Adam Jernow, Founder and Principal OGI Property Management

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Adam Jernow

New York, NY

CEO and Principal, OGI Property Management

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1. My business and how I got started:

I was a white collar property owner with real estate dreams, frustrated by the help that I got from my management companies. When I bought units in a condo and a co-op building, I believed that the buildings would be managed strategically. I was working as a management consultant, telling a huge global bank how to improve its operations and couldn’t understand why my buildings weren’t getting similar advice. When I looked for a great management company, I couldn’t find one. So I started my own.

2. Why my product/service is better than the competition:

Technology and project management. We pull clients towards integrating technology into their buildings wherever possible. Technology makes people’s lives easier- theirs and ours.
Regarding project management, our clients pay us to get things done. That has required me to learn more about many subjects than I anticipated. For instance, we are carving a niche in gaining certificates of occupancy (C of O) for condos that don’t have them. This is a rewarding challenge.

3. A typical day for me:

Paying bills for clients, managing about 12 different projects at any one time, making sure clients’ needs are met, hiding the bodies.

4. What I love most about my business:

We like solving problems. We like changing people’s opinions about property management and property managers.

5. I’m cool because:

I’m a good boss, heffe, maestro, cheese.

6. If my friends nominated me for an award, it would be “Most Likely to…”:

Meet people. I meet a lot of people.

7. A movie made about my life it would be named:

Someone else would name it.

8. Strangest thing you’d find in my fridge, wallet or closet:

Western clothing

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

Confidence, sense of self identity

10. Three things I hope to accomplish in the next five years:

Take my management company from just the best in NYC to one that’s known as the best in NYC.

Want to connect with Adam? Follow him on Twitter!

Steffany Boldrini, Founder of Ecobold

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Steffany Boldrini

San Jose, CA

Founder of EcoBold

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My business and how I got started:

I do video reviews of green products, I wanted to share with the world how many great things are out there that are not only good for the environment, but also for our health. The initial idea wasn’t to showcase them through videos though. I was looking for a business partner for over one year and could not find one, so I had to re-strategize the business plan and decided to do video reviews. It has taught me that if you want something badly enough, you’ll find ways to make it happen.

2. Why my product/service is better than the competition:

Because it’s unique, you’ll see the benefits of each product, how it works and what makes it green! Plus you’ll learn a lot about what’s going on with conventional products.

3. A typical day for me:

Emails throughout the day, shoot a video, do social networking, PR, go to an event in the area, research about the next company, edit at night. Coffee is my best friend.

4. What I love most about my business:

All the products and companies. They’re great people who really want to make a difference and won’t compromise on the quality of their product.

5. I’m cool because:

Just because!

6. If my friends nominated me for an award, it would be “Most Likely to…”:

Hmm I need to ask them.

7. A movie made about my life it would be named:

The Green Girl Next Door.

8. Strangest thing you’d find in my fridge, wallet or closet:

In my wallet I’ve a list with a few possible names for my kids (if I ever have them!), I started it when I was about 10.

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

Humbleness, if they care about their family, doing good to others when possible.

10. Three things I hope to accomplish in the next five years:

Be the driving force behind making all products sustainable, safer and chemical free.
Be on the cover page of Time.
Own a Tesla Roadster!

Want to connect with Steffany? Follow her on Twitter and Facebook!

Dinesh Ravishanker, CEO and co-Founder of CallFire

Three weeks ago, Dinesh Ravishanker, the 29 year-old co-Founder and CEO of tech startup CallFire, spent close to an hour explaining to me the intricate details and benefits of cloud telephony.  Don’t tell him, but, aside from my notes, all I really remember about the conversation was that he was a very sweet, very nice guy with a dog.  One who didn’t bat an eye at a lengthy explanation of a communications service he is obviously passionate about (to someone whose passion is anything but technology).

