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Special Edition: Georgia Society of CPAs

Today’s episode features guests who are members of the Georgia Society of CPAs.

ABR

Joel Pascaner/Stephen M. Berman & Associates Linkedin

Joel L. Pascaner is a tax partner specializing in high net worth individuals, privately held entities, partnerships, S corporations, estates and trusts, not-for-profit organizations, and state and local tax matters. He also has extensive experience representing taxpayers before the IRS as well as numerous other taxing jurisdictions.

Joel is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and The Leaderhship Team of the Tax Section of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. He has been an at-large member of the GSCPA Council. In addition, he has served as the Chairman of the Tax Section of the GSCPA as well as both the Federal Tax Legislation and the Georgia Tax Legislation Subcommittees of the GSCPA Tax Section, where he was involved in the drafting and introduction of proposed legislation. He is also a Past Chairman of the Depreciation Committee and the Tax Accounting Problems Committee of the NYSSCPA. Mr. Pascaner was a member of the GSCPA 2006 Tax Forum Planning Committee and served as Moderator at the Forum’s Luncheons with Georgia Tax Commissioner Bart Graham. He was awarded “2006 Distinguished Section Leader” by the GSCPA and served on their Task Force on Employment. Joel is a member of the Atlanta Tax Forum and the Atlanta Estate Planning Council. He is a graduate of the Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute and was awarded the “Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager” by Atlanta Magazine for years 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Joel has authored numerous articles in professional and industry publications including the CPA Journal and the Taxation for Accountants.

He has served on the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Disabilities Network and is currently on the Board of Trustees of Georgia Shakespeare.

Prior to joining Stephen M. Berman & Associates, L.L.C., Joel practiced as a tax professional with Laventhol & Horwath and Peat Marwick.

Joel is a CPA and received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania as well as his Masters of Science in Taxation at the Long Island University.

John Masters, CPA, PC Linkedin

John Masters earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1969, followed by his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1975, and finally his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1979. During this period he was employed eight years in the Computer, Aerospace, and Electronics industries. During 1979 he was admitted to the Georgia Bar and received his certificate to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in Georgia and Alabama.

John has been active in professional, civic, and political activities throughout his career. He presently serves on the Georgia Society of Certified Pubic Accountants Professional Ethics Committee, and recently completed his term as Chairman of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants Tax Section. He has served as a SBA Score/Ace Volunteer Consultant, taught in the Junior Achievement Program and been a Future Business Leaders of America sponsor. He administered the “Call the Expert” on taxation program for 21 years at WGST News Radio where he also appeared as Tax Series Guest/Host. He has participated in various other radio and television tax related programs, testified at administrative hearings including the Georgia Special Council on Taxation, and held positions in other organizations.

John has taught courses at Oglethorpe University, Clayton Junior College (now Clayton State College) and the Becker CPA Review Course. For the last several years he has been an active member of the Dekalb Peachtree Squadron, Georgia Wing, of the Civil Air Patrol where he currently holds the rank of Major, and has been an active member of the Northside Atlanta Jaycees and the Decatur Dekalb Kiwanis Club. His is currently a member of the American Bar Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Georgia Bar Association, Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants.

John practices in Atlanta, Georgia principally in the areas of taxation and accounting, taxpayer representation before administrative bodies and tax tribunals, and related fields.

 

 

LinkedIn

Special Edition: “Speaking Insights” with the National Speakers Association Georgia

NSA GeorgiaThe Georgia chapter of the National Speakers Association mission is simply this: We are a supportive community that inspires, educates and provides networking opportunities to those who want to develop their speaking careers or use speaking to enhance their businesses. Our members include professional speakers, aspiring speakers, authors, consultants, salespeople, trainers and vendors for the speaking industry. We meet in the Atlanta area the third Saturday morning each month. You can learn more at www.nsageorgia.org.

“Speaking Insights” is a quarterly program of the Georgia chapter of the National Speakers Association. Each show will feature professional speakers who share their insights on how to succeed in the speaking business.

Our Co-Hosts:

NSA Georgia president (2013-14) Desmond “Dez” Thornton is an idea enthusiast with a natural ability to transform complex ideas into simple, sequential steps. His passion for words and commitment to service led him to discover his labor of love, professional speaking. He spreads this love by dedicating himself to the advancement of professional and beginner speakers who strive to articulate their vision with the clarity and enthusiasm necessary to inspire action. Dez can be reached at dez@desmondthornton.com.

