The ROCC Pod: Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce

We are excited to launch the first ever podcast for the Royal Oak Michigan Chamber of Commerce, "The ROCC Pod!" This will be a unique podcast with an all-star cast of hosts. Join us, as we get to know our Royal Oak Chamber members on a more personal level. Want to be featured as a guest on our show? Email us! theroccpod@gmail.com

The ROCC Pod: Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 115 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The ROCC Pod: Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, a business show with 115 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #116

  What Small Businesses Need to Know About AI, Data Centers and Cybersecurity

  Aug 14, 202630 min

  Steve Searles, Chief Technology Officer of Liberty Center One, joins us to explain what data centers actually do, how small businesses can make smarter technology decisions, and where AI fits into the picture. Steve also shares his unusual path from aviation into IT, including years flying hot air balloons for RE/MAX before moving deeper into technology. We start with Liberty Center One’s Royal Oak facility and why its location made sense for a data center. The building began as a tool and die facility, giving it the heavy concrete construction needed for electrical systems, cooling equipment, batteries, and servers. Steve also explains that not every data center is the same. A local commercial data center serving manufacturers and automotive suppliers is very different from a massive hyperscale facility built for companies such as OpenAI, Google, or Meta. Liberty Center One focuses on efficiency, including cooling systems that can take advantage of Michigan’s cold winter air. Steve also breaks down what "the cloud" actually means. Data stored in the cloud still lives on physical hardware somewhere. For businesses, the location of that hardware can matter. Manufacturing systems, quality control, and other latency sensitive applications may need servers physically close to the operation. Email and less time sensitive workloads can live farther away. This is one reason more companies are using a multi cloud approach rather than putting everything with one provider. We also talk about AI and how small businesses should approach it. AI works best when there is a specific problem to solve. Steve points to business intelligence, marketing, image generation, and translation as useful applications. One automotive customer can translate large technical manuals almost instantly for teams around the world. At the same time, AI can become frustrating when businesses force it into customer service situations where a human would provide a better experience. Steve describes AI as a force multiplier rather than a replacement for everything people already do. Cybersecurity is another key topic. Steve explains how ransomware enters a business, encrypts files, and demands payment for restoring access. The strongest defense is a clean backup that is separate from the infected production environment. Liberty Center One maintains out of band backups and replication so businesses can recover from a known good copy rather than depend on a ransom payment. Ultimately, Steve comes back to customer service. Small technology companies often use similar hardware and platforms as much larger competitors. Their advantage is responsiveness, flexibility, and the ability for customers to reach an actual person when something goes wrong. Bonus: You'll also hear about the charity work Liberty Center One's CEO and his wife are doing in Royal Oak. Liberty Center One: https://www.libertycenterone.com/ Liberty Center One Sales: sales@libertycenterone.com (00:00) Intro (00:32) Meet Steve Searles of Liberty Center One (01:29) Cincinnati, Skyline Chili and Detroit (02:07) From Aviation and Hot Air Balloons to IT (04:44) Why Not All Data Centers Are the Same (07:11) Making Data Centers More Efficient (08:38) What “The Cloud” Actually Means (11:06) Why the Physical Location of Your Data Matters (12:25) Why Businesses Are Leaving Some Big Cloud Providers (14:23) How Small Businesses Can Use AI (18:17) Jon's Mom's Real World Scam and the Risks Facing Consumers (19:28) How a Ransomware Attack Works (24:09) Should a Business Ever Pay a Ransom? (26:03) Liberty Center One and the Hand In Hand Foundation (26:46) Fishbowl Question: Steve’s Favorite Teacher (28:39) How to Contact Liberty Center One Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/ Connect with our host: Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #115

