KSU Entrepreneurship Center The Shrimp Tank Featuring Ashley Daniele Carestia

Posted on October 20, 2016

Where can a young entrepreneur figure out how to turn their dreams into reality? Just take a step into the Shrimp Tank. The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin.

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Ashley Carestia / Bark Fifth Avenue
Founder

Ashley Daniele Carestia is a Florida native and has been a successful fashion model since age four. She is currently signed with CLICK models and has been making headlines and covers with her new business venture, Bark Fifth Avenue LLC, a luxury dog boutique in Buckhead Atlanta. With Ashley’s strong passion for fashion and dogs, she has created a world where upscale pet owners can treat their four-legged family members to only the best in fashion, travel, and accessories.

Walking runways and dressing pets are things that Ashley has done since childhood. As a model turned CEO, she balances work, play, and family life in Buckhead with her husband, prominent litigator Michael Carestia. The two were married in 2015 in Bora Bora. Ashley has her degree in Nutrition & Exercise Science, which she decided to change after three years of pre-law. She felt very “Legally Blonde” during her path toward her legal career, so she refocused her course of studies.

Today, she serves as Proprietor of Bark Fifth Avenue and continues her career as a fashion model. Ashley started Bark Fifth Avenue in 2013 as an online boutique and opened her first brick and mortar in October 2015. Since then she has been asked to sponsor many pet events including Star 94.1’s famous Woofstock where she was the sponsor of the VIP (Very Important Paws) area and the Atlanta Pet Expo where she took on the sponsorship and creation of their VIP area. Ashley has graced several covers of local area magazines and is now the fashion columnist for Atlanta Pet Life magazine where she writes about current trends in the pet fashion world. In addition to her various commitments and world travels, Ashley is involved socially and politically in Atlanta. She supports many charitable and church organizations, including The Humane Society, GlobalX, and Angels Among Us. She currently serves as a mentor at Woodson Park Academy through her church at Northpoint Ministries (Buckhead Church).

Ashley lives by the motto that “Everything happens for a reason” and the philosophy that “Money will never make you happy. Love your friends, love your family, and love the things that make you happy. Have morals and values. Hold strong to the things you believe in. If puppies, glitter, and rainbows make you truly happy, then chase those as they are more attainable. Most importantly, love yourself and never let anyone ever make you feel bad about yourself.” Ashley’s determination to succeed as well as her sense of humor and spirituality allow her to live life to the fullest.

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Bark Fifth Avenue

(404) 803-1771

ashley@barkfifthave.com

info@barkfifthave.com

690 Miami Circle NE

STE: 625

Atlanta, GA 30324

www.barkfifthave.com

Also on today’s program, Ali Farnum, student at KSU majoring in Business management and with a minor in entrepreneurship.

KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

Posted on August 26, 2016August 26, 2016

Podcast: Download

Where can a young entrepreneur figure out how to turn their dreams into reality? Just take a step into the Shrimp Tank. The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin.

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Zach Zelner / Penny Delivers

In 2012, Zach dropped out of his freshman year at Florida State University and launched a cookie delivery startup out of his apartment with $124 in capital. In the years following, Zach independently bootstrapped company growth to 3 retail locations across Florida and over 100 employees making 30,000+ deliveries/month.
His background in delivery was the inspiration to launch Penny, a 1¢ restaurant delivery startup and full-service delivery outsourcing system. Since June 2015, Penny has exploded into a team of 185 drivers and $8MM in revenue. When Penny expanded to Atlanta in 2016, Zach and his team relocated from Florida and set up HQ in Midtown where they currently operate.

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KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

Posted on July 20, 2016

Podcast: Download

Where can a young entrepreneur figure out how to turn their dreams into reality? Just take a step into the Shrimp Tank. The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

Greg Abel / Tailfin
Owner

Greg’s career began in advertising at McCann-Erickson and Fitzgerald+Co in Atlanta. He then jumped on the digital wave early, by joining digital marketing mega-consultancy US Web/CKS (later marchFIRST) where he helped to develop digital strategy and online user experiences for a range of consumer brands. In 2002, Greg co-founded Tailfin, which has grown into a diverse marketing and creative services agency. Greg leads the Strategy Practice and the Client Service group.

KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

Posted on July 6, 2016July 8, 2016

Podcast: Download

Where can a young entrepreneur figure out how to turn their dreams into reality? Just take a step into the Shrimp Tank. The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin.

Kevin Peak / CaJa Popcorn
Chief Popper

Kevin Peak is the Chief Popper at CaJa Popcorn, a gourmet popcorn store in the Peachtree Battle Shopping Center in Buckhead. Prior to founding CaJa Popcorn he spent almost twenty years in the financial services industry working with corporate treasurers and CFOs as a strategy consultant and as a sales leader in the financial technology space. Kevin’s work history includes time at Bank of America, Bearing Point, Wachovia, Thomson Financial, and Kyriba Corporation. Kevin obtained his undergraduate degree in international economics from Georgetown University and his MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management.

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KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

Posted on June 8, 2016June 20, 2016

Podcast: Download

Where can a young entrepreneur figure out how to turn their dreams into reality? Just take a step into the Shrimp Tank. The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin.

Ted Jenkin, Jeff Woolverton, Alexandra Woolverton and Lee Heisman

Alexandra Woolverton / www.GetSparkedATL.com

Alexandra attended the University of Florida’s Pre-Veterinary program and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Animal Science. After much thought she decided that she found herself getting too emotionally attached to sick animals and going straight into the workforce after graduation would better suit her. And through her career choices she fell in love with entrepreneurship. Always a dream big kind of girl, her first job out of college was in Marketing and Sales for a little start-up by her sister’s best friend, Sara Blakely. She saw Blakely take Spanx from the back of her apartment to a booming billion dollar pantyhose empire. That was Alexandra’s first glimpse that big vision and hard work go hand in hand. Her next endeavor was with a local Atlanta Sports Radio Station started and run by Andrew Saltzman and Stephen “Steak” Shapiro. Two men in their thirties that had a dream and a vision to own their own radio station. There she was an Account Manager who created and sold sports marketing campaigns. During her time there she met and married Jeff Woolverton, an on-air personality at the station. After they began a family with the arrival of their first born, Alexandra realized that it might be time to be a flexible working mom and go into business for herself. She came across a newer Direct Sales company, Stella & Dot, where she launched and built her new career as a Stylist who set up pop-a-shop trunk shows in people’s homes selling fashion accessories. At Stella & Dot she was a Senior Director and Founding Leader who led a team of over 500 other stylists across the country, was Top in Sales for North America and Top in Recruitment. During this journey of home parties, working full time hours she found she had put her health on the back burner. She was exhausted, found herself just trying to get through the day and her weight was the same as the day she walked in the door carrying her second baby home form the hospital three years prior. Her husband, Jeff, had been drinking AdvoCare’s Spark for over a decade but she had never really looked into the products or company for herself but needed a lifestyle shift so she gave it a go. In her first 24 days she lost 8 pounds and unlocked energy for the first time in a long while. Over the next 3 months she lost a total of 35 pounds and took her body fat from 34% to 9.9%. People began to notice more pep in her step and the healthy changes taking place. As they began to ask, she began to share and a business was born. AdvoCare is world-class nutrition that provides distributors solutions in two key areas: health and finances. Alexandra and Jeff are looking forward to helping Atlantans and beyond feel and look their best through AdvoCare’s food first program and elite nutritional supplements and building teams of others who in conjunction with taking care of themselves and others want to fight for the same freedoms that American’s deserve: financial and time freedom for families. www.GetSparkedATL.com

Jeff Woolverton / www.GetSparkedATL.com

Jeff attended Florida State University and since childhood has had a passion for all things sports. In 1996 he moved to Atlanta during the Olympics and enjoyed interning in sports broadcasting. He found a home at Sports Radio 790 The Zone as a producer for their popular Mayhem in the AM morning show and within a few years had an on-air show of his own during the mid-day slot. He spent over a decade there and enjoyed opportunities such as being the Sideline reporter for the Georgia Tech Football team. But his love of sports is also paralleled with his love of coaching youth sports. Jeff has volunteered for over 15 years as a baseball and basketball coach at Northside Youth Organization also known as NYO out of Chastain Park. In 2014, Jeff left the corporate world to start his own business: Woolverton Sports Academy. Through camps, clinics and private lessons Jeff has taken his passion and made a career out of it. Through his affiliation with AdvoCare he is able to help his youth athletes as well as his players who have gone onto play at the collegiate level by helping them get the best nutrition in their body through food choices and safe supplementation. www.GetSparkedATL.com