In an attention-deficient, entertain-me-now, wait-while-I-post-that-on-my-Facebook kind of world, the typical business presentation doesn’t measure up. NSA Georgia president (2014-15) Kelly Vandever works with organizations and individuals whose presentations need to get results. An award-winning speaker herself, Kelly helps clients improve their presentations using old school and hi-tech techniques, all while annihilating bullet points and making this world a better place for business audiences everywhere. You can reach Kelly at SpeakingPractically.com, at 770-597- 1108, tweet @KellyVandever, or www.facebook.com/speakingpractically.

ABROur Guests:

Martha Lanier is a nationally recognized keynote speaker who provides entertaining and action-packed programs for women’s events. Since overcoming severe stage fright and her fear of skydiving, becoming an Iron Girl Triathlete at 62 and surviving both breast cancer and a heart attack, she inspires the women in her audiences to use humor, a positive mindset and lifestyle changes to turn their challenges into achievements. Her book, Pink Lemonade: Mastectomy Tips and Insights from a Breast Cancer Survivor, provides hope and courage to women who are newly diagnosed, as well as their family and friends. Martha joined NSA Georgia in 2002 and has served five years on the executive board of directors, including president (2006-2007). She can be reached at www.MarthaLanier.com and 404-216-0586.

Ken Futch is a Certified Speaking Professional and author of Take Your Best Shot – Turning Situations into Opportunities. His message helps businesses become more profitable and employees more productive. A former president of NSA Georgia, Ken has been a full-time speaker for over 25 years. He delivers keynotes and seminars that help individuals recognize and take advantage of the opportunities still obtainable in turbulent times. Audiences often describe him as motivational, Insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny. Ken can be reached at ken@kenfutch.com or 770 939-6200.

 

 

LinkedIn

Nicole Henderson with Selsi Enterprises, Linda Hoopes with Resilience Alliance, Marcia West with Clearent Intelligent Processing and Helen James with Marketsearch Insurance Agency

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Nicole Henderson/Selsi Enterprises FacebookLinkedinTwitter

Nicole Henderson is the Chief Imagination Officer at Selsi Enterprises. She is a mompreneur who is using her 14 years of experience to help companies, large and small, improve their internal and external communication strategies. Covering everything from employee engagement to brand development, Nicole helps her clients take their businesses to the next level.

Linda L. Hoopes, Ph.D./Resilience Alliance FacebookLinkedinTwitter

Dr. Linda Hoopes has spent more than 20 years helping organizations build their change capability. She is passionate about helping people learn to thrive in turbulence. Her Atlanta-based firm, Resilience Alliance, has equipped internal and external change practitioners across the globe with tools and materials that help their clients increase their personal and team resilience. Linda was a founding member of Conner Partners; a strategy execution-consulting firm led by change expert Daryl Conner, and has an ongoing association with the firm. Linda co-authored Managing Change with Personal Resilience with Mark Kelly in 2004, and is working on her second book. She is currently an adjunct faculty member in Organizational Development and Leadership at PCOM, and has served on the faculties of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, and Colby College. In addition to her academic background, Linda brings many other influences to her work on change and resilience. She is a musician, a sailor, and a traveler, and is also licensed as a massage therapist.

Marcia West/Clearent Intelligent Processing FacebookLinkedinTwitter

Marcia West is the Atlanta Area District Manager with Clearent Intelligent Processing, the clear and transparent credit card processor, whose aim is to change the image of an industry plagued by hidden fees, ever increasing rates and sometimes misleading sales practices.

Helen James/Marketsearch Insurance Agency FacebookTwitter

 

LinkedIn

Special Edition: TiE Atlanta

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Mark Carlson/Baker Donelson Twitter

Mark is the leader of Baker Donelson’s Corporate/M&A practice group. He helps his 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, medical devices and international transactions. After law school, Mark initially worked as a strategy consultant for a leading management consulting firm in Boston, and he has served as senior in-house M&A counsel for a large international infrastructure corporation based in San Francisco.

Sid Slover/Learn It Live FacebookLinkedinTwitter

 

 

 

LinkedIn

Special Edition: ProWIN Atlanta

 

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Christy Ziglar/Shine Bright Kids 

Mother, Financial Planner and Niece of Zig Ziglar brings timeless wisdom to a younger generation with her new book “Can’t-Wait Willow!”, the first in the new Shine Bright Kids book series.

