Symplicity Conversations

Join Catherine Ripley as she sits down with Alicia Carlson and Camille Widme from Blue Team Alpha to explore the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity. Discover how Blue Team Alpha is helping businesses stay ahead of cyber threats with proactive strategies and robust incident response services. From the rise of AI-driven phishing attacks to the importance of fostering a security-conscious culture,...

Join Catherine Ripley on Symplicity Conversations as she sits down with Camron Gnass, founder of Traction Brands, to explore the essence of effective branding. Discover how Traction Brands helps businesses grow with clarity and confidence by challenging conventional thinking and asking the right questions. Camron shares insights on the importance of positioning in the marketplace, the role of curi...

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, Catherine Ripley sits down with Roberta McCarter, the founder of Novus Data Journeys. Together, they take a look at the transformative power of data and the unexpected yet exciting leap into entrepreneurship. Discover how Roberta’s extensive experience with Fortune 100 companies led her to embrace the challenges and rewards of starting her own business....

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, host Catherine Ripley dives into the transformative world of AI and automation with Alex Levin, Co-Founder and CEO of RegalAI, and Mandi Jarman, Strategic Director at RegalAI. Discover how RegalAI is revolutionizing customer interactions by harnessing the power of voice AI to create meaningful connections. Explore the journey from skepticism to innovati...

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, host Catherine Ripley sits down with Rene' Nutter of ABT Global. The two talk about how innovation, relationships, and community shape today's business landscape. Rene' shares her fascinating journey from culinary arts to government contracting, highlighting the pivotal role of networking and mentorship. They explore the intersection of technology and g...

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, join host Catherine Ripley as she talks about our transformative success story with Sean Shaughnessy and George Foland from RingCentral. Discover how a major West Michigan grocery chain revolutionized its communication infrastructure through a landmark deal in the Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) space and how Symplicity landed the record-sett...

We explore the dynamic world of leadership with Dr. Dino Signore, a renowned business psychologist. Host Catherine Ripley dives deep into the challenges and mindset shifts required to transition from a startup to a thriving second-stage business. Discover the importance of emotional intelligence, how to build a management team that complements your strengths, and the role of peer support in foster...

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, host Catherine Ripley dives into the impact of dreaming big and achieving remarkable milestones in business. Joined by Doug Seites, Director of Marketing at Symplicity, they discuss the significance of being nominated for and winning prestigious awards, such as their recent Intellisys Platinum Partner recognition, and how these achievements reflect the...

Join us for an insightful episode of Symplicity Conversations, where host Catherine Ripley sits down with Erin Stewart, Senior Director at Success KPI. Discover how businesses are leveraging data-driven insights to maximize success in an ever-evolving landscape. Erin shares her journey from starting in a mall kiosk to becoming a leader in data analytics, emphasizing the importance of relationships...

In this episode of Simplicity Conversations, hosted by Catherine Ripley, we dive into the evolving landscape of IT services with Stephen Hackett, founder of 186Kloud. Explore Stephen's journey from channel management to founding a company focused on providing cutting-edge IT solutions. Discover insights into how businesses can adapt to technological shifts, with a special focus on the role of AI a...

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, join host Catherine Ripley as she sits down with Nick Stevenson, Technical Account Manager at Symplicity Communications. Dive into an engaging conversation about the evolving landscape of business and technology, the importance of genuine relationships, and how Symplicity Communications is making a difference by prioritizing client needs over sales tact...

Join us on this episode of Symplicity Conversations as host Catherine Ripley sits down with Brian Cohen to explore innovation and community impact. Discover the inspiration and impact of the Confluence Thought Series, a groundbreaking initiative that brings innovation and community together in West Michigan. Brian shares his journey from launching successful music festivals to creating dynamic pla...

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, host Catherine Ripley sits down with Matthew Burnell, founder and CEO of ClickBid, to explore the transformative power of technology in nonprofit fundraising. Matt shares the journey of ClickBid from its early days of replacing paper auctions with digital solutions to its current role in improving fundraising through innovative auction technology. We ta...

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Symplicity Conversations! Join host Catherine Ripley as she sits down with Jessica Reilly, Manager of Customer Success at Symplicity, to explore the pivotal role Operations play in driving innovation and success. In this episode, Jessica shares her unique journey from stage management at SeaWorld to leading operations at Symplicity. Discover how her transfor...

Our host Catherine Ripley sits down with Della Pretzer, Senior Regional Partner Manager at RingCentral, to unpack the power of business relationships. Discover how innovation and collaboration fuel success in today's business landscape. Catherine and Della discuss the power of partnerships, the journey to record-breaking achievements, and the evolving role of technology in enhancing customer exper...

Join us for this exciting episode of Symplicity Conversations as host Catherine Ripley chats with Craig Diggs, an IT leader from Fresh Thyme Markets. Discover how Craig is transforming the IT landscape with innovative strategies and a focus on empowering his team. From tackling outdated systems to implementing cutting-edge technologies, Craig shares his journey and the challenges he faces in leadi...

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, we sit down with Margi Shaw, CEO of Nitel, to explore her leadership journey and the remarkable growth Nitel has achieved under her guidance. Margi shares valuable insights into her leadership style, strategies for scaling a business, and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. We dive into the challenges and triumphs of being a female leader in the...

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, we sit down with Nick Stevenson, a dynamic business development representative at Symplicity, who brings a unique blend of creativity and strategy to our sales team. Discover how Nick's background as a musician influences his approach to sales and contributes to our distinctive strategy.  We discuss Nick's journey from a self-taught guitarist to a colle...

In this heartfelt episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Catherine and her family as they navigate the ups and downs of growing and running a business while maintaining strong family bonds. Listen in as Catherine shares the pivotal moments that shaped her and inspired her commitment to creating a supportive work environment. Joined by her daughters, Samantha and Nichole, and her mother, Ca...

On this engaging episode of Symplicity Conversations, host Catherine Ripley dives deep into the world of government contracting with the Symplicity Communications team. Hear the inspiring journeys of Victor Zuniga, Ben Murray, and Carla Skuhrovec, who bring unique expertise and passion to Symplicity's Government Contracting Division. Learn how they navigate the complexities of federal and state ma...

In this exciting episode of Symplicity Conversations, host Catherine Ripley is joined by Jennifer Wangler, Vice President of Technology at The Right Place, for an inspiring discussion on the transformative power of technology and collaboration in West Michigan. Jennifer shares her journey from running a small business to leading tech innovation and community-building efforts. Together, they discus...

In this episode of Symplicity Conversations, Catherine Ripley sits down with Rachel Gorman, President and CEO of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, for an insightful discussion about the evolving landscape of Muskegon and the importance of following your passions. Rachel shares her perspective on the city’s transformation, the value of building meaningful connections, and the significance...

Welcome to the first-ever episode of Symplicity Conversations, the podcast where we explore the intersection of business, culture, community, and technology to empower you with the insights you need to thrive. Our host, Catherine Ripley, is joined by Symplicity Communications Marketing Manager, Doug Seites, as they talk about his unique journey to his current role, the marketing challenges Symplic...

Welcome to Symplicity Conversations, the podcast where business, culture, and community come together to inspire and empower. Together, each episode we’ll explore meaningful conversations about how today’s business landscape is shaped by innovation, relationships, and the people behind the progress. From actionable insights and stories from industry leaders to topics like customer experience, fost...