Decoding Business

She spent two decades working in 2 languages, hosted several awards shows and interviews entertainers for major networks. Now, Emmy Award winner and Puerto-Rican influencer Pili Montilla shares how she leveraged her background to begin a co-owned fashion business!

At the heart of Pili's story is a message of pitfalls as an actress plus aligning her own values when representing major brands like Walmart, Lexus and Starbucks. Take a few minutes to hear what drives her business success from a diversity lens. 

What inspires someone to leave a six-figure career and launch their own transformational leadership coaching business? How does one break into business coaching?

Michellea Millis Rucker, Founder/CEO of Transforming Your Practice, LLC.,. is our guest and gives us the back story of her leap. From assisting non-profits and education to being an Entrepreneur herself, Michellea's journey is unique and will reveal learning experiences for any future business coach. 

The code of conduct for MMA-style training camps and facilities align closely to successful business models: Trust, Embracing failure, Emotional control and Fundamentals. They are also pretty close to our BBB 8 Standards of Trust!

This is why we invited Sensei Scottie C. Jackson of PKIMMA San Antonio to walk us through (or kick our way through) the values of operating a mixed martial arts facility. What brought a retired Air Force officer trained as a software engineer into the MMA/Jukido world- and what lessons does he pass along to his "little dragons" that business operators can utilize?

Dog training in 2022 has truly adapted! With record adoptions during COVID, many families turned to professional dog trainers. As we learn, not all organizations practice a positive-reinforcement model, nor take time to truly understand their 4-legged clients.

Our guest Glenda Herrin of Heeling Hounds Dog Training welcomed us to her ranch and gave us a glimpse of how she develops 1:1 relationships with pets (and their owners) to ensure a happy home and outcome. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Glenda also walked us through her transition from career Military to a field she truly "digs"!

The pandemic allowed the greatest remote work experiment the world has known. According to Ergonomic Trends, 68% of Americans now prefer a hybrid work model that consists of some sort of remote working. Enter: flexible office space rentals.

Just like many industries, coworking operators took a hit during COVID-19 but is experiencing a major resurgence thanks factors like: proximity to the suburbs, office sites by the hour and management thru a single app. We welcome Luis Escobar, President/CEO of VenturePoint Everywhere who will share his entrepreneurial journey and his vision for flex space in the next few years.

Over $10 Billion dollars in insurance claims were paid out to property owners in Texas as a result of Winter Storm Uri. What did we learn? What does this teach us about risk mitigation for a future event? Who do we contact when we see insurance fraud?

We chat with Melissa Herman from TDI (Texas Department of Insurance) on what small businesses should look for in their insurance companies. We also ask a few questions to learn more about TDI and their specific role in ensuring a level playing field.

GUEST: Melissa Herman, Manager of P&C Division

SHOW NOTES:
TDI Help Line: 800-252-3439
http://www.TDI.Texas.gov 

Our guest this week is Interim President/CEO Rudy Garza, talking everything from winterization to small business initiatives and scams.

SHOW NOTES:
CPS Energy
(210) 353-2222 general information
(210) 353-2782 Approved solar vendor program
www.cpsenergy.com

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are lost annually to unsuspecting buyers or sellers of timeshares. Many times, we need experts, agents or companies to help timeshare owners navigate the choppy waters. But not all timeshares are the same and not all companies are playing a fair game. 

Our guest is J. Andrew Meyer, an attorney with Florida-based Finn Law Group who specializes in this area. Andrew will help us break down the common tactics scammers use against timeshare seekers and owners. We will also discuss what they are seeing and tips to help avoid a fraudulent situation. 

Think about your last hotel stay (if you can remember). You wanted everything to be just right, after all, it was your home away from home. From the booking process to service, cleanliness to price, COVID-19 severely disrupted the hotel business. Smaller hotel operators struggled to keep rooms booked, yet maintained operations and safety for employees. So what does their recovery look like?

We sit down with Sarah Japalucci, Director of Sales and Marketing for Holiday Inn of Temple-Belton, Texas. They are a recent BBB Torch Award for Ethics finalist and shared some insight into what makes their hotel unique and the charm of the Temple area. 

What are the advantages of living, working, and playing in a mixed use community? Business park? While the amenities may seem attractive to small business, Brooks in San Antonio is amping up the tired business model. A former U.S. Air Force base, Brooks houses International headquarters, hotels, apartments and a variety of small businesses into a dynamic ecosystem (with its own zip code).

Connie Gonzalez is the newly minted Chief Strategy Officer for Brooks and shares what she sees for 2022 and beyond. 

SHOW NOTES:
www.livebrooks.com

Our guest is Melissa Vela-Williamson, award-winning PR strategist who breaks down the basic for Public Relations and why each business big and small needs to understand it. 

