About Deborah.
About Creative Connector.
Helping and Serving Others.
Hello,
Welcome to my Creative Connector website. Throughout my life I have lived by the motto: “You have to want to; believe that you can; and convince others that you will.” Whether it’s success in business or in life, your chutzpah, confidence, and ability to persuade others to see your vision, you have to believe your message and act on it. This is paramount to how I help you achieve success.
This website is a story of how I’ve lived my life in that way. I help you grow from a seedling to a forest by making you relevant to your prospects and strategic partners. Believing in your vision and acting on it is how I help you achieve success.
Deborah is the real deal. She’s a natural leader and excellent communicator. Organized and detailed while also able to see ‘the big picture.’ That’s a rare combination.
Jeff Chernoff, Founder
Business Community Network, BCN
Grew Up In Sales
I grew up in a family of sales people. My father sold men’s clothing, my mother sold real estate. I had to persuade them for everything I wanted to do: go out with friends, go to a venue. Almost every day I had to sell them on the activity that I wanted to do. From that probably came why I’m in the business that I’m in. I had to be persuasive, and explain the nuisances even from an early age. I had to create my own destiny.
As well as being great sales people, my family has always been very giving to friends, in business, and in the community. They are always looking for ways to help others. It is a family caring for others.
They truly helped me become who I am today. Featured here is a picture of my loving mother.
Outsourced Executive VP of Strategic Business Development
I founded DSG & Associates LLC, now known as Creative Connector, to be your Outsourced Inhouse Executive VP of Strategic Business Development, connecting people to people and ideas to results.
Working closely with you to uncover your pain points and priorities, develop a strategic plan that will generate a ROI for your business.
Taking a holistic approach to build and enhance your personal and company brand, grow your centers of influence and strategic partnerships to get to the tipping point in your business success.
Outsourced VP of Business Development
I founded DSG & Associates LLC, now known as Creative Connector, to be your Outsourced Inhouse Executive VP of Strategic Business Development, connecting people to people and ideas to results.
Working closely with you to uncover your pain points and priorities, develop a strategic plan that will generate a ROI for your business.
Taking a holistic approach to build and enhance your personal and company brand, grow your centers of influence and strategic partnerships to get to the tipping point in your business success.
Deborah pictured with one of her clients, ProComm Total Office Technologies.
Wide Variety of Industries
I work in a wide variety of industries. I adapt and adopt to what is most important and learn your industry from the inside-out.
The versatility I bring will work for your business.
See what leaders are saying in a wide variety of industries.
Bringing on New Businesses for BCN
As the Executive VP of Business Development for the Business Community Network (BCN), I have brought on close to 80 new companies into the BCN. Every month I help 60 companies with their business developments/sales pipelines, to help them build relationships that generate ROI and sustaining strategic partnerships.
In this role, I am the Connector, Rainmaker, and Deal Maker for the BCN.
This video shares the value of what the BCN brings to its members.
Client Success Stories
Working with the Women’s Foodservice Forum, I retained existing partnerships and generated new and incremental business resulting in more than $100K in revenue during a five-month assignment. While helping an accounting advisory and solutions firm, Trusted CFO Solutions, I created and implemented a sales and marketing strategy and action plan that helped gain a prominent multi unit restaurant client, which led to gaining more clients in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. In another capacity, I helped the largest dealer of foodservice equipment and supplies in the Southeast, Atlanta Fixture & Sales Company, increase its revenue by 20 percent.
Strategy for Growth
During the six years that I worked with the Georgia Restaurant Association, I started as an independent contractor to develop a strategy for growth and to recruit and retain restaurant, allied and corporate sponsor members. Soon after, I was hired full time and later promoted to vice president of membership and sponsorship sales, where I led business development and sales efforts with my team that doubled revenue during my tenure and grew membership tenfold.
Generating New Business
I worked for the leading television station in the Southeast, WSB-TV, for 12 years. Through roles in broadcast sales and as business development/co-op/vendor specialist, I helped pioneer cooperative marketing campaigns that generated over $4 million in new business and nontraditional media revenue from clients in the higher education, homebuilding, associations, health care and retail industries.