Jeff Woolverton, Alexandra Woolverton and Lee Heisman

Lee Heisman

Lee R. Heisman / Savant Comprehensive Technologies
(Co-Host)

Lee R. Heisman is the owner and CEO of Savant Comprehensive Technologies, My School Pool and Ask a Privacy Officer. Prior to this, Lee was the founder and CEO of H and W Printing and Brainstorm Design Works, a full advertising agency and commercial printing firm located in Atlanta, GA. He has a Master Degree from Rutgers University and is on the Advisory Board of the KSU Entrepreneurial Center. Lee has sold 2 of his previously businesses over the years through mergers and acquisition. Before launching his Entrepreneurial Career, Lee was a Licensed Physical Therapist in New Jersey for over 3 years

Ted Jenkin/Oxygen Financial
(Co – Host)

Ted Jenkin has spent the past 22 years giving personal financial advice to thousands of people across the United States. After graduating from Boston College in 1991, Ted spent more than 16 years working for American Express Financial Advisors/Ameriprise Financial. He was one of the youngest people in the history of the company to reach both Field Vice President and Group Vice President level. He managed more than 800 financial advisors throughout 8 states in his last position with the company. He won the premier performer award, leader of the year award, and had the number one office in the country for more than two years in a row. In 2008, Ted founded oXYGen Financial to help revolutionize the financial services industry by creating a new company that focused on serving the X and Y Generation. oXYGen Financial now has more than 1,700 clients throughout 25 states across the country. Ted has been featured in over 25 magazines and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and The Huffington Post. He has six advanced designations from the College for Financial Planning (CFP®, CRPC®, CRPS®, AWMA®, AAMS®, CMFC®) and is an on air radio personality featured on the popular drive time Atlanta radio show The Rock 100.5 Morning Show on Rock 100.5 FM. Ted lives in Milton, GA with his wife Genna and three kids Olivia, Lyla, and Louden.

KSU Entrepreneurship Center “The Shrimp Tank” Featuring Ted Kolwicz President of Kopier Net

Posted on May 19, 2016

Podcast: Download

Where can a young entrepreneur figure out how to turn their dreams into reality? Just take a step into the Shrimp Tank. The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin.

Matthew Stamper, Ted Jenkin, Ted Kolwicz and Chris Hanks

Ted Kolwicz / Kopier Net
President

Ted Kolwicz, President of Kopier Net, has been in sales and management for over 40 years within the corporate world and now owning his own business, brings large company “know how” and experience to small to medium companies who want the “personal touch” included in their business solutions.

Ted was born and raised in Danbury, Connecticut. He graduated from St. Leo’s University (Florida) with a BA in Criminology. Ted began his sales career selling copiers for Lanier Worldwide in Clearwater, Florida. He was relocated to Atlanta in 1992 as Vice President of Sales for a local Lanier Dealership. In 2000, he bought an existing copy company called Kopier Net, which was generating $250,000 per year, and in the last 16 years has grown the total revenue of the business to over $3,000,000+ with 16 employees!

Kopier Net specializes in meeting the needs of the surrounding Atlanta area with effective document image solutions by offering high quality products and service at low cost alternatives. Providing maintenance and sales support for most Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Brother and Ricoh copiers, printers and scanners and wide-format plotters. Kopier Net strives to provide their customers with the best level of maintenance and support with the most experienced service technicians, sales representatives and support staff.

Ted lives in Roswell with his wife Kerri and three children: Meghan, Samantha, and Thad. Outside of the business world, Ted donates his time to several charities; He serves on the board of the Family Preservation of Uganda and Safe America’s Welcome Home Heroes Foundation.

