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

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

Serial Entrepreneur Lesley Mattos

Video Interview with Lesley Mattos, founder of Adesso Albums, Inc. and Bottoms-up Inc. (including a crazy, special question from Melinda Massie!).

(scroll down to see the full interview)

Want to connect with Lesley? Follow her…

At Addesso Albums:

Facebook, Twitter, and email

At Bottoms-up:

Facebook, Twitter, and email

***Use the code SingleCEO2010 for a 10% discount at either site***

Thanks, Lesley!!!

Serial Entrepeneur Brad Peterson

Do you ever wonder how some people come up with one great business idea after another? For Denver based serial entrepreneur Brad Peterson, new ideas don’t just come easy. They come right on time.

With jobless rates soaring across the country, Brad rode the recession’s silver lining to launch the brand new (and perfectly timed) iPhone application Audio Job Interview. With one download and a few good answers, potential employees get noticed by self-recording answers to common interview questions and then attaching the corresponding urls to their resumes. Confused? Scroll down and play the quick video below before reading on as Brad explains putting good ideas to use through even better execution.

Waiting to her Brad’s newest idea? Don’t worry, his next launch is only weeks away.

1. Your timing couldn’t be better. Which came first, the idea for Audio Job Interview or the recession?

Audio Job Interview, the timing was mostly fortuitous. Contrary to what one might believe the recession is not necessarily all good news for our product though. Sadly, we have found that a lot of job seekers have given up and are waiting on the sidelines to hopefully ride the recession out. We anticipate an upswing in the user downloads side once a recovery starts to feels tangible for beleaguered job seekers.

2. Who is the competition and what makes your application better?

Video interviewing is becoming more used and it’s just a matter of time before we see the technology niche-embraced in the mobile device realm. One of the shortcomings of video is that it’s not very candidate friendly. People are not always comfortable “on camera” and the effort required to make a video of acceptable quality is challenging. An Audio Interview is far easier to record, far more candidate friendly, and there is no chance for a “looks” bias to factor into the hiring equation, which HR departments must be very sensitive to.

3. What tips would you offer job seekers looking to make the most of Audio Job Interview? Any success stories?

Be confident, believe in the product and do not give up! One candidate re-applied to the same jobs she had been rejected for just weeks prior to trying Audio Job Interview. She re-applied but this time attached to her resume the URL link of her interview created on her iPhone. It got her two face to face interviews and both employers mentioned that they had never seen this technological platform used before. They were impressed and they appreciated the effort and originality.

4. What kind of feedback have you received post-launch?

Several venture capitalists have approached us to buy the technology and three rather large firms specializing in the staffing and hiring industry are interested in white labeling the product post-haste.

5. Audio Job Interview wasn’t your first entrepreneurial venture. Tell us about Wediting and any lessons learned.

Wediting, which I later sold to one of the editing artists who ran the company, specialized in outsourcing photography work flow and retouching for wedding photographers nationally. I learned that no matter how good an “idea” was or how marketable it appeared to be, at the end of the day it’s not what your business does but the people that run it that determine success. It’s best to think of businesses as people not ideas. I believe that any viable business can succeed so long as the right people are chosen to run it. Luckily, I was blessed to have such great people involved in this project.

6. Have you ever had a “real” job?

I was a construction laborer while I was in college. I enjoyed the physical labor but realized that no matter how hard I worked I was not in charge of my own destiny- I was simply earning a fair wage, not earning a living. Earning a living to me means balancing your life with work and enjoying what it is that puts bread on your table.

7. Describe the person who would best complement both your life and your business.

At times I have this naïve notion that I can’t fail so long as I try my hardest and surround myself with good people…which of course is a bit reckless and perhaps cocky. Any person who would ground me and remind that I can, and have many times, failed, would be both helpful and complementary. Luckily I have had girlfriends who were happy to do so!

10. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I hope that my life’s path allows me to continue pursuing creative entrepreneurial projects that inspire me to get out of bed in the morning and still pay my mortgages!

Brad’s Bio:

Bradford Peterson was once told by a business professor that all business idea’s had been thought of already- nothing is truly original. The professor said, “The difference, as to whether or not those idea’s came to be a success, had to do with people, not so much the ideas.” This resonated in Brad’s mind and became a cornerstone of belief in his pursuit of business endeavors. Rather than focusing on the idea behind a business concept, he chooses to place more emphasis on the people element. Business ideas are a dime a dozen, personnel who run the idea are not, he believes. To date Bradford has owned Forthright Auto Net, a classic car sales and marketing business, Wediting, an outsource workflow solution for wedding photographers, Imagetek, a youth sports photography company and two iPhone applications, Audio Job interview and iGiveway his latest app, which will hit the iTunes store within the month. When not surrounding himself with projects and people he considers to be smarter and more creative than himself, he enjoys kayaking, photography, fly-fishing, classic muscle cars, dating and yard work.

Want to connect with Brad? Follow him on Facebook!

Jason Sadler, Founder of I Wear Your Shirt

For most of us, our whole lives are spent hearing the way to get ahead is by capitalizing on our greatest strength. Apparently, Jason Sadler’s is getting dressed.

Started less than two years ago,  Sadler’s start-up (aptly named “I Wear Your Shirt“) offers PR exposure on a calendar basis with January 1st going for $1 and December 31st going for $365. For the price paid, advertisers get their company’s t-shirt on Jason’s body for the entire day.

OK, so paying someone to wear your shirt might seem like a waste of marketing cash, until you consider this: Jason has acquired a substantial online following and spends hours posting photos, videos, and even playing online games like Pictionary (in front of a strangely voyeuristic following), all while throwing in important company info and random plugs.

With a business on the rise, Jason is increasing his exposure next year, and may soon be on the lookout for even more t-shirt-wearing talent. Start practicing.

1.  What kind of return on investment do your offer advertisers?

I make a solemn promise that I will put their shirt on correctly in the morning and continue to wear it without messing it up for the day. But seriously, most of the customers see traffic growth, an increase in Twitter followers, sales increases and their logos/name are seen by 1,000’s of people! Some companies have seen record traffic days, record sales days and buildabrand.com saw a 4500% increase in user signups on their day!

2.  What about shirt-wearing copycats? How will you deal with them when them inevitably start popping up?

Must mean I’m doing something right huh? Copycats are copycats… It makes me work harder to stay ahead of them and I’ve built an amazing community that supports me and the company’s t-shirts I wear on a daily basis. My previous customers always email me when a copycat pops up and it’s an great feeling to know they’re that loyal to not use someone else.

3.  Your business is essentially doubling next year. What do you hope Evan will bring to the table in terms of social media/personality?

I want a whole new audience to watch Evan’s daily shenanigans. He’s way crazier than I am and I asked him to wear shirts with me because we aren’t the same person. If iwearyourshirt.com can “franchise” and grow, finding good people is key. I think Evan is going to be a fantastic addition and has been a huge help in making 2009 a success. Evan is also going to skydive 1 Saturday each month and will probably end up in Las Vegas quite often.

4.  Of all the social media outlets you touch daily, which delivers the most followers/page views for your time? Which brings your best quality visitors?

On the hour long daily LIVE video show on Ustream.tv. I chat with friends all over the world on the web while wearing a company’s t-shirt. These streams see anywhere from 500 to 85,000 daily viewers. Most days it’s between 2-3,000 views and it’s probably the easiest/most fun part of my day. As far as quality is concerned, I think the YouTube videos are a unique piece of content that will live on forever and always tell a company’s story in a fun and engaging way. I particularly love the video we made for Webs.com on segways.

