John Thomas is tapped as new GMA board chairman
John Thomas knows how important communicating and making connections are. Communicating is a big part of what his company does.
He’s president of IDeACOM of Central North Carolina Inc., a member of one of the largest telecommunications franchises in North America with 130 offices
Get to know the new board chairman
Name: John Thomas
Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics from Notre Dame
Did you know? John played on the 1977 championship football team for Notre Dame. He also knows how to play the drums, and keeps a set of bongo drums in his office.
Family: Wife, Sandy, three grown children and five grandchildren.
nationwide. IDeACOM’s offices are in the Greensboro Airport Center. The company
sells and installs advanced hosted telephone services;
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Bradshaw headlines GMA’s Annual Dinner
ou might recognize this year’s speaker for the Guilford Merchants Association Annual Dinner.
boro Hotel/Koury Convention Center. The dinner starts with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now for GMA members, employees and their guests at www. mygma.org.
Perhaps you saw him snap one of many game-winning touchdowns. Or heard his game analysis. You could have recognized his voice on the radio singing country music. Or maybe he showed up on one of your favorite TV shows.
It also could be that you saw him speak in Greensboro years ago at another Annual Dinner.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw will headline the Feb. 12 event at the Sheraton Greens-
The annual dinner is the only official meeting of the members of the Association. The dinner is followed by the official “passing of the gavel” to the new board chair, although their work has already begun
“We like this event to be a little bit of business and a whole lot of networking, socializing, and a nice corporate outing for member businesses,” said GMA Vice President Michelle Bolick.
“It’s exciting to see the speaker,” she added. “You never know what will happen!”
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Web woes: Digital Marketing Institute
Nicole Dohmlo, All Pets Considered (left) and Alison Schwartz, All Pets Considered, listen to Beth Livingston of Triad Web Advisors talk about the intersection of websites and marketing during the Nov. 6 Digital Marketing Institute.
Bradshaw
Name: Brandon Shanahan
Hometown: Walkertown, N.C.
Residence: Kernersville, N.C.
Age: 30
Education: Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Liberty University
Business: The Resource
Role/title: Business development
Responsibilities: My role is to connect companies with top talent by thoroughly understanding their unique needs and goals. We focus on delivering tailored solutions that ensure roles are filled accurately and promptly, contributing to the company’s longterm success rather than just meeting immediate hiring demands.
On GMA: GMA has been incredible! Since starting my role in the Greensboro community, I attended a networking event and quickly realized I had to become part of what GMA offers. It has been a fantastic resource, connecting me with the community through engaging networking opportunities, impactful events, and valuable seminars.
On GMA’s benefits: The greatest benefit of GMA is its members. Everyone I’ve met through GMA genuinely cares about supporting one another. Whether it’s sharing referrals, providing valuable contacts, or addressing other needs, the people at GMA are truly committed to ensuring
everyone is well-supported.
On Risers: Risers is a great group that really helps connect young professionals with the rest of the workforce. Jumping into the “real world” with little experience can be overwhelming, but collaborating with like-minded young professionals provides invaluable opportunities to expand your network, develop new skills, and build the confidence needed to succeed in your career.
Personal: I’m happily married to Brianna, my wife of five years. We have a son who will be turning 2 on Jan. 7, and we’re expecting our second baby in mid to late January. In my free time, I love spending time with my family, watching sports, and being involved in my church community.
Brandon Shanahan
Direct line (call or text) 336-9705246.
Email: bshanahan@theresource.com
President & CEO
G. Mark Prince
Vice President Michelle Bolick
Membership Development
Program/Events Manager
Membership Coordinator
Administrative Assistant
Publication Coordinator – Michelle Bolick Phone (336) 378-6350
225 Commerce Place, Greensboro, N.C. 27401 www.mygma.org
Dinner
Continued from page 1
Previous speakers have come from a variety of fields — from former N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano to actor Henry Winkler.
Bradshaw might best be known for his career as a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by years as a sports broadcaster. But he also has written several New York Times bestselling books, acted in movies and TV shows, and bred championship quarter horses. He’s also a gospel/country singer and a motivational speaker. He has won numerous awards spanning his various careers – including four Super Bowl championships and multiple Emmys for his work as a sports broadcaster. He was inducted
REMEMBER WHEN ...
Who can go?
Members may buy individual tickets or a table of 10. The easiest way is to go online to mygma.org or GMA can invoice your company.
into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame last year. He’s the only NFL player to be honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
Bradshaw is one of the few repeat speakers that GMA has had for the dinner.