Matthew Stamper and Ted Jenkin

Chris Hanks/ KSU EC
(Co – Host)

Christopher C. Hanks is the founder and executive director of the KSU Entrepreneurship Center. Prior to this, Hanks was the founder and director of the entrepreneurship program at the University of Georgia. He has owned multiple businesses, including music, e-commerce, publishing, and export ventures. He is also the co-author of a best-selling book on low risk entrepreneurship.

Hanks leads the International Entrepreneurship Institute and is certified in business valuation, providing expert witness testimony. Before teaching at UGA, Hanks taught entrepreneurship at Georgia State University and assisted in leading the Russell Center for Entrepreneurship. He earned a BBA from University of Georgia and an MBA from San Jose State University. Before launching his first business, Hanks held corporate risk management positions in the pharmaceutical and beverage industries.

Ted Jenkin/Oxygen Financial
(Co – Host)

Ted Jenkin has spent the past 22 years giving personal financial advice to thousands of people across the United States. After graduating from Boston College in 1991, Ted spent more than 16 years working for American Express Financial Advisors/Ameriprise Financial. He was one of the youngest people in the history of the company to reach both Field Vice President and Group Vice President level. He managed more than 800 financial advisors throughout 8 states in his last position with the company. He won the premier performer award, leader of the year award, and had the number one office in the country for more than two years in a row. In 2008, Ted founded oXYGen Financial to help revolutionize the financial services industry by creating a new company that focused on serving the X and Y Generation. oXYGen Financial now has more than 1,700 clients throughout 25 states across the country. Ted has been featured in over 25 magazines and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and The Huffington Post. He has six advanced designations from the College for Financial Planning (CFP®, CRPC®, CRPS®, AWMA®, AAMS®, CMFC®) and is an on air radio personality featured on the popular drive time Atlanta radio show The Rock 100.5 Morning Show on Rock 100.5 FM. Ted lives in Milton, GA with his wife Genna and three kids Olivia, Lyla, and Louden.

KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

Posted on May 11, 2016

Podcast: Download

KSUEntrepreneurship

The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

Garrett Jacobs, Lee Heisman, Kris Kolarich and Chris Hanks

Lee Heisman, Kris Kolarich and Chris Hanks

Kris Kolarich

Kris Kolarich / Atlanta Intown Real Estate Services

Specialized Asset Services / Realtor

Atlanta Intown Real Estate Services is a boutique, LGBT and woman-owned Real Estate Brokerage with three offices in Metro Atlanta. We have a combined 40 years of experience in the retail market and over 15 years of experience in the REO and Default Industry. With over 15 years in real estate, I have sold over 1,500 homes in Metro Atlanta. My experiences include working with first-time homebuyers, investors, the default industry; REO; short sales; pre-foreclosures; and with HUD counseling agencies to help keep homeowners in their home through loan modifications, or through any of the other available programs such as HAMP/HARP. I am also experienced in selling high-end homes. I have been licensed since 2001. I began working the REO market in 2007, and have been the top agent in multiple real estate offices from 2009-2014. I am also making strides to do the same for 2015. I have the knowledge, compassion and experience when working with struggling homeowners in the preforeclosure/short sale arena, and with homeowners who have just had their home foreclosed on and who will need relocation assistance or cash-for-keys making a dignified transition to another home. I have a full staff to assist with occupancy checks, cash-for-keys, property preservations, marketing and selling bank owned assets. I bring to the table detailed knowledge of construction and repair costs, enabling me to evaluate, assess and advise marketing strategies for a particular asset as is vs. repaired. We pride ourselves in our efficiency to submit BPO’s within 24-48 hours but with great details to show our clients what the market really looks like. I have done hundreds of BPO’s and have sold close to 1,000 homes in the past 8 years.

