Tag Archives: WIMS Consulting

WIMS Client Spotlight: Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance

The Greater Charlotte Hospitality & Tourism Alliance (HTA) has been the premier voice of our region’s hospitality & tourism industry since it was established by the leaders of the industry in 1994. Over the years, the HTA’s leadership has been vital in efforts that have made our region a premier destination.

They are proud to have been a major part of developing the Charlotte Convention Center, Spectrum Arena, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, $200 million Arts & Cultural Complex, the Carolinas Aviation Museum, the Charlotte Knights Baseball Stadium, the development of the $42M Matthews Regional Sportsplex, the renovation of Mecklenburg County’s Aquatic Center, the Carolina Panthers’ (Bank of America) stadium upgrade, the planned $35 million renovation of Memorial Stadium and many other initiatives which have made the Charlotte region a great travel, event, and convention destination.

Looking ahead, the HTA will be assisting with bringing the 2022 NFL Draft, 2023 ACC Basketball Tournament, 2024 Democratic National Convention, 2024-2030 CIAA Tournament, 2025 PGA Championship, and 2026 Super Bowl to Charlotte.

The top priorities of the HTA are to help members grow their business, encourage tourism and economic development projects, and support community and region-wide initiatives. With the goal of creating the best informational and networking events in the Charlotte area, HTA’s relationship building meetings and events have annually included:

  • Quarterly General Meetings
  • HTA’s Annual Dinner & Gala Event
  • HTA’s Annual Business Showcase
  • Annual Candidate’s Reception
  • Spring, Summer, and Autumn Golf Tournaments

The HTA is proud to have served a large variety of businesses in the Charlotte area for more than two decades, proud of their vast accomplishments, and honored to have the most active members as indicated by their remarkably well attended and successful events. Their members’ active involvement is a reward for the work done on their behalf and a testament to the value of an HTA membership.

If you are interested in joining a business development organization whose mission is to “help its members grow their business,” check out their newly designed website by visiting www.charlottehta.com or call the HTA office directly at (704) 331-0079.

WIMS Client Spotlight: The Agape Network

The Agape Network is a non-profit, non-denominational faith-based 501(c)(3) organization. It specializes in a comprehensive, integrated healthcare system that addresses the multifaceted health issues experienced by individuals and families today.

The Agape Network’s mission is to “Restore individuals and families to psychological, social, physical, and spiritual health.” Recognizing that every person was made by a loving Creator who intends for their life to be full and purposeful, The Agape Network offers integrated comprehensive quality care services rooted in compassion, hope and faith, with a belief that, by the grace of God, every individual can reach their full potential.

Located in Miami-Dade County, The Agape Network’s facilities include a six-acre community health center with residential inpatient and outpatient services located in Allapattah, an eight-acre campus located on Old Cutler Road, and various on-site locations across the county.

The Agape Network provides holistic, value-based quality care through a patient-centered medical home for a total wellness approach, incorporating treatment modalities that heal the body, mind, and spirit.  With highly experienced care teams of more than 150 staff members, including physicians, board certified addiction specialists (child and adult), psychiatrists, therapists, licensed clinical social workers, care managers, chaplains, intake team, advanced nurse practitioners, benefits eligibility determination specialists, registered dieticians and peer specialists, they are uniquely qualified to serve people with complex behavioral and physical healthcare needs.

Utilizing a treatment approach that addresses the whole person, they integrate behavioral health services, primary care services, and manage transitions of care across a broad range of healthcare continuums, hospitals, criminal justice systems, and community-based systems of care. Since 2008, they have followed the patient-centered medical health home model that coordinates care of individuals’ overall wellness using a team-based clinical model that includes clients, providers, and family members in-home on-site.

Visit www.theagapenetwork.org/ to learn more about how The Agape Network can assist you or a loved one.

