The Larsen Group

Carol Piras has over 25 years of experience as a business leader, organizational consultant, executive coach and trainer with domain knowledge and expertise in design and development of leadership strategies and architecture that achieve business goals.  Change management is her particular forte, seasoned with organizational effectiveness to help organizations large and small transform. Carol’s mantra is to “be in service” to others as she uses her intuition and business knowledge to help leaders get better – find the more human side of leadership, compassion, listening, authenticity and transparency.

Alexandra Zenoff is a community health educator who is about to begin a Masters in Public Health program at Columbia University. A native of San Francisco, Alexandra graduated from The Johns Hopkins University with a semester abroad in Shanghai, China.  Upon graduation she become a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cambodia to pilot a community health education program at a health center without a doctor in a remote, rural village where no one had seen a foreigner before.  Alexandra continues on a quest to make health promotion efforts culturally appropriate and more meaningful to underserved populations.

Stuart Hemphill is a young international professional who is dedicated to improving education in developing countries.  With over eight years of Pan-Asia field experience, Stuart has worked in China, South Korea, Japan, and Cambodia with the Peace Corps and four diverse, academic business and non-profit organizations.  He currently teaches intensive English classes to international students, trains future English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers, and is in funds development for the Nepal Youth Foundation, a non-profit based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

www.nepalyouthfoundation.org                  June 29, 2013                              20 minutes

Judy Clinco is a registered nurse who holds high standards for treatment of all people, especially those with disabilities and elders.  She discovered the system sadly lacking in those qualities, regretfully, and in 1980 founded Catalina In-Home Services. In time Judy saw an opportunity to advance the profession of caregivers and established the non-profit Direct Caregivers Institute which has trained over 1,200 professionals to serve the Tucson region.  Today Judy is moving into political advocacy, working to raise the caregiving profession to its rightful place in society.

Thrity Umrigar immigrated to the US from Bombay, India, to pursue higher education in fine art followed by doctoral studies in English. A journalist in her early career contributing to several highly regarded media organizations, Thrity is currently a professor at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and author of five novels and a memoir.  Her newest novel, The World We Found, is the story of four women who were inseparable during college in India at a time of political unrest, reunited decades later across continents by a tragedy. The book has been recognized by Oprah Magazine, the Boston Globe and is a Book Sense Pick.

Dr. Gerry Snelling has brought together forty years of professional development in natural and integrative healthcare together to create the new Tucson-based clinic, Snelling Total Wellness. Gerry offers clients an experience of profound personal and spiritual healing based on training in longevity and anti-aging medicine and modalities. He actively utilizes the Six Steps of Wellness and is a licensed chiropractor with extensive study in applied and clinical kinesiology and metabolic nutrition. Gerry’s career journey included global travel and founding yoga and Montessori schools.

www.snellingtotalwellness.com         June 22, 2013                            20 minutes

Laura Gisborne is a business expert with over 20 years’ experience.  From structuring and selling small boutique restaurant businesses to owning a multi-million dollar wine and real estate empire, Laura has owned nine businesses, her first when she was only 23 years old. She is a nationally recognized speaker and serves as a business consultant for business owners and entrepreneurs in a diverse set of industries.  Author of the book Stop the Spinning: Move from Surviving to Thriving, she offers readers precepts linked to the acronym POWER UP. For every book sold another copy is gifted to a woman victimized by abuse, violence or poverty.

www.lauragisborne.com                   June 22, 2013                            20 minutes

www.3ptour.com

Don Snyder is an acclaimed author of many books, several of which have received national attention and been the focus of television films. Don’s new book Walking with Jack captures a five year voyage to the hallowed golf courses of St Andrews, Scotland, to fulfilling his pledge to his son to become a professional caddie and accompany Jack on the US pro golf tour. A good caddie knows his main responsibility is to help his golfer believe in himself/herself just enough to make the next shot. No matter the history of poor shots; no matter the hazards ahead; no matter the odds. This is precisely the role of a parent to step in to help their children believe in themselves when they have lost belief in themselves.

