Houston Business Radio

Lauren Jefferson is a faith-driven entrepreneur, strategic copywriter, and the visionary founder of FocusCopy®. Guided by the core belief that business is built on relationships, simplification, and systems, Lauren has dedicated her career to helping businesses articulate their value in their unique voice with clarity and scalability. Since 2019, FocusCopy® has operationalized messaging for high-growth […]

April Martini is a TEDx speaker, certified life coach, and US Army veteran who has spent the last decade doing the most radical thing she has ever done: getting curious about herself. After 18 years in corporate America, rising to senior leadership in customer success and operations, she walked away in 2025 to build a […]

PK is a marketing expert, brand strategist, and creative director, with nearly a decade of experience helping businesses build authority, scale faster, and stand out in competitive markets. From brand identity and storytelling to digital growth and high-converting creative strategy, his work is built at the intersection of psychology, design, and business. As the founder […]

Dr. Angela Dixon is a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, executive coach, facilitator, and advocate for women veterans. After serving as superintendent of the Air Force’s largest mental health clinic, she dedicated her post-military career to leadership development, education, and helping veterans successfully navigate life beyond the uniform. As a board leader with Camp […]

Dr. Noa Gafni is a Professor of Entrepreneurship at New York University and a recognized expert in strategy, innovation, and leadership. She helps executives navigate complexity, disruption, and global change by developing practical frameworks that transform uncertainty into strategic advantage. A former Fellow at the World Economic Forum and Cambridge University, Dr. Gafni has worked […]

Ali Hemyari is a serial entrepreneur, author, TEDx “Editor's Pick” speaker, and renowned canine behavior expert. He has founded multiple successful businesses and is passionate about helping people develop stronger leadership, discipline, and personal growth—both in business and in life. Beyond entrepreneurship, Ali serves as a 2nd Lieutenant with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, Civil […]

Alecia Tolver is a 20-year U.S. Army veteran, Certified Business and Executive Coach, and passionate advocate for the military community. She helps transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses translate their leadership experience into meaningful civilian careers through coaching, mentorship, and career development. As an ACP and RecruitMilitary Ambassador for the Washington, D.C. area, Alecia […]

Jasmin Hurley is the founder of JH Legal LLC, an Ohio-based business and intellectual property law firm that helps startups and growing businesses build strong legal foundations. She advises entrepreneurs on business formation, contracts, financing, trademarks, copyrights, and brand protection, with a special passion for supporting women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses. A U.S. Army combat […]

Jacqueline Lerma is a visionary entrepreneur, dedicated advocate, and educational leader specializing in assessments, speech-language development, and applied behavior analysis. As the founder and owner of MindBridge Solutions Assessment & Consulting and co-founder of Essential Speech & ABA Therapy, Jacqueline has built her career around empowering children with diverse learning, communication, and behavioral needs. With […]

Daya J. Naef is a business strategist, attorney, and fractional Chief AI Officer who advises organizations on integrating AI into operations, leadership, and growth strategy. Through her firm, The Success Partner, she has delivered over 3,000 hours of coaching and leads executive-level training, workshops, and retreats for law firms and mid-market companies. Daya is known […]

Kody Mills is a strategic executive and former U.S. Defense Intelligence contractor with over 18 years of leadership experience spanning intelligence operations, national security, and commercial enterprise. Starting at the very bottom of the employment ladder as a janitor in high school to a well respected intelligence contractor in 7 years supporting actions across 4 […]

Wendy Paige Sterling is the founder of The New EI™ — Energetic Intelligence — and an Intuitive Leadership Mentor and Oracle for high-achieving women CEOs, founders, and business owners who are ready to stop overriding their intuition and start trusting themselves again. After two decades leading in corporate sales, Wendy walked away from everything she […]

Joshua Pitts is the founder and CEO of National LED, a Houston-based commercial lighting company that provides turnkey LED solutions across the United States. A graduate of the University of Houston Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, Joshua launched National LED shortly after graduating in 2011, turning a small startup into an eight-figure business serving commercial clients […]

Sanja Tomasevic is the Head Volleyball Coach of LOVB Houston (League One Volleyball) and a former international athlete dedicated to advancing professional women's volleyball in the United States. Originally from Serbia, Sanja's journey began during a time of war, where volleyball became both a source of hope and a pathway to new opportunities. Her talent ultimately brought her […]

Nicole Vafadari is the Founder & CEO of a healthcare technology start-up, where her entrepreneurial vision meets a deep expertise in both business strategy and IT. She’s the kind of leader who can talk digital strategy with marketers one minute and dive into IT infrastructure the next. With a foot in both worlds, she’s built […]

J.J. Hollie is a Business Performance Advisor at Insperity, Army National Guard veteran, and former President and CEO of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. With a career spanning military service, telecommunications, chamber leadership, and business consulting, J.J. has dedicated his life to helping organizations grow through people-first leadership, strong relationships, and strategic business performance. […]

