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Curated Collection Of The Best Interviews From Our Sandy Springs Studio





Cobb County Edition: Shelly Weidner of Town Center at Cobb

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Shelly Weidner/ Town Center at Cobb

As Director of Marketing and Business Development for Town Center at Cobb in Kennesaw, Shelly Weidner handles the creation and implementation of the mall’s overall strategic marketing plans, including retailer relations, advertising, public relations and the execution of the center’s events. With more than 14 years of retail marketing experience, Shelly is an invaluable part of the Town Center at Cobb management team.

Prior to joining Simon as Director of Marketing and Business Development at Town Center at Cobb in 2009, Shelly served as Marketing Manager for two General Growth Properties, Cumberland Mall in Atlanta and Mizner Park in Boca Raton, Florida. She also previously worked in a marketing capacity at Governor’s Square Mall in Tallahassee.

Shelly holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Florida State University. She is a Certified Marketing Director (CMD) through the International Council of Shopping Centers and is also accredited in Public Relations through the Public Relations Society of America. Shelly resides in Marietta with her husband and two daughters.

Connect with Town Center at Cobb:

www.simon.com/towncenteratcobb

www.facebook.com/TownCenterAtCobb

www.twitter.com/townctratcobb

www.instagram/townctratcobb

Cobb County Edition: Kristie Hurd of Multifunding, LLC

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Kristie Hurd/  Director of Small Business Lending Multifunding, LLC

My expertise in different aspects of  Lending and Merchant Services has been aquired over a decade. And in my earlier life, l owned and operated
a commercial art business. Entrepreneurship is in my blood!

My passion is to assist small business owners with expert consultation, guidance and service.

My portfolio includes businesses of all kinds including restaurants, hotels, transportation  businesses.  retail, repair shops and manufacturers.

As a Director of Small Business Lending for MULTIFUNDING  LLC,
I share a commitment along with my colleagues , to help businesses to explore their options to acquire the best loans available to assist with their growth.

We are also experts at helping clients who may have high interest loans to refinance .

khurd@multifunding.com

www.multifunding.com

ph. 404-748-0455

Cobb County Edition: Mark Wallace Maguire and Ronnika Ann

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Mark Wallace Maguire/ Cobb Life Magazine

Mark Wallace Maguire is an award-winning columnist, writer and editor who serves as director of Cobb Life, Cobb Business Journal and Cherokee Life. Maguire has won more than a dozen awards for his work, including several first place awards, from organizations such as the Society of Professional Journalists, Georgia Associated Press and Georgia Sportswriters Association

Maguire volunteers with many organizations including The Joseph Sams School, Upward Sports, KSU College of the Arts Flourish Awards and Berry College Alumni Association. A collection of his columns and other non-fiction writings called, “Letters from Red Clay Country” is slated for publication this fall. You can read more about him at markwallacemaguire.com. He is also on linkedin, facebook, twitter and Pinterest.

Cobb Life magazine was launched in 2005 by the Marietta Daily Journal to fill a niche in Cobb’s growing lifestyle market. The magazine has experienced massive growth the last decade, growing in frequency and size. It is currently published 10 ten times a year. Each issue reaches more than 30,000 homes and businesses throughout Cobb. It covers all things life and style in Cobb including food and dining, fitness, home and décor, travel and the interesting and unique people who make Cobb home. Past residents profiled in our magazine include Celebrity Chef Alton Brown, Atlanta’s own theatre star and director Kenny Leon, Atlanta Hawks Al Horford, FIFA player of the century Michelle Akers and members of the Zach Brown Band and Third Day. You can follow Cobb Life on facebook and at www.cobblifemagazine.com. You can order a copy by calling  770-795-5000 or emailing circulation@cobblifemagazine.com

 

 

 

 

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Ronnika Ann/ Ingeneus PR

Multi-Entrepreneur, PR Consultant, Public Speaker, Writer & Philanthropist;

Ronnika Ann, is the leader and visionary of inGENEus Public Relations & Co.; she spearheads strategic campaigns and develops goals for each department. Her roles include delegating company objectives to each corresponding department, and managing corporate policy compliance as outlined by the company’s guidelines.