Dr. Tim Gelety leads the Arizona Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, one of the largest full-service Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology programs in the Southwest. If ever there is a man dedicated to change, technology, and giving others hope for the ultimate product of our lives – the legacy of children – it is Tim.  He has written and lectured extensively in the US and abroad in the field of in vitro fertilization and assisted reproduction.  Tim believes there are seven things every couple needs to know when having trouble getting pregnant, first and foremost that infertility is a medical issue that can be addressed.   

www.infertilty-azctr.com                   June 15, 2013                       20 minutes 

David and Charlie Quackenbush are 2^nd and 3^rd generation artisans from A-1 Watch in Tucson.  David’s father attended the Bradley Polytechnical School for Watchmakers in the 1930’s, passing down his passion, skill, watchmaker’s bench and prized tools to his son 50 years later.  Over the last 12 years David and grandson, Charlie, have processed over 16,000 repair tickets for watches and clocks of every size, vintage and condition.  True experts in the pathology of horology, they have over 200 clocks and 400 watches in the process of restoration and repair at any one time, lead time affected by the availability of parts some dating back over 50 years.

www.a-1watch.com                           June 15, 2013                       20 minutes

Sara Zeff Geber PhD of Life Encore is a speaker, writer, workshop leader and certified retirement and transition coach.  Co-author of Live Smart after 50! The Experts’ Guide to Life Planning for Uncertain Times, Sara has specific expertise in helping those who are fifty plus without children prepare for the challenges of solo aging.  She stresses the importance of relationships outside of the workplace, and creating an extended family.  Pragmatically, it is critical to partner with a financial advisor and legal experts familiar with your state laws and regulations to understand decisions that need to be made in the context of a full life picture.

Peggy Bendel is a globally recognized expert in travel and tourism marketing, branding, public relations and crisis communications.  A principal in the I Love New York campaign, Peggy has worked with more than 50 U.S. and international destinations, from Australia to the Virgin Islands, South Africa to Sweden, hotels, resorts, tour operators and associations.  From a career standpoint, she became an accidental traveler joining an economic development office in New Jersey, complimented by studies in marketing/PR and public administration. Her new book is It’s a Crisis! NOW What?, a pragmatic framework targeted for the travel industry, but from which organizations of all shapes and sizes can prepare in advance to handle business and public relations upsets.

www.bendelcommunications.com       June 8, 2013                      20 minutes

Ben Waber is a PhD from MIT and popular media contributor.  He leads Sociometric Solutions, a Boston-based management services firm that uses social sensing technology to understand companies’ internal communication patterns to identify hidden resources of creativity and innovation. Ben’s new book People Analytics outlines the next big thing in big data, using sensors to reveal the subtleties of human interaction that can affect organizational productivity and bottom line results.  This convergence of technology and behavioral science eliminates the biases introduced through surveys and human observation.

Kathy Caprino is a nationally-recognized success and leadership coach, trainer, writer and speaker dedicated to the success and advancement of women.  Dream it, Do it is Kathy’s mantra, a mantra that guided her through a “breakdown breakthrough” period of her life at age 40.  Founder of Ellia Communications, Kathy believes personal change starts with identifying what you are most afraid of, and walking into it.  Her popular video series The Amazing Career Project launches in workshop form in July to help women create the highest level of happiness, success and reward in their right work – really play big without restraint.

Mimi Petro is an attorney with Udall Law, a diversified legal practice established in Tucson over 60 years ago.  During these times of ongoing economic distress and industry process change, Mimi has become particularly passionate about and adept in helping clients put and keep together the jigsaw puzzle pieces of their family, business and personal assets.  Her expertise spans estate planning, real estate and small business management. A former small business owner, Mimi is a lecturer at the Microbusiness Advancement Center and enjoys coaching new entrepreneurs.

www.udalllaw.com                               June 1, 2013                       20 minutes

Alan Rudolph is general manager for the Bondurant School of High Performance Racing in Phoenix. Now in its 45^th year, Bondurant’s programs span defensive driving for teens and automobile drivers of all ages, to team building experiences for leadership groups. A multi-time national karting champion who started racing at age 9, Alan moved up to the dirt ovals of the Midwest then onto acquiring credentials in Formula Ford 2000, NASCAR, Formula Atlantic and Grand Am.  He is best known for his dominance in shifter karts, and winning “King of the Streets” title an unprecedented five times. He is passionate about the hardware, software and peopleware of racing.

