How I built this - Birmingham Style

On this podcast, we interview business owners and ask them about the secrets of successful entrepreneurship. Hear how this person built their business, what struggles they faced along the way and most importantly, how you can apply that same wisdom to your own life and business. If you're a Birmingham entrepreneur looking for helpful advice then tune in today!

In this episode we listen to 3 amazing women entrepreneurs right here from Birmingham, and to their stories or how it all began!

Will is a principal of Capital Growth Real Estate, where he focuses on junior and big box disposition, site selection for retailers, land brokerage, and acquisitions. With over 17 years’ experience in the commercial real estate industry his current retail clients include Aldi Foods, Taco Bell, Logan’s Roadhouse, Dave & Busters, NTB, Tuesday Morning, and Jack’s Hamburgers. Will’s past Landlord clients include Bayview Financial, Brookhill, C&S Wholesale Grocers, CW Capital, DDR, Inland, Interwest Capital, Wal-Mart and others.

Prior to becoming a principal at CGRE Will worked for The Shopping Center Group (TSCG) in their Birmingham, AL office where he specialized in Tenant and Landlord Representation.

Will holds a BA degree in Real Estate Finance and Economics from The University of Alabama. When he isn’t working or spending time with his family he is an active “Big Brother” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization, flies planes, Hosts Small Groups for The Church of The Highlands(COH), Christian Financial Coach for COH, and an Active Board Member for Save A Life. Will was named Top 40 Under 40 in 2008 by the Birmingham Business Journal.

Gusty Gulas is the Team Leader of the Gusty Gulas Group, Birmingham's #1 Team in Homes Sold since 2012. The G3 Team also holds Birmingham's only endorsement from Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran. The Team is also endorsed by Birmingham Mountain Radio's Reg and Will, 102.5 The Bull's Dollar Bill and Madison and JT with WERC 105.5'S. In the last two years Gusty's team has sold over 850 homes! Gusty is the President for the Birmingham Association of Realtors.

Gusty is currently the Top Rated Realtor on www.Zillow.com in the greater Birmingham Alabama area with the highest rating and most reviews. Gusty and team proudly represent many Home Buyers and Sellers that are either relocating to town, buying their first home or looking for an excellent marketing strategy to sell their home. His team is focused on making the Home Buying and Selling Experience easy!

Gusty's past professional accomplishments include:2016 Nominee for Residential Sales Associate of the Year for Birmingham Association of Realtors; 2013-2014 Best Realtor for Birmingham Magazine; 2011 Birmingham Business Journal Top 40 under 40; 2007 Finalist Rookie of the Year for Birmingham Association of Realtors

Gusty is married to the former Katie Minton of Gadsden Alabama and currently live in Homewood AL where they have two sons named Tripp and Max. Gusty received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2003 from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha social Fraternity. Gusty's hobbies include: Alabama Football, Concerts, traveling and Golf.

Keith and his wife Amy founded Taziki's in 1998. He served as President from May 1998 until December 2012, and then served as the Chief Franchise Officer from June 2012 till 2017. Keith has returned to manage the flagship market in Birmingham, AL, and continues to lead our culinary R+D and the HOPE project, Taziki's signature charity. Before creating Taziki’s, Keith Richards worked under the direction of Frank Stitt at Highlands Bar and Grill- which won the elusive 2018 James Beard Foundation Award for the most outstanding restaurant in America. Today, Keith and Amy and their two sets of twins live in Birmingham, AL, where Keith serves on the Shelby County Chamber Board and advances the cause of employing special needs students in Birmingham and across the country.

Alexander Shunnarah was born in Birmingham and attended John Carroll Catholic High School. He attended Samford University but transferred to University of Alabama at Birmingham; he graduated with a BS in political science and sociology in 1991. In 1995 he received his law degree from Birmingham School of Law and after working in Birmingham, he established his own law firm in 2001.

Shunnarah's company started with one legal assistant and marketing that consisted of "handing out business cards to family and friends and fellow church members". By 2014 his firm, headquartered in Birmingham, covered North Alabama and in January 2014 had started Alexander Shunnarah & Associates, which covered the Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi coastal areas. In 2016 he opened a new corporate headquarters in Birmingham, employing 60 attorneys.

Shunnarah is well-known for the ubiquity of his billboards. He refused to disclose how much he spends on advertising, but did make a video poking fun at his "unparalleled billboard empire across the state and the [southeast]" and has spoken on national conferences about his marketing campaigns. In 2016, he was named "Master of Marketing" by The National Trial Lawyer Magazine. At that time, he and his slogan "Let Me Be Your Attorney" were found "on more than 2,000 billboards and thousands of TV commercials and other ads"

In this episode of How I Built This - Birmingham Style, Dr. Patrick Murphy from University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Collat School of Business's Entrepreneurial Program & Ron Holt CEO of Pink Zebra Moving discuss what society views as a "flaw" that can actually be a superpower for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs often have to wear many hats and juggle lots of tasks -- which means they're more likely to commit a mistake. Instead of being afraid of making mistakes and not advancing your business, in this episode hear how you can embrace your flaws and mistakes and how to make them a source of your best ideas.

Birmingham, Alabama is a city of entrepreneurs and innovators. And in this episode of How we built this Birmingham Birmingham Style, we have Betsy McAtee from Dreamland BBQ who's been able to grow her company into a regional brand by making delicious food with Southern pride.