Accolades received
- Appreciation Award from the YWCA of Greater Atlanta for my dedication as board member from 2003-2010
- A spot on the Women Looking Ahead, 100s list
- Special Recognition Award from the Atlanta Women’s Network, where I previously served as president
- Broadcast Sales Excellence Award from WSB-TV
- “Woman Who Made a Difference Award” from WSB-TV
- “Women in Communications Clarion Award” for my work as producer on a five-part television series on the Hispanic people of Cleveland called Tenemos Vida: We Have Life, while in Cleveland, Ohio, at WJKW-TV
Public Speaker and Thought Leader
As a thought leader, I enjoy speaking to business and nonprofit audiences about strategic business development, relationship selling and more. I’ve been a guest on numerous TV broadcasts, podcasts, radio shows and at business leadership conferences.
A Thought Leader for the Following Organizations
BCN
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
Georgia Restaurant Association
OnBoard
Atlanta Women's Network
Atlanta Home Builders Association
Giving Back and Serving Others
I am passionate about giving back. These are the organizations that I support as a board member, donor, member or volunteer:
- Board member, donor and volunteer for the Bettie Brand Mother’s Empowerment Fund
- Donor member of United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Cole Society
- Donor for the Woodruff Arts Center
- Donor and volunteer with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the Giving Kitchen
- Donor to Make a Miracle Charity
- Donor to Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association
- Donor to Montefiore Nursing Home, where I created an endowment in memory of my mother, Dorothy Schwartz and father Hyman Schwartz
Previously served on:
- The steering committee of the Atlanta Classical Academy
Boards of Star-C, Northside Hospital Foundation,
YWCA of Greater Atlanta - Former President of the Atlanta Women’s Network and Chairwoman the Sales and Marketing Council of the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association
- Member of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Member Metro Atlanta Chamber
- Member and Advocate for OnBoard
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Cole Society
Woodruff Arts Center Women’s Giving Circle
Atlanta Community Food Bank
The Giving Kitchen
Make a Miracle Charity
Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association
Montefiore Nursing Home
Atlanta Women’s Network
Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association
Loving Life!
I earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism at The Ohio State University. My mornings start with focus, discipline and persistence, running about 20 miles per week and lifting weights. I also compete throughout the year in 5K and 10K races, and in 2016 competed in my first Publix Half Marathon. I live in Atlanta with my loving husband Jim.
Found The Love of My Life
Jim, or James, is the love of my life, my best friend, my everything. We first met in 1986, and married in 1994. Jim brings me joy, he gives me perspective. He tells me like it is, in a loving and caring way. And that is the engine for me to help others. I hope that everyone has a partner who can be their trusted advisor, their best friend and love that can support them like I have with Jim.
Maintaining a Life of Discipline
I treat my workout routine with the same dedication as my work. Every day I run at least 2-3 miles, I enjoy calisthenics, and a weight lifting routine. This exercise plan is part of my business plan because it sets the tone for my spirit, my focus, my determination, and my ability to get things done for my clients, constantly moving things forward. It’s all one in the same.
Once a person understands who they are and the power within, only then can they move forward with their company brand. The power they have as a person, seamlessly comes out when taking care of their clients. Clients will see their health, and their positivity.
You can’t be good to others unless you are good to yourself.
Getting uterine cancer came out of left field. I never would have thought I would have gotten cancer. Had my exercise routine not been as structured as it is, my recovery would not have been as it was. I take care of myself which takes care of my emotions, my spirit which helps me take care of others. It sets the tone for the work I do for charities and for my clients.
The 2021 Peachtree Road Race, 52nd Annual was symbolic more than ever for me and Jim. It was Jim’s 20th year and my 30th running the race. We also ran in honor and tribute to my sister Cyndee who is battling 3rd stage colon cancer and has persevered greatly for three years. Sending positivity and strength to my sister with much love.
Do you have an exercise plan for health and for business?
Success in business and in health go hand in hand. I can enhance the exercise plan for your business.
Deborah is the ultimate Stars and Strikes ambassador. I can always depend on her to introduce me to people and resources that make my work and life easier.
Kip Lowery, Director of Operations
Stars and Strikes