The Prosper Connector

"You make time for what you deem important." 

In the Season 1 Finale of Rotaract on the Road, The Prosper Connector goes all out. Porchia joins the hot seat alongside Marquis Hollingsworth, the incoming President of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham. Marquis breaks down his unique journey from serving as a 7th-grade teacher to walking alongside Mayor Randall Woodfin daily as his "body man" and eventual Constituent Liaison.

We discuss the heavy, exciting expectations of leading the world's largest Rotaract Club (boasting over 200 members from 130 companies) and the brand-new strategic plan designed to protect the professional, personal, and financial experience of its members. Whether you are a young professional trying to find your footing or a corporate leader looking to invest in Birmingham’s future "leadership bench," this episode is packed with essential insights.

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"Marketing is not the solution to most problems." 

In this episode of Rotaract on the Road, Kayla Dawn Gladney, the founder of Dawn & Co., joins The Prosper Connector to talk about her evolution from a 25-year-old film grad starting a media agency to a highly trusted strategic consultant for Birmingham’s purpose-driven organizations .

Kayla opens up about the terrifying leap of quitting her job before having a business plan, the hurdles of proving her competence to risk-averse decision-makers, and a sweat-inducing mistake involving live tornado footage that forever changed how she handles business diligence . We also explore the massive ROI of "horizontal networking" and how joining the Rotaract Club of Birmingham immediately accelerated her career by putting her in rooms with the city's future leaders .

If you are a creative trying to transition into high-level strategy and consulting, Kayla’s unapologetic authenticity and selective business approach will give you the blueprint 

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"Resilience is another word for stubborn." 

In this episode of Rotaract on the Road, Tyler Hatcher joins The Prosper Connector to discuss the gritty, community-first reality of building Grounds, a thriving craft coffee shop on 2nd Ave North. Tyler breaks down the terrifying decision to open a café in a city that already has 35 competitors, and how Grounds differentiates itself by operating as an amplifier for other sustainable, local makers .

We talk through the notoriously tight profit margins of the coffee industry, the importance of protecting Birmingham's historical architecture, and the deep emotional complexities of employing your best friends . Plus, Tyler shares how the Rotaract Club of Birmingham serves as a vital generator for the city's next wave of economic and charitable impact .

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"If you can hold a conversation, you can do anything." 

In this episode of Rotaract on the Road, Jarrod Stisher from KMD joins The Prosper Connector to discuss the real hustle of building a video production and storytelling business in Birmingham's fast-growing tech startup scene.

Jared unpacks the vital lessons he’s learned along the way, including the hard truth about keeping your biggest ideas completely "on the low" until the deal is finalized so they don't get poached . We also explore the incredible value of soft skills, why his agency took a chance on a high-school co-founder, and how organizations like the Rotaract Club of Birmingham help young entrepreneurs intentionally shape the future of the Magic City. Whether you're an aspiring founder or a seasoned pro, Jared's insights on community building are pure gold.

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"I don't have problems, I have friends." 

In this episode of Rotaract on the Road, Greg Cole, founder of Cole Event Management Solutions, joins The Prosper Connector to talk about the unfiltered reality of building an event management business in Birmingham, AL. Greg shares the pivotal lessons he's learned on his journey from Alabama State University to the Northeast, and back to the Magic City .

We discuss the critical importance of protecting your business with solid contracts instead of relying on "vibes" , and the difficult mindset shift required to move from being an event planner doing the day-to-day work to the CEO and "architect" of a growing organization . We also explore how the Rotaract Club of Birmingham serves as a powerful networking community for young professionals, advocating for local entrepreneurs in rooms they haven't even entered yet.

If you are an entrepreneur in Alabama struggling to delegate, build a community engagement strategy, or simply protect your business, this conversation is a must-listen .

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"Check your resume, girl."

Alexia McCall (The McCall Group) joins The Prosper Connector for the second installment of our Rotaract on the Road series. Alexia doesn't hold back on the "unfiltered" side of business—from the physical toll of burnout to the trial and error of learning business taxes.

We discuss her path from a Ramsay High School grad to a licensed broker and homebuilder, and how the Rotaract Board Fellows program paired her with Habitat for Humanity to further her mission of community development . If you are a young professional trying to find your "place" in the city, this episode is your roadmap.

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"All money isn’t good money."

In the debut episode of the Rotaract on the Road series, we sit down with Olivia Barnes, owner of Barnestending. Olivia joins The Prosper Connector to share the grit required to build a luxury name in the Birmingham service industry.

We dive into:

• Her 10-year journey as a second-generation entrepreneur.
• The pivotal $175 wedding mistake that changed her pricing strategy forever.
• How the Rotaract Club of Birmingham acts as a catalyst for professional development and community impact.

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned leader, Olivia’s insights on patience and "fierce" peer support are a must-listen.

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Join the Prosper Connector Podcast for a special on-location recording at Johin'na, the stunning Japanese-Southern fusion restaurant on Second Avenue North in Birmingham.

Host friends Mary Walton (Rev Birmingham) , Shun Love (Owner of Johin'na) , and Shane Harper (Interior Designer/Director of Events).

What you'll hear about:

The Vision: Shun Love, a Birmingham native inspired by a Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles, shares the concept of bringing a unique, elevated, and "jaw-dropping" experience to her city.

The Aesthetics: Shane Harper discusses curating the "posh and sexy" interior that lives up to the name Johin'na, which means "passion, elevated" in Japanese, and features big fish tanks, beautiful umbrellas, and a stunning cherry blossom tree.

The Menu: Hear about the fusion cuisine, created by Executive Chef Ashley Jackson, who brings a taste of Bali and her Le Cordon Bleu training to blend Japanese and Southern flavors.

Featured favorite dishes include: Lobster Garlic Noodles and Kyoto Sushi Rolls, Brussels Sprouts and the Yellowtail Jalapeño, The Birmingham Roll, which uniquely features fried catfish, Smoked turkey and greens dumplings served with sweet tea soy sauce made with Milo's sweet tea.

Overcoming Challenges: Shun and Mary recount Johanna's experience as a recipient of the Magic City Match grant, highlighting how Rev Birmingham helped the minority business owner stay focused on her vision and overcome hurdles, like being over budget and a building transition.

The Future: The partners reveal their expansion plans for Johin'na After Dark in the same building, and new locations in Huntsville and Chattanooga.

Advice for Entrepreneurs: The group offers final advice for other entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need to "stay focused," "be humble," "always be a student," and bring your vision with confidence.

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We're honored to have tech leaders Deon Gordon and Kellie Clark on the latest episode of The Prosper Connector Podcast.

📺Tune in to hear about their trailblazing roles with Tech Birmingham and gener8tor
📢Hear challenges they face in the technology ecosystem and what we can do to help them overcome it
🥳And find out why they think there's something special about Birmingham and why we could be poised to be the next best thing in technology.

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 We're honored to have community engagement strategist Morgan Robinson and entrepreneur Myles Taylor on the latest episode of The Prosper Connector Podcast.

📺Tune in to hear their take on what it's like to be a young leader blazing new trails.

📢Hear how they encourage others to get involved with civic engagement.

🥳And find out why they think there's something special about Birmingham that makes it an ideal launching pad for leadership.Be sure to click the link to watch the newly released episode and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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