Great Companies! Great Leaders!

Hosted by Christine Gannon

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Jan 2024

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About the show

Great Companies! Great Leaders! is a series of real conversations with the world's most thoughtful leaders. Entrepreneurs, CEO's, World-Class Athletes, Coaches, Best-Selling Authors, and much more.

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60 recent

January 23, 202416 min

Episode 60: Michelle Clare, Intuitive Life Coach

Michelle Clare is a Certified Medium, Angel Intuitive, Spiritual Coach, Medical Intuitive, Energetic Healer, Intuitive Life Coach and 3 time Near Death Experience (NDE) survivor. She receives messages from loved ones who have crossed over, as well as Angels and Life Guides. In a span of 11 years she had 3 near death experiences, the first was in April 2000, the second was in May 2006 and a monumental life changing event in which Michelle suffered a traumatic brain injury on November 1, 2011. Shortly after this life altering event, she started receiving information for other people from their loved ones who had transitioned. All 3 NDEs were a reminder of an unconditional love and connection that surpasses our earthly life. https://www.michelleclare.net/

December 12, 202328 min

Episode 59: Carol Poore, PhD., MBA

Carol A. Poore is President of Poore and Associates Strategic Planning and author of Strategic Impact: A Leader’s Three-Step Framework for the Customized Vital Strategic Plan, published by Fast Company Press in 2021. Carol provides strategic planning expertise for corporate, nonprofit and social sector executive teams, expanding organizational capacity and strategic impact. Her vital strategic planning framework has assisted client organizations with innovative growth and turnaround, strategic fundraising, venture capital development, storytelling, branding, identity building, and civic engagement. Dr. Poore’s executive background includes serving as a marketing and business start-up executive at one of the nation’s largest private water and public power utility companies – Salt River Project, serving as Vice Provost at Arizona State University at the West Campus, and serving as CEO at Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, raising more than $23 million in donor and grant funding to grow the agency and establish a community health center in downtown Phoenix. Carol received her Ph.D. in Public Administration, her MBA and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism and Broadcasting from Arizona State University. Dr. Poore has served on a number of nonprofit and community-based boards spanning social services, healthcare, arts and culture, community development, and higher education. Endorsed by the Association for Strategic Planning, Carol serves on numerous for-profit, nonprofit, and higher-education boards. www.CarolPoore.com

December 5, 202337 min

Episode 58: Howard Partridge, International Business Coach & Best Selling Author

Howard Partridge is an international business coach with coaching members in over 100 industries in 20 countries. He is a best selling author of twelve books, a TEDx Speaker, the exclusive business coach for the Zig Ziglar Corporation, the first Ziglar Legacy Trainer in the world, the first founding member of The John Maxwell Team and a Master Trainer DISC Certified Human Behavior Expert. He is also now a Business Made Simple Coach. Howard grew up on welfare in Mobile Alabama and left home at 18. He arrived in Houston, Texas on a Greyhound bus with only 25 cents in his pocket. He started his first business out of the trunk of his car in 1984 and built it into a multi-million dollar enterprise. He has owned 9 small businesses altogether and owns 4 companies at the time of this printing. He is president of Phenomenal Business Coaching, which helps small business owners stop being a slave to their business by transforming it into a predictable, profitable, turnkey operation. Since 1998, Howard has helped small business owners around the world dramatically improve their businesses. He has led hundreds of seminars, webinars, workshops and holds his own live multi-day events which have featured some of America’s top business trainers including John Maxwell, Michael Gerber, Bob Burg, Dr. Joseph A. Michelli, Darren Hardy, Dr. Robert Rohm and American legend Zig Ziglar. Howard is married to Denise, has one son, Christian, and is a proud grandfather to Gianna and Elijah Partridge.

November 21, 202328 min

Episode 57: Kellie Walenciak, Head of Marketing and Communications, Televerde

Kellie is responsible for developing and executing the Televerde marketing strategy and brand image. Previously, Kellie spent 14 years at Avaya, where she served as global head of Employee Engagement and an executive communications partner to the CMO, head of HR, and General Counsel. Before Avaya, Kellie held marketing and communications roles at Prudential Financial and PSEG Energy Technologies. With a communications career spanning over two decades, Kellie has honed a keen sense of ambiguity, contradiction, and subtlety. She's a staunch grammar aficionado with a penchant for the red pen—a trait celebrated by her colleagues but often lamented by her closest friends and family. Kellie gives back to her community by volunteering for the Televerde Foundation and Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York. Outside of work, Kellie cherishes moments with her husband Matt and their three children. Connect with Kellie: https://televerde.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-walenciak-99682a28/

October 3, 202321 min

Episode 56: Sharon Lechter, CGMA

Sharon Lechter is internationally recognized as a financial literacy expert, keynote speaker and business mentor. She is a New York Times Bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and has enjoyed a 35 year career as a licensed CPA. She has advised two US Presidents on the topic of financial literacy. Sharon co-authored the international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and 14 other books in the Rich Dad series. In 2008, when the economy crashed, she was asked by the Napoleon Hill Foundation to help re-energize the teachings of Napoleon Hill. Her best-selling books with the Foundation include Three Feet from Gold, Outwitting the Devil and Think and Grow Rich for Women and Success and Something Greater. She is also featured in the movie Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy and on the national television series World’s Greatest Motivators. Sharon is currently launching her newest title, Exit Rich to support entrepreneurs in building value and scalability in their businesses so they can be in the position of greatest potential. Buy Sharon's new book: https://sharonlechter.com/product/how-money-works-for-women/

