Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Brenda Johnson.

CEO of Collaborative Training Company (CTC)

🧩 Main Topics Covered 🏢 What CTC Does

• CTC is a professional services consulting firm focused on workforce development.
• They help companies:
  • Upskill employees for career advancement.
  • Support new hires, especially those without traditional corporate experience.
  • Define what “fit” means in their organization and help new hires acclimate.

👥 Not a Staffing Firm

• CTC does not do individual job placement or talent coaching.
• They work with companies after hiring to ensure employee success and retention.
• They partner with organizations that provide individual coaching.

🧠 Bridging the Corporate Culture Gap

• CTC helps new hires from non-corporate backgrounds (e.g., warehouse, retail) adjust to corporate environments.
• They use mentorship programs and employee resource groups to support retention.

🤖 AI and the Future of Work

• Brenda sees AI as a tool, not a replacement for human creativity.
• She emphasizes the importance of adding a personal touch to AI-generated work.
• AI may replace some jobs, but it also creates new roles in programming, maintenance, and oversight.

🎓 Rethinking the Four-Year Degree

• Many companies are removing degree requirements to widen their talent pool.
• Brenda helps companies:
  • Reevaluate outdated job descriptions.
  • Focus on skills-based hiring.
  • Identify core competencies rather than relying on degrees.

🌍 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

• Brenda challenges the narrow view of DEI as only race and gender.
• She expands the definition to include:
  • Neurodiversity (e.g., autism)
  • Generational diversity
  • Accessibility needs
  • LGBTQ+ inclusion
• She stresses that companies that embrace true diversity will thrive, while those clinging to outdated models may struggle.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Mentorship and support are critical for retention and success.
• AI is a complement, not a replacement, for human insight.
• Skills-based hiring is the future—degrees are not always necessary.
• True diversity is broad and essential for business success.
• Systemic change requires questioning legacy practices and recruiting strategies.

🔗 Contact Info

• Website: ctcdui.com
• LinkedIn: Collaborative Training Company

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST #AMI

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tremayne Thompson.

A co-owner of Perfect Note, a dinner supper club with locations in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation is a rich blend of entrepreneurship, community service, music, and food culture.

🎶 About Perfect Note

• Concept: A dinner supper club offering live music and Southern cuisine, catering to a mature audience (ages 30+).
• Locations: Birmingham, AL (original) and Marietta, GA (Atlanta metro).
• Atmosphere: Grown folks’ vibe—no hookah, no club chaos, just good music, good food, and good company.

🧑🏾‍🤝‍🧑🏾 Founders & Origins

• Co-owned by Tremayne Thompson and his wife Karen (hence “TK Productions”).
• Started as gospel concert promoters in Chicago.
• Moved to Alabama in 2008 after a family loss and launched Perfect Note in Bessemer with a Gerald Albright concert.
• Initially operated out of a banquet hall, setting up and breaking down everything themselves.

📈 Growth & Expansion

• Perfect Note evolved into a full-fledged venue in 2016.
• Expanded to Atlanta due to demand from patrons traveling from Georgia to Alabama.
• Featured in the Huffington Post as one of the top 100 businesses to visit in the U.S.

🍽️ Food & Hospitality

• Offers Wednesday–Saturday dinner service and Sunday brunch with live music.
• Website: perfectnoteliveatl.com
• Tremaine’s culinary journey began at Waffle House, where he learned speed cooking and kitchen management under pressure.
• Emphasizes quality and consistency in food service, even during high-volume events.

💬 Philosophy & Community Impact

• Business is rooted in service, not profit.
• During COVID, they pivoted to drive-up service with $5 meals, feeding the community.
• Believes in mentorship and sharing knowledge freely with aspiring entrepreneurs.

🗣️ Key Takeaways

• Mentorship is vital: Learn from those who’ve walked the path.
• Serve first: Community support follows genuine service.
• Plan wisely: Dreams need operational structure and financial planning.
• Create culture: Music and food unite people across demographics.

#SHMS #STRAW # #AMI

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Monty Garside.

A full-time attorney turned baker and founder of Confectionist Bakery.

Here are some key highlights from the episode:

🎙️ Guest Background

• Monty Garside is a practicing attorney with over 20 years of experience in litigation.
• He founded Confectionist Bakery in honor of his grandmother.
• The bakery started in his home kitchen and now ships desserts nationwide.

🍰 Bakery Journey

• Inspired by nostalgia and family traditions, Marty began baking after his grandmother passed away.
• His first successful cake was a pound cake that tasted exactly like his grandmother’s.
• He was encouraged to start a business by a client who was the daughter of a professional baker.

🧁 Products & Flavors

• Specializes in cheesecakes, pound cakes, layer cakes, and pies.
• Unique flavors include:
  • Peach Cobbler Pound Cake
  • Amaretto Pound Cake
  • Banana Pudding Layer Cake
  • Sweet Potato Pound Cake

🚚 Shipping & Operations

• Operates out of a commercial kitchen in Atlanta.
• Cakes are wrapped and frozen for freshness and shipped nationwide.
• Orders typically take 2 days to process and 3–5 days for delivery.

💡 Business Insights

• Challenges included pricing products appropriately and managing holiday demand.
• Emphasizes the importance of:
  • Quality product
  • Excellent customer service
  • Knowing your target audience
• Target customers are busy professionals who appreciate homemade, Southern-style desserts but lack the time or skill to make them.

📈 Advice for Entrepreneurs

1. Don’t be afraid to try something new.
2. Control what you can—especially product quality and customer service.
3. Trust yourself through the ups and downs.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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