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Atlanta Business Radio

Jose Rodriguez-Diaz with AID Atlanta, Chip Newton with Deloitte Consulting, Arthur Freeman with Chamblee Chamber of Commerce, and Jared Degnan with Kellen Communications

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Jose Rodriguez-Diaz / AID Atlanta Facebook Twitter

Rodriguez-Diaz comes to AID Atlanta from the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Before that, he was senior medical consultant to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources Services Administration – Office of Performance Review. Before working at HRSA, he was program director for the Department of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, responsible for conducting HIV clinical trials for women and children.

Chip Newton / Deloitte Consulting Linkedin Facebook Twitter

Chip is a senior labor optimization strategist. He is a consulting thought leader with nearly 15 years of professional services experience in healthcare and life sciences industries. Mr. Newton is a savvy, client-facing professional, who has negotiated, developed and directed program strategies, business systems planning and complex workforce management implementations for Fortune 100 companies. Chip has been with the Board of Directors of AID Atlanta for over 5 years and was recently elected as the Board’s Chairman.

Arthur Freeman / Chamblee Chamber of Commerce 

Arthur Freeman vast experience has significantly contributed to the social-scientific aspect of nourishing, developing and enhancing human potential. For more than 50 years he’s been involved in private and public initiatives via philanthropic donations and volunteerism for non-profits.

Through Quest International, a consulting practice he started in 1978, he has mentored, founded, operated or consulted over 130 For Profit and Non Profit ventures entities. Since coming out of retirement and moving back to Atlanta from Washington DC 5 years ago, he has founded and operated The Greater Atlanta Community Foundation, Inc. ((a 501(c)(3)),Virtuous Capital, L3C (to provide a means of sustainable financing for Non-profits via for profit ventures) ,the Brookhaven Chamber

of Commerce ((a 501 (c)(6) and Brookhaven Chamber Foundation ((a 501 (c)(3) and Chamblee Chamber and Foundation.

Mr. Freeman’s scientific contributions have also been beneficial to his endeavor to aid in humanistic progress. After receiving his Bachelors in Biology/Chemistry, this one time member of the NY Academy of Sciences and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute award winner, went on to become a contributing author for the BETZ Handbook of Water Treatment. During his career with BETZ Laboratories he received his certification in Water Treatment, became a Registered Environmental Specialist, attended Law School, and represented Betz’s industrial clients before the EPA. Over the course of 19 years, Arthur appeared before Congress as an environmental expert in opposition to punitive EPA guidelines for Steel, Pulp and Paper, Petrochemical and Mining industries.

Whether involved in Non-Profit or For Profit ventures, his core values of personal and professional integrity, stewardship, partnering in the community, education and legal compliance have been the key value factors in his many successes.

Jared Degnan / Kellen Communications Linkedin Facebook Twitter

Jared Degnan is an over-caffeinated brand geek, strategy wonk, and Director of Digital Strategy for Kellen, one of Atlanta’s largest public relations firms.

He has a 12-year track record in marketing analysis, strategy and online brand development for brands like Kraft Foods, Vespa USA, MetLife, Intel and Pedigree.

Jared has an MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management and a BBA in Marketing & Hospitality Management from The George Washington University.

You can catch Jared on Twitter or on his blog: Just Friggin’ Peachy

 

Delta Community Credit Union and Octane Marketing Solutions

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Hank Halter/Delta Community Credit Union Facebook Twitter

In 2013, Hank Halter was appointed chief executive officer of Delta Community Credit Union, Georgia’s largest credit union and one of the top 25 largest credit unions in the U.S. He continues to serve on Delta Community’s Board of Directors, where he has been active since 2006.

Halter is a Certified Public Accountant, and he worked at Delta Air Lines from 1998 to 2012. He served in a number of finance positions there before being promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2008. Prior to Delta, Halter worked at American Airlines and Ernst & Young.

In addition to serving on Delta Community’s Board of Directors, Halter also serves on the Board of Advisors of Sojern, and chairs the Audit Committees for the boards of Erickson Aviation (Nasdaq: EAC) and Southern Air.

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Hank now resides in Atlanta, GA.

