BBB SparkCast

We sat down with Lori Wengerd, the owner and president of Home Care Assistance a 2018 Torch Award recipient, to discuss how COVID-19 changed the in-home care industry, what we've learned from this experience and how to have tough conversations with the aging individuals in your life. For more information on Home Care Assistance visit their website at homecareassistance.com.

Join us as we have a conversation with Steve Lekas, cofounder and CEO of Branch Insurance about how important Trust is when it comes to business. Branch was a 2020 Torch Award for Ethics recipient and Steve walks us through how he conceived the idea of Branch, how Branch is building Trust with their customers and what being a Torch Award recipient means to them. To learn more about Branch Insurance, check them out at ourbranch.com.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Connie Matthews, founder and owner of Reynon Educational Services and Training, and discuss cyber security. 2020 threw plenty of curveballs our way but most everyone was able to get used to working, learning and shopping online with ease. What didn't come naturally? Being prepared to deal with cyber security ourselves without an IT team backing us up. Listen in as Connie offers her tips and advice for making sure you and your information stay safe online.

Listen in as Everett Woodel Jr. the U.S. Small Business Administration Columbus District Director and Kip Morse the President & CEO of BBB serving Central Ohio as they discuss how BBB and SBA have been helping small businesses through the pandemic, what's next for small businesses and how we can support small businesses during National Small Business Week and beyond. 

Small businesses are a driving force in Columbus, and no one knows this more than U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). We were thrilled to have Everett Woodel, Jr., the District Director of SBA, stop by our office to discuss what resources SBA and BBB can offer to small businesses as well as the three pillars they use to help small businesses thrive. Let us know your favorite part of the conversation in the comments below!

Nevin Bansal, founder of Small Biz Cares, dropped by our studio to impart wisdom on how small businesses can have a large impact on their communities and how Small Biz Cares December Community Service Day is the perfect way to help out during the holidays. Let us know your favorite part of the conversation in the comments down below!

Paul Proffitt, founder of Sundown Group, stopped by our office to chat with us about what makes the perfect pitch and to discuss how Sundown Group is a partner for BBB's Ignite! Pitch with Purpose and Spark Awards event. If you'd like to submit a pitch, please click HERE. If you'd like to nominate a business or learn more about the Spark Awards, please click HERE.

We chatted with Scott McComb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Heartland Bank, about how valuable employee input can be to help businesses be more trustworthy. Our Torch Award for Ethics are now accepting applications and nominations, to nominate a business or apply, please go to bbbtorchaward.com.

We had the chance to sit and talk with Barry Chandler, Co-Founder of Storyforge, about how branding is changing from selling to storytelling. He gave us insight into how to tell your brand's story and, of course, Irish Whiskey. Let us know your biggest takeaways down below!

We were lucky enough to have two experts on the Growth Multiplier Movement stop by and tell us their story. Paul Fuller is the Chief Growth Officer at Floriss Group and a leader in the Growth Multiplier Movement and James Rores is the CEO of Floriss Group. They explain how the Growth Multiplier Movement is changing how customer-facing teams interact with consumers and how RELA and their Care to Sell Program is recreating how the marketplace thinks of sales. 

Executive Director of Central Ohio Youth for Christ Scott Arnold has years of experience running a non-profit, and engaging potential sponsors and supporters in the mission. Scott gives his insight on how events can help forge a relationship between donors and non-profits, and why fundraising isn't really about money at all.

Kenneth Anders, founder of Kenneth's Hair Salons & Day Spas, tells his story - and how it motivated him to transition into an employee-owned business model. This episode defines what it means to be an employee-owned business and how it benefits both the entrepreneur and the company.

Kip Morse, President and CEO of your BBB Serving Central Ohio, gives examples of prevalent scams that often target Central Ohio business owners and employees. Learn what to look for, ways to protect yourself and how you can stay up-to-date with BBB's Scam Tracker.

Haley Boehning is the co-founder and principal at Storyforge, and the vice chair of Conscious Capitalism Columbus. Haley dives into the philosophy of Conscious Capitalism, why the world needs conscious business leaders and how organizations can get involved locally with the Columbus chapter.

Karina Nova is an Emmy winning journalist serving as the weekend anchor and a general assignment reporter for 10TV News. During this episode, Karina gives examples of what makes a good and bad media pitch, along with ways that new and established businesses and nonprofits can start building relationships with their local media stations.