“He filled the place up,” said new GMA Board Chairman John Thomas, who’s no stranger to the gridiron. He played defensive end for Notre Dame. “It was, by far, I think the best speaker we’ve ever had, but that’s my opinion.”
Dinner at the O. Henry Hotel
Sharon Smith
Stacey Speight
Colleen Biedny
Melinda Thomas
This photo from 1933 shows a big turnout for the Annual Dinner, one of the highlights of membership in what is now the Guilford Merchants Association.
GMA’s Annual Dinner always draws a big crowd and well-known speakers.
Chairman
Continued from page 1 voice, data and fiber cabling; surveillance cameras and door access control technology; and provides IT and managed service provider services.
Thomas wants to bring that focus on connectedness to his term as chair of the Guilford Merchants Association Board of Directors. He would like to encourage more companies to have their employees take advantage of all the business workshops, training, networking and opportunities that GMA offers.
“There’s no other business that supports our community like GMA does,” Thomas said.
He plans to encourage current GMA company members to make sure their employees are getting involved, as well as spreading the word to other businesses.
“If people would participate, just jump in and get involved — even if they send their salespeople or their new business development people to some of these meetings — they can help their company grow so much more,” he said.
GMA is also blessed with incredible staff like President and CEO
Mark Prince and Vice President Michelle Bolick, who does an amazing job coordinating everything, he said.
During his time in the telecommunications field, Thomas has earned recognition as one of the top equipment sales people in the country. He originally worked for XEROX Corp. and later ROLM/IBM and Executone Information Systems in several sales and sales management positions before striking out on his own.
“The best thing about GMA is it allows you to network with people to-
Member Orientation on Dec. 4
gether within our Triad area,” he said.
He learned that very quickly once he joined GMA more than two decades ago, around the time he opened his IDeACOM franchise.
He realized that other GMA members were looking for the same type of customers that he was.
“It’s hard to get into companies that you don’t know,” he said.
Making those connections and participating through GMA can get you in the door. He said joining GMA was “a big boost” for his company when he first started.
Along with his work on the GMA board, Thomas also is on the executive board of IDeACOM and the board of the Better Business Bureau of Central and Northwest North Carolina. He formerly served on the board of the Piedmont Triad Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Thomas attended the University of
Notre Dame on a full football scholarship under coach Dan Devine. He was a member of the 1977 NCAA National Championship football team, and graduated in three and a half years with a Bachelor of Arts in economics.
When he’s not at work or handling GMA business, Thomas likes to spend time at his beach house with his family. He and his wife, Sandy have three grown children and five grandchildren.
The latest family addition is a goldendoodle that his wife bought for him named “Teddy.”
“I love God, my family and I really love this dog.”
John Thomas 336-854-4455 jthomas@ideacomnc.com www.ideacomnc.com
Dec. 4 Member Orientation class: Allie Arpajian, Carolina Theatre; Michelle Bolick, GMA; Tabatha Wright, Camel City Restoration; Skylar Maddox, Options for Senior America; April Harris, Action Cleaning Services Inc.; Kim Littrell, Blue Denim real estate; Stan Jarozewski, J2 Marketing; Ashley Miller, Bayada Home Health Care; Asa Johnson, J2 Marketing; Jeff Allen, Zoom Drain; Steven Simpson, American Red Cross; Michael Peeler, Spare Time Entertainment; Frank Bruno, Edward Jones; Joel Payne, Edward Jones; Jason Stevenson, Sutton Brothers; Mark Littrell, Blue Denim real estate; Robert Garland, Edward Jones; Tom James, TCJ Associates Inc.; Jason Meyer, Ray Self Storage; AJ Chenail, Edward Jones; Andrew Grove, Ray Self Storage; and Eric Schlau, Eric Schlau & Associates.
HR veteran starts her own consulting firm
Leslie Speas joined GMA for networking opportunities
One of the Guilford Merchants Association’s Noontime Network events lured her in. A Teach Me Tuesday helped clinch the deal.
While Leslie Speas had heard about GMA years ago, she didn’t attend an event until after she struck out on her own and opened InfluenceHR Consulting in January 2023.
She really liked the experience and decided to join.
“I felt like it was a good group for me for networking,” she said. “I also liked the education component, and actually have talked with them about potentially leading some workshops.”
Speas has more than 30 years of experience in the human resources field, including stints at Novant Health and Inmar Intelligence. Later, she worked for a recruiting firm. Part of her role there was to develop an HR consulting division.
“And so that was kind of my segue into what I’m doing now,” she said. “I actually never thought that I would start my own thing, but I did want to do consulting long-term. That had been a goal for kind of the latter years of my career.”
