FGI president Steve Mays joins Rick this week.

FGI is Myrtle Beach’s largest ownership group with 21 golf courses and Mays has led the company’s push to renovate its courses to ensure a great vacation experience.

Pine Lakes, Grande Dunes, Pawleys Plantation and King’s North at Myrtle Beach National are among the 11 FGI courses that have enjoyed significant capital improvement

Steve has made reinvesting in golf courses a major FGI priority. King’s North follows Pawleys Plantation, Grande Dunes, Pine Lakes and River Hills in being the beneficiary of renovations in the last three years, and there will be more to come. In all, 11 of FGI’s 21 courses have undergone significant capital improvement projects in the last five years, ensuring they will be able to continue delivering unforgettable golf vacation experiences long into the future.

Rick talks to Steve about all of that and more and golf courses and resort stay relevant.

 

 

More than just sports this week… art and culture in Atlanta.

Great to talk with Dr. Pecou!

Since 2002, Nando’s teamed up with the Spier Arts Trust in South Africa to catalyze and empower over 350 artists from our homeland. Together, we run a ton of exciting artist initiatives that honor our Southern African roots and make a lasting investment in their creative communities.

All our artist initiatives are made to fire up the creative lives of the Southern African artists we partner with and give our customers something one-of-a-kind to feast their eyes on! We’re trying hard to play a part in helping emerging creatives forge a lasting, stable career in the arts whilst giving their brilliant creations a global platform. So come to Nando’s, take in the view!

Atlantans won’t want to miss the chance to visit an exhibition curated from the Nando’s art collection, one of the largest, and most in-depth of Southern African contemporary masterworks. Curated by Laurie Ann Farrell, and in partnership with the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA), “If You Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future” has received strong critical acclaim.

Located in the Pittsburgh community, a historically Black Atlanta neighborhood, ADAMA is  an innovative museum  that amplifies the art and culture of the diaspora through  immersive experiences, cultivating shared learning, and facilitating meaningful points of connection.

Opening ahead of the third iteration of Atlanta Art Week on Friday, September 20th, the exhibition is open to the public at no cost and runs through Saturday, November 2nd.

“Securing a world-class collection from Nando’s is another testament to the mission of ADAMA of making art accessible and Atlanta’s position as a cultural capital,” said Dr. Fahamu Pecou, founder of ADAMA. “With this exhibition, the influence of the African diaspora will be felt through the quality and variety of artmaking from the best contemporary artists in the world.”

The selection of work is drawn from the collection’s strengths in portraiture, landscape, cityscapes and abstraction.

Several of the featured artists have received recent accolades.

Zanele Muholi is a ground-breaking Black queer photographer with a current survey on display at the Tate Modern in London.

Represented by the Stevenson Gallery in South Africa and David Zwirner in New York City and London, Portia Zvahera is a rising star that was recently featured at the 59th Venice Biennale.

Known for transforming drawings into sculpture, film and operas, William Kentridge has two works in the exhibition.

Profiled by CNN, Mbongeni Buthelizi known for his innovative work created from melted plastic is an artist activist who collects and repurposes litter into breathtaking portraits.

Artists Sam Nhlengethwa, Diane Victor, and Buthelizi, will be traveling to Atlanta from South Africa to participate in open-to-the-public conversations.

Curating an exhibition from a collection built over two decades was an idea that came to life from the late philanthropist and businessman, Dick Enthoven, who tapped his longtime friend Farrell to be the curator. One of the most important curators working to offer visibility to artists from Africa and the African Diaspora to the United States for more than 20 years; Farrell served as a curator of contemporary art at The Africa Center (formerly known as The Museum of African Art) in New York City, an executive director at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), and curator and head of modern and contemporary art at the Detroit Institute of Art. Farrell was also the lead curator on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium art collection while at SCAD.

Farrell was named curator of the year by D Magazine (2023) for the quality and scope of the exhibition at the African American Museum, Dallas.

“It’s quite meaningful to be able to curate an exhibit from such an exemplary collection and bring an impressive range of talent from the African continent to Atlanta,” said Farrell, “Our hope is that all who visit will experience the universal themes of humanity, love, loss and hope for a better future as illustrated by the artworks.”

Home to the legendary South-African flamed-grilled PERi-PERi chicken and PERi-PERi sauces, the first Nando’s location in Greater Atlanta recently opened in the Perimeter area within the High Street entertainment district. Later in the year, a 3,500-square-foot location will open at the Forum at Peachtree Corners.

“As a proudly African brand establishing itself in Atlanta, we consider the African Diaspora Museum of Atlanta to be the perfect canvas for world-class expressions of the modern Southern African lived experience,” said Sepanta Bagherpour, Chief Brand Officer of Nando’s North America.