WIMS Client Spotlight: Commercial Carolina

Commercial Carolina brings wisdom, creativity, and innovation to the process of commercial real estate brokerage, investment, and development. Their goal is to offer a solution to your needs while exceeding expectations and deepening your relationship. They strive to achieve the best possible outcome in all endeavors and expect to be judged upon their results. Their firm utilizes up-to-the-minute technology including analytics software, wireless on-the-go connectivity, and client informatics and data mining from providers including Costar, Loopnet, and regional/local commercial listing services.

Services include:

  • Real Estate Development
  • Capital Investments
  • Tenant Brokerage

President Robert Settle has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate brokerage, investment, development, and financing. His expertise includes commercial property in the Eastern U.S. with over $200,000,000 + in closed transactions.

​As Commercial Carolina enjoys the advantages of technology, they know their success is truly grounded in “old-fashioned”, traditional values and methods. By providing the highest level of integrity and ethics in all matters, they will deepen their relationships and the value of their services with clientele.

Simply put, they will not be out-worked or out-thought by their competitors or out-of-sight when you need them. Check out their website https://www.commercialcarolina.net/ for more in-depth information on what they can do for you!

WIMS Client Spotlight: Tabbris

Tabbris focuses on innovation and technology, and they want your company to grow with them. Because of the nature of what they do and the expertise they have, Tabbris offers space to early-stage companies with the potential to scale and innovate within their market. Often, this ends up being technology and software companies, but it’s not limited to them exclusively; however, if you’re a realtor, attorney, or consultant, you might want to look elsewhere. Why? Because they’re built to offer resources, events, and networking to tech-based startups. In order to incubate them, Tabbris wants to give them the space they need to grow.

They want you to outgrow them. They’re the studio apartment you move into before you buy that shiny, new house. They are the starter kit. They’re whatever you want to call them, except permanent. Why? Because at Tabbris, that’s their goal – they want to put you and your projects on a path to success. If they do their job right, you’ll be out of the coworking space before you know it.

Charlotte startups are some of the most innovative companies out there, and Tabbris is dedicated to fostering their genius. Before you can go full speed, you’ve got to prepare for all the twists and turns. Tabbris is here for all of that, and they’re going to give you the space you need to get your gears going. They believe that all you need to fill the gaps between ideas and success is some really good cement; let them be that cement.

Tabbris offers monthly memberships for their hot desks, standard offices, and executive offices. The coworking space also features a recording studio. For businesses still skeptical of the benefits of collaboration in a coworking space, Tabbris offers daily passes that offer the same perks as purchasing a monthly hot desk. Day passes are a great way to get familiar with the Tabbris coworking space before committing to a monthly membership. Go check out Tabbris and see what they can do to launch your startup to the next level!

WIMS Client Spotlight: TRUROOF

At TRUROOF, they are trusted because they work in responsible ways to fulfill what they understand to be each customer’s desire for their home or business. TRUSTED, RESPONSIBLE AND UNDERSTANDING are more than words, they are standards that TRUROOF demonstrates every day.

  • They are trusted because they provide the professional, visual, and technical evidence necessary for you to understand your roof’s condition and the process that makes it possible to obtain a new roof through the insurance restoration process.
  • They are responsible for your entire roof replacement from start to finish. Their team of professionals shoulders the burden of identifying your roof’s condition, working with your insurance company to get you the roof you deserve, installing your new roof and providing the warranty that will protect you for years to come.
  • They understand what you want because they listen. This is not a simple transaction. It is a relationship that gives them the opportunity to serve you with their professional 5-star service to provide value and protection for your home or business.

They begin with the initial 100% complimentary no obligation roof inspection and property damage assessment, bringing your roof down to you with inspection photos and video, filing the claim together, meeting with insurance adjuster to ensure you receive everything you deserve, shouldering the burden and taking full responsibility for the insurance claims process, reviewing and choosing your specific roofing products and color, and fulfilling the most important stage of the process…the installation of your new roof.

They do not believe in pressure or sales tactics. They practice what they communicate…the details matter. Being proactive to protect your investment with a 100% no obligation roof inspection allows them the opportunity to serve you and your family with the details that matter for you.

To set up a roof inspection or property damage assessment, visit their website at https://www.truroof.com/ or give them a call at +1 803.TRU.ROOF.

