Small Business Voices

smbvoices
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Bimonthly

Small Business Voices is where real entrepreneurs and community leaders share the stories behind their success — and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Hosted by Carlos Vazquez of Alliance Group, each episode features candid conversations with the people building, leading, and shaping small businesses across Gwinnett County and beyond. From faith and family to risk and resilience, guests open up about what drives them, what they’ve learned the hard way, and how they keep moving forward when things get tough. Whether you’re a business owner, a leader in your community, or someone thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship, you’ll find insight, inspiration, and practical takeaways in every episode. Presented by Alliance Group.

Episodes

  1. Jun 29

    SMB Podcast - Guillaume Bailliard

    Most businesses don’t fail because the founder lacks vision. They fail because eventually… the founder becomes the bottleneck. Today’s guest is Guillaume Bailliard and he has spent his career inside that exact problem. From GE Healthcare… to startups… to now helping small and midsize businesses scale as a fractional growth executive. In this conversation, we talk about why businesses plateau, why great salespeople often become bad sales leaders, and why the future belongs to operators who can combine human judgment with AI leverage. Let’s get into it

  2. Apr 30

    SMB Podcast- Carl Nicpon

    My guest today is Carl Nicpon with Marsh Creek Advisors, an M&A advisory firm that helps business owners think through what their business is really worth, how to increase that value, and how to navigate a sale without leaving money on the table. Carl’s story is pretty unique. He’s a third-generation business owner who helped run his family’s wedding services company before selling it in a private equity roll-up. Before all of that, he spent seven years in schools as a counselor and administrator, which sounds unrelated until you hear him talk about how emotional a business sale actually is. We also get into the part of selling a business nobody talks about on LinkedIn — trying to run the company and prep it for sale at the same time. You still have to hit your numbers. You still have to lead your team. And now you’re also in due diligence, turning over financials and answering questions. Doing that without the right team around you is a recipe for disaster, and it’s a big reason so many deals fall apart after the LOI. One of my favorite lines from Carl is this: an attractive business to buy is a fun business to run. And he gives you a dead simple test for it that every business owner should consider applying immediately. Let’s get into it.

  3. Mar 3

    Cole Porter - What It’s Like Running a 40-Year Family Business

    Today’s guest is Cole Porter, president of Porter Steel.   Porter Steel is a family business that Cole’s father started in the early 1980s, and today it employs more than 170 people across the Southeast.   In this conversation, we talk about Cole’s journey stepping into leadership, taking over the business, and navigating what it actually looks like to grow a company without losing your values, your people, or yourself in the process.   We start with Cole’s recent focus on health and fitness, how discipline in the gym has translated into discipline at work, and why taking care of himself has become a non-negotiable as the pressure has increased.   From there, we get into the realities of running a construction business: long sales cycles, tight margins, workforce challenges, safety, systems, and the weight that comes with knowing your decisions impact a lot of families.   Alright — let’s get into it.

  4. 12/29/2025

    Thomas Turner - How Thomas Turned Art Into a Living

    In today’s episode, I sit down with Thomas Turner, an Atlanta-based artist known for large-scale murals and a style that blends realism, nature, and surreal influence. What a lot of people don’t see when they look at an artist’s work is the business behind it, and Thomas breaks that wide open. We talk about what it actually takes to land major walls, how pricing works, and why so many mural projects are months in the making long before a paintbrush ever hits the wall. Thomas also shares the path that led him here. He grew up in Peachtree City, discovered art later than most, and eventually found his way through school, major shifts, and a few bold decisions that set him on this track. We get into some of the projects that changed everything for him, including the Atlantic Station mural that became a major breakthrough, and the moment he found out Hank Aaron had seen his work and was presented with a print of it. And we also talk about where he is right now. Thomas is a brand-new dad, and he’s thinking differently about time, stability, and what it looks like to build a career that doesn’t require being on a lift for 20 straight days. If you’re a creative, a business owner, or someone who’s ever wondered what it really takes to turn talent into a living, I think you’ll love this one. Let’s get into it.