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Lee Heisman

Lee R. Heisman / Savant Comprehensive Technologies
(Co-Host)

Lee R. Heisman is the owner and CEO of Savant Comprehensive Technologies, My School Pool and Ask a Privacy Officer. Prior to this, Lee was the founder and CEO of H and W Printing and Brainstorm Design Works, a full advertising agency and commercial printing firm located in Atlanta, GA. He has a Master Degree from Rutgers University and is on the Advisory Board of the KSU Entrepreneurial Center. Lee has sold 2 of his previously businesses over the years through mergers and acquisition. Before launching his Entrepreneurial Career, Lee was a Licensed Physical Therapist in New Jersey for over 3 years

Chris Hanks/ KSU EC
(Co – Host)

Christopher C. Hanks is the founder and executive director of the KSUEntrepreneurship Center. Prior to this, Hanks was the founder and director of the entrepreneurship program at the University of Georgia. He has owned multiple businesses, including music, e-commerce, publishing, and export ventures. He is also the co-author of a best-selling book on low risk entrepreneurship.

Hanks leads the International Entrepreneurship Institute and is certified in business valuation, providing expert witness testimony. Before teaching at UGA, Hanks taught entrepreneurship at Georgia State University and assisted in leading the Russell Center for Entrepreneurship. He earned a BBA from University of Georgia and an MBA from San Jose State University. Before launching his first business, Hanks held corporate risk management positions in the pharmaceutical and beverage industries.

Ted Jenkin/Oxygen Financial
(Co – Host)

Ted Jenkin has spent the past 22 years giving personal financial advice to thousands of people across the United States. After graduating from Boston College in 1991, Ted spent more than 16 years working for American Express Financial Advisors/Ameriprise Financial. He was one of the youngest people in the history of the company to reach both Field Vice President and Group Vice President level. He managed more than 800 financial advisors throughout 8 states in his last position with the company. He won the premier performer award, leader of the year award, and had the number one office in the country for more than two years in a row. In 2008, Ted founded oXYGen Financial to help revolutionize the financial services industry by creating a new company that focused on serving the X and Y Generation. oXYGen Financial now has more than 1,700 clients throughout 25 states across the country. Ted has been featured in over 25 magazines and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and The Huffington Post. He has six advanced designations from the College for Financial Planning (CFP®, CRPC®, CRPS®, AWMA®, AAMS®, CMFC®) and is an on air radio personality featured on the popular drive time Atlanta radio show The Rock 100.5 Morning Show on Rock 100.5 FM. Ted lives in Milton, GA with his wife Genna and three kids Olivia, Lyla, and Louden.

KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

Posted on March 16, 2016March 22, 2016

Podcast: Download

The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

Brittney is the CEO and Co-founder of The Dorm Room Beautician (@thedrbco). She began The DRB with co-founders Kaye Thompson and Marcelo Burkard after 3+ years as a freelance stylist for afro-textured hair in the Athens Area in August 2015. The DRB facilitates connections and operations for freelance hair stylists and their clients in college areas. Brittney is originally from Suwanee, Ga where she graduated from Collins Hill High School in 2012. She will graduate from The University of Georgia with a BBA in Business Marketing w/digital emphasis, an ABJ in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish minor in May of 2016. After graduation, Brittney will continue to grow The Dorm Room Beautician and intern for The Wall Street Journal in NYC. Follow her on twitter, @brittneylaryea to learn more!

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Caleb is the founder of Spacey Sciences and is building the University of Georgia’s first satellite. He has worked for NASA as a flight software developer and was a Google Glass beta tester – having helped build the first musical score viewing application for it. He lead the team that won the first MLH, nationally recognized, hackathon for UGA by building a low-cost remote-operated telescope. He currently runs the most popular Computer Science and Astronomy blogs on the tumblr blogging platform with a total following of over 200,000. Caleb is a Computer Science and Astrophysics double major at UGA. His career goal is to further the exploration and monetization of outer space and to help lay the foundation to explore and colonize our solar system.

