**This session will be held live on Zoom, and you’ll receive the join link after you register.

Why Founders Feel Trapped in Their Own Business: Business coach Dr. John Fulwider joins us to talk about why most founder-led companies don’t have a strategy problem, they have a decision discipline problem, and how owner dependence keeps the business stuck around the owner.

Many successful founders reach a point where the business is growing, the team is capable, and systems are in place—yet they still feel like they can’t step away.

In many founder-led companies, the challenge isn’t staffing or strategy. It’s owner dependence—when decisions, authority, and identity remain centered on the founder, even as the business grows.

In this Ask the CFO session, Lowell Mora will be joined by business coach Dr. John Fulwider to explore why this dynamic is so common and what it takes to move beyond it.

Together, they’ll discuss:

• Why founders often feel trapped in their own businesses
• The difference between being the business and owning the business
• How identity and decision habits keep owners at the center
• Practical ways founders can step out of daily operations while strengthening the company

Ask the CFO is a live, interactive session for business owners and leaders looking for practical insights from real-world experience. Each session includes a focused discussion followed by open Q&A.

About Our Guest:
Dr. John Fulwider is a business coach who helps founding business owners reduce owner dependence so they can step out of day-to-day operations, grow their companies, and create more personal freedom while increasing business value.

**This session will be held live on Zoom, and you’ll receive the join link after you register.

Guest: Ken Scales, Founder & CEO of Scalesology

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere right now. Every company seems to be talking about it, and many leadership teams feel pressure to have an “AI strategy.”

But for most small and mid-sized businesses, the real question is much simpler:

Where does AI actually help the business run better?

In this session of Ask the CFO, Lowell will be joined by Ken Scales, Founder and CEO of Scalesology, a firm that helps organizations use data, analytics, and modern technology to improve operational performance and decision-making.

Ken works with companies across a range of industries to turn complex data and technology challenges into practical solutions that improve efficiency and support growth.

Together, Lowell and Ken will discuss how AI is being implemented today in businesses that are well below the Fortune 500 level — companies that may not have large data teams but still want to operate smarter.

The conversation will focus on practical questions many leaders are asking right now, including:

• Where AI can create real efficiency in small and mid-sized businesses

• Why a strong data foundation matters before adopting AI tools

• How companies under $10M in revenue are using AI for automation, predictive insight, and operational improvement

• Why the best AI initiatives start with identifying specific business problems, not just adopting new technology

• Examples of how leaders are using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and other platforms to support real business decisions

As always, the session will be conversational and interactive, with time for questions and discussion with the group.

If you’ve been hearing about AI but are still trying to understand how it fits into the reality of running a business, this will be a practical place to start.

Ask the CFO with guest John Gies: Clear Message & Predictable Referrals

Tuesday, May 8 2026 · 10am – 11am CT
Live on Zoom (link provided after registration)

As businesses grow, two things tend to get less clear—not more:

How you talk about what you do
And where your next opportunities are coming from

Many companies rely on referrals, but leave them to chance. At the same time, their message often becomes focused on what they offer, rather than the problems they solve.

In this session of Ask the CFO, I’ll be joined by John Gies of Resonant Business Solutions for a practical, conversational discussion around these two areas.

We’ll talk through:

• Why a clear, problem-focused message matters more than ever
• How to create messaging that gets people to raise their hand
• What it looks like to build predictable referral partnerships
• Why most referral strategies don’t work—and how to approach them differently
• How these two pieces connect to more consistent revenue growth

As always, this will be a live, interactive session. We’ll start with a focused conversation and leave time for questions and discussion with the group.

If you’re thinking about how to generate more consistent opportunities—and communicate your value more clearly—this will be a useful conversation to be part of.

About Our Guest:
John Gies works with business owners to build sustainable, profitable revenue and companies that don’t depend on them for every decision. With over 20 years of experience in corporate sales across industries including telecom, banking, healthcare, and law, he brings practical insight and real-world strategies to help businesses grow while building stronger teams and healthier organizations.