WIMS Client Spotlight: Let It Ride

Let It Ride is a new DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) app and website launching soon that was created behind the efforts of former Panthers receiver and North Carolina native Brenton Bersin. It is soon to hit the app store.

Let It Ride is an easy to use sports gaming platform for everyone. The platform focuses on the most exciting sports games: including player prop parlays, along with other picking pool competitions. With a competitive spirit, gamers can compete against the house or other users.

Their main game is Let It Ride, where users (you) pick from multiple player prop over/unders in an effort to get 3 correct, 5 correct, or 7 correct. If you choose any incorrectly, you lose your wager. If you get them all correct, you win. If you correctly pick 3, you have the option to cash out and end your ride, or let it ride in an effort to get 2 more correct to get to a parlay of 5. You then have the option again to cash out and end your ride at 5, or try and get to 7 correct. The longer the ride, the higher the payout.

Other games include:

  • DA$H is LIR’s spin on a lottery type game. DA$H is a pool type game where the the 1st user to get 20 picks in a row correct without getting one wrong, wins the jackpot.
  • OUTLA$T is our spin on a survivor pool. Located within the LIR app. Users will join pools of all different sizes and parameters. Competing head-to-head against other users. Each pool  offers different styles and reward.
  • PUR$E is LIR’s golf focused game. Choose by pool size or entry fee amount. In all pools, the user picks 10 golfers to make their lineup. Unlike other DFS apps, there is no salary cap, so the user can choose whoever they want. If they want the 10 best golfers in the tournament by World Ranking, they can pick them. This makes this game easy for all people to play.

Visit their website https://www.letitride.app/ to subscribe to to the wait list to receive early offers and follow the journey from the ground up. They are also launching a funding round shortly to continue growing and scaling, more details to come, send an email here if you’re interested in learning more about it, or you can visit this link as well.

They are also seeking early adopters to act as affiliates who will receive commission and other income opportunities. If you are interested in applying, click here.

WIMS Client Spotlight: The Christmas Team

The Christmas Team and their decorating elves are a commercial and residential Christmas light installation company. Voted “The Charlotte’s Premier Holiday Light Installation Company” by The Charlotte Business Group.

They pride themselves on impeccable customer service, custom-tailored design suited perfectly for your building, and their decorating elves. They do not only provide a luxury festive service; they create a Disney-like experience that your family and community will absolutely love!

Their offerings include lighting for commercial properties, residential properties, Christmas light shows, weddings, and event lighting.

Their all-inclusive service provides:

  • Lights – LED, Energy-Efficient, 5x Brighter than retail, Commercial grade lights.
  • Design Consultations – Custom Suited for your home or building.
  • Installation – Goodbye to long hours of unboxing, detangling, or setting up.
  • Removal – Bringing down and putting away will be a thing of the past.
  • Service-Calls – Keep your building fully lit all season long.
  • Storage Year-Round – No heavy lifting, untangling, or finding places to store.
  • Real Elves – Only company in the world that provides uniformed decorating elves.

They take the risk and hassle out of decorating for the season so you don’t have to worry about a thing during the hustle and bustle of the holidays! Visit their website http://thechristmasteam.com/ to check prices and book now!

The Christmas Team was started by Tim Guercio, who was named one of Charlotte’s “Top 30 Under 30 Future Leaders of Charlotte” by Elevate Lifestyle. He also is the CEO of Turf Pros Solutions Charlotte and Leads Digital Marketing.

Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste

Time and time again, we have witnessed corporate empires come crashing down. On a high from peak performance, many of these companies were resistant to change their historically successful practices with their “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” or “we’ve always done it this way” mindsets. The things that got them to the top eventually led to their downfall. Instead of proactively preparing for an inevitably changing environment, firms often find themselves behind the innovation curve because they have relied on their organizational inertia from past wins. 2020 was a year full of thrivers and survivors, but it looked a little different than other times of financial uncertainty.