I do remember that cloud telephony services offered by CallFire can pinpoint which marketing efforts are working and which ones are costing you by providing a near-limitless amount of trackable phone numbers. The no-lag connection created by CallFire’s human answering machine detection is superior to automated detection systems (the ones that cause the dreaded “dead air” sound the second before a telemarketer comes on the line). And since the term “cloud” refers to on-demand technology, you only pay for what you use.

Most importantly, the Jack Russell’s name is Lucky.  See, Dinesh? I was listening, after all

1. Can you give us a quick explanation of cloud telephony and how CallFire works?
CallFire provides creative telephone solutions for nonprofits & businesses on a pay-as-you-go basis.  For example, CallFire was recently used by NoOnProp8 (case study) to enable over 10,000 volunteers to work from home to help increase gay-rights awareness.  We’re also used by businesses to automate collections phone calls and by governments to deploy emergency broadcasts during natural disasters.  Our team developed CallFire’s platform to reliably handle several thousand inbound & outbound telephone calls simultaneously.

2.  How much of your day is spent explaining how CallFire works, and does it ever get tiring?
<lol> Much of my time is spent as a proxy between partners, customers & our development team.  Inevitably, 80-90% of my time is spent explaining CallFire’s value prop!  Thankfully we have a diverse, energetic team that pretty good at explaining CallFire’s services.  This means account managers, developers & support staff talk directly to all of our customers… and when the going gets tough we help each other out by picking up the slack.

3.  What is the key to marketing a technology that so few people understand?
We take a very simple approach to marketing by defining our audience for each marketing campaign first.  Then we tailor creative messages that convey our value proposition to that specific audience.  In the SAAS (Software-As-As-Service) world constant product innovation, coupled with easy-to-use interfaces, also helps to keep customers coming back.

4. As someone who has spent his adult life focused on technology, do you find it hard to unplug at the end of the day?
When business took off in 2007, my partners and I learned how to force ourselves to “unplug.”   My recent diversions include mixed-martial-arts and developing explosive marketing models! I also enjoy finding unique places to eat in LA, hiking in Santa Monica, cooking healthy and teaching our mascot new tricks!  (Photo features Lucky, CallFire’s mascot)

5.  Would you rather date someone who shares your understanding of technology, or someone who can distract you from it?
Distractions never hurt, but tech-savvy women are definitely a turn-on.

6. At what age did you decide you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

My partners and I have always been highly entrepreneurial.  Our interest in developing a cloud services company grew while learning Computer Science at UC Irvine.  We were only 19!

7. What do you enjoy most about owning your own business?

I’m fortunate to work with talented friends and that I’m able to help nonprofits like MoveOn.org (case study) & NoOnProp8 achieve their goals.  It’s also very fulfilling to help SMBs succeed (case study) in such challenging economic environments.  Our dev team mans a 24×7 operation, sustaining telephone connectivity for over 14,000 small businesses around the clock.  It’s a huge engineering undertaking, but we enjoy & thrive on delivering ambitious projects that help other businesses grow.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
My partners and I share a strong interest in education, technology & philanthropy.  I suspect we will venture into related fields, perhaps in fewer than 10 years.  For now our team is focused on building communications tools that businesses love, forging key industry partnerships and acquiring financing to accelerate our growth.   CallFire has sustained over 3 years of profitability, impressive year-over-year growth and revenues into the millions.   The organization can grow even faster with the help of reputable VCs or strategic partners that have significant telecom experience.   It would be great to work with a firm like Khosla Ventures or OpenView Partners.

Dinesh’s Bio:

Dinesh Ravishanker is 29 years old and lives in West Los Angeles, CA.  He serves as the CEO of CallFire, an innovative cloud telephony company comprised of an aggressive team of entrepreneurs and techies.  Dinesh is a recognized authority on creative telephony for nonprofits, call centers & the enterprise.   He earned his B.S. in Computer Science and an MBA from UC Irvine.