5.  So much of your work is done from home. Even though much of it is social, do you ever get sick of being online?

Honestly… I don’t. Blah blah blah “it’s not work if you love what you’re doing” – but I really do love what I do. I’ve built a ton of friendships online and genuinely enjoy putting on a t-shirt every morning and getting paid for it. I took my first day off on December 19 and while it was relaxing it felt really weird. I missed talking with everyone and I feel like they missed me too. May sound weird to some people, but that’s what my business thrives on.

6.  How has your business affected your social life, for better or worse?

I think it’s affected my social life for better and for worse. I know I don’t hang out with my local friends as much as I used to, but they also realize I’m trying to build a business, I’m trying to create something unique and I’m a very dedicated person. That would probably be the worse of it. The better is that I’ve met a ton of great new people and companies that will open doors for many opportunities down the road. I’m a firm believer in it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Oh, and I don’t have to stand in front of my closet and try and decide what shirt to wear anymore… that’s definitely a plus for me. And I don’t have to buy shirts, so I’m saving money!

7.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Living on the beach and not having to put a shirt on

Jason’s Bio:

Jason Sadler hasn’t always been wearing t-shirts for a living, but has always been creative. From drawing on walls with crayons, possibly doing a small amount of graffiti and eventually graduating college with a degree in Graphic Design. Jason has worked with professional sports organizations, advertising agencies, online retailers and most recently co-owned his own web design company. Jason loves playing Scrabble, watching terrible movies (sometimes for 24 hours at a time), has been known to shoot a hoop of basketball or two and is an avid automotive enthusiast. Living at the beach in Jacksonville, Florida gives Jason the freedom to prance around in t-shirts 365 days out of the year with his Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Plaxico.

Want to connect with Jason? Follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Josh Bob of Textaurant

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I posted a message on Facebook and gave a random interview to the first single entrepreneur who called me via Skype.

(Are you part of our Facebook party?)

Unfortunately, video wasn’t set up on Josh’s end, but a great interview nonetheless. Thanks, Josh!

Want to connect with Josh? Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or check out the Textaurant website!

Nina Beckhardt, Founder of The Naming Group

What can you do with a fine arts degree, a minor in psychology and some time spent in Martha’s craft corner? Twenty-something Nina Beckhardt spun that background into founding The Naming Group, a NYC-based startup focused on branding and the art of corporate name choice. OK, so there was that Abercrombie manager training in between…

A Boston native, Nina went to college in DC, always knowing her final destination would be New York City. After graduating from George Washington University, a dream internship in the crafts department at Martha Stewart failed to result in a permanent position and Nina found herself in search of Plan B. Abercrombie’s retail management training program wasn’t exactly what the doctor ordered, but the next opportunity was. Applying her combination of art, psychology and language skills, Nina came on as a creative contributor to naming/branding group Namebase, where she left as President and Creative Director to form her own group in 2009.

Now heading a team of her own, Nina is thankful to the winding, and sometimes bumpy road that led her towards the business she has today. She even learned a little decoupage along the way.

Thanks, Martha.

1.  Is the psychological effect from a product/tagline measurable? How do you quantify client results?

I think the beauty of developing names is that there really isn’t a formula. While we have a consistent and time-tested naming methodology, we apply a custom-fit approach to each project. My background in psychology plays a big role in name development and analysis because I have to be aware of “baggage.” All words, even coined ones, have baggage, that is, the associations and reactions they elicit. While market research can help identify baggage, at the end of day, client results are measured in marketing dollars saved. With a great name that is memorable, communicates key benefits and forms an emotional connection with consumers, you don’t need to spend as much on marketing and advertising. A strong name does all the heavy lifting for your brand.

2. Do your clients know how young you are? How does your age/appearance affect your credibility?

I think in this day in age it is becoming more and more common to see young people in positions of power. Thanks to great parenting and education, I was raised to believe that my thoughts and opinions matter. I feel that my talents and aspirations have little to do with my chronological age. I am a woman of words; I find numbers too limiting.

