Attorney Mitzi Kincaid on SIVAD Radio

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Mitzi Kincaid joins us today on SIVAD Radio. Mitzi is the owner of Kincaid and Associates, and has extensive experience in both business and business law. She also serves on several non-profit boards.

You can learn more about Mitzi and her firm here.

Nothing more important, as a business, to deal with legal counsel who knows something about business. And that is what makes Mitzi Kincaid so refreshing.

In this episode, Charles, Mitzi and I discuss:

1. The critical legal elements you need to consider when launching a new business venture, which include things like risk management, human resources, and accounting.

2. For an attorney to serve a business well, they have to fully understand the business, or “get in the cracks,” as Mitzi puts it…

3. Considering the life sciences and technology spaces, we discuss both the current state of those markets and the legal issues for start-ups and growing companies.

4. Is this a good time to launch an entrepreneurial venture, and if so, what the CRITICAL first steps when launching their venture…Mitzi shares her bar stool analogy…

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SIVAD Radio: Business Advisory Board Roundtable

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Not long ago, I was fortunate to moderate a business roundtable with the advisory board of SIVAD Business Solutions. The collection of talent and brain power included the following gentlemen:

Ron Davis, President of SIVAD
Charles Davis, CFO of SIVAD
Dr. Richard Morrison, Retired Eli Lilly executive, Adjunct Professor, UNC Wilmington
Don Akery, VP of The Power and Signal Group
Spencer Broadhurst, Executive VP, Newbridge Bank

If you are wondering about growth trends, both domestically and internationally, you need to listen to this conversation. If you are an entrepreneur, you need to listen to this conversation. Finally, if you believe to your core that technology is the critical element to future growth opportunities, you need to listen to this conversation.

Dr. Morrison talked about the overall business environment and future trends. Don Akery talked about the intersection of technology and sales and operations. And Spence Broadhurst discussed market trends in commercial banking and finance.

This thirty-eight minutes of business conversation is something you don’t want to miss. As an entrepreneur myself, I found this chat inspiring and educational…

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Kelly Harris on SIVAD Radio!

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Kelly Harris, CEO of Gilda’s Club Delaware Valley, joined us yesterday on SIVAD Radio.

Kelly has worked in the nonprofit space for over 25 years. The mission of Gilda’s Club is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are not alone, empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. You can learn more about Gilda’s Club Delaware Valley here. And learn about how to make a critical contribution here.

On the show, we discussed the following highlights:

1. The challenges of operating, marketing, and funding a non-profit in today’s economic struggles.

2. As with all non-profits, we discussed how to stay competitive in today’s very challenging and competitive fundraising environment.

3. We discuss the similarities between non-profits and running a business, and the similarities between nonprofits and entrepreneurial ventures.

4. Kelly shared some innovative ways they are reaching out to potential donors.

5. We discussed the importance of grants and the grant-writing process to non-profits.

6. Marketing is becoming an increasing important element of thriving non-profits.

7. Co-host Charles talks about the utilization of strategies to raise venture capital also apply to non-profits.

8. We discuss the role of technology and non-profits.

9. Finally, Kelly shares her vision for where non-profits are going over the next 3 to 5 years.

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If you enjoyed this broadcast, please subscribe on iTunes here. A positive customer rating would be much appreciated as well.

Improving Education For Special Needs Students – Part Two

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Today’s question: Response to intervention (RTI)… What is it? And how does it work?

As Dr. Golson and Ron Davis explain, response to intervention (RTI) is a process by which a teacher has to report progress on a special needs student learning specific skills, and whether or not they are learning the skill in a timely manner. It is a comprehensive reporting process.

But the big question is, how does a teacher handle their responsibilities with RTI…and also take care of a full class of students? It can become a burden and is time consuming…

Ron discusses a solution to help teachers better manage this…

Here is Part 1 in the series…

[The series is hosted by Red Crayon President Dr. Nancy Golson and SIVAD President Ron Davis. Email Ron Davis with any questions, or to learn more.]

Mike Robertson on SIVAD Radio

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Sometimes you just have a consersation and you walk away stunned at how much you learned. My co-host Charles Davis and I experienced that on today’s show with guest Mike Robertson. Mike is the Director of Life Sciences and Technology for Glasgow Hicks / Aquesta Insurance.

