Listen on Sundays at 11 a.m. on 95.5 WSB and wsbradio.com
Each week, host Jon Waterhouse speaks with Atlanta’s business leaders to explore their inspiring stories, lessons learned, and tips for growth and success. From big business execs to indie entrepreneurs, these guests not only share their practical secrets, but also unveil the personalities behind the careers.
“Business touches all our lives and deserves to be explored,” says show founder, Richard J. Lenz. “Lenz on Business taps into the excitement and dynamics of business; the colorful characters who drive these companies, their entrepreneurial adventures, and the innovative ways they thrive and survive in today’s world.”
Upcoming Lenz on Business Show
Recent Lenz on Business Shows
Pat Warner, director of public relations and external affairs for Waffle House
This week guest host Jon Waterhouse figuratively steps behind the counter of Waffle House, the iconic restaurant chain. Warner, a 20-year veteran of the company, scatters, smothers, and covers a variety of topics, including its signature management style, unmistakable branding, and FEMA’s Waffle House Index. Warner’s personal Waffle House experience has included weddings, funerals, major motion pictures, Super Bowls and Shaq.
Don Byrd, Chief Operating Officer; Nicole Moore, manager of Education and Museum Content, National Center for Civil and Human Rights
When it comes to the Civil Rights movement, the city of Atlanta is rich with history, many landmarks still standing today. In 2014, a contemporary landmark, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, opened its doors in the heart of downtown Atlanta, becoming what the New York Times once called one of the biggest reasons to visit the city. Byrd and Moore join guest host Jon Waterhouse to talk about the Center, how local businesses played a role in the Civil Rights movement, and much more.
Special time and date: 2 p.m. February 17, 2019.
Stephen Moore, President of RCS Productions
Spring is around the corner, and that means festival season will be kicking off soon. This week’s guest knows all about the business of producing concerts for these and other events. Stephen Moore, president of RCS Productions, talks with guest host Jon Waterhouse about the business of talent buying, and concert and event production. What does it take to produce a concert in a cave more than 300 feet underground? Moore shares these and other stories.
Allan Vella, president and CEO of the Fox Theatre
Our special guest this week has the unique job of running and overseeing a timeless, unmistakable Atlanta icon, which happens to be one of the top venues of its kind in the country and the world. Vella gives guest host Jon Waterhouse a literal peek behind the curtain at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, and what it takes to operate this unmistakeable institution.
Dr. Joseph Ducksworth, graduate of the WebMBA program at Georgia College
How do you juggle your own medical practice while attempting to further your business career by getting an MBA? Dr. Joseph Ducksworth, an acclaimed oral surgeon, did just that. This week he talks with guest host Jon Waterhouse about why it’s important for physicians who run their own practice to have an MBA, the pros and cons of getting an online MBA, and much more.
Michael Tavani, founder of Switchyards Downtown Club
Tavani, a serial entrepreneur, created Switchyards Downtown Club, a design-focused startup hub, specializing in producing consumer-focused startups in Atlanta. Tavani joins guest host Jon Waterhouse to talk about the genesis of Switchyards, the Atlanta startup scene, and much more.
Sarah Rose Harrill, graduate of the WebMBA program at Georgia College
This week’s special guest saw value in getting an MBA and decided go back to school in the midst of her career. However, as we all know, life happens. While juggling a job and Georgia College’s WebMBA program, Sarah learned her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Despite the challenges, she made it work. Sarah Rose shares her personal and WebMBA experiences with guest host Jon Waterhouse. Note: This week’s episode airs at a special time, 1 p.m. Jan. 12 on News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB in Atlanta, and at wsbradio.com.
Maxwell Bentley, founder and executive producer of Bentley Media
Corporate/client-based video production has its own niche within Georgia’s current film and TV boom. Bentley talks about its place among the state’s media production landscape. And he discusses topics including the importance of corporate video and how to choose the right video production company for your business.
Alan Rae, General Manager of Hotel Clermont
Atlanta’s new Hotel Clermont may be one of the most impressive examples of branding and revitalization among the city’s hospitality landscape. Alan Rae, the hotel’s general manager, gives guest host Jon Waterhouse a behind-the-scenes look at the project. And financial pro Chris Burns of Dynamic Money drops by for Ask an Expert.
Jason Shelnutt, CEO Georgia Urology
The business of healthcare has changed and evolved greatly in recent years. And this week’s special guest knows this from firsthand experience. Under Jason Shelnutt’s leadership, Georgia Urology has seen great growth and remains the largest urology practice in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. Shelnutt discusses the challenges of running a healthcare practice, the current healthcare landscape in Atlanta, the urologist shortage, and more.
