WFH movement with less clothes needing to be cleaned. Many don't think of this business when thinking about industries hit hard by Covid. He also fills on in on why the dry cleaning business will always be around, and won't be swallowed up by Technology/AI.

Matt Guidice, Co-Founder of Matt's Flights, joins to discuss how he flat out saves travelers $ and his business is a real life "travel hack". He calls his Matt's Flights a "new age airfare concierge". His email newsletter service is both free with a premium option which personalizes the businesses relationship to the subscriber's travel needs. Listen to the ins and outs of how he conducts his magic, how the company will track your desired trips, so you don't have to. Additionally, while price hunting is a major driver of his business, Matt discusses how not so cost-conscious folks use his service as well as they can do first class or put together multi destination trips. He outlines what his company will and won't do for the customer in putting together a trip.
Matt explains how his service superior to & differs from Orbitz, Expedia, and other flight search engines. He explains how he differs from his competitors in the space. In this interview he tells YOU how to utilize his service. He with a wink and a smile discusses how he's like Dave Matthews of Dave Matthews Band. Matt has two co-founders, but his name is on the billboard a la “Matt’s Flights”. He answers why the company is named after him. His website is mattsflights.com You can email him at [email protected]

Rob joins my business podcast to discuss Sustainability as well as Corporate Reputation. Rob defines what sustainability is. He shares examples how corporate reputation is tied to sustainability and what companies have sustainability embedded in their DNA. Rob discusses which companies are some of the most forward thinking and acting when it comes to sustainability with their initiatives. He names names of leaders in this space.  He discusses what The Harris Poll research reveals about how consumer opinions and behaviors are shaped & changed due to inflation around sustainability.  In this episode Rob gives a good look, not just peek, off The Harris Poll research about what people care about in the business community as we enter the new year. 

Star Realtor Asa Fleming joins my business vodcast to discuss the current climate in real estate, how he and his team have been affected, some of the fallout from the pandemic, the particulars of the housing shortage in 2022, and why he loves Real Estate. Asa also shares his background as he was born in New Haven, CT, but was raised in New York City.  He found his way to Raleigh first for undergrad at NC State, then returned for a career in Real Estate. He discussed how "providing shelter" and that human need would make Real Estate a sustainable business no matter what was going on in the world.  Asa also delves into principles that guide him professionally and some of the awards his stellar work has yielded him.

Ancora L&G Chairman and CEO Josh Parker joins the podcast to discuss him partnering his Durham based real estate firm Ancora with a British financial services provider Legal & General Group to invest in life sciences development in emerging markets throughout the U.S. Josh Parker will oversee the operation.  This is L&G's first time breaking into the U.S. market.

Josh explains why the triangle was a good starting point for this operation. He explains the reason why they plan to develop real estate around "Anchor Institutions" such as universities and hospitals.  Josh discusses that both parties in the partnership are well resourced.  He gets into why the life sciences space interests him as he's married life sciences with real estate. He also talks about other markets he has his eye on, and why.  Take a listen to a man with a plan and visit him here https://www.ancora.re/about/

A great listen for anyone who wants to learn a thing or two about Business Networking. Joe gives live (and virtual) speeches, has written three books about business, and coaches many clients. After almost thirty years in the printing business, and a successful stint in the 90's and 00's selling real estate in New York, Joe was ready for the change to this unique career.

Joe discusses how this next chapter of his life has awakened skills and talents within him. He works with clients around referral marketing, growing their business, mindset building, networking, and more. He's studied the work of Tony Robbins, Brene Brown, and Tom Hopkins. The kinds of clients (not exclusively) he works with are Small Business Owners, Salespeople, and General Professionals in a cross section of industries that could benefit from mindset work to move past setbacks and challenges.  

Joe offers good color on a person’s mindset.  Joe explains firsthand how he experienced a spiraling negative mindset for years after 9/11 and saw his real estate business fall apart slowly. He explains how life is really lived inside out. Without giving too much away in this short info filled chat, when Covid hit, he applied all his lessons and kept a positive mindset learning from post 9/11. Listen to Joe explain how one can be unhappy in their life, but not get consumed and have their life fall apart even while going through a difficult time such as a divorce. Joe is about keeping the arrow pointing up no matter what is going on. Grow your network! Grow your business. Listen to this podcast and visit Joe at joenovara.com

In this episode Anger Management Coach Libby Dickerson joins.  Libby reveals how her personal journey struggling with anger led her into this vocation. Libby discusses perspective shifts around framing anger in our mind.  Libby has had court ordered Domestic Violence offenders she's worked with and opens about that. She also reveals what the ratio of men to women is that she works with and helps explain the reasons why the ratio is what it is. Libby gives advice to listeners struggling with anger.  She discusses techniques like welcoming anger versus fighting it or white knuckling it. Libby also helps folks who struggle with anger in the workplace. Libby Dickerson treats clients virtually and you can find her at https://hiiipowercoaching.com/

In the lastest episode, Burt's Bees Vice-President and General Manager Mariah Eckhardt discusses how passionate she is about the brand she's been employed by for 16 years.  When you listen you may not be able to differentiate her enthusiasm as an employee of the company from being a dedicated customer.  She samples and loves the products, and in the interview tells us her favorite product.  Additionally, who is "Burt" of "Burt's Bees".  Mariah will answer that burning question that most consumers of the popular product could not answer.  And like many employers trying to navigate the hybrid vs in-office vs WFH model, Mariah takes us inside what's goin on at Burt's as it's still being navigated through, and she illustrates different scenarios of when employees that can work from home are allowed to.  Burt's Bees was acquired by Clorox in 2007.  The brand remains strong, and and hear why that is by taking a listen to VP/GM & Brand Ambassador Mariah Eckhardt.