Connect with Dinesh on LinkedIn or Facebook HERE!

original publish date 9/15/2009

Gabriel Shaoolian, Founder and CEO of Blue Fountain Media

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Gabriel Shaoolian

New York, NY

Founder and CEO of Blue Fountain Media

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1. My business and how I got started:

I started Blue Fountain Media, a website design and online marketing company, out of a studio apartment in the west village, NYC area. I literally walked up and down the street, walking into businesses of all sizes and telling them that they needed an effective web presence that would drive more sales, and maintain customer loyalty. I faced a lot of rejection, but I was persistent. Business began with a trickle, but as I built a stable of very satisfied clients, the word of mouth led to more and more business.

Today, just seven years later, we have more than 80 employees and serve a wide range of clients that include start ups to Fortune 500 companies including The National Football League, Procter & Gamble, The United States Mint, Oppenheimer Funds and The United Nations.

2. Why my product/service is better than the competition:

Every website project we work on is based on the idea of improving our client’s business; getting them more business through the web, increasing their sales, clientele base, and building their brand online. We treat our client’s website business as our own, and produce tangible and measurable results for them. This is how we’ve maintained our client relationships and have grown with their success.

3. A typical day for me:

Insanity. Starts with two cups of coffee and ends with a shot (preferably vodka). From the moment I wake up until I finally leave my office: there are new ideas to hear, new clients to pitch, current clients to work with, articles to write and, on top of all of that, the duties involved in managing the finances and personnel of an 80+ person company. I’ll say one thing… it’s never boring.

4. What I love most about my business:

The satisfaction of seeing my clients succeed and the pride in seeing how far my employees have grown professionally. This we don’t joke about.

5. I’m cool because:

If you answer this question… you aren’t!

6. If my friends nominated me for an award, it would be “Most Likely to…”:

I’d like to think “succeed or die trying.”

7. A movie made about my life it would be named:

Mary Poppins, only kidding.  I can’t think of any non-cheesy titles, but how about “High Anxiety 2.0” (any takers?)

8. Strangest thing you’d find in my fridge, wallet or closet:

Typical bachelor fridge. If you have to ask, don’t!

Want to connect with Gabriel? Find him on Twitter, Linked In and Facebook!

Marla Russo, President and Founder of Bella Public Relations

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Marla Russo

New York, NY

President and Founder, Bella Public Relations

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1. My business and how I got started:

I started my agency in April 2002. Bella is a boutique agency located in NYC specializing in beauty, fashion, health/lifestyle and entertainment.  At a young age of 24, I decided to start my own company. Before then, I worked in a large PR firm for almost 3 ½ years and then moved on to a smaller agency where I stayed for about four months.  I always knew one day I was going to work for myself, one way or another.  Before my PR career started, I was studying at the Lee Strasberg school for acting while I was finishing up my BA at Hofstra University .  After a few years of auditioning and doing small plays in the city, I started working at a PR Firm and fell in love with the trade! It was my calling! The rest is history

2. Why my product/service is better than the competition:

At Bella, my clients truly feel they have their “own in-house PR” with us.  I still have clients that have been with me since day one I started Bella…8 years and that says a lot about our client relationship.  We are always available to our clients and they absolutely love our creativity!

3. A typical day for me:

Going to the gym in the morning (yes, I’m a morning person) arrive at the office 9:30ish….pitching new biz, managing the office, constant brainstorming ideas with the Bella girls, and finding ways to make Bella more successful.  Usually leave the office at 6:00 and head out to events and parties.  Entertaining and meeting new people is very important to do in this industry…it’s all about networking!

4. What I love most about my business:

Few things: My girls who have become my family and of course great success for our clients. Our pink chandelier in the office and most importantly, big wins!

5. I’m cool because:

My family thinks so

6. If my friends nominated me for an award, it would be “Most Likely to…”:

Make things happen!

7. A movie made about my life it would be named:

“Follow your gut”

8. Strangest thing you’d find in my fridge, wallet or closet:

Food…obviously in the fridge….even though I’m 100% Italian I prefer to eat out every night!

