Latham Thomas, Founder of Tender Shoots Wellness

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Latham Thomas

New York, NY

Founder of Tender Shoots Wellness

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1. My business and how I got started:

I founded Tender Shoots Wellness in 2006 to meet the lifestyle needs of busy women in the city that are on a path toward optimal wellness. Offering green culinary services, holistic nutrition counseling, and yoga, I am interested in helping women navigate pregnancy and offer them lifestyle solutions that would be sustainable. I have been in the wellness field for 10 years, but officially doing the work I do now for about 5 years.

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

My service is comprehensive, boutique, and result oriented. You can come to one place to learn what to eat, how to cook it, and how to incorporate yoga into your life.

3. A typical day for me:

My days alternate between kitchen/cooking days and yoga/counseling days. The first client of the day is usually a cooking client. I shop for groceries in the morning and prep meals for the week, store and clean up and head to the next client to do the same, until the day is over. Another typical day is a line up of group and private yoga classes that I teach at various locations throughout the city, including: vinyasa yoga, anti-gravity yoga, and prenatal yoga. Sprinkled in between I will see my nutrition clients, who come for counseling sessions.

4. What I love most about my business:

I love that I wake up every day and do work aligned with my principals and I get to help empower people to help themselves. I also love that I get to create a schedule that is conducive to my lifestyle and allows for “me” time.

5. I’m cool because:

I’m vegan

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

Achieve her Dreams

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

Hustle Mode or Blissed Out!

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

In my fridge…Lotus flower tea blossoms, in my wallet- a real 4 leaf clover, closet- an ’80s biker chick motorcycle vest.

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

Honesty, Follow through, compassion

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

1. Publish 2 books.
2. Expand my business to take on full-time employees
3. Get married

Want to connect with Latham? Find her on Twitter and Facebook!

Andy Theimer, Founder of RecipeBridge.com

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Andy Theimer

Milwaukee, WI

Founder of RecipeBridge.com

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1. My business and how I got started:

Sitting at a coffee shop several years ago with a co-worker.  We were thinking of problems to solve and hit upon the fact that most people who use the Internet to find recipes (over 80 million annually) go through multiple websites and Google searches before finding the right one.

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

New cooking and recipe websites appear every week but I feel we’ve found something different.  We took something that people are already doing; searching for recipes online, and made the experience much better.

3. A typical day for me:

I get up around 7am and head for the super-automatic coffee machine, best investment ever! Typically I spend the first hour reading up on the technology and online advertising space then it’s replying to emails. The rest of my day is a mix of writing out technical specs for new features, reaching out to potential partners, and setting up meetings.

4. What I love most about my business:

The online cooking market is gigantic and growing faster ever year.   We have the opportunity to shake it up and show people a different approach to finding recipes on the web and on upcoming ‘pad’ devices.

5. I’m cool because:

I can only assume “geeky intellectual” is the new cool for 2010?  I have a passion for finding and trying new things from mountain climbing to technology.  I like being unpredictable and hearing my mom say “you’re doing what?” when I tell her what I’m up to.

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

Haha…. hopefully they wouldn’t be able to predict that J

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

“Maybe this time…..”

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

My bowtie collection.

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

I admire the ability to focus precisely on one thing and becoming excellent at it.  I’ve always been more of the “jack-of-all-trades” type and really admire people who do one thing and do it better than anyone else.

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

1. Travel to Cambodia
2. Move to another state
3. Sell off a company
4. + 5. TBD

Want to connect with Andy? Find him on LinkedIn and his mountain climbing blog!

Maria Murnane, Author and Entrepreneur

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Maria Murnane

New York, NY

Author of Perfect on Paper

Founder of Waverly’s Honey Shop

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My business and how I got started:

I’m what you might call an “accidental entrepreneur.” One day I quit my job and ended up living in Argentina for a year playing semi-pro soccer and writing a novel (true story!). It’s a romantic comedy called Perfect on Paper, and as part of the story the main character, Waverly Bryson, comes up with a line of witty greeting cards for women called Honey Notes. Here are two examples:

Front: Ever feel like you don’t know anything at all?
 Inside: Honey, congratulations. At least you finally know that.
Front: Is it worse to be fake or bitchy? 
Inside: Honey, just face it. If you’re asking, you’re probably both.

After Perfect on Paper came out, I couldn’t believe how many readers asked me to sell the Honey Notes in real life, so I decided to give it a try! I also thought it would be fun to create other Honey products, so I built a site called Waverly’s Honey Shop and added Honey Tees and Honey Totes, all featuring witty quotes from Waverly Bryson.

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

Honey, there’s only one Waverly Bryson!

3. A typical day for me:

Ha! Impossible to answer. Take today, for example. This morning I’m doing this interview. When I’m done I have a call with my Web developer. Then I’m expecting a shipment of Honey Totes, which I have to package up and then send to the fulfillment center for Waverly’s Honey Shop. In between I’m answering fan email, updating my author Web site ( HYPERLINK “http://www.mariamurnane.com” www.mariamurnane.com), and lining up some speaking engagements with women’s groups who want to hear the crazy story behind how my book and Waverly’s Honey Shop came to be. I also have a yoga class at 4:30, after which I will happily rush back to my computer to keep working, even though today is Friday.

4. What I love most about my business:

See above.

5. I’m cool because:

I don’t need Facebook to remember my friends’ birthdays.

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

Play soccer four days a week until I can’t walk anymore.

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

Just Do It

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

In high school I bought a stuffed animal in the shape of a carrot and put it in my parents’ fridge. It’s still there!

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

Sincerity, reliability, sense of humor

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

Ack! I am afraid to answer this because it might come back to haunt me, but here goes:

1) Get Perfect on Paper made into a movie
2) Write another novel that people like as much as the first one
3) Grow Waverly’s Honey Shop into a popular product line that is available not just online, but at a brick-and-mortar store near you! 

Want to connect with Maria? Follow her on her Fan Page and Twitter!

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!

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!

Ashley Bodi, Co-Founder of BusinessBeware.biz

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Ashley Bodi

Sarasota, FL

Co-Founder, Business Beware

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1. My business and how I got started:

When I started working for the family businesses out of college my Dad and I had thrown around an idea of creating a site for business owners where they could warn each other about difficult customers.  After seeing the other side of how some customers treat business owners I knew something needed to be done, so Business Beware was born.  I think being on the other side of a business really opens your eyes and you realize “the customer is not always right.”

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

Business Beware is not like some of the typical blacklist sites you see out there where it’s just a place to rant and rave.  It’s like a reverse Better Business Bureau where customers have the chance to file a rebuttal if they choose to.  It’s a way for both sides to hopefully work out the situation and communicate with each other.  With Business Beware we don’t list people publicly or allow information to be placed in search engines like other sites may do.  We are about keeping it professional, clean and making it known that we are not a consumer bashing site.

3. A typical day for me:

A typical day is heading into the office getting stuff done I need to do for the family businesses and then switching into Business Beware mode.  Since we send out letters to customers that have a complaint filed against them I make sure everything gets sent out and get back with both parties.  Every day I touch base with my awesome programmer Shelley to make sure everything is up to speed.  Everyday I am talking with new people, partners and guests we are interviewing that Saturday on the radio show.  I always end the day with a nice run or workout to stay stress-free and to think about what I have coming up for the next day.

4. What I love most about my business:

I love the fact that I get to help businesses from all over but also getting the chance to learn about these amazing businesses. It’s unreal what you can learn from other people and their business.  That is a huge reason we started the “business spotlight” section on the site so we can tell others stories of how and why they started their company.  I love the fact that every business owner that I talk to loves what we’re doing with Business Beware and thank us for providing this service to them.  What more could you ask for, you get to do what you love and help people at the same time?

5. I’m cool because:

I’m simple and I’m not afraid to be me.

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

Actually this was discussed the other day…They would vote me to be most likely to be rich.  My goal is not to be rich and that is not what I set out to do with Business Beware. I just realized I wanted to do what I loved and help people along the way.  I think some confuse being rich with having a drive to want to be somebody or to never give up.  It’s about putting in the extra hours and not letting the bumps in the road cause you to come to a halt, it’s about overcoming the obstacles to get to where you want to be.

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

“The Many Adventures of Bodi”  Because no matter where I go (especially when flying) I always have something interesting or funny that happens to me.

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

I think the strangest thing you would find in my closet is a sumo wrestling costume that I still have from a few years ago I wore for a halloween party.

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

Honesty, Genuine, Compassion and Sense of Humor.

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

I hope to make Business Beware the best it can be and continue to be a driving force for business owners.  I also hope to create a documentary and write a book!

Want to connect with Ashley? Follow her on…

Facebook, Twitter, Website, and Ashley’s Radio Show!