Maria Ross is a brand strategist, speaker and author who believes cash flow and creativity are not mutually exclusive.

She is the creator of Red Slice, a brand consultancy that helps startups and small businesses build irresistible brands, Maria is the author of Branding Basics for Small Business, (2nd Edition) and the newly launched eBook series, The Juicy Guides for Entrepreneurs, as well as her powerful personal memoir, Rebooting My Brain.

Maria has appeared in numerous media outlets, including MSNBC, ABC News, The Huffington Post, Forbes.com, NPR and Entrepreneur Magazine.

Learn how to tell your irresistible story and get a free brand guide at www.red-slice.com

Website: www.red-slice.com

Twitter: @redslice

Ashley Johnson is the founder of Mouth Marketing, LLC, a consulting agency that strives to assist small to medium sized business owners with Lean Marketing Strategies and training staff for optimal success.

Ashley recently spoke at Social Media Day Houston 2016 about how to optimize your LinkedIn account.

Website: www.mouthmarketingllc.com

Twitter: @fullstack_ash

Gary Leland returns to What's The Word to chat about his show, "The Gary Leland Show."

Mr. Leland is an entrepreneur, podcaster and co-founder of Podcast Movement.

He was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame in 2016.

Gary moved to Texas from South Carolina in 1979 with less than $10 in his pocket and he immediately started a new job as a door to door salesman selling storm windows and doors.

In 2000, Gary created softballjunk.com, which was the first website for women’s fastpitch softball equipment. 

The softball videos he has edited and produced for FastPitchTV have been viewed millions of times.

In November of 2004 he heard about a new technology called podcasting, and produced his first sports podcast by December of that same year.

By 2006 Time Magazine included Gary’s podcasting website in their list of The 50 Coolest Websites on the Planet. 

Website: www.garyleland.com

Twitter: @garyleland

Erica Blair is a marketing strategist who helps small businesses on how to run their social media on a budget.

Ms. Blair runs her business in Chiang Mai, Thailand and also the Facebook group, Small Business Social Media.

She has made appearences on different live streaming shows and was featured in Forbes.

Website: www.ericablair.biz

Twitter: @theericablair

Snapchat: @theericablair

Rachel Moore is the Owner, Founder, & Chief Social Officer of Really Social, founded in 2015.

Really Social may technically be a start-up, but their history in social media expertise and execution is well-established.

They believe in helping good people do social media really well, and each new client and customer served brings them one post closer to their mission.

She is also the host of #LetsLivestream, a twitter chat about live streaming.

Rachel has been featured in media outlets including Social Media Examiner.

Website: www.really.social

Twitter: @rachel_really

William S. Matthews believes in having a healthy relationship with money long before ordering your business cards and setting up your website.

The Everything I Learned About Money, I Learned From My Broke@$$ Friends author, is out to help families, individuals and entrepreneurs learn how to safe guard their finances and prepare for a rainy day.

From putting $10 to the side to shopping at consignment shops, William believes everyone can use a financial tuneup.

From hiring a CPA to reducing operating cost-take every precaution necessary to protect your business - with practical money tips.

He was featured in media outlets including the Houston Chronicle.

Website: www.williamsmatthews.com

Twitter: @mrwsmatthews

Kristyna Torres, otherwise known as "PRKristyna" thrives on helping her clients reach their goals through reaching their community.

Specializing in small business, entrepreneurship and nonprofit marketing, Kristyna uses engagement marketing techniques and social media to help them connect to their audience and position themselves as experts within their fields.

She serves on the board of, "I Know Somebody Houston," and assists them in secretarial aspects and social media mentorship.

She is a guest blogger for J-Vibe.com, an online magazine that showcases the city of Houston.

Websites: www.prkristyna.com

Kristyna's Contributing Blogging Page for J-Vibe: www.j-vibe.com/cultivating-connections

Twitter: @pr_kristyna

Neil Stratton is the founder and president of Inside The League, a website for football professionals.

They provide information, tools, archives, one-on-one assistance, and everything else for people in the business. 

They also work aggressively to inform the parents of aspiring NFL players on the dos and don’ts, the ups and downs, of NFL football. 

He was featured in media outlets that includes the New York Times.

Website: www.insidetheleague.com

Twitter: @insidetheleague

Kerry O’Shea Gorgone, JD, MBA, is a lawyer, podcaster, speaker and writer.

She hosts the Marketing Smarts podcast for Marketing Profs, is a sought after public speaker, and designs training programs for marketing professionals. Kerry writes for some of the most authoritative sites in the marketing and PR industry, including Mark Schaefer's grow blog, Social Media Explorer, Entrepreneur, and Mack Collier.com, and also contributes to Huffington Post.

Website: www.kerrygorgone.com

Twitter: @kerrygorgone

Daryl Urbanski is the Founder and President of BestBusinessCoach.ca, and is best known for his ability to create seven-figure, automated income streams from scratch.

A Canadian turned Southern Californian, he has quickly climbed the entrepreneurial ladder, gaining respect from thousands of small business owners worldwide.

He is the author of three books and the host of Best Business Podcast

Website: www.bestbusinesscoach.ca

Twitter: @DarylUbanski