The Claw

Joel Goobich is a big-picture guy with sharp insight into how the individual parts of a business work together to make a strong company. He’s tireless in pursuit of solutions to boost the growth and success of businesses small and large, helping them adapt to the changing business environment and, ultimately, putting them on track to a profitable transition and exit.

From Service to Success

Joel’s drive to solve problems and create positive change is evident from his background beginning with service in the Israeli army and his advanced degree in Applied Chemistry. His technical background and product development and innovation skills have resulted in multiple patents and trademarks. With this start, Joel has gone on to success in every type of business function from executive management, business development, operations and product development.

A Born Entrepreneur

He founded Colorations, Inc. in 1991 and built the company to a leading international brand of children’s art products. Using the first-hand knowledge gained from a rewarding and well planned sale of the company, he continued his entrepreneurial path. He now focuses his considerable business experience and knowledge on working with business owners to strengthen their businesses through his consulting and marketing firms, Big Picture Advisors and i3 Marketing.

A Passion for Mentoring & Podcasting

Over the course of his wide ranging career, Joel has devoted a considerable amount of his time to mentoring young adults and entrepreneurs, including his recent activities as a mentor at the Citadel College School of Business.

Having dipped his feet in the world of radio and podcasting with his first podcast – Don’t Get Stuck in Your Business, Joel has recently dived head first into the unlimited potential that podcasting offers to impart knowledge to others. His most recent podcast BizBuzzCharleston provides behind the scene stories and context to what’s going on in the local business community of Charleston SC. His newest podcast project, Build Business Muscle explore the skills, assets and resources that business owners, executives and professionals need to grow a strong business core.

A Fresh Perspective

Armed with the knowledge that quality content marketing is a powerful tool, Joel has partnered with The Better You Network to create the BizBuzz Radio network which will host and curate leading business podcasts from around the country.

Joel can be contacted through LinkedIn or via email at [email protected]

After 25 years of Corporate America, Denise Cardin is now following her dream of owning her own business.

It started in 2008 with a metro-Atlanta hiking group called Mongrels Mania. Denise knew shortly after creating the group that she was surrounded by some pretty awesome folks who wanted to be active with their dogs, with others, and have fun...to socialize their dogs in a positive way. So, upon losing her corporate job, she jumped at the opportunity to follow a dream.

Inspired by and through the love of dogs, on 1/11/14, Bark Parc was launched with an entirely new concept in mind -- to address pet ownership as a whole. To uphold the ideals of that little neighborhood shop...to offer both friendly and caring service and the most wholesome quality foods and treats from the U.S. & Canada; to offer unique and different products made, whenever possible, by local cottage industries. And finally, to offer an outlet for the interactive dog lover...by incorporating her hiking group into the business plan and it's been further expanded to even urban and historic town walks.

Bark Parc is approaching 600 members.

Kelly Azevedo is the founder of She’s Got Systems and an online business systems expert.

Beginning in the corporate world, Kelly used her innate ability to create and utilize systems to streamline accounting, marketing, human resources and administrative departments before she sought out a more challenging environment.

Kelly believes that every single online business needs systems to support clients, document results and dominate in the field.

She’s Got Systems provides courses and programs in the easy to access and affordable System Academy as well as private coaching programs for clients worldwide.

Kelly frequently writes for media outlets such as Forbes, the Washington Post and Women 2.0 and her unique brand of life work balance was featured in the New York Times.

Ashley Watkins, owner of Write Step Resumes, LLC, helps job seekers who are eager to make a career change build resumes that fascinate employers and increase their marketability to bring in more job offers than they could ever imagine. Write Step Resumes, LLC also offers interview prep to help clients tell an alluring story about their skills that grabs the employer’s attention and enhances the confidence needed to secure the careers they deserve.

For the 10 years prior to starting her company, Ashley has been a team member in human resources departments in various industries including education, banking, manufacturing and non-profit healthcare. Ashley's career took a surprising turn when she moved to Birmingham, AL in 2007 for a recruiting job with a national healthcare non-profit organization after being laid off. It was at that moment she realized her true passion was helping others to boost their job search impact in order to better their lives and land their dream jobs. Ashley understands that job seekers are often denied opportunities for the careers they desire, not because of their credentials but due to poorly written career documents and lackluster interviewing skills. She prides herself on taking job seekers from the point of receiving no interview call backs at all to getting so many job interviews and offers they have to pray about which one to accept. Forget about that cookie-cutter, one-size fits all madness! She connects one on one with her clients to provide specialized services to fit each of their unique career needs.