Melissa brings a wealth of corporate marketing and public relations work into her own consulting business. However, it's with the Hispanic/Latino/Latinx culture where she helps clients speak with purpose, poise and getting it right. 

SHOW NOTES:
Website: www.mvw360.com
mvw360.com/blog

Social Responsibility: https://www.mvw360.com/blog/2021/6/9/four-steps-for-practicing-social-responsibility

Could we have predicted today's sizzling residential real estate market last year? We sat down with Cesar Amezcua, broker/realtor from CA&CO in San Antonio to dissect what is driving an incredible sellers market in Texas. We also discuss what types of realty fraud he has witnessed and advice for numerous, new realtors entering the market. 

This is a deep dive into understanding what today's realtors are facing and what buyers should expect. 

If you can run your business like a zoo (which you already might), what lessons can exotic species teach us about business? This episode features Tim Morrow, CEO of the San Antonio Zoo. Drawing on his career from two large theme parks, Tim wanted to put sizzle and excitement into the 109-year-old zoo.

In addition to redesigning habitats, the zoo opened a nature-based preschool, a rhino exhibit, moved the city’s iconic Kiddie Park to the zoo grounds, fiddled with Taco Tuesdays and even writes love letters between hippos. Every industry will definitely take a few hints from Tim, who backed off a law enforcement career to save animals, save jobs and rescue a human here and there. 

In an business setting known for sharks, attacks and the burden of truth, FVF Law Firm from Austin, Texas is hoping they have a different vision for their clients and the legal industry. 

Winners of the 2020 BBB Torch Award for Ethics, FVF principles Josh and Aaron unveil how their practice is different and what any small business operator can take away from an emerging personal injury law firm. 

2021 dealt quite a few challenges for local auto dealerships. From semi-conductor chip shortages affecting new car production, to the exploding used vehicle market, dealerships had to get creative to keep margins flowing and showrooms busy.

We re-visited with April Ancira, VP of Ancira Auto Group in San Antonio and current chairwoman of the Texas Auto Dealers Association, to gain her perspective on what keeps their car lots active and is there relief for 2022? As always, April dishes out what keeps her on her toes and what we can learn from the auto dealer business model. 

Just 7 years ago, Travio Ward was on the field with several Semi-Pro football leagues playing wide receiver and quarterback across the U.S.A. Travio carried his gridiron lessons into a new business venture in Harker Heights, Texas.

Today, T.P.G. (Team Perseverance Global) Lawn Care is a six-figure, multi-industry venture that Ward credits to grit, determination and climbing from the darkest days since losing his mom to cancer. This story will move the unmovable and ignite a conversation for any business startup in any industry. 

Chances are you have heard of a business going above and beyond in 2020 and 2021... nominate them for our annual BBB Torch Award for Ethics! The entry period is now through July 16th. On this episode, we break down criteria, eligibility and even talk with former Torch winners and finalists. 

Enter Torch Awards here: us.bbb.org/centex-torch

Veronica Morales, President and Founder of The Social Being, almost threw in the towel on her social media business. Like many entrepreneurs and small business owners, she struggled with the idea of a safe/secure career with another company, or continue her passion of consulting clients on their digital marketing. What changed her mind? How lucrative is a social media management business owner? 

Veronica shares her story of starting up her female, minority-owned venture to a Nationally recognized and award-winning agency, who was recently accepted to the SBA's Emerging Leaders program. Additionally, she reveals some tactics for businesses to consider when deploying social media strategy. 

Veronica Morales, The Social Being
www.thesocialbeing.com
(210) 901-8221

Most companies budget plentiful dollars into fun products for promoting their business. It's a $28 Billion dollar industry with many companies ranging from startups to global players. 

Our guest is Sonia Cisneros, owner of TruBranding, who reveals her recipe for taking a part-time promotional gig to a FT operation. Plus, she learned the art of "pivoting" to designer masks in the wake of COVID-19. And when Fiesta San Antonio comes around, Sonia capitalizes on everything Fiesta!

TruBranding
trubranding.espwebsite.com 

Many say the most important part of a home is the foundation... we feel it's the same for businesses of all sizes. If the roots are strong and you have a solid business plan, the rest can be fixed. 

Our guests are John and Melanie Chaney of Baird Foundation Repair in San Antonio, Texas; a legacy operation which builds on doing the right thing, even if it's the hard thing to do. We focus on how the pandemic propelled Baird to a record-setting year, how their team shows transparency and what has sustained the family business for over 50 years. 

Our homes are becoming smarter. Technology allows us to synchronize our A/C units, security systems and even our appliances to communicate with us from a singular smartphone app! 

