Ana Toomer’s finance background plays nicely into her passion for fashion, Maria Paulina. In this edition of ACE Best Stories, Ana shares insight on how to start a fashion line, why listening to your customers is essential and finding strength

From Passion to Profit with Michael Spino

Feb 14th, 2018 28m 46s

Michael Spino has always loved running. He’s written books on the topic and built his business on the foundation of it. In this edition of the podcast, Mike shares how he turned his passion into profit by tapping into the mind/body association

Making a Career Shift with Tonya Oxendine

Feb 7th, 2018 28m 43s

Tonya Oxendine served 30 years in the United States Army. After her military retirement, Tonya wanted to take the skills she gained and translate those into a new career path. In this podcast, Tonya shares how she made the shift to become a spe

Hiring the Right Way with Gwen Brandon

Jan 31st, 2018 30m 4s

With her military background, Gwen Brandon knew PCG Screening would be a perfect fit when she purchased the business from its previous owner in 2017. In this episode, Gwen shares steps in the business owner transition process and tips for other

Performing Arts for All with Tequila Wilkes

Jan 24th, 2018 27m 35s

Sometimes, our toughest experiences become our most impactful. In this podcast, Platinum School of Performing Arts Founder and CEO, Tequila Wilkes shares how her childhood inspired her passion for the arts and desire to reach the underprivilege

Implementing Systems for Growth with Rob Landers

Jan 17th, 2018 33m 7s

Putting systems in place at the start of your business will greatly help when it’s time to grow. Rob Landers realized he was working 12-14 hour days and decided to do that for himself as a business owner and founded RL Commercial Systems. In th

New Country, New Techniques, New Business with Rosa Melgen

Jan 10th, 2018 27m 57s

There's nothing wrong with "easing" into business and looking to family and friends in areas where you need help. Rosa Melgen, CEO of Dominican Hair Salon by Rossy, and her sister did just that! Rosa purchased the business and utilized her salo

Designing Fun, Functional Products with Marcela Cortes

Jan 3rd, 2018 29m 53s

Luvaboo founder and creator, Marcela Cortes knew she had a business on her hands as other parents began requesting the handmade toys she was designing for her own children. Now, as she attends trade shows and her products are popping up on shel

The Making of a Restaurant with Ted Varno

Dec 27th, 2017 28m 23s

Location and design, menu selection, employees to hire; all of these tasks and more are necessary for crossing off the to-do list of opening a restaurant. New owner, Ted Varno joins host, Eric Holtzclaw to share how he exited the computer indus

Inventing the PuffCuff with Ceata Lash

Dec 20th, 2017 32m 18s

Ceata Lash searched high and low for a product to hold her curly hair without breaking or pulling on her scalp. When she couldn’t find what she was looking for, she decided to make her own! On this episode of the podcast, Ceata walks us through

Relocation and Growth with First Lady, Donna Simon

Dec 13th, 2017 24m 56s

You know the saying, “location, location, location!” True, location is key, but finding the right spot takes more than examining inbound traffic. You may need to consider rezoning, rebuilding and more. Donna Simon, First Lady and Church Adminis

What’s Next? Purchasing an Existing Business with Ardina Pierre

Dec 6th, 2017 29m 13s

When Ardina Pierre had the opportunity to purchase Nature’s Own Herb Shop, she was all in but didn’t take business ownership lightly. Ardina shares her story of transitioning from the hospital environment as a nurse to a focus on natural health

Making Room for Growth with Dr. Karen Starks

Nov 29th, 2017 31m 43s

What do social work and a passion for entrepreneurship have in common? The pathway to helping others grow along the way! And that’s a center focus for Dr. Karen Starks, Founder and CEO of IdeaSpace. In this episode, Dr. Starks shares her move f

EcoBeauty Bytes: Natural Skin Care Solutions with Lake Louise

Nov 22nd, 2017 31m 56s

“We spend all this money on skin care, and then we put on makeup made with junky ingredients!” Lake Louise, Founder of Lotus Moon Skin Care and Plain Jane Beauty joins ACE Best Stories to share about her natural beauty lines to help women age

Nov 15th, 2017 31m 20s

Your health and your business performance are related! One on One Physical Therapy Owner, Karen Warren joins the podcast to talk wellness and taking care of your body - but she also shares insights into growing a business, finding and utiliz

The Growing Business of Health Care and Tech with Ricardo Ibarria

Nov 8th, 2017 32m 16s

Is remote care the future of healthcare? Ricardo Ibarria, CEO of Hygeia Health Inc. talks tech, the process of gathering customer data and explains the reasoning behind his “no investors” attitude on this edition of ACE Best Stories. Building

The “How To” of Parallel Entrepreneurship with Nicole Wimpy

Nov 1st, 2017 30m 54s

From regulations to hiring, running multiple businesses can be a challenge. Nicole Wimpy, owner of Jolie Day Spa & Salon, Gold City Growlers and Dahlonega Marketplace Events knows this first hand and joins the ACE Best Stories podcast to share

Shenanigans and the Restaurant Biz with Deb Rowe

Oct 25th, 2017 31m 34s

Many say the restaurant business is one of the hardest industries to achieve success in. Shenanigans Owner, Deb Rowe would agree, but says if you have a passion for your work, everything’s just easier. In this episode, Deb shares how she came

The Why and How of Tracking Business Income with Tennille Carter-Paul

Oct 18th, 2017 30m 54s

Many business owners are so focused on running their business, they often neglect keeping an eye on what keeps their business running… money! Atlanta Bookkeeping Solutions CEO and Founder, Tennille Carter-Paul explains why you should update you

Implementing the Key Role of Customer Education with CIC Floors

Oct 11th, 2017 30m 50s

Picking the right flooring for your needs goes beyond what you like. Clara and Cesar Olguin, the experts and founders of CIC Floors explain why environment, ease of maintenance and use of space must all be considered before the first piece is

From News to Booze with Nigel Walwyn

Oct 4th, 2017 32m 14s

Ou Oui creator, Nigel Walwyn knew he needed to take his side hustle full-time when family, friends and co-workers started requesting his rum drink on a regular basis! But, there are many obstacles to pass various licensing and distillery regul

Pick a Niche, Stand Out with Kimberly Graver and Susan Smith

Sep 27th, 2017 32m 12s

Focusing on a niche market may seem like your brand reach is too narrow, but done correctly, your business will differentiate itself from the rest of the industry! Kimberly Graver and Susan Smith of e-Transform Coworking share about their new s

Finding Homes for Heroes with Shellie Bready

Sep 19th, 2017 29m 58s

Hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters leave destruction in their path. Insurance adjusters and emergency responders are deployed to these areas quickly and often for long periods of time. Shellie Bready realized a gap in the marke

Marketing a Niche Business with Karen Earp

Sep 13th, 2017 31m 57s

Digital advertising and social platforms like Snapchat can seem daunting to take on. For Pop! Bubble Tea & Coffee Bar owner, Karen Earp, she quickly knew what needed to be done to make her business appeal to and reach Gen Z. In this episode, K

How to Select the Right Franchise with Aysha Cooper

Sep 5th, 2017 30m 9s

From leasing a space to becoming a franchise owner. Aysha Cooper felt a calling on her life to open a SarahCare location in Snellville, Georgia. But after nine months, and with money running out, Aysha was referred to ACE which helped her keep