Bruce Hurwitz Presents

Vikram Rajan is the co-founder of phoneBlogger.net, and its new service: Videosocials, the video blogging club for subject matter experts. Vik is a frequent presenter at the NYC Bar Association, and many other lawyer groups around NYC. Vikram was a panelist at the New York State Bar Association conference in January 2018, regarding social media best practices. Vikram’s marketing column was published by the AICPA’s largest newsletter, featured in its Journal of Accountancy. Vik has also been published by Forbes and other publications. About our discussion he says, "Video blogging has taken over social media (and marketing): Zuckerberg announced Facebook’s “video first” strategy in 2016. In mid 2017, LinkedIn started auto-playing videos in its feeds. Instagram launched 'IgTV' in mid 2018 for videos longer than 1 minute. But attention spans are extremely limited & distracted when people are scrolling. Vikram will discuss the do’s & dont’s for using video blogs to engage prospects and referral relationships on social media: 1) Vik will share simple practices for recording quality video blogs; 2) the essentials of optimizing video watching; and 3) how to craft content to convert 'viewers into doers.' ”

Michelle Bernard teaches her fitness clients and students how to strengthen the relationship between their body and mind so they can bring their goals into real-life. Her book, LEAN HAPPY HEALTHY YOU, and the complementary journal, CAMPOUT WITH THE LEAN HAPPY HEALTHY YOU JOURNAL, outline her system for sustainable fat-loss. Her new book, beyond words—finding fulfillment between the lines, speaks specifically about the number one tool that helps you stay commited to your vision, lose the excess weight, and keep it off. It will raise your internal set-point so you can continue to live above ordinary. About our discussion she says, "As 2019 approaches, folks have nothing but enthusiasm about losing weight and keeping it off this time. You use that enthusiasm to keep your gym dates four nights a week, to push the plate of pasta away in favor of zucchini, and to keep your water bottle filled. But why, by mid-March, is it hard to uphold the strength of your convictions? To keep your fat-loss commitment— 1. Journal to know yourself. 2. Connection. 3. Get a teacher, trainer, and/or friend for information, accountability, and elevation."

Nicole Hausman is the owner of Lumen Gallery Inc. an online art gallery and a full service art consulting firm. Lumen Gallery serves commercial spaces in financial, Legal, hospitality and healthcare as well as residential. Nicole holds a MS in Technology Management and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Telecommunications from Stony Brook University. She has held various positions within major corporations such as AT&T, Dassault AT, American Express. Nicole is a certified Hatha Yoga instructor from Dharma Yoga Center.  Her hobbies include Scuba Diving, Sailing, Traveling, Photography, Tai Chi, Yoga, Skiing, and Hiking. We will be discussing the importance of art in the workplace.

Alan Siege is the Principal of Small Business Management Consulting, a 15-year old company, that assists small professional service and retail businesses  become more visible by improving the way they tell their business story and more profitable by refining their business model. He has an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Pace University and a Master’s degree in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College.  He’s led business workshops at the Brooklyn and Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, the Support Center of New York, the Brooklyn Business Outreach Center and the Business Division of the Brooklyn Public Library. He is an Instructor for the FastTrac Program, (part of the NYC Department of Small Business Services) and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Professional Studies at New York University and Long Island University. About our discussion he says, "Most of us are full of  'should' statements; we should be doing this and trying that and always, always moving forward.  I don’t think that’s always really possible; so  what I want to talk about is how this kind of thinking can get in the way of simple progress in your work as an entrepreneur.  In essence, it all about saying It’s OK to feel and say, 'I don’t know how to. . .' and even 'I don’t want to. . .'  when it comes to trying new ways of building a business.  Because once you say it, you can be free to actually doing it."

