Next In Time

Local businesses today are losing customers every day — not because of poor service, but because they simply can’t answer every phone call. Missed calls often mean missed revenue, lost appointments, and opportunities that never come back, especially in a world where customers expect immediate responses.

Laurent Cohen is solving this problem with voice-first AI. As Founder and CTO of GetOblic, he is building technology that can handle real customer conversations, book appointments, and capture leads automatically — ensuring businesses never miss an opportunity, even when they’re busy.

You can connect with Laurent through these platforms:

Website:

https://getoblic.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/GetOblic/

X:

https://x.com/OblicStudio/

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@GetOblic/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurent-cohen-usa/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@oblic_ai/

Substack:

https://laurentcohen.substack.com/

Grocery shoppers today are dealing with rising prices, confusing promotions, and very little transparency around where they can actually save money. For everyday families, comparing costs across stores can be time-consuming, frustrating, and often ineffective — especially when the system has long favored retailers over shoppers. Andy Ellwood is bringing transparency and real savings back to the grocery experience

Andy is the Founder and CEO of Stretch, launching the first shopping intelligence platform to bring transparency and real savings to everyday grocery shoppers. He has a Texas upbringing as the oldest of four, started his first successful lawn care business at 12, and later sold private jets for Warren Buffett. After jumping into tech, he drove teams that led to Facebook and Google acquisitions. But it was co-founding Basket, the pioneer in grocery price transparency, where Andy saw firsthand how challenging and critical it is to disrupt old industries for the benefit of real people.

You can connect with Andy and Stretch through these platforms.

Website:

https://stretchgroceries.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/stretchgroceries

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/stretchgroceries

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyellwood/

Many organizations still rely on manual inventory tracking—counting items by hand, estimating usage, or entering data after the fact. This often leads to inaccurate reporting, wasted inventory, and costly operational blind spots.

That’s the problem Countifi and it's founder David Hailey are solving by using AI and computer vision to automatically track inventory and provide real-time insights.

David is the Founder and CEO of Countifi, an Atlanta-based company transforming how organizations manage inventory through artificial intelligence and computer vision.

Countifi replaces manual inventory counting with AI-powered visual recognition technology that can automatically track and manage assets in real time. By simply using cameras or mobile devices, organizations can capture images of their inventory and instantly generate accurate counts, analytics, and reports that help forecast demand, reduce waste, and improve operational efficiency.

You can connect with David and Countifi through these platforms:

Website:

https://countifi.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/countifi

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hailey-3954a8162/

Mark Roesler, President and Chief Revenue Officer at HubSpark, a fast-growing SaaS/fintech platform that empowers small and mid-sized businesses by simplifying operations, automating customer communications, driving local SEO visibility, and centralizing CRM and marketing tools into one unified experience--and bye the way, they don't charge you for it. Which is definitely outside of the norm.At HubSpark, Mark leads revenue strategy and growth, bringing over three decades of experience in scaling business solutions and helping entrepreneurs unlock their business potential. As someone deeply passionate about how technology and automation can transform day-to-day business workflows, Mark is here to share insights on what small businesses really need to thrive, the power of integrated platforms like HubSpark, and how leaders can leverage data-driven tools to win in today’s competitive environment.

You can connect with Mark and Hubspark through these platforms:

Website:

https://hubspark.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/mark.roesler.5/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@hubspark

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/roeslermark/

Manufacturers and distributors today are under pressure from every direction — outdated legacy systems, disconnected sales and marketing teams, rising customer expectations, and competitors who are moving faster online. Many are investing in eCommerce but struggling to see real ROI, operational clarity, or sustainable momentum.

Ethan Giffin, Founder and CEO of Groove Commerce, helps manufacturers and distributors modernize how they sell online and build the infrastructure they need to scale with confidence. By aligning systems, teams, and strategy, he turns fragmented digital efforts into cohesive revenue engines.

