This special podcast episode is a production of O’Quinn Media. For information on sponsorship opportunities, email tracy@oquinnmarketing.com.
This episode has been brought to you by Nexthome Team Ellis, Taylor Grubaugh Chevy, Colton’s Steakhouse and Grill, HFL Networks LLC, Flat Branch Home Loans in Waynesville, Flo’s 66 Diner in St. Robert, Laura’s Jewelry Designs in St. Robert, Paul’s Furniture Outlet in St. Robert, American Family Insurance in St. Robert. Mu Bahn Thai in Waynesville, and Off the Top Barber Shop.
Visit http://www.flwpodcast.com to find out more about Pulaski’s Best-Your Local Favorites.
— Automated Transcript —
**OQuinn Media Presents**
Voice: Oquinn Media presents Pulaski’s Best. Your local favorites.
**Sponsor Recognition**
Announcer: This special episode featuring Pulaski’s Best, your local favorites, is brought to you by: Taylor Gruba Chevrolet in Waynesville, Colton’s Steakhouse and Grill in Saint Robert, Next Home Team Ellis in Waynesville, HFL Networks LLC, Flat Branch Home Loans in Waynesville, Flo’s 66 Diner in Saint Robert, Lara’s Jewelry Designs in Saint Robert, Paul’s Furniture Outlet in Saint Robert, Moo Bon Thai in Waynesville, American Family Insurance in Saint Robert, and Off the Top Barbershop.
Thank you so much to all of you for supporting Oquinn Media and Pulaski’s Best, your local favorites. We’ll be right back with some updates about Pulaski’s Best and a very exciting announcement. We’ll be right back.
**Taylor Gruba Chevrolet**
Cameron: This is Cameron with Taylor Gruba Chevrolet. Let’s be honest, nobody likes hagling over a car. When Taylor Gruba asked his customers, they said the same thing. So he changed two things.
First, every vehicle shows our very best price, both on the window and online. Our competition can see it too, so it has to be good. Second, our sales people aren’t paid on commission. They’re paid on volume and customer satisfaction.
Their only job is finding the vehicle that fits you. Please come see us at Taylor Gruba Chevrolet. Our best price, every time.
**HFL Networks**
Announcer: When you think of internet providers, I bet I know some words that will not come to mind. Words like local, giving, responsive, affordable, or how about this phrase: internet with a heart. If any of those words did come to mind when I mentioned internet providers, you must be an HFL Networks customer like me.
HFL is locally owned and operated, serving parts of Saint Robert, Waynesville, Rolla, and Saint James. And when I say internet with a heart, here’s why. HFL’s mission is to provide high-quality service and give back to the communities they serve. And they reach that goal every single day. Here are just a few of the organizations they support: AUSA, CASA of South Central Missouri, Theater on the Square, Ozark Actors Theatre, Saint Robert-Waynesville Senior Center, Waynesville Animal Shelter, Phelps County Animal Rescue, Grace.
If you’re tired of bad service, tired of the run around you get, when you call with a complaint, question, or concern, and most of all, tired of feeling like as a customer, you just don’t matter, then consider HFL Networks. They really do set the standard in customer support, fast, local, reliable, and raising the bar on customer service every single day.
HFLnetworks.net or call 573-202-6361.
**Welcome Back**
Host: Thank you for joining me for this special episode. It’s been a couple of weeks since voting has begun in Pulaski’s Best, presented by Oquinn Media. Pulaski’s Best, your local favorites.
It’s a community driven awards program celebrating the best local businesses and people across Pulaski County, Missouri. What I really love about this is it gives residents a voice in recognizing the businesses, professionals and community members who just make this area such a great place to live. Also, no negativity allowed here. This is all about showing the love.
So, to vote for your Pulaski County favorites, you visit F-as in Frank-LWpodcast.com. You’ll find the ballot there right at the top, as well as all the rules and all the other important info. And you may vote once per category, per day, through November 13th.
With 93 categories in which to vote, one thing we have focused very heavily on is making it as easy as possible, while also reserving the integrity of the program. So, votes are tied to the email address and device used at the time of voting. Returning voters are recognized automatically and you won’t need to log in again every day.
Something very important to know with Pulaski’s Best is although we do have advertising packages available to assist businesses in spreading awareness about what they do, sponsorship in this or any of the other programs or productions never affects how votes are counted. The winner in each category is the finalist with the most votes when voting closes on November 13th at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. So stay up late and vote.
Oquinn Media does reserve the right to review and where necessary disqualify votes found to be fraudulent, automated, or otherwise submitted in violation of these rules. Thankfully, thus far though, this has not been a problem. I’m so thankful for that.
**Pulaski’s Best Winner’s Prize**
Host: So, what does the winner in each category receive? Well, bragging rights of course, and a cool certificate and window clings to remind everyone how cool your business is. And it’s funny because although not one business, organization, or person nominated has asked or seems to be concerned about what the winner receives, it’s definitely been on my mind. And I’ll share some insight as to why, and a very special surprise as well, when we come back from this break. Be right back.
**Flat Branch Home Loans**
Sean: Ready to make your dreams of home ownership a reality? Flat Branch Home Loans in Waynesville, Missouri can help you get there. Hi, I’m Sean Cordry, Senior Mortgage Banker with Flat Branch Home Loans Waynesville. We’d love to chat with you about a wide variety of home loan options we have for you, from zero down loans to doctor loans to bank statement loans. And don’t worry, our team at Flat Branch Home Loans provides a full service support every step of the way, taking the stress out of your home buying journey.
Stop in at 320 I-Court Avenue, Suite Z in Waynesville, Missouri, right behind the McDonald’s in Waynesville in the shopping center behind it. Or you can give us a call at 573-232-1120 and we’ll be glad to get your pre-approved over the phone. It just takes about 10 minutes. Let’s get you home.