Cultural and age diversity are crucial elements of The Naming Group’s creative team. Naming and branding are about creating timeless appeal across multiple demographics.

3. Is there a turning point where the importance of maintaining brand recognition supersedes that of fixing a poor naming choice?

In some instances, the brand name is so strong that it would simply be imprudent to change it. Pizza Hut learned that earlier this year when they sliced off the most important part of their name in an attempt to perhaps sound a bit hipper, more edgy? Bad decision. They quickly backpedaled away from “The Hut” to their original name. Good decision. In other instances, however, a name change can be very fruitful – if done correctly. At The Naming Group, we have developed a concept called Brandsition®. This is our proprietary, three-part process of transforming, reviving and/or expanding an already established brand. Brandsition® breaks down the typical idea of “re-branding” and “re-naming” which, we believe, are outdated and inflexible terms. We make sure to create a new name that draws from the original name or brand in some way. Perhaps the new name will have the same first letter or sound or evoke a similar image as the old name. Bottom line: If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. But, if there is room for improvement, then there is room for Brandsition®.

4. Living in NYC was a non-negotiable for you after college. Why?

After growing up in the Boston area, going to college in Washington, DC and studying in London there still is no city that arouses me the way that New York City does. Even when in a quiet restaurant or tucked away in my office, I can feel the energy of the city. It fuels my creativity. It wakes me up in the morning. I drink less coffee when I’m here.

My favorite part of leaving the city is knowing I get to come back. It’s that feeling I get when I see the skyline on my way home from the airport. Sometimes I can’t believe I live here. There is a quote I’ve come across that says “You have to be crazy to live in New York, but you’d have to be nuts to live anywhere else.”

5. As a former Fine Arts major and Martha Stewart intern, how do you keep up with your creative side while building up your business?

Given my all-or-nothing approach, keeping up with my creative extra-curriculars has been a significant challenge during these nascent stages of my business. The nature of my work taps my creativity in a number of ways. For me, rather than clay, paint or yarn as my medium, I am now creating art with words, syllables and morphemes. However, after a long day at the office, I can’t tell you how good it feels to dig your fingers into clay, craft a pair of earrings or make a simple greeting card.

6. Do you miss Martha? (or is she as crazy as we all think?)

Y’know, I never formally met Martha. I did pass her in the hall a couple of times. She is alarmingly tall and her aura even taller! Seriously. She emits a vibe that is all at once terrifying and awe-inspiring. I learned so much about business, corporate bureaucracy and brand control. There were certain words you couldn’t say and colors she didn’t like and you just had to know them. Crazy? Arguably, yes. However, she knows exactly what she wants, how she wants it and who her audience is. It is that borderline obsessive, uber-regimented brand control that has differentiated her from the Betty Homemakers of the world.

What I don’t miss about Martha Stewart is the corporate culture. While working there, it became clear to me that I was simply a cog in a very big wheel. It didn’t matter how hard I worked or how meticulously I applied gold leaf to a vintage Christmas ornament, if my boss didn’t love me or some editor above me didn’t switch departments, I wasn’t going to be promoted. I believe in hard work being recognized. As soon as I entered the small creative agency environment I finally felt the reigns in my hands. I worked hard and moved up. I worked harder and moved up higher. I’ve come a long way from applying gold leaf in a back room studio. I’m on the front lines now and I couldn’t be happier.