We wanted perspective from someone capitalizing on this emerging industry. Our guest is Jason McKinzie, Managing Member of San Antonio's Apex Smart Home Protection. Find out how he delivers VALUE over competitors and what his team does to ensure quality in their installs. 

Local print shops were already fighting the digital revolution of sign-making but took a brutal hit after COVID-19. Where does the small-town print business go from here? 

We sat down with Scott Ford of Seguin-based Guadalupe Printing & Solutions to get their story: the tale of survival, adaptation and determination. Plenty of takeaways for the small business owner facing an uphill return to a battered industry.

Trinity Lace Wigs is a 2020 BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics WINNER in the 1-10 Employee Category!

Stephanie Anderson calls her salon her "ministry". Stephanie creates custom wigs for men and women who find themselves vulnerable to hair loss through cancer, alopecia or other conditions. Her business teaches us how to create a true bond between client and provider. 

Stephanie also explains her special assistance to the U.S. Military, advice for female, minority startups and her unique way of giving back. 

We are proud to offer our two-part interview with longstanding BBB Accredited member, Generations FCU. Businesses have heard all about PPP loans but what exactly are the benefits of applying- and what exactly is needed? Mark Johnston, VP of Commercial Services will break down the process, including loan forgiveness.

And what else can consumers and businesses do to steer clear of financial fraud and ID Theft? Jessica Hernandez, VP of Operation has some practical solutions to help listeners become bulletproof when it comes to scams. 

How many people can say they have worked at an organization for 50 years? Dean Taylor, our current Community Engagement manager has held every title from assistant to President of BBB San Antonio at one time. Dean, who followed her late husband Leo into our organization, explains why businesses more than ever need a trusted voice like BBB. This year, Dean will sign off on 50 years of South Texas memories, businesses served, consumers helped and plenty of vivacious stories from Better Business Bureau in this engaging episode! 

Chances are you used a payments processing service twice this week and didn't realize it. When much of the world turned to online sales and e-commerce to shop securely, many businesses turned to payment processors like United Solutions of Laredo, Texas. Our guest Luis Gutierrez talks about starting out early in the payments processing industry and how he capitalized on the emerging digital industry.

What's more important than a comfortable night's sleep? Not much! Since 1920, San Antonio-based Cantwell Mattress focused on superb cotton, expert craftsmanship and an entrepreneurial spirit. 

We sit down with Curtis Cantwell, a fourth-generation business operator who gives the remarkable story of Cantwell Mattress with roots in Corpus Christi, Sugar Land, Brady, Harlingen and finally San Antonio. If your business goal is as personal as a good night's sleep, you'll enjoy how they have kept Texans dreaming!

Great customer service is the hallmark of any small business. For West Texas-based LK Specialties and owner Lance Wolfe, it's everything. From startup to today, Lance has faced tough oilfield competition head-on, coupled with COVID-19 and delivered his roll-off disposal containers with everything the big operators didn't.

We break down what exactly drives LK Specialties and how we found the opportunity for his business.

LK Specialties LLC
(432) 853-0549

Most of us spend little to no time looking at the one thing protecting our heads: Our Roofs! We had a chance to dissect the family business of CEN-TEX ROOF SYSTEMS in Waco, Texas and uncover the driving factors for a trustworthy roofer.

Our guest is Tony Lenoir, President of Cen-Tex Roof Systems who took on his own personal battle with COVID-19 and continues super-serving his community through hard lessons learned. Plenty of great, digestible material if you are in the roofing industry! 

We are taking a few minutes from our normal dialogue to put the spotlight on our most reported scam to BBB: Pet Scams. These scams have not only re-emerged due to COVID-19 but now in the Holiday season, they have exploded five-fold. 

It starts innocently with an online search for a breed or pet you like. But you might be enticed by a struggling pet owner or a breeder with a lovely picture who needs to sell their pet. 80% of sponsored pet ads may be fake! In this episode, we will give red flags and tips to help consumers avoid the infamous pet scammer.

COVID has no doubt transformed the way we consume and patronize restaurants. One company based in San Antonio literally found their special niche in helping businesses take their products "on the road". Cruising Kitchens, the brainchild of CEO Cameron Davies, takes a concept and custom-fabricates a mobile food truck experience, in hopes of energizing sales and respecting the social distance aspect of safety.

In this episode, we speak with newly named COO Marcos Resendez on how they operate their business model and help well-respected brands create a mobile experience from concept to end user.

Cruising Kitchens is also a reality TV show with new episodes features Thursdays at 5:30pm CST on MotorTrend TV. Just renewed for a second season, Cruising Kitchens is more than a simple build and reveal show and weaves in BBB-aligned values such as Honesty, Trust and Ethics.