Also known as a public speaker and philanthropist for her surrounding communities, Ronnika has her Master’s Degree in Business Administration and is an Active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

Cobb County Edition: John Silvey , Zaxby’s Chicken

 

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John Silvey/ Zaxby’s

John Silvey has been married for 11 years and has two step children and two adopted children. He is the managing partner of two Zaxby’s franchises in Marietta, located at 2080 Lower Roswell Road and 591 S. Marietta Pkwy. Zaxby’s has been in business for 25 years. John has franchised for 10 years. John’s franchises are heavily involved in the community. John has received many awards and certificates over the years for his commitment to the community. His dedication to his family and community are the most important things in his life. John and his business partner are looking to expand their franchise in the near future.

https://www.facebook.com/zaxbys591

https://www.facebook.com/ZaxbysMarietta2080LRR

Cobb County Edition: Postfilm Design Company

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Elizabeth Atkins & Jared Hague/ Postfilm Design Co
Postfilm is a boutique full service digital and branding studio based in Atlanta, GA, and serves clients worldwide. We work exclusively with businesses that have a strong desire to engage their customers in innovative and meaningful ways. Our main focus is to help businesses express their value through strong brand messaging, brand visual design, and digital experiences that reach, excite, and engage audiences. Our range of brand and digital services touches everything from full business brand development to individual product launches. By becoming a part of our client’s team, we take the guess work out of the science of branding and deliver streamlined permanent solutions that foster growth.

Marietta Business Association Edition: REACH GA Scholarship

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REACH GA Scholarship Program (part of Complete College Georgia Initiative) is a needs-based mentorship and scholarship program designed to encourage and support students, starting in middle school, and position themselves for success in college. Students are provided with the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school, access college, achieve post-secondary success, and be prepared for the 21st Century workforce.

David McDonough, President Modern Image Atlanta, Education Chair, Marietta Business Association
Helping organize Silent Auction and other fundraisers to raise fund for 2015 REACH scholarships. Owns Modern Image Atlanta, a Local document and photograph scanning business.

Dr. Dayton Hibbs, Associate Superintendent Marietta City Schools
Dr. Dayton Hibbs brings classroom experience as an elementary grades teacher in Florida, eight years direct administrative experience at the elementary, middle and high school level, as well as expertise in the areas of start-up charter school administration, educational technology, and curriculum development. He joined Marietta City Schools in 2005 as an assistant principal at Marietta High School. In 2006, Hibbs became Principal of Marietta Center for Advanced Academics (MCAA). After two years at MCAA, he was named Principal at Marietta Sixth Grade Academy (MSGA) where he successfully served for 3 years. He then served for one year as Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Technology, and Assessment before being named Associate Superintendent in 2012.
A graduate from Seton Hall University, Hibbs earned a Doctorate in Education at that institution. He also holds a Master of Science in Educational Technology from Nova Southeastern University, and he completed a certificate program in Educational Leadership and Supervision with an Emphasis in Curriculum Development at Florida Atlantic University where he initially earned his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education.

Brad Bryant, VP REACH GA Scholarship Program

Brad Bryant served on the DeKalb County, Georgia Board of Education for 12 years, including 7 years as Chairman. Brad was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to the Georgia Board of Education in 2003 and served in that role until his 2010 appointment by Governor Perdue to fill the unexpired term of State School Superintendent Kathy Cox.  Brad continued his service with the Georgia Department of Education as General Counsel and Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Public Education. Brad currently is Vice President for REACH, Georgia Student Finance Authority.   Brad has expertise in school governance and leadership. He is a Past President of Georgia School Boards Association and the National Association of State Boards of Education. A graduate of Presbyterian College, University of Georgia, and Mercer Law School, Brad clerked for Judge Wilbur D. Owens, U. S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. He currently is a member of Georgia’s Education Reform Commission and serves as chair of Metro Atlanta’s Ready by 21 Leadership Council, organized the United Way of Greater Atlanta (UWGA) to provide an aligned and seamless educational and youth development support system for UWGA’s 700,000 students. He is a member of the Decatur Rotary Club.

Sara Neely, Business Development Consultant, REACH GA Scholarship Program

Sara Neeley has had a 30 year career in building business/school partnerships. She grew the DeKalb School System’s Partners in Education to over 700 active partners before starting the DeKalb County Public Schools Foundation and becoming their Executive Director.

Additionally, Sara spent 2 years as the Executive Director of the Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools in Bloomington, Indiana. Her foundation work involved facilitating capital campaigns, board development and endowment management.

For the past two years, she has worked as the Business Development consultant for the REACH GA Scholarship program.

Prior to her work with school system, she had 10 successful years as a national sales representative. She holds a B.S from Indiana University.