  How SMART Bus Is Improving Service and Ridership

  Apr 27, 202628 min

  In this episode of the ROCC Pod, Jon Gay talks with Tiffany Gunter, General Manager and CEO of SMART Bus, about the role public transportation plays in Southeast Michigan and how SMART is working to improve service, access, and perception across the region. Tiffany starts by sharing her career path, which began outside of public service in retail and automotive before a job posting for urban planning led her to SEMCOG. That opened the door to transit work, including time with the Regional Transit Authority, city management in Birmingham, and eventually SMART. SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) serves Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, along with parts of Detroit, through fixed-route buses, paratransit service, community transportation partners, and Flex microtransit. The Flex service works more like Uber or Lyft, giving riders curb-to-curb service through an app. It helps solve the first-mile and last-mile challenge, especially in a region where people may live too far from a bus stop to walk comfortably. Pontiac has been one of the strongest examples, with SMART reaching one million Flex rides across its five pilot zones. SMART is also launching free rides for students beginning May 1. That includes K through 12 students, college and university students, and apprenticeship programs. Tiffany says the program is not just about giving away service. It helps families, builds ridership, and teaches the next generation how to use public transportation. She also explains that higher ridership helps SMART draw more state and federal funding. The conversation also covers SMART’s connection to Royal Oak. Tiffany says Royal Oak has long been a strong transit partner, with a major transit center and access to Amtrak. SMART is preparing a facility assessment through an architectural and engineering contract, and Tiffany sees an opportunity to rethink what the Royal Oak Transit Center could become. Tiffany also talks about the cultural challenge of promoting transit in the Motor City. She says the lack of strong regional transit is not just about car culture or the auto industry. It is also tied to missed political opportunities, regional disagreement, and the fact that Southeast Michigan’s road network gives drivers many options. Still, younger generations are less attached to driving, which creates a chance to build new habits. SMART is also focused on performance. Tiffany describes the “Down with OTP” campaign, a play on Naughty By Nature, where OTP means on-time performance. SMART improved from 62% to 76%, with a goal of 85%. Drivers now track garage-by-garage leaderboards, and Tiffany says the competition has helped build pride and better service. She also points to Wi-Fi, cleaner shelters, ADA improvements, and a 40% ridership increase on Woodward and Gratiot between February 2025 and February 2026. The episode closes with Tiffany sharing how martial arts shaped her leadership style, how her mother became her best friend and source of strength, and how SMART is using social media and augmented reality to help more people understand the system before they even step on a bus. Smart Bus Website: https://www.smartmovesus.org (00:00) Intro (03:22) What SMART Bus is and how it serves the region (05:20) How Flex microtransit works (07:22) Free rides for students beginning May 1 (09:41) SMART’s connection to Royal Oak (11:41) Promoting transit in the Motor City (14:52) Younger generations and changing attitudes about driving (19:34) SMART’s on-time performance campaign (26:40) SMART website, social media, and augmented reality Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/ Connect with our host: Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #114

  Why Storytelling Still Wins in Modern Marketing

  Mar 12, 202615 min

  In this episode, we sit down with Michael Fossano from Premier Communications Group and talk about what it really means to market in a technology driven world. We start with a fun look at Mike’s life outside the office, including his passion for gardening and making homemade sauces and jams. From there, we shift into the history of Premier Communications Group, which was founded by his father in 1982 as a graphic design firm and has grown into a full service marketing communications agency. We reflect on the company’s 44 year journey and how it has evolved to serve clients across industries including automotive, healthcare, insurance, real estate, and more. Working with a wide range of industries keeps the work fresh and forces us to stay curious. We acknowledge the rapid pace of change in marketing, from the early days of websites to the rise of social media, AI, and tools like ChatGPT. While technology plays a major role, it cannot replace genuine human connection. Strong client relationships, thoughtful listening, and tailored strategies remain at the core of effective marketing. We explore how different platforms serve different purposes. Some clients benefit from Facebook or Instagram, while others in B2B spaces may see stronger results on LinkedIn. We stress the importance of understanding where an audience actually spends time and building a tactical approach around that insight. A major theme of our conversation is storytelling. We talk about how uncovering a company’s history, milestones, awards, and innovations can humanize a brand. Sharing those stories builds trust, credibility, and connection. In a world full of automation and algorithms, we remind ourselves that people want to be seen, heard, and valued. Personalized outreach and thoughtful communication stand out in ways that automated messages do not. We also touch on Premier’s deep roots in Royal Oak and long standing involvement with the Chamber of Commerce. We close with a lighter conversation about Detroit sports and lifelong memories with Mike's late dad, built around baseball. Premiere Communications Group Website: https://premiercg.com/ Mike's Email: mfossano@premierecg.com Phone Number: 248-544-7383 Address: 612 East Fourth Street, Royal Oak. Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/ Connect with our host: Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #113