You can connect with Ethan through these platforms:

Website:

https://www.groovecommerce.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethangiffin/

Dave Gulas transitioned from a successful, twenty-year executive career in the medical and pharmaceutical industries to co-founding EZDC 3PL , a Kentucky-based third-party logistics firm specializing in reliable warehousing, fulfillment, and transportation for manufacturers and e-commerce companies. Driven by a commitment to personalized service and quick response times, EZDC 3PL focuses on providing an outstanding customer experience to simplify the fulfillment headache for its clients. Parallel to scaling his logistics business, Dave hosts the popular Beyond Fulfillment Podcast, a weekly interview show that explores the real challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned on the entrepreneurial journey.You can connect with Dave through these platforms:

Website:

https://ezdc3pl.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegulas/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondFulfillmentPodcast

If you recall our previous guest from Episode 123, Nick Jain, who was the CEO of IdeaScale, he has now sold the company and started a new venture and I've invited him back on to talk about it, which is Eagle Rock CFO Services.

Nick is the co-founder of Eagle Rock CFO Services, helping small businesses get elite financial advice without the Fortune 500 price tag. He trained as a mathematician and physicist before getting an MBA at Harvard and spending a decade in private equity. He's been the turnaround CFO or CEO at three companies — trucking, software, eCommerce — including one he scaled past $100M.

Nick is someone looking forward to help solve major issues in companies with their financial issues and you can connect with him through these platforms:

Website:

https://www.eaglerockcfo.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmjain/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@EagleRockCFOServices

Here's a recap episode of one of our previous guests: Mark Herscheberg.

Mark is the author of the book, he Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You and creator of the Brain Bump app, which is a platform that helps you retain what you read and hear.

Writers, podcasters, speakers, and other content creators have provided the tips and other highlights from their content. It may be a book you've read and want to remember, or a podcaster that looks interesting and you want to explore. Pick that content that is right for you. The tips have been created for you, you just need to look at them.

You can connect with Mark and Brain Bump through these platforms:

Website:

https://www.thecareertoolkitbook.com/

https://brainbumpapp.com/index.html

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TheCareerToolkitBook/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thecareertoolkit/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hershey/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/CareerToolkitBk/

Recognized as the media’s go-to cybersecurity expert and creator of The Strategic Human Firewall™, Robert Siciliano is a private investigator, Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), and the CEO of Protect Now, LLC. As one of the nation’s most trusted voices on cybercrime and identity theft, he has built an unparalleled media track record, appearing on over 500 television shows, contributing to over 1,000 radio programs, and being featured as an expert source in over 3,000 articles.A fierce advocate for personal and professional security, Robert is the architect of the CSI Protection certification and a bestselling author who strips away technical jargon to deliver "straight talk" solutions. His expertise is regularly sought by every major network—including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and The Today Show—where he empowers millions of viewers to protect their data, privacy, and wealth from modern threats.

You can connect with Robert through these platforms:

Website:

https://protectnowllc.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/CyberAwarenessExpertSpeaker/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/stungundotcom/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/robertsiciliano/?hl=en/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsiciliano/

Tiktok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@robert_siciliano/

In this episode, we sit down with Liana Zavo — a global PR powerhouse, personal branding expert, and founder of ZavoMedia PR Group.

Liana has spent over a decade helping entrepreneurs, startups, and leaders amplify their voice, build unshakable credibility, and craft compelling narratives that resonate in a crowded digital world.

She’s a member of the Forbes Business Council, a featured thought leader, podcaster, author, and a champion for women in business.

Liana joins us to explore how authentic storytelling and strategic communication can be the difference between being heard and being remembered. We dive into her journey from rising PR strategist to international brand builder, her insights on personal reputation management, and how today’s leaders can harness narrative to break through noise and create meaningful cultural impact.

You can connect with Liana through these platforms:

Website:

https://zavoventures.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/officiallianazavo/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lianazavoprpro/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@prmediamogul/