514 - The Conversations We Avoid (and Why They Cost Us More Than We Think)

Chester A. France, Jr. is a Veteran Small Business Owner, a Certified Life Coach (CLC), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master Social Work (MSW), and Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS). Mr. France has more than 30 years of professional experience in sales, sales training, and management in the for-profit sector. For more than 15 years, Mr. France has provided management and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations, particularly in the faith-based community, to include establishing several nonprofit 501(c) (3) corporations.  Mr. France is a graduate of Morgan State University with a degree in Business and Marketing. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Howard University School of Divinity and is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Social Work with a Management and Community Organization concentration. Currently, Mr. France is the Lead Facilitator for Create U Network, an Entrepreneurial Training initiative located in West Baltimore, in partnership with New Song Community Church. Mr. France is the Founder of The Chill Station, Inc. (dba) Lifting Labels, a 501©(3) nonprofit organization and the Founder of Lifting Labels Benefit Corporation, both established to reduce poverty by creating careers for Baltimore' Returning Citizens and unemployed veterans, particularly those formerly incarcerated. Lifting Labels Benefit Corporation is certified with Electronic Maryland Management Advantage (eMMA), Veterans Small Business Enterprise (VSBE), Small Business Reserve (SBR), and System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Website - Lifting Labels Facebook and Instagram   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Over his 40+-year career, Sohn Lewis has reupholstered thousands of pieces of furniture and other items, including antiques, walls, and automobile and boat interiors. One of his more notable projects includes upholstering hundreds of replicated seats for the 2000s renovation of Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. His work also appears in the Smithsonian Institution, a few embassies, and the Maryland governor's office, Senate chambers, and statehouse. He's done work for Joseph Furniture Restoration (Columbia), Johnson Berman (Baltimore), Ibello Upholstery (Baltimore), and Iatesta Studio (Kent Island). He is the lead upholsterer and instructor at The Cavanagh House in Baltimore.   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Heidi Wenger Yoder is the owner of Smithland Custom Interiors in Harrisonburg, VA. which is celebrating 20 years of operation.  Heidi's husband, Brent, is an invaluable member of her team as chief installer and cornice board fabricator.  Her three teenage children pitch in on occasion as directors of recycling, dust bunny chasing, and van loading. Heidi is passionate about helping her clients live more fully in their homes and creating beauty in the process.   Heidi is on Instagram  and Facebook   The website below is currently under construction by Kate the Socialite and should be up and running soon My old site, www.seamslikehomeva.com, is still up. For my 20th business birthday, I re-branded and re-named the business.   Links and Resources; (I use some affiliate links and appreciate it if you choose to use them) Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life  by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans Kanban board Kate The Socialite

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Rachel Bristow has been married to her husband, Victor, for 16 years, and together they share a large and close-knit family of 11 children and 13 grandchildren. She has owned her business, Creative Cousins Sewing for 12 years, transitioning to full-time drapery work over the past two years. Sewing is deeply rooted in her background—she comes from a long line of skilled seamstresses. Her mother, a gifted bridal specialist, had an exceptional talent for altering any type of garment. After becoming a widow, she learned tailoring from her mother as a way to support her six children. That experience marked the beginning of her professional journey, laying the foundation for the work she continues today. Rachel is on Instagram Links and Resources; Stacy McAleer form the Cavenaugh House Michele Williams - Profit is a Choice Podcast   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Ruti is a Brooklyn-based upholsteress and the founder of Find The Thread Upholstery. Known for her bold use of color and pattern, she helps clients fall back in love with the furniture they already own, transforming pieces in a way that feels joyful and personal. Her process is designed to be approachable and low-stress, while keeping quality furniture out of the landfill through thoughtful, design-forward restoration. You can see her work on her website or on Instagram @findthethread.   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Dennis Locke is a 3rd generation furniture upholsterer in Greenville, Tx. Serving the Dallas area. He came into the family business as a child, and has doing it professionally for over 40 years. Dennis took over the business in '97, when his mother passed. He does commercial and residential furniture, as well as specializing in repair and foam replacement.  You can find Dennis at Payne's Upholstery.  For some insight into Dennis's writing ability, be sure to visit his About Us Page.   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Abby Glassenberg is the co-founder and president of Craft Industry Alliance, the trade association for the crafts industry. The organization has over 2,000 members in all different sectors. She's also a sewing pattern designer, teacher, and journalist. Abby lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts with her husband, three children, and a rescue dog named Steve. You can reach Abby at https://[email protected]/   Abby is on Instagram