Joe Stephens is the Senior Assistant Dean and Director of the Working Professional and Executive MBA Programs at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. In this role, he leads student affairs and program operations while driving innovation across the Executive MBA and Working Professional MBA programs in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, and […]

Julia Davis is a growth strategist and leadership consultant with more than 20 years of experience helping entrepreneurs, sales organizations, and nonprofit leaders build high-performing teams. Her work focuses on developing strong leaders, creating accountable systems, and designing strategies that drive measurable growth. Julia specializes in performance-driven fundraising and growth strategy for nonprofits and mission-driven […]

Beau Higgins is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel who served for 25 years as an intelligence officer, with deployments to Somalia, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During his distinguished military career, he commanded both the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion and Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, leading elite teams in some of the world’s most challenging environments. […]

Kelly Lorenzen, PMP, is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, author, speaker, and the CEO of KLM Consulting, Marketing, and Management. With more than 20 years of experience building and scaling businesses, Kelly has successfully grown multiple companies and led KLM to impressive year-over-year growth ranging from 25% to 200%. Through her innovative model of providing “business […]

Garnet S. Heraman is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and technology innovator who has founded and successfully exited three companies while creating more than $3 billion in enterprise value. With over 30 years of experience at the intersection of innovation, venture capital, and emerging technologies, he is a recognized thought leader whose insights reach millions […]

Josh Woodruff is the Founder and CEO of MassiveScale.AI, a cybersecurity strategist, and author of Agentic AI + Zero Trust: A Guide for Business Leaders. With nearly 30 years of experience in enterprise security, Josh helps regulated organizations deploy AI agents safely and responsibly. He created the Agentic Trust Framework, the first Zero Trust framework […]

Dr. Vijay Pendakur helps senior leaders turn disruption into a competitive advantage by strengthening the everyday habits that drive team performance: clarity, trust, resilience, and alignment. His work equips organizations to execute faster, adapt more effectively, and sustain high performance under pressure. Vijay brings a rare blend of academic rigor and real-world operating experience. He […]

Mark Cox is a former global operations executive and board leader with nearly 40 years of experience driving transformation across manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain organizations. As former Chief Operations Officer of Eastman Chemical, Mark led more than 10,000 employees across 50 sites worldwide, overseeing large-scale operational strategy, innovation, and organizational performance. Following his corporate […]

Scott Hartsfield is a seasoned business leader, executive coach, and higher education strategist with more than 20 years of experience helping individuals and organizations achieve measurable growth. As Chief Development Officer at FocalPoint, he leads initiatives focused on expanding global coaching networks, developing high-performing leaders, and driving business transformation. He has also spent over 14 […]

Joe Bonavolonta is a former FBI Special Agent in Charge and seasoned security executive with more than 27 years of experience in national security, counterintelligence, cyber operations, and organized crime investigations. During his FBI career, he led high-profile criminal and terrorism investigations across New England and served in senior leadership roles in Washington, D.C. and […]

Young Han is an accomplished entrepreneur, fractional COO/CFO, and devoted father who has shaped the growth strategies of major brands like Starbucks, Apple, and Philz Coffee. At just 19, he co-founded a Korean restaurant that achieved over $3 million in its first year an early taste of the highs and lows of startup life. Throughout […]

Dale Young, widely known as Coach Dale, is a seasoned business coach, bestselling author, and the founder of The Alignment Way. With more than 50 years of experience spanning IT, executive leadership, and entrepreneurship, he brings a rare blend of technical expertise and deep insight into human behavior. Throughout his career, Dale distinguished himself not […]

Justine Carino, LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist and host of the “Thoughts from the Couch” podcast. Justine was recently awarded the 100 Women to Know Across America award in 2025 by the Know Women Network and Top 10 Health Voices to Follow in 2025 by MSN. She currently maintains a group psychotherapy private practice in […]

Wendi Pannell is a dynamic business strategist and founder of Pannell Consulting. With over two decades of experience leading operations and teams at companies like HP and GE, Wendi specializes in turning ambitious visions into executable realities for tech CEOs and growing businesses. As a fractional COO and operational partner, Wendi doesn't just deliver roadmaps—she […]

Alese Johnston is an entrepreneur, author, and speaker focused on social connection, aging, and community design. With a background in business, investing, and tech, she now explores how human connection impacts health and longevity. She founded Agora, including the Elysium Club—small, in-person peer groups designed to foster meaningful, consistent relationships. She also created The Fabulous […]

Dana Watkins is a military brat originally from Arizona who has called Florida home for the past 36 years. She and her husband—her soulmate and best friend—share a beautifully blended family of five children (ages 17 to 33) and two precious grandchildren. In their home, there’s no “step,” just ours. Her testimony is one of […]

Amanda Banks is a former Corporate Sales Executive turned Entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker + Host + 3x Organizer, Former High-Level Competitive Athlete, Media Show Host, Nashville Business Journal 2020, 2022, 2024 40 Under 40 Nominee, 2023 Nashville Emerging Leaders Award Finalist- Education Category, Coach, and Leader. She has a strong track record in sales with a […]

