Host Jeremy C. Park talks with cityCURRENT Nashville partners, Nadian Zak, CEO and Founder of Zak Human Solutions, LLC, along with Kacie Scott, COO and Co-Founder, who both highlight their woman-owned, award-winning outsourced HR firm that provides end-to-end solutions that streamline HR operations. The company specializes in recruiting, employee relations, compliance, learning and development, and strategic planning.

During the interview, Nadian and Kacie discuss their extensive backgrounds in HR, their partnership with small to medium-sized businesses, the importance of understanding a company's culture and core values, and the need for clear communication and alignment with company values in recruitment and retention strategies. Nadian adds that regular one-on-one check-ins and business updates can foster a sense of connection and growth among employees. The conversation also touches on the competitive job market and the importance of understanding what drives top talent. Nadian and Kacie then discuss the integration of AI in the industry and in their business, emphasizing the importance of change management and gaining buy-in from employees. They highlight the role of AI in empowering employees and making them more efficient, rather than replacing them. Kacie shares their experience with AI in recruiting, where it helps pre-screen and schedule candidates, freeing up time for meaningful interactions. Kacie also shares some tips for job seekers to stand out, including using the correct keywords in their resumes to match job descriptions and job titles. Nadian discusses some of their business goals and shares their expansion to multi-state and international clients, with a focus on impacting businesses nationally and internationally. Then, Nadian and Kacie wrap up with advice for other entrepreneurs.

Visit https://zakhumansolutions.com to learn more and connect with Zak Human Solutions.

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Dr. Holly Roselle, CEO and Co-Founder of ForceField Protection, along with her husband, Charles Roselle, COO and Co-Founder, who both discuss their backgrounds with extensive experience in security and performance psychology and the technology they created that protects and connects lone workers, particularly those in home health care. Charles Roselle served as a United States Secret Service Agent for 16 years and Dr. Holly Roselle was a human performance specialist with military special operations. Charles devoted his career to protecting others and Holly worked with military service members on techniques to stay motivated, productive, and enjoy performing at their best. More personally, they both experienced the underlying fear and anxiety of going into unknown homes and environments during their work. Together, with a team of top developers, they have used their experiences to create an app that helps protect and connect lone workers so they are safer and more productive.

During the interview, Holly and Charles highlight the vulnerability of lone workers and the need for protection, touching on the high crime rates and assault rates faced by these workers. They discuss the technology and app, which allows users to check in and out of locations, with automatic notifications sent to emergency contacts. A unique feature of the app is its "touchless distress" feature, which signals distress without the user needing to call or text. This feature is patented and differentiates their product from others in the market. They talk about some of the many ROI benefits of the app, including enhanced productivity, employee engagement, accountability, and safety with employees feeling more valued and protected.

The conversation concludes talking about next steps as Holly explains that businesses can email them for a 30-day free trial, which allows them to upload a certain number of employees and test the system. Charles and Holly also mentioned that they have a consumer app available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple Store, which is perfect for individuals and families, runners, and others who want to access the apps features to keep loved ones informed of their activities and whereabouts. Holly and Charles also offer demos and assistance with employee onboarding for businesses interested in the app.

Visit https://forcefieldnow.com to learn more about ForceField Protection and their ForceField Protection Personal Safety App.
info@forcefieldnow.com
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Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Ryan Lampa, Founder and CEO of People Loving Nashville, a nonprofit organization serving the unhoused and most vulnerable of Nashville, Tennessee. During the interview, Ryan shares the history of the organization, which started 17 years ago, and discusses how it has evolved and grown into three programs, a staff of 15 and an army of volunteers serving about 400 people each week. The organization also now includes a social enterprise with a coffee roaster and coffee shop downtown, Paradeisos Coffee Company, that provides job opportunities for those going through the program. Ryan details their three programs, Monday Night Street Outreach, Homefullness, and Restoration Program, and discusses how they are centered on the pillars of Relief, Community, Connection, and Restoration.

He talks about some of the many sides, complexities and situations that lead to homelessness and how it impacts individuals and families, and emphasizes the importance of building relationships with dignity, grace and understanding. Ryan shares a success story of a couple who were once homeless and now in their restoration program, and he shares some lessons and advice for other organizations and cities looking to serve their unhoused communities, noting the importance of presence and margin in serving others. Ryan discusses the power of community engagement and the need for volunteers to help serve the unhoused community, and how the time spent and relationships formed will transform the lives of volunteers, as well. He wraps up encouraging the community to get involved by volunteering, buying coffee from their coffee shop, or attending their events, including their "Smoke on the Water" event taking place May 19, 2025.

Visit https://www.peoplelovingnashville.com to learn more and get involved with People Loving Nashville.
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Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Dr. Karon Uzzell-Baggett, Certified Occupational Therapist and Owner of Specialized Occupational Therapy Services, LLC (SpOTs), who discusses the role of occupational therapy in improving quality of life and independence, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and personalized approaches.

During the interview, Dr. Uzzell-Baggett shares some of her journey serving in the US Air Force and how those leadership experiences and her desire to continue serving others led to her career transition into occupational therapy. She explains that occupational therapy helps people live their best lives by focusing on daily activities and routines, adapting them to individual needs, including after injuries or illnesses. She talks about working with seniors and how she is able to assess clients' homes for potential hazards and provide recommendations for aging in place. Then, Dr. Uzzell-Baggett highlights her work with organizations, offering stress reduction techniques, trauma management, health education, and other mindfulness services. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration and personalized approaches in occupational therapy, whether working with individuals or corporations. She wraps up discussing how individuals and organizations can start the conversation and process of working with Specialized Occupational Therapy Services.

Visit https://www.spots4u.org to learn more and connect with Dr. Karon Uzzell-Baggett.

