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Curated Collection Of The Best Interviews From Our Sandy Springs Studio





Jack Perry with Source Point Coaching and Lloyd Lofton with RISK, Inc.

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Jack Perry / Source Point Coaching Linkedin Twitter

Jack Perry, Jr. is currently president of Source Point Coaching in Peachtree City, Georgia. He is a Board Member of the National Speakers Association (Atlanta Chapter), Certified Facilitator and Coach for FranklinCovey Corporation, Certified Professional Coach from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching, an Energy Leadership Master Practitioner, and a Neuro-Linguistics Practitioner from the Gestalt Institute. He earned his Master’s Degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, and his Bachelor’s Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Lloyd Lofton / RISK, Inc. Linkedin Twitter

What Lloyd does is inspire sales organizations to raise insight, increase skills and improve knowledge regarding sales activity from 15 – 40% in as little as two to three weeks by helping them integrate mechanisms and sales process to ensure their individual sales force engages in the activity necessary to drive sales.

Lloyd Lofton has 30 years of door-to-door, call center; business-to-business and needs based selling experience. He is a successful business leader who has led large sales distributions who produced 50 million or more a year in sales, who has led recruiting efforts that resulted in hiring more than 2,000 sales professionals in one year and who has trained hundreds of managers, from field sales leaders to executive level leaders.

 

 

Jack Scherer with SALESTALENT

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Jack Scherer / SALESTALENT Linkedin

Jack Scherer is founder and president of SALESTALENT, a sales performance agency that focuses on three key areas: Targeted Sales Recruiting… Customized Sales Training programs… and Sales Strategy Playbooks.

SALESTALENT was started in 2001 because Jack saw the continuous need to find productive salespeople as well as to develop customized sales training programs for all types of businesses — “one size does not fit all.” Over the last 13 years, Jack and his company have worked with many types of businesses–in Technology/IT, healthcare, marketing, manufacturing, and many different business services. SALESTALENT delivers increased sales performance!!

SALESTALENT NATIONAL EXPANSION: The next step for SALESTALENT is to offer their proven sales systems to qualified sales professionals in key markets throughout the U.S. The mission of SALESTALENT is to be the national leader in increasing sales performance for the small to mid sized business.

 

 

14th Annual Afternoon In The Country At Serenbe

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Tamie Cook / Atlanta Chapter Les Dames d’Escoffier International Facebook Twitter

Tamie Cook came to a culinary career later in life. After working as an Occupational Therapist for almost 10 years she had the opportunity to live in Paris for three years and discovered food and wine, the way it is meant to be enjoyed. Upon returning to the US she resumed her career as a therapist all the while dreaming of the day when she could turn her new passion into a career. Opportunity struck when a merger led to a lay off and she seized the moment to chart a new path. While attending New England Culinary Institute Tamie performed internships with Bacchanalia in Atlanta and the cooking school LaVarenne in Burgundy, France. While in France, Tamie also worked as a stagiere in a Michelin 1-Star restaurant near Auxerre. She concluded her time in France working the vendange in the village of Pommard, picking grapes and making wine the old-fashioned way.

Tamie worked as Alton Brown’s Culinary Director for 11 years and in January 2013 struck out on her own as a freelance chef, food stylist, teacher, writer, recipe developer and caterer. She now has a sought-after recipe development and culinary consulting company called Tamie Cook Culinary Productions with clients across the Southeast and beyond, including the Tennessee Aquarium, Coca Cola, Chef Steven Satterfield, PeachDish and RSVP. Tamie is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and serves on its Board of Directors as the Vice President of Philanthropy. She is also a member of the Southern Foodways Alliance and Women Chefs and Restaurateurs. Tamie received a scholarship from the Atlanta Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier in 2001.

Cheryl Steep / Registered Dietician

Registered dietitian nutritionist and recent graduate of the Georgia State University Coordinated Program where I completed my MS in nutrition and dietetic internship. After a career for 10+ years in sales and recruitment in the physician staffing industry, I decided to pursue a career as a healthcare provider. My passion for food, nutrition, and prevention led me to the dietetics profession. Throughout the Coordinated Program, I gained experience in both adult and pediatric clinical nutrition, community education and outreach, and food service management. I also had the privileged to work as the graduate assistant for the GSU School of Hospitality chef and assisted in teaching the food production course for three consecutive semesters.

 

 

Chip Gross with AKQA and Lisa Smith with Andere Seminars

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Chip Gross / AKQA

Chip Gross serves as Director of Client Services for AKQA’s Atlanta office.

Chip has over twenty years of experience in mobile strategy, design and development, and digital experience planning through implementation for clients such as AT&T and Delta Air Lines.

