Brand Groupies: Recent Episodes
Brand Groupies
Brand Groupies is a full-service social media, public relations, and personal branding agency. As an entrepreneur and award-winning business owner, Founder and Chief Groupie Carey Balogh brings 20+ years of experience in brand development, public relations, social media, marketing, and special events. On her Brand Groupies Podcast, she interviews inspiring entrepreneurs and brand founders about building and rockin' their brands. Tune in for stimulating brand banter with the brand leaders we love and respect.
This special Brand Groupies Podcast episode is dedicated to our Brand Groupies X Cancer Cartel Spring Pop-up Shop event. We’ve partnered with Cancer Cartel to do a charity shopping night on April 28, 2022 from 5-8pm at Brand Groupies in Red Bank, NJ.
Cancer Cartel was founded by three cancer survivors with the important mission to provide financial resources and relief to those fighting cancer. One way they fund their mission is by collecting and selling donated luxury designer handbags, shoes, jewelry, and clothing.
We're joined by Cancer Cartel Founders Katy, Kerry, and Shelly and our local ambassadors – fashion stylist and former United States of America’s Mrs. Ann Pennington, The Blonde Shallot Founder Jess Rogers, and celebrity jewelry designer Christina Caruso.
There's 3 ways to get involved: 1) DONATE new or gently used designer items (women's and men's). Email lauren@brandgroupies.com to coordinate. 2) PURCHASE an event ticket in advance: https://bit.ly/3M8QVQL 3) SHOP donated designer goods and jewelry by designer Christina Caruso at the April 28th event
www.cancercartel.com www.brandgroupies.com www.christinacaruso.com www.theblondeshallot.com
Jen Person is the President and Founder of Jeneration PR, an award-winning public relations and creative studio. Her mentorship and direction as Founder of the Profitable PR Pros community has led thousands of international boutique PR agency owners to quickly scale their businesses to six-figures and beyond.
www.jenerationacademy.com www.brandgroupies.com
MK Larsen coaches leaders to use their voices to build a strong and authentic message to connect with their audience. She has over 15 years of experience training Fortune 500 leaders, TEDx Speakers, and growing businesses nationally. Her coaching is proven to help messaging be more engaging, authentic, and compelling. She has coached over 100 TEDx Speakers and is highly skilled with creating and executing TED Talks.
https://eloquentlyspoken.com/ www.brandgroupies.com
DP Knudten- Brand Strategist, Podcaster, and Author of NONFICTION BRAND. DP has worked with some of the biggest—and smallest—brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot, ClosetMaid, and Georgia-Pacific. DP cut his branding teeth in the trenches at McCann Erickson, creating a variety of work for Coca-Cola and their brands.
https://collaboratorcreative.com https://brandgroupies.com
Mark Beal - the Gen Z Expert - is a an author, full-time professor at Rutgers University School of Communication & Information, and keynote speaker. Before authoring his most recent book, Engaging Gen Z, Mark served as a public relations practitioner and marketer for more than 25 years, developing and executing public relations campaigns for category leading companies and brands around such major sports and entertainment platforms.
www.markbealspeaks.com www.brandgroupies.com
Meet the Cancer Cartel - Kerry, Katy, & Shelly - 3 strong, female cancer survivors who founded a 501c3 non-profit that combines their passion for luxury fashion, beauty & lifestyle with funding for people fighting cancer. Cancer Cartel’s important mission is to provide financial resources and relief to those fighting cancer, and they are doing it in fun innovative ways.
www.cancercartel.com www.brandgroupies.com
Alycia Yerves is the Founder and Creative Director of Alycia Yerves Creative: an award-winning marketing and design agency on the Jersey Shore.
www.alyciayerves.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Debra Rizzi is a partner and president of Rizco, a brand-led marketing agency, which she co-founded in 2000. She is also a partner and vice president of marketing of Plum Practicewear, a global gymnastics apparel company. She has over 20 years of experience in developing brand strategies. https://rizco.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Ali J. Taylor is the CEO and Creative Director of BelMarketing Design Studio. With the accelerated shifts in the way people are buying and selling today, many businesses are frustrated with figuring out how to market their business. They want the freedom to run their business and do what they do best. As a StoryBrand Certified Guide and HubSpot Solutions Partner, Ali takes the uncertainty out of growing your audience and getting more sales with marketing strategies, systems, and processes that work.
https://www.belmarketingdesignstudio.com/ https://brandgroupies.com/
Stefany Gittleman is the founder of The Gold Maze, a social media company to escort brands, personas and small businesses through the digital process.
www.thegoldmaze.com https://brandgroupies.com/
In our "Backstage Series" we spotlight local branding experts who inspire us (aka the REAL brand groupies). This episode features local PR gurus Christina Gorini, Deirdre Lopian, and Lauren Genest.
