Meekins, Rick

Atlanta Christians in Business Network
MEMBER BIO/PROFILE

Rick Meekins
Aepiphanni Business Solutions
PO Box 669953
Marietta, GA 30066
Phone: 678-265-3908
Cell: 678-697-2315
www.aepiphanni.com
rmeekins@aepiphanni.com

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Aepiphanni is a God-driven organization that exists to seek out and find the best in people and their businesses, to develop profitable systems and strategies to highlight those abilities and to create growth oriented, Kingdom extending businesses.

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Summary of Qualifications

Rick Meekins

Founder & Principal Business Advisor

Education

Fielding Graduate University – Santa Barbara, California

Professional Development Studies in Organizational Development and Consulting

September 2004 to January 2006

Moravian College - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management

Advanced studies in Accounting and Adult Learning, May 2002

GPA: 3.53 on a 4.0 scale (Cum Laude), Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society

Microsoft Project Course - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania January 2001

Johnson & Wales University - Norfolk, Virginia

Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts, January 1997

GPA: 3.79 on a 4.0 scale (Magna Cum Laude)

Consulting Experience

• Performed business and needs analysis to determine immediate business needs for maximizing revenue

• Developed measurement and reporting tools to enhance accuracy of SWOT analysis

• Designed in/external branding and marketing campaigning to increase organizational effectiveness and revenue

• Coached management team in areas of employee development, business process architecture and leadership

Professional Experience

Principal Consultant - Aepiphanni Business Solutions – February 2007 to present

· Assisted clients and potential clients with business advisory services in the areas of business startup, strategic planning, business development and strategic partnerships

· Designed marketing plan/strategies for Grammy Award-winning artist, Aerle Taree’s publishing endeavor

· Assisted with development of global internet marketing campaigns for multi-national web design firm

Consultant – Community Consulting Team of Atlanta – (January 2006 to present)

• Interviewed non-profit’s executive management team to determine needs in order to develop action plan

• Presented findings based on interviews with Executive team and supporting teams

• Researched and recommended software packages that matched current key processes and desired functionality

Sales & Marketing Manager – Innovative Fitness Solutions, Inc., Kennesaw, GA (January 2004-February 2007)

• Developed overall program for managing the operations of business development

• Designed and implemented sakes team tactical and IT infrastructure

• Provided sales and marketing support, including advertising, sales team training, recruiting and IT support

Owner - Intimately Yours Catering/Petros Café & Coffee Bar - Allentown, PA (January 1993 to July 2003)

• Developed and implemented strategic organizational goals and objectives, growing from a single operator catering company into a full service fine dining establishment

• Oversaw design, marketing, promotion, delivery and quality of events, products and services

• Prepared yearly budget and managed organization’s resources within the budget guidelines

• Effectively managed organization’s human resources, developed policies and procedures

Management Consultant – LMC Impact – (January to May, 2002) (Internship)

Non-profit Fund development

• Interviewed executives to develop and present SWOT analysis for organization’s fund development practices

• Presented strategies to reach revenue goals through process improvement, planning and effective management

• Developed implementation strategies, training and measurement procedures to enhance likelihood of success

Training Developer - Agere Systems, Allentown, PA (January 2000 to June 2001)(Contractor)

• Prepared and presented management (soft skills) classes, utilizing print, PowerPoint, web and CD-Rom mediums

• Analyzed training metrics to utilize in personal professional development and future training opportunities

• Managed training external trainers, subject matter experts, logistics, collateral, a/v, measurement and follow-up

Favorite Guiding Scripture

Referrals and Recommendations From Other ACIBN Members:
Click Here to recommend another member
By Kimberlee Scott I had been running a small marketing company full-time for about a year when I met Aepiphanni Business Solutions president Rick Meekins. While I had enjoyed a degree of success, I knew that I was approaching major stagnation and needed help visioning for the future. Rick patiently directed me through the process of solidifying such things as my company mission, core values, operational processes, potential roadblocks and strategic advantages. His expertise has helped lead me to a new vision for myself and my company. Rick has a true desire to see his clients move forward and has a wealth of resources that he willingly and eagerly shares to help us grow. Partnering with Aepiphanni has been invaluable and I recommend them to any and every company looking to expand their business potential. Call them today!

