cbuzz

De: Columbus Chamber of Commerce
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  • The Columbus Chamber has debuted new episodes of cbuzz, central Ohio’s first business-themed podcast, in a partnership to reboot the monthly series with Capital University. Production of the new episodes takes place at Capital’s Convergent Media Center, a state-of the-art facility opened in 2017.
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Episodios
  • cbuzz: Brad Wright, FST Logistics: Being an Employee-Owned Business, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) & The Logistics Industry’s Future
    Aug 1 2024
    As the current President of FST Logistics since September 2023, Brad Wright has orchestrated a remarkable journey of leadership within the organization. His growth through various key roles reflects not only his dedication but also his profound impact on the growth and success of FST Logistics. Starting his career as an Account Manager in January 2013, Wright demonstrated early on his knack for building strong client relationships. His relentless commitment to exceeding expectations paved the way for his rise within the company. As Business Development Manager from November 2014 to January 2017, he played a pivotal role in expanding FST's client base. Elevating his contributions further, Wright assumed the position of Director of Business Development from January 2017 to December 2018. During this time, he showcased strategic vision and business intelligence, setting the stage for his following roles. As Chief Operations Officer from December 2018 to February 2020, Wright helped position FST's operations for long-term success by identifying critical needs within the operations and recruiting top-level talent to fill those gaps. In February 2020, Wright took on the role of Vice President, Sales & Marketing, where he spearheaded initiatives that not only amplified FST's market presence but also fostered client loyalty. His impact was further solidified as Chief Revenue Officer from April 2021 to September 2023, a period marked by substantial revenue growth and strategic positioning in the market. Since assuming the role of President in September 2023, Wright has continued to steer FST Logistics towards new heights. His leadership philosophy, centered on employee development, customer-centric solutions, and fostering meaningful relationships, has not only solidified FST's standing in the industry but has also positioned the company that thrives on excellence. Beyond his day-to-day, Wright is an advocate for the logistics industry's future. Always open to networking and engaging in thoughtful conversations, he invites professionals dedicated to logistics, transportation, warehousing, employee development, employee-ownership, and customer service to connect, collaborate, and collectively drive the industry forward. EXPERIENCE FST Logistics President, September 2023 to Present Chief Revenue Office, April 2021 to September 2023 Vice President, Sales & Marketing, February 2020 to April 2021 Chief Operations Officer, December 2018 to February 2020 Director of Business Development, January 2017 to December 2018 Business Development Manager, November 2014 to January 2017 Account Manager, January 2013 to November 2014 COMMUNITY Business Advisor, Dublin Food Pantry, 2023 to Present Board Member – Sponsorship, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals – Columbus, 2015 to Present About FST Logistics FST Logistics is a dedicated logistics partner for established and fast-growing brands. Their retail logistics expertise is just one of the things that makes them the right fit for fast-growth or established brands. Their single-source logistics solutions and cold-chain experience make FST the best partner to help you meet the rigorous demands of today’s complex e-commerce and grocery supply chains. FST has the experience and expertise required to deliver your products on time and in full, eliminating fines and boosting your on-shelf availability. Being 100% employee-owned – from their office staff to warehouse employees and truck drivers – means their specialists are driven to help your brand succeed. Your success is their success! To learn more about FST Logistics, visit https://fstlogistics.com/. Tune in today as Brad Wright, President of FST Logistics, sits down with Don DePerro, President & CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce to discuss: Being an Employee-Owned Business, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) & The Logistics Industry’s Future. ...
