Welcome to 2021! Rather than interviewing a guest, Desiree and Chrissy sit down to chat about what they’ve learned over the last four seasons of Business Edge, and they answer the show’s signature question. Shoot us an email with your thoughts at businessedge@akpsi.org.

Join us for a fun trip out to the farm with Emily Stewart! Emily, creator of Dirt Darlin’, joins the podcast to tell us how the time on her family’s farm in Bargersville, Indiana, gave her the skills and values she needed to build a multi-faceted company. Dirt Darlin’ includes a homegrown market, boutique, and photography.

Hey there, I’m Emily Stewart! The Dirt Darlin’ brand has many faces but all boils down to our tag line “Grow Where You Are Planted.” The brand has grown over the years encompassing my photography business, to “The Pantry” that sells our yummy homegrown goodies, to the small town boutique to shop the styles of our local artist and stylist. I’m just a farm girl who can’t sit still and believes in my community! When I’m not photographing your wedding or crafting new recipes for salsa and jam, I love chilling with my corgies Rhett and Stella, hunting and riding razors with my boyfriend Brandon, Jeeping with my family, and jamming out to ANY music or podcasts.

What is a chief security officer? How can you ensure compliance within your company? Jennifer Raiford, global chief information, security, and compliance officer, is here to answer all these cyber security questions and more.

Jennifer Raiford has been protecting enterprises for over 25 years. Today Raiford specializes in building Chief Security and Privacy Offices for Global companies as well as Client Information Security and Privacy Offices for Global Security Firms through Process Architecture and Operational Excellence. She has a 100 percent success rate in passing audits, getting companies certified, and maintaining certifications. Currently, Raiford provides Chief Security, Privacy, Governance, Compliance, Risk Advisory, Consulting, Process Engineering, and Cyber writing Services. Through these experiences, Raiford developed a Cybersecurity Leadership framework and methodology that allows her to customize and tailor services to each client.

We could all use some positivity and motivation right now, and you’ve come to the right place. Author and speaker David Gibson joins the podcast today to teach our listeners how to use their innate abilities and strengths to become self-reliant, powerful community members. “If you want to go to sleep with satisfaction, you have to wake up with determination.”

What would your life look life if you broke the rules of your limitations, envisioned greater possibilities, and committed to a greater reality? David Gibson is on a mission to help individuals do just that as the founder of Elevation is a Must, a personal development company focused on providing leaders with the tools to improve the quality of their lives. David is an author, speaker, and the host of the DreamCatchers Worldwide Broadcast. He is also a coach that guides leaders on how to establish empowered beliefs and develop the successful habits that lead to living an extraordinary life. One philosophy that he lives by and encourages others to adopt: “The goal is not to be known, but the goal has always been to become somebody worth knowing.” David has dedicated his life to helping others become individuals of value so that they too can bring value to the world. He is driven to help others unleash their greater potential in life.

Former staff member, Lane Velayo, Cincinnati ’00, visited the Heritage Center to discuss business ownership and core values. Lane tells Chrissy and Desiree about his experience purchasing an Association Management Company, transforming it into his own, and building a healthy company culture.

Lane Velayo, Cincinnati ’00, is the owner and Chief Executive Officer for Synergos Association Management Company.  Headquartered in Indianapolis, Synergos Association Management Company also maintains a presence in Saint Paul Minnesota providing outsourced headquarters services and other operational and strategic services to trade and professional associations.  Lane has been recognized by the American Society of Association Executives as a member of its Diversity Executive Leadership Program (2015) , by the Association Forum as a Top 40 under 40 association professional (2016) and by the Indiana Society of Association Executives as Association Executive of the Year (2011).  Lane was initiated into Alpha Kappa Psi at the University of Cincinnati and later became the fraternity’s first Director of Alumni Development.  Lane has also served the fraternity as a volunteer including as chapter advisor at Butler University and as the Convention emcee in 2017 and 2015.