Looking Forward Our Way

We have some solid information and resources to help build your path to financial literacy, stability and growth.

Our guests from BMI Federal Credit Union. Sarah Borland, Vice President of Business & Community Development, and Nancy Sullivan Graf, Financial Education Manager.

We first discuss the differences between credit unions and other financial institutions. There are always pros and cons when we make decisions on where to “park our money”!

Although there have been many problems Americans have faced in their financial situations over the past decade, we can guess that this pandemic has certainly impacted all of our lives dramatically. How are you moving your members to deal with financial changes and to continue to build their net worth?

Are there any particular services or programs that are available to Central Ohioans to help them in planning life’s transitions, such as college education, marriage and home purchases, and of course retirement?

The BMI Financial Education Program has bloomed over the past few years. It concentrates on budgeting, saving, and financing “dreams” such as homes and cars. Nancy gives us an overview of the educational program and how a member can begin.

One other important service is the one-to-one financial coaching available at BMI. Nancy gives us an overview of this service and what it encompasses.

One huge change we have all endured in our financial world is the issue of technology, particularly for older members. We can save money, transfer accounts, pay bills, and much more. Would you give us an overview of the positive changes in technology at BMI and how you assist members with tech issues?

One more issue in online transactions and technology is the security of the systems. Do you have some tips for our listeners on how to do their financial transactions securely and safely, as well as what steps should they take if they think their accounts or information have been stolen?

Retirement is a huge transition for many and we need to be prepared financially. What steps and suggestions can you provide?

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 have some solid information and resources to help build your path to financial literacy, stability and growth.

Our guests from BMI Federal Credit Union. Sarah Borland, Vice President of Business & Community Development, and Nancy Sullivan Graf, Financial Education Manager.

This episode will be in your podcast player on Monday March 29, 2021. Here is a short 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.

Many of us see government offices as problem solvers – transportation clears and builds roads, human resources employs workers, the courts take care of law-breakers. When you begin to examine the county Auditor’s Office you have a whole new perspective on the issues to be addressed to make our community stable and secure.  

The Auditor’s Office has such varied areas of responsibility that we are guessing many citizens do not understand their scope of work. If a citizen were to review the Auditor’s website, they may have the impression that every task not wanted by another agency was pushed into the Auditor’s lap! However, when you filter through the details, the Auditor is here to help each county resident in several areas, such as: 

• maintaining the fiscal integrity of the county itself, its funds and required reporting
• maintaining the property value and necessary information on homes and businesses 
• maintaining a safe environment for a resident’s dog, while also ensuring items can be measured – whether it is gas in our cars, or cigarettes purchased
• and most importantly, maintaining vast quantities of information databases needed to safely, securely and easily complete their work

We welcome, Michael Stinziano, Auditor of Franklin County to our podcast.

We begin by reviewing this very interesting creation we call the Auditor’s Office, and your responsibilities as the “chief fiscal and measurement” guy in the county!

A major responsibility of the Auditor is the 3-year re-evaluations of property values, which likely causes confusion and concern. However, the Franklin County Auditor's office has created services for property owners to better understand the process, and how to appeal the results of the re-evaluation.

Franklin County’s housing markets is one of the “hottest” in the country. The Auditor cannot make/break the real estate market, but Auditor Stinziano talks about the office's contributions to strengthen the County’s housing market and value level.

Our community is reeling from inequities and division throughout all of our sectors. Over many years, one very important issue that created incredible discrimination in many communities was “redlining”. Auditor Stinziano gives us some of the history on this practice and how his office supports communities and ensures it does not continue to occur.

We get an overview of the Auditor's Office released a list of Policy Priorities for 2021. For example: property tax relief for seniors, veterans and the disabled; more accurate property value analysis; local control on approval of large tax incentive programs; and the Tax Incentive Review Council.

There are responsibilities the Auditor's Office carries out that many of us just take for granted each day. We never think about whether a “gallon” is really a “gallon” when we are filling our gas tank. Or if we are getting our money’s worth when the grocery deli is weighing out meats and cheeses. The Auditor’s office enforces so many of these responsibilities.

The Auditor’s Office plays a huge role in the financial picture of the county. The County Auditor is the Chief financial officer: processing revenue, maintaining budgets, accounting transactions including invoices, payables, payroll, and ensuring the county has sufficient cash to meet expenditures.

Why does the Auditor deal with licenses for dogs, kennels, breeders, vendors, cigarettes, and junk yards? And why just dogs, not cats and exotic animals?

A question that is asked frequently revolves around tax abatements for new businesses coming into the region. The County Auditor has no control over who gets an abatement and how much, but the office maintains the records. Abatements are targeted to economic growth, but not everyone agrees. Auditor Stinziano provides us with more information and his vision for future abatement strategies.

The Community Outreach program provides residents with great information on issues of the day, or items to beware such as fraudulent check scams. We talk about the office returning funds to local cities and school districts in Franklin County to the tune of $3.5 million!