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    37 m
  • cbuzz: Michelle Allen, MMELO Boutique Confections: Food Science Becoming a Culinary Passion & Having an Entrepreneurial Spirit
    Jul 1 2024
    Michelle Allen, owner of confectionery cafe MMELO Boutique Confections – We’re in the process of setting up our consumer-packaged goods division and developing a warehouse space to support that. A Columbus native, Allen went to OSU before heading to New York to work as a producer for 14 years. There, girl would meet boy, fall in love, and move to Spain. During the couple’s 13 years in Spain, Allen started and sold a natural hair care products company and became a mother. While her son was in nursery school, she started studying food science and recipe design… her self-described “child’s palate” inspired her to start a modern confectionery brand. For Michelle Allen, life is like a box of chocolates. Literally. Allen wears many hats every day: wife, mother, business owner, food designer and confectioner. But when you factor in her smarts, talent, and determination, you immediately discover the recipe for her success. The owner of Mmelo, A confectionery food producer that specializes in all-natural, high-end pastries and sweet treats for the retail, wholesale, and corporate space. My mother used to tell me I was extraordinarily lucky just to be born and doubly lucky on a planet this spectacular! Go roll around it she would say…. That really has been the guiding principle of my life. Life too short not to take advantage of the opportunities and experiences life offers, and that’s exactly what she’s doing, despite operating a small, independent business during the worst pandemic in a century. Food science becomes culinary passion A former film production company executive, Allen and her British director husband moved to Barcelona, Spain, after 9/11. She started studying food science and says two things spurred her interest in creating all-natural treats: her own predilection for sweets, and her son’s autism, which drove her to investigate how diet and health interact. “I learned the structures of sugars and chocolates and ended up building my brand around what I learned,” she says. “I knew there were dyes and things in food that didn't necessarily need to be there. My son is autistic and ADHD, so we were conscious of his diet. I started working with natural ingredients and with the science, and started making treats he could have. My company was born out of that.” By 2015, Michelle and her family returned to the States, settling in Columbus, Ohio, her hometown. She created Mmelo as a pop-up, despite never running a food business before. She made a lot of “epic” mistakes and called the venture a massive learning curve. “That’s the entrepreneurial path,” she says. “When you create something that didn’t exist before, you know you’re going to make mistakes. The trick is to figure out how to navigate through it and grow.” The power of the popup! And grow she did—eventually opening two brick-and-mortar locations, plus a commercial kitchen and retail arm and ultimately changing the business model to facilitate and grow her brand. But, she’s still a firm believer in the power of the pop-up, especially where up-and-coming women entrepreneurs are concerned. “It's a fairly low-cost way to get your product in front of customers, and learn what they do and don’t respond to,” she says. At our core, the ‘subtext” of Mmelo is building wonder and community around food. I’m always thinking about how to bring products to consumers that showcase the spectacular promise of the resources available to us. The sublime pleasure of passion fruit and dark chocolate for example! A pop-up is a great opportunity for you to talk to people about the experience of your product, your process and your goals. And without making a massive capital investment - risky at the very best of times!. You can see if they’ll invest in your idea; there's nothing else influencing them—it’s just you in front of them, with the product, in an environment aligned with your brand's messaging and values.
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    35 m
  • cbuzz: Keith Martinez, Plante Moran: 100 Years of Success, Advice for Aspiring CPAs, & Work-Life Balance
    Jun 3 2024
    In his 20 years with Plante Moran, Keith Martinez has had the privilege to work with a variety of staff and clients and do something different each day – that’s what attracted him to this career. As the office managing partner in Columbus, Keith spends time mentoring staff and focusing on growth, strategy initiatives, and community involvement. Keith also leads the firm’s Central Ohio higher education team, specializing in assurance and consulting services for public and private universities. Additionally, Keith works with middle-market or private equity-owned manufacturers, distributors, and construction companies. Keith is a frequent speaker at Plante Moran’s Ohio Higher Education Industry Update and the Ohio Association of College and University Business Officers (OACUBO). Past topics Keith has spoken on include the new not-for-profit financial reporting model, net asset classification, and single audits. Keith belongs to the AICPA, the Ohio Society of CPAs, the Michigan Association of CPAs, The Entrepreneurship Institute, the Association for Corporate Growth, CFMA of Central Ohio, and the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio. Keith is on the Board of Directors for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce as well as the Board of Directors for the Mount Carmel College of Nursing where he serves as Vice Chair. Keith received his B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University. Keith and his wife have their hands full with two young boys. Thanks to their interest, Keith is a master Lego builder. Fun fact: All of Keith’s grandparents were blue collar, hard-working people. One of them immigrated to the United States when he was 16. They taught Keith to work hard and give his full effort in anything he does. About the Plante Moran Co-founder Frank Moran often referred to our firm as “a people firm disguised as an accounting firm.” Why? Because people are at the core of everything we do. You see, at Plante Moran, an engagement is much more than a professional transaction. It’s a personal experience where clients are confident we’re looking out for them, no matter their size, location, or what goals they’ve set. With our seamless service, recognized expertise, and personal approach to relationships, our clients have clarity and confidence, no matter what’s next. In our 100 years in business, we’ve grown to be one of the nation’s largest audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management firms. Our more than 3,800 professionals, with experience working in over 150 countries, are committed to exemplary client service every day and everywhere. To learn more about Plante Moran, visit https://www.plantemoran.com/. Tune in today as Keith Martinez, Partner of Plante Moran (Columbus), sits down with cbuzz host Mikaela Hunt to discuss: 100 Years of Success, Advice for Aspiring CPAs, & Work-Life Balance. A note about cbuzz production: We are thrilled to be back recording episodes for our Central Ohio community. Stay tuned for new episodes, which will share the stories of some of our best and brightest Columbus Chamber members. Thank you to our listeners for their patience and understanding as we worked to establish a virtual recording setup. You can learn about Capital University here and learn more about cbuzz host Mikaela Hunt here. Cbuzz is the Columbus Chamber of Commerce’s business-focused podcast and was named Best Business Podcast in 2019 by the Columbus Podcast Awards. The show is produced in partnership with Capital University and its students, and the show is hosted by Mikaela Hunt, brand journalist and storyteller.
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    29 m

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