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
Robert Betzel of Infinity Network Solutions
This week Richard welcomes Robert Betzel, who took a shot at becoming an entrepreneur at the ripe age of 22. Eighteen years later he’s still serving as CEO of Infinity Network Solutions. This managed IT firm focuses on taking a holistic approach to being the IT Department for small- and medium-size businesses throughout Georgia. In addition to running this business, Betzel co-wrote the book “The Company Culture Challenge” and works to help other entrepreneurs by using the Entrepreneurial Operating System as a foundation.
Charles Goetz, Professor of Entrepreneurship; Amelia Schaffner, Director of Entrepreneurship; Louise Wasilewski, CEO at Acivilate, MBA alumna, Goizueta Business School
At his heart, host Richard Lenz is an entrepreneur. To celebrate entrepreneurship, he invites a pair of entrepreneurial educators on the program: Amelia Schaffner and Charles Goetz of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. For the second half of the show, Louise Wasilewski, a Goizueta graduate, joins the conversation, sharing her experience studying entrepreneurship at Emory. Wasilewski, the CEO of Acivilate, explains how she created a business to help reduce recidivism.
Steve Woods, co-founder of Pinnacle Home Improvements
About a decade ago, this week’s guest and a partner started a home improvements business from the ground floor up, pun intended. Steve Woods and Jim Marino began Pinnacle Home Improvements by going door-to-door selling roofs and gutter systems. Today Pinnacle not only operates out of Atlanta, but also has branches in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee. Steve visits the WSB studio and tells guest host Jon Waterhouse the secret to his success, management and sales force tips, and what it was like participating on the TV program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
Mark Galvin, CEO and founder of ePresence
Our resident social media expert drops in to talk with guest host Jon Waterhouse about Facebook’s recent F8 Conference, social media algorithms, how to use native video to impact your business, and much more.
Mike Reeves, Atlanta restaurant and live music entrepreneur
Atlanta is one of the top culinary destinations in the country and produces a soundtrack like no other. This week’s guest, Mike Reeves, has had his hands in both food and music in Atlanta. He not only co-founded Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurants and Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, but he was co-founder of some of Atlanta’s most iconic live music clubs: Cotton Club, the Point, and Smith’s Olde Bar. Reeves shares restaurant start-up secrets and behind-the-scenes rock ‘n’ roll stories, including hanging with David Bowie and other legends.
Karen Sedatole, Professor of Accounting, Emory University’s Goizueta Business School
It’s easy to simply describe accounting as a numbers game, but it’s much more than that. In fact, it’s a multifaceted discipline and one that this week’s guest researches for a living. How does accounting play a role in business forecasting and performance reviews? Award-winning researcher Karen Sedatole answers these and other questions.
Greg McGarity, Director of Athletics at University of Georgia
The University of Georgia has one of the most respected athletics programs in the nation. Leading that charge is Greg McGarity, Director of Athletics at UGA. McGarity stops by “Lenz on Business” to talk about the 2018 G-Day game, the school’s 21-sport athletics program, Sanford Stadium’s renovations, and more.
Mike Mewbourne of Pritchard & Jerden
Health insurance continues to be a hot topic these days, and this week “Lenz on Business” takes a look at the business side of the health insurance landscape. Host Richard Lenz talks with someone who’s in the trenches on a daily basis: Mike Mewbourne, Vice President of Employee Benefits and principal at Pritchard & Jerden, a commercial insurance consulting firm.
Mike Killeen, Christine Mahin, and Jared & Amber of Amplify Decatur Music Festival
What’s the business behind a music festival with heart? Host Richard Lenz finds out as he chats with the folks behind the Amplify Decatur Music Festival, an annual event that raises money to fight poverty and homelessness. Guests include Amplify My Community founder Mike Killeen, festival director Christine Mahin, and an in-the-studio performance by acoustic duo Jared & Amber. Amplify returns to the downtown square on Saturday, April 14, 2018 with an all-star Americana line-up that includes The Lone Bellow, The Jayhawks, Amanda Shires, and Parker Millsap. All funds raised at the third annual festival will be directed to Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM) to support its efforts to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Decatur and DeKalb County. The 2017 concert series featured Lucinda Williams and raised $40,000 for DCM.
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
Ann-Carol Pence and Anthony Rodriguez of Aurora Theatre
On the next episode of “Lenz on Business,” guest host Jon Waterhouse takes a look behind the curtain at the business of theatre. More specifically, he explores the acclaimed Aurora Theatre based out of downtown Lawrenceville, Ga. Among other things, Aurora brings Broadway-quality productions, including its latest “Mama Mia!,” to the suburbs. Aurora’s co-founders and artistic directors Anthony Rodriguez and Ann-Carol Pence reveal what it takes to make a nonprofit theater work for 22 seasons, and how to raise $26 million.