Prior to joining AKQA, Chip held several positions at Razorfish, including Client Partner, Senior Account Director and Account Director. Before that, Chip served as Marketing Manager and Interactive Strategy Manager for UPS. He also held positions at iXL and IBM Interactive.

Chip holds an MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and a BA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Lisa Smith / Andere Seminars

Lisa Smith is a public speaker, consultant, and e-learning developer. She is also the founder and CEO of Andere Seminars, LLC and Executive Director of Andere Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)(3) public charity. Lisa endured and survived a 12 year violent marriage. During her marriage, Lisa realized her future was not set in stone. She understood she had the power to change her path and develop a New Future for herself and her children. For years, Lisa worked very hard to educate herself and make the way out to economic independence for herself and the three children born into the marriage. A few years ago, Lisa taught in a career school and saw herself in most of her students. They were all struggling to do the same things she had years ago. Many were unsuccessful.

Creating an online resource for those who cannot break away from an abusive situation and go to school full-time or who cannot afford to enroll in a training program has been a dream Lisa is finally able to realize. With the help of her wonderfully supportive husband, Rick, and the staff at Andere Seminars Lisa is reaching out and telling her story of the fight for survival. Increasing employability by providing survivors with the tools needed to win the interview, get the job, and demonstrate knowledge in a variety of soft skill and hard skill areas will increase self-esteem and confidence, greatly benefiting survivors and their families. Lisa Smith and her team are excited to be helping people change their lives and survive to see the New Futures they desire and deserve.

In pursuit of a greater awareness regarding the impact Domestic Violence has on the workplace and employment law, Lisa also enjoys speaking to employers and business leaders. Many people speak on this topic. Hearing the message from a survivor, who is also an HR professional, is absolutely the best way to truly be moved by the truth of the matter. Lisa would love to speak to your group.

 

 

Special Edition: Young Entrepreneurs

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Candace Hill Duvernay/ Hill Duvernay and Associates, LLC

Candace Hill Duvernay graduated from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in English and from the University of Georgia School of Law where she focused her second and third years of study on Trial Practice and Criminal Defense. She is proud of her reputation as an Attorney who is not afraid to go to trial, but who also possesses the finesse and wisdom to negotiate and settle disputes. Attorney Duvernay is a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Candace is from Ellenwood, Georgia and has practiced law in McDonough,Georgia since the Firm opened its doors in 2009. She assists clients in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury, trusts and estates and family law.

Lauren Visconti-Beckett/ Melting Sun Apparel

Lauren Visconti-Beckett created Melting Sun Apparel on January 1st, 2012 in her tiny Atlanta, Georgia home. A recent art graduate, Lauren was looking for an inspired outlet, which her jewelry and leather-working hobby soon began to fill. Turning into an obsession, the coffee table accumulated a mountain of leather scraps and jump-rings: orders began to arrive. As each unique piece was commissioned and sold, Lauren soon realized she had to name the business she had so happily stumbled upon. Melting Sun Apparel continues to grow by selling wares in local and regional art markets and festivals. Various retail shops and boutiques also carry Melting Sun products, both nationally and internationally.

 

 

Bill Fasig with TopRight Partners and Sam Tesh with Loudfund

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Bill Fasig / TopRight Partners Linkedin Twitter Facebook

Bill Fasig is COO of TopRight Partners, an Atlanta based strategic marketing consultancy. Bill brings a wealth of senior executive and leadership experience as CEO and CMO for leading companies in the technology, marketing and gaming industries over a 25-year career. This includes having served as CMO and current Board advisor for Sports Challenge Network, President and Chief Executive Officer of GameTech International, Inc., Chief Executive Officer for BMM Compliance, Americas, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Corporate Affairs for VeriSign, Inc., Vice President of Global Communications at Compaq, Chairman and Managing Director of the Technology Practice of Burson-Marsteller/Young & Rubicam, and various management roles over 10 years at Apple, including managing Global Government Affairs and International Business Development and serving as Apple’s spokesman for government affairs, public policy and international communications.

In addition to his extensive executive operating experience as CEO, COO and CMO in both public and private companies, Bill has had the opportunity over the course of his career to help create and lead several notable brand strategy and marketing campaign’s from both the client side and agency side. These include VeriSign’s award winning “Value of Trust” campaign, for which Bill was named Marketer of the Year by Adweek’s Technology Marketing Magazine for his work in building the best cross-discipline, multi-agency integrated marketing campaign and team, and was also awarded Online Campaign of the Year by BtoB magazine. Additionally, he has led the global teams for clients such as Sun Microsystems, Sony’s Vaio launch, Iridium, Qualcomm, HP’s creation and spin-off of Agilent, as well as multiple brand strategy and consulting engagements for both Fortune 500 and small and medium size clients.