Twin passions for coffee and entrepreneurship have driven Greg Ubert’s career for 25 years. As the owner of Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea, Greg speaks to the importance of thinking beyond a retail coffee shop to better connect with his community, creating opportunities along with new specialty coffee and tea flavors.

Two years ago, Jered Seibert with Warrior Wear left a lucrative career in mutual funds sales to pursue a business out of a passion. Jered describes his journey to creating men's yoga clothes and functioning as a startup in Central Ohio.

Mike Rudd, partner with Hutchison Media Consultants and creator of Hashtag 59, discusses how to create and maintain an authentic personal brand both online and in the community. Mike gives takeaways on how to market your personal brand, manage your social media accounts and ultimately make connections by being yourself.

Shannon Lee, the Executive Director of Relā, defines "Servant Leadership" and how leadership training can make all types of professionals lead better, happier lives both at home and in the office. This episode gets to the root of most negative leadership behaviors, and gives an easy step you can take today to start improving your leadership skills!

Hillary Bates, Strategic Partnership Director with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, is responsible for the Zoo's corporate sponsorship strategy, business development, partner activation and more. On this episode of BBB Sparkcast, we establish a strategic approach for building partnerships that both nonprofit and for-profit organizations can use to help further their mission and reach their target audience.

Learn the basics to creating your own podcast from Brett Johnson, owner of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants and the local sales manager with North American Broadcasting Company. Brett discusses affordable platforms, content strategy and equipment to help you get started. Interested listeners can email podcast@circle270media.com for access to a quick start guide, equipment recommendations, apps, publishing platforms and more!

Justin Moodley is a marketing strategist at LASANAN, a digital agency located in Columbus, Ohio, and a father of two. In this episode, we dive into work-life balance strategies that both entrepreneurs and employees can use to better focus 100% on what is at hand - be that a project for your job, or dinner with your family.

Jim Pontius, owner of Hutchison Media Consultants, has a history working with traditional media in Central Ohio. Jim talks about the "pillars of advertising", many of his marketing influences and the importance of utilizing both traditional and social media when advertising your company.

Beth Fetzer-Rice is the Executive Director of The Homeless Families Foundation, a Columbus, Ohio charity founded in 1986. With #GivingTuesday and the holiday season right around the corner, Beth speaks on the importance of researching a charity before donating - for your own protection against untrustworthy organizations, and to be able to help the charity in the best way possible.

Chad Silverstein founded Choice Recovery, a collections agency, in 1997, and [re]start, LLC in 2014. As a 2016 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics Recipient, Chad dives into what it takes to tackle negative stereotypes within his industry, and how he works to create trust and a strong company culture along the way.

Joey Thomas, owner of Thomasonian Media, LLC explains how technology and creativity can go hand-in-hand to tell a story. Joey encourages all entrepreneurs to let their personality show through social media and some of his favorite affordable online marketing resources.

Betty Clark, owner of CPMedia & Marketing Services, talks about her entrepreneurial journey through the last 25 years - including firsts, mistakes and resources that have helped along the way. Learn the importance of reaching out as a small business and seeking assistance and expertise when you need it.

JJ Rodeheffer is one of the entrepreneurs behind Zipline Logistics, a third party logistics firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and a 2016 BBB Torch Award for Ethics recipient. JJ explains the importance of mentorship and continuing to learn throughout your business journey.

Alex Traxler owns Griffen Hollow Studio, a woodworking company founded in 2012 with the mission of offering professional quality craftsmanship at industry disrupting pricing while pushing eco-friendly sustainable practices. Hear his thoughts on the importance of businesses becoming more socially responsible - and how you can start making changes today.

Bobbi Custer, a 2017 recipient of BBB’s Spark Award, owns The Spotted Cow, a coffee shop with the mission to grow the skills of individuals both typical and with disabilities in quality, service and opportunity. Learn what it takes to create a positive and strong company culture in the workplace.

Lubna Najjar, founder of Columbus-based IL Moda and Lubna Designs Inc., is an accomplished Jordanian American fashion designer. She has been featured on Good Morning America, in The Huffington Post and more. Hear her thoughts on the importance of diversity in business and what it's like to be an entrepreneur. 

Learn more about BBB Serving Central Ohio's new podcast, BBB Sparkcast, where you can hear from local entrepreneurs firsthand. In our first episode, BBB's President and CEO Kip Morse explains how this podcast will help connect, and be a resource for, our community of businesses and nonprofit organizations.