CHRISTINA GORINI Christina is the Vice President of Client Services at Brandstyle Communications, where she builds and manages the execution of the PR roadmaps that are essential to each campaign’s success.
www.brandstyle.com/
DEIRDRE LOPIAN Deirdre is an award-winning social media strategist, public relations, and marketing professional and the founder of Deirdre Lopian Public Relations agency whose passion is helping brands leverage the power of diverse and inclusive storytelling by creating campaigns that truly connect with and reflect the audiences they serve.
www.dlpr.co
LAUREN GENEST As the Vice Groupie of Public Relations at Brand Groupies, Lauren has 20 years of PR and events expertise; she works with B2B service brands and C-suite leaders in the commercial architecture, design, and corporate services industries.
www.brandgroupies.com
Aaron Levine is the owner, member at large, and professional insurance agent of LG Insurance Agency, also known as the Luxury Group.
At LG Insurance, the team is diversified and educated to work with individuals, professionals and businesses around all things insurance and are licensed to operate in 15 States.
www.luxurygroupins.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Victoria Grantham is the founder of SHARKCHASER, the New York-based luxury handbag company created by hand in Italy and designed with a unique radiation shielding fabric that will protect your body from 99.99% of the electric fields and radio frequencies that cell phones emit.
www.sharkchaserofficial.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Kaylen McNamara is currently a Senior Vice President at VaynerMedia, a full-service advertising agency owned by renowned entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk. She has been at Vayner since 2012 and currently oversees new business operations and consulting services for the agency, which services Fortune 100 clients across the globe.
Prior to this role, Kaylen has worked across a number of industry verticals within the agency, leading digital strategy and client services for iconic brand portfolios such as The Oprah Winfrey Network, Unilever, Campbell's & Sabra hummus.
www.vaynermedia.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Founded by Marvin Flavien, MK Flav Video is a full-service video production company in NJ, dedicated to helping businesses and entrepreneurs optimize their business using dynamic video.
www.mkflavvideo.com https://brandgroupies.com/
In her role as Chief Client Officer at Bandujo, an advertising agency in New York City, Amanda Kane oversees account planning for major corporate clients including JP Morgan Chase, Kumon Learning Centers, WisdomTree Investments and the Department of Health for the City of New York, to name a few. www.bandujo.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Dr. Amna Husain is a board-certified pediatrician offering high-quality care and a more personalized experience to her patients through direct-care medicine at her private practice, Pure Direct Pediatrics based in Marlboro, NJ. www.puredirectpediatrics.com
https://brandgroupies.com/
Adam Nelson is the founder and CEO of Workhouse - one of the country's leading public relations and integrated creative agencies. Based in NYC for over 20 years, Workhouse provides forward-thinking public relations, social media, brand promotion, creative consulting and modern day marketing. www.workhousepr.net
https://brandgroupies.com/
New Jersey native Keith Fiori is an influential staple in the design and branding community. Keith has produced internationally recognized work for some of the industry’s most influential fashion brands, including the iconic logo for American Eagle Outfitters. With 20+ years as Creative Director and VP Graphic Design for such leading New York City fashion and retail companies as Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, American Eagle Outfitters, and Ovadia, Keith has successfully led multiple design teams in branding, graphic design, packaging, and marketing resulting in millions in global sales.