Sam Tesh / Loudfund Twitter Facebook

Loudfund is reinventing record deals. New legislation allows for the next generation of crowdfunding that will benefit artists financially and engage fans like never before. Loudfund is the first software platform featuring legitimate, selected artists willing to partner with their fans. This is not crowdfunding as you know it. At Loudfund, fans support artists and artists share with fans creating a new music ecosystem.

Guest Musicians Lauren St. Jane, Reuben’s Bell and von Grey

 

 

Special Edition: TiE Atlanta

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Mark Carlson / Baker Donelson Linkedin Twitter

Mark Carlson an Atlanta-based M&A lawyer at Baker Donelson and the leader of the firm’s Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions practice group. In his law practice, he helps clients to structure, negotiate and execute middle market M&A deals, joint ventures and other business combinations as well as general business transactions. Mark’s industry experience includes transactions and strategic initiatives in wireless technology, manufacturing, private equity, financial services and international transactions. In his personal life, he enjoys reading novels, exercising and playing the guitar.

Brent Burke / Northwestern Mutual Linkedin

Brent Burke is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER who works primarily with closely held business owners and executives with their corporate and personal financial planning needs. His practice includes wealth management, executive & employee benefits, life insurance, disability income and estate planning. Brent is married and has 4 kids and has recently started the adoption process. He is an Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scouts, a small group leader for 9th grade boys at church, also a crossfit an outdoors nut!

 

 

 

Chris Stinson with Blue Ice Interactive, Rob Brawner with Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, and Jason Massie and Peter Green with Massie Tax Credits

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Chris Stinson / Blue Ice Interactive Twitter Facebook

Chris Stinson is a nine-year veteran of the online marketing space. He advises businesses, organizations, and individuals on how to use Google Adwords and Facebook marketing to drive business to their website and achieve better ROI and sales.

Rob Brawner / Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Linkedin Twitter Facebook

Rob Brawner serves as Interim Executive Director and Program Director for the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership. As Program Director, Rob guides the Partnership’s efforts to cultivate broad-based support for the Atlanta BeltLine, generate private sector investment in the project, and address the social and economic impacts resulting from its development.

Jason Massie and Peter Green / Massie Tax Credits Linkedin Linkedin Twitter

Jason Massie is the Founder of two service-oriented companies: MASSIE R&D Tax Credits and MASSIE Law Firm. In his role as President, he is responsible for the quality, consistency and integrity of the tax credit service offerings for MASSIE R&D Tax Credits. In addition to those, for the past ten years Jason has also been responsible for MASSIE Law Firm’s vision, growth objectives and client experience initiatives.

Peter Green serves as CEO for Massie Tax Credits.

 

 

 

Special Edition: Annona Enterprises Trusted Advisors

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Soyini Coke / Annona Enterprises Linkedin Twitter youtube

Sandy Smith / Womble Carlyle Linkedin 

Sandy Smith is a partner at Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice. Sandy is a “deal lawyer” who counsels a variety of publicly-traded and private companies on all types of transactions. He also launched Womble Carlyle’s Silicon Valley office, and is also the firm’s hiring partner. He is an Emeritus Trustee at Stanford University, where he serves on the Advisory Board of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) and chairs the Advisory Board of the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS). Sandy’s a native Atlantan, who is deeply involved in economic and educational causes.

Sherwin Nelson Clemons / GV Financial Advisors

Sherwin Nelson Clemons, CFP® is a Senior Advisor and Partner at GV Financial Advisors. GV Financial Advisors is a respected firm with just over $1.3 Billion in assets under management. Since joining the firm in 1998, she has been instrumental in the development of advisors, co-creating and training on the firm’s proprietary Guided Wealth conversations and tools, and helping her clients use all of their wealth (not just their money) to create the life they desire. Sherwin regularly teaches financial classes at churches and conducts workshops addressing the human side of financial management. Over the years, she has served her community through various organizations and grassroots efforts. Sherwin enjoys traveling, cycling and watching Alabama Football with her husband Dexter Clemons.

 

 

Special Edition: ProWIN

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Lori Beard-Daily / Working on Your Now Linkedin Twitter Facebook

Empowered and accomplished aptly describes Lori Beard-Daily’s steady rise from corporate to entrepreneur to playwright, author and speaker. Lori began her advertising career at Delta Air Lines . After a two-year stint as an advertising director, she became the founder and CEO of her own marketing communications agency, Beard|Daily. This opportunity allowed her to build a diverse blue chip client list for 14 years. Her company was also selected by Turner Broadcasting System Inc. to be its sole protégé in an Atlanta based entrepreneurial program. While running her business, Lori continued her passion for writing and speaking. She penned a travel column for Delta Air Lines and coached C-level executives on internal communications and led diversity workshops.