Instead of a shifting of industries on the power curve like during the global financial crisis when electronics, utilities, and financial services fell off their historical peaks, we are instead seeing a further widening of the performance gap between industries. According to an article published in July by McKinsey & Company, the six most profitable industries have seen $275 billion a year added to their expected economic profit pool; the six least profitable industries have lost an estimated $373 billion. Companies that did well before the pandemic are proving to be resilient.

The thrivers have taken an adaptive and innovative approach to business and include the following industries: pharmaceuticals, software, technology hardware, and media. After releasing last quarter’s earnings, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, “We’ve seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months.” The survivors, many on the verge of bankruptcy, are not doing well. This is a trend that existed, but only proved to accelerate with the onset of COVID-19.

The fastest companies to adapt to the new norm have been and will continue to be the quickest winners taking advantage of opportunity during this crisis. Manufacturers of personal hygiene-related products are increasing production. An exponential increase in demand for pharmaceuticals has these companies reinventing their production processes as well. The potential of the telehealth industry is being realized as nearly half of all physicians are treating patients virtually, up from 18% in 2018. Automation through robotics has created an interesting angle for companies through the mere fact that robots cannot get sick like human employees. E-commerce companies have spent money on adapting infrastructure and capacity as they receive more of the traditional brick-and-mortar retail market. Tech-heavy firms have further adapted their ecosystems.

Even companies in traditionally slow-adapting industries have made changes. Restaurants have increased their delivery and take-out volumes, putting together special packages that entice customers to pick up. Multi-family, specifically apartment complexes, have gotten creative with their marketing to get leases signed. Universities have been pressured to express the importance of their value to not only current, but prospective students, as the online education market was already expected to triple in growth from 2015 to 2025. With interest rates reaching record lows, an increase in buyers and homeowners looking to refinance are shaping an attractive future for the real estate market. Implementation of new technology into these industries is paramount to the future of these firms.

These industries, high in reliance on the demand of consumers, also need to realize the importance of relationships with those who make them money, the customers. They can get the most out of their marketing by implementing CRM systems, such as Zoho or Salesforce, to methodically target and follow up with prospects. Businesses need to reallocate resources to parts of their business that have the most growth potential in the future.

To the companies that have waited for some clarity from the fallout of this pandemic, you need to realize that doing nothing is doing something (although we would not recommend that). Companies that move early in a crisis and get ahead of competition often maintain this lead for years. Lao Tzu is credited with saying, “The wise man is the one who knows what he does not know.” There is always room for improvement and no proven right answer as times are constantly changing. Without staying ahead of trends or at least educating yourself about them, your practices will soon be outdated.

It is clear given the current state of the world that changes need to be made to your business; do not waste any more time. Transformational leaders do not let a good crisis go to waste. What are you willing to do to take advantage of the pandemic’s opportunities?

If you need assistance, we have a variety of bundles to help you start a company, scale a company, or simply perfect your marketing and CRM implementation. Check out our 10K to 10X Video bundle, 10K to 10X 2020 bundle, 90 day MVP package, or reach out to WIMS Consulting to see how we can add value to your business.

Q4 2020 WIMS Consulting

Q4 2020: FINISH LIKE A SAVAGE & PREPARE FOR 2021 DOMINATION!

There’s something about Q4 that is always exhilarating to me. Knowing that “the game” is coming to an end, each and every play is more significant, there’s less margin for error. Perform well during this time and you can make up for a lot of previous mistakes and setbacks along the way. Let up or fumble the ball, and you can destroy all the momentum you made thus far. No pressure, right?

All of this is going on while simultaneously a new game is going to begin soon thereafter. Endings are always thrilling, but so are new beginnings after all. The new year coming up is especially enticing given the chaos of the current one. Whether it was a rough year, or an incredible one, you have to just keep looking forward and continue to get better.

Despite the hectic grind I’ve been on lately (pretty perpetual at this point), I wanted to take a little time to revisit and write up a quick/updated “Q4 Manifesto” which is mostly for myself, but then I decided to add a few extra tips for you too, primarily applicable to both your business and professional life.