If You Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future
Runs through November 2
African Diaspora Art Museum of
Thursday – Saturday: Noon – 5 p.m.

About the Nando’s Art Collection
Through the vision of the late South African businessman Dick Enthoven, Nando’s started collecting art in partnership with arts consultancy Spier Arts Trust in 2004 and has since become owner of one of the world’s largest collections of Southern African contemporary art and design. The collection is uniquely displayed in Nando’s restaurants globally, creating bespoke settings, providing access to millions of people, many of whom will never visit an art gallery, or museum. Visitors to Nando’s custom-designed restaurants also have the opportunity to see firsthand permanent artwork from the 27,000+ piece collection that is featured prominently at each location.

About African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA)
The  African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA) showcases the diversity, creativity and innovation of the African diaspora. Through immersive experiences, cultivating shared learning and facilitating meaningful points of contact, we amplify the diverse voices of our global community. We recognize the boundlessness of African diaspora cultural expression and invite audiences to discover why ‘Every Where We Go, There We Are’.

AJC article on Nando’s opening their first ATL restaurant:
https://www.ajc.com/food-and-dining/chicken-chain-nandos-entering-atlanta-market-with-two-planned-locations/IQCRUSQXYZGBHIGHOS5N265BOM/

Social handles for tagging/amplification:

Nando’s USA:  https://www.instagram.com/nandosusa/?hl=en

ADAMA:  https://www.instagram.com/adama_atl/?hl=en

Dr. Pecou:  https://www.instagram.com/fahamupecou/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/fahamupecou/?hl=en

Background on Dr. Pecou and connection to Nando’s/exhibition:  Dr. Fahamu Pecou, an acclaimed artist and scholar, is doing something transformative for Atlanta’s Black community through  the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA). Located in the heart of the historically Black Pittsburgh neighborhood inside Pittsburgh Yards. ADAMA is more than a museum—it’s a beacon of culture, connection, and revitalization for the area.

Dr.  Pecou has had a storied art career that spans the globe, but his passion is right here at home, encouraging the community to embrace the rich culture and history of the diaspora.

Dr. Pecou was instrumental in bringing  Nando’s art collection  to ADAMA, which is now open and free to the public. The exhibition,  *If You Look Hard Enough,  You Can See Our Future*,  demonstrates the power of blending arts, culture, history, and business.

Rick is joined by noted Pitmaster and TV  and online sensation, Erica Roby.

As fall temperatures creep in and families get back into a routine, it’s no surprise that Americans are gravitating to what’s comfortable – and that means turning to some of their favorite home-cooked meals like pot roast and beef stew. In fact, meatloaf is currently rated the number one recipe on beefitswhatsfordinner.com.

While many home chefs are looking to recreate their childhood favorites, they’re also adding different flavors, like chilis, or even putting an international spin on nostalgic recipes with ingredients like chili powder, gochujang (a red chili paste) and black sesame oil. As more and more cook at home, trend experts say they’re seeing more interest in experimenting with unfamiliar flavors, which will have a huge influence this year.

And beef dishes are perfect for your next tailgate or football party.

Topics:

How are Americans changing their dining habits?
What types of dishes will be most popular this year?
How are you incorporating international ingredients into your favorite dishes?
What’s next for you as a pitmaster?
Where can we go to learn more?

Erica Roby is one of the country’s leading female pitmasters, an award-winning artist in the field of barbecue. However, being an acclaimed pitmaster is only one of her many accomplishments: Erica is also an attorney, a level-2 Certified Sommelier, United States Navy wife, and a mother. In 2020, Erica became a contestant on Food Network’s “BBQ Brawl,” becoming the Season 2 winner and earning the mantle “Master of ‘Cue.” After “BBQ Brawl,” Erica decided to document the world of barbecue in her award-winning digital series, “The Pit Stop with Blue Smoke Blaire.” In May 2022, Erica also competed at the world-famous Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest. Though it was only her second time as a competitor at this prestigious event, remarkably, she tied for 1st place in brisket and 4th in the rib division, a journey that was filmed for Food Network’s “BBQ USA”. Erica’s commitment to spreading love through barbecue has seen her travel with Operation BBQ Relief to provide meals to those in need. She is also a guest lecturer inspiring young people to pick up tongs and find joy through food and culinary passion. In October 2023, Blue Smoke Blaire’s Barbecue Academy will open its doors to support at risk youth in Houston, Texas.

Rick is joined by: Bizzy CEO Alex French — an ‘under 40′ executive just named regional EY ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ — He’s here to discuss how his cold brew brand (sold in more than 7,500 grocery stores across America + online) is energizing sector growth.

