THE CREEK: A Johns Creek Magazine Podcast

In this episode of THE CREEK, host Rico Figliolini sits down with John Hogan, owner of Bath & Kitchen Galleria, to talk about what separates a trustworthy remodeling company from the rest of the industry. Hogan explains how his background, degrees from Villanova and Emory and a management consulting career at Ernst & Young, led him to apply corporate growth and logistics principles to an industry he describes as plagued by low customer satisfaction and inconsistent standards.

The conversation covers the concept of information asymmetry that lets underperforming contractors stay in business, and how Hogan's team builds trust by asking homeowners early on about their past renovation experiences. He describes the company's budgeting conversations, its Designalytics design process for kitchens and bathrooms, and the value of experienced crews when unexpected problems, like termite damage found behind a wall, arise mid-project. John and Rico also touch on where AI does and doesn't fit into design work, and why Johns Creek makes up a significant share of the company's business. 

Bullet Points:

• How John Hogan's background in management consulting shaped his approach to home improvement
• Why the remodeling industry struggles with historically low customer satisfaction
• What information asymmetry means and why it lets underperforming contractors survive
• How Bath & Kitchen Galleria builds trust with homeowners from the very first conversation
• Why understanding a project's true budget range leads to better outcomes
• What the Designalytics process involves, from precise measurements to 3D renderings
• How experienced crews handle unexpected problems like hidden structural damage
• Why bench strength and years in business matter more than price alone
• What role AI currently plays, and doesn't play, in kitchen and bath design
• How Bath & Kitchen Galleria's dedicated-crew system builds long-term homeowner relationships
• Why John Hogan sees Johns Creek as a significant and growing part of his business

Timestamp:

00:00:01 – Introduction to Rico Figliolini, John Hogan, and Bath & Kitchen Galleria
00:01:33 – John Hogan's path from Villanova and Emory to Ernst & Young
00:04:36 – Why the remodeling industry has some of the lowest customer satisfaction around
00:06:23 – Explaining information asymmetry and why bad contractors can disappear
00:08:06 – Homeowners staying in place and multigenerational living trends
00:09:33 – Remodeling tissue scars and building trust with wary homeowners
00:12:54 – A roofer who finally earned trust after years of bad experiences
00:14:52 – The first conversation with a new client and setting expectations
00:16:45 – Asking homeowners the right budget questions without overselling
00:19:59 – Nearly 400 remodels a year and standardized bathroom pricing ranges
00:22:03 – How a consistent process delivers uniform quality at scale
00:23:49 – Why the same crew stays with a project from start to finish
00:26:09 – Why every homeowner is really looking for an honest guide
00:29:07 – Inside the Designalytics process of measuring and planning a project
00:32:37 – The difference between a quote and an estimate
00:33:52 – Where AI does and doesn't yet fit into kitchen and bath design
00:35:17 – A kitchen project that grew into a full bathroom addition
00:38:20 – Discovering hidden termite damage behind a wall mid-project
00:40:19 – Comparing how homeowners research a car versus a contractor
00:42:37 – Why safeguarding your investment matters more than saving a few percent
00:44:22 – Bath & Kitchen Galleria's growing presence in Johns Creek

Dua Almgoter did not take a straight line to manufacturing. Born in Iraq, she studied industrial engineering at her father's urging rather than the artistic path she wanted, then spent years trying nearly everything else — telecommunications, the United Nations, real estate, and pharmaceutical licensing with the FDA — before moving to Canada to work in visual effects on projects for Disney, Marvel, and Netflix. What she found there surprised her.

"Doing something related to art not necessarily will bring all your creativity," she told me. "You will be creative doing something you're good at." That realization sent her back toward engineering, and eventually to Worximity, a Montreal company that helps manufacturers convert conventional plants into connected, data-driven operations.

In this episode of THE CREEK Dua walks through what a "smart factory" actually means — less about robots on the floor, more about replacing clipboards with real-time visibility into how every machine is running. She explains how that data surfaces downtime, supply bottlenecks, labor gaps, and aging equipment before they turn into expensive shutdowns, and why the technology tends to protect shop floor workers rather than replace them: when a system shows exactly why a line ran slow, operators finally have evidence instead of blame.

We also talk about how efficiency looks different in pharmaceuticals than in meat or beauty products, why demonstrating ROI is what finally convinces entrenched management to change, how Worximity is giving clients an AI they can ask questions of their own production data, and the growing partnership between Investment Quebec and the Johns Creek Chamber that brought her to our community in the first place.

