AmiSights: Financing the Future For Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Steve Dobbins, Founder and CEO of The Dobbins Group, on how marketing has changed and evolved throughout the pandemic. Steve is a seasoned marketing and communications pro, with a passion for compelling content, brand building, audience engagement, purpose-driven business, and growing dream teams. For more than 20 years, Steve has worked side-by-side with...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Anita Campbell, Founder and CEO of SmallBizTrends.com, on challenges small businesses have had in her community during the pandemic and how they're coming out of it. Anita is the Founder and CEO of Small Business Trends LLC. She bootstrapped the company from a nascent idea. Previously she was a General Counsel and CEO of a technology subsidiary of Bell & H...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Megan Bruneau , M.A., therapist, executive coach, writer, speaker, and podcast host about emotional issues and mental health among entrepreneurs coming out of the pandemic.  Megan has a master of arts in counseling psychology and a bachelor of arts in psychology and social work. With 12+ years experience providing crisis support, therapy, and coaching, she...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar sits down with Megha Kulshreshtha to learn all about her nonprofit, Food Connect ! Megha is the Founder and Executive Director of Food Connect, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between surplus food and hunger through collaboration and technology. Food Connect has helped distribute over 3 million on-demand meals through their last mile transport...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews David Anderson, CEO of Off Madison Ave, Founder of LighthousePE, Global Board Chair of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), Author, Speaker, and Executive Coach, on what he learned leading EO through the pandemic and his positive outlook on this rare opportunity.  David is an experienced entrepreneur whose leadership path has taken him from president of his co...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Beth Hoff Blackmer , Owner and President of Aspen Rent-All, Inc. on lessons learned as president of the ARA through the pandemic. Her father decided to sell the business in 1999 after his manager became ill. With urging from some family friends, Beth decided to step into the business in August of 1999 with absolutely no background in the rental industry. T...

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Kathleen Quinn Votaw, Founder and CEO of TalenTrust on how businesses need to be rethinking their people strategies as we get back to the "new normal".  Kathleen is the Founder and CEO of TalenTrust, a strategic recruiting and human capital consulting firm that has helped companies nationwide address immediate needs and drive long-term growth since 2003. She...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Bill Gallagher, Scaling Up Business Coach and Podcast Host, on how companies are repivoting.  Bill is a business coach and master facilitator with over 30 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience. Bill has spent the last 15 years coaching and training others in leadership and performance and previously led 4 companies of his own and been a partner...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Greg Crabtree, Partner at Carr, Riggs & Ingram, on how he helps companies manage their books, and what's different about his unique approach. Greg Crabtree has over 40 years of in-depth experience, not only as a CPA, but also as a speaker, author, entrepreneur and financial expert. He is known for working with his clients on cash flow planning, business co...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dale Robinette, Business Growth Strategist, Founder of the RevX Formula, Vistage Master Chair, and certified Scaling Up Gazelles Coach to discuss what Dale has learned coaching business owners through the pandemic.  Dale Robinette has a 25-year history of successfully helping companies, across multiple industries ranging from start-ups to Fortune 50, achie...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Casey Brown, President of Boost Profits, on pricing - specifically, has the pandemic changed how businesses should think about pricing, if at all?  Casey Brown is the President of Boost Profits , a firm that helps companies generate more sales at higher prices for improved profits. For over two decades, she has formulated and executed pricing strategies, p...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Bo Burlingham, contributing writer for Forbes and author of five books, about Small Giants , how these companies have performed during the pandemic and what we can learn from their philosophy.  Bo has been writing about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship for 38 years, mostly for Inc. magazine, where he served as executive editor and then editor at large. H...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jessica Fialkovich, President of Transworld Business Advisors - Rocky Mountain , on how to buy a business, how to sell a business and the status of the mergers and acquisitions market.  Jessica became a first-time entrepreneur at the age of 25 and since has been able to successfully establish, develop and sell multiple small businesses in a number of diffe...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Carey Smith, Founding Contrarian of Unorthodox Ventures to discuss if Carey has been investing in businesses throughout the pandemic, and if so, how has his outlook changed.  A career entrepreneur, Carey Smith founded Big Ass Fans in 1999 and served as its CEO, or Chief Big Ass as he preferred, for 18 years. While other companies made and lost their fortun...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Jonathan Goldhill, Founder and President of The Goldhill Group about his new book, Disruptive Successor: a Guide for Driving Growth in your Family Business.  Jonathan Goldhill is an adviser, coach, consultant, trainer, facilitator, and business therapist with 30 years of experience in his craft.  He has been guiding closely-held and family-owned businesses...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Scott Omelianuk , Editor in Chief of Inc. magazine and Inc.com , on his experience coming in as Editor in Chief just a few weeks before the pandemic hit.  Mr. Omelianuk recently joined Inc. as Editor in Chief, where he oversees the brand's recognition programs, events, and content, and is charged with creating new lines of business to support the entrepren...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar sits down with Dave Nast, CEO of Nast Partners, to discuss how HR has changed during the pandemic, specifically how hiring has changed, and how to build teams virtually. David Nast is the CEO and Managing Partner of Nast Partners - based in the Greater Philadelphia area. David uses artificial intelligence, workforce analytics, and science-backed data to help business...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Dr. Rebecca Heiss, author, founder and CEO of the 360-review mobile application, icueity, and professional speaker on her journey as a professional speaker and what happened in March 2020 and how she adapted.  Rebecca knows fear. As a biologist and stress expert, Dr. Rebecca Heiss is dedicated to helping us become self-aware and overcome our instinctual li...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Loren Feldman, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of 21 Hats on his journey from journalist to employee to entrepreneur, what he has learned, and how we can help. Loren Feldman is the founder and editor-in-chief of 21 Hats , an online platform for business owners. He hosts the 21 Hats Podcast , which has been tracking the experiences of six business owners in wee...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Matt Grammer, the Founder and CEO of Kentucky Counseling Center on his story, what changed when the pandemic hit and how he pivoted. KCC was formed in 2014 with a $250 investment and ranked #92 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2019. "I started KCC because I was frustrated with my father's experience getting treatment for schizophrenia. When he finally found someon...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Emily Morgan, the founder of Delegate Solutions, on how she gets entrepreneurs comfortable with delegation and how to make delegation effective.  Emily and her remote team help leaders and their teams to strategically clear their plates so they can focus on higher-impact activities! She is the founder of Delegate Solutions , a Strategic Support(TM) Firm an...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Lynn Ozer, the new President of MultiFunding on her transition from the corporate banking world to the more entrepreneurial MultiFunding .  Lynn Ozer is a strategic and highly accomplished financial executive with vast expertise in small business lending departments, training existing and aspiring lenders on SBA's loan origination policies and procedures,...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Randy Haykin, Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of The Gratitude Network. Randy explains The Gratitude Network, what is it, and how we can get involved! Randy is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, philanthropist and educator, and "wine angel" who lives and works in the Bay Area. Randy currently coaches CEOs and is a Vistage Chair, overseeing a peer gro...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar interviews Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council on her efforts in Washington D.C. to help small businesses through the pandemic, the hot issues today, and what's next!  For twenty-five years Karen Kerrigan's leadership, advocacy and training work has helped foster U.S. entrepreneurship and global business growth.  She is pr...

On today's episode, Ami Kassar speaks with Eric Keiles, Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Square 2 Marketing , to discuss marketing lessons learned during the pandemic, and what has changed forever.  Eric Keiles is a leading sales and marketing strategist focused on pioneering a new marketing methodology. Eric, along with his business partner Mike Lieberman, coined the concept, Reality Market...