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Carrie Yoder, Executive Director of Project Transformation Tennessee, who highlights the nonprofit organization's mission and efforts to transform communities by engaging children, college-age young adults, and churches in purposeful relationships. Based on a model founded in 1998 in Dallas, Texas, Project Transformation Tennessee launched its first summer program in 2012. The program model is designed to address three unique challenges with one program: 1) how to meet the academic, physical, social-emotional, and spiritual needs of children, 2) how to provide meaningful ways for college-age young adults to explore ministry opportunities and develop as young principled leaders for the church and the world; and 3) how to help churches connect with their communities.

During the interview, Carrie discusses the unique and intentional model that serves children, college students, and communities. She talks about their summer camps for children that focus on literacy and social-emotional health, while also providing college students with work experience and vocational guidance. Camp is offered for rising 1st grade - rising 8th grade youth and located in Madison, Antioch, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Memphis. Local churches and community members are involved as volunteers, fostering relationships within neighborhoods. The summer camps operate for eight weeks, offering daily activities including reading, arts, and movement. College students are recruited to work at the camps, receiving training, housing, and stipends. Carrie shares positive feedback from parents, college students, and community members about the program's impact and invites the community to get involved by enrolling children, referring college students for the paid internships, volunteering to read with children or mentor young adults, and supporting the organization through donations or providing supplies from their wish list.

Visit https://projecttransformation.org/ten... to learn more and get involved with Project Transformation Tennessee.

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Jared Barnett, President and CEO of Slingshot Memphis, along with John Dunavant, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Development, who both highlight their organization's work in evaluating and improving nonprofit effectiveness through data-driven analysis, and then share a recap of their recent MPACT Awards.

During the interview, Jared and John discuss how Slingshot Memphis is working in partnership with nonprofits to transform poverty-fighting efforts using their “Poverty-Fighting Feedback Loop” methodology to measure poverty-fighting effectiveness. By providing previously unavailable insights about poverty-fighting outcomes, Slingshot Memphis is empowering decision makers to allocate financial and other resources toward solutions that produce effective outcomes for those experiencing poverty.

Slingshot Memphis conducts annual impact studies for nonprofits to evaluate their benefits, programming, data usage, and collaboration. At their Second Annual MPACT Awards, they highlighted organizations demonstrating high-quality poverty-fighting effectiveness and those showing improvement. Slingshot Memphis also presented over $650,000 in funding to effective organizations through their Accelerate Impact Fund. Jared and John highlight the MPROVE Award recipients and the MPACT Award recipients and share examples of how the organizations were able to make adjustments to improve outcomes and impact. They wrap up talking about how the community can get involved to support these high-impact nonprofit organizations through strategic volunteerism and financial donations through the Accelerate Impact Fund.

Visit https://www.slingshotmemphis.org to learn more about Slingshot Memphis, their methodology, MPACT Awards and how you can support their efforts.

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Melissa Aarskaug, Vice President of Gaming for Gaming Laboratories International's technology arm, Bulletproof, and Founder of the Executive Connect Podcast, who discusses the importance of cyber security in the gaming industry and other regulated industries, offers leadership tips and trends related to AI and technologies to enhance security, and shares her passion for STEM education and her mission to build communities that support each other. During the interview, Melissa emphasizes the need for a top-down approach to cyber security, with leadership and process playing a crucial role. She highlights the importance of transparency with insurance companies to ensure proper coverage, and expresses concern about the increasing complexity of phishing emails due to AI and machine learning, and the need for companies to leverage these technologies to enhance security.

Melissa then discusses her passion for STEM education, particularly for girls, and her mission to build communities that support each other. She shares her journey as the Founder of the Executive Connect Podcast, and talks about how the podcast has helped shape her professionally and personally. The Executive Connect Podcast is a platform where top industry leaders share game-changing insights on leadership, AI, personal branding, and navigating uncertainty. Melissa emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership, sharing her personal experiences and struggles to help others. Melissa also shares her experience of juggling her demanding job and family life, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing her marriage and children, and how creativity can be used to more effectively balance work and family life.

Visit https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com to learn more about Melissa Aarskaug and to follow the Executive Connect Podcast.

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Jo Stalnaker, US Air Force veteran, former Defense Contractor and Owner / Pitmaster of Ranch & Rifle, who discusses the challenges he and other veterans face transitioning to civilian life and how starting a food blog and then launching a veteran-owned company focused on popular spice rubs and blends became a way to connect with others and provide mental health benefits to other veterans. During the interview, Jo talks about how he was able to find solace in cooking, hunting and fishing, and how that led him to start a food blog featuring game meat and wild-caught fish. Jo discusses the importance of brotherhood in the service, emphasizing how it shapes individuals into part of something bigger than themselves. He highlights the challenges faced by veterans, including transitional stress, post-traumatic stress, and the effects of war. Jo notes that veterans tend to isolate when stressed and may have a rougher demeanor, but they care deeply about others.

Jo then shares the inspiration behind their spice rubs and blends, including the Gunpowder and Hot Honey Rubs, which have been well-received. He also discusses the Mediterranean-inspired All-Purpose Rub and their Memphis-style Barbecue Rub. Jo mentions a new spicy rub, Chipotle Soy Honey, set to launch in the next two weeks. Jo talks about the growth of the company and their higher purpose of creating a space for veterans to reconnect and share their love for cooking, and to support various nonprofit organizations and veteran-owned businesses. He highlights the company's support of various organizations, including Irreverent Warriors, River Deep Foundation, and Camp Bullwheel Accessible Outdoors. Jo also mentions their efforts to support other small veteran-owned businesses through social media campaigns.

Visit https://www.ranchandrifle.com to learn more about Ranch & Rifle and to shop their spices, rubs, and other merchandise.