Looking Forward Our Way

We have all had a couple of crazy, frustrating years. Now, we are drawing in a deep breath, ready to take on the new one. But wouldn’t it be better to begin this new year with a new attitude?

With us in our next episode are Eric Pennington and Jeff East, both partners with an organization called the Spirit of EQ, here in Central Ohio. T

What is emotional intelligence?

Why do some have an empathetic attitude and others do not?

And how can I build EQ into my organization?

This and more coming to your podcast player Monday, December 6, 2021.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

66% of small business owners need to hear our guests.

We have a great program for those small businesses dealing with today’s tech challenges, and the lack of an IT disaster recovery plan.

Let’s welcome back our friends of the podcast Mason Landrum, owner of Nice Guy Technology, and Alex West, a support technician, from Nice Guy Technology.

Earlier this year, Mason and his wife Mary joined us to discuss the tidal wave of technology that hit all of us during the pandemic. We were suddenly juggling home, work, school, family, and friends, all through zoom! Today we are going to delve into a different realm ~ issues that affect all businesses, and particularly smaller organizations - BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER RECOVERY.

Nice Guy Technology provides a great newsletter with wonderful guidance on technology issues plaguing users today – particularly small businesses. I’d like to quote something from one of your recent newsletters:

What a frightening number! And these issues not only affect business owners, but all of us when you think of how much of our lives are stored on computers everywhere! Why haven’t businesses dealt with the issue?

We aren’t just talking about hackers and ransomware. Even natural disasters, or finding your equipment vulnerable to fire or other facility issues that could “turn your system off”. Mason and Alex define what business continuity should be and when disaster recovery kicks in.

When you’ve worked with small business clients, what consequences have occurred due to disasters with no plans in place? Are they able to recover?

Many business owners do not put the necessary time into their technology needs – after all, if the machines turn on every morning they must be ok! What is holding owners back from solid planning and implementation of recovery procedures?

One of the questions we discussed last time focused on the issues of workers staying home during the pandemic and the vulnerability of their own computers as well as the employer’s network. We cover some tips on how to keep your own home computers and devices safe, as well as tips for employers on how to avoid disastrous work-from-home situations.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course, everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

66% of small business owners need to hear our guests.

We have a great program for those small businesses dealing with today’s tech challenges, and the lack of an IT disaster recovery plan.

Let’s welcome back our friends of the podcast Mason Landrum, owner of Nice Guy Technology, and Alex West, a support technician, from Nice Guy Technology.

This episode will be in your podcast player Monday 11/29/21 - here's a preview of what you'll hear.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We welcome back friend of the podcast Josh Kinzel from Seniority Benefit Group.

It's Open Enrollment for Medicare recipients and needless to say, there are always questions!

Even if we are not old enough for Medicare, we may be assisting our older relatives to navigate the complexity of this program. And actually, that is what Seniority Benefit Group, and other “connectors” provide – the demystifying of the process. Josh talks a bit more about the hows and the whys of Seniority Benefit Group.

There are 3 basic areas that we need to remember – the basic “Medicare Plan” and what it covers, the “Supplement Plan” and what it covers, as well as the “Part D – Pharmacy Plan” and what it covers. Depending on the individual’s needs and preferences, this could be 3 different parts of their health care or all one rolled into an Advantage plan.

So, let's say, I am turning 65 and know I need to be on Medicare. What should I do in preparation for my 65th Birthday?

As someone turning 65, he or she knows that they need to understand their own medical history and needs in order to choose the best plan. Josh covers how an individual should describe their health issues and physical abilities. There are specific areas in each plan that an individual should pay very close attention to.

Part D which covers prescriptions has been a hot item for years. If you are a new Medicare patient should beware of some new points.

Even if an individual gets through their first year of Medicare with no problems, there may be issues that they wish they knew about before making decisions on health plans. Josh gives us a list of things to watch for to avoid making obvious mistakes.

Resources we mention in the podcast.

Medicare (official website)  https://www.medicare.gov/ 

“Medicare and You” Handbook for 2021 https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10050-Medicare-and-You.pdf 

Medicare Education and Outreach (Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging programs provided free to assist in educating individuals on Medicare)    http://coaaa.org/cms/services/medicare 

Ohio Department of Insurance  https://insurance.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odi

Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) 1-800-686-1578

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

Coming up in our next episode we welcome back, friend of the podcast, Josh Kinzel, from Seniority Benefit Group.

We will be discussing the issues and confusions on Medicare. It is Open Enrollment for Medicare recipients and needless to say, there are always questions!

This episode will be in your podcast player Monday November 15, 2021. Here's a preview of what you will hear.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We are pleased to have Steve Stivers with us as we are honoring Ohio's veterans this November.

Steve is currently the President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. But for 10 years, Ohio's knew his as Congressman Stivers, when he was representing Ohio's 15th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Steve has devoted your life to public service. While serving in Congress from 2011 until earlier in 2021, he served on the Financial Services Committee, and was the Ranking Member of the Housing, Community Development and Insurance Subcommittee. Prior to Congress, he was also a member of the Ohio Senate. And for over 30 years he served in the Ohio Army National Guard, holding the rank of Major General, with deployment to various Middle East campaigns – and awarded the Bronze Star for Leadership.

Veterans Day holds a special place in the heart of our country. Steve provides us with some thoughts on the importance of this holiday, and how we can continue to support our troops and our vets.

Veterans, regardless of age, should be provided workforce opportunities and training. More effort is required for successful job placement, as our veterans have very specialized skill sets. We hear Steve's perspectives on the issues and why Ohio employers should tap into this phenomenal group of job candidates.