Julie Lowe is a Social Media Strategist and the Founder of Socially Aligned. Julie creates social media strategies for busy entrepreneurs who desire more leads, more sales, and a real plan to grow their business!

In addition to strategy development, Julie offers group coaching programs and digital training products for entrepreneurs. With 14 years of experience in advertising and marketing, Julie leverages a wealth of hands-on experience and proven results to help her clients succeed online.

You can find Julie at SociallyAligned.com and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SociallyAligned

Ed founded 12Cube, the creator of the FoundMoney app, in 2012 to give consumers a better way to save money. Based on his experiences and what he learned through hundreds of interviews with consumers is that the traditional ways to build savings--budgets, financial plans and cutting back--didn't work.

12Cube's first product, FoundMoney, is focused on helping users make conscious decisions about their spending enabling them to spend on what matters to them, while saving on what doesn't.

Prior to founding 12Cube, Ed worked for an online personal finance portal, ran a real estate investment firm and was a consultant at Bain & Company. Ed holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a degree in economics from Duke University. His favorite way to save is skipping expensive weekend lunches and instead taking his kids for a picnic in the park.

T. J. Gentle is the President & CEO of SmartFurniture.com, a venture backed Internet retailer and pioneer of Design on Demand®. SmartFurniture.com's Design on Demand Platform empowers customers to design and customize furniture. Since becoming the CEO, SmartFurniture.com has developed SmartProfile aPrescriptive Personalization application that uses proprietary technology to match furniture products to each customer’s unique profile and characteristics; launched SmartSpace, an innovative web application that empowers customers to see how customized furniture will look like in the context of their homes before ordering; and the Company has won numerous awards and industry recognition while experience a five fold increase in sales.

Happy Hour Confections is a full-service, gourmet bakery specializing in goods infused with craft beers, wines, and spirits.

Located in Roswell, our mission is to make sweets full of richness, without being overwhelmingly sugary, to be more pleasing to the adult palate. Our products are available at select craft beer markets throught the Atlanta area, as well as through special orders.

Find us online at HappyHourConfections.com, on Facebook at HappyHourConfections, Twitter @HappyHourSweets, and Instagram @HappyHourConfections

Tyler grew up with more energy and passion than most people knew how to handle. As a kid, his vitality was contagious and he freely spread his energy and optimism. Tyler continuously found ways to push his limits as far as he could, and he refused to take the "normal path" and sit on the sidelines of his own life.

When he was a sophomore at The University of South Carolina, he started his own painting business with Young Entrepreneurs Across America. The year after that, he took on the role of mentoring five students, teaching them how to run their own successful businesses. It became apparent that helping others and showing them a different way to be "successful" was his passion. Giving others the energy and happiness to create their own path is one of his many gifts to world.

After this, Tyler took a leap of faith and moved to Canada to intern under Jayson Gaignard (Founder of MastermindTalks). He helped to put on multiple conferences, events, and retreats. There he learned what made an exceptional conference that delivered the most value to all of its attendees from the best of the best.

Tyler now speaks to and coaches students, businesses, and entrepreneurs across the country, teaching them the lessons he's learned on crushing conferences, expanding networks, and nurturing relationships. He is also a lifestyle coach and the founder of an amazing company that helps people get their first book on Kindle.

Rob Bellenfant is a 27-year-old entrepreneur and investor specializing in IT, sales, marketing and talent development. Rob is currently the CEO of TechnologyAdvice, a Brentwood-based IT marketing company focused on helping IT buyers find the best fit for their specific needs.

Rob has created dozens of businesses over the last two decades, starting with a door-to-door venture selling handmade crafts in his neighborhood at the age of seven. He hired his first employee at age eight, started his first technology-based company at age 12, and sold his first business from his dorm room as an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Tennessee.

TechnologyAdvice was one of five new investments Rob made during his time at UT, but was the only one that survived. The company, which was formerly known as Thrive Marketing Group, has been completely bootstrapped and has enjoyed an average revenue growth of nearly 60% over the past eight years.

Rob is also passionate about angel and real estate investing, personal finance, traveling and spending time with his lovely wife, son and daughter.