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April McClung

Owner of Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes

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View April’s tips on:

• Public Relations Strategy
• Processes

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If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

The advice I would give is to work hard and seek to inspire. Big brother is always watching, so make sure your character is above board and treat people as you would want to be treated. Keep good books/records; stay organized. If you are not a good writer, take classes (this will be important). There will be many challenges. Keep the faith, read and trust the process.

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To what do you attribute your success?

Because I grew up in Corporate America (completed college at 16 and started managing people for a large insurance company at 21) I have been trained on a multitude of skill sets that girded and guided my business decisions. Work ethic, character, faith, always thinking outside the box and surrounding my self with the brightest and best minds.

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What are your company’s goals?

Our goal is to become a household brand. We would like to capture 10-20% of the market and ultimately inspire one million people to buy one cake each year.

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Do you work locally or nationally?

We work both locally and nationally.

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What is unique about your business?

We are a boutique of pound cakes. We can customize any occasion and make it special. We started with one cake in one flavor and now have 20 different flavors and various sizes. We do wedding cakes, birthday cakes, gourmet cup cakes, pound pops, pound cake bites, slices, loafs, rounds, mini loafs, half loafs and snack sizes.

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Is there any particular advice you’d give on managing your business and surviving a crisis like the coronavirus has caused?

The advice I would give is be the manager you would want to have. Think outside the box to solve problems. See every challenge as an opportunity to be great. Seek help when you need it.

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www.emilysheirloompoundcakes.com

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The business started as a fundrasier where we raised over $14k using our grandmother’s hundred year old pound cake recipe to send one of our sons to 7 countries in Europe for 20 days and the other son to China for 17 days as Student Ambassadors during the summer of 2014.

 

Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes is a modern day twist on our traditional family recipe that represents love and everything good about family.

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Darlene Wilson

Managing Principal of Relay Accounting Management Firm

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To what do you attribute your success?

“I’ve gotten this question a lot over the years and I have found that despite the challenges that I’ve faced and the pivots I’ve had to make to overcome the challenges, two things remain consistent:

1. Faith in God

2. Resilience

I believe that God has given me hope and a future. I also believe that faith is the substance of things hoped for. This foundation of faith makes me resilient. I have faced misfortune and change; however, I know that if I keep moving forward with courage, I will overcome the challenges and eventually, I will reach my personal and professional success goals.”

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www.RAMFirm.com

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Relay Accounting Management (RAM) specializes in relationships with entrepreneurs through business growth and development opportunities by providing virtual CFO services, business consulting, and accounting management services. We can also train and develop internal staff on the use of accounting software for bookkeeping, payroll processing and tax payment requirements. We are Accountants Turning Our Clients Vision Into Value!

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Bio:

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Darlene Wilson is a distinct representative of how Birmingham businesses operate given effective and efficient leadership of their organization. With more than twenty-five years in the corporate banking and public accounting industry, more than fifteen of those years as an entrepreneur in our city qualifies her as a leading entrepreneur in Metro Birmingham and many other regions and states.

 

Darlene received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Montevallo. She is honored for being recently named to the 2019 National List of the Top 100 Influential Execs in Finance. Her firm was also recently nominated for ICIC’s 2019 Inner City 100 Award. The Inner City 100 is a national ranking of America’s fastest-growing urban businesses in inner cities. She completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program at Babson College in the Fall of 2018 and Emerging Leaders through the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2017.

 

Darlene was selected to serve on Regions Bank Advisory Board for the Birmingham market in 2019 and is also a member of the Inaugural Small Business Council for the City of Birmingham where she serves as the chair of the City Services Committee. She was appointed by Mayor Randall Woodfin to Birmingham Airport Authority Board of Directors in 2018 where she serves as the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee. Darlene also serves as Treasurer of The WellHouse and Alabama Women in Business. She is Immediate Past Board Chair of REV Birmingham where she continues to serve on the executive committee and Board of Directors. She is also a Member of Foundation Capital where she serves on the Loan Review Committee.

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Bio:

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April McClung is originally from Miami, Florida. She graduated with a Business Management degree from the University of Florida and a MBA from Barry University. April has 2 sons (Lacy McClung III and John Alexander McClung). She left Corporate America after 25+ years to start her business and has lived in Birmingham for the past 25 years.

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A.G. Gaston – Entrepreneur of the Century

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WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY ENTREPRENEUR CAN TEACH SOMEONE ELSE SOMETHING VALUABLE

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Responsive Design

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Event And Course

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Powerful Features

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Be At The Top

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Created For Education Business

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Our Board

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Our Partners

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