We all love bold coffee drinks that fuel the daily grind. Enter the 6 Bizzy Cold Brew coffee options!

So strong and flavorful, these ‘grab and go’ cold brew beverages practically high-five you out the door! Made with organic certified beans, unsweetened, and gluten free with 0g sugar, this meticulously crafted cold brew coffee is in a class all its own.

We make the best-tasting cold brew coffee in the world. A bold statement? You bet. We’ve put our noses to the coffee grindstone to make it a reality. Since Alex and Andrew founded the company in 2015, we’ve spent years perfecting our signature organic blends, and can proudly report thousands of 5-star reviews to back up our claim.

Bizzy Cold Brew Bottles are made with 100% post consumer recycled plastic. (Please note, the caps are not made with 100% post consumer recycled plastic, but we are working on a solution for that!)

And will Bizzy Cold Brew soon be available at sports events?

We ask Alex!

Try some Bizzy Cold Brew!

Mike Shogren is the CEO of Prevent Biometrics, the most independently validated head impact monitoring system in the world. Mike joined Prevent in 2016 and the company has since partnered with over 200 organizations, 10 governing bodies and deployed 20,000+ smart mouthguards.

He joins Rick this week.

Shogren is a longtime Minnesota resident, who logged many years of his life as a youth sports advocate. At a young age, Mike’s son suffered a devastating concussion leading to years of symptoms that could’ve been easily diagnosed/treated with a better protocol in place.

Because of this, Shogren conducted his own research only to find that many head impact tools were either inaccurate or had little to no validation in the market. That’s when he was introduced to Prevent Biometrics, who at the time was developing a smart mouthguard that measured the g-force of head impacts in real time.

He joined Prevent as CEO and set out with one goal: bring this technology to athletes and parents at every level of sports. They’ve since become an industry leader for head injury protocol.

Mike’s work has led to the largest head impact study to date and the research is now prompting sports organizations around the world to adopt the tech.

 

AI might soon be making your wine selections, even at sports events.

Angel Vossough, CEO & Co-Founder Angel Vossough is the CEO and Co-Founder of BetterAI, a Silicon Valley-based AI service provider headquartered in Silicon Valley. The company is uniquely leveraging advanced AI technologies such as Machine Learning, Generative AI, Natural Language Processing, and Computer Vision to create this transformative solution that is revolutionizing the relationship between wine and digital platforms. She is also Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Caspian Capital, an early-stage investment firm focusing on deep tech, biotech, and AI; and was Co-Founder of OpenCovidScreen, a non-profit focused on driving innovation in low-cost, accessible COVID-19 testing.

Rick talks to Angel about AI, wine and her latest project, VinoVoss.

Angel, an esteemed data scientist, holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Computer Engineering, as well as master’s degrees in Software Engineering from San Jose State University, and Data Science from UC Berkeley where she graduated with honors.

How does BetterAI approach developing customized AI solutions for niche markets or industries? Can you give an example related to the wine industry?

Topics:

· How did the idea for Vino Voss come about?

· What was your goal in creating it?

· Did you have AI in mind from the start?

· Wine is a $39 billion market. How do you plan to disrupt it?

· How much does it cost?

· How does the AI algorithm work to select wine?

· What are the biggest challenges using AI for selecting wine?

Angel, an esteemed data scientist, holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Computer Engineering, as well as master’s degrees in Software Engineering from San Jose State University, and Data Science from UC Berkeley where she graduated with honors.

Angel was previously a Senior Network Engineer at Cisco Systems, specializing in Network Architecture for major telecommunications companies including Verizon Wireless. BetterAI’s products include “VinoVoss” (www.VinoVoss.com), a semantic search and recommendation system creating a virtual wine sommelier, and “BetterMed,” a generative AI-based medical diagnostic assistant. Angel is a technology leader and serial entrepreneur. She also founded DiverseUp, a public-benefit corporation building a professional community for technical & scientific women. In her role as BetterAI CEO, and with a strategic focus on VinoVoss as one of its primary products, Angel oversees the direction and growth of the company’s innovative AI applications in the wine industry. This includes setting the overall strategic direction for BetterAI and VinoVoss; ensuring company objectives align with market needs and her company’s vision; building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and investors to support and advance BetterAI’s business goals; and ensuring the alignment of VinoVoss’s development with BetterAI’s broader technological advancements and business strategy.

 

Great to talk to Tony Shellman of Starter this week. They are still “what the pros wear” and have a new partnership with the Atlanta Braves.

Starter, one the most iconic, innovative and authentic sports apparel companies in the world, is celebrated with an ICON at Threads By Braves Clubhouse Store special event with legendary Artist & Music Producer, Rapper, So So Def CEO, Grammy Award Winner, Jermaine Dupri.

