MO - Business Interviews with Entrepreneurs, CEO's, Founders, Funding Sources, and Policy Makers

May15

“There has been a lack of actionable information on how much to feed your dog given their activity levels and thus, most advice is far too generic and may not be suited for your particular situation. No wonder why more than half of all dogs in this country are overweight or obese.”

Steve Pelletier

SlimDoggy

Founder & CEO

http://www.SlimDoggy.com

Steve Pelletier has been in the software business since 1998 and has recently launched SlimDoggy. Previously he has founded an advertising technology company, (ironically named “FatTail”). Pelletier has worked on Wall Street and began his career at the Ronald Regan White House. He is passionate about both fitness and dogs.

SlimDoggy provides tools and technology that helps dog owners keep their dogs fit and healthy. SlimDoggy helps dog owners’ answer several key questions related to their dog including: “how much should I feed my dog?”and “what should I feed my dog?”

MO: What lessons did you learn while working on Wall Street and at the White House that you’ve been able to apply to running your own business?

May15

“In a small company, one bad hire can mean the difference between success or failure.”

Chuck Russell

BestWork DATA

CEO & Founder

http://www.BestWorkDATA.com

BestWork DATA’s leadership team is headed by Chuck Russell, a leading authority on business applications for assessment technology for over twenty years. Author of Right Person – Right Job, Guess or Know, Chuck has pioneered a new understanding of the practical power of solid DATA to transform the human resources of a business in ways never before imagined.

The BestWork Data service tells you how people think, learn, and behave. This is accomplished by a 25 minute online experience that measures cognitive abilities and hard wired personality traits. The data from this is used to help companies make better hiring decisions, manage their employees, train their employees, and a host of other applications.

In addition to their B2B BestWork service, they also have two sister divisions. Jobthoughts provides career and job search information for the job seeker and Students & College is for the high school and college student giving them insights into college choices, majors, and how their strengths parlay into various jobs.

MO: How did you come up with the concept for BestWork Data?

May14

“I love getting into industries that have not seen change in some time and figure out ways to better them.”

Avi Shenkar

BLO/OUT Blow Dry Bar

Founder & CEO

http://www.BloOut.com

The Philadelphia area’s first and best Blow Dry Bar as designated by Philadelphia Style Magazine in July of 2012.

BLO/OUT Blow Dry Bar has taken the Philadelphia area’s media by storm with a 2 page spread in Philadelphia Style Magazine as well as coverage by Philadelphia Weekly, CNN, The Philadelphia Inquirer many more.

Rapid social media growth and word of mouth that spread like wildfire have allowed BLO/OUT to expand to 2 locations in just 8 months with 4 more in the works including a partnership with PREIT bringing BLO/OUT to local area malls as well as Caesars Pier Shops in Atlantic City.

MO: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to launch BLO/OUT Blow Dry Bar?

May14

“I thought to myself, “Well Saundra, It’s as clear as the cancer on your face what you need to do”.”

Saundra Shapiro

Compassionate Beauty

Founder

http://www.CompassionateBeauty.com

The idea behind Compassionate Beauty was inspired by Louise, Saundra Shapiro’s best friend, who lost her battle with cervical cancer. Together, they dealt with all the harsh side-effects of cancer treatment and dreamed of a place where women could be pampered and find comfort through their journey.

Since 2005, Compassionate Beauty has been providing women with support, products and services to maintain their comfort and body image while going through cancer treatment and onward to survivorship.

MO: You’re doing such remarkable work. Can you elaborate on your “aha moment” and how your compassionate observation served as a springboard for your business?

May14

“Time management and productivity is the platform that your entire life is built on, if you don’t have proper techniques in place you will be missing out on really living the life and having the business you love.”

Erica Duran

Erica Duran International

CEO

http://www.EricaDuran.co

The team at Erica Duran International provides productivity and time management training to small businesses and entrepreneurs through virtual coaching and in-person workshops. They’ve recently added web design, SEO, social media training and marketing plans for their clients because they found those were the areas were most were holding back their success, procrastinating the most on, or getting taken advantage of from other companies. They are excited to soon re-launch a comprehensive planner system to support entrepreneurial women. Most clients sign up for coaching with Erica Duran International to “get more work done”, but actually they learn how to “get more of their life back”.

MO: What inspired you to launch your own company?

May14

“I really think that having a both a global view and a global experience broadens the effectiveness of any professional or business owner.”

Robert Rogers

Robert Rogers Law Firm, PA

http://www.CoralLaw.com

Robert Rogers has acted as outside counsel for several Florida companies operating throughout the globe in industries such as construction, capital investment, engineering, education, and health services. Also, he has done immigration work with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services as well as litigation and corporate work in Orlando and Miami.

Robert’s legal practice focuses on supplying business and immigration solutions to domestic and international entrepreneurs and families and is based in Miami, FL.

MO: What tips would you give to a company contemplating international relocation?

May13

“I like creating my own future and expanding on possibilities.”