  • Don’t wait for January 1st to start your New Year’s Resolutions, now’s as good a time as any. It’s a misguided practice that usually doesn’t end well anyway. You don’t need an arbitrary start date to work on self-improvement, that should be a daily practice as it is. Why not start right now?
  • Get AGGRESSIVE – Close out ALL of those pending dream deals that have been lingering. Do much more outreach and lead generation. Don’t dwell on whether you’re annoying people or assume that they already have an expert helping them that does what you do. Push harder!
  • Think about and plan out ways you can continue to streamline your business & professional operations. This can include CRM, automations, revisiting your tech stack, delegating more tasks, etc.
  • Try not to eat and drink everything in sight just because it’s the holidays. Maintain (or in some cases start) your workout routine consistently and only indulge occasionally. It’s especially tough given all the parties and networking events, but some balance now will spare you later.
  • Enjoy time with my family and friends and BE PRESENT. Don’t spend that precious time distracted with your head in the clouds and worrying about things that are out of your control.
  • Debrief/Reflect on the past year. What worked, what didn’t, what do you need to improve upon? Lay it all out objectively and identify opportunities to get better. While this may seem obvious, it’s crucial.
  • Strategize for 2021 (and beyond) now. Spend an appropriate amount of time writing out specific goals, sketching out project plans, and dreaming big. From there be mindful, thoughtful, deliberate, and thorough enough to also make your plan realistic while still stretching yourself. Once this exercise is completed, start working on implementing that strategy ASAP to carry some momentum with you.
  • Add appointments to your 2021 calendar (monthly/quarterly, etc.) now to make sure you schedule the time to reflect on your progress and measure where you’re at along the way to ensure you continuously improve.

A few specifically for you:

  • Get and implement a CRM already! Seriously, how many times do I have to say it? If you need to spend some time asking a few questions on how to get started, reach out to me, that part is, and always will be, on the house.
  • Start a blog, a podcastvideo/webinar series, whatever. Leverage content marketing to develop and enhance your brand and get your business’ name out there.
  • Finally start that business you’ve been day dreaming about for years now.
  • Or at least start working on that side hustle you’ve been planning.
  • Identify an organization you’re interested in and get involved in the community. This could be philanthropic or civic, doesn’t matter as much as simply taking action and giving back.

There are plenty of others I’m forgetting. And I will likely revisit this some more over the next few months to continue tweaking it.

What are some of your Q4 goals? What about your 2021 goals? How can we help you achieve them? Please let me know, would love to hear from you!

Family Office Funds 2022 Update

5 Ways Family Offices Can Optimize for the Present & Future

Over the past 50 years, the amount of family offices has grown to an estimated 3,500-5,000 as ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) investors have increasingly used this approach to leverage and manage their wealth. Whether it be through Single-Family Offices (SFO’s), Multi-Family Offices (MFO’s), or a combination of both through syndication, wealthy families have seen the advantages of customized structures that meet specific needs and go much more in-depth than just financial investments.

With family offices varying in size, scope, purpose, and operation, it’s impossible to define the specific actions family offices should take, but it is possible to highlight key themes and challenges that most family offices face and offer advice on how to deal with common situations that arise. The increased level of sophistication for these investors has created a need for constant communication and transparency to ensure everyone involved in deals is on the same page and held accountable to achieve the desired results.

 

Vision – Clearly Communicate Goals to Foster Alignment

Family offices need to communicate their goals and alignment to all players involved, from their internal teams to management at their portfolio companies and everyone in between. With varying scopes of family offices, the common goals tend to surround income, total assets, and legacy. There is a varying degree to which these topics are discussed and articulated among family offices. Mapping out priorities that articulate the desired purpose and direction for the family’s wealth will encourage proper decision making and the right strategy. The proper structure of the family office can then ensure that governance framework, operating processes, teams, and advisors are set up in a way to support the family office’s purpose and values to achieve specific goals. Further, it will help identify the right KPIs/metrics to track and measure against as well.