Shellman was part of the festivities.

Jermaine donned his favorite Starter gear to officially start the game by giving the iconic “Play Ball” announcement on the mic live from Truist field. No wonder the Braves scored 10 back to back runs!

Launched in 1971, Starter changed the face of the sports apparel industry forever. Starter boasts licensing deals with every major American sports league, and it’s no secret that Starter products have been used by more professional teams than any other brand. The Starter S and Star completely connect the fan, the team and the player and allow the fan to “wear what the pros wear.”

Talking to the President of one of the iconic retail brands in the world, this week.

Matt Lafone, President and GM of Americas at The Athlete’s Foot.

Big news, especially for Atlanta from The Athlete’s Foot.

The Athlete’s Foot is honored to announce the grand opening of its new corporate headquarters, flagship location and community center at 931 Monroe Drive, Suite 113E, Atlanta, GA 30308. Nestled in the heart of Midtown, this new establishment promises to be a cornerstone for retail excellence and community engagement.

Strategically located on the iconic Atlanta Beltline and Piedmont Park, the new location aims to integrate seamlessly into the fabric of the neighborhood. The Athlete’s Foot plans to implement community enrichment, sponsorships, educational programming underscoring their commitment to supporting local communities and fostering meaningful connections.

“We are thrilled to unveil our new US headquarters, flagship store, and community center in the heart of Midtown Atlanta,” said Matt Lafone, President and GM of Americas at The Athlete’s Foot. “This location is the first of its kind on Atlanta’s iconic BeltLine and will serve as a cultural hub for community engagement and deeper connectivity. We look forward to welcoming everyone to experience what The Athlete’s Foot has to offer, from the neighborhood, for the neighborhood.”

The Athlete’s Foot has proudly partnered with Black-owned businesses to develop the flagship location, enlisting T. Dallas Smith & Co., the largest black African American-owned commercial real estate firm in the country, to continue its standing collaboration with The Athlete’s Foot on finding locations for new stores focused on underserved black and minority communities. J.M. Lee Construction Co., founded by Morehouse graduate Justin Lee, served as the general contractor, while Atlanta artist Aysha Pennerman will be contributing vibrant murals celebrating local culture. These partnerships reflect The Athlete’s Foot’s commitment to diversity and community and supporting Black entrepreneurship in its growth strategy.

Rick had the chance to catch up with former NFL great, Warren Moon at Fanatics Fest in New York.

He played professionally for 23 seasons, spending the majority of his career with the Houston Oilers of the and the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Moon also played for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He remains one of the greatest undrafted players in NFL history.

He had success during his six CFL seasons, five of which ended in Grey Cup victories, resulted in him being signed by the Oilers in 1984. During his 17 NFL seasons, Moon was named Offensive Player of the Year in 1990 after leading the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He led the NFL in passing yards twice, while also receiving nine Pro Bowl selections. Moon spent 10 seasons with the Oilers, whom he led to seven playoff appearances, and made an eighth postseason run with the Vikings before retiring in 2000.

Moon is also the only player inducted to both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

He talks to Rick about the sports collecting business and how he is amazed by all of it.

The owner of Prestige Collectibles was at the National Sports Collectors Convention with an expansive booth full of Japanese sports cards. Klevens has been buying them for almost 35 years.

It’s a hobby he took up while living in Japan. He spent six years living there while running Tokyo’s largest card shop, The Ball Park. Now, he makes regular trips to the Far East from his Ft. Lauderdale, FL home to uncover cards and memorabilia.

It’s great to have the opportunity to talk with Robert.

It begs the question, are his customers here in the States or halfway around the world?

“I have some customers in Japan, but mainly Americans,” explained Kleven, while conducting business at his booth not far from the front entrance. “There is a lot of interest in Sadaharu Oh cards, the Japanese home run king, items from when Babe Ruth toured Japan and the current list of Japanese MLB players.”

Shohei Ohtani’s success in the States has been a boon for Klevens and his business, which features primarily cards from various sports that were released in Japan.

Klevens noted that Americans have long been fascinated with Japanese culture and Japanese sports fans love baseball and follow MLB players. It’s a crossover.

“A lot of Americans also visit Japan and attend games there,” said Klevens.

Rick and Robert talk about that and a lot more.

According to Markets N Research, youth sports is an estimated $38 billion industry that is expected to grow to $69 billion in 2030. Satish Kumar is the Professional Sports Industry Leader at Orion Innovation, a leading digital transformation and products development firm. He and his team work with global sports teams and leagues to help … Continue reading Satish Kumar, Orion Innovation, An Athlete’s Journey to a Professional Career →