BJ Jhaveri is the Founder of VinPro Coaching, focused on equipping professionals and executives to ascend to their next level or next job. In the last 15 years, he has coached numerous professionals and executives for catalyzing a breakthrough in their careers and performance improvement in their business. His portfolio includes over a decade of leading the business operations of a Tech consulting services organization. He is an Advisory Board member for CX@Rutgers University. For his exemplary work as an Industry Advisory Council member at the Edison Job Corps Academy, he was honored with the Community Star Award. About our discussion he says, "For senior executives, the dual objective is to perform successfully at the current level and take steps to gravitate to the next level. For thriving in today’s VUCA (Volatility Uncertainty Complexity Ambiguity) world, it would be vital to use a structured & proven framework for ascending to the next level. "A proven process would help in defining the various steps for career growth: assessing your current level, unique strengths, setting goals, catalyzing breakthroughs, and amplifying your prominence. "Understanding and adopting this process would help in accelerating the momentum for your career growth."

Kiwi Callahan is a documentary filmmaker, a martial artist,and  a wine lover. But it wasn’t always that way. Kiwi found her way into documentary filmmaking after being a professional musical theater actress for 10 years. As she grew older, she found herself becoming more confident in her beliefs, less sure that she knew everything, and drawn to a different kind of story. After much consideration (read: pacing, wine consumption, sleeping, and chocolate eating), she decided to change directions and pursue a career in documentary filmmaking. In addition to full-length and short documentary films, Kiwi has been producing documentary-style videos and commercials for all types of businesses, ranging from solopreneurs to international brands such as Dockers, Target, and Dove. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube. About our discussion she says, "There have been about a zillion articles published in the last few years claiming that businesses MUST be producing videos in order to succeed in today’s marketing environment. They are largely correct, but for business owners who don’t have any experience producing videos for themselves, figuring out how to integrate video into their current marketing strategy can be overwhelming. This podcast will discuss the 5 most common ways that businesses use videos to amplify their marketing efforts, and will also provide insight into how to produce these videos at any budget level."

Robert Klausner is the Tax Partner of P&K CPAs LLC with 30 years of tax and accounting experience in a variety of industries, including real estate, construction and professional services.  He has worked in both public and private accounting with concentrations in Tax, Accounting and Business Advisory Services.   He is responsible for all tax services, IRS and state audits and staff development. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from The American University and a Masters in Taxation from Fairleigh Dickinson University.  He is a licensed CPA in New Jersey and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) and the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP).

For nearly 20 years Annabelle Beckwith has been helping entrepreneurs, business leaders and managers around the world to build stronger, more productive teams and more profitable businesses by developing their leadership skills through training and coaching. Before this, she held various management roles, including that of Head of Development and Public Affairs at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). Her work with entrepreneurs and business owners centres around core patterns and principles and proven best practice, gathered from working in the USA, Europe, Middle East and Asia. About our discussion she says, "What’s often missed as entrepreneurs scale their businesses  - just because we’re human beings and we don’t know what we don’t know until we’re in the thick of it – is how aspects of the human condition have a tendency to get in the way. It’s the unseen ‘people factors’   which pretty much ensure that growth  and progress don’t happen in a straight line. "I’ll be discussing what entrepreneurs and business owners can do about the hidden people factors running behind, through and alongside the practical business growth principles of strategy, process and systems – either  carrying your business forward...or threatening to derail it."

Nancy D. Miller works with people of all ages that are blind and multi-disabled and their families and unpaid caregivers. She is Executive Director/CEO of VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired since 1987. VISIONS serves over 7000 people each year with in-home, community and center-based day and overnight services. VISIONS annual budget is $10 million. Ms. Miller has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University and a Master of Science Degree in Social Work from Columbia University in group work and aging. Ms. Miller serves on the Board of Directors of LiveOn New York She is a founder and President of the New York Vision Rehabilitation Association and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work and the Priorities and Policy Committee of the Human Services Council. She is a co-Founder and Board member of the Disabilities Network of NYC. Ms. Miller has received the Community Trailblazers Award from Beyond Focus Media of Brooklyn, Practitioner of Distinction Award from National Rehabilitation Association, Maggie Kuhn Advocacy Award from Presbyterian Senior Services, Senator John E. Flynn Award from American Council of the Blind NY and VisionServe Alliance Excellence in Leadership Award. About our discussion she says, "Whether you are born with no vision or limited vision or acquire a disease that causes vision loss later in life, adjustment takes time. Having support of family and friends can make all the difference in learning to cope and develop the skills needed to live a full and independent life. Ms. Miller will talk about the role of family and friends in understanding vision loss and why high expectations are so important. People with vision loss graduate from college, work, raise families of their own and contribute to society in many ways. Often the biggest obstacles comes from the stereotypes held by the general public."