Chuck Leavell and Joel Babbit of Mother Nature Network
To say this episode rocks would be an understatement. And it does so, literally. Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, and Joel Babbit, Atlanta’s marketing guru, stop by the studio. Leavell and Babbit are the co-founders of MotherNatureNetwork.com (MNN.com), the most-visited environmental Website on the planet with approximately 7 to 8 million unique visits per month. And its parent company, Narrative Content Group, not only operates its own Websites, but works with mega brands including CNN and Discovery Communications. The duo talk about their business collaborations, including the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Jam concert event. Of course, Leavell gives us a backstage peek at The Rolling Stones.
Grant Wainscott of Metro Atlanta Chamber
The Atlanta business community continues to grow and thrive, and the folks at the Metro Atlanta Chamber help make that happen. This week host Richard Lenz welcomes Grant Wainscott, Senior Director of Technology Ecosystem Expansion for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Wainscott works to retain, expand and attract technology jobs and investment to the metro Atlanta region. He’ll talk about how they work to lure big businesses to the city, the current state of the entertainment business in Atlanta, and much more.
Meisa Salaita and Jordan Rose of Atlanta Science Festival
Ever dreamed of throwing a festival? The co-founders and co-directors of Atlanta Science Festival (Meisa Salaita and Jordan Rose) stop by the studio and reveal the chemical make-up of a successful happening. Taking place March 9-24 at various Metro Atlanta venues, the Atlanta Science Festival invites all ages to experience more than 100 interactive and engaging events.
Legal Expert Marc Hershovitz
Ask host Richard Lenz, and he’ll tell you a successful business needs a legal expert in its corner. This week he sits down with lawyer Marc Hershovitz to talk the importance of business-related legalities. Hershovitz, who works with companies both big and small, led the team of lawyers that obtained the largest trial verdict in Georgia history: $459 million. Hershovitz chats about his political background, shares legal advice for start-ups, and much more. This week “Lenz on Business” returns at its regular day and time, 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 on WSB Radio.
Drs. Will Draper and Fran Tyler of the Village Vets
This week’s “Lenz on Business” airs at a special time: 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 on WSB Radio. Host Richard Lenz welcomes Atlanta veterinary power couple, Drs. Will Draper and Fran Tyler. These college sweethearts joined forces in matrimony and business, eventually owning and operating The Village Vets, a trio of full-service animal hospitals. With locations in Stone Mountain, Decatur, and Buckhead, Village Vets’ business continues to howl with success. The good doctors tell us how they make it happen.
Brian Goebel, Director of the Start:ME Accelerator Program at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School + Lanard Atkins, Owner and Founder of Timeless EYEdentity
“Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones is the “Lenz on Business” theme song, and it has special significance on the January 27 show. Brian Goebel, director of the Start:ME Accelerator Program at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, joins host Richard Lenz to talk about this 14-week business training program for promising local small businesses. And we hear from Start:ME graduate Lanard Atkins, owner and founder of Timeless EYEdentity, a full-service mobile eyeglass and contact lens company that works with the film and TV industry.
Mark Galvin, CEO and founder of ePresence
Our resident social media expert Mark Galvin returns to the program. Mark serves as CEO and founder of ePresence, which manages personal branding for professionals via social media. He talks more about the many intersections of business and social media. How can social media help strengthen a business, and how can it be troublesome? Galvin and host Richard Lenz dispense so much practical advice, you’ll be reaching for the virtual like button.
Dr. Jeff Rosensweig of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School
According to host Richard Lenz, the IQ level in the studio goes through the roof this week thanks to Dr. Jeff Rosensweig. Dr. Rosensweig, an Associate Professor of Finance and Director of The Robson Program for the Study of Business at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, has taught at both M.I.T. and Yale University, and once served as Senior International Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Known for his global trends research, Dr. Rosensweig talks about this and other topics including contemporary issues in finance and investments.
Dr. Melissa Williams of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School
How does psychology intersect with business in the workplace? On Saturday December 30 host Richard Lenz learns about this and more during a visit from Dr. Melissa Williams, an Associate Professor at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Dr. Williams, who works in the school’s Behavioral Research Lab, dives into an array of timely topics including power issues, interpersonal interaction, sexual harassment, and business hierarchy. And Dr. Williams explains how Emory University’s Goizueta Business School prepares tomorrow’s business leaders as they suit up for the real world.
Jerome Sabol, owner and president, Plumb Works
On Lenz On Business, we have business professionals from a variety of different industries, some that may or may not touch our lives as individuals. One industry that most of us have had contact with in one way or another is the plumbing service business. And this week’s guest knows all about it first hand. Jerome Sabol is not only the award-winning owner and president of Atlanta-based plumbing service, Plumb Works, but he’s also a master plumber himself. He shares tips on how to best prepare your home plumbing for the winter, current trends in the industry, tips for aspiring plumbers, and much more.