Parker Schaffel is a leadership coach, instructor, and team facilitator who specializes in working with high-performing teams who want to be even better. With more than a decade of experience, his client base spans the government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, including supporting some of the largest companies in the United States. He has coached individuals […]

Today’s guest is Carrie Kemper Allen, estate planning and probate attorney and founder of the Law Office of Carrie Kemper Allen. Carrie has been serving families in the Houston and Pearland area for more than 20 years, helping them navigate estate planning, wills, and probate with both expertise and compassion. With a background in business […]

Joshua Berry is a world-class facilitator of change. As an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and CEO of Econic, Joshua has spent the last two decades evolving the what, who, and why of Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed startups. Along with his team, Joshua has sparked change in organizations like US Bank, John Deere, Procter & Gamble, […]

Nathan Turner is an experienced mortgage note investor and the founder of Earnest Investing, where he helps investors achieve passive income through the power of note investing. With years of experience in the real estate space, Nathan transitioned from real estate ownership to specializing in mortgage notes, using his expertise to help investors diversify their […]

Growing up in Houston, Madeleine Calcote-Garcia had access to some of the finest museums in the world. Visiting those venerable institutions as a child had a lasting impact that influenced her professional choices. Today, Madeleine stands out for her ability to build and maintain community relationships. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History with […]

Dan Ward is Co-Founder and President of Detroit Labs, a digital innovation studio in downtown Detroit. Through the years, Detroit Labs has partnered with clients like GM, Ford, Volkswagen, Jimmy John’s, Domino’s Pizza, Driveway.com, and many others to drive growth through design and technology. Dan has mentored students at Central Michigan University in the New […]

Ryne Johnson is a dynamic business leader and Owner of Spirit Movers, where he has spent more than a decade driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Beginning his career with the company as a Cybersecurity Analyst and Project Manager, Ryne quickly rose through the ranks to Vice President & General Manager before ultimately becoming Owner. […]

Andre Ankri is a visionary entrepreneur and technology strategist with more than a decade of experience spanning construction, security technology, and business development. As Founder and CEO of UTS Group, he leads the integration of advanced technologies and automation to create intelligent, secure, and scalable environments across Canada. In addition to UTS Group, Andre heads […]

Steve Morris is an entrepreneurial guide and business coach who helps leaders transform their businesses—and their lives—through clarity, focus, and intentional growth. He began his career designing multi-million-dollar racing yachts and leading elite teams to victory in some of the world’s most demanding yacht races. He later managed a small business and oversaw million-dollar budgets […]

Kevin Ruelas is an experienced international executive known for balancing hands-on leadership with high-level strategic vision. Equally comfortable rolling up his sleeves in operational environments or operating in the boardroom, Kevin brings a results-driven approach to scaling teams, strengthening performance, and charting sustainable growth paths for organizations. With multi-disciplined management experience spanning Professional Services, Business […]

Crystal M. Tenney, DBA (Hon.) is a Neuroscience Practitioner, Executive Coach, and Leadership Strategist transforming the way leaders think, communicate, and lead. As Founder and CEO of STRATOVANCE Leadership Intelligence Institute, she brings over 15 years of experience at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence — equipping organizations to develop human-centered leaders who […]

Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer is a USA Today bestselling author, international speaker, executive coach, and the founder of Bentzen Performance Partners. With more than 30 years of C-suite experience, she guides leaders and organizations through high-impact transformation by blending strategic clarity with deep human insight. At the heart of her work is the belief that people—not […]

Devin Gambino is a proud husband, father, and trusted partner to business owners seeking clarity, structure, and growth. As an approved and verified Fractional CFO provider by Visa, Devin has spent over a decade helping entrepreneurs master their numbers, scale with confidence, and build businesses that support both financial freedom and personal fulfillment. With a […]

Robert McKnight is a seasoned commercial insurance specialist with nearly a decade of experience serving the real estate and construction industries. An Arizona native and graduate of the University of Arizona, Robert began his career in commercial real estate before transitioning to land acquisition consulting. A pivotal career shift led him into insurance, where he […]

Amos Schwartzfarb—one of the most influential figures in the startup ecosystem, known for his decades of hands-on operating experience, investing expertise, and founder-first mindset. Amos’s career began unexpectedly in the early days of e-commerce, packing boxes at Shoreline Mountain Project—an experience that led him into a 25+ year journey through seven startups, multiple acquisitions, and […]

  Dr. Kevin Dyson is the Founder of the Music City Academy and a former NFL wide receiver best known for the iconic “Music City Miracle” and being “One Yard Short” in Super Bowl XXXIV. After his football career, he transitioned into education, serving nearly 20 years in public education, including as Principal of Centennial […]

Mary McCorvey is a seven-time founder, U.S. military veteran, and creative powerhouse whose ventures span media, technology, and social impact. Her work lives at the intersection of innovation and storytelling, where she elevates bold ideas and brings them to life with purpose and heart. Most recently, Mary collaborated with Intuitive Machines, the pioneering Houston-based aerospace […]