7. Describe the person who would best complement both your life and your business.

I joke with people that I am dating my business right now but it’s pretty much a reality. So, if I were to meet that special someone in the next year or so, they’d have to be patient and totally willing to go on dates with me in my office. This is a hard question to answer because while I have a preconceived notion of what kind of person I think would compliment me, I believe in keeping an open mind when it comes to meeting people. I think the kind of person who would jive with me is someone who is creative, hard-working, affectionate and opinionated. They would need to respect my ATDD (Attention To Detail Disorder) and work ethic. As far as what that person does professionally, I have no requirements. A love of food, dogs and the ability to make me loose my breath laughing are my only major requirements.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Wow. Over the past two years my life has evolved to a point that takes years, sometimes decades for most people. Given this, I almost feel I can’t predict. If you asked me two years ago what I would be doing in ten years, I could never, in my wildest dreams, tell you that I would own my own naming company. Strangely enough, I can’t imagine anything more perfect for me right now. In ten years, I see The Naming Group continuing on to become a top authority in the branding industry. While many companies are proud to drop the names of prestigious advertising agencies with whom they’ve contracted, they often don’t like to admit that they’ve engaged a naming company to name their products. By 2019, I plan on changing that. I am discovering that the realm beyond my comfort zone is where my ultimate potential lies. I definitely plan on continuing to exceed my own expectations.

Nina’s Bio:

Nina Beckhardt founded The Naming Group upon the philosophy that the right brand name catalyzes brand evolution. She is obsessed with three things: words, brands and people. These healthy obsessions pair beautifully with a strong academic background in visual art, design and psychology. A self-described creative solutionist, Nina infuses every project with her passion for creative marketing and extensive knowledge of Latin, Spanish and sound symbolism. Her razor-sharp Scrabble skills don’t hurt either.

Before founding The Naming Group, Nina was President / Creative Director of Namebase where she led naming and brand development for Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Target, Southwest Airlines, EPSON, and Dow Jones, ConAgra and Mercedes Benz. A recognized authority on brand naming, Nina has been published nationally and has appeared in a feature segment of the Emmy Award-winning television show, Autoline Detroit.

Want to connect with Nina? Follow her on Twitter, Facebook and her blog “Nomenculture”!

Mariagrazia LaFauci, co-Founder of Be Satori and the Eco-Zip Bag

Want to know what sort of famous last words are whispered by executives behind closed doors? A few years ago at Conair it was a repetitive “When are we getting out of here?”. Mariagrazia LaFauci, former VP of Marketing and Product Development for Scunci (later bought by Conair) didn’t just listen to the words of Diana Menaged, her friend and co-worker of ten years. She left her six-figure salary and executive digs, and walked out the door…along with her new business partner.

A Merchandising degree graduate with 15 years experience in product development and marketing, Mariagrazia made the obvious choice to focus the new venture, Be Satori, on developing retail products. A handbag for tweens and a toy line later, Mariagrazia and business partner Diana continued seeking marketplace voids and eventually zeroed in on the Eco-Zip bag. Realizing its potential the pair re-focused, creating the new line of BPA-free plastic storage bags made with 20% less plastic, compartmentalized to get the job done with less waste.

With Eco-Zip scheduled to start shipping to major grocery chain accounts in 2010, and an accomplished business partner and friend at her side, Mariagrazia LaFauci has found that sometimes famous last words are just the beginning.

1.  How does marketing a grocery item compare to marketing hair accessories? Is one more challenging to break into (especially as a newcomer) than the other?

I think the formula is relatively similar regardless of the category because we stayed in the same trade of distribution, we did not go outside of our distribution experience.  Regardless it’s still challenging, breaking down those barriers and winning at these big chains takes diligent hard work. The key to success is making sure you have a viable product that adds value to your customers business.

2. You left an executive level position to start your own small business. What do your former co-workers think, and how do you think you would be received if you decided to re-enter the corporate world?

I am chuckling because my former co-workers know when I do something it’s big and it makes a huge impact on the business I am entering as well as change the lives of the consumers who use the products I develop. As far as re-entering the corporate world, my theory is that ….“it was more of a risk to not have taken the risk at all”. As Far as how I would be perceived it would have to be as a well rounded individual who understands the business development from start to finish!

3.  Eco-zip wasn’t the first product your company invested time in researching and sales testing. What products preceded it, and what convinced you to put all your efforts into Eco-zip?