Tommy Redmond, Julie Hale, Troy White and Robin Moody/Octane Marketing Solutions Linkedin Facebook Twitter

Octane Marketing Solutions was created by Tommy Redmond in 2011 after years of experience with corporate advertising. Octane became a reality after multiple requests from long-term clients to work directly with Tommy. Octane is based in Marietta/East Cobb and brings more efficient marketing solutions to small and medium business owners.

Special Edition: Business Marketing Association Atlanta

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Business Marketing Association (BMA) Atlanta Linkedin Facebook Twitter

Patrick Blanchard / VP Social Media Linkedin    

Patrick is a Key Account Manager and Director of Business Development for TwentySix2 Marketing who helps tailor custom digital marketing strategies for companies, large and small, that provide effective results. TwentySix2 Marketing provides search engine optimization, paid search, social media, content marketing and web design services.

Moira Vetter / President Elect Linkedin 

Moira is the CEO of Modo Modo Agency, a strategic B2B marketing firm and the second fastest growing woman-owned business in Atlanta. Moira is President of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Marketing Association, sits on the board of Entrepreneur Advisors and is past Vice President of strategy for the international board of the Business Marketing Association. Her experience includes client-side positions in technology and healthcare, and nearly every position on an agency org chart. Moira specializes in B2B branding, thought leadership, and sales and marketing effectiveness for complex businesses. She was recently featured on a Fox News segment regarding Hire One Atlanta, entrepreneurship and her commitment to growing regardless of the current economic climate.

She has received awards from The International Association of Business Communicators, the Public Relations Society of America, the Business Marketing Association, the American Marketing Association, the Direct Marketing Association, Graphic Design USA, the WebAwards, the Webbys, Show South and more.

Special Edition: TiE Atlanta

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Dave Walters / Silverpop Linkedin Twitter

Dave Walters is a 20-year digital marketing veteran with a career split almost equally among Fortune 50 corporations, Top 5 interactive agencies and, most recently, the technology start-up world. As the final businessperson before IT, he typically sits at the intersection of business need and technical build—most often with a marketing-driven view of the world. As a Product Evangelist, Dave works hands-on with Silverpop customers to sharpen their marketing strategies and architect technology solutions that solve business problems. He most often works with cross-functional stakeholders to bridge the organizational gaps between marketing, IT, operations and executive management.

Jen Bonnett / StartupChicks Linkedin Twitter

Jennifer is a technology entrepreneur with over 20 years experience in Information Technology and Software Development specializing in web and mobile technologies. Jennifer has held numerous CTO positions in technology startups. Most notably, Jennifer was the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of eTour.com. eTour.com was an internet advertising engine similar in nature to a search engine. As the sole technology-oriented founder, she designed, developed, and launched the initial version of eTour.com in the spring of 1998. She eventually grew the technology staff to 60 employees, as the company grew to 180 employees.

In 1999, eTour.com was labeled the “Most Addictive” site on the web by Industry Standard; the “coolest tool site” of the year by http://www.coolsiteoftheday.com; and was ranked number 1 in average days visited by MediaMetrix (a.k.a. the “stickiest” site on the web). By April of 2001, eTour had grown to 5 million subscribers and was ranked number 71 in total traffic for the world wide web by MediaMetrix. eTour.com was acquired by Ask Jeeves (now ASK.com) in May of 2001.

Special Edition: International Show

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Eric A. de Groot /  www.HollandAmericaChamber.com

John E. Parkerson Jr. / http://www.hungaryconsulatlanta.com

Ignacio Taboada / Spanish Consulate in Washington DC:

www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/WASHINGTON/en/Consulado/Pages/inicio.aspx

This special edition on Business Radio X is the first in a series where we highlight the international community in the Metro Atlanta area and the economic impact it conveys.

There are over 100 Consulates and Bi-National Chambers, and more than 1600 international companies employing tens of thousands of Georgians. This creates a myriad of opportunities to import, export and or expand abroad. In addition, foreign direct investment exceeded $ 2.8 billion in 2012. And in 2013, Hartsfield Jackson International airport welcomed 9.1 million international passengers.

During this special international edition, hosted by Eric de Groot, managing director of the Holland America Chamber, we welcome Mr. John E. Parkerson Jr., President of the World Trade Center Atlanta, http://www.wtcatlanta.org/ , who is with the law firm of Hall Booth Smith, and Mr. Ignacio Taboada, the Vice consul of Spain, who provides financial solution for individuals and corporate real estate development. http://americanunited.com/

Please contact Mr. Parkerson and Mr. Taboada direct as well as visit the Georgia Department of Economic Development http://www.georgia.org/business-resources/international-trade/ for trade information and orhttp://www.globalatlanta.com/ for a listing of international events in Metro Atlanta.