Iva Wilson and Peter de Ruiter are members of The Coaching Collaborative, a leadership development practice based in Michigan and the Netherlands to help clients connect the right behaviors to mission, strategy, tactics and back again.  While collaboration can take longer to get tasks done, leveraging different views and experiences is sure to surface stronger solutions and longer term sustainable change.  Iva and Peter believe coaching is required to make training or consulting endeavors successful.  People often do not do what they ask consultants or trainers to tell them what to do, because they do not know the unique steps they need to take as individuals. Coaches ask powerful, personal questions without judgment, and help clients learn to move themselves forward.

Walter Green was Chairman of the Board and CEO of Harrison Conference Services for 25 years.  Since retiring to spend more time with his family, mentor young adults and be actively involved in several non-profit organizations, Walter has taken on an additional quest – to help others learn the importance and power of expressing gratitude.  Now.  His book, This is the Moment! How One Man’s Yearlong Journey Captured the Power of Extraordinary Gratitude, resulted from his yearlong, life-changing journey of the heart to visit 44 people and tell them how important they have been and are to his life. 

Dale Dillon is a business consultant, educator, and co-founder of Online Biz Smarts in Tucson, providing tools and strategies to small businesses to successfully market products and services in the Internet Age.  A serial entrepreneur in online retail and social media with prior corporate experience in finance and new product launches, Dale is an avid proponent of helping clients expand opportunities to grow.  She helps them strike the right balance between conventional relationship building and contemporary technology tools, backed by an explicit, focused marketing strategy.  Her mantra:  Understand the WHY of what you do first.

www.onlinebizsmarts.com                    May 18, 2013                             20 minutes

Maren and Jamie Showkeir are seasoned workplace consultants from Henning-Showkeir & Associates.  Their critically acclaimed business book Authentic Conversations: Moving from Manipulation to Truth and Commitment challenges conventional wisdom on key business practices and presents concrete ways to consciously make our ordinary conversations the primary driver of workplace change. In recently released Yoga Wisdom at Work: Finding Sanity Off the Mat and On the Job, the Showkeirs connect the physical and mental aspects of yoga to transformative powers, insights for confronting the complexities of daily organizational life.

www.yogawisomdatwork.com                  May 11, 2013                            20 minutes

www.henning-showkeir.com

Kathy Kram and Ilene Wasserman are partnering for a special workshop in July, “Mentoring, Coaching, and Developmental Networks: Creating and Sustaining High Quality Connections at Work.”  Today’s dynamic, technology-driven, diverse and global workplace presents enormous challenges to professional development.  This experiential, cohort-based workshop will introduce new approaches to mentoring and coaching, both within and outside organizations, from which to create developmental relationships that foster learning in both parties.  Kathy is with Boston University and a highly regarded researcher and teacher, and Ilene is an independent consultant with practitioner roots in helping clients leverage diversity through communication and collaboration.

www.cape.org                                          May 11, 2013                           20 minutes

Bobby Rich recently celebrated 20 years as the entertaining and informative morning host/co-host/tri-host of the Morning MIX, Soft Rock 94.9 MIXfm, known for good clean fun.  Bobby’s award-winning radio career has taken him coast to coast and north to south multiple times, starting on-air at the age of 14 in a small Washington State town.  Bobby also spearheads the Journal Broadcast Group Community Partner Program, giving over a million dollars each year in promotion exposure for the causes of organizations in Southern Arizona who are making a difference.  And he really does wear red tennis shoes everywhere he goes!

   www.mixfm.com                                May 4, 2013                          20 minutes

Gregg Trubee grew up playing competitive sports and having an appreciation for music, the performing arts and museums.  After a stint in manufacturing and trying out engineering, his love of design and freestyle creativity lead him to a 21-year culinary career, including being a chef at 4 and 5 Star establishments across the US.  Over ten years ago Gregg’s entrepreneurial energies pulled him to an “outdoor design job,” founding Rainchaser Landscaping.  He and his close team run a flourishing, full service business – designing, planting/maintaining desert plants, rock and patio sculpting, and changing the look of properties organically.  Gregg has a remarkable intuitive sense of the land.  Thanks for sponsoring our show since its 2008 inception!

Romel Trubee recently fulfilled a lifelong dream to become a US Citizen, a passion she acquired as a child growing up in Bali, traveling the path that started with her first job with international construction giant the Bechtel Corporation. Romel moved to Tucson as a business student at Pima Community College, followed by studies at NAU.  Learning with and from the best at several of Tucson’s signature hotels and resorts, Romel launched from accounting and housekeeping management roles to start her own business.  Today, Little Lotus Home Services serves private clients across Tucson.  Her motto – Just say YES, go forward, and never look back.  She approaches every day with an open heart.