We developed a kid’s toy line and a kid’s fashion handbag line. We decided to pull both and focus our efforts on Ecozip because it was the line that had the biggest business potential with the least amount of effort compared to the Toys and Fashion handbags.  Toys and Handbags involve much more time to develop and financially are a bigger investment. There is in-depth testing and engineering when developing a toy line, Safety is a key factor and Liability can be very high in this area. Developing a fashion handbag line is a constant changing business because you have to keep up with the Fashion trends every season.

Ecozip to us was something we knew could truly enhance the lives of people who used it and at the same time it would alleviate a burden on our earth. It does not get better then that!!

4.  Your name gives away a little bit about you. What is your family’s background and how has that shaped your personality?

Well, I’m Sicilian and come from a very Italian upbringing. My parents immigrated here in the 70’s and struggled financially.  Growing up and watching this I knew there had to be more. So my motivation and drive lead me towards success in the corporate world. Once I got to watch the success and rise of those that I worked for it motivated me to follow in their footsteps so that I could create a better life for myself , my family and those around me.  My personality has been shaped by the experiences I have lead and I am grateful to have had the background that I did because it is the driving factor that motivates me to continue to grow which allows me to achieve success in all areas of my life.

5.  How has your life changed since leaving the corporate world?

Gosh, if the feeling could only be put into words…I live a better quality life that’s for sure. I have also grown tremendously on multiple levels as an individual. My business experience has magnified and I am a much stronger individual overall.

Financially I took a hit, but the trade off was well worth it. I knew that I was taking ten steps back but would move forward with limitless opportunity.

The biggest one…No politics and I’m able to focus on moving ahead with no distractions from a corporate culture.

6.  What do you like to do for fun?

I really enjoy fine dining. I love a glass of red wine over great conversation. I enjoy traveling to new places.  I am interested in art and since leaving the corporate world I began painting. I hope to one day have my own art gallery.

7.  Describe the person who would best complement both your life and your business.

A complementary partner would be a man who can understand me and my passion. He would support my love for business as well as appreciate the importance of living a fulfilling, joyful abundant life outside of work.  He too should be successful and passionate for his business. Someone who has great communication skills is affectionate and romantic.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself continuing to build my business, inspiring my employees, loving and nurturing my family, feeding my soul artistically and doing philanthropic work.

Mariagrazia’s Bio:

Bio-
As an inventor, Mariagrazia LaFauci brings new meaning to “less is more” with her new product line of Ecozip food storage bags. Ecozip’s “Zip N Flip” technology allows you to separate and organize multiple items all in 1 bag or use the full bag by unzipping the center zipper. The Ecozip product line allows consumers to reduce their bag consumption while giving them versatility and convenience. They also make the bags with less plastic. Mariagrazia Co-Founded Be Satori with her business partner and longtime friend Diana Menaged.
The philosophy behind Be Satori is to bring consumers innovative products that are in harmony with the earth.

History-
With 15 years of experience in product development, branding and marketing products to the main stream, Mariagrazia has touched the lives of countless women and girls through her creative talents at some of the top accessory companies in the nation. Specifically, she is the inventor of the “No Slip Grip” Jaw Clip and Hairband she designed for women’s hair. She came up with the inventions during a seven year stint at SCUNCI a leading fashion hair accessory company where she served as Vice President of Marketing and Product Development. Her invention built the path and direction to incorporate the no slip technology in SCUNCI’S main line of hair accessories after consumers’ made it top choice.

Mariagrazia holds an associate degree in Merchandising, Marketing, and Management from Tobe Coburn School for Fashion Design; she is the daughter of Italian immigrants and speaks Italian fluently. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, experiencing Eastern cultures, painting and meditation.

Casey Arisohn, Founder of Radii Footwear

If you believe Casey Arisohn, success in business is all about who you know. Believe him. The 26 year-old Founder and CEO of Radii Footwear, an upscale sneaker line popular with music artists (think Gwen Stefani and Jay-Z.), launched his first line in August 2008 at the Magic Tradeshow in Vegas and now, less than two years later, boasts distribution in 10 countries and over 350 retail locations.