Learn more: worximity.com


Timestamp:
00:00:00 – Introduction to Dua Almgoter and Worximity
00:01:18 – From Iraq and industrial engineering to telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and the United Nations
00:02:27 – Moving to Canada and working in visual effects for major entertainment projects
00:03:45 – Discovering creativity through work you're good at
00:04:25 – Finding Worximity and connecting with Johns Creek manufacturers
00:07:41 – What does it actually mean to have a “smart factory”?
00:08:44 – Using data to monitor production and prevent problems before they happen
00:11:19 – Connecting shop-floor reporting with management decision-making
00:12:39 – Supply bottlenecks, labor allocation, and understanding lost production time 00:13:50 – Applying smart manufacturing across pharmaceuticals, food, beauty, and mechanical production
00:14:47 – How manufacturing assessments work and why ROI matters
00:15:53 – Addressing worker concerns that AI and automation will replace jobs
00:17:23 – Why efficiency looks different across pharmaceuticals, meat production, and other industries
00:18:27 – One of Dua's most unusual manufacturing experiences: cat food production
00:20:05 – Getting management to embrace change by demonstrating ROI
00:21:58 – How customer feedback drives new Worximity features and AI integration
00:23:14 – How simple real-time visibility helped improve plant efficiency
00:25:59 – Using data to evaluate aging machines and future equipment investments
00:27:04 – Where smart manufacturing may be headed over the next five to ten years
00:28:05 – Giving manufacturers AI tools that can answer questions about their own operations
00:30:38 – Why human workers still matter alongside automation and robotics
00:31:33 – Helping small and midsize manufacturers scale alongside larger companies
00:32:18 – The Johns Creek–Quebec partnership and supporting manufacturers across both communities

Medley, the highly anticipated mixed-use development from Toro Development Company, opens in Johns Creek on October 29th — and in this episode of The Creek, host Rico Figliolini sits down with Paul Bodine, Toro's Vice President of Community, to talk about what's coming. Bodine spent nearly a decade helping build and run Avalon before jumping at the chance to launch Medley from the ground up, and he shares how that experience is shaping everything from daily hospitality standards to how the property is designed to be watched, studied, and continually fine-tuned once guests start using it.

Beyond the roughly 164,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, Bodine describes a vision built around hospitality: a concierge team that greets guests by name, more than 200 events planned each year, public art from Atlanta artist Greg Mike, and a plaza designed specifically for people to gather. At the heart of it all is Bodine's belief that Medley can become Johns Creek's "third place" — a spot outside of home and work where the community connects. The conversation also covers what's ahead after the grand opening, including The Prelude's residential leasing, the 2027 arrival of Encore, a hotel planned for 2028, and a Medley job fair on September 16th.

Tourism isn’t just about visitors—it’s about shaping the identity and economic future of a city. In this episode of The Creek, host Rico Figliolini sits down with Kristin Edwards, Executive Director of the Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau, to explore how events, dining, and community assets are driving growth in Johns Creek. From her experience planning dozens of festivals in Duluth to working with businesses across metro Atlanta, Kristin brings a unique perspective on how intentional programming and partnerships can elevate a city’s appeal.

he conversation dives into what makes Johns Creek stand out—from its diverse restaurant scene and expansive parks to exciting developments like Medley and opportunities tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kristin shares how regional tourism, day trips, and local collaborations are key to attracting visitors while enhancing quality of life for residents. Whether you’re a business owner, resident, or visitor, this episode offers a fresh look at how Johns Creek is positioning itself as a welcoming and vibrant destination.

Key Takeaways

• Events and festivals can be powerful economic drivers, attracting visitors and boosting local businesses.
• Johns Creek offers a strong mix of assets: diverse dining, parks, arts, and wellness-focused businesses.
• The Convention & Visitors Bureau focuses on promoting existing businesses and experiences rather than recruitment.
• Regional tourism and “day trips” are a growing trend, especially in today’s economy.
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup presents a major opportunity to attract international visitors to Johns Creek.
• Developments like Medley and a more walkable town center will play a key role in the city’s future appeal.
• Collaboration with hotels, restaurants, and local organizations is essential to building a strong tourism ecosystem.
• Johns Creek’s diversity and welcoming atmosphere are central to its identity and growth.

In the inaugural episode of THE CREEK, Rico Figliolini sits down with Stephanie Donaldson, Executive Director of The Art Center at Johns Creek, to unpack how a grassroots nonprofit became one of North Fulton’s most enduring arts institutions.

Stephanie shares the Art Center’s 30-year history, why a 2024 rebrand was necessary as the organization’s footprint expanded across the region, and how the team kept art and community connection alive during COVID-19. 

They also explore how The Art Center makes creativity more accessible through outreach programs, scholarships, and partnerships with Title I schools and organizations like The Drake House. From early childhood classes to adult studios, major exhibitions, and large-scale camps, this conversation highlights the Art Center’s mission: create and connect for everyone.