Every year we receive an “Unclaimed Funds” notice from your office Who doesn’t want to find a hidden stash of cash!

[email protected]

You also can call 614-525-4663

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.

Many of us see government offices as one dimensional places to solve problems. Transportation clears and builds roads, human resources employs workers, the courts take care of law-breakers.

When you begin to examine the county auditor's office, you have a whole new perspective on the issues to be addressed to make our community stable and secure.

We welcome Michael Stinziano, Franklin County (OH) Auditor to the microphone in our next episode. Here's a little of what we talk about.

This episode will be in your podcast player Monday 3/15.

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 Mason and Mary Landrum, co-owners of Nice Guy Technology. As a family-owned and operated business, they are proud to have served the central Ohio area since 2011. Their team has over 30 years of IT experience and several certifications.

From the rapid shift to remote work during the pandemic to the constant evolution of cybersecurity threats, our guests break down the challenges that businesses (and individuals!) face when keeping up with hardware, software, and internet safety.

You’ll hear real talk about password myths, cloud-based computing, device maintenance, security software for different devices, and the growing risks of ransomware and workplace hacking. Whether you’re a small business owner, an entrepreneur, or just looking to protect your personal information, this episode is full of actionable tips and resources.

If you like this episode, please let us know. We appreciate the feed back, and your support of offset costs of producing the podcast!

Here are 3 key takeaways you can put into action today:

Passwords Matter—But Complexity Wins Over Change Frequency

• The FBI now recommends longer, more complex passphrases you change less often, instead of constant rotation. Consider a memorable phrase with special characters vs. a hard-to-remember random sequences.

Cloud Computing Is Not Optional

• The pandemic pushed businesses of all sizes to adopt cloud-based workflows. It’s here to stay—embrace cloud solutions for collaboration and ensure you understand where your data lives (and how it’s backed up).

Endpoint Security Is Critical in the Work-From-Anywhere World

• With staff working remotely, security must shift from protecting a physical office to securing each device (“endpoint”). Invest in modern antivirus protection, strong backup strategies, and educate your team regularly.

Q: What is a passphrase, and why is it better?

A: A passphrase is a short sentence or phrase that’s longer and easier to remember than a random string; length increases brute‑force resistance while being more memorable.

Q: How should I back up my business data?

A: Use a combination of a local (fast restore) backup and an off‑site/cloud backup. For mission‑critical operations, add a mirror/replication solution that can restore service quickly.

Q: Is public Wi‑Fi safe for work?

A: Only with a trusted VPN or your phone’s personal hotspot. Avoid financial or admin tasks over open, unencrypted hotspots.

We would love to hear from you.

Give us your feedback, or suggest a topic, by leaving us a voice message.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Bluesky and 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 Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Copyright 2026 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson

Mentioned in this episode:

Listener Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by the experts interviewed on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast hosts or any affiliated organizations. The information provided in these interviews is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for specific advice or information related to their individual circumstances. The podcast host and producers do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided by the experts interviewed. Listener discretion is advised.

We speak with Mason and Mary Landrum, co-owners of Nice Guy Technology. As a family owned and operated business we are proud to have served the central Ohio area since 2011. Their team has over 30 years of IT experience and several certifications.

There are number of technology issues in today's rapidly changing environment. This upcoming episode covers a lot of ground in regards to providing you tips on technology. Whether you're working from home or you're going back to work.

We find out lots of things about equipment, programming, security, especially security, and communications on all your devices.

This episode will be in your podcast player, and on our website, Monday March 1, 2021.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

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 continue our exploration of the creativity and ingenuity being used to support our “art world” during this crazy time of a pandemic.  

We have lost so much over the past months – our children may not be in school, many people have lost their jobs or had to quickly pivot to working from home, technology has overtaken our world, AND we nearly lost our “world of art”!  

However, the art community is strong and resilient! 

During the spring we began to hear music – playing from someone’s porch, or via Zoom, drive-in concerts, and musicians writing and producing new songs from their home.  TV show reunions were created, often supporting the art world’s nonprofit organizations. Movies were released on alternative platforms. And plays began "Zooming" right into our living rooms.  

Today we are continuing our exploration of how creative artisans have excelled with wonderful new ways to enjoy and experience the wonders of art!

Our guests for this episode include Martha Cotton, Granville, OH. Martha has been a member and active volunteer of Licking County Art Association for many years.

LCA celebrates over 50 years as a non-profit, all volunteer arts organization. Her involvement has included serving as president of the board as well as exhibiting her own artwork. Martha retired from a professional career in Human Resources but continues to offer consulting services.  

We also welcome Regina Belt-Daniels. She lives in Crystal Lake, IL. Gina is a retired teacher, with 28 years of serving children in special education with communications disorders and 5 years in Reading Recovery. 

Gina is active in various theatre organizations, including the Rau Center for the Arts as well as the Woodstock Opera House, The Independent RCLPC Theater and is currently working on “I Hate Hamlet” for the Cosman Theatre (April 2021). 

