Talking Business Now

Jennifer Wallis and her 8-year-old daughter, Breanna, aren't just family -- they're also business partners! And they've written a book about their experiences, Grand Wisdoms from a Girl Who Grew up Running a Company. Join Kelly as she talks to Jennifer and Breanna about teaching entrepreneurism to young people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Opportunities in Government Contracting Winning a government contract can be an important shot in the arm for small businesses. On Aug. 7, Kansas City will host its annual Government Contracting and Procurement Forum at Bartle Hall -- a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn about contracting opportunities from the city level all the way up to the federal government. Join Kelly as she talks with Phillip Yelder, the head of the city's Human Relations Department, and Ashlea Blue, an MWDBE compliance officer with the city, about the forum and how contracting can help your business. Dial in at (646) 564-9765 or Listen Online     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 26 years in public education and at 50 years of age, Tom left the University of Missouri, where he was a professor and administrator, to pursue an entrepreneurial career in real estate franchise sales. In less than 10 years he built a company that did more than $3 billion in sales. He sold his company and now spends his time and energy giving back by sharing his knowledge and experience, and coaching entrepreneurs and others to help them achieve success. Tom also is the author of Living at the Summit, co-author of the companion workbook Life Plan, and is co-author of Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Bendis, founder, president and CEO of Innovation America. Rich is a former president and CEO of Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, and a succesful entrepreneur who took his technology company public and eventually sold it to an international conglomerate. He is also an angel investor, venture capitalist, internationally recognized innovation and technology expert and a small business advocate. Rich will share his insights on innovation in the 21st century and how entrepreneurs can maximize innovation and find funding for their business ventures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter Strople has been called “One of the World’s Great Rainmakers,” “The Most Connected Man in America,” and “One of the Most Connected People in the World.” He is considered to be one the top business strategists in the world focused on being the best at "Now". He has developed unique strategies and methodologies that can be used to insure correct direction changes that immediately place a company on the right path to success.  In 2008, he created "Friends of Peter" which is used to bring business and community leaders together to effect "Instant Change" as it relates to the critical business and social needs of a community or country.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your business isn't constantly evolving, you run the risk of becoming as outdated as buggy whips or Kodak film. This week's guest, Ken Thurber, is the author of the hot new business book Do NOT Invent Buggy Whips, which imparts practical advice for reinventing yourself and your business. Join Kelly and Ken as they talk about how you can disrupt the status quo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Segall, the marketing genius who put the "i" in iMac, iTunes and other Apple products, has worked with some of the world's largest corporations, including BMW, IBM and Intel. Join Ken and Kelly as they talk about how focus and simplicity can bring new power to your brand. And get a preview of Ken's June 7 talk at the Mid-America Corporate Growth Conference in Kansas City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Kelly and her guest Dan Stalp as they discuss living a life of significance and Dan's book The Reunion. After co-founding the award-winning employee benefits firm, Dessonville Boler Wood & Stalp in 1993 Dan went on to join Sandler Training in 2005. As a past 25 Under 25® Award Dan is active in the Kansas City business community and has become an accomplished author and sought after speaker. In his book The Reunion, Dan, along with co-author Jim Mathis, dives deeply into life's tough questions as the characters begin to appreciate who they are, where they came from, and where they are going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen in as Kelly interviews Jack Uldrich, global futurist, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. Jack's written works have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Business Week The Futurist and hundreds of other newspapers and publications around the country.  In addition to speaking on future trends and leadership Uldrich is a leading expert on assisting businesses adapt. Jack participates in a number of speaking engagements nationwide and has spoken to hundreds of businesses including IBM, Cisco, General Mills and Pfizer. Join us as Jack Uldrich explains why the pace of technological change is fueling the fires that threaten to consume much of today’s existing business landscape.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choosing a banker is one of the most important "hiring decisions" that a small business can make. Even if your company isn't looking for financing, a good banker can offer important advice to entrepreneurs. Join Kelly as she talks to Jeff Chambers, chief strategy officer at Alterra Bank, and Chris Wood, managing partner at Paige Technologies, as they talk about finding the right banker for your business and getting the most from that relationship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Jantsch, the best-selling author and consultant behind the Duct Tape Marketing empire, commands the attention of some of the nation's biggest companies and media outlets, including American Express, the Wall Street Journal, Verizon, Fast Company and more. And now he's sharing his insights with us! Join John and Kelly as they talk about practical, effective ways that small business can win over customers. John, who's based in Kansas City, also will preview his May 23 live-streaming workshop for National Small Business Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Case is a technologist, entrepreneur and inventor and was founding CTO of Priceline, the "Name Your Own Price" company that was one of only a handful of startups in U.S. history to reach a billion dollars in annual sales in less than 24 months. As Chief Technology Officer, he was responsible for building the technology that enabled Priceline’s hyper-growth. Most recently, Scott was named CEO and board member of the Startup America Partnership, where he’ll invest his energy to drive American entrepreneurship to create jobs and sustain our nation's global leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Is Your Company Ready for What's Next? Futurist David Smith, CEO of HBMG Inc, talks to Kelly about future trends and steps that you can take to succeed in an emerging business environment being shaped by technology. Smith is one of the country's leading futurists, with more than 30 years of experience in digital convergence, strategic planning, and emerging technologies. He has assisted in creating and implementing plans for Fortune 100, emerging companies, universities, and government agencies, including Bank of America, Boeing, CIA, Lockheed Martin, National Security Agency, Sun Microsystems, and the U.S. Department of Defense.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building strong relationships is crucial  to business success. Join this week's guest, Kay Allyn Saunders, president and CEO of Bellewether Ltd., as she talks about her new book, Interpersonal Secrets for Professional Success, and the relationship concepts that every entrepreneur needs to know Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Kelly and her guests, international keynote speakers Jeff Hoffman and Heather Lutze, for a glimpse of what's to come when they keynote for the Thinking Bigger Speak Series in Kansas City in April. Jeff Hoffman, co-founder of Priceline.com, is an accomplished entrepreneur, virtual CEO and  mentor. Jeff has successfully taken a number of companies from concept to IPO. He is currently a founder and partner in ColorJar, a venture accelerator firm that helps entrepreneurs launch and grown new business ventures. Heather Lutze uses a witty "no-geek-speak" style that demystifies Internet marketing for business owners, salespeople, and marketers. Heather spent three years training advertisers for Yahoo! Search Marketing and tours internationally with motivational speaker Tony Robbins. She is the author of Thumbonomics: The Essential Business Roadmap for Social Media & Mobile Marketing, and founder of Findability Group.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Join Kelly and her guest Robert Miles, an internationally acclaimed keynote presenter, author and distinguished authority on Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway. Listen in to discover:  The 3 things Warren Buffett does every day to stay sharp Warren Buffett's greatest management accomplishment The 3 investment tips Warren Buffett's college professor taught him that he still follows today The Warren Buffett succession plan The key advice Warren Buffett has for small business owners . . . and more!   Bob is the author of The Warren Buffett CEO: Secrets From the Berkshire Hathaway Managers; 101 Reasons To Own the World's Greatest Investment: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway; and Warren Buffett Wealth: Principles and Practical Methods Used by the World’s Greatest Investor [Wiley]. He is host of the Buffett CEO Talk video series and the founder and host of the Value Investor Conference held immediately before the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting.  In 2011, Bob began teaching a graduate Executive