Steven Carse, co-founder and CEO of King of Pops
“Lenz on Business” kicks off its second season with a sweet treat for the holidays. Guest host Jon Waterhouse gets a visit from Steven Carse, co-founder and CEO of King of Pops, the popular local popsicle company that’s become an Atlanta icon in less than a decade. Carse talks about his unique start up, progressive corporate culture, diversification, and a whole lot more.
Mike Lewis, Emory University’s Goizueta Business School
With football season rearing its helmet in the not-too-distant future, we welcome Mike Lewis, a sports marketing and analytics expert. This marketing professor from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School sits down with guest host Jon Waterhouse and talks about an array of issues affecting the business of sports. This includes the financial implications of controversial team names, Philips Arena’s renovations, and more.
Dean Erika James, Emory University’s Goizueta Business School
Under Dean James’ leadership, Goizueta remains one of the top business schools in the nation. The award-winning educator and researcher discusses her white paper on sexual harassment, workplace diversity, crisis leadership, and other topics with host Richard Lenz.
Mark Galvin, CEO and founder of ePresence
Our resident social media guru talks with guest host Jon Waterhouse about Facebook’s stock market plunge, Instagram TV, LinkedIn’s new features, and other timely topics in the social media realm.
Greg Euston, Public Relations Director, Dragon Con
Greg’s job is to get the word out about Dragon Con, the ultra successful pop culture convention that takes over downtown Atlanta for four days each Labor Day Weekend. Approximately 85,000 guests are expected to attend the 2018 installment. Not only does the convention do bang-up business, it brings bang-up business to Atlanta. Greg talks with guest host Jon Waterhouse about Dragon Con’s economic impact on the city and much more.
Stacey Abrams, 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial Election Democratic Nominee
Stacey Abrams will be making history this November as the first black female major party gubernatorial nominee in the United States. Abrams, who served as the house minority leader for the Georgia General Assembly and state representative for the 89th House District, also is a lawyer, author, and entrepreneur. She joins Richard at the WSB studios to talk about her business-related policies, her own entrepreneurial experiences, and more.
Clyde Higgs, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
Since its inception in 2006, the Atlanta BeltLine has become not only become one of the most exciting and interesting additions to the City of Atlanta landscape, but it’s helped boost the economy. Clyde Higgs talks with Richard about the business behind the BeltLine and what to expect in the future.
Mark Galvin, CEO and founder of ePresence
Mark Galvin, our social media master, pays another visit to the studio and drops an array of business-related social media knowledge in the process. He and host Richard Lenz address a variety of timely topics in the social media spectrum. Mark serves as CEO and founder of ePresence, which manages personal branding for professionals via social media. #tunein
Nick Garzia, Southeast Director of Retail Leasing for Hines, including Atlantic Station
Atlantic Station, the 138-acre, multi-use development in Midtown Atlanta, continues to be one of the city’s most high-profile areas for living, working, and playing. Responsible for Atlantic Station’s retail leasing, Nick Garzia has his hand in the property’s huge transformation. In fact, he says Atlantic Station will change more in the next 18 months than it has in the past decade. On this week’s show, Nick joins Richard to discuss Atlantic Station’s growth and expansion, the future of retail in America, and more.
Professor Ram Chellappa, Associate Dean and Academic Director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School
Ram Chellappa wears many hats, from being an economist to an expert on business analytics and much more. In fact, his academic research provided the first scholarly definition of the term “cloud computing.” Ram visits the studio to talk about the intersection of business and technology. Think big data, data ownership, digitization in the marketplace, and other topics where binary code meets big bucks.
Dawna Miller, Founder, Arena Leadership Coaching and Dylan Miller, University of Georgia student in Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media program
This week’s show is taking a look at two different perspectives on business from two generations of the same family. Dawna Miller, an accomplished C-Suite executive and the visionary behind Arena Leadership Coaching, an innovative business dedicated to empowering emerging executives. Through online courses and e-books, Arena Leadership Coaching equips young professionals with the skills they need to excel as visionary leaders.
We also hear from her son, Dylan Miller, a student in UGA’s Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media program. He’s currently working on his thesis project, entitled Pyre, a short film he’s writing and directing. Dylan is facing leadership and business challenges, from helming the production to crowdfunding. And he shares his experience and how he’s benefiting with some of the knowledge he’s receiving from Arena Leadership Coaching.