 

Brian McBroom with Anago of Atlanta, Brandon Smith with The Worksmiths, Ronald Wolf with That Pie Place, and Joe Ragone with Locals Networking

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Brian McBroom / Anago of Atlanta Linkedin Facebook Twitter

Brian McBroom, 47, is the new Master Franchisor of the decade-old, corporate-owned territory of the Atlanta metro area. With a wealth of managerial and recruitment experience, McBroom will provide more hands-on support to his unit franchisees and hopes to build more networks in the region.

Upon graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in business administration in 1988, McBroom went on to work at All State as a claims adjustor. Two years later McBroom was granted a scholarship from Chrysler, which he put toward a MBA at Clark Atlanta University. After completing his postgraduate studies, McBroom was offered a position with Chrysler, where he worked his way up in various managerial positions for the next 12 years.

As a reflection of his sought-after skills, McBroom was recruited by Cummins Inc. in 2004 to become the design and manufacturing company’s director of corporate staff finance — a position that he held for 2.5 years before being offered the position of director of enterprise risk management & operations excellence. During his time at Cummins, McBroom also managed the Six Sigma program, worked on product re-design and mitigated global risks for the company.

Brian took over as the Master Franchisor of Anago Atlanta in February of 2014.

Anago Cleaning Systems is a commercial cleaning franchise system supporting over 30 Master Franchises and 2,200 individual franchisees in the U.S. and internationally. After years of refining procedures and creating duplicable systems created in his large commercial cleaning service, David Povlitz founded Anago in 1989 to help other entrepreneurs open their cleaning businesses. Today, its program sets the standard in U.S. commercial cleaning. Anago was ranked the fifth fastest-growing franchise by Entrepreneur magazine in 2010 and 2011, and ranked by Franchise Business Review as one of the best franchises in franchisee satisfaction. Inc. Magazine has also listed Anago as one of the top privately-held companies in the U.S. For further information, visit its website.

Brandon Smith / The Worksmiths Linkedin Twitter

Brandon Smith is a leading expert in leadership and management communication. Known as “The Workplace Therapist,” Brandon is the CEO and founder of The Worksmiths LLC, a boutique leadership coaching and culture consulting firm that helps clients craft top-performing workplaces. He is also the founder of www.theworkplacetherapist.com – a resource dedicated to helping each of us eliminate dysfunction at work, improve workplace fulfillment and restore optimism and focus in the workplace. In addition, Brandon combats workplace dysfunction every Friday morning on Georgia Public Broadcasting where Brandon assists listeners with navigating their career and work/life challenges. When he is not out fighting workplace dysfunction, Brandon teaches at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School on topics related to leadership, communication and healthy workplace dynamics.

Ronald Wolf / That Pie Place Linkedin Facebook Twitter 

Joe Ragone / Locals Networking Linkedin Facebook Twitteryoutube

In my previous career in medicine I spent a large amount of my time marketing throughout the community and with other physicians. I had to leave private practice due to a bike accident in 2009, and take my career in another direction. In my new role, I continue to market to local community based businesses. With everything moving online we thought there has to be a better an easier way and we put the wheels in motion to create LocalsNetworking.com

Special Edition: Business Marketing Association Atlanta

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Business Marketing Association (BMA) Atlanta Linkedin Facebook Twitter

Mark Semmelmayer  is the 2014 President of BMA’s Atlanta Chapter and the Chief Idea Officer of Pen & Inc. Marketing Communications, a marketing consultancy he founded in 2013. Mark has over 40 years of broadcast, ad agency and corporate communications experience and retired from corporate life last year after 32 years with Kimberly-Clark.

Jenny Munn is an Atlanta-based SEO consultant who provides customized training and consulting for in-house marketing managers and small to mid-sized businesses. She specializes in helping marketing teams maximize the return on investing in SEO and to learn to integrate SEO into their marketing mix. www.jennymunn.com

Patrick Blanchard is a Key Account Manager and Director of Business Development for TwentySix2 Marketing who helps tailor custom digital marketing strategies for companies, large and small, that provide effective results. TwentySix2 Marketing provides search engine optimization, paid search, social media, content marketing and web design services.