Phyllis Weiss Haserot is the foremost workplace multi-generational expert speaking with a cross-generational voice. A “uniter,” she brings the power of cross-generational conversation and collaboration to solve the urgent problems and nuances of attracting and retaining clients and employees of different generations, effective multigenerational teams, knowledge transfer, succession planning. Her newest book on generational challenges is “You Can’t Google it! The Compelling Case for Cross-Generational Conversation at Work.” President of Practice Development Counsel, a business development and organizational effectiveness consultancy, Phyllis is a speaker and blogger on intergenerational relations issues, for Forbes.com, Next Avenue, Legal Executive Institute, IRIS.xyz, LinkedIn Pulse and others. About our discussion she says,"Unlike several decades ago, it is not possible anymore to get an accurate idea of individuals by their chronological age. Employers and workers have to navigate the whitewater of generational stereotypes and ageism biases. "We will discuss: the most important factors for continuing relevance in the work world; how to advocate for yourself for career progression, sustainability and making a difference, no matter what your age; and why we need “collaborageism” "Learn how to identify and use “authentic age” factors, what matters more than chronological age for yourself and to manage and retain your most desirable personnel."

Debra Miron is President of Miron Marketing, providing branding, strategy, business and creative services to clients. With nearly 25 years of corporate experience as a marketing and sales strategist, Miron offers a range of integrated services designed to increase a brand’s market presence. Miron customizes marketing and business services, resulting in increased sales and profit for clients across varied industries, products and services. Projects include branding, website design, and content creation leading to more comprehensive business development with product diversification, licensing and expanded distribution channels. Previously, Miron held management roles at nationally ranked home furnishings companies. About our discussion she says, "Marketing is the driving force behind business, but not every company has a designated marketing department focusing on branding, strategy and the tools that help drive sales and profit. Companies are faced with increased competition, resulting in pressure to cut prices and promote business more aggressively. This oftentimes adds risks, causing lost profit and market share. "Companies can benefit with strategic planning that can help identify best products, pricing and programs to increase sales and market presence.  The podcast will explore advantages in hiring a marketing strategist and define key marketing trends that can be applied to a firm’s business."

As former VP at Bank One, Diana Garber oversaw 65,000 workstations and 2,500 servers. She’s worked command centers for Y2K, 9/11 terrorist attack, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and more. Her phrase “manage your environment consciously or it unconsciously it manages you©” is why her corporate background compliments her Feng Shui consulting business. Both are both risk management. She served as Feng Shui practitioner for The Ohio State University and is the only Feng Shui Master to speak at an international medical convention. She’s been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and NPR. About our discussion she says, "Profit and loss, return on investment, recruiting great talent, marketing efforts, strategic planning, employee morale, employee productivity … are all affected by the work environment.  The design of a building can set a business up for success or make it short lived. Think about today’s environment and all the violence. Did you know certain buildings are predisposed to things going wrong? "Join us to learn how you can do a lot of the right things but if you are in an energy-challenged building, it’s like one step forward and three back."