Karen Brown Williams/The Williams Firm, P.C. Linkedin

Karen Brown Williams earned her BBA from Howard University, MBA from Boston College and JD from Emory University. She has served as Judicial Law Clerk for Fulton and Dekalb Counties, Public Defender for Dekalb County, Prosecutor for City of Atlanta, Magistrate Court Judge for Cobb County, and worked in private practice in Marietta and Alpharetta. She is published with the State Bar of Georgia and John Marshall Law Review, and has been a speaker for the State Bar of Georgia, Cobb County Bar Association and Atlanta Inn of Court.

Dr. Leonora Camille Austin/No Judgement Leonora, Inc. LinkedinTwitter

Making a difference through counseling, education and health

 

 

LinkedIn

Ernie Garcia with Carvana, Louis Gump with LSN Mobile, Todd Semrau with Urban Eats Consulting Group and Sean Bodmer with CounterTack

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Ernie Garcia/Carvana FacebookLinkedinTwitter

Ernie Garcia, Jr. is the President and Founder of Carvana, a disruptive new voice in the auto industry. As head of the first complete online auto retailer from search to finance to delivery, Garcia is focused on bringing a new energy to the antiquated dealership model. Leveraging relationships with Drivetime, Carvana is backed by more than $1 billion in revenue and over 20 years’ experience in the car buying and selling market.

After graduating from Stanford, Garcia held a position at Royal Bank of Scotland, which primed him to enter the finance arm of the family business. Equipped with knowledge of both the financial and automotive industry, the disconnect between dealer and customer benefit quickly became apparent to Garcia. Convinced that the antiquated car buying process could be transformed into a seamless, open and mutually beneficial process by leveraging technology, Garcia founded Carvana. Under his leadership, Carvana is seeking to disrupt the brick and mortar dealer model with direct-to-consumer sales and is pioneering the car sales model through technological advancements.

Garcia currently resides in Phoenix, Ariz. with his wife and young daughter. When he’s not on a plane visiting Carvana operations outside Atlanta, he enjoys spending time with his family, trying his hand as an amateur songwriter and practicing his comedy routine.

Louis Gump/LSN Mobile FacebookLinkedinTwitter

Louis Gump is a seasoned executive with deep experience in mobile media, technology, sales and business development. As CEO of LSN Mobile, he leads the overall strategic direction of the company, as well as day-to-day operations, product realization and team development. He is also a member of the board of directors.

Prior to joining LSN Mobile, Louis led industry-leading mobile teams at both CNN and The Weather Channel, setting benchmarks for excellence and market impact. Having also served in various industry associations, Louis is considered a driving force within the mobile media industry. He has received numerous awards including the 2011 Wireless Technology Forum’s Mobile Media Person of the Year, the 2010 MMA Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2009 “Top Ten mobiThinkers” award. Louis holds an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University.

Todd Semrau/Urban Eats Consulting Group LinkedinFacebookTwitter

Todd Semrau specializes in developing and managing food & beverage brands for restaurants, mixed use developers, hotels, resorts, food trucks and B2B retail food operations. His career in the hospitality industry started in 1995 when he opened his first restaurant; The Heaping Bowl in East Atlanta Village, (EAV).  The “Bowl” helped spur the revitalization of East Atlanta which today has become one of Atlanta’s popular in-town, indie hangouts.

10 years of operations and four additional restaurants gave Todd a bird’s eye view of the positive impact a community focused restaurant concept can have on the community it serves. Along the way, Todd realized he had a knack and the vision for developing compelling food and beverage concepts that could spark community, synergy and good growth in any setting.  Since creating his company Urban Eats Consulting Group, Todd has consulted with a wide range of clients including: new restaurateurs,  commercial developers, restaurant companies, hotel developers, food truck operators and neighborhood grocery/deli owners.

Sean Bodmer/CounterTack LinkedinTwitter

Sean M. Bodmer is Chief Researcher at CounterTack, Inc. focusing on analysis of observable traits and effects of crimeware and the tradecraft cybercrime operators and malware purveyors. Sean has worked Information Systems Security and cyber counterintelligence roles for various firms and customers over the past seventeen years across United States. Most notably, he has spent several years performing intrusion and intruder analysis/attribution for Fortune 100, Defense Department, and ‘other’ Federal Agencies.