Sean Christopher Jones with Atlanta Broadcasting Advertising Club, Marc Antony Borrelli with Corporate Finance Associates, Jack Scherer with SALESTALENT, Doug Davidson with New South Construction, and Michele Velcheck with Solid Source Companies

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Sean Christopher Jones / Atlanta Broadcasting Advertising Club Linkedin Facebook Twitter

Marc Antony Borrelli / Corporate Finance Associates Facebook Twitter

Marc Borrelli is a Mergers and Acquisitions and Strategy professional with over 25 years of experience. He has completed over 100+ transactions worth in excess $3bn in over 30 countries. In addition he has had strategy responsibilities for international and national operations.

Marc’s specializes in helping owners of private companies maximize their value on exit. This requires planning, preparing for sale, and managing the sales process to maximize the value received. Perception is key! You need a sustainable competitive advantage, a strategy, engaged management, documented processes, budgets and variances analysis, and reviewed financials. I help companies understand the impact of strategy and financial decisions so that they increase their value.

In addition, I help companies develop strategic plans and then develop the tactical steps and responsibilities to ensure effective execution of the strategy and accountability. The aim is to ensure that the strategic plan is built into the budgeting process and all tactic focus is on the sustainable competitive advantage. Marc works with companies to understand their financial performance and what drives their ROI and ROE. In addition, he uses probabilistic modeling and risk analysis to improve financial decision making and increase corporate ROI.

Marc has worked with both domestic and international companies helping them and their various operations around the world. Having lived in five countries and worked in many, he understand the issues working in foreign markets and help companies navigate them. In addition, Marc also helps foreign companies understand the US market and develop their market entry strategies accordingly.

Jack Scherer / SALESTALENT Linkedin

Jack Scherer is an entrepreneur, author and speaker who has been featured in USA Today, Success Magazine, Advertising Age, AdWeek, Franchising World, Folio, Business Opportunities and other publications.

Jack is the Founder and President of SALESTALENT, a sales consulting firm that focuses on strategy, sales recruiting, and development of customized sales training programs.

In 2010, Jack was elected to the Georgia Advisory Council for the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) network for the University of Georgia system. In this position, he and other elected members provided advice and consultation for small businesses in Georgia.

Jack’s community involvement includes being the ministry leader for over 8 years of the Crossroads Network at his church. This group focuses on helping people who may be at a crossroads in their career to find new directions through networking, job fairs, speakers, support and resume development.

Doug Davidson / New South Construction Linkedin Facebook Twitter

Doug Davidson is President and CEO of New South Construction Company. He founded the Company in 1990, and for the past 24 years, under his leadership, New South Construction Company has grown into one of Georgia’s most respected construction firms. For many years, New South Construction has performed construction services for several notable client’s including; Delta Air Lines, The Coca-Cola Company, Turner Field, Druid Hills Golf Club, Wesleyan School, Emory University and General Mills to name a few. New South has been on Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 General Contractors and Top 25 Interior Contractors for the past 14 years and is listed in ENR’s Top 400 Contractors in the nation. Doug is especially proud of New South as a past recipient of the “Top 20 Places to Work in Atlanta.”

Michele Velcheck / Solid Source Companies Facebook

 

Special Edition: PRSA Georgia Chapter

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PRSA’s Georgia Chapter , the second-largest local chapter in the national society, consists of some 850 professionals throughout Georgia. Its mission is to enhance the profession, provide continuing education and offer networking opportunities for its members.

The Chapter has monthly meetings as well as eight Special Interest Groups (Corporate & Employee Communications, Healthcare, Independent Counselors, Leader Board, Nonprofit, Technology, Travel & Tourism, and Young Professionals) that meet at various times.

The Chapter supports nine PRSSA (student society) groups at the following colleges: Berry College, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, Savannah State University, University of Georgia (largest PRSSA chapter in the world), and University of West Georgia.

LinkedinTwitterFacebook

Elizabeth Salter McMillan / Fiserv 

Elizabeth McMillan, APR, is director, Content Strategy at Fiserv, a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions. She is responsible for the creation, publication and governance of useful and usable marketing content.