One issue we often discuss with job seekers and employers is how to assist candidates to positively present their transferable skills and experiences in a job interview. Not every soldier wishes to pursue logistics! We talk about some suggestions for both veterans and employers in reaching “win-win” job placements.

The Ohio Department of Vets Services and our county veterans’ programs are strong assets in the community and bring great value to the lives of our vets. We need to encourage veterans to utilize all of the resources available to them. We talk about how to do this.

We then talk with Steve about his new role with the Chamber and how is seeing the Chamber meeting the needs of our employer community. He shares the Chamber’s plans for supporting the rebuild of Ohio’s economic picture.

Remember, we have nearly 900,000 veterans in Ohio, the 6th highest number of veterans in any state in the U.S. You may not be a veteran, but you may have a family member or friend in need of assistance. We want to ensure all of our veterans are able to take advantage of the incredible resources available to them. Check out our website for more resources.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

Continuing our focus on veterans during November, we welcome Steve Stivers, former U.S. Congressman representing Ohio's 15th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Steve is now the President & CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

And his focus on veterans and their well-being is still as strong as ever.

This episode will be in your podcast player November 8th, 2021. Here's a preview of what you'll hear.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We are going to take on a very special topic in this episode. The issues our Ohio veterans face each day.  

We are honoring Veterans’ Day and with us today is a wonderful guest. Ryan Blackburn, the Manager of Veteran Workforce Development for the Ohio Department of Veteran’s Services.

Ryan starts with an overview of his background and the role of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ohiovets.gov).

The state of Ohio has nearly 900,000 veterans in Ohio, the 6th highest number of veterans in the U.S.! And as these veterans enter to the workforce, they look to Veteran's Services for help, specifically the Veterans Workforce Team. Ryan gives us an overview of the goals for the team, and changes they have enacted, particularly during the pandemic.

There is a strong partnership with OhioMeansJobs and Veteran’s Services. The “Military Service Career Center” provides services to both veterans, as well as employers.

Another great resource for veterans is the Ohio Small Business Development Center and 1st Stop Business program to help vets create their own entrepreneurial opportunity! Vets can take advantage of guidance on opening their own small business, finding capital to fund a business, or mentorships and technical expertise they may need to operate a successful small business.

The Veterans Workforce Team partners with employers in their search for qualified candidates. It can be very difficult to understand the skills and experiences of veterans, particularly if the employer or the HR representatives have never served. A disconnect can occur. The Workforce Team prepare employers, presents what services or training is available, and funding for hiring vets.

The VRRAP – The Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program - offers education and training in high-demand jobs. Ryan provides the details on what job categories are included, how do vets apply for the program and how the training occurs.

And remember, regardless of where a vet lives in Ohio, there is a county office available to veterans, their families and friends looking to get the helped needed for a veteran.

We want to wish all of our veterans a very healthy and safe Veterans’ Day!

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

The state of Ohio has nearly 900,000 veterans in Ohio, the 6th highest number of veterans in the U.S.! And as these veterans enter to the workforce, they look to Veteran's Services for help.

In our next episode, we are honoring Veterans’ Day with Ryan Blackburn, the Manager of Veteran Workforce Development for the Ohio Department of Veteran’s Services.

This episode will be in your podcast player Monday November 1st, 2021.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

Apprisen is a non-profit organization committed to their clients' financial well-being and controlling debt. For over 60 years, they've been helping, empowering, and motivating people along their financial journey.

They offer an array of services and resources designed to help their clients achieve financial health and wealth. This is done mainly through education.

In this episode, we talk about financial stability and discover that there are so many resources available to you.

Tasha Bishop, Director of Operations and Development for Apprisen. For those who are long-time Central Ohioans, you may remember their former signature, Consumer Credit Counseling Services.

Apprisen services concentrate on:

• Financial/Debt Understanding and Planning
• Financial Protection and Stability, 
• And most importantly – the counseling needed through major transitions like bankruptcy

We discuss the need to understand debt, and how to budget and plan for financial stability. 

One huge problem faced by so many is student loan debt. And it doesn’t just affect current students today. Many who came into the workforce during this pandemic, or even the recession in the early 2000’s are drowning in long-term student loan debt. Their parents may have co-signed for loans and now trying to pay them off, affecting their retirement. Or those who have gotten married and their spouse has a debt issue. It seems that nearly everyone is burdened. How has Apprisen stepped in to guide those suffering under this liability?

One thing that always comes up for those looking to purchase a house is their credit score. Tasha sheds some light on what exactly a credit score is, how it is critical in the purchase of a house or other large asset. And most importantly, how it can be “fixed.”

There are so many other issues that have arisen since 2020 regarding housing. Many were in a home but suddenly facing eviction, and changes in the law regarding evictions and back payments. What trends did Apprisen see in Central Ohio? What steps did you suggest clients take?

There seems to have been an upsurge in commercials regarding reverse mortgages recently. And, of course, they are directed at our older citizens. What advice does Apprisen normally provide on reverse mortgages?

Employment is always the key factor in financial stability. Unless, of course, “Great Aunt Millie” left you with tons of dollars! Employment is still an issue in Central Ohio. Many lost their jobs, or their hours and/or salary were cut. It wasn’t just salaries that disappeared, but also benefits like health insurance and pensions. Tasha provides us with tips and resources to benefit those in need.

The Apprisen programs and services are very much directed at educating clients. We often say, “you don’t know what you don’t know”. How does a client get started with you, are there qualifications they must meet? Which programs do they begin with?

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.