**Next Home Team Ellis**
Lisa: Pulaski County, wow, we are feeling the love. From all of us at Next Home Team Ellis, thank you to our amazing clients and colleagues for nominating us for Best Real Estate Agency and Best Property Management.
Lisa Ellis here, and for over three decades I’ve had the privilege of helping families find more than just a house. And in 2018, we opened Next Home Team Ellis and have watched our community grow, welcome new neighbors, and helped old friends make new memories. To everyone who has trusted us, referred us, and continued to choose us as your local realtors, thank you.
Heather: And we’re doubly excited because not one, but two of our agents, Lisa Ellis and myself, Heather Bassett, have been nominated for Best Real Estate Agent in Pulaski County. Now it’s time to vote. Head to FLWpodcast.com and vote for your favorites. Next Home Team Ellis, where it’s always humans over houses.
**Supporting Small Businesses**
Host: Welcome back to this special episode. As I was saying before the break, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what can I include in the inaugural year of Pulaski’s Best to help support and celebrate small business. I probably overthink it a lot actually. You see, I’ve always been very focused on assisting small businesses in any way that I can.
And maybe it’s from growing up in a family that had a very heavy focus on working hard and giving back and always helping those who have the guts to help themselves, because it’s so much easier to have that pity party, isn’t it? But when you have to actually put the work in and help yourself, it’s a little bit harder. I remember answering the phone for my dad’s small business when I was just a young girl.
He taught me what to say, how to say it professionally, and what information he would need to have to be able to return their call and assist them. He made it very clear, communication was important. And I think that’s why poor communication absolutely drives me nuts. So many of life’s issues and disagreements would be solved just by communicating with each other. Ugh, but I digress.
So, when this program kicked off with the success it did and the amazing community support it received, I felt so blessed and happy. And it started me thinking, I really want to add something to this as an added thank you and “I see you” to all the small businesses plugging away day after day, competing with the big dogs and doing the best they can in a less than great economy, unfortunately.
**The Big Announcement**
Host: And after some planning, begging, and more planning, I’m really excited to announce it to you all. We at Oquinn Media are going to take all 93 winners in Pulaski’s Best and drop their name into a drawing. I’ll tell you about what the drawing is for in just a moment.
But I want to let you know that Oquinn Media started out as a marketing agency. And one thing I know for sure is that marketing is essential to every business, regardless of size. But it’s also one of those things that often gets cut first when budgets get tight, especially for small businesses, which is totally understandable. I mean, if you have to choose between making payroll and buying advertisement, which one will it be?
So, we want to take that worry off of one local business. Well, actually, we want to take that worry off of all local businesses, but being a small business ourselves, we can only afford to take it off of one at the moment. So, during this special upcoming podcast in December, we will announce the winners of Pulaski’s Best.
We will then draw the name of one winner live while we record the episode. So, yes, the episode will be recorded, but I’ll be drawing the winner live. I will not know ahead of time who the winner is. And that winner will receive an advertising package valued at thousands and thousands of dollars.
This package is going to be a game changer for the winner and we’re excited to share the process of the winner and what they receive moving forward so that you can all be involved in it. We hope this will take some worry and stress off of at least one local business, while also showing our support for and celebrating all local businesses.
**Feedback and Future Plans**
Host: I just want to thank all of you for your support during the inaugural year for Pulaski’s Best. If you have comments on things you like about this year’s showcase, or maybe things you’d like us to add or do differently next year, we would absolutely love to hear from you. Email Tracy at Oquinnmarketing.com.
Okay, that’s all for Pulaski’s Best at the moment. But before we go, I did want to give you a heads up on a few other things. First, even though the Fort Not Lost in the Woods podcast is not dropping new episodes right now, our season actually starts back in March. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on here at Oquinn Media.
First of all, Marv in the Morning still drops every Friday morning. And I was really excited to be a guest on this Friday’s episode of the Marv in the Morning podcast. Marv actually asked the questions a lot of people are wanting answers to about Pulaski’s Best, plus we talk about our upcoming production, The Veterans Day Salute to Heroes, which drops November 10th. I’m so excited about that one.
We also have some other news I’d like to share with you. I’m really excited about it, but we’re not quite ready to put it out into the universe just yet. All I can say is Oquinn Media is growing. Our podcasts are changing and evolving. Our studio is expanding and the website is becoming this cool local hub where you can find out everything you need to know about the area.
It’s an exciting time, and I have every single one of you to thank for that. I can’t stress enough, if you do not follow the Fort Not Lost in the Woods podcast feed on whatever app you listen on, just hit that follow button. It doesn’t cost you anything. And there are some things coming up that I assure you, you don’t want to miss.
Also, please let us know if there’s something that you feel is missing in local media. With there being so many sources these days for news, sports, weather, entertainment, you know, you’d think it would be easy to get all the information that you need, but really, it feels more difficult than ever. We’re trying to change that.
Email us and let us know what service or podcast can we provide for you? What would make it easier for you to find the info you are searching for? In fact, what info are you searching for? We’re here and we’re listening. Let us know what we can do for you. I mean that. Email Tracy@oquinnmarketing.com. I I really can’t wait to hear from you.
**Personal Message and Farewell**
Host: And one last thing before I go. So many of you have reached out with prayers, condolences, and words of support regarding the recent death of my dear mom. You really have no idea the comfort that that has provided. Thank you.
It’s really hard for me to fathom a world without my mom in it, but your love and support helps me know I will be okay. Thank you. I’m looking forward to talking with you again soon. Until then, stay tuned, keep logging on to FLWpodcast.com, get those votes in. You have until November 13th. And help Oquinn Media continue to provide community, conversation, and connection. Until next time.