She has been active in acting, directing, producing, managing, ticket sales and marketing. She has also written reviews on various productions in her region, including online productions during the pandemic.

We have had to deal with incredible transformations over the past months. We likely did not even realize how much we were losing in every sector of our world. What has been the most dramatic adjustment you or your organization has made to keep the public engaged and interested in the arts? 

We are finding that some modifications we have made, due to the pandemic, are actually giving us positive change. Have you seen positive change in your work and your arts organizations, that you believe was needed, even before the pandemic? 

What are some of the innovative ways you have discovered that other artists created or adopted, when they could not have live, in-person events?

Some artists and arts organizations have taken this opportunity to better utilize various social media outlets and technology to deliver art opportunities to students and the general public. How effective have audiences been in adapting to the technology? What are you hearing from those audiences – are they ready to adapt to the technology- or are they pleading for live performances and in-person exhibits?

What other short-term and long-term changes might we expect in how we enjoy art performance, exhibits, and art education? How well do you believe the public will adapt to these changes?

Technology has made a difference in our new normal. However, in your use of technology, do you see the need for additional tech tools, programs,...

We are going to continue our exploration of the creativity and ingenuity being used to support our art world during this crazy time of the pandemic.

You know, we lost so much over the past few months and at first we thought we were losing our live theater and movies and all of those wonderful extras that we have in our lives because everything had gotten closed down.

In our upcoming episode, it's part two of our focus on creativity in the arts, despite the pandemic.

We have two great guests who are great friends of yours, Martha Cotton from Granville, Ohio. She is a member and active volunteer of the Licking County Art Association for many years.

And we also get to talk to Regina Belt-Daniels from Crystal Lake, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. She is a retired teacher, but right now she is very active in various theater organizations in the Chicago area.

That episode will be in your podcast player Monday February 15th, 2021.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

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 Danielle Murphy, a Consumer Educator for the Consumer Protection Section of the Education Unit of the Office of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

From impostors posing as government agencies to emotionally manipulative grandparent and romance scams, Danielle Murphy walks us through the most common traps, why seniors are often at higher risk, and the specific warning signs loved ones should watch for.

You’ll learn why simply not answering calls from unknown numbers is crucial, how scammers use caller ID spoofing, and why certain payment methods like prepaid gift cards should always raise red flags.

We’ll also talk about practical advice on protecting your cyber identity, safeguarding social media activity, and navigating tricky situations when fraud involves those close to us.

Whether you’re a senior, a family member, or simply care about protecting your loved ones, this episode is filled with actionable tips and essential resources to help keep your finances—and your future—safe.

This is a conversation that’s as informative as it is empowering, and don’t forget to check the show notes for links to all the resources mentioned in today’s episode!

If you like this episode, please let us know. We appreciate the feed back, and your support of offset costs of producing the podcast!

Here are our top 3 takeaways for protecting seniors (and all of us!) from scams:

If it sounds too good to be true, it IS. Whether it’s a surprise windfall, a threat from a “government agency,” or a suspicious phone call, skepticism is your best first defense.

Never give out personal information or send money without verifying. Don’t trust caller ID—scammers can spoof numbers to appear legitimate. Always verify requests for money or sensitive data by calling organizations back at numbers you look up yourself, not those given to you over the phone.

Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. As Danielle Murphy shares, “the more you answer, the more your number gets marked as active and sold to more scammers.” Let unknown numbers go to voicemail—legitimate callers will leave a message for you to return.

Moments

00:00 Ohio Law Enforcement & Officials Support

05:45 Common Scams Affecting Ohio

09:16 "Stop Robocalls, Report Spoofing"

13:00 Imposter Scams Explained

16:05 Spotting Scams on Dating Sites

18:45 Charity Verification and Service Issues

22:20 Recognizing Elder Abuse Signs

23:34 Cybersecurity Tips for Protection

26:56 Password Updates and Security Concerns

29:58 Facebook Privacy Concerns Explained

36:02 "Beware: Too Good Is Fake"

38:02 "Consumer Resources and Protection Tools"

39:54 "Scammers Exploit Weak Moments"

We would love to hear from you.

Give us your feedback, or suggest a topic, by leaving us a voice message.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Bluesky and 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 Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Copyright 2026 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson

Mentioned in this episode:

Listener Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by the experts interviewed on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast hosts or any affiliated organizations. The information provided in these interviews is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for specific advice or information related to their individual circumstances. The podcast host and producers do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided by the experts interviewed. Listener discretion is advised.

In our next episode, we interview Danielle Murphy. She is the Educator for the Consumer Protection Section of the office of the Ohio Attorney General.

We cover some great tips focusing on how to recognize scams targeting older adult scams.

And we have so much information to provide listeners.

We are looking at scams and focusing on older adults. But in actuality, all these tips are for everyone in your family, phone scams, Internet scams, you name it

This episode will be in your podcast player Monday February 1, 2021. Here's a little bit of what we talked about.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

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.