At CounterTack, Sean is leading the development of next-generation detection techniques that focus on in-progress detection and countermeasures through the use of passive and active honeynet technologies. Sean is an avid contributor to the Security Industry and has shared many lessons-learned and findings surrounding the tradecraft of organized and persistent threats. In 2009, Sean co-authored with McGraw-Hill Professional Press, ‘Hacking Exposed: Malware and Rootkits 1st Edition’ and is currently working on the 2nd Edition due out in Q2 2014.

In 2012, Sean co-authored ‘Reverse Deception: Organized Cyber Threat Counter-Exploitation’ and is also co-authoring ‘Hacking Back: Offensive Cyber-counterintelligence’ that will focus on “precision hack-backs and takedowns” ranging from the tradecraft, lessons learned, and the legal and ethical issues surrounding hacking back and takedowns of live or active cybercriminal infrastructures and persistent threat campaigns.

 

 

 

LinkedIn

Special Edition: TiE Atlanta E2E Pillar

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Arul Murugan/Enrich

Arul Murugan is the founder and CEO of Enrich which is the largest pure play Oracle EBS solution provider in Atlanta. He founded the company in 2003 and  since then the company has consistently grown and now doing business in 20+ states in US, UK and Asia. Enrich helps organizations squeeze value out of Oracle technology. Starting with Procurement, Enrich enables savings realization across Supply Chain and Financials, by leveraging flexible technology – deployed on premise or in the cloud – and coupled with expertise to help drive success.

 

 

 

 

Lee Twitter

 

Jim Brickmeier with Concurrent, Scott Soder with PayMetrix HR, Jeff Cohen with C5 Georgia and Elena Merino with The Meridian Group

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Jim Brickmeier/Concurrent LinkedinTwitter

James Brickmeier is Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing for Concurrent.  He is responsible for Concurrent’s video strategy, business development, and product marketing organizations.  Mr. Brickmeier joined Concurrent in 2000 and has held a variety of roles at the company including Vice President and General Manager of Concurrent’s Video Solutions business unit.  Mr. Brickmeier has more than 18 years of experience in the software technology market and 13 years in the video industry.  He has played a key role in developing the company’s multiscreen video strategy and promoting Concurrent’s solutions around the globe.  He has been recognized by Multichannel News as one of the “40 under 40” influential people who are playing an important part in mapping the future of cable and telecommunications.  Mr. Brickmeier has been quoted in major industry publications, including Multichannel News, Light Reading Cable, Heavy Reading, and CED on topics including CDN, NDVR, and VOD technology.  Mr. Brickmeier holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY.

Scott Soder/PayMetrix HR FacebookLinkedinTwitter

Scott is a Professional Consultant specializing in the Payroll and Human Resource Outsourcing industry. In his 17+ year career, Scott has garnered a reputation in the industry as an Expert in helping Employers manage all of the risk that comes with having employees. His specialties start with the recruitment of new employees and continue all the way through the employment life cycle.

As Co-Founder of PayMetrix HR, Inc. he enjoys working each day with clients and his employees. His strong passion for PayMetrix HR’s very own employees is clear to his clients and business partners, which is evident in the company’s 100% client retention rate. His background in Process development and management runs deep into the nucleus of the company which is one of a few keys to the success PayMetrix HR has when it engages with a new client.

Jeff Cohen/C5 Georgia FacebookLinkedin

Elena Merino/The Meridian Group and the Atlanta Association of Health Underwriters Linkedin

Elena Merino is founder and President of The Meridian Group. The Meridian Group has been providing employee benefit consulting, tax credit, technology and human resources services to employers in a broad range of industries. The Meridian proudly boasts of having had some clients for over 20 years.

Prior to forming The Meridian Group, Ms. Merino obtained an MBA in Finance from GSU College of Business and served as a Registered Investment Advisor and financial planner with The New England Financial Group and a Guardian Life Insurance agency where she specialized in qualified and non-qualified investment planning, employee benefits and estate planning for high net worth individuals.

Merino, who started her path as finance paralegal eventually manage a 50+ paralegal staff billing in excess of $1 million a year in three offices in the Atlanta and one in Washington, D.C. Merino was co-founder of the Center for Continuing Paralegal Education at Georgia State University.

