From Food Service to Business Associate: The Power of Organic Networking

Conversations matter, and authentic connections matter. The people we meet, the relationships we build, and the impressions we leave behind do more to advance (or obstruct) our careers than any other efforts we could make. There are certain advantages in the professional world related to who you “just so happen” to know, but, more importantly, you can create your own advantage by seeking out valuable relationships, recognizing potential and investing in it, and surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals with the capacity to improve and advance you as a professional and as a person.?

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One of my favorite examples of this is my coincidental connection with someone who made an invaluable contribution to my life and career and has, in turn, made a massive impact on small businesses through the strategic utilization of tax credit programs: Andrew Pickens Calhoun . When I first met Pickens, years before I started Rockerbox , he worked as a server at a restaurant I frequented. I was struck by his intelligence, work ethic, and charisma. And, over the next few years, I came to know him quite well.?

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I could see that this young man had immense potential. I was interested to see how he applied it and where his interests led him, and I regularly touched base with him at the restaurant to see how his college classes were going. Pickens’ aptitude and affinity for finance and accounting really stood out to me (because that’s kind of my thing, after all). When Rockerbox was still in its earliest stages, I made my proposition.?

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I had to let Pickens know I believed him to be just the kind of person I wanted to have on board to help make this dream a reality– if he would be interested. Luckily for me, he was.

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Pickens joined the Rockerbox team almost two years ago as our Director of Processing. In (very) short, he oversees the screening process and conducts and compiles research to ensure and back up eligibility. In his own words, “It’s been really cool for me because I get to see the process through from start to finish. I don’t have a role for every step of the way, but I have gotten to learn about all the roles and am able to contribute in many different ways to the data being processed.” His can-do attitude and willingness to jump in and provide support anywhere he can is such a gift to our team. And I am so proud of the environment we have collectively fostered that makes it possible for everyone to work closely with one another and learn from each other every day.?

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Some people don’t realize that 80% of Rockerbox’s business comes from strategic partnerships. For this reason, we are a heavily relationship-driven company with a need for personalities like Pickens’.?

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He is a finance and accounting whiz, but he’s also a fantastic people-person and a helper at heart, and that is just the kind of skill set essential to how we do business.?

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Our mission at Rockerbox is to combine our talent and expertise to get the power of employer-based tax credit programs behind every small business owner in the United States. Pickens says it perfectly: “We’re able to help target groups in a way that doesn’t take anything away from others. We’re doing it in a way that’s mutually beneficial to everyone. There are nine different target groups new hires can fit into that make employers eligible for federal tax credit programs. If you were to hire a few people today, it’s almost impossible to have not hired someone who fits into one of these groups. A lot of employers don’t realize that and are leaving money on the table.”

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Pickens was involved in Rockerbox’s recent partnership with Recovery Jobs – a cause close to his heart, as well as my own– and is representing Rockerbox at the HABU Conference. Getting to witness his growth, the ease with which he forms connections, and having clients reach out to him directly because they are familiar and comfortable with him has been exciting and so satisfying for me to see because I always knew this would be the case. If you ask him, the instances in which he has been personally able to resolve a client’s concern or request and give them peace of mind are among his proudest career accomplishments.

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To close, a word from Pickens himself:

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“When I talk about Rockerbox, people will comment that they can tell how enthusiastic I am about it. I think the biggest reason is that I’m not faking it. I just genuinely love this company, what we stand for, and the people behind it.”

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He continued, “Having real people (rather than the state-level governments) represent you and fight on your behalf to obtain viable tax credits makes a huge difference to small business owners and optimizes the whole process. It goes back to how real conversations and real relationships matter; that’s one of the biggest things that separates Rockerbox from a lot of the competition.”

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We are so grateful for Pickens, the asset he has become to our team and the support we have provided small business owners because of his hard work and commitment to helping others. He is simply a badass, and we look forward to growing our company, supporting small businesses, and capturing countless more tax credits alongside him. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking the value and potential of the people around you. You never know when a new connection, friendship, or business partnership is just one conversation away.?

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To learn more about Rockerbox and what we do or connect with our tax credit experts today, visit our website. As always, feel free to message me anytime.?

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