Now, as founder and creative director of independent branding studio Rogue Creative, the commitment is to bring fresh, creative design with the highest standard of brand excellence. www.roguecreativedesign.com
https://brandgroupies.com/
Launched in 2015 by Founder/CEO Taylor Jones, along with his sister/President Haley Jones, Jones Bar is the Manasquan, NJ-based bar company selling super delicious bars with 100% organic ingredients that are about as close as you can get to eating whole foods in their most natural state. www.jonesbar.com
https://brandgroupies.com/
Dr. Tommy Dandrea is the founder and CEO of Monmouth Pain & Rehabilitation, a system of multidisciplinary wellness and rehabilitation centers in New Jersey. As leaders in a progressive movement in the field of pain management, Monmouth Pain & Rehabilitation is a group of physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, and acupuncturists working together to offer patients the most comprehensive, well-rounded, and successful plans of pain management imaginable. Locations include Shrewsbury, Wall, Lacey, and Freehold, NJ. www.monmouthpain.com
https://brandgroupies.com/
Des Dalia is the founder and owner of Broad Street Dough Co., featuring fresh, made-to-order doughnuts and over-the-top custom creations. With two locations in Oakhurst and Freehold Township, NJ, Broad Street Dough Co. boasts 39 (and counting) different types of doughnuts on the everyday menu, plus numerous specials. They also offer vegan, gluten free and parve doughnuts, and are certified Kosher Dairy. www.broadstreetdoughco.com
https://brandgroupies.com/
Jon Levine is a certified holistic health coach and founder of Hol Truth Health coaching services. Jon also hosts The Hol Truth Podcast to educate, empower, and entertain its viewers to create healthier, happier lives! www.holtruthhealth.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Greg Carbone is the founder and owner of Carbone Training Systems, the only gym in Monmouth County to be voted “Best of Monmouth” since 2013. Located at 246 Industrial Way West in Eatontown, NJ, Carbone Training Systems is a one-of-a-kind hybrid fitness center offering group fitness, sports performance and personal training programs for every level of fitness. www.carbonefitness.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Danielle Diamond is the founder of Xen Strength Yoga, yoga sculpt classes that give you a total-body workout, combining heart-pumping cardio benefits from a nonstop flow with an increased metabolism from yoga sculpt moves. Danielle recently opened her Xen Strength Yoga studio in Manasquan, NJ to expand her online brand of classes and teacher training. www.xenstrength.com
Jamie Sussel Turner, also known as the "Less Stress Coach," is a professional coach, speaker, and award-winning author. Her books include "Less Stress Business: A Guide for Hiring, Coaching, and Leading Great Employees" & "Less Stress Life: How I Went From Crazed To Calm and You Can Too!" www.lessstresscoach.com https://brandgroupies.com/
"Dr. Rich" Mojares is the medical director & owner of Family First Urgent Care in Toms River and Oakhurst, NJ, as well as Family First Primary Physicians in Oakhurst. Dr. Rich speaks on behalf of business and entrepreneurship throughout the nation, and is constantly leading and developing his team with an entrepreneurial mindset and vision. www.familyfirst-urgentcare.com www.familyfirst-primaryphysicians.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Mike Hernandez is the founder & CEO of The Wedding Establishment, serving couples in the Tri-state area since 2017. The Wedding Establishment offers the first of its kind, a true collaboration of creatives under one roof to save you time, money and stress when planning your wedding. Located at 23 West Front Street in Red Bank, NJ. www.theweddingest.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Camryn Monteforte and Sean Farawell are the owners of Meemom's, located in Wall Township and Middletown, NJ (with a Brick Township location coming soon). Meemom's restaurant specializes in unique and fun takes on your traditional breakfast and lunch items, including its famous french toast that comes in over 20 varieties! www.meemoms.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Dr. Angela Jones of the Ask Dr. Angela brand is an award-winning and board-certified obstetrics and gynecology expert. A sought-after doctor and speaker, Dr. Angela empowers women all over the world through her Ask Dr. Angela Podcast and blog(and pregnancy book coming soon)! www.askdrangela.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Mary Balogh is an award-winning and 35-time New York Times bestselling author of historic romance novels. She has written more than 100 historical novels and novellas, and continues to write, build her brand, and inspire readers all over the world. www.MaryBalogh.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Marilyn Schlossbach is the executive chef and owner of The Marilyn Schlossbach Group which includes Langosta Lounge, Pop’s Garage, Asbury Park Yacht Club, and Marilyn Schlossbach Catering and Events. Marilyn is the founder of Food For Thought by The Sea (a not-for-profit food truck), her first cookbook Feed This Community (11 Chapters for 11 Charities), Wave of Balance Moringa wellness supplement company, and ongoing charitable holiday community dinners. www.marilynschlossbach.com https://brandgroupies.com/