Gary and Jessie Menard are serial entrepreneurs in the bicycling industry.  A certified mechanic for over 25 years, Gary and his new wife, Jessie, moved from Connecticut to Tucson following Gary’s three month cross-country bike adventure.  For over ten years they ran Tucson Bicycling, a full service retail store, and the Tucson Bicycle Club to build a community of cyclists.  They sold the business and five years ago started mobile bicycle rentals (Why ship your bike when you can ride ours?), a precursor to the new Arizona Cycling Tours.  Gary and Jessie provide everything clients need for an enjoyable day of activity – adventures under the sun – with plans to expand standard offerings and custom tours around Arizona.

www.arizonacyclingtours.com                 April 27, 2013                            20 minutes

www.cycletucson.com

Chris Hurn is the CEO and cofounder of Mercantile Capital Corporation, a commercial lender based in Florida specializing in small business commercial real estate projects across the US. Chris is an expert in SBA 504 loans to enable small businesses to grow and create jobs, successfully closing over 500 such closed loans since 2002, with a total value of $1.5 billion.  His new book, The Entrepreneur’s Secret to Creating Wealth: How the Smartest Business Owners Build Their Fortunes, is a roadmap for business owners to create wealth for themselves outside the day-to-day operations of the business, and thrive regardless of economic conditions.

Rosey Koberlein is CEO of the Long Companies, an end-to-end real estate firm with residential and commercial brokerage, mortgage, title and insurance expertise.  Established in 1926, Long Realty has a network of over 1,400 associates in 40 offices, including 23 affiliated independent realty and property companies throughout Arizona and into Mexico.  Rosey encourages leaders to step up to assist stable job creation in our region through public/private partnerships.  Real estate is one of the core missing links to the job market turnaround, and current home inventory and favorable credit offerings (albeit with a rigorous process to access) make this a prime time to move forward with real estate investments.

www.longrealty.com                                 April 20, 2013                           20 minutes

Abbott Taylor is the versatile artistic, business entrepreneur leading Abbott Taylor Jewelers, celebrating 40 years of creating custom pieces executed with state-of-the-art craftsmanship.  If you can imagine it, Abbott can make it. Abbott embraces change, having invested in 3D solid modeling tools ten years ago to dramatically expand his design horizons, and recently unlocked the power of social media to attract new clients.  He is also a talented jazz, blues, and rock and roll musician coming full circle from high school rock band days to jam regularly with talented artists in Tucson and record CDs.  Two of his songs, Train Train Gone and Spaceships were recognized on a national level in 2011 and 2012.  Thanks for sponsoring our show!

Carl Hobert is a veteran educator, the founder of Axis of Hope Center for International Conflict Management and Prevention, and a clinical instructor at Boston University’s School of Education.  His new book Raising Global IQ: Preparing Our Students for a Shrinking Planet is an insightful proposal for educational transformation, a five pillar, groundbreaking roadmap for improving middle and upper school students' global literacy through language and cultural fluency, technology and media literacy, extracurricular activities and travel abroad, conflict resolution case studies, and service and experiential, field-based learning.  Axis of Hope offers hands-on practice to help youth learn life skills to resolve and prevent conflict.

Loretta Love Huff is The Dream Leader for Business from Emerald Harvest Consulting in Phoenix.  She specializes in helping career professionals find fulfillment in the workplace through managing their own psychology first – the voices in their heads often calling the shots. A published author and contributor to print and broadcast media, Loretta launched her practice 12 years ago following leadership roles in Fortune 100 companies.  She works within organizations to get the right people in the right jobs doing the right things in life – right.

John Nelson is the founder and president of Business Transformation and Leadership Partners in Wisconsin. In addition to John’s affiliation with the Best Practice Institute business think tank, BT+L Partners dig deep with clients into issues of strategy, capability and culture from which to execute bonafide transformational change.  John’s career foundation includes human resources, 25 years of experience in general management, entrepreneurial, corporate senior and executive management roles.  He started in broadcast media, TV and radio, with sound production and being a musician with his own band in the mix.

www.btlpartners.com                        April 6, 2013                                20 minutes