Local First

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Let’s meet Melissa,

Melissa is all about helping small businesses achieve efficiency and time by blending technology with marketing

Melissa Blair is a serial entrepreneur and a product of 2 entrepreneurial parents. Small business is in her DNA.

This is also why she is so passionate about helping other entrepreneurs. She knows all too well how much time, energy, and money it takes to run a small business.

As a self-proclaimed ‘marketing geek’ she has worked with a wide variety of software systems on the market that claims to be easy to use.

What she found though is that none of those tools were built for the Soloprenuer or 2-5 person companies. They were built for organizations who had a marketing staff or who could afford to hire out consultants to help them. In most cases, it still meant having to Frankenstein together numerous software tools in an effort to build a cohesive system.

Her company, Cultivating Sales, has what she has nicknamed her ‘Soloprenuer Software.’ Software that has been specifically designed to incorporate the tools that a small service-based business needs and that is easy to use and at an affordable price.

Key Take Aways:

* Taking the risk of Starting over

* Entrepreneurship is in her blood

* Any business you are in is a relationship building business

* Using systems to run your business is key

 

Let’s Talk

262-373-4000

cultivate Communications

Recommended Book

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Elevated Insurance

Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business

 

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Let’s meet Mara & Gloria,

Our names are Mara & Gloria, and together we make Artery Ink! Through our artwork and various products, we want to encourage you to eat healthier, take better care of your body, learn more about how it all works and ultimately become happier. We came up with the concept for Artery Ink when we decided to eat healthier ourselves and learn more about our bodies. In changing what we ate and appreciating how our bodies worked everything else in our lives changed too. It was so inspiring we thought, “How can we share this with the world!?” – Artery Ink was born.

All of our artwork is drawn by one of us either digitally or with a pen. We hope you enjoy it, learn from it and share it with your family and friends!

Our mission statement is:

Products made to encourage and inspire you to learn more about the body you live in, with the mission of helping you take better care of it, so in turn, you can live your fullest, happiest and healthiest life possible.

Key Take Aways:

* Not working but doing what they love to do as an artist

* Encouraging others to learn more about our bodies

* Artery Ink declares Milwaukee is super cool

* Using art to inform and teach

Get in touch with Mara & Gloria of Artery Ink

Website Artery Ink

Instagram @ArteryInk

Facebook Artery Ink

Recommended Book

 

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Elevated Insurance

Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business

 

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Meet Kelly Andrew:

President & Chief Executive Officer, Filament Communication

 

Kelly E. Andrew grew up on a farm in Wisconsin, before moving to her current hometown: Milwaukee. In 2013, after a decade in the non-profit sector, she pursued her lifelong entrepreneurial dream by founding Filament Communication. Her mission, to help independent businesses grow, inspired her to hone her Internet marketing skills and build a passionate, growth-minded team of marketers. Kelly believes that strong local economies depend on the success of independent businesses. Filament Communication helps those businesses shine online.

Key Take Aways:

* Your effort is cumulative

* Start today

* It’s all about strategy

* Tracking your results is key

 

Contact Kelly

www.filamentwi.com

LinkedIn

Facebook Page

 

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Elevated Insurance

Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business

 

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Local First Podcast Show Partner Jackson Bubolz

Key Take Aways

* Inspiring others

* How to manage your attitude

* You have to sacrifice something to get what you want

* Rule of 3 to 1

Recommend Books:

Rich Dad Poor Dad

Happiness Advantage

Looking at Connecting with Small Businesses

Sponsors

Love the podcast? Sign up for listener support, you’re basically buying me a coffee each month.

Elevated Insurance

Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business

 

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Meet Martin:

Martin tells his story how he puts in the work to go from Auto Mechanic to Photographer at Koss headphones.

Koss and Martin provided Local First Podcast with two wireless speakers and headphones to give away.

All you need to do is listen to the interview to learn how to WIN

 Key Take Aways:

* Doing what you love

* Collaborating is key

* The biggest challenge is time

We all only have the same 24 hours

* Being more efficient

* Perfect road food

* Building Relationships

* Face to face meetings

* Networking

* Seeing opportunities when they present themselves

* Storytelling

* Must have passion

* What’s you’re why?