August 30, 202324 min

Episode 55: Dr. Amanda King, VP, Software Services, Axon

Dr. Amanda King served in the US Army, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in the early 2000s. She deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2006, then again as a civilian contractor 2009-2010. She spent 17 years in the Aerospace & Defense industry, transitioning two years ago to public safety technology as VP of Software Services at Axon. In her free time, Amanda enjoys serving the veteran and law enforcement communities, doing STEM activities with her two boys, and spending time with her husband who she calls “Captain America” as he is a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserves (30 years), and protects our community as an Arizona Highway Patrol officer. Axon Careers: https://www.axon.com/careers

August 7, 202319 min

Episode 54: Sondra Radcliffe, JD, MBA, Fortune 50 Global Executive

Sondra Radcliffe is a strategy-oriented, global executive who has had a successful career as an attorney at an Am Law 100 firm and a Fortune 50 business executive. She has a full spectrum background comprised of operational roles with P&L ownership, project management, business development, accounting and legal experience. Sondra spent the last ten years in various roles with Raytheon Technologies. Prior to joining Raytheon, Sondra was an attorney with two national law firms where she worked with companies in healthcare, financial services, and other highly regulated industries. She also served as a Business Development Analyst for alcoholic beverage distributor Mesa Distributing Co. Sondra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Business Administration from the University of San Diego, Calif., as well a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law. In addition, she earned executive education certifications for the Emerging Leaders Executive Education Program at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in Singapore, the Global Leadership Development Program at INSEAD, and the Women on Boards Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School. Sondra has received the following awards and recognitions: 2021 Women’s Advocate Award (Raytheon Technologies), 2020 Technology Leader of the Year Award (Arizona Capitol Times); 2018 Finalist: Arizona Corporate Counsel Awards; 2013 Top Young Attorney Award (San Diego Daily Transcript); 2012 Finalist: Women Who Rock (San Diego Metro Magazine); and 2011 Top Young Attorney Award (San Diego Daily Transcript). 50/50 Women On Boards: https://5050wob.com/

June 28, 202328 min

Episode 53: Jennifer Stein, Director Economic Development, City of Peoria

Jennifer Stein, is the Director of Economic Development for Peoria, Arizona. Her primary focus is leading a team of experts who specialize in business attraction and development, business retention and expansion. Jennifer brings more than 25 years of experience in public and private sector communications, marketing, strategic planning, management, and community relations to her new economic development role in the City of Peoria. Peoria ranks number 29 out of 100 on money magazines best places to live report. As the communications director for eight years in Peoria, she oversaw the award-winning public affairs, marketing, advertising, and tourism efforts and attracted restaurant and hospitality uses to the city. Prior to Peoria, Jennifer worked for the City of Glendale, spearheading the 2008 Super Bowl media efforts, marketing the annual Fiesta Bowl and BCS Championship games, building business and community partnerships in Westgate, and securing record-breaking media coverage. In addition, Stein was a news producer for KTVK-TV Arizona’s Family and a senior account executive for one of the top public relations firms in the Southwest, HMA Public Relations.

April 25, 202321 min

Episode 52: Are you chasing your future or preparing for it?

Renee has 32 years of experience providing comprehensive financial planning, including portfolio risk management, income strategies, retirement planning and insurance planning. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, she has helped clients navigate the financial aspects of divorce and other major life transitions such as retirement, job change, widowhood and business liquidity. She has a passion to help her clients define and pursue what is most important in their financial life by using a personalized approach offering holistic advice to build a lasting relationship. All individuals experience changes in their lives. Her focus is on helping her clients manage the four stages of transitions that accompany those changes with compassion and clarity. Renee is a St. Vincent de Paul WISH Founder and is an active volunteer with the Fresh Start Women's Foundation and Toys for Tots. She has been a member of the Ameriprise Circle of Success since 2003 and her volunteer efforts were recognized in 2017 with an Ameriprise Financial Community Impact Award. Her practice was also awarded the inaugural Ultimate Digital Excellence Award by Ameriprise. Her recent industry awards include Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors, 2020-2022; Forbes #1 in Arizona Best-in-State Women Wealth Advisors, 2022-2023; Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors, 2019-2022; Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors, 2014-2018, 2020-2022; and Five Star Wealth Manager, 2013-2022. In her free time, Renee loves spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoys being outdoors, scuba diving, sewing and traveling.

April 4, 202326 min

Episode 51: Amber Cordoba, Director of Business Education and Consulting, Prestamos CDFI (Part 1)

Amber is on a mission to make the world a more equitable and just place. Her primary focus is bringing vital resources into overlooked and underserved small business communities because she believes that everyone deserves inclusive, equitable access the resources they need to make their small business thrive.   She achieves this through her work as the Director of Business Education and Consulting Services at CPLC Prestamos; a CDFI serving Arizona, California (Southern), Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. In 2021, Prestamos was the top originator by volume for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) nationwide serving 70% minority owned small businesses. In late 2021, she also led efforts to launch an SBA Women’s Business Center in Phoenix and a Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center in Las Vegas. Learn more: www.prestamoscdfi.org