InfluenceHR Consulting focuses on helping leaders and HR attract, retain and develop talented employees. She offers what’s called “fractional” support, which is basically part-time or flexible support for a company that needs help with human
resources. She also develops company handbooks, handles HR audits and assists with other projects. She offers a “culture catalyst” solution to help build workplaces where employees will stay and thrive, and conducts leadership development, leads team development, and more. She mostly works with small and medium-sized organizations.
In April, Speas published a book, “7 Habits of High-Retention Managers.” She had gathered a lot of material around leadership over the years through creating leadership development programs.
“So, I started thinking, you know, this could be a book,” she said.
This month, Speas is holding a free seven-day leadership challenge that focuses on the seven habits from the book. It will run from Jan. 12-18. Find more information on the leadership challenge at www.influencehrconsulting.com.
Speas said GMA makes its events fun and people have been very friendly. She also said GMA’s leadership is very engaged. They reached out after she first attended an event and kept in touch before and after she joined.
She had joined other groups in the past, but said GMA was a better investment and fit for what she needs. And GMA’s annual fee is more than reasonable, especially for a small business owner.
“When you’re self-employed, you really have to think hard about where you invest your funds,” she said.
Leslie Speas
leslie@influencehrconsulting.com
336-830-2081
www.linkedin/com/in/leslie-speas www.influencehrconsulting.com
Group gives teachers free classroom supplies
Teachers spend an average of $610 of their own money on supplies for their classrooms every year, a recent survey showed.
It’s likely more than $1,000, said Karen Deal, interim president of the Guilford Education Alliance. And inflation is putting a bigger dent in educators’ wallets, she said.
For more than 15 years, the nonprofit’s Teacher Supply Warehouse has been helping educators in Guilford County Schools offset those costs by providing free supplies.
The district’s teachers can shop at the warehouse up to four times a year. The Guilford Education Alliance stocks the warehouse through community donations of new and gently used supplies and money, along with community partnerships. Available items range from paper, pencils and glue sticks to desk organizers, plastic bins and art supplies.
So far this school year, the warehouse has filled more than 3,200 orders for teachers — a value of more than
Want to help?
Here are some items teachers need:
• Markers and pens (colored, dry erase, Sharpie and ink)
• Pencils and erasers (No. 2 and colored)
• Paper (copy, graph, construction)
$475,000, Deal said.
Now they’re expanding, with plans to open a satellite warehouse in High Point, possibly by this spring. It will be in a former modular classroom at Oak View Elementary.
Teachers shop at the end of the school day, so sometimes it is difficult for High Point teachers to get to the Greensboro warehouse, Deal said.
A recent fundraiser brought in $38,000, which will help to retrofit the classroom trailer. But they would love to have a corporate sponsor to help out, Deal said.
With spring cleaning just around the corner, Deal said community members should consider donating unused office supplies, books, toys and other materials to the warehouse.
“This is just a really easy way for the community to make an impact,” she said.
• Bags (paper, canvas and plastic)
• Small toys for prize boxes
• Organizing bins (plastic, canvas, wood, metal)
Supplies can be dropped off 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday at 311 Pomona Drive, Suite E, Greensboro.
Teachers collect supplies from the Teacher Supply Warehouse in Greensboro.
Speas
Ivan Saul Cutler for Guilford Education Alliance
Lisa Hazlett: Grantwriter, singer/actress and dancing queen
Question: Describe how you spend your free time?
Answer: In my previous life I was a professional singer/actress. I continue to perform regularly around Greensboro and the Triad with my guitar player Shawn Patch. We have an acoustic duo called High Cotton. We play classic country music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Think Hee Haw. I also binge watch Friends and Big Bang Theory. They’re my comfort food. I’ve seen them both so many times they calm me after a hectic day.
Q: What are you most proud of in your career?
A: There are a few things that I worked really hard to achieve.
Between 2006-2008 I visited 62 radio stations across the country to promote my CD, No One Like Me. The day before my 40th birthday, my song I’d Leave Me debuted on the Country Weekly Top 40.
I was president of my Rotary Club 2019-2020. In spite of COVID, we led the district in Membership Growth and were awarded Platinum Club status.
In 2024, we built and opened a new shared use commercial kitchen at The Nussbaum Center AND in June of 2024, we started construction on The Steelhouse in East Greensboro. This was a 10 1/2 year overnight success. We are on target to open an initial
Questions with ... 6
Lisa Hazlett President, Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship
32,000 square foot manufacturing center to serve manufacturing entrepreneurs in Q1 of 2025.
Q: What was your worst subject in school?