Casey, a retail worker at age 16, buying assistant by 17, then retail sales rep, also spent his share of time in college, leaving shy of graduation. Realizing he was losing important relationships while away at school, Casey decided to come back to retail as a consultant and manufacturer for private label. Shortly after, a business associate took note of his fast-selling sneaker designs, approached him about working out a partnership, and Radii Footwear was born. With funding, a decade of retail experience behind him, and noteworthy clientele, Casey, along with his partner, enjoyed a staggering $1M in sales in just the first 6 months, cementing the relationship.

The moral of the story? If business really is dependent upon relationships, we all need to meet a few more Caseys.

1.  You are adamant that business is all about who you know. What was the key to building your most important relationships?

I always try to follow the golden rule of treating everyone like I would want to be treated.  Coming up in this business, I recall running into a lot of people that would treat others who weren’t necessarily on the same business level or status as them as such.  You have to be careful, sometimes those people end up in positions where you might need them.

2. Radii’s growth since August 2008 has been off the charts. What advice do you have for small business owners who are struggling in the recession?

Make quality products.  It all comes down to the goods you manufacture.  Sure, the volume might not be where it was years ago, but as long as you’re making quality products that consumers want, you’ll weather the storm and make it through.

3. Dealing with Chinese factories for several years, you must have hit some bumps along the way. What were your biggest challenges, and would you ever consider manufacturing domestically?

Oh boy…bumps don’t even describe it!   The language barrier and lead time slow us down.  When dealing with China, especially in the footwear industry, you’re dealing with a larger time window to produce samples for a season.  We’re working on 2011/12 samples for Radii right now because it takes that long to get the product the way you envision it.

4. Name the five things that most influence your style.

History, fashion, our retailers, price, and competition.

5. For a 26 year-old, you have achieved a high level of personal success. Given that you don’t have a history of it, does the thought of failure scare you?

Honestly, I was a bit scared before I launched the line but that didn’t last long.  We’re too busy to really think about that, to tell you the truth.   With a retail and buyer background, I guess you kind of learn how to shut that emotion off.   I know that in business, everything doesn’t go as planned but I also know that if you plan properly you can’t fail.

6. Are your friends jealous?

Haha…for the most part no.  Most are just stoked and still can’t believe I have a sneaker line.   I hear about competitors that say things here and there but it’s never said to my face.

7. Describe the person who would best complement both your life and your business.

You know, I think someone who has their own set of goals that they want to accomplish.  Someone who is about their business whether it’s finishing school, opening their own business or working for a company.  Someone who has a passion for what they do because I’m passionate about Radii Footwear.  I’m young so I’m sure these things will change as I date more.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Sitting on an empire not just limited to footwear and just being happy.  I want to be able to leave an impact on my generation and generations to come.

Want to connect with Casey? Follow him on Facebook and Twitter!

Tricia Basanyi, Founder of Voiceovers by Trish

Do you ever hear voices? If you’re wandering through a casino in A.C., taking in a museum, or listening to a radio advertisement for your local grocery store, you could be hearing the voice of Tricia Basanyi. At 34, Tricia has made a name for herself (or for her voice, rather) doing voiceover work for the likes of Dole, Caterpillar and Verizon Wireless, among others.

Communications degree graduate? Nope. After realizing college wasn’t working for her, the former Psychology major turned to a (yawn) accounts payable job to pay the bills. At 24, a light bulb went off and Tricia turned her passion for media into an entry-level internship with a radio station, going on to receive her own afternoon program and doing voiceover gigs on the side, while still working her accounting 9-5.

After four years, Tricia’s part-time hobby was viable enough to become her full-time business. Active on networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, she credits several projects per week to effective use of social media. Click here to listen to a sampling of her work, and if you start to hear a voice at the Taj Mahal…well, lets just hope it’s Tricia.