Georgia L. Jones

Aphrodites Hair & Nails/Author

Owner/Operator

http://www.GeorgiaLJones.com

Georgia L. Jones opened Aphrodites Hair & Nails in March of 1999. The salon was launched in a small rental portion behind a local business. Georgia started with a small investment of 4500.00 and began growing her salon. She worked consistently and invested as the shop made a profit. October 2012, they made their 3rd move into a larger spot in the downtown area of Lebanon, MO. On May 1, 2013 she sold her business for a profit and retained her building to begin a new venture in the near future.

MO: What inspired to open a salon?

May13

“Working in an industry where people come to us for help, we are always in a position to have a truly satisfied client at the end of the day.”

Cameron Gharabiklou

Justice Law Group

Attorney

http://www.Justice-LawGroup.com

Attorney Cameron J. Gharabiklou has represented clients in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, personal injury, business litigation, employment litigation, consumer protection law, estate litigation, real estate litigation, and criminal defense.

Mr. Gharabiklou has successfully recovered millions of dollars for his clients, including a recent $8,500,000 class-action settlement in the matter of Jeremiah Johnson v. General Mills, Inc. Looking beyond his successful cases, Cameron garners respect and admiration from both his clients and peers. Both will tell you that Cameron is an efficient and effective attorney that is genuine and always acts with his clients’ best interests in mind; his multiple 5-star Yelp! reviews and client testimonials will show this to be true.

MO: What are some common legal issues you see consumers facing and how can they be avoided?

May13

“Entrepreneurship is an adventure that is similar to climbing a mountain, where you know where you want to go, but you have no idea what the elements are going to throw at you along the way.”

Bryan Leeds

Xsync

Co-Founder

http://www.Xsync.org

Bryan Leeds is the co-founder of Xsync, which is a new mobile app that simplifies sending media files from your mobile to any other type of mobile device. Xsync’s patent pending technology is like an electronic handshake, whereby two phones can connect and exchange stuff. Xsync uses NFC (Near Field Communication) or the mobile device’s camera to connect two devices that are near to each other, so users don’t have to type anything on their phone or connect to a network when they want to send media files to others around them. Additionally, the app makes it easy to receive files, as all media automatically syncs into the user’s device when they receive files with Xsync.

The app is free, and the coolest part about Xsync is that people on the receiving end don’t even need the Xsync app to receive files from Xsync. All they need is a smartphone equipped with any standard QR reader.

MO: Can you talk about Xsync was created to answer a simple question?

May13

“I understand that hiring social media professionals can be expensive, but hiring amateurs can cost a fortune.”

Dimple Thakkar

SYNHERGY MARKETING

Founder

http://www.Synhergy.com

Dimple Thakkar began her career at a social media agency in New York as the Executive Director of Promotions. During Dimple’s time at the agency, she supervised social media marketing campaigns for top brands, influential Web 2.0 companies such as Photobucket, meebo, NING and over 50 artists including Kanye West, 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, and Britney Spears. Additionally, Dimple worked in the talent management division within the same company as the Vice-President of New Media and Online Marketing, serving on the management team for a Grammy-nominated and global touring artist, as well as other Billboard charting rock and pop artists.

Currently, Dimple owns and operates SYNHERGY MARKETING which offers all types of online marketing and consulting with a focus in social media. Within their first year of establishment, SYNHERGY MARKETING was nominated top social media agency of 2009 on Mashable.com, one of the world’s largest blogging and news websites.

MO: What inspired you to launch SYNHERGY instead of working for an established marketing firm?

May11

“Having studied both science and law I am fascinated by how we identify what details are valuable when presented with complex information, whether jurors in a technology trial or teenagers receiving ads on their phones.”

Arif A. Mahmood

In Re IP Professional Corporation

Founder

http://inreip.com

Arif A. Mahmood is an international technology attorney who speaks on social media issues to the American Bar Association and provides legal insight to media outlets such as FoxNews.com. Arif used his scientific background to become one of the first social media speakers to incorporate developments in the field of cognetics and teach how cognitive psychology research is critical to modern social media campaigns. Arif has also litigated complex intellectual property cases dealing with patents and trademarks and is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Washington D.C. and Ontario.

MO: What inspired you to launch Precedent New Media?

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“There has been a lack of actionable information on how much to feed your dog given their activity levels and thus, most advice is far too generic and may not be suited for your particular situation. No wonder why more than half of all dogs in this country are overweight or obese.”

“In a small company, one bad hire can mean the difference between success or failure.”

“I thought to myself, “Well Saundra, It’s as clear as the cancer on your face what you need to do”.”

“Time management and productivity is the platform that your entire life is built on, if you don’t have proper techniques in place you will be missing out on really living the life and having the business you love.”

“I really think that having a both a global view and a global experience broadens the effectiveness of any professional or business owner.”

“I like creating my own future and expanding on possibilities.”

“Working in an industry where people come to us for help, we are always in a position to have a truly satisfied client at the end of the day.”

“Entrepreneurship is an adventure that is similar to climbing a mountain, where you know where you want to go, but you have no idea what the elements are going to throw at you along the way.”

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