Man on the Street: Ron Davis at VRAG!

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Enjoy this quick update from SIVAD President Ron Davis, LIVE from the VRAG conference in Macon, Georgia…

Special edition of SIVAD Radio, recorded earlier this afternoon…

R. Allen Patrick on SIVAD Radio!

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An honor to be joined by retired Ford Motor Company executive R. Allen Patrick. Allen served with Ford for thirty-five years, managing operations in Mexico, Brazil, South Korea and China during his career. He is currently doing some teaching at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

On the show, we had a discussion about the global economy, and future trends there. Allen shares his take on where the global growth trends are, and his thoughts on technology and global communications.

We discussed the trends, and the near-term future, of U.S. manufacturing, and the importance of incenting research and development. And how the Federal government should change policy to encourage U.S. corporations to bring back all their cash currently held in foreign banks.

Finally, we get Allen’s take on Ford, as well as the overall status of the U.S. automotive industry. And Charles and Allen have a fascinating chat on the interaction between unions and managements — and that impact the future of the industry.

One Government Official Who Gets It

I participated in an interesting radio interview the other day with Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brian Kemp. The goal of the interview was to discuss with Secretary Kemp the role technology plays in Government, especially the Elections Office. For Sivad Business Solutions, the Elections Office has been a specific area where we have seen success in offering solutions to automate their processes. As the interview continued Secretary Kemp discussed the need for Government to be more competitive. That was very refreshing to hear. Many of us have experienced horror stories of an inefficient Government; getting business licenses, driver’s licenses, property zoning, etc. We’ve all experienced long lines, uncaring employees and endless miles of red tape. As an experienced small business owner, Secretary Kemp campaigned on making changes for efficiency in Government. Soon after Secretary Kemp entered office he set up a “cut red tape” website to solicit Georgia Business owners to offer suggestions that would make interfacing with his department easier and faster. His goal is to quickly get them what they need, and then get out of their way. His point is that if business needs to be efficient and competitive in order to survive, then why shouldn’t Government be held to the same standards? This was critical as his department faced a 27% budget cut and the consolidation of departments. Secretary Kemp’s next step was to add a Chief Innovation Officer to find ways that technology can be implemented to make Government more competitive. He understands, as I do, that you cannot completely take people out of processes, but by integrating technology into their daily jobs you can make them more productive and make their jobs more satisfying. An efficient Government and happy Government employees will benefit us all. I continue to see how technology can assist us in every facet of our working lives and it is obvious to me that Secretary Kemp also sees this value. I can only hope that other Government officials will take the same stance that Secretary Kemp has, and make County, State and Federal Government hold to the same operating standards as we do in the business sector.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp on SIVAD Radio!

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We had the distinct pleasure to welcome Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brian Kemp, to this morning’s radio show. Secretary Kemp has served since January of 2010. You can learn more about him and his department here.

Secretary Kemp began by explaining the role his department plays in managing state elections, registering corporations, issuing business licenses, regulating securities and safeguarding state archives.

On the show, we discussed the importance of accurate and timely elections, the role technology will play in the future of our elections and the challenges faced by county election departments.

Secretary Kemp explained some ideas behind how to streamline processes to improve governmental efficiencies, reducing costs, and doing more with less.

We also talked about how excessive government regulations are putting a stranglehold on business growth. In fact, Secretary Kemp suggested people visit a website to suggest specific government regulations, both state and federal, that are creating bureaucratic nightmares for small business. You can find that site here.

SIVAD’s Equity Raise Series – Investor Appetites?

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Charles Davis, SIVAD’s CFO and a partner in The Meadowmont Group, a private equity firm, continues a series of conversations around equity raises – what to do, how to prepare, how to recruit and how to communicate with potential investors.

In this presentation, Charles sets the table about the large amounts of money being thrown at large deals such as Facebook, but also makes the point that investor appetites are growing for smaller private investments (500K and under).

This type of investment is increasingly attractive when compared to other investments such as stocks and bonds.

Many are reporting an explosion in entrepreneurship in the US, and investors are understanding this, and getting behind it. A lot of smart people are leaving corporate America and starting their own growth companies.

And the trend is strongest towards health care and technology.

Charles Davis is currently CFO for Sivad Business Solutions LLC, a regional document management and process automation company that specializes in the government, education, healthcare and small business sectors. Additionally, he is managing partner in The Meadowmont Group, a private equity fund specializing in healthcare and technology investments. Charles has a MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.