Top 3

If you are a family-owned business, this is an episode for you!

On this episode of Top 3, Marcia O'Connor is joined by Neil Cooper, Executive Partner at Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC.

On this episode of Top 3, Marcia O'Connor is joined by Shana Steigerwalt, Founder & President of Modern Driven Media a digital marketing agency focusing on social media, paid media, SEO, and growth digital solutions.

Starting in 2015, Shaina shares how she started her company, what she wishes she had known sooner, and advice she would give to other entrepreneurs to help their growth path.

On this episode of Top 3, Marcia O'Connor is joined by Brian Lipstein, CEO & Founder of Henry A. Davidsen. Brian created Henry A. Davidsen 18 years ago and wanted to build a brand that was bigger than himself. Brian and his team help individuals feel more comfortable about themselves by offering the finest in custom-tailored clothing, casual wear, accessories, and image consulting for professionals.

In this episode of Top 3, Marcia O’Connor is joined by Renee Rhinehart, the founder of Party Host Helpers and Events by Renee. Renee's story reflects her determination and adaptability in the face of challenges. Starting with her dream of becoming a wedding planner in high school, Renee eventually founded Events by Renee in 2007. Recognizing the need for additional event staffing, she launched Party Host Helpers in 2013, which quickly gained traction and expanded nationally.

Despite the demands of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and personal life, Renee remains committed to her vision. Through strategic hiring, fostering a culture of excellence, and leveraging her network, she continues to drive her businesses forward.

Renee's success underscores the importance of resilience, adaptability, and community support in entrepreneurship. Her story serves as inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the rewards of pursuing one's passions, seizing opportunities, and nurturing relationships in the business world.

In this episode of Top 3, Marcia O'Connor, CEO of The O'Connor Group, welcomes Kristin Smedley of Thriving Blind Academy to discuss her journey. Kristin shares her experience of raising blind children and founding Thriving Blind Academy. Despite initial devastation, she learned to focus on possibilities rather than limitations. Through her children’s successes, she realized the importance of accessibility and empowerment. Kristin's TED Talk on disability stigma reflects her belief in seizing opportunities to share impactful messages. The conversation touches on her upcoming film project, highlighting the journey of blind individuals in the IT world and baseball. Kristin’s story serves as inspiration, reminding us that setbacks can lead to unexpected opportunities for growth.

Steph McClure, an HR Partner at The O’Connor Group, recently had a compelling conversation with Leslie Slingsby, of Mission Kids, on the Top 3 podcast. The focus was on Mission Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to aiding child abuse victims. Mission Kids provides vital services: forensic interviewing, therapy, and family advocacy, aiding victims of different ages.

Leslie outlined the pivotal role of advocates, paid staff supporting families throughout the complex legal process. Stressing the need for community involvement, Leslie highlighted various ways The O’Connor Group can contribute: volunteering, joining committees or the board, and supporting prevention education programs like Roar, aimed at schools.

The discussion unfolded into the topic of the Young Professionals Board, inviting a new generation to guide Mission Kids' philanthropic endeavors. Additionally, Leslie mentioned how donations, including snacks, teddy bears, and art supplies, play a significant role in supporting their cause. The conversation concluded with a reminder that Mission Kids' success stems from community support and a call for further involvement to protect and heal abused children.

Marcia O'Connor is back with another installment of the Top 3 Podcast. In this episode, Marcia speaks with Ashley Carroll, the Chief Operating Officer at Momentum Accounting. Ashley shares her entrepreneurial journey and reveals her mission to transform the world of accounting. 

Ashley emphasizes the importance of connecting with your team members, empowering them to have a say in decision-making, and recognizing them as individuals. She also emphasizes the value of providing employees with genuine, meaningful time off, promoting work-life balance.

Additionally, Ashley shares how her firm has implemented the concept of having backup team members, ensuring that employees can take vacations without worrying about work piling up. This concept has transformed the work-life balance for her team, enabling them to come back from vacations refreshed and ready to deliver excellent results.

Ashley also delves into her plans for the future, both for Momentum Accounting and her own venture, Operations House, which offers organizational and leadership development services. She highlights the importance of staying true to your vision and values when starting a business.

In this episode of "Top Three”, Marcia O'Connor, CEO and founder of The O'Connor Group, sat down with Theresa Stockdale, the founder of Stockdale Consulting, to delve into the world of virtual communication and confidence building. Based in Pennsylvania, Stockdale Consulting focuses on helping professionals present themselves authentically and confidently in virtual meetings, a skill increasingly vital in today's digital age.

Theresa shared her inspiring journey, emphasizing the importance of finding joy in one's work and the courage to venture into entrepreneurship. As they discussed the challenges faced by professionals, especially in virtual settings, Theresa highlighted the significance of simple yet impactful gestures, like maintaining good posture and proper lighting during virtual meetings, to convey respect and confidence.

Theresa emphasized the need for individuals, including seasoned professionals and recent graduates, to adapt to the virtual communication landscape actively. They also discussed the impact of loneliness in the virtual world and the value of creating connections, not just professionally, but also as a source of emotional support among entrepreneurs.