  5. 12/29/2025

    EXODUS DESIGN BUILD - Faith, Friendship, and Building Something That Lasts

    In today’s episode, I sit down with Garrett Erath and Brad Scarberry, founders of Exodus Design Build. If you’ve spent any time around the Gwinnett business community, you’ve probably heard of Exodus. Their reputation isn’t just about craftsmanship — it’s about culture. The kind of culture you feel the second you walk into their office. There’s this sense of calm, purpose, and intentionality — and it all stems from the two guys steering the ship. In this conversation, we go all the way back to where it started — two college freshman, randomly joined as roommates at Truett-McConnel University who built a lasting friendship that eventually led them to start a business together. It’s a story full of laughs, detours, and faith — and it paints a picture of what real partnership looks like when it’s built on trust. From there we get into the story behind the name Exodus — how faith and calling shaped their vision from day one, and how that word has become the foundation for how they lead their team and serve their clients. We also talk about leadership — what it actually means to build a culture of trust and excellence — and how a book called Unreasonable Hospitality changed the way they think about service, teamwork, and experience in an industry not exactly known for it. And finally, we talk about what they’re still building — not just in the company, but in themselves. The lessons they’re still learning, and the parts of the story that are still being written. It’s a conversation about faith, leadership, and building something that lasts — not just for the next project, but for the people and purpose that make it all worth doing.

  6. 11/15/2025

    Joshua Pavon - Small Business Voices Podcast

    Joshua Pavon - Small Business Voices Podcast

  7. 10/31/2025

    Jaryd Green — Launching a Business and Planning for the What Ifs

    In today’s episode, I sit down with Jaryd Green, founder of Jaryd Green & Associates law firm in Suwanee. Jaryd recently launched his own practice, and we talk about what it’s like stepping out on your own and the tough lessons he’s watched business owners learn the hard way. One of the most striking parts of our conversation was his perspective on selling a business. He explained how owners often lose leverage if they don’t plan ahead --- and --- how buyers in today’s market know it. It’s a reality many don’t think about until it’s too late. Jaryd also opened up about his family, and how the opportunities created by his grandparents continue to shape the way he approaches both life and business. It’s a conversation that mixes practical advice with personal perspective — and I think it’ll give you something to reflect on no matter where you are in your business journey. Let’s get into it.

  8. 10/15/2025

    Randy Brunson — Faith, Family, and Fighting Back

    Join Randy Brunson, owner of Centurion Advisory Group, as he shares his journey of faith, family, and fighting back through life’s challenges. In this heartfelt episode, Randy opens up about the lessons from his early years, the role faith plays in shaping his decisions, and how he overcame a season where he nearly lost everything. From his approach to financial planning and business to his unwavering dedication to helping others thrive, Randy’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and hope. Whether you’re navigating tough times, leaning on faith, or seeking inspiration to stay steady in business and life, this episode is for you. Don’t miss this incredible conversation! #lifelessons #randybrunson #successstories CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:54 - Randy's Connection to Charleston Southern University 04:03 - Randy's Journey into Financial Planning 10:55 - Randy's Upbringing and Industry Entry 17:38 - America's Ideals and Personal Contribution 25:53 - Balancing Patience and Ambition in Life 29:13 - Purpose-Driven Financial Decisions 34:30 - Understanding the D.O.S.E. Effect 43:14 - Influential Figures in Randy's Life 54:58 - The Benefits of Silence for Personal Growth 55:30 - How Silence Solved a Business Problem 1:03:56 - The Process of Starting Over 1:11:00 - Understanding Client Mix in Business 1:15:17 - Insights from Business Owners 1:24:33 - Key Takeaways from Randy's Conversation 1:27:28 - Contacting Randy for More Information

  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Small Business Voices is where real entrepreneurs and community leaders share the stories behind their success — and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Hosted by Carlos Vazquez of Alliance Group, each episode features candid conversations with the people building, leading, and shaping small businesses across Gwinnett County and beyond. From faith and family to risk and resilience, guests open up about what drives them, what they’ve learned the hard way, and how they keep moving forward when things get tough. Whether you’re a business owner, a leader in your community, or someone thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship, you’ll find insight, inspiration, and practical takeaways in every episode. Presented by Alliance Group.

Information

  • Creator
    smbvoices
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Small Business Voices