**My Personal Bio:**
God has been in my life since I was a child. I was saved at the age of five, and was brought up in the church. Thinking back, I have to admit that I was participating in religion - I went to church and hung out with my friends, participated in activities, etc., but can't say that I truly knew the Lord. I am certain, however, that I could quote more verses in the Bible at that time than I could produce right now. :) The first true recognition I recall was probably while driving through Hampton, VA. My recollection won't allow me to complete the picture. However, I do remember praying, probably for forgiveness for my laundry list of issues, and admitting to God that despite all of my hair raising adventures, God had stuck with me. I don't know how I knew, I just knew. It was awesome, at the very least. However, that probably prefaced one of the lowest parts of my life. Fortunately, and thankfully, all of that is behind me now - forgiven and forgotten...Praise the Lord! Five years later, I found myself in college, at Moravian College & Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, PA. A Christian School was the last thing I had on my mind at the time, but it is where I ended up. It was and still is a great school...a school that changed my life, completely. You see, this was the first time in my life that I was forced to question the existence of God. I had two courses - I don't remember their names, but one dealt with the Philosophy of Religion - the goal here was to disprove the existence of God in the first part of the semester, then, blow all of our air-tight theories to pieces. You talk about an awakening and an awareness. PRAISE GOD!! The second class about the history of the Bible - where the goal was to prove the authenticity of the Bible, using information such as artifacts, corroborating writings and witnesses. You can only imagine - it was another amazing class. From then on...it was me and God. Well, I wish, anyway. I went on from college to build a restaurant. I called it Petros, and thought that using my God card all over the place would make it wildly successful, even though I was grossly under financed and still owe the government thousands of dollars in back taxes. Should be interesting to see how this one works out. At any rate, I had faith, I had some level of works, but I did not have a love for the Lord, nor the true knowledge of that type of love. I am talking about the type of love that makes you make changes in your life, and want to be a better man. While great things, including my wife, came as a result of owning the restaurant, I have my constant pain (taxes!) that probably will serve to keep me focused on my purpose throughout my days. I closed the restaurant after a couple of years, and moved to Georgia, where I began working for a fitness sales company. While a did a number of good things for the company, and the company was one where most of the employees and the owners were of the faith, I feel that I was driven out of that place and redirected (as in directed again) to start Aepiphanni. And here I am. :)

**How God has been in my life and business**:
God has been THERE in my life. I've turned my back, I have run away, I have put stuff off, I have doubted I have cursed, I have committed more sins then I would care to ever remember about. Yet, God remained. The amazing thing is...He is using me. He has given me a purpose - a personal mission statement and a business mission statement that clearly state my work and my Path. God is THERE.

**My unique Qualities**:
I am an idealistic social dreamer. My overriding goal is to solve the people problems of my world. I am a social reformer who wants everyone to be happy. I am exceptionally perceptive about the woes and needs of others. I often have the understanding and skill to readily conceive and implement the solutions to my perceptions. I am creatively persuasive, charismatic and ideologically concerned. I thrive on change and know how to capitalize it. I derive personal satisfaction from helping others. I automatically see the big picture before the details. I am motivated to cause good, growth and gain in others' lives.

**I would like you to know about me**:
My Path - Mission: To serve, daily, those pursuing their paths in pursuit of authenticity, wisdom, integrity, character and growth, resulting in a God-filled life and a peaceful spirit. Vision: To serve the One, touch the few and impact the many, leaving the Earth better than it was when I arrived. Values: I will work hard, play hard, pray hard, provide the best products and services, demonstrate the highest integrity and character, charge what I a worth and know when to walk away. I started this business walking on faith if it ends, it shall end walking on faith.

**Who Can Benefit Most**:
People with a passion for what they do, whether they want to start their business, grow their business, need help with management, accounting or marketing sides of their business are the types of people we work best with. Clients we like to work with include innovative small business owners, visionaries, entrepreneurs, creative artists and professionals who wish to start or grow their own business ventures. Our clients can benefit from the tools, systems and strategies we can create to make their businesses profitable and viable while enabling them to focus what they do best.

**How I would like to help others**:
We serve our clients with detailed and personalized assistance, direction and advisory services, ranging from business plans to financial packages to web services, marketing, accounting, bookkeeping and virtual general management. Each client is individualized - their are no prepackages solutions. Each solution is carefully researched, each plan is based on a mutually agreed upon goal, subject matter experts are enlisted to ensure every phase of the project is scrutinized.

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