Interview Owl Business Feature

I had the privilege of working with Anne Akridge, founder and CEO of Interview Owl to visually depict her persona to her potential clients for her website.  Her passion is helping people realize their talent and succed in employment in that area a very necessary and interesting business!  Her website turned out awesome, here's a screen shot and my interview with her along with some of my favs from our session. 

Anne Akridge knows sales and management inside and out. She has been recognized as a top salesperson, trainer, manager and director in healthcare and business, winning national sales awards for 20 years. She's interviewed thousands of candidates and built five national sales forces. Every candidate she hired achieved success, winning award recognition or a promotion. Most importantly, Anne knows talent. She knows how to spot talent that’s hidden inside job candidates. And she knows how to nurture talent. She founded Interview Owl to help job candidates improve their interview skills and get the job they want.

CW: Tell me about your company and what you do?

AA: We develop custom resumes, phone interview practice, face to face interview practice, business plans, accomplishment portfolios, one on one customized coaching and one stop shop career advice.  Interview Owl was developed to give job candidates honest feedback on resumes, interview skills and career advice. Practice with a successful hiring manager with 20 years of REAL WORLD sales, training and executive management experience. Interview Owl services anyone looking to master the interview - from recent college graduates to seasoned professionals looking to make a change, in any industry, and in every part of the world. Practice with a PRO and get your dream job - the smarter way to get the job you want.

CW: Why do you love what you do?

AA: I truly enjoy helping people succeed.  It’s why I became a manager and director in the corporate world, to help people develop throughout their career.  Now I can use my “street credit” to help candidates set themselves apart in the interview process.  It’s so much fun to watch the transformation of someone in the beginning of their job search who’s a little unsure to completely owning the room and getting their dream job.

CW: What are some interesting things you would want people to know about you?

AA: I have two boxers I skateboard everyday like sled dogs. I own over 4,000 vinyl records and have been an avid reader of Rolling Stone for 30 years.  I love board games, especially Charades and Pictionary. 

July Tampa Bay NACE Meeting

Sylense and I attended and photographed the July National Association of Catering Executives meeting.  This month was a luncheon and very helpful presentation by Chris and Dani from MetLife on "Business Killers".  Some really important things to consider like contingency planning, buy/sell agreements and a number of good things business owners need to take time out to plan for!  I enjoyed it and learned a lot!

Venue: Crowne Plaza Westshore, Linens: Got you Covered, Entertainment: Breezin

Chic Sweets Business Feature

You've probably seen me say it before, but, I personally love helping people succeed in business and part of that is having great photography to showcase who you are on your website.  Natalie, from Chic Sweets is not only a collegue of mine but also a great friend as well.  I was honored that she wanted me to help her do that for her website.  She is a beautiful person inside and out and I've known her from the beginning and it's been awesome to see how her business has grown.  We've gotten to work with her in a number of weddings and events and I had her design sweet creations for both of our studio opening parties.  The red velvet cake pops, always my all time favorite:-)  Here's a little bit of her story and some of the amazing sweets we've photographed and eaten of course:-) 

CW: Natalie tell me a little bit about you?

NC: My family calls me Nat. A few years ago, I would have never imagined I would be here, in this very spot. Doing what sets my heart on fire every single day— a mama to my boys, a wife to my amazing husband and business partner Steve, and making my client’s dreams happen with our fabulous candy & dessert tables.

CW: What did you do before Chic Sweets and what made you switch careers?

NC: The truth is I spent a big portion of my life in the nonprofit world. And yes, while I treasure the work that I did, I could never stop feeling like something was missing. So after some deep (closing my eyes tight) soul searching, I took an enormous leap of faith to grow the Chic Sweets brand full time and to this day, I can honestly say I have never looked back.

CW: What is your motivating force?

NC: I love meeting new people and nothing excites me more than to weave a story through my dessert tables. I want to capture my bride’s favorite candy growing up or the chocolates her fiancé gave her on their very first Valentine’s Day. I believe that when a couple sees their table for the first time, it should feel like them. Their personality. Their taste.

CW: Tell me some something random:-)

NC: When I’m not designing tables, creating the perfect cake pop or debating color swatches, you can find me hanging out with my boys (Steve included) and planning our next adventure which typically involves an ice cream run.

Natalie's unique dessert tables and talent for using her imagination to bring forth new and exciting ideas have made her the sought-after designer in West Coast Florida. Natalie’s work has also been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s Daytime Morning show, as well as on Style Me Pretty, Rock N Roll Bride, Weddings Unveiled and numerous other wide-reaching blogs.