* DO THE WORK!

Tag a friend

#localfirstpodcast

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Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business

 

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Meet Rachel,

Rachel was born and raised a Wisconsin girl. She’s always loved math and developed a passion for small business when she and her dad opened a franchise in 2010.

Her small business ownership experience gives her a unique perspective working with her clients, and her bookkeeping practice is a perfect blend of her talents and background.

She’s committed to helping her clients grow their businesses and believes having great books isn’t just for taxes – it’s valuable information for knowing your business.

She and her husband Brian live in Wauwatosa with the best dog ever, Bella.

She loves her too many hobbies, which include playing her flute, hiking, making homemade pizza, volunteering, and DIY projects.

5 Key Points:

* Pay attention to your books they will speak to you

* Make sure your books are done right

* Be consistent when reviewing your books

* Technology is your friend

* Learn your numbers

For more information or to contact Rachel

go to Masterpiece Bookkeeping

or LinkedIn

 

Recommended Books:

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It

The Compound Effect

by Darren Hardy

 

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Elevated Insurance

Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business

 

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Meet James Hamer

Background and Philosophy

I acquired my first license in the financial industry in 1988. My academic background is in the sciences and secondary education. Combining my 30 years of experience and my teaching ability has given me an innate capacity to simply explain the technical aspects of money and finance.  In today’s economy, it is essential  to  have  an  understanding of  the  product  and  strategy recommendations in an ever more complex industry. My mission in this business is to bring peace, understanding and a sense of security to the financial aspect of my client’s lives.

3 Key Points:

* Understanding your goals

* Educating

* Earning your trust

 

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Elevated Insurance

Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business

 

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Scenic Shore 150 Bike Ride – raised $1.55 million and counting

 

We have a new office location:

6737 W. Washington St. Suite 2100

Milwaukee, WI 53214

September 2018 Events

Blood Cancer Conference:

Saturday Sept. 22 8:00am–3:00pm at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee:

333 Kilbourn Ave.  Milwaukee, WI 53203

Free Registration (all attendees must register) – Direct link:  www.etouches.com/wibcc19

Breakout Sessions, Keynote Speaker, Lunch Provided

 

Oyster Roast:

Sunday Sept. 23 11:00am-4:00pm at the Ivy House Milwaukee:

906 S. Barclay St. Milwaukee, WI 53204

Tickets: $75/person – Table Packages Available – www.oysterroast.org

Silent Auction, Wine Pull, All you can eat fresh oysters

The Packer game will be on!

 

Sponsors

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Elevated Insurance

Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business

 

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Meet Ben

Ben joined the Vantage Financial team after moving to the Milwaukee area. His connection to Wisconsin began in undergraduate school when he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Later, Ben would continue his pursuit of education at the University of South Dakota where he obtained a Master’s in Business Administration.

He is focused on building a transparent plan for his clients and connecting them to the solutions that they want.

Ben and his fiancé live in Shorewood where they enjoy the shores of Lake Michigan and the many activities that southeastern Wisconsin has to offer.

He is currently a board member on the Shorewood Foundation and an active volunteer for the Victory Gardens Initiative, Special Olympics of Wisconsin, and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

3 Key Points:

* Have a spending plan

* Knowing where to get started

* Know what you want to plan for

 

Sponsors

Love the podcast? Sign up for listener support, you’re basically buying me a coffee each month.

Elevated Insurance

Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business

 

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I had the opportunity to have a fabulous conversation with Carol White President of the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce right after a networking breakfast. It was all about building culture and relationships.

If you have ever considered joining a networking group or joining another group, you will not be disappointed with the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce

3 Key Points:

* Relationships take nurturing

* It’s not about selling yourself. It’s about getting to know the other person

* It’s a givers game

Are you ready to belong to a chamber that prides itself on building CULTURE & RELATIONSHIPS?

Great!

For more details and to schedule a One on One go to Brookfield Chamber of Commerce

Sponsors

Love the podcast? Sign up for listener support, you’re basically buying me a coffee each month.

Elevated Insurance

Our passion is Elevating the Community around us. That means serving you the way you do business