Prior to joining Fiserv, Elizabeth spent 12 years at William Mills Agency, leaving as vice president of the nation’s largest independent public relations and marketing firm to the financial services industry. During that time, she excelled at developing and leading strategic public relations plans and social media initiatives for a wide variety of companies – startups to multi-billion dollar enterprises – with business goals varying from securing additional funding to attaining market leadership to becoming an attractive acquisition target.

Elizabeth also took an active role within William Mills Agency, spearheading the evolution of PR planning and client training processes as well as the exploration and execution of social media and marketing best practices.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with a concentration in public relations. She is also recognized as Accredited in Public Relations, APR, by the Universal Accreditation Board, which she joined as a board member in 2011 and serves as vice-chair for today.

Elizabeth is an active member of the Georgia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Georgia), having chaired several committees for the 800+ member organization and currently sitting on the board. She is also a recipient of chapter’s Shining Star Award.

Annette Filliat / Boys & Girls Clubs of America  

Annette Filliat is director of public relations at Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), focusing on technology, arts and other specialized initiatives within the organization’s Academic Success outcome area. In this role, she manages public relations campaigns for programs and thought leadership initiatives within arts and innovation.

Annette is an award-winning public relations professional with 10 years of experience in agency, corporate and non-profit environments. Prior to BGCA, she served as press & public relations specialist, North America for Barco, Inc., a global high-tech company providing visualization solutions for the entertainment, healthcare and defense/aerospace industries. Before Barco, she was an account supervisor at Arketi Group, a high-tech business- to-business marketing and communications firm, where she managed integrated communications campaigns for a variety of technology clients, securing national media placements in TIME, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Annette’s work has been featured in PR Week, BtoB Magazine and Oz Magazine, and she has earned more than 15 industry awards. She holds an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and is active in the Georgia Chapter of PRSA, serving as co-chair of the Annual Conference. Annette earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Stetson University where she was named a presidential scholar.

Brandie Miner /Georgia REALTORS® 

Brandie Miner is the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Georgia Association of Realtors, a position that she has held for 13 years. In her current role, Brandie manages all aspects of internal communications for the 27,000 member trade association and serves as Editor of Georgia Realtor magazine. Brandie is responsible for the Association’s media relations as well. Prior to her current position, Brandie served as Public Relations Manager for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens.

In addition to PRSA, Brandie is also a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE), and she is a charter member of the Shepherd Center Society. Brandie is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Consumer Journalism.

Reggie Walker with PwC, Celeste Jonson with Celeste Jonson International for Wind Enterprises, Angel Luis Rivera, Jr with Sixes Pit Bicycle Shop, and Steve Roy Schroeder with IntelaText

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Reggie Walker / PwC Linkedin Twitter  

Reggie is a Partner in PwC who specializes in management consulting in the Retail and Consumer Products industry. Reggie brings over 20 years of experience in working with various retail and consumer products companies, advising them on strategic and operational issues, including new market entry, finance, accounting and internal controls, global business risks, organizational change and the use of technology to enable business operations and customer interaction.

Reggie was recently appointed to Managing Partner of the PwC’s Greater Atlanta market. In Walker’s previous role as the market leader for the Advisory Services practice in Atlanta, he served as the central point of contact for all advisory engagement teams serving the firm’s clients throughout the region. Under Walker’s leadership, PwC’s Atlanta Advisory Services practice achieved double-digit annualized growth over the last five years.

Reggie is also active in the Atlanta community. He currently serves on the boards of the Atlanta Area Council of The Boy Scouts of America, where he has also served as the fundraising chairman for the Peach of an Athlete Banquet and the annual Camp Card campaign, and TechBridge. He has served as the chairman for the annual campaign for The Georgia Center for Nonprofits. He is also an active supporter of The United Way and the Woodruff Arts Center.

Walker received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Alabama.

Celeste Jonson / Celeste Jonson International for Wind Enterprises  Linkedin TwitterFacebook

Angel Luis Rivera, Jr / Sixes Pit Bicycle Shop Facebook 

Sixes Pit is a “One Stop, Pit Stop” mobile bicycle shop that offers everything needed to get out and ride. Whether you have a bike or not, Sixes Pit has you covered from head to toe.

Steve Roy Schroeder / IntelaText Linkedin