Her speaking topics now include practical tools that aid women to rediscover themselves and reach their ultimate potential. Her first play, Trunk of Fate, a “twist-fictional” about President Abraham Lincoln discovering he was really black garnered recognition from the media, historians, the general public and theatre critics. Her second play, Daddy’s Girl was based on a female federal agent who goes undercover and marries an affluent drug lord to bring down his establishment, but gets caught in her own trap when she captures his little girl’s heart long before she brings down the criminal ring. Both plays were directed and produced by the late theatre thespian Carol Mitchell-Leon. A third play, Civil Unrest, which was a follow-up to Trunk of Fate soon followed with a staged reading and was directed by renowned actor and director, Gary Yates. Lori has also been featured on 60 Minutes. She and her family were interviewed by the late Mike Wallace in a segment entitled “Going Home to the South.” Shortly after the segment aired, she began writing her first novel, Destination D, also based in the South. This story is about three friends from Spelman College who make a promise they can’t keep. Their broken promise leads to unexpected discord, duplicity and denial. This long awaited novel was published by Boutique of Quality Books in 2011. Lori has also been nominated for the 48th Georgia Author of the Year Awards, one of the most prestigious literary awards in the nation and the oldest in the Southeastern United States. Her second book, Working on Your Now is scheduled for release in the fall of 2014.

A graduate of Spelman College, she holds a bachelor of arts degree in English. Lori is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is married to Bryon Daily. They have three children.

June Cline / Open Heart Communications Linkedin Twitter Facebook

June Cline, CSP, is the Southern, Sassy and Savvy Harley Riding Humorist. As President of Open Heart Communications and author of “Is It God Or Is It Gas?” her writing is also featured in “Humor Me” along with sixteen of the nation’s other top humorist. June is also co- creator and host of an International Internet Radio program called, The Happiness Recipe. June and her co-host interview guest weekly to discover their “Wit, Wisdom and WONDERFUL FOOD.” This fun, fast 30 minute show is heard on iTunes in over 35 States, 23 Countries and growing rapidly.

Over 1,500 corporations, associations and colleges such as Toyota, PetSmart, National Dental Association and a slew of other names you’d recognize have benefited from June’s research and expertise on the ROI of LOL: Return On Investment of Laughing Out Loud. June shows people teams and company’s how to turn wit in to wealth with colleagues, customers and clients.

A former college administrator, June draws on her experiences in education, banking and career development to teach audiences to initiate humor to gain recognition, respect and reward.

June’s wit and wisdom has appeared in publications and media outlets as diverse as CNN, The Boston Globe, INC, Selling Power, Harvard Management Communication Letter, Competitive Edge, Redbook, First For Women, and Gannett News Service’s syndicated columns.

When June isn’t teaching audiences about the power of creating laughter she can be found riding her Harley-Davidson, “Good Golly Miss Molly,” through the scenic mountains of North Georgia. Her riding experiences inspired her latest project, the creation of her one woman show, “A Night of Levity and Laughter with June Cline,” targeting pre-thru-post menopausal woman and the people who love them. Entitled, “Make It A Great Ride!” June inspires all who hear her that regardless of the bumps in the road, we still have the power to make life a GREAT ride!

Erin Stone / Bovis, Kyle, Burch and Medlin, LLC

Erin is an experienced family law attorney and has handled cases in all areas including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, division of property/debt and contempt. In 2012, Erin joined the family law practice at Bovis, Kyle, Burch & Medlin, LLC as a partner. Erin began her private practice with Schulten Ward and Turner in 1996 with a general civil litigation practice that included some family law as well as business litigation, construction litigation, contract disputes, dissolution of partnerships and personal injury. As her practice grew, Erin decided to focus her practice exclusively on family law. Erin provides clients with the strategy, insight and compassion they need to resolve their divorce cases in settlement negotiations, mediations, and when necessary, trial.

Erin is also a trained mediator and is able to bring that training and insight to her own clients’ settlement negotiations and mediations. Erin also offers her clients a network of relationships with professionals such as accountants, financial advisors, security experts and private investigators.

Erin graduated from University of Georgia School of Law. Erin graduated from the University of Texas with a B.S. in Mathematics. Erin is an Atlanta native. She grew up in Sandy Springs, and now lives in Dunwoody with her husband and two children.