"In order for me to be who I am, I had to be me. I couldn't conform to what people thought."

In this episode of The Forte Podcast, hosts Dominic Epps and Randall Sten sit down with Renee Battle, also known as the 'Funeral Service Diva,' who shares her journey of modernizing the family funeral home business. Renee discusses her transition from aspiring attorney to funeral director, her experiences on Capitol Hill, and the impactful changes she has brought to the family business in Suffolk, Virginia. The conversation dives into the generational shifts in the funeral industry, the importance of personalized services, and the balance of maintaining family traditions while innovating for the future.

In this episode, Renee shares:

✅ Her background and career journey from Capitol Hill to the funeral industry

✅ Community engagement and continued education for the industry

✅ Building personal connections with clients and creating an uplifting environment

✅ Overcoming traditional family business dynamics

✅ The importance of personalization and empathy in funeral services

🎧 Watch now!

Guest & Hosts:

🎤 Guest: Renee Battle - https://www.instagram.com/reneeabattle/

🎤 Co-host: https://www.instagram.com/1domenickepps/

🎤 Co-host: https://www.instagram.com/randallmonfiston/

#TheFortePodcast #MatthewGilliard #FranchiseOwner #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #HealthAndWellness #CommunityImpact #PodcastDrop

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

00:20 Welcome to the Forte Podcast

03:42 Special Guest Introduction: Renee Battle

04:38 Renee's Background and Career Journey

08:42 Insights into the Funeral Industry

12:25 Capitol Hill Experience

15:27 The Shift Towards Modernization

15:57 Embracing Personal Style

17:03 Renovation and Client Reactions

20:35 Personalization in Funeral Services

23:46 Balancing Tradition and Innovation

25:22 Navigating Family Business Dynamics

32:43 Future Vision and Expansion

35:15 Contact and Social Media Presence

💡 "Awareness is the key to success. In this episode, Andre Prince, a financial advisor, and former engineer, shares his incredible journey from civil engineering to becoming a financial mogul.

Andre discusses the importance of financial awareness, managing emotions in investment decisions, and the rule of 72. He also dives into the significance of building a cash flow machine and the discipline required to achieve financial freedom.

Don't miss Andre's insights into the psychology of money, the power of residual income, and his future goals of expanding his financial team.

In this episode, Andre shares:

✅ How financial awareness changed his life

✅ The rule of 72 explained

✅ The importance of managing emotions in financial decisions

✅ Strategies for building residual and compounding income

✅ How to invest wisely and develop financial discipline

Get ready to elevate your financial literacy and take control of your wealth-building journey!

Guest & Hosts:

🎤 Guest: Andre Prince

🎤 Co-host: @1domenickepps

🎤 Co-host: @randallmonfiston

#TheFortePodcast #AndrePrince #FinancialFreedom #WealthBuilding #Financialawareness #EntrepreneurMindset #InvestingWisely #SuccessTips #PodcastDrop

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

00:20 Welcome to the Forte Podcast

03:20 Guest Introduction: Financial Advisor Andre

03:51 Andre's Journey: From Engineering to Finance

06:43 Challenges and Realizations

08:25 Cultural Background and Early Life

11:34 College Life and Career Beginnings

19:18 Financial Awareness and Advice

28:12 Understanding What Banks Want

29:02 The Importance of Cash Flow

30:13 Financial Education and Asset Protection

31:08 Transition from Engineering to Finance

33:15 The Concept of Residual Income

36:34 The Rule of 72 Explained

48:38 Emotional Intelligence in Financial Decisions

56:47 Building a Financially Secure Future

58:23 Contact Information and Closing Remarks

💡 "Your health is your wealth, and business is a journey."

Mathew Gilliard dives into the realities of being a multifaceted entrepreneur, owning a successful franchise, and balancing a government job, fatherhood, and business ownership.

From his experience with failed partnerships to finding the right mentor and investing in Nectar Juice Bar, Mathew's story is one of resilience and dedication to community health.

In this episode, Mathew shares:

✅ The intricate details of starting and running a franchise

✅ How personal health challenges inspired his business

✅ The importance of partnerships and mentorships

✅ Balancing a 9-5 job with entrepreneurship

✅ Expanding his business while managing a team

Mathew's journey is a testament to overcoming challenges and staying committed to your dreams.

🎧 Watch now! https://youtu.be/WnLJfDSHnbw

Guest & Hosts:

🎤 Guest: Mathew Gilliard

🎤 Co-host: @1domenickepps

🎤 Co-host: @randallmonfiston

#TheFortePodcast #MatthewGilliard #FranchiseOwner #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #HealthAndWellness #CommunityImpact #PodcastDrop

00:00 Welcome to the Forte Experience

00:43 Introduction to the Forte Podcast

01:30 Family Reunion Highlights

02:56 Upcoming Forte Events

05:04 Meet Our Special Guest: Matt from Nectar Juice Bar

07:13 Matt's Journey: From Government Job to Juice Bar Owner

10:46 Balancing Entrepreneurship and a 9-to-5 Job

13:06 The Challenges of Running a Business

27:21 The Inspiration Behind Nectar Juice Bar

32:52 Next Steps After Tasting the Smoothie

33:12 Flipping Houses and Early Business Ventures

34:17 Lessons from Failed Partnerships

34:46 The Importance of Business Partnerships

37:48 Personal Growth and Business Maturity

38:46 Meeting a Business Partner on Craigslist

41:53 The Franchise Journey Begins

45:54 Challenges of Setting Up a Franchise

49:38 Goals and Future Plans

54:45 Engaging with the Community

58:51 Conclusion and Upcoming Events