A: Anything that required writing. I hated writing papers. Back in the 80’s we didn’t have the internet. All research was done manually. It was exhausting. I swore I would never have a job that required me to write… I’m responsible for all of the grant writing for The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship. Well played, Karma.
Q: What book(s) would you recommend?
A: Lamb by Christopher Moore. It’s the story of Jesus as told by his best friend Biff. It’s awesome. What I like is how it humanizes Jesus. You get to know the person and the struggles he faced knowing that he was born to be the Savior. It’s laced with sarcasm and inappropriate humor. I often compare it to Star Wars. In Star Wars 1, 2 and 3 you
know Anakin Skywalker is destined to become Darth Vader but you still get attached to him. In Lamb, you know that Jesus will be betrayed by Judas but it doesn’t stop you from getting invested in and rooting for him. I always cry at the end. I have a leather bound autographed copy from the author Christopher Moore, who I converse with via text message.
Q: What is one important skill that you think everyone should have?
A: Public speaking. Everyone should be required to take a public speaking or theatre class no matter their major.
Toastmasters has 3 groups who meet at The Nussbaum Center month-
ly. For a nominal fee, anyone can learn to speak in public or on a Zoom call.
Q: What is something good that has happened to you lately?
A: My daughter got married on December 8th in Key West. It was a small wedding, about 80 people attended. I did a Facebook countdown for 365 days leading up to the wedding, pulling out old pictures and videos of Patti from birth to adulthood. The wedding was Perfectly Patti in every way.
Lisa Hazlett
336-501-1059
lhazlett@nussbaumcfe.com www.nussbaumcfe.com
Upcoming events
Here’s what’s coming up:
Jan. 15 — Risers 101. Introductory session on GMA’s young professionals’ group. 12:30-1:30 p.m., GMA, 225 Commerce Place, Greensboro. Lunch provided. Registration begins at 12:15 p.m.
Jan. 23 — GMA Night at the Greensboro Swarm. 7 p.m., Novant Health Fieldhouse, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Tickets are $14 per person and include admission to the game, a hot dog and a soda. Buy tickets online at www. mygma.org.
Jan. 29 — Member Orientation. Noon-1 p.m., GMA, 225 Commerce Place, Greensboro. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m. Lunch provided.
Jan. 31 — Free-Day Friday. Free headshots. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., GMA, 225 Commerce Place, Greensboro. In upstairs lobby. Sign up for an appointment time and receive a digital image file of your professional photo. Arrive anytime during your 15-minute appointment window. Available to all employees of GMA members.
Lisa Hazlett dances the night away at her daughter Patti’s recent wedding.
Joe Novara, Growth Academy, talks to members of GMA’s Risers group during the Nov. 13 Networking for Young Professionals Workshop at GMA’s offices.
in pictures 2024
GMA Vice President Michelle Bolick (left) and Alison Schwartz, All Pets Considered, get their picture made at the Annual Dinner, which featured comedian, magician and businessman Penn Jillette, who is probably best known as part of the magical and Emmy Award-winning duo Penn & Teller.
Suzanne Andia, Print Plus (left), and Xan Thomas, Bankers Insurance, help sign in participants at the Aug. 27 After Work Network at River Landing at Sandy Ridge in Colfax.
Santa Claus (High Point’s Cliff Snider) takes a break from the holiday merriment to get a photo with two young fans in the sleigh on display at the High Point Public Library. The sleigh is provided by the Guilford Merchants Association, which also produces the annual High Point Holiday Festival Parade.
Bethany Fields, RE/MAX Realty Consultants (left) and Salem Owens, Rent-A-Home of the Triad, pose for a photo at the Sept. 18 Meet and Eat at GMA’s offices.
Above: Will Chappell, Bankers Life, holds the prize he won at the Aug. 27 After Work Network at River Landing at Sandy Ridge in Colfax.
At left: Kayleigh Cook, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro, holds the prize she won at the Nov. 12 After Work Network at Truliant Federal Credit Union in Greensboro.
Top right photo: Colleen Biedny, GMA, gives Liz Watson-Bryant, Action Cleaning, her prize.
Below: GMA members enjoy food, drinks and conversation during the networking event.
From left: Wendy Loftis, NorthGroup Real Estate; Michelle Hensley, US Health Advisors; Xan Thomas, Bankers Insurance; and Terri Moore, Terri Moore Coaching Services, pose for a photo.
John Thomas, IDeACOM and GMA’s new board chairman (left), poses for a photo with Rendy Richards, Scale Finance (center) and Gene Dolan, Culinary Visions.