  Why The Right Colors Change Everything

  Feb 26, 202618 min

  We open this episode by talking about how seeing ourselves on camera during COVID changed the way many of us think about how we look. We discuss how lighting, color, and cohesion play a bigger role than we realize, and how that realization often becomes the entry point into color analysis. From there, we introduce House of Colour and Dee Pineaut, who joins us to explain what color analysis actually is and where it comes from. We walk through the history of color analysis, starting with early 20th-century art theory and the Bauhaus movement, and then moving into the film industry with the rise of Technicolor. Filmmakers learned that certain colors could make actors look healthier, younger, brighter, or more sinister, and those same principles apply to everyday people. We talk about how color can either harmonize with someone’s natural undertones or fight against them, affecting how vibrant or washed out they appear. We then break down what a typical House of Colour appointment looks like. Natural daylight and an in-person experience are essential, and precision-dyed drapes are used to determine whether someone has warm or cool undertones. From there, we outline the four seasonal palettes—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—and what those seasons mean in practical terms. We discuss how finding the right colors simplifies getting dressed, helps wardrobes become more cohesive, and reduces decision fatigue in the morning. We move beyond color into style analysis, where we talk about body shape, clothing cuts, and personality. We emphasize that this process is not about changing someone’s body, but about honoring it and choosing shapes, fabrics, and details that work best for each individual. We highlight how style evolves over a lifetime and how these tools help people adapt through career changes, retirement, weight changes, and life transitions. We also cover the additional services House of Colour offers, including cosmetics, wardrobe edits, personal shopping, and online shopping resources. Dee shares her own journey into this work, explaining how her personal transformation led her to open a House of Colour studio in Royal Oak. We close by talking about client success stories, community involvement through the Royal Oak Chamber, and how listeners can get started on their own color and style journey. More: Dee's House of Colour Website: https://www.houseofcolour.com/stylists/dee-pineau-royal-oak-michigan (00:00) – Intro (01:25) – What Color Analysis Is and Where It Comes From (02:48) – Film, Technicolor, and the Psychology of Color (03:32) – What House of Colour Does (04:51) – What a Color Analysis Appointment Looks Like (06:34) – Favorite Colors vs. Best Colors (08:06) – Why In-Person Analysis Matters (09:13) – Style Analysis and Body Shapes (11:06) – Additional Services: Makeup, Wardrobes, Shopping (13:10) – Dee’s Personal Journey to House of Colour (14:27) – Client Transformations and Success Stories (15:22) – Royal Oak Chamber and Community Involvement (16:26) – How to Get Started with House of Colour Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/ Connect with our host: Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #112

  Overcoming Dental Anxiety with Dr. Karassi

  Feb 5, 202624 min

  We sit down with Dr. Tasneem Karassi of Wellness Family Dentistry to talk about her journey into dentistry, her decision to open a startup practice in Royal Oak, and her passion for patient-centered, whole-body dental care. We start by getting to know Dr. Karassi beyond dentistry, including her long-time love of ceramics and how working with her hands outside the office helps her unwind and stay grounded. That creative background naturally connects to dentistry, a profession that blends precision, artistry, and problem-solving. We explore how and why she chose Royal Oak as both her home and the location for her practice. After working in several offices across the region, Dr. Karassi knew she wanted to build something from scratch that reflected her own vision. With encouragement from fellow local business owners and the right opportunity opening up, Wellness Family Dentistry was born. She shares how the energy, community, and vibrancy of Royal Oak made it the perfect place to plant roots and grow a practice. A major focus of our conversation is dental anxiety. We talk about why so many patients feel nervous at the dentist and how trust, communication, and time are the most important tools in overcoming that fear. Dr. Karassi explains how her office prioritizes education, visual tools, and a calm, spa-like environment to remove the mystery from dental care. From aroma therapy to noise-canceling headphones, everything is designed to make patients feel safe, heard, and unrushed. We also dive into dental insurance and affordability, including options for patients without insurance. Dr. Karassi outlines her one-time new patient special and the Wellness Family Plan, a membership model that focuses on preventive care and transparency rather than insurance limitations. One of the most impactful parts of the conversation centers on airway dentistry and sleep apnea. We discuss how sleep apnea is often underdiagnosed, how it affects the entire body, and how dentists can play a key role in identifying and treating it. Dr. Karassi explains mandibular advancement devices as a non-invasive alternative to CPAP machines and shares real-life examples of how proper diagnosis can dramatically improve patients’ quality of life. We wrap up by talking about pediatric dental care, the importance of starting children early, and how lifelong habits are formed. Dr. Karassi shares how her curiosity and conversations during a two-year gap period ultimately led her into dentistry, a profession she now uses to combine health, wellness, aesthetics, and community impact. Wellness Family Dentistry Website– https://wellnessfamilydentistry.co (00:00) Intro (00:20) Welcome to the ROCC Pod (00:49) Ceramics, Creativity, and Dentistry (01:53) Starting a Dental Practice from Scratch (04:24) Understanding and Treating Dental Anxiety (08:46) Dental Insurance, Membership Plans, and Costs (10:30) Airway Dentistry and Sleep Apnea (15:57) Pediatric Dental Care and Starting Kids Early (18:24) Finding Passion in Dentistry (20:33) Joining the Royal Oak Chamber (21:14) Fishbowl Question & Fun Wrap-Up (22:41) How to Contact Wellness Family Dentistry Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/ Connect with our host: Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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