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

The people that are in my life, I admire everything about them!

10. Three things I hope to accomplish in the next five years:

Bella becomes bigger, starting a family and staying healthy!

Want to connect with Marla? Check out Bella PR!

Marcy Clark, Founder of the Women's Mafia

People like Marcy Clark make me want to move back to New York.  Originally from Northern California, Marcy now enjoys what I imagine to be a fabulous, Carrie Bradshaw existence, but with even more friends.

As Director of Publicity at Yellow Sky Agency, and Founder of the “Women’s Mafia”, Marcy has her finger on the pulse of all things social in NYC.  Started just four years ago, the “Women’s Mafia” social club has caught on quickly, and it is easy to understand why.  Social connections, ever important in New York, can be a hard acquisition, and even more so for newcomers to the city.  The Women’s Mafia offers the perfect solution, facilitating social connections between groups of successful women through the organization of fun, upscale events (Champagne, Shoes, and Chocolate, anyone?).

Thank you Marcy.  For showing me that the real Carrie Bradshaws of New York do exist.  You just have to join the mafia to find them.

1. The “Women’s Mafia” is such an intriguing concept.  What is it all about, and how can others become a part of it?

The Women’s Mafia is a social club that I started nearly four years ago based on the simple premise that gathering a large group of women could be a powerful thing in itself.  Fortunately, I have been right!  Restaurants, stores, clubs and other new venues all want us to be in their space.  We recently had a fashion show that was attended by over 600 people.  The select men that are invited to our events never want to leave – I had one guy friend recently tell me after a party “I want to be kidnapped by the Women’s Mafia every night!”

Most importantly, the women at our events are meeting lifelong friends.  I think the fact that they are social events, with a party atmosphere, rather than networking events, makes the connections our members make much more meaningful.  I have had members meet at one of my events and later be in each other’s weddings, start a business together or get a job through their connection.

We started in New York but we do have members in the UK, San Francisco, LA and other destination cities where we plan to grow.  Women, and men who are intrigued, can join the Women’s Mafia by visiting our website and online news and events site womensmafia.com.

2.  You describe yourself as a “very social person”.  Was this part of the reason you started the group, to help more women develop social ties in the city?

That is exactly the reason.  When I first moved to New York I knew two people, and those people already had a life and a network of friends.  It wasn’t especially difficult for me as I had moved to new cities by myself before, but I did have to make some effort to make new friends and that was a strange experience for me.  New Yorker’s are very friendly, but they can be insular once they have established a core group of friends.  To this day, when I meet someone new to New York I always invite them to join the Women’s Mafia and I make sure to introduce them to people in their field or with similar interests at our events.

3. To what degree do you feel being well connected in New York matters?

It makes a HUGE difference – both for your career and personal goals, but also for enriching your life with shared experiences.  And not just being connected to very powerful or successful people.  People at all levels of their careers can help you get a meeting with a television production company to pitch your idea, or get you a killer deal in a Hampton’s share, or even recommend you for a hair straightening commercial (thanks Elisha – that was strange, but fun).

4. What has helped to bring the WM from being just another great idea to becoming a successful business?

Two main things have set us apart.  The name, which was actually given to us by a bartender at Minetta Tavern in 2005, because it completely encapsulates what we are about – power and fun in numbers, and the fact that a lot of our events are more covert and only open to members.

The other key component is our members.  I am very fortunate to have amazing women in the Women’s Mafia who truly take on ownership with the club.  They let me know about new venues, they bring their friends in, they write articles for womensmafia.com and they recommend designers or individuals we should profile.  Our members are our best ambassadors of our brand and they know that I will always be receptive to their ideas.

5. As a PR professional, you must attend events many nights a week.  Do you ever just want to stay home?

Yes!  And I do make sure to stay home at least one or two nights a week.  It’s important to cook yourself a nice meal and catch up on LOST, right?