1.  Where is the strangest place we can hear your voice?

Ummmm I’d rather not tell you the STRANGEST place;)  But, I can tell you that I’m the voice for the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and I do the audio tours for the Miami MetroZoo and a few other parks in Florida.

2.  Why do you prefer voiceover acting versus television/film acting?

Because you can be anyone you want to be! On camera you’re limited to your own looks, but when you only have audio the audience’s imagination is a huge advantage. Plus, when you do a job you’re not so proud of (see answer to #1) you get to deny it!  haha -  When you’re on camera it’s harder to convince people you have an identical twin you didn’t know about.

3.  Has the down economy affected the amount of voiceover work you receive? Or, have businesses turned to radio as a cheaper means of communicating?

Yes, it’s affected it, but in a good way. I’m busier than ever!  Businesses still need to advertise. I give a few more “discounts” these days than before but there’s no shortage of work by any stretch of the imagination. You just have to know where to look and, of course, network, network, network.

4.  What do businesses look for most when shopping for a “voice” to sell their products?

Well, to be honest a lot of it is personal preference. How do you pick which shirt to buy out of 10 different choices? We each have different tastes. I will say one thing though, it’s NOT just the voice itself. Someone could have a fantastic voice but sound like they’re reading when they do a commercial. We all know that’s not a good thing. On the other hand, many people with “average” sounding voices are making a killing in this business because they know how to sound natural and believable. So a good amount of it is talent and skill, knowing what the client wants and who your audience is that you’re “selling” to. Once you have a good amount of talent and voices to choose from, that’s when personal preference kicks in. Like choosing your favorite color. You can’t explain WHY you like it best, you just DO.

5.  Has anyone in public ever recognized your voice?

Yes! A client that did not know I was the voice for the Trump Taj was walking along the boardwalk in Atlantic City over this past summer and heard my voice coming out of the loudspeaker, and immediately knew it was me. He called me and held his phone up to the speaker so I could hear myself coming through my own phone! It was a little weird.  A few other similar stories like that over the past few years.

6.  How do men react when they find out that you “do voices”? Give us the worst line you’ve heard.

You ready for this one? “Ohhhh, so you give good voice, huh?”  HILARIOUS. In general, though, I find that guys find what I do quite fascinating even though I don’t do character voices. They always ask, “so where can I hear you?” They’re pretty curious and ask a lot of questions about it, and occasionally they’ll say “I’ve been told I have a great voice and should look into doing voiceovers but didn’t know how to get into the business.”  Yeah dude, you and 50 million others. lol

7.  Describe the person who would best complement both your life and your business.

My life is pretty fly-by-night. I like to travel a lot because I can and life is short. I work from anywhere and it would be cool to be with someone that had the same freedom. Doesn’t really matter what they do as long as they enjoy their work. I do think that it’s important to have your own interests outside of a relationship, if you do EVERYTHING together things get stale and boring pretty quickly. I do swing dancing, play poker, and play tennis with certain friends on a regular basis and it’s nice to have a guy that has his own interests too, so I can have my “me” time and he can have his.

8.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Well a LOT has changed in the past 5 years for me, so 10 years from now it should definitely be interesting. Professionally, I hope to have realized several projects in the voiceover industry that I’m working on right now, and they should be up and running smoothly by then.  I’m an “idea” person so I imagine I’ll have some other things that I’ll be pursuing and trying to get finished, that as of right now I haven’t even thought of yet.
Personally, I’m not quite sure. Meeting someone would certainly be an enhancement but not a necessity. Children have never been a desire of mine, I have 2 nephews and a niece that I adore, and they keep me quite busy and satisfied on that front. I love my lifestyle but kids don’t fit into it very well, and I don’t see things changing anytime soon.

Want to connect with Trish? Follow her on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn!