The show is sponsored by Lenz, Inc., and we have the captain of that ship with us this week. Mike Killeen has been with Lenz, a full-service marketing agency specializing in healthcare marketing, since 2002. He entered his current role earlier in 2023. Additionally, Mike teaches healthcare marketing to graduate students at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, and he’s been doing so since 2016. Mike is also founder of Amplify My Community, a non-profit organization that travels from city to city, throwing fundraising concerts to benefit local organizations working to alleviate poverty and homelessness. Its signature event, the Amplify Decatur Music Festival, takes place in and around downtown Decatur April 28-30. Mike and Jon talk about Lenz’s history, the company’s future, Mike’s thoughts on marketing, and much more.

This week’s guest is entrepreneur Michael Cameron, owner and design consultant of Gotcha Covered of Brookhaven-Dunwoody. Michael explains what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and business owner and shares how technology has revolutionized the window treatment solution industry. Gotcha Covered is a retail business specializing in window treatment solutions for homes and businesses. Providing designs and custom window treatment installments, Gotcha Covered offers a wide selection of shades, shutters, blinds, draperies, and motorization options for every style and budget.

Some say the restaurant business is one of the most challenging fields around. Well, this week’s guest specializes in making that aspect of the business world easier for budding restaurateurs, especially women and minority business owners. Lauren Fernandez is CEO and founder of Full Course, a restaurant development and investment firm which incubates and accelerates emerging fast casual restaurant brands. Lauren began Full Course through her own investment. She joins Jon Waterhouse to talk about the company’s consulting, development, educational services, and how she focuses on helping clients grow through conscious capital and coaching.

With Atlanta’s recent cold front leaving many to deal with freezing pipes, it was fitting to invite Jerome Sabol from Plumb Works back to the program. The Atlanta-based Plumb Works, one of the city’s leading residential plumbing companies, has been operating since 1989 and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Sabol returns to explain how he built a successful business with no prior business experience, how to navigate a sudden influx of customers with limited staff support, and shares initiatives that uphold Plumb Works’ philanthropic goals throughout the year.

Many entrepreneurs try a wide range of opportunities before settling on the field of their dreams. This week’s guest has a fascinating entrepreneurial history. A US Navy veteran, Jeff moved out of the Armed Forces and into the nightclub business, eventually owning venues in Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida. After stepping away from the bar world, Jeff began chopping his way into the tree service industry. For more than a decade, he’s been the owner and operator of Premier Tree Services, which provides professional tree services to metro Atlanta clients. These services range from tree removal and trimming to storm damage, stump grinding, and crane work. Jeff joins host Jon Waterhouse to talk about his entrepreneurial spirit, the importance of diversification, the secret to employee dynamics, and more.

Elvis Presley recorded some classic Christmas music, so Christmas Day is a great opportunity to talk about the business of Elvis, one of the most recognized and celebrated entertainers of all time. We revisit an interview we had earlier this year with Alicia Dean, a marketing, promotion, and events specialist for Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland, the Memphis, Tenn.-based tourist attraction. Later in the show, Jon plays an interview he had with one of Elvis’ closest friends, Jerry Schilling, and we find out what it was like spending the Christmas season with the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Jon also shares some tips on how business owners and managers can alleviate employee burnout.

AIDS and HIV awareness is as important as ever. According to HIV.gov, approximately 1.2 million people in the United States have HIV and around 13% are unaware of their HIV-positive status. In fact, Georgia has some of the highest HIV rates in the country. And YourTown Health is doing something about it with its HIV Prevention and Treatment Program. The program offers HIV services to patients at reduced costs using the Sliding Fee Scale. Services include HIV testing, free at-home tests, preventative and post-exposure medications, and more. Isabel Soles and Dr. Varma talk about the program, address HIV misconceptions, and more.

Wolf is an entrepreneur with quite the track record. Best known for founding Wolf Camera in 1975, his business became one of the most prominent camera/photo-finishing retailers in the country. The field evolved in the late 1990s, and Wolf merged Wolf Camera with Ritz Camera in 2001. After a stint in the marketing world, Wolf reentered the photo business with a new concept: WolfPhoto & DesignBar. This Atlanta-based storefront and online business specializes in producing art, decor and prints from smartphones and digital cameras. Wolf talks about the business lessons he’s learned throughout his storied career, his knack for marketing, and how he’s entering a new entrepreneurial chapter at the age of 80.

Some say the restaurant business is one of the most challenging fields around. Well, this week’s guest specializes in making that aspect of the business world easier for budding restaurateurs, especially women and minority business owners. Lauren Fernandez is CEO and founder of Full Course, a restaurant development and investment firm which incubates and accelerates emerging fast casual restaurant brands. Lauren began Full Course through her own investment. She joins Jon Waterhouse to talk about the company’s consulting, development, educational services, and how she focuses on helping clients grow through conscious capital and coaching.