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Michael Coleman

Michael Coleman is an actor, director, producer, and mentor. He began his career the old-fashioned way by pursuing a university education. Soon after, however, he realized that his passion and ambitions go far beyond what his school was able to offer. So, he withdrew from his courses and dropped his academic career in order to pursue his dream job.  His portfolio includes performances on various venues that range from typical television and film opportunities all the way to cartoons and video games. Thus far, Michael Coleman successfully portrayed characters such as Bert Camp on Smallville, Stan on Hamtaro, Idasa on Dragonball Z, and many more.  Additionally, he works as a producer who has successfully released “The Best Day Ever” and “Thirty Seven.” The future at his company, Rebel West Pictures, is looking even brighter with upcoming releases of projects that are currently under development. 

What was your best/favorite subject in school?

I always enjoyed liberal arts much more than any other course that was deemed mandatory. I learned the principles of creating something straight out of my imagination and it blew me away. This is why I was not shocked when I found out that I am quite talented when it comes to making live programs, acting, and narrating. Also, I have always been in love with physical education as it gave me a reason to not focus on my present issues and simply play some sport to the best of my ability for a limited time. 

Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?

I started by working on some local plays and making sure that I got as much exposure as possible. In the beginning, I contemplated giving up dozens of times. After a while, however, I realized that it is just a matter of time before I break through. And sure enough, I was able to find a willing mentor who connected me with a lot of opportunities where I met popular directors and got to leverage those relationships later on.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

I just think back to the reasons why I decided to become an actor and a producer in the first place. I always saw this industry as a perfect opportunity to be creative without any of the boundaries that hold people back. Once I completed my first project and got to witness exactly how it feels to be within the entertainment industry, I did not want to leave. In fact, that particular moment helped me make a final decision to do everything in my power to cross the barriers to entry and have a fruitful career. 

What kind of business ideas excite you most?

I currently have my own post-secondary education facility as well as a production company that monitors potential talents who would be a good fit here. In other words, I prioritize business ideas that give a sense of synergy. I have never been a fan of convoluted projects that are borderline impossible to even comprehend. In my case, everything is simplified to the point where I can make an investment and almost always know the explicit rate of risk that I am facing. 

Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?

Absolutely. If you are a hungry actor, there is very little that you will not do to catch the directors’ eyes. After all, thousands of brave individuals decide to pursue this unique career every year. Most of them, however, fall off long before the first adversity even hits them. As far as what I did, I have a history of reaching out to the same people dozens of times, sending private letters, brand-building on social media, and more. 

What personal achievement are you most proud of?

I am proud of the fact that I have been within this market for quite some time now. For those unfamiliar, the entertainment field is amongst the most unpredictable in the world. Just look at some of the outstanding actors and actresses that have been unable to live up to their expectations. So, the turnover rate is incredibly high, and people do not really stick around for a long time. Well, I am proud to recognize the fact that I have been in the same market for many years now. 

What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?

I would tell myself to begin leveraging social media sooner. Doing so would have given me a better chance to put together solid e-mail lists for recruiting events as well as spend some time talking to the team.

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Marianne Cohan

Marianne Cohan DDS is a Nevada-based renowned dentist who runs the Summerlin Dental Solutions in Las Vegas. Prior to coming here, she lived in New York where she worked on her undergraduate and dental degrees. She attended the State University of New York at Buffalo and minored in periodontics. During this time, Dr. Cohan established herself as a young leader and won the periodontics and operative dentistry awards.

Over time, Marianne Cohan formed a reputation as one of the most reliable dentists in the Las Vegas market. She achieved this by always being available to her patients and making it a priority to resolve any emergencies immediately. Additionally, her close-knit bond with her patients, which get to fully participate in the treatment planning process, is what ensures that they continuously address their dental needs with her.

What was your best/favorite subject in school?

I always liked math and finance. These two classes came naturally to me as I enjoy solving problems. Although I did not pursue the aforementioned topics later on in my career, I am glad that I spent so much time studying the concepts. After all, math tends to find its way back into practically every job and the field of dentistry is no different. For some professionals, this presents a problem as they are not extremely proficient. In my case, however, years of loving math and doing it almost as a hobby helped prepare me to tackle the numerical problems that dentists must resolve.

What was your first job?

I spent some time working as a student assistant while getting my education in New York. The job was fairly simple and revolved around the office-related duties. These include everything from answering the phones to restocking the supplies and referring visitors to the proper person.

Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?

Well, Las Vegas is where I officially started my career once I graduated. Before that, I did not have a plethora of formal experience as most of my college jobs were not tied to my current field.

How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?

Most of them had important transferrable skills that I have been relying on for years. For instance, working as a student assistant really taught me a lot about customer service. In other words, maintaining the right amount of patience while still having enough authority over the patients is what helps maintain a successful record.

Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.

It was a few weeks ago when I worked with a patient that needed to get a never-ending amount of repairs, replacements, and everything else that comes to mind. The session took a lot of time which, fortunately, the patient recognized with an excellent complement to our staff. The day was rewarding because I was able to restore his smile and watch him use it for the rest of the day.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

I focus on my patients and the fact that they depend on me to do my job well. After all. any minor mistake could evolve into a nightmare within a very short period of time. So, I try to emphasize the fact that someone is willing to put their faith into another individual’s hands and that type of responsibility helps push me forward.

What kind of business ideas excite you most?

The ones that are simple enough to be executed properly but not so straight-forward that they are not unique. I think that business ideas need to come with a fair dose of originality while maintaining that easy-to-build balance. Otherwise, you may get stuck trying to help turn something unrealistic into reality. The consequence? You will most likely sacrifice a decent amount of capital and your time.

Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?

Not yet. I never needed to use unorthodox methods to gain patients because we have a very high rate of customers who visit our practice on a daily basis. Additionally, word-of-mouth referrals have helped me establish a large list of long-term patients who come in for various reasons almost every month.

What personal achievement are you most proud of?

Winning the periodontics award when I was in school is probably the one that I am proud of the most. The reason why is the fact that this particular subspecialty is something that I essentially only pursued with a minor. So, being able to still get an award speaks volumes about my education.

What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?

I would really not share much because I am a firm believer that people will learn much more when they make mistakes. Although I never made terrible errors myself, there were many instances where I fell short of my goal and thought the world was ending. After a while, however, you realize that there is almost nothing that your body cannot recover from. As far as tangible lessons, I would probably advise my younger self to take some time off and relax instead of constantly working. This could help me maintain higher levels of energy later on in my career because I would reduce the chances of getting burned out.

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Dr. Gregg Schellack

Dr. Gregg Schellack is an orthopedic surgeon from the Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City, California. He specializes in various orthopedic issues that range from old-fashioned arthritis and rotator cuff tears all the way to complex cases of sports injuries like ACL tears. Moreover, he is qualified to handle some general pediatric orthopedic cases as well.

Before he reached his current success and established a long list of loyal patients, Dr. Gregg Schellack went through a rigorous medical school in Iowa. Once he graduated, he decided to pursue his dreams and move to the West Coast. Given his academic record and college achievements, he had no issues finding a job relatively soon after relocating.

What was your best/favorite subject in school?

Chemistry and biology were two classes that always tied on all of my lists of all-time favorite subjects. It is important to mention, however, that I had extremely qualified and outstanding teachers who were lecturing these two classes. So, I really did not even have to study much because most of the concepts were clear to me by the end of our classes. This left me with more time to research potential career choices based on my class preferences.

What was your first job?

Well, although a lot of people do not count it as a real job, I spent a few months working as an intern at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego. This may seem like a simple role where I had no relevant duties, but it was far from that. I had to work 80-100 hours every week and assist attending doctors with things like initial patient interactions, follow-up visits,  surgery and much more.

Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?

By applying for a lot of residency programs. I wanted to focus on the West Coast, so I was extremely happy to get the news the Loma Linda University accepted me and  I looked forward to the upcoming opportunities.

How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?

They prepared me really well, actually. The internship and all of the innumerable hours that I had to work were a great way for my career to foreshadow the direction in which it was going to go. Nowadays, I still have to be in my office for countless hours every now and then. Similarly, my residency is where I learned the vast majority of applicable knowledge that I continue to rely on to this day.

Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.

It happened a few years ago when I performed my first orthopedic surgery and it was a success. This was the epiphany moment when I realized that I am very comfortable doing this job and all other self-doubt and insecurities quickly faded away.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

I think about all the people that may be struggling with these types of issues. Although I am not the only one who does this job, I like to think about these individuals as folks that I just have not had a chance to meet yet. So, eventually, I might be able to help them overcome their conditions.

What kind of business ideas excite you most?

The ones that are transparent and have a solid foundation that does not seem to be easily shaken by minuscule obstacles. Unfortunately, the vast majority of all business ideas that I deal with lack one of these two characteristics.

Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?

No. Ever since I got certified and completed my medical school, I have had a constant stream of patients come to see me almost every day. So, I never really felt the need to go out of my way to do unorthodox marketing.

What personal achievement are you most proud of?

Becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Going through residency was one of the most challenging endeavors that I ever faced, but the resident around me helped it to be easily accomplished. The reason why is that there was almost more to study than the hours in the day. Still, finding that perfect balance and figuring out a way to learn my trade while fully comprehending the material ended up becoming my second nature.

What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?

Do not stress as much about trivial things. As an aspiring doctor, I used to worry about every detail of every project, venture, or relationship that I was involved with. At some point, however, you must take a step back and accept something less than perfection. Otherwise, you are setting yourself up for a long-term failure due to unrealistic standards.

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Dr. Clarence Clottey

Dr. Clarence Clottey first began his medical training back in Ghana before immigrating to North America. His dream to work in medicine began at a young age, originally wanting to be a military doctor.  In 1991 he received his Masters of Public Health from Harvard University and moved to Canada to be a Medical Officer of Health in Saskatchewan during the mid 1990s. During his years as an MoH, he fought to ban smoking in public places. He then moved to Ontario to become the Director of the diabetes program for Health Canada.

Dr. Clarence Clottey also worked as Scientific Director for the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Chronic Disease Policy to set up a Policy Observatory for Chronic Diseases in collaboration with Brazil, Costa Rica, and Canada.

In 2009, Dr. Clarence Clottey received his certification in Family Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP), and went on to specialize as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) in Public Health and Preventive Medicine.  After 2010 he began working as a family physician and a public health and preventive medicine specialist.

Dr. Clarence Clottey can speak six different languages, including English, Portuguese, French, and three African languages. Born in Ghana, West Africa, and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this proud Christian family man currently lives in Ontario with his wife and has two grown-up children. He spends his free time visiting his friends, going to church and watching CNN and WWE.

Why did you choose to become a doctor?

It was the idea that one could be a physician who could help heal people, could help bring people out of pain and suffering. It was something that always interested me when I was young. My dream was once to be a military doctor, to wear a uniform and treat people who had been on the battlefield. And by the grace of God, I had the gift of excelling academically, and the doors opened for me.

What area do you specialize in?

The two areas I specialize in are public health and preventative medicine.

The approach to public health is to deal with anything that is affecting the health of everybody. Even something like different types of food available to a community can affect their health, which makes nutrition a part of public health. For example, if there is an increase in diabetes in a community, people are probably not exercising enough and may be eating bad food. One way to address this is to lower the price of healthy foods and increase the prices of junk food, this way the community is more likely to switch to a healthier diet. Another part of public health is dealing with infectious diseases. For example, the influenza virus is spread from person to person very quickly. You have to approach it by finding ways to immunize the whole population so you can control the virus. So public health is about trying to deal with the health of the entire population at the same time.

Preventative medicine is related to public health in the sense that we focus on individual things that people can do to prevent disease. For example, if we know people are ingesting a lot of salt, or there is an increase in high blood pressure, we would want to do research to determine what we can do to prevent the disease and its complications. Essentially with preventative medicine, we don’t have to wait for people to be sick before we try to treat them and prevent disease. Common forms of preventative medicine are early screenings for cancer, physical exams, vaccinations, and even general blood tests to check for anything out of place.

So the discipline of Preventative Medicine & Public Health is one of the specialties of the Royal College of Physicians. A typical job for a specialist in Preventative Medicine & Public Health is, for example, to be a medical officer of health, and to be in charge of public health departments.

What does your daily routine look like?

I usually start work around 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. and I spend my day as a family physician seeing to my patients and providing counselling to anyone who needs it. Then I sit down and try to do some paperwork before I leave work between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., depending on the day. Also depending on the day, I either go to church or head home and watch WWE. Sometimes I go to the gym. I used to play a lot of volleyball before I got injured. It is one of my passions.

What do you love about your job?

I think it’s the opportunity to reach people, to help those who truly need it. To be able to provide them with the best possible care and education to improve their health. I love seeing that they feel motivated and empowered to improve their health. Also, whenever I have the opportunity to speak with different groups and communities on matters that pertain to their health and their lives, I love when I hear feedback that they were moved or touched by the importance of what I shared. Those two things together are what I love most about my job.

What would you consider to be the greatest accomplishment in your career?

It’s hard to pin point only one specific accomplishment. I am proud of the work I did in Saskatoon as a tireless advocate, in the mid 1990s, to ban smoking in public places when it was not common in Canada. Also, as an international medical graduate, to obtain not just one but two medical specialty designations as well as the experience to work at federal, provincial and municipal levels in public health in Canada. 

Tell our readers about some of your volunteer activities.

I often volunteer my time to speak at local community groups, church groups, and at local and national associations on all matters of public health and to encourage people to live healthy lifestyles. I never turn down the opportunity to speak and mentor young black men about what they will face in life given the challenges that I have been through myself because of the colour of my skin.  I’ve also spoken to communities here and even back in Ghana about this as well.

I also contribute to different charities. However, I like to be modest and discreet about any  good works that I do.

What do you do in order to mentally separate yourself from your work?

I pray and I read the Bible as much as I can. I visit my friends often, watch movies, and I consume a lot of news, particularly CNN. I enjoy all genres of music and like dancing. I also sing in church on Sundays. I also happen to enjoy watching WWE wrestling. It’s the one time I can suspend my disbelief and just go along with the storyline and enjoy it. And whenever I can, I travel.

As you move forward with your career in International and Public Health, what are you hoping to achieve?

I hope to continue my work. There are still a lot of people who are hurting and unhealthy. We have many new health challenges coming up, with poverty, ignorance, and all of the misinformation out there on the internet on every topic you can think of. I’m particularly struck by how much misinformation goes on in this era of the Internet.

My hope is to contribute in a small way to enlightening people on the real, objective, well-rounded science behind medicine, health, and public health. For example, when it comes to things like the influenza vaccine it brings up so much emotion in people, the same people who would be willing to take any other vaccine other than the influenza vaccine. As soon as you mention the flu shot, they say, “oh, I don’t take the flu shot. It made me sick once.” There is so much misinformation out there that causes people to adopt things that are inaccurate.

So essentially that crusade of trying to improve public health is continuous, a work in progress, and I hope I can leave this world a little bit better off, in whichever little corner that I can, and for any additional person I can help.  It will be my way of contributing to this life.