2020 was shaping up to be a big year for the box office and the movie industry. When COVID hit, local theaters which depended on big releases were left with nothing to show, literally. We sat down with Tim Handren, CEO of San Antonio-based Santikos movie theaters to get his take on how tough the pandemic is treating movie theaters and what they are doing to stop the bleeding. 

In this series of Decoding Business, Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving the Heart of Texas explores each industries' highlights and challenges, as it applies to small business with a Texas angle.

Santikos
https://www.santikos.com
thandren@santikos.com

Many businesses and consumers are asking more of their janitorial partners, including disinfecting and sanitizing for Coronavirus. Many small businesses were prepared and deployed COVID-specific cleaning services. From new technology to EPA-approved products, many businesses like our guest Texas Cleaning Pros adapted and are thriving.  In this space, there is also the threat of unscrupulous bad actors taking advantage of the situation and cleaning on the surface, but not to a COVID-killing degree. 

In this series of Decoding Business, Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving the Heart of Texas explores each industries' highlights and challenges, as it applies to small business with a Texas angle.

Texas Cleaning Pros
https://www.texascleaningpros.com
(210) 394-9523 

Faced with declining on-premise sales and constant re-openings/closures, the craft brewing industry and its many small operators are witnesses to a tough battle during the pandemic. We talk with Bill Sisoian, President of FreeTail Brewing in San Antonio, Texas. Bill explains what his team is doing to keep the taps flowing, and how other craft beer makers can pivot. 

In this series of Decoding Business, Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving the Heart of Texas explores each industries' highlights and challenges, as it applies to small business with a Texas angle. 

In this episode, we sit down with April Ancira, VP of Ancira Enterprises, a chain of auto dealerships in San Antonio and South Texas. As the nation moved through the pandemic, factory shutdowns trickled down to inventory shortages and empty showrooms. Ancira, along with other dealers, navigated through tough summer months with some strategic moves.

In addition, April is candid about what car buyers like and dislike about the purchase experience and service beyond the sale. Learn how this dealer positions itself with employee buy-in, relationship building and a spirit of generosity.

It's called a Party with a Purpose: Fiesta time in San Antonio equals mega fundraisers, major donations and of course plenty of celebrating the history of San Antonio. We sit down with the 2020 Riverwalk Queen Michelle Bononcini to illustrate the spirit of Fiesta and how her role to promote and protect the river play a major part.

Michelle is also a Business Development Representative here at Better Business Bureau; no doubt we will get her take on how she helps businesses promote their goods/services through BBB. This is a fun interview!

We sit down with Cesar Amezcua of CA&CO, a broker/realtor who explains the pulse of San Antonio real estate and how scammers find opportunities in the buying process. 

We also unveil several tactics for business owners to gleam from realtors on how to scale businesses using their best practices. 

In many sectors of the country, the moving industry is down 12 to 19% and BBB records over 13,000 complaints yearly on moving companies. We sit down with Wade Lombard of Austin, Texas based Square Cow MOOvers to get his take on the things they are doing to succeed.

From starting the company in 2008 amidst the recession and mortgage crisis to today with COVID-19, Wade is quick to share how they have grown and why TRUST remains a pillar in their operation. 

We go one-on-one with our fearless leader here at BBB as she reveals the latest movements during COVID-19 related to business recovery. She also discusses the importance of employees taking this time for themselves - especially education. And, we'll get her take on what business can do to strengthen their Fall outlook. 

What are the most heinous ways con artists take advantage of consumers during this pandemic? The answers might surprise you as we reveal the top 5 scams related to COVID-19 reported to BBB Scam Tracker. We will pull in our data analyst and give you tips to steer clear and stay safe!

How are you adapting to the new business 'climate'; especially in the Services Industry (and especially in record heat)? We chat with Chase Anderson of Shafer Services Plus in San Antonio to learn about their innovative giveback campaign designed to keep their business top of mind. We'll also find out his advice for struggling business operators who manage multiple employees. 

As millions turn to search engines or start the interview process in the wake of COVID-19 job losses, con artists are busier than ever. They are setting up fake job postings, gaining personal information and/or creating a headache at your most vulnerable time.

We will dissect the employment scam, how to spot a fake job offer and tips to avoid falling into a job scam. 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have been left to decide if keeping the family legacy is still possible. Everyday, fewer businesses who navigated The Great Depression years are struggling to carry the family business, especially across multiple generations or product lines.  

We talk with Sam O'Krent, President/CEO of O'Krent Floors in San Antonio, Texas about what makes O'Krent's successful, especially during an economic downturn. The flooring business is booming amidst the onset of Coronavirus and we'll sit down to ask about the elements of trust, giving back to the community and finding a support network.