6.  Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

Someone who knows how to go at two speeds.  I love being out at several events, dressed-up and socializing one night and then staying in all day on Sunday with movies and brunch delivered.  I don’t need to be with someone as outgoing as me, but a gentleman who enjoys the odd social event could be quite nice.

Also, I love open-minded people.  I’m quite involved in non-profits that protect civil liberties.

7.  Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in business and why?

It definitely can help.  I think that single people can sometimes seem more approachable, and we have freer schedules.  Being in a relationship can also be quite motivating.  I’ve put in a lot of hours when I had a boyfriend in the UK and I wanted to buy plane tickets!

8.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I can see the Women’s Mafia helping launch several designers’ careers, being a retail and branding force in the fashion and art worlds, having a presence in politics and, most importantly, staying true to our mission of connecting great women.

Personally, I’d love to have a beautiful home with an ocean view.  I’m also an actress and a television presenter on the side of everything else that I do, so I would love to have a lot more television and film experiences under my belt.

Oh, and balancing all of these things while spending time with my family – that would be a nice trick!

Soooo… anyone want to go in on a beach house?!

Marcy’s Bio:

In addition to running the Women’s Mafia, Marcy is also a partner in Yellow Sky Agency, a boutique PR and Branding firm run out of the West Village of Manhattan.  Her areas of expertise include publicizing fashion and jewelry designers, artists, interior designers and luxury products and services.  She has secured placements in top outlets such as The New York Times, Reuters, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC News, Business Talk Radio, Lucky, Glamour and more.  Marcy serves as a chair on various non-profit event councils and committees, including being the co-chair for GLAAD’s Annual Art Auction and the Young Professionals Council for Choice.

Want to connect with Marcy?  Follow her on Facebook!

original publish date Jun 25, 2009

Michael Moran, Founder of Curry Simple

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Michael Moran

Atlanta, Georgia

Founder of Curry Simple

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1. My business and how I got started:

I am a serial entrepreneur and now own multiple businesses. The most well known to date is the Thai food brand I developed in 2006 called CurrySimple. After ten years of searching for the big idea I found it while working at a Thai restaurant. CurrySimple solves the problem of cooking Thai food at home with restaurant quality sauces that are made in Thailand and easy to prepare at home.

2. Why my product/service is better than the competition:

CurrySimple sauces are better than the competition because they are true restaurant quality products. We do not cut corners in the development and use the latest packaging technology to ensure the quality. 

3. A typical day for me:

I start off the day by trying to sleep as late as possible. This is usually around 8 am. I check emails, tweets and Facebook messages on my laptop while laying in bed. Around 10 am I will go to the gym to workout and clear my head. Do a little work then grab lunch. Come home and work some more on whatever project I feel most motivated to do. Most days I will work until 10 pm. I wouldn’t really call it work as I love what I do. By 11 pm I am usually enjoying a drink with a friend or date.

4. What I love most about my business:

I love my own business because it allows me the flexibility to be creative. I have always been motivated to become successful and have had to fight hard for everything I have. It is a great feeling to follow my dreams instead of working for someone and creating theirs.

5. I’m cool because:

I don’t care what others think of me. I play by my own rules and do what I want.

6. If my friends nominated me for an award, it would be “Most Likely to…”:

Help a friend in need.

7. A movie made about my life it would be named:

Did he really do that?

8. Strangest thing you’d find in my fridge, wallet or closet:

In my closet I have a packed suitcase that has 3 days of clothes in it. This is due to my over spontaneous addiction to travel. 

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

I have found the qualities that I admire have changed as my lifestyle has changed. Currently I look for people that are supportive and honest. This is more difficult to find than you might think. As an entrepreneur your days and life are like a roller coaster. To have someone there to support you is a huge help!

10. Three things I hope to accomplish in the next five years:

In the next five years I plan to live part time in Bangkok, start at least five more small companies and buy my mom the Mercedes that I promised her when I was five years old.

Want to connect with Michael? Follow him on…

Facebook, Twitter, Curry Simple, or his website!