You can learn more about Dr. Clarence Clottey on:

https://www.crunchbase.com/person/dr-clarence-clottey

https://drclarenceclottey.ca/

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/clarence-clottey-9a729130

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Timur Yusufov

Timur Yusufov is the owner of Unique Homes, LLC and a former manager at Health Rite Pharmacy. His specialties revolve around improving the selection, training, counseling, and orientation of new employees. In order to do so, Timur Yusufov utilizes a combination of constructive criticism and reassuring feedback. Additionally, he is a proven leader who has experience in the spheres of talent discovery and venture planning. Now, most of his focus is dedicated to his company where he has asserted himself as the trend-setter within the market. 

What was your best/favorite subject in school?

I was always really good at math and logic-based subjects where I had to solve a problem by following a specific set of instructions. Although I was good at open-ended questions and creative thinking, I found these types of subjects to be a little tougher due to a lack of clear-cut guidelines. Expectedly, once I got to college, I realized that I prefer doing Finance and Accounting instead of English or History. 

Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?

Well, my current company specializes in purchasing old properties that need to be renovated and/or rehabilitated. In the past, most of my jobs were not directly related to this sector as I worked in management roles for larger corporations. Nevertheless, I did get to experience some real estate a few years ago when I got involved with a couple of different projects that were sold for profit. In order to do that, however, I had to fix the properties up and find buyers who would be interested. From that point on, I decided that my time would be best spent if I could dedicate all of it to this sector. 

How do you keep yourself motivated?

Whenever I need a quick dose of motivation, I think back to how I felt whenever I accomplished something major in my life. For instance, getting promoted at my previous job or starting a successful business from scratch helps incentivize me to pursue my goals. Those moments were some of my greatest highlights and I cannot think of a time where I felt happier. Additionally, I like using previous accomplishments to get motivated because there are a lot of things that I would have done differently in the past. So, new endeavors offer me a chance to correct my past mistakes and do a better job. 

What kind of business ideas excite you most?

Buying a property that nobody seems to be interested in and figuring out a plan to completely restore it. For most entrepreneurs who are in real estate, such a project may seem like a very demanding one that will not have great returns. And rightly so. Doing restorations on older properties often takes much more time than simply flipping a home for a quick gain. In my experience, however, these types of projects allow me to use a few different skills that do not solely revolve around crunching numbers and negotiating with clients. Instead, I also get to work on a home and figure out how I can bring it back to its full glory. 

Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?

As of right now, I never really had to turn to any unorthodox methods. The competition in my particular industry is not as fierce as it is in the general field of real estate. So, although realtors will have to use various marketing strategies to find buyers for new properties, I do not. On the contrary, I normally know who a great potential client will be before I ever start renovating a certain structure. That way, most of my client-attracting actions are handled up-front. 

What personal achievement are you most proud of?

I am proud of the fact that my jobs never cut into my family time and that I have remained a reliable friend to everyone who ever needed me. 

What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out? 

I would have advised myself to spend less time in the corporate world and move to the individual business side as soon as possible. Of course, I have no issues with how my career turned out and everything that I have been able to achieve so far. Nevertheless, I am having much more fun doing property renovations than I ever did in employee management. So, I think that I would have been able to thrive a lot sooner if I simply made the switch early on.

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Aaron Gorin of Cedar Grove Partners, LLC

Aaron Gorin is the founder and chief investment officer at Cedar Grove Partners, LLC. He was born and raised in Suffolk County in New York and obtained all of his education in this region. For his bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, he went to Cornell University and majored in Economics and Health Administration.  Soon after, however, his career morphed into the area of finance and real estate. Prior to starting his own venture, Aaron Gorin also worked as an equity analyst for some of the larger banks. This enabled him to learn the ins and outs of the New York market and prepare for establishing his own LLC. 

What made you get into the real estate market?

I started my career by getting a degree in economics. Although I thought this would be the direction in which the rest of my professional ventures would go, it turned to be nothing more than a starting point. After that, I slowly switched to venture capital and began learning about finance. This stage of my life was extremely exciting, and it taught me a lot about the way that one should build a start-up venture. So, it made sense for me to eventually give it a shot and try to run my own business. This is where Cedar Grove Partners, LLC came from.  The reason why I decided to focus on real estate was two-fold. First, I wanted to dedicate myself to building an organization where I can earn multiple streams of income. With real estate, I can enjoy residual payments from tenants as well as capital gains made on final sales of properties. And second, this industry is perfect for someone who wants to be very independent. For instance, I get to make all of my decisions based on things that I personally value as relevant factors. Such a high level of autonomy is definitely one of the main selling points to property transactions.

What are some of the trends in this industry that you are noticing right now?

It depends on what particular sub-sector you are focused on. For instance, some of the trends that are slowly showing up in the area of home design are smart devices. Similarly, you can also see a lot of people turning to micro-building where the houses are getting smaller in sizes to promote sufficiency. If, however, you are looking at the overall trends in the market, I think that the reduction in the number of affordable housing options is the most obvious one. Over the past few years, the number of property owners that have slowly parted ways with affordable options and replaced them with luxurious offerings has grown exponentially. Doing so allowed them to potentially get higher profit margins while luring in high-income clients. 

Do you think that there is a way to overcome the shortage of affordable housing in urban areas?

I think that figuring out ways to improve the government’s involvement and make federal funding more available would be a good start. Looking at this from the landlord’s perspective, you have to recognize that people cannot just drop their prices to accommodate individuals who may not be earning enough at the moment. Nevertheless, it is important to situate families in homes and find ways to cater to their earning levels. Well, when the discrepancy between people’s earnings and what the landlords are asking for grows too much, it may be time for the government to step in and mitigate.

Why do you think property owners should make their offering more affordable?

I believe that the demand for affordable properties will almost always trump the demand for luxuries options. The reason why is that the vast majority of the population falls under the earning threshold where they are able to pay excessive amounts for their housing. So, finding tenants for one’s property building would be much easier if the price was not high enough to repel potential applicants.  More importantly, offering affordable housing helps families as it guarantees them a place to live. Once they are situated, they can go and seek jobs that will help them move up through the classes of society. Eventually, they may be able to get out of the affordable housing and achieve their own success that can help the entire community prosper. 

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Rakesh Sarna

Rakesh Sarna is an experienced hospitality professional. With more than 38 years of experience, he has worked in South Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and North America. He is dedicated to customer service and makes sure that the customer has the best possible experience at all times. In the workplace, he is highly concerned with gender diversity and emotional intelligence. He believes that companies must keep their purpose and culture clear for the best possible results.  Sarna was born in Zimbabwe. His father was a member of the Indian Foreign Service, giving Sarna a cosmopolitan upbringing. He studied Hospitality Administration at Algonquin College in Canada and then entered the field. He worked for Hyatt for nearly 35 years, honing his skills and putting his strong principles of customer service to the test.  Rakesh Sarna is an example of a businessperson who truly cares about the people who work for him and about the customer’s experience. He will continue to contribute to the world of hospitality in the future. 

What are your interests in the hospitality field?

I am excited about the ways in which technology is impacting the hospitality industry. It goes beyond computer systems for the staff and in-room entertainment options. Technology has the potential to transform guest’s experiences in many ways.

What are some major changes that are transforming the hospitality industry?

Besides the technological revolution, there are several important changes in the works. One prevalent trend is the rise of the international traveler. As the number of guests from around the world grows, hotels and other hospitality businesses need to be ready to meet the challenge. Having employees who speak a variety of languages is a must. guests are more concerned with their health than they once were, and fitness rooms, spas, and pools need to be up-to-date. The age range of hotel guests is rapidly changing. Hotels are beginning to cater more to the needs of millennial consumers, or those from ages 18 to 34. They are projected to make up half of all hotel guests by 2025. Some of the aspects that are important to millennial consumers include tech savviness, customer service, and value. They are impulsive and spontaneous. Millennials are more likely to look for dining options outside the hotel, using various online review sites to find local restaurants. Hotel restaurants need to work to attract these guests, providing high-quality meals at a reasonable price. 

Tell me about the importance of sustainability in hospitality.

Eco-friendliness goes beyond the traditional card that asks guests whether they want to keep using their towel for another day. Hotels are beginning to install solar and wind-generated power. They are also installing systems that allow air conditioners and lights to automatically turn off whenever a guest leaves their room. In the dining experience, food waste is discouraged. More restaurants are participating in food recovery programs which give usable leftovers to deserving community groups. Also, there has been a major push toward removing single-use plastics like straws from the meal service. Eco-friendliness attracts guests as well as contributes  positively to the state of the world. 

What is the impact of social media on  the hospitality industry?

Social media has a huge impact in the hospitality field. Hotels are beginning to hire dedicated social media experts to help promote them online. Guests enjoy sharing photos and tweets, and some hotel groups use these to help promote their business. On the other hand, there is a serious issue stemming from some review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor. Consumers can easily post complaints on these websites, leading to a loss of public opinion. Hotels must stay on top of these issues and work to satisfy as many guests as possible.

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Aaron Ploof

What was your best/favorite subject in school?

I absolutely loved Theatre/English.  Stories are my favorite aspects of the human condition.  I believe that they have HUGE messages to give us as to how to treat each other with more compassion and love, and I’ve been inspired by them since I was in kindergarten.  I love theatre because it is acted out form of storytelling.  Embodying characters on the stage and in film is, I believe, one of the highest forms of art.

Because of this, I’ve taken acting classes since I was a young child, around the age of six.  I’ve been studying theatre for about 24 years now.   I’ve been studying English literature for even longer.  Theatre wasn’t my best subject yet Z (That was English), but it was my favorite.  

What was your first job?

Not counting picking up leaves in my dad’s backyard (Haha) my first job was working at the school bookstore at Noblesville High School.  I was able to work there through a vocational business class whose goal it was to prepare me for real life outside of high school.   It was a difficult job, and I didn’t exactly get along with my boss, but it taught me a lot about perseverance and striving to move forward in every circumstance.

My first job out in the workforce was working at Blockbuster. Due to my strong knowledge of film, I excelled and was able to achieve status as the #2 Salesman in the Indianapolis district area.

Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?

That’s a difficult question to answer, as getting into the acting industry is something I’ve been working on my entire life.  My first play was when I was six years old.  I was in a community theater production of Peter Pan, and I was a bit of attention starved kid.

I starred as a random pirate who was on stage alongside my fellow actor who played Peter Pan.  I originally had a speaking role, but I gave it to my sister.  Instead, I ended up playing a no-name character.  As I said, I was attention seeking, so I tried to upstage other characters i.e. steal the spotlight.  Anyone in theatre knows that if you’re a background character, it’s a no-no to try to steal the spotlight from others. 

As for getting into journalism/writing like on my website that I’m creating and writing for 25yearslater.com (which I have left for the time being), I’ve been writing essays over literature/film since I was a child as well.

How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?

They taught me the value of perseverance and not stopping or giving up on your dreams, ever.  I kept working, and working, and writing and acting, and it’s the only reason I’ve made it this far in my career.  I’m still not very far, to be honest.  I still have a LOT of things to do get to where I’m going to be.  But I’ll get there.

Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.

My day jobs (the jobs I have when I’m not directing or acting or writing) provide some of the best work.  I work day jobs as a movie theater usher at Regal and utility worker at Meijer.  My jobs there are smooth and easy almost all the time, and I get to spend a lot of time outside.  I feel a sense of ease and relaxation working outside.  It’s much better than working 3rd shift, I can say that.

My best day was the day I learned that I was getting off 3rd shift and I was able to experience the release of not having to work overnight anymore.  Finally, I was able to spend my time outside where I could relax and enjoy the sun.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

Prayer.  I’m a very spiritual faith based individual.  I believe each person on this planet has a dream and that dream is meant to be fulfilled.  Because of this, I continue to focus on the positive and give thanks to God for everything that I have and what is coming in my life, whether it is bad, or good.  Both have helped me in my life.

Also, I continue to look back at my life, at all the goals that I have accomplished.  The fact that I’ve made it this far after 30 years gives me motivation to continue forward at all costs.  Pursuing and excelling in the arts is a rough road, one which takes nerves and strong faith, and although I wouldn’t trade it for the world, I still have experienced tremendous pain at times.  I can’t let that pain be for nothing.  I’ve only come this far because I was willing to confront it. 

What kind of business ideas excite you most?

My main goal is to continue acting and directing and bring video game/anime films to prominence in the industry.  So far, no one has really figured out a successful strategy to do that.  I believe they focus on the structure of these works and not on the soul.

See, a game is split into levels, or dungeons, sometimes with bosses at the end, and most films based on games adapt this format.  If video game films are ever going to be taken seriously (similarly to comic-based films like Spider Man: Into the Spiderverse) than creators need to focus on the soul, not the structure.

One of my newest goals, however, is to create a website/youtube channel that analyses all kinds of works of art.  These works would include video games, novels, film, television, paintings.  Everything.

Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?

I’m directing a film right now called “The Dark Room.”  It’s in the vein of Robin Williams’ “One Hour Photo.”  Somewhat like David Lynch’s “Mulholland Dr.”  When I first started out, I had a scene to film at Anderson University in Anderson Indiana.  I printed off fliers and put them in every single profesor’s mailbox on campus as well as posted them on every wall and bulletin board I could find around the school. 

No one showed up the day of the shoot, but my crew didn’t allow the unexpected to get the better of us.  We buckled down and shot what we could anyway.

What personal achievement are you most proud of?

There’s a series called 12 Monkeys which is an adaptation of Terry Gilliam film with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt.  While the movie is nihilistic in tone, the series is much more focused on love, faith, and family.  I wrote a series of analyses on the last season of the show in 2018 and one of them was liked on Twitter by Terry Matalas, the showrunner of the series!  I also am very proud of my own IMDB page and beign nominated in college to compete at the national level for an Irene Ryan Acting scolarhsip.

What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?

Never give up.  Ever.  You are the only one holding yourself back. Never compare yourself to another.  The only limits are those we believe we have.  Miracles are real and DO happen every day. Anything and everything is possible. Fear is a lie.  In short, keep faith and dreams DO come true.

Find Aaron On The Following Sites:

Website: www.joystickphilosophy.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acploof

www.25Yearslatersite.com

IMDB page:  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6148151/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaronsactiongpage

[dougjpitassi]

Jeff Broudy, PCI HIPAA

There are few creative business people like Jeff Broudy. He has an incredibly diverse skill-set that has allowed him to create multiple startups over the past 30 years. His expertise in various industries allows him to find successful ventures and opportunities.  His most recent successful startup company is focused on created an entirely new category – Compliance as a Service (Caas) His company, PCIHIPAA, changes lives by removing the uncertainties surrounding HIPPA compliance and data breach protection for private medical and dental practices across the United States.  Many practices don’t have the time and resources to comply with HIPAA nor keep their patient data safe.  Fortunately, Jeff Broudy and PCIHIPAA have created services to help practices solve their pain points while helping them save time and money. 

Jeff is a man who does not stay still for very long. He is constantly searching for new ways to improve his ability to help other people through his business. His biggest aspirations that he has in life is the ability to help people who are in need. This is the driving forcer behind all that he does. Jeff is an incredibly intuitive person who follows his gut whenever he does business with somebody or an organization. 2019 is already showing promising results for his company. PCIHIPAA BBB has shown that people are reacting positively to his company. There are many PCIHIPAA reviews showing that people are experiencing incredible changes for their medical businesses. The future is incredibly bright for his company.

What was your best / favorite subject in school?

One of my favorite subjects, besides lunch, was math. Working with numbers came naturally and was something I was always good at.  You work with a lot of statistics in the business world, and math led me to becoming a CPA and understanding how to read financial statements.  Looking back, I am fortunate enough that I spent a lot of time learning math when I was in school. Math has proven to be stepping stones throughout my career. 

What was your first job?

My very first job was delivering newspapers to my neighbors. I’d get up at 5 and ride my bike around the neighborhood delivering papers.  I learned early in life that hard work pays off.  My parents always supported whatever I did and taught me how to save money before buying all the shiny objects.  This allowed me to develop entrepreneurial skills that I carry now into my adult life.

Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?

Joe Kaplan was my fraternity brother and mentor.  Joe sadly passed away last year.  Joe taught me a lot.  While working for Joe in the medical payments industry, I began to learn about HIPAA compliance and identified areas where we could help practices save money, become compliant, and protect their practices.  When I was at Intuit, Scott Cook and Brad Smith taught me about Customer Driven Innovation.  I leveraged my learnings from Joe and Intuit to create PCIHIPAA. 

How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?

Working at Intuit was my MBA.  Working with Joe was my real life, business gone wild experience.  I’ve never been one to think I have all the answers.  I love learning from smart people around me.  I’d say developing strong, trustworthy relationships has prepared me the most for leading PCIHIPAA.  Relationship building is the most important part of running and growing a business. 

Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had

Every day is my best day!  You just have to think that way.  We have all had good and bad days, but my mindset is to make every day great and to bring your best.  I want our customers to feel that they will be in better place tomorrow for what we are doing for them today.  At PCIHIPAA we call it ACE – Amazing Customer Experiences.  Delivering ACE every day is what makes a great day. 

How do you keep yourself motivated?

Joe always said goals without timelines or only dreams.  My motivation comes from setting goals and working to achieve them.  Also, I have a great wife and two kids who rely on me.  Finally, all the employees at PCIHIPAA spend over 1/3 of their lives working at the Company.  Their success is my success.  We motivate each other to win.  We are creating a new category and we all want to b the greatest Compliance as a Service company that we can be.  That’s pretty f’ing motivating. 

What kind of business ideas excite you most?

The ones that change people’s lives.  What personal or business needs can we solve really well?  How can we take a pain point that is not being solved well and solve it easily and affordably?  That’s what we are thinking about every day.  That’s what’s exciting. 

Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?

I don’t rely on unorthodox techniques in order to gain exposure. Marketing is an area when building a category that can become very expensive, very fast.  There are so many ideas and marketing channels to address.  I’ve learned most the time there is no secret technique.  It’s a constant game of test, learn, improve, repeat. 

What Personal Achievement are you most proud of?

My kids Julia and Reid.  Wendy and I are lucky to have them.  They make us proud.  Don’t get me wrong, I am so proud of PCIHIPAA and I can’t wait to get up every day and go to work.  However, when you see others succeed, especially your kids, it’s an awesome feeling.

What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?

Read more.  Network more. Learn faster.  I am learning more now in my 50’s, then I learned earlier in my career.  For all you younger readers, there is so much information out there, besides Netflix, take advantage of it.  Avid learners win. 

[dougjpitassi]

Mark Hanrahan

Building a company while also having a rich family life is not an easy feat to accomplish. In fact, this is the reason why the vast majority of people who fail to reach long-term success fail. Well, Mark Hanrahan is one of the individuals who found a way to balance their time well enough to accomplish all of their daily milestones while also being a constant presence at their household.  As a long-term businessman who has been in the industry for over two decades, Mr. Hanrahan has done everything from public accounting to real estate. In fact, he stared his prominent career as a CPA working at an entry-level position at Carney, Alexander and Marold CPAs. During this time, he learned the basic concepts that pertain to establishing a company and helping it withstand the test of time.  Now, Mark Hanrahan is the proud owner of Markmel Co. and has achieved almost all of the entrepreneurial objectives that he set for himself. More importantly, however, he found a way to properly juggle his work ventures with his family dealings. A great proof of this is the fact that he even has time for things like completing sixty triathlons and six Ironman races. 

As a successful businessman, what do you think are some common reasons why people fail to reach their goals?

I think that there is no way to give a reason that applies to everyone. I personally know more than a hundred different reasons that lead to someone’s entrepreneurial downfall. Some of the more common ones tend to boil down to things like procrastination and a lack of organization or time-management skills. Then again, there are businessmen and women who possessed the highest levels of these types of skills and still failed due to some other factors. In fact, I even know certain individuals whose ventures went bankrupt due to problems with addiction. Point being, it is very hard to put a one-size-fits-all label on a group of mistakes that people can make during their business careers. 

Since you mentioned addiction, how common do you think it is within the business spheres?

I do not think that it is incredibly common. Nevertheless, there are obviously instances of brilliant entrepreneurs who suffered due to their addiction issues. Take Seth Leaf Pruzansky, for example, as he is currently one of the very successful businessmen in the market. Right now, his company called Tourmaline Spring is doing amazing numbers and grabbing market share from the competitors effortlessly. In the past, however, Mr. Pruzansky was addicted to one of the most dangerous drugs in the world, heroin. 

What is one strategy that you would recommend to those who might be dealing with the aforementioned issues?

In all honesty, I do not think that I am quite qualified to speak on the issue. The reason why is the fact that I have never dealt with any problem of this nature myself. So, it is hard for me to put myself in someone else’s shoes and describe what I would do in a similar situation. Nevertheless, I do know that trusting people close to me would probably be my first step. That means that I would rely on my wife and close family to help guide me through the recovery period. 

What are some of the ways that you believe people can overcome failure?

Look for a silver lining. Sometimes, doing so will be quite difficult as the failure will seem too grave. Regardless, you have to be able to find the positive side and spin the failure as something that will help your career. In most cases, this is actually true as you are bound to learn from failing. For instance, losing market share to a competitor will help you identify your weaknesses that the opponent exploited. That way, you will be ready for similar scenarios in the future. 

Was there ever a point in your career when you thought that you will not be able to get back on track?

Definitely. In fact, I think that every business person in the world had dark thoughts of this nature at some point. For most people, they tend to take place in the early career stages when confidence is still being developed. In my case, it happened when I first started Markmel Co.

[dougjpitassi]

Eric Dalius

Eric Dalius is a philanthropist and retired real estate and marketing professional. He has a home in Miami, Florida, but frequently spends time traveling and staying throughout the U.S. Through the Eric J. Dalius Foundation, he has been greatly influential in providing access to post-secondary education.  Eric Dalius graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 1992. During his career, he generated $100 million in sales. His outstanding success in the real estate and marketing fields enabled him to retire early. He has since turned his focus to fostering higher education in the United States.  Dalius’s strong belief in the value of post-secondary education stems from his own personal background. Without access to higher education at Penn State, he would not have been able to reach such heights of success. Dalius is dedicated to helping underserved students achieve their dreams in higher education. 

Tell us about the core mission of your foundation.

My strong feelings about the importance of higher education led me to start my foundation. The core mission of the Eric J. Dalius Foundation is to provide students in need with the funds to attend colleges and universities in the United States. When young people are able to receive scholarship funding from philanthropists like me, they are better able to meet the challenges of today’s business world when they graduate.

What is the value of post-secondary education?

Post-secondary education provides students with a solid base to expand their potential. It also leads to better income and employment outcomes later in life. A recent Gallup study found that 70 percent of Americans believe it is important for students to receive a degree or professional certificate. 70 percent of Americans also believe that having a degree or certificate will help students get a better job. People who do not graduate from college earn an average wage of just over $23,000, while college graduates earn $55,000 per year. Add an advanced degree like a master’s or Ph.D. and the average salary jumps to $65,000 per year. This seems like a foolproof argument for higher education. 

Why is it so difficult to afford higher education?

Only 24 percent of all Americans believe that post-secondary education is affordable. While the consumer price index in the United States has risen 115 percent since 1985, the inflation rate of higher education has ballooned by almost 500 percent. This means that a college education is further from the reach of the average American student.

How can educational foundations like yours support the needs of today’s college student?

Receiving financial aid from a charitable foundation means that students have better access to educational opportunities. This reduces the amount of student loans that must be taken out, allowing students to move forward with their lives after graduation without crippling debt.

What does the future hold for your organization?

I hope that I can continue to support deserving students for many years into the future. I am satisfied that the wealth I earned during my career has helped so many students realize their dreams of higher education.

What was your most fulfilling day of work?

I have a particular memory of a day when I made a major real estate deal. I had been worried about the outcome, and when the day came, I was so happy it had all worked out. I went to celebrate with my friends, and we had a wonderful time.

What was your best subject in school?

Business was my best subject. I was lucky enough to go to a high school with a strong business program. I was able to explore my interests at a young age. I also enjoyed history and math.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I am highly satisfied with the way my life has turned out. I don’t think I would make any major changes. I would tell my past self that he didn’t need to worry so much about whether he would succeed. I would tell him to believe in himself and to ignore the naysayers who think you aren’t good enough to achieve your dreams.

[dougjpitassi]

Jonas Gerard

Artist Jonas Gerard’s unique style of painting has endeared him closer to many art enthusiasts and exhibitors. Born in Morocco in the early 40’s, Gerard has maintained strong links with his North African birthplace. The self-taught artist is well-versed in spontaneous abstract expressionist style of painting. A scion of surrealism, this art movement sprinted after World War II and focuses on subconscious creation. Gerard is also familiar with illustrative, narrative and three-dimensional styles of painting expression. Besides painting, Gerard is a proud owner of two 5,000sq ft. art galleries. The galleries are located in the creative River Arts District in North Carolina.  His greatest inspiration is music. While painting, Gerard applies random strokes of color and works intuitively, in-sync with the rhythm of the music and his inner intuition. Jonas Gerard grew up listening to different types of music, the most notable include the Brazilian Samba, French Café’ music, Moroccan ethnic and Afro-Cuban tunes. Owing to his painting prowess, Jonas Gerard has been invited to numerous solo and group exhibitions. The most famous venues include Henri Gallery, Washington DC; Tunberry Gallery, Miami and Tavelli Gallery in Aspen. Gerard is following in the footsteps of great Abstract Expressionist like Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock. 

Interview 

What’s your favorite subject in school?

I was not fond of school due to my dyslexia. In those days, no one knew what it was.  

What was your first job? 

I’ve been an artist for the best part of my life. 

How did it all start?

I was born in 1941 and got inducted into the arts at an early age before settling onto abstract expressionism. In the 70’s I emerged as one of the most recognized contemporary artists. Over the course of my career I have participated in numerous exhibitions across different states in the US. 

How have the previous engagements prepared you for what you’re currently doing?

Visiting various galleries for solo and group exhibitions has opened my eyes to the hidden treasures of the art world. I have had many successful outings in some of the best galleries in the US such as Mary Bell Gallery in Chicago and Artist in Residence Gallery, Coconut Grove in Florida. Besides learning from other artists during the exhibition, I have had the pleasure to share my world with art lovers, buyers and critics. My clients come from as far as Europe, South America and Asia. 

Describe your best day at work?

This happened sometime in 2015 when I painted a mural dubbed “Life, Love and Passion”. The painting is one of my favorite visual embodiments of love. The massive 8ft x 30ft piece of art hangs prominently over the entrance to Asheville’s Riverview Station. 

How do you keep your spirits high or motivated?

Music continues to inspire my work and so is light. Brilliant light dominates my art pieces as evidence in the copiousness of color and warmth. My preferred medium of painting is acrylics on canvas and collage objects. I always use the Golden Acrylic paints. Pertaining to music, I can trace my love for music to Morocco. The other facet is my Brazilian and French heritage. 

Which business ideas do you find most exciting?

The craft business ideas that I find stimulating are photography and glass blowing. With photography, aspiring and seasoned artist can create a business by printing photos and selling them to clients. I have a friend who makes a tidy sum blowing hot glass to make attractive vases and beads. This fascinating business idea is imaginative and promising for creatives. 

Have you ever used any unconventional techniques to attract business?

Not at all. The market is sufficiently divergent to accommodate different artists and their styles. My style of painting stands out because it exploits the free-form and the music cadence. For marketing purposes, I use social media and the online gallery to sell my work and promote visibility. The galleries also attract high foot traffic, which can be nurtured and converted into sales. 

What individual achievement are you most proud about?

I have several notable achievements, among them being named the Artist of the Year 2008 by the respectable, Asheville Area Arts Council. I’ve also had many good days at work; one of the most exciting is appearing on the popular 20/20 news special on ABC to discuss happiness in America. In 1975, I presented President Ford my work “We The People” as the official Bicentennial Portrait of America. The Smithsonian still has it in their collection today!

What word of wisdom would you have liked to share with your young self?

Let the allure to make money not distract your attention from creating something your heart desires.

[dougjpitassi]

Thomas Gaudreau

Thomas Gaudreau is an experienced educator and a highly regarded community leader. Until recently, Thomas served as the Founding Director of an Alternative School serving Middle School age students. His professional interests include: Education Innovation, Teaching, Education Leadership and Staff Development. Growing up in Northern Wisconsin, Thomas was mostly interested in outdoor activities and fine arts. He enjoyed activities like going on hiking trails and farm visitations.  Thomas began his professional career in rural South Dakota as a Middle School literacy teacher. His initial sojourn as a teacher and community leader saw him work with Hispanic immigrant communities employed in the vast sheep ranching industry. Several years down the line, Thomas Gaudreau moved to Southern Minnesota. His rank as Intermediate Grade Teacher gave him the opening to showcase his leadership and advocacy skills. The responsibilities apportioned to him include: 

• Mentoring beginner teachers  • Coaching peer teachers regarding the use of instructional technology and the importance of curriculum innovation  • School District representative on social studies  • Subject matter expert for the gigantic Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning  • Leader of District-wide Staff Development Committee  • Appointed Teacher Rights Chairman and Chief Labor Contract Negotiator 

Interview 

What was your favorite subject back when you were in school? 

My favorite subject was science. Besides conducting experiments and understanding the world, I appreciated the fact that science offered explanations to various phenomena. 

What was your first job? 

My first teaching job was in a Middle School teacher in South Dakota. The work entailed instructing students, enforcing behavioral rules, maintaining order and administering assignments. The job offered me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children. 

What prompted you to choose the industry you currently work in? 

The idea began back in Northern Wisconsin when I was a youth leader. I kick-started my career as a professional educator in South Dakota. The leadership qualities I had inculcated in my youth proved critical when I became a teacher. 

How have the initial jobs prepared you for what you do now?

 Working as Middle School teacher in South Dakota prepared me well for the position of Intermediate Grade School teacher in Southern Minnesota. Attributes like being resourceful and leading by example helped make me a better team member. In Southern Minnesota, I represented teachers in many professional forums across the School District and beyond, including Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning, Harcourt Brace Assessments and Pearson Assessments. The other leadership duties bestowed upon me include mentoring beginner teachers and overseeing the implementation of instructional technology and best practices. 

Describe your best day at work 

My most cherished moments are when I get into the classroom and begin interacting with students. I always feel good when students experience success in the classroom and out in the world. 

What do you do to stay motivated at work? 

Reading inspiring books and writing about my teaching experiences. 

Which business ideas excite you most?

 I am excited about new age business ideas like flexible, shareable workspaces and package free shopping. The package free shopping idea is growing because people are becoming increasingly concerned about the amount of wastage in food and drink packaging. Unlike the non-recyclable Styrofoam and plastics, package free shops now offer consumers simple and convenient alternatives. Selling flexible workspaces is a lucrative business niche, especially for unbound freelancers and big corporations looking for space to hold meetings away from the office. 

Have you ever used any unorthodox techniques to market your work or attract business? 

Nothing that I know seems out of place. Being a teacher, every new day presents an opportunity to shape the young ones and advance the course of education. Besides teaching, I am also involved in mentorship and curriculum development. The same unwavering passion is necessary for anyone with the desire to succeed in private business. 

What personal achievement are you most proud of? 

I believe the most outstanding achievement is collaborating with the School District, teachers and School Board during the week-long Teacher Institute event held annually in the summer. The training provides a perfect opportunity for education stakeholders to share their experiences and observe best educational practices. I have been called several times to speak and it’s always encouraging to receive positive commentary from my peers and seniors. 

What wisdom or word of encouragement would you like to share with your younger self? 

To be a good role model for students, learn to offer constructive criticism and try as much as possible to set realistic performance goals. The latter can be achieved by setting fittingly challenging assignments based on the student’s aptitude and experience.

[dougjpitassi]

David Simonini

David Simonini is an expert luxury home builder based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has designed a wide variety of single family home for a discerning market. Recently, his company, the Simonini Group, has branched out to construction of 72 apartments for the low-income housing market. This project in Lancaster, South Carolina is expected to ease constriction in the affordable housing market. Simonini Group was able to take advantage of the Trump Opportunity Zone program to support the construction. 

The Simonini Group has also worked on a development called Rea Court, a ten-unit development with six different floor plans. This community is priced from the mid-$500s. 

David Simonini is credited with introducing the New Urbanism style to Charlotte as well as European architecture. His homes and apartment complexes bring a new and vibrant sensibility to the housing market, making an impact on the Charlotte area for decades to come. 

What should our readers know about the Trump Opportunity Zones?

The Trump administration is dedicated to the expansion of economic opportunity for citizens of all income levels. The Opportunity Zones are dedicated areas which have high poverty levels or which border areas with high poverty levels. They offer tax breaks for companies that invest in the opportunity zones, making their use a win-win situation for everyone. 

What is special about the Charlotte, North Carolina real estate market?

Charlotte has been on an upswing lately. Prices are on the rise, and the housing market has been tight. High-quality homes are being built which will ease some of the constriction in the upper tier of the market. Many rental areas are being built, which may have the effect of driving the high rental prices down. This would be a benefit for the low- and moderate-income residents of Charlotte. 

What was your best or favorite subject in school?

I was always interested in history. I’ve been fascinated with the different architectural styles around the world. I enjoy reading history books today, and I am always looking to the past for architectural inspiration. 

What was your first job?

I interned with a property management company while I was in school. This opened my eyes to the wide variety of opportunities in the property management sector. It also sparked my interest in building homes. 

How do you keep yourself motivated?

I love my work. I don’t need very much external motivation. I love seeing a new home going up and imagining the family that will buy it. I enjoy thinking about the families who buy our houses enjoying them with their friends. 

What kinds of business ideas excite you most?

I am interested in the world of technology. I am excited by smart home technologies. I have a lot of smart home features in my own home. I would be interested in investing in a company that made turnkey smart home features for homeowners. It takes a lot of trial and error to get a smart home set up, and it would be nice to be able to call on a professional. 

Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?

My work speaks for itself. I haven’t had to do very much beyond publishing my listings in the usual places, both online and in print. My homes are in demand as it is. I have been doing more social media work, but I feel that social media isn’t unorthodox anymore. It’s a regular part of the marketer’s toolkit. 

What personal achievement are you most proud of?

Although I have achieved many of my business goals, I am the proudest of my family. I am blessed with a loving family which supports me in all of my endeavors. 

What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?

I would have told myself to have faith in times of market downturns. I would tell myself to continue building high-quality homes even through difficult economic times. Cutting corners on quality helps no one.

[dougjpitassi]

Nando Caporicci

Tell us about yourself and what makes you stand out as a business owner 

My name is Nando Caporicci and I am the owner of Olitris Technologies. We focus entirely on bitcoin and have found major success within this niche industry. I am someone who firmly believes in giving back to society in whatever way I can. I believe that philanthropic work is something that all CEO’s should invest their time into. It is our responsibility to make positive strides in our society for the next generation. This is where I spend most of my time outside of my normal business hours. 

Can you tell us what it was like starting your own business in the blockchain world? 

When I first started the market was relatively small. People had not yet bought into the idea of blockchain just yet. However, this meant that the market was not yet excavated and perfect to get into at the time. Unfortunately, once people started finding gold more people would rush to find it too. Starting Olitris Technologies was relatively easy considering that I did it at the opportune moment. We have seen nothing but exponential growth since then. 

What does your morning routine normally look like? 

I’m hard-wired into electronic devices all day. I choose not to check any emails or text messages first thing in the morning because of this. I spend my time slowly waking up and allowing my mind to get a grip on things. I don’t like to rush myself in the morning as it can cause problems down the line. Once I have woken up, I like to spend some time meditating. It is important that I have clarity in my thoughts throughout the day. This helps me stay focused whenever I am working on incredibly important tasks. 

On top of your business responsibilities, you are also a father. Can you tell us what that has been like at home? 

You definitely lose a lot more sleep than you anticipate whenever you become a father. We recently had a child and our world has been turned upside down. Everything that we do in our business and personal lives is for our children. We want to ensure that the best possible future is laid out for them. We have been reading dozens of parenting books, and we still feel as if we have a long way to go before we understand how to raise a child. However, I will say that it is an incredibly humbling experience to spend time with someone that you created each day. 

What do you expect will happen in the future regarding cryptocurrency? 

The sky is the limit. People are oftentimes skeptical of a new concept whenever it hits the market. Bitcoin became available over 10 years ago and we are just now witnessing a mainstream transition. It takes a lot of time before people will consider investing their resources into a new idea. However, the numbers don’t lie. We have seen exponential growth over these 10 years regarding bitcoin. I would predict that we will see more mainstream acceptance over the next 5 years. 

Do you have any advice for upcoming blockchain business owners looking to make a stake in the cryptocurrency business? 

I would recommend that you do as much research as possible. Jumping in head first without knowing what your target goals are is financial suicide. The market isn’t what it was like 10 years ago when I first started. Make sure that you have all your ducks lined up in a row before you start your business. You will know whenever the time is right. 

Do you have any advice for your younger self? 

I would’ve told my younger self to branch out and meet more people sooner. Never turn down a chance to meet new people. You never know what you can learn from that interaction. It is crucial that you are constantly meeting new people in and outside of your industry. I was more reserved when I was younger than I am now. I would struggle to find the right topics to talk about whenever I was first starting out in the world of business. However, I would soon learn that just being yourself is good enough. 

Does Nando Caporicci have any motivational words for cryptocurrency users and business owners alike? 

Patience is the most important thing when it comes to cryptocurrency. The market will adapt to this currency over time and we will see more accessibility integrated into this type of currency.

[dougjpitassi]

Jonathan Boccara

Jonathan Boccara is a lead software engineer focusing on how to make code understandable to humans. He wrote the book The Legacy Code Programmer’s Toolbox, that shows how to be efficient while working with existing code. And he blogs on Fluent C++ about how to write expressive code. Jonathan has experience in C++, large codebases, financial software and library design. He can be found on Twitter @JoBoccara.

What was your best/favorite subject in school?

My favourite subject in school was maths. It is the rational side of maths that worked with me. In my view, doing maths consists in learning, understanding, and thinking creatively. This approach taught by maths is useful in about anything I do in my life today, be there at work or outside of work. Humanities, on the other hand, consist in… well I’ve never really figured out humanities, to be honest.

What was your first job?

My first long internship (1 year) was to work on a trading desk in the City of London. This was pretty awesome.

My first actual job after graduating consisted in performing financial analyses (this is called TS) at Ernst & Young. This is like the worst office job you can imagine. Long days (and nights), dull tasks, little learning, stressed people, and low pay especially when you work out your hourly rate.

People go there because they think it will help their CVs. But they spend several years of their life being miserable, for an uncertain outcome. I fled from that company after a few months.

This made me realise something I consider important: there are a lot of challenging jobs out there. For some of them, the challenge lies in the task itself, and that’s a sane situation. Like in programming: code is a complex thing, and doing what you want with it requires good skills. For others jobs, like those positions at Ernst & Young, the actual job is not challenging. There is no technicality, you just move numbers around and hold meetings with your clients. The real challenge comes from living with the hostile work environment. And that is not the type of challenge you want in your professional life, in my opinion.

Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?

I used to be writing code as a hobby, and I liked doing this very much. When I decided that Ernst & Young wasn’t for me, I decided to try to do coding professionally.

I couldn’t sell my skills, because it was just an on-the-side thing, and there was SO much I didn’t know about programming. But my selling point was mainly my motivation, my desire to learn, and also the fact that I was familiar with the domain of the application (it was financial, the sort of things I was doing in my long internship).

Today I lead a team of programmers, and the desire and aptitude to learn is what I value most in new recruits. You can make it in the programming industry with little knowledge at the beginning, as long as you’re motivated to gulp down a lot of it in the following few years. That’s a fantastic opportunity in the programming industry.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

There is one thing that kills the motivation of thousands of developers: legacy code. Legacy code means code that has been around in the company for a while, that you don’t really understand and don’t feel comfortable changing (even though your job is to make code evolve).

I don’t mind legacy code. In fact I even appreciate the intellectual challenge it provides. I have two secrets to stay motivated with legacy code: don’t complain if you don’t mean to improve the code, and take ownership of the code you’re working with. Even if you didn’t write it yourself, consider that this is *your* code, this is what you have to work with and you have to make the best of it. This, and realize that legacy code is everywhere.

If you want to read more about that, I talk about it more extensively in my recently published book, the Legacy Code Programmer’s Toolbox.

Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?

As I explained before, as programmers we need to learn all the time. A few years ago I decided to try a new technique of transmitting knowledge: the Dailies.

Every day I make a 10 minutes presentation about a topic of programming (on the C++ language for example) to the people in my team and nearby, right in our office spaces.

The first time was a little awkward because we had never done anything like it. One person standing in the office and speaking for 10 minutes on the whiteboard. Weird.

But after a couple of times it became a routine, and people appreciated it a lot: it gives us the opportunity to learn something new every day without spending too much time listening to it.

Now every month I repeat the same kind of presentations to a different team, and I fuel some of the contents by taking them from blogs. Read more about the Dailies.

What personal achievement are you most proud of?

That would be blogging.

About two and a half years ago, I started my blog, Fluent C++, with the objective of writing two articles every week, on the topic of writing expressive code in C++ (and even in the context of legacy code).

So far I haven’t missed a week without releasing two articles, and I hope this continues for a long time!

What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?

Wow, there is a lot. So much so that I wrote a book about this: the Legacy Code Programmer’s Toolbox. I wish I could ship my young past self this book, it contains about everything I’ve learned over the past 7 years on how to be efficient and happy when working with legacy code.

I also wish I could give it to other young developers back then that could have done great but that progressively lost faith in their job because of legacy code.

Programming is a passion, and it should also be the case when you’re working in it!

[dougjpitassi]

Kristina Stosek

Kristina Stosek is a gluten-free recipe developer. She enjoys living a healthy lifestyle and is the author of “Entertaining The Gluten-Free Way.” Becoming gluten-free was a learning experience for her and her family after a medical diagnosis was given to her daughter. Today they enjoy life and food once again.

What was your best/favorite subject in school?

This is an interesting question. I loved home economics which included cooking. I started cooking when I was very young and always found it very easy to create recipes. It just came very naturally to me. I would read a recipe and then do my version of it. However, having said that my favourite subject was math. I loved solving math questions. It was challenging, and that is what made it so interesting to me. To date I love math, creating budgets, balancing finances and forecasting expenses

What was your first job?

My very first job was working for McDonald’s. I was sixteen years old in high school, and every lunch hour I would run over to McDonald’s and work for 45 minutes. I got paid well and got a free lunch. So this was win-win all the way.

Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?

I was working as a chief financial officer for a publishing company, and we published mostly cookbooks. I met some of the stars from cooking shows, like Anna Olson, Curtis Stone, Michael Smith and Bal Arneson and was intrigued by the industry. However, it is because of my daughter why I have become a developer of healthy gluten-free recipes. A few years ago my daughter became very ill, and the doctors could not figure out what was wrong. Until one day we found out that she had severe gluten-intolerance. Once my daughter started a gluten-free diet all her symptoms disappeared. So I wanted to help others by launching a website onlyglutenfreerecipes.com that will make people aware of how serious gluten intolerance can be and guide them on how to live a healthy gluten-free lifestyle.

How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?

Because I was involved in the development of cookbooks, I learned some of the basics such as food styling, photography and design. I published two cookbooks “Small Bites The Gluten-Free Way” and “Entertaining The Gluten-Free Way” in the first year. Both of the cookbooks have healthy gluten-free recipes that are simple to make. In the process of development of these cookbooks, I did all the photography, food styling and design. However, I did need professional editing. That is not my forte.

Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.

I don’t know if I could pinpoint one particular day as the best day of work. There are many, but when I am developing recipes, and it takes me one week to make the recipe so it is perfect that would be my best day. When it comes to gluten-free baking, it takes me many tries to create that perfect balance of ingredients to make the food taste delicious. At least for me, it is, I consider myself a perfectionist. When it comes to publishing my recipes on the website they have to be the best. There are many recipes I have not published because I felt they did not make the cut.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

This is easy. I love to watch cooking channels, and then start creating my recipes.  When I decide to create a new recipe it is like art, I am creating a beautiful painting, and I keep working on it until it is perfect. I must admit I never follow recipes. For example if I was making a tomato soup the only ingredient from a recipe that I would use is the tomato. Then I start playing with herbs and spices and various broths until the dish tastes the way I like it.  This is why my recipes are so unique. I love to cook ethnic dishes where I get to use a variety of spices, so much fun!

What kind of business ideas excite you most?

I would love to do a cooking show. I think being out there for people to get to know the chef behind the scenes is important. I would also like to create healthy gluten-free recipes for major companies. I find that many gluten-free products that are currently available are not very tasty and not that healthy. The selection needs to improve, and the costs need to become more reasonable.

Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?

Unorthodox? Definitely not. I believe in hard work and perseverance.

What personal achievement are you most proud of?

This is an easy answer. I am most proud of raising my children. They are honest, hardworking, kind and successful. I believe being a parent is one of the most challenging roles in life, and when you know you have succeeded it is the most important achievement anyone can accomplish.

What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?

Never give up at what you believe in. Keep working hard even if you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. It will come. I believe that if you work hard and do your research, you will succeed. It is as simple as that.

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