William Rassman, CFP®, is a speaker, author, and financial services advisor for successful individuals & families. He began his career at Smith Barney in the financial district of New York in 2008, and is a Wealth Advisor at Centric Capital Advisors. Will graduated from Wagner College in New York, New York, with a BA in economics. A former college hockey player and NCAA golfer, Will lives in Manhattan Beach, California, with his wife Svetlana. He is an active member of the Financial Planning Association and Toastmasters International. During his free time, he enjoys volunteering with his dog, Gopher. About our disucssion he says, "Consumers are in more need than ever of building their own financial safety net: pension funds are a dying breed; social security is under threat; and people are living longer, requiring more wealth to retire.  Yet, consumers are often overwhelmed by the complexity of today’s financial marketplace and the data onslaught that has come with the Information Age. My book Atlas Shift: Mastering Your Financial Experience in the Post-Information Age arms consumers with the tools, the concepts, and the vocabulary they need to seek this new breed of advisor and brave this new age."

Barry Handwerger is the President of MC Office Furniture.  MC is a full-service office furniture dealership.  We are a valuable partner with business leaders, architects and designers.  MC delivers a complete, creative and cost effective solution to business challenges.  Our goal is to deliver the perfect office furniture experience from the initial consultation and drawings through final installation. About our interview he says, "I look forward to discussing today’s office environment.  From design to space allocation.  How people work today and how they will be working in the future.  How does a company know how much space, layout and design will work best for their present and future employees.  The millennials have a very different vision of what works best for them.  That group is our future and we need to be setting up offices that cater to their needs."

Russell D. Rivera, CFA, CFP® is the Founder and President of Voice Wealth Management. He sees himself as a Personal CFO and Financial “Therapist” for entrepreneurs, young professionals, and their families. He believes that by getting started making better financial decisions as soon as possible that his clients will be able to lead more fulfilling, less stressful lives.  Russell graduated with a BA in Economics from Harvard University, was granted his CFA Charter in 2007 and became a CFA certificant in 2016.  He spends most of his weekends as the bench coach for his son’s baseball team. About our discussion he asks, "Have you noticed that many commercials from financial services companies seem to be more focused on your financial picture is part of your overall well-being?  While wellness of the body and mind have already been part of corporate wellness programs, companies are also seeing additional benefits in helping their employees with financial wellness.  Providing an optional retirement plan may no longer be sufficient to attract new hires and maintain employees, but companies that are on this new benefits frontier may be able to get more out of their workers.  Listen to this program to find out more about this new frontier and see how it might add to a business enterprise."

David J Dunworth advises solopreneurs like coaches, authors, and non-profit organizations on all matters of marketing strategy and campaign development. Dunworth uses his proprietary system to take his clients from ZERO (where they think they are stuck) to HERO (where they’d like to be) in terms of authority, positioning, lifestyle and income. The Entrepreneur’s Growth Matrix™ System, his latest book (to be published soon), highlights the exact steps to take to do it one one’s own, and comes with a workbook to aid in the foundational aspects as well as progression through the transformation. About our discussion he says, "Solopreneurs often find themselves caught in a never ending cycle of feast and famine.  One month they might land a big client, and then the next month they suffer from Sales Hangover.  That’s because they lack a marketing system that works for them while they are helping clients, when they are on vacation, and even when they sleep.  "The challenges for solopreneurs don’t stop there either.  Marketing, pricing, influence, celebrity or the lack of all of these makes a solopreneur’s life difficult unless there are systems in place and someone to orchestrate it while they can focus on their clients.  "That’s where marketing automation and a part time VA comes to the rescue.  :I’ll be discussing on what a solopreneur needs to understand to make their life like the one they imagined when they first got started.  A lifestyle business is possible with the right processes in place."