Highlights from today’s show include:

1. Mike’s fascinating definition of what constitutes the life sciences, and then how his industry insures and mitigates risk in that space.

2. We discussed the burden the federal government plays in negatively impacting innovation in the life sciences and technology spaces.

3. Mike is a recognized leader in risk management in the venture capital/angel investment space, and talked at length about it’s importance to the start-up and investment process, including a detailed chat about the significance of Directors + Officer’s insurance. Here is a good example of why this is important.

4. Mike then shared a bit about how the process works to get insured, and how he achieved the experience and knowledge to serve this special niche in the insurance market.

5. We wrapped the show talking about how we are all bullish on the age of the entrepreneur. But then, Mike explained how entrepreneurs can mitigate the risk with their business idea. If you launching an entrepreneurial venture, this segment is a MUST READ…

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Marshall Maglothin on SIVAD Radio

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Charles and I welcomed Marshall Maglothin to SIVAD Radio today. Marshall is a health care professional who also advises health care start-ups. He operates out of Blue Oak Consulting.

Marshall just completed a year with Bon Secours Health System, Hampton Roads, as executive in charge of their hospital cardiovascular services and physicians.

Highlights from today’s show include:

1. A hearty discussion on health information technology, largely surrounding electronic medical records.

2. Marshall’s review of the state of the union on health care; from technology to the politics of Obamacare.

3. Speaking of electronic medical records, we discussed the adoption rates of the technology, as well as how well it is being received and utilized.

4. The importance of analytics with medical dates, and how it impacts the business side of health care to patient care.

5. The application of technology: how will that look and manifest itself? From tablet computers to diagnostics to the cloud.

6. Finally, Marshall shares the opportunities and the challenges with health care start-ups…

Marshall is active on LinkedIn…

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Rob Romero on SIVAD Radio!

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A thrill to welcome Rob Romero to SIVAD Radio. You can find Rob online here. [From Rob:]

“Early in my architectural career, I had the opportunity to work in a world-renowned architect’s office, Antoine Predock, on a wide range of projects from very high end residences to massive conventions centers in Morocco to museums in California and Wyoming to the Disney Mediterranean Hotel in Orlando. Since then, I have worked for several other design-oriented architectural firms until stepping out on my own.

In 2000, I started working for myself under the name Romero Architecture and now ROMERAMA which is a hybrid of my last name + the first letters of my interests – Architecture + Music + Art. I have pursued all scales of projects from retail/commercial to residential/renovation. From 2000 to 2009, I completed projects in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, North Carolina and West Virginia for total estimated construction costs of $7,580,000. As with each project, I always feel that site analysis is vital and I make an effort to experience each location as part of my duty as an architect and responsible designer in the world.

One of the most rewarding aspects of designing a project is getting to know the clients and, in some cases, I have had the opportunity to create art that is specifically commissioned for their building. The combination of art and architecture has been part of my ethos from the beginning.”

On today’s show, we discussed the following topics:

1. Rob’s firm, Romero Design; and what inspired him to launch his own firm.

2. How he, and his industry, are making it through the economy; and some discussion of ways to survive and thrive…

3. Business, industry and economic trends for the next five years.

4. The future and inspiration of the entrepreneurial spirit.

5. The opportunities in global markets.

Nancy Golson on SIVAD Radio!

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A real pleasure to be joined by Nancy Golson on today’s show. Nancy has been in education for over 40 years, serving as teacher, principal and Director of Special Education and now as education concultant with Red Crayon Associates.

Dr. Golson has worked in Charlote Mecklenburg School System in Charlottte North Carolina and Auburn City Schools in Auburn, Alabama. She has worked as a consultant for many schools systems in special education, school improvement, and accreditation.

On today’s show, we discussed the following topics:

1. The challenges faced by school administrators when trying to offer the best possible education to special needs students.

2. The impacts federal programs, such as No Child Left Behind, have on the impact of special needs students.

3. The process of evaluating students for special education via Response to Intervention, how it works, and the strain all this has on serving special needs students.

4. The increased role technology will play in helping and serving special needs students, including that of interactive technologies such as smart boards, projectors, etc.

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.