Ms. Merino is an alumna of Leadership Atlanta and has held leadership positions in various professional associations and non-profit organizations including the Governor’s Hispanic Policy Advisory Council, the Georgia Association of Health Underwriters, United Way of Metro Atlanta, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Project Interconnections and Chris Kids.

 

 

Lee Twitter

 

Kristalyn Mumaw and Bill Florence with KCA Services and Dave McMullen with redpepper

Kristalyn Mumaw/KCA Services FacebookLinkedinTwitter

Kristalyn Mumaw has over 15 years of multi-disciplined experience in Marketing, Communications, Sales, Government Relations, Brand Management and Emerging Markets / Technologies. Engaged as a Change-Management Leader since the late 1990’s in the booming technology industry, she has directed projects, departments and change management initiatives contributing to growth of brand extensions, new product introduction and venture capital placement. Subsequent experience in the healthcare and government sector has provided the opportunity to substantiate her success and refine her experience in both the public and private sectors.

Bill Florence/KCA Services

Bill Florence has 20+ years experience leading internal and external communications, branding, and public affairs initiatives on a national and local level. He has managed earned and paid-media initiatives, public relations, and media relations campaigns that strengthen business reputation, mitigate risks, communicate corporate value propositions and build competitive advantage. A lawyer, Bill has created and led government/regulatory relation, issues/reputation management, and crisis communication plans for corporate, public, and non-profit clients. He is an accomplished spokesperson with national/local media and with professional/trade organizations.

Dave McMullen/redpepper FacebookLinkedinTwitter

In addition to being CEO of FaceDeals, Dave McMullen is partner at redpepper, an advertising agency and “invention lab” with offices in Atlanta and Nashville. He is a writer and speaker with expertise in entrepreneurship, retail, advertising, and social media. Listed on Catalyst magazine’s ‘Top 25 Entrepreneurs’, Dave was recently named the Pinnacle Small Business Person of the Year and the American Marketing Association’s Atlanta Marketer of the Year. He is a graduate of the Entrepreneurial Masters Program at MIT and served as the President of the Atlanta Entrepreneur’s Organization. His company, redpepper, has been ranked on Inc. Magazine’s list of fastest-growing private companies for the last 5 years and has been recognized within the advertising industry with several local, regional, and national ADDY Awards. Dave has been featured on 60 Minutes, NPR, CNN, Headline News, CNBC, FOX News, and numerous national publications. He lives in the Atlanta area with his wife and his two children.

 

 

Lee Twitter

Special Edition: TiE Atlanta

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Don Turner/The Virtual CXO LinkedinTwitter

Don Turner has 20 years of experience guiding, building and managing world-class companies on a global basis. He has played key roles in advancing the commercialization of award-winning innovations that have transformed industries such as Financial Services, Investment Banking, Biotechnology, Telecommunications, and Defense Intelligence.

Don is considered an expert at developing and implementing business growth strategies, with an emphasis on building scalable business processes that can support exponential growth. He has served as an Advisory Board Member for Cisco Systems, Committee Chairman for Mass.Biotechnology Council, Guest Lecturer on Innovation Commercialization for Executive MBA students, Conference Speaker on Emerging Areas of Innovation, and Expert Panel Member on Corporate Innovation.

Anitha Vadavatha/Covello Linkedin

Anitha Vadavatha is Chief Strategist of Covello, a collaborative growth company with a mission to be the catalyst of both industry and community by leveraging tomorrow’s technologies and creative talents to generate economic equity through collaboration.

William Whipple/Amero Global Investors

William Whipple is Founder, President and CIO of Amero Global Investors, a boutique institutional real estate investment firm availing niche investment opportunities. William leads the firm, provides vision, and oversees client relations and new business initiatives. Through over 30 years of financial, investment, risk management, construction, institutional real estate investing, credit risk analysis, portfolio management, entrepreneurial and Fortune 100 management experience, William built a solid reputation on competence, performance and integrity, the founding principles of Amero Global Investors, LLC.

While serving in management positions with two Fortune 100 companies and as a successful entrepreneur, William developed industry leading models for fiduciary responsibility and risk control that will serve institutional investors well. His roles involved top investigative organizations including the FBI.  William worked the last 15 years investing in institutional real estate. Prior to founding Amero Global Investors, LLC, William was Director, Institutional Real Estate for TIAA-CREF Asset Management, responsible for development and marketing the organization’s global real estate equity and debt products for institutional investors.

 

 

 

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