 

Operations – Set up the Proper Delegation of Duties

Once everyone knows and embraces their role, family offices can then fill in the gaps where they need help, making the whole process much simpler and clearer. These gaps can be filled through streamlining operations via outsourcing. Outsourcing to specialized agencies not only provides expertise and more eyes on what matters, but it also allows family office executives to focus on the areas they’re passionate about.

 

Deal Flow – The More Opportunities That Come Your Way the Better (if it is manageable)

The best deals typically come through referrals, but there are also plenty of solid opportunities that come in via cold calls, emails, pitch events, or online databases stacked with potential investments. No matter the source, access to these deals is paramount to succeeding in the private investing world. A few sources we have found useful are AngelList, PitchBook, LinkedIn, CrunchBase, etc.

In more of a nontraditional move, family offices can also find deals and collaborate through equity crowdfunding. A capital raise can start as Reg CF and later convert a round to Reg A. Start-ups are increasingly seeing the value in crowdfunding to raise initial capital as it helps to validate their business model and market fit. With less regulation than private equity, investors can also benefit from getting involved and take more ownership of great ideas at an early stage.

 

Syndicate Investments to Reduce Risk, Increase Upside, and Achieve Economies of Scale

Most family offices already co-invest through syndication with other family offices. Yet this only increases the need for transparency from all firms involved: the family offices, their teams, portfolio companies, and any outsourced agencies that are involved in establishing a smoother operation. Syndicating deals allows you to reduce the downside by committing less capital, it increases the amount of relationships/resources that the target company can leverage, and it also enables each family office/fund to be able to split expenses when appropriate.

Finding and deploying the right consulting firm is a key example of this, due to the essential need for trust and objective parties when dealing with a large amount of wealth from a small number of sources. If family offices do choose to outsource certain operational functions (like marketing, sales, finance, etc.), a firm that provides constant communication and quick action to resolve issues is necessary. With the right external agency, family offices can concentrate on the roles that align with their purpose and passion with respect to running a successful operation. Not to mention, they save even more capital by not having to hire full-time positions to do what these outsourced specialists have been doing well for years.

 

Succession Planning – Always Keep an Eye on the Future

Succession is one event that family offices must have even though it can be uncomfortable. Having a contingency plan in place allows for smooth transitions and operational stability across the board when the time comes. This could mean planning for the transition from one generation of principal(s) to the next, or from one family office executive to the next. CEO’s tend to be in their position for an average of approximately 5 years. For family offices, managing directors and executives tend to hold these offices for 10 years as they have established a rapport with the investor families. This means that much more of the operations are in the hands of the family office executives than in traditional businesses.

When succession occurs with these individuals, it can be tough for the family office to stay on course if objectives and procedures have not been communicated. Understanding the role of the family, the family office, the portfolio companies, and any external firms in the event of succession is key in mitigating risks and obstacles that can cause disruption. With less regulation and oversight regarding practices of family offices, a lot more is done on an informal basis, leading to the possibility of overlooking key operations. With a clear and defined plan, it provides an easier transition when any type of succession inevitably occurs.

 

Conclusion

As you look to scale your operations, investments, and grow, there are clearly a variety of routes to take. The key is determining the route that best fits your family office’s vision, the portfolio companies you want to invest in, and then ensuring that all parties involved, whether in-house or external, all understand and are committed to executing it.

Written By: Mike Simmons and Evan Shirreffs.

 

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF WIMS CONSULTING IS TO HELP YOUR FUND AND ITS PORTFOLIO COMPANIES GENERATE A HIGHER ROI NOT ONLY INTERNALLY, BUT ON BEHALF OF YOUR INVESTORS AS WELL. WE CAN ASSIST WITH SCALING YOUR INVESTMENTS TO HELP INCREASE VALUATIONS IN ADVANCE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING ROUNDS, LIQUIDITY EVENTS, EXITS, OR IPOs. WE CAN PROVIDE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SERVICES, CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A ROBUST STRATEGY, AND EXECUTE EACH TACTIC, BUT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TRULY BOILS DOWN TO THAT ONE SINGLE OBJECTIVE OF ADDING MORE VALUE TO YOUR FIRM.