David Ragosa is the co-founder and owner of Kono Pizza. Brought over from Italy, the Kono cone is pizza reinvented for American consumers who can now enjoy their favorite Italian dish made from only high-quality ingredients, with mobility in mind! www.konousa.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Holly Migliaccio co-founded Rook Coffee in 2010 with her childhood friend Shawn Kingsley. Rook Coffee currently boasts 11 retail locations throughout Monmouth County, NJ, with a 12th store on the way in Ocean County, a roastery a cold brew brewery, and an online coffee subscription service. www.rookcoffee.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Tammy and Kerry O'Brien are the founders of O'Brien Realty, with office locations in Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Atlantic Highlands and soon to Rumson, NJ. www.obrienrealtyllc.com
An established painter and former gallery owner, artist Anthony Migliaccio of Anthony Migliaccio Studios has been exhibiting his work for over 40 years. He is featured in Who's Who in American Art and his plein-air and studio paintings can be found in international collections - from London to Taiwan. www.anthonymigliaccio.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Dani Fiori is the founder of Sweet Dani B, an intermixed cookie kitchen, cafe, and cookie art workspace located in Asbury Park, NJ. Offering couture cookie creations for all of life's sweet occasions, entrepreneur Dani Fiori's motto is "Life is Sweet." www.sweetdanib.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Darren Weinstein is the owner of Bagel Masters, located in Shrewsbury, NJ. Offering breakfast, lunch, catering and delivery, Bagel Masters is renowned for its bagels that are hand-rolled, kettle boiled and baked fresh daily. Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside. www.bagelmasters.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Jason and Jeremy Julio are the brothers and entrepreneurs behind Last Bite Mosquito & Tick Control. Based in Middletown, NJ, this family-owned and operated business helps people reclaim and enjoy their yards again by eliminating the nuisance of pesky mosquitoes and ticks. www.lastbitemosquito.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Renee Dorski is the founder and owner of JÜS Organic, an all-organic vegetarian cafe in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. More than a juice bar, JÜS Organic offers light fare including breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch, juices and smoothies, with an indoor and outdoor community space. https://brandgroupies.com/
Based in Monmouth County, NJ, Marissa Klein and Jamie Sztoser are the powerhouse sisters and entrepreneurs behind Choice Fashion & Media, a full service boutique staffing firm in New York City. www.choicecofashion.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Carlos Serrano is the founder of Empanada Guy, the fast growing brand of gourmet food trucks and restaurants specializing in empanadas and other traditional Latin dishes. www.empanadaguy.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Sally Monterrosa is the founder and owner of Boho Hair Salon, a full-service salon located in the heart of Asbury Park at 621 Lake Avenue. www.bohohairsalon.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Josh Gryvatz is the founder and owner of Deliboy Delivery, a prepared foods delivery service. Chef-owned and operated, Deliboy Delivery offers ready-to-eat, custom made meals delivered to your door. Currently serving Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex Counties in NJ. www.deliboydelivery.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Dickie Palazzo is the founder and owner of Purr'n Pooch Pet Resorts, with locations in Tinton Falls and Wall, NJ. Established in 1970, Purr'n Pooch is family-run by Dickie and his daughters Karen Palazzo-Spadavecchia and Betsy Palazzo-Dudick. www.purrnpooch.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Beth Herbruck is the founder and visionary behind Good Folk Supper Club, which celebrates good folk for a good cause. The Good Folk Supper Club creates 'pop-up' charitable dining adventures that take place in unique locations in and around New Jersey. www.goodfolksupperclub.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Jessica Carroll is the founder and owner of Organista, an award-winning home organizing company specializing in the area of decluttering. www.organistahome.com https://brandgroupies.com/
Olivia Moglino is the founder and owner of Liv Nut Free (www.livnutfree.com), a Holmdel-based company that produces baked goods which are peanut and tree-nut free.
https://brandgroupies.com/
Nick Napoletano is the owner of Mr. Pizza Slice in Red Bank, NJ.
https://brandgroupies.com/
Marcy Ragan is the chef and owner of Relish Your Chef, a custom tailored personal chef service and caterer.
https://brandgroupies.com/
Kelli Suozzo is the founder and owner of Bowerbird Interior Design.
https://brandgroupies.com/
Ming Chen is the co-founder of A Shared Universe podcast studio, a host of The Ming and Mike Show, and on the AMC TV show Comic Book Men.
https://brandgroupies.com/
Carey Balogh, founder and chief groupie of Brand Groupies, talks to entrepreneurs about branding and rockin' your brand.
https://brandgroupies.com/