Bill Dodds is a veteran of sales turnarounds for global enterprises and scaling up venture-backed start-ups with deep expertise in revenue performance and top line sales planning.  Bill has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, CIO Magazine and Power Selling Magazine.  Bill is currently partnered with K8 Ventures in the founding of p3rceive, LLC.  p3rceive’s mission is to gamify revenue planning by replacing old-school regression analysis with sales ecosystem modeling and simulation.  This allows p3rceive’s users to do multiple “what-if” scenarios across their people, process and sales results.  About our discussion he says, "p3rceive is the growth modeling platform that enables enterprises to plan their staffing and revenue target decisions based on desired outcomes, what's possible, and the steps needed to realize that success.  "How much are we going to grow? Can we afford that growth? What do we need to achieve that growth? These are perennial questions that remain in the realm of guesswork.  "p3rceive uniquely enables enterprises to simulate results based on their staffing, their sales workflow, and desired outcomes. This marriage of game simulation and supply chain optimization algorithms, combined with deep machine learning and Monte Carlo analysis; allow the user to do complex "what-if" analysis over multiple functional groups and multiple steps in their sales process.  "We know we need to be easy to use and deliver results quickly and so the perceived experience starts with a proprietary configuration wizard. The underlying machine intelligence is such that p3rceive can build a mathematical model of your sales ecosystem based on data that every executive should know off hand or easily obtained from their CRM."

Tom Crain is co-founder of Shanti Community Farms, Inc., Akron, OH, a new non-profit that preserves the agricultural heritage of immigrants/refugees both young and old. He champions farm-to-school projects for K-12 education. He is also chief paddler of the Akron Portage ‘n Paddle, a canoe and carry endurance race and community event.  He recently added the management of a community house project serving inner city residents to become financially fit and start their own businesses. About our discussion he says, "I look forward to discussing how important and rewarding it is to serve inner-city communities.  I will discuss the merits of serving the immigrant/refugee community through my work with Shanti Community Farms and the transient mixed income, mixed race neighborhood of Akron’s West Hill through the newly formed UPD40 corridor and Akron Portage ‘n Paddle canoe race and prehistoric canoe encampment.  I also will discuss my passion and continuing need for Farm-to-School initiatives in the public schools, particularly with Title I students."

For over 29 years, Ed Forteau has been a sales and marketing strategist, coach, and mentor to entrepreneurs. During that time, he developed, and perfected, an indirect selling method that builds authority, credibility, and trust in the sales process—resulting in increased sales. Over the past couple of years, he started automating many aspects of his selling method, using chatbots. Ed found chatbots to be the perfect salesperson, because they can execute sales functions with precision, while learning and improving over time. He now leverages the power of chatbots to improve the sales effectiveness of entrepreneurs and their organizations. About our discussion he says, "There are four types of people that entrepreneurs connect with on Linkedin: those that are ready, willing, and able to buy now; those that are ready, willing, and able to buy in the future; those they can build strategic alliances with; and those that sell products/services that can benefit their business. A chatbot can automate the process of categorizing each connection, schedule appointments with the high-value connections that are ready, willing, and able to do business now, and foster relationships with the rest of one's connections—freeing up the entrepreneur to be much more efficient."

David J Dunworth is an internationally acclaimed speaker and Best Selling author of six books, hundreds of articles and ghost writer. Working in a service capacity is nothing new to him. His thirty-seven years in hospitality proves that. He has served on Boards of Directors of nonprofits, chambers of commerce and been a  Master of Ceremonies for International Fund Raisers. About our discussion he says, "Businesses that support local Nonprofit and NGO organizations beyond writing a check not only make a positive impact on their communities, doing so can also improve their bottom line. As this population gets younger every year, the expectation that corporations and businesses contributing to the social welfare of all grows in demand.  'Gen Z’s and Millennials demand that purchasing from, or working for a company requires their social involvement beyond writing a check. 'Companies can grow their brand as well as profits by becoming directly involved in social good. Science proves that employees volunteering and giving blood regularly have lower absenteeism, are more loyal, positive, collaborative and creative. "The listeners will gather first-hand knowledge on the values of CSR, why it is critical to their futures, and what they can gain on the bottom line. They will receive a step-by-step process to get involved, along with a contact person with which to communicateshould they need guidance or have questions. They will also have access to a free enterprise application to use to schedule, monitor and track activities and personnel involved, providing a record of social service individually and as a company."