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Anastasia Roberts has a degree in Digital Marketing from the University of Georgia. She lives in Athens with her two young boys and enjoys watching them play football, basketball, and Jiu Jitsu. Anastasia started Nourishing Business Solutions in 2015 because she saw a need with the businesses around her to have quality marketing in order to grow. Anastasia believes in the freedom entrepreneurship offers to people and enjoys teaching others how to nourish their businesses through effective marketing techniques. You can check out NBS at www.nourishingbusinesssolutions.com, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The Shrimp Tank Featuring Mike Blake with Arpeggio Advisors

Posted on March 8, 2016

Podcast: Download

The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

Mike Blake is President of Arpeggio Advisors, a business appraisal and strategic advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta. Mike appraises businesses, securities, and intellectual property to help clients maximize their returns on transactions and painlessly comply with tax and financial reporting requirements. Mike has specialized expertise in appraising and advising emerging technology companies; patents, copyrights and trademarks; professional services firms; alternative energy companies; and aerospace companies. Prior to starting his career as a business appraiser and strategic advisor, Mike raised capital and created international strategic partnerships for Israeli companies, and helped convert Russian companies convert part of their weapons of mass destruction design and production capabilities into civilian applications and privatized businesses.

Mike founded co-founded StartupLounge in 2007, a nonprofit that helps technology entrepreneurs on the journey from idea to venture to business, and helped technology entrepreneurs in Atlanta raise over $10 million (all pro bono). Mike has also coached 6 companies to victory in various business plan competitions, helping them win a combined $300K in cash and over $2 million in services. One of Mike’s teams went on to secure funding on ABC’s Shark Tank.
Mike is a member of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2009 and is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2014. He plays keyboards and vocals for a classic rock band, Kickin Off the Coverz, and lives in Chamblee with his wife, Cordelia (a fellow entrepreneur) and two sons, Alex and Max.

The Shrimp Tank Featuring Jason Smith with Mr. Mister Mosquito Control

Posted on March 2, 2016

Podcast: Download

The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

ABR

Jason Smith is the owner of Mr. Mister Mosquito Control, and a graduate of the University of Georgia with a BS in Finance.

Career Achievements

Jason Smith is a professional and philanthropic leader in the Atlanta community and beyond. Prior to founding Mister Mosquito Control, which is now the 2^nd largest mosquito control company in Metro Atlanta, Smith had a successful career in the branded apparel arena. Here, he was responsible for the acquisition, management and fulfillment of nationwide accounts such as: Circuit City Uniform Program, Georgia Aquarium, Turner Broadcasting and many others.
Smith was head of social media for Ian’s Friends Foundation for four years.
Smith created concept for Turner Broadcasting of sports specific poker sets–created sets personally for Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Braves on-air personalites, NCAA on air, and PGA on air.
He is currently on the board of directors for the Billi Marcus Foundation
The philanthropic component has been an integral part in the organic “word of mouth” growth of Mr. Mister. As the fastest growing (and the 2^nd largest) mosquito control company in Metro Atlanta, Mr. Mister boasts an almost perfect online review record due to their unparalleled personal customer service, often provided directly by Jason Smith.
As the head of sales for Mr. Mister Mosquito Control, Smith has exceeded all sales goals and established as well as maintained excellent relationships with customers. He proudly maintains 5 star ratings on Yelp! and Facebook. He is currently in charge of redevelopment of the company websitemrmr.biz which has been a huge revenue driver
Smith was most recently featured on CBS Better Mornings as a local expert. See clip here: http://www.cbs46.com/story/25748324/have-you-mosquito-proofed-your-yard?autostart=true

Community Involvement

Mister’s pro bono work is integral to the surrounding community. They continually treat schools, parks and more complimentary for the betterment of the residents. Recent recipients of pro bono services include Weinstein Preschool, Camp Twin Lakes, Morningside Elementary, GA Autism, and Dunwoody’s Brook Run Dog Park. Personally, Smith’s charitable contributions continue. In his “downtime”, he can be found coaching The Epstein School’s boys and girls tennis teams and building houses for the important organization “Habitat for Humanity.” He is also highly invested in advancing pediatric brain tumor research by supporting Ian’s Friends Foundation.
Today, Smith marries his career with philanthropy with Mr. Mister. As an outdoor enthusiast with children of his own, Jason is personally invested in protecting families from disease carrying mosquitos. So much so he has incorporated a philanthropic component to his business and its bottom line. With every new customer, Mr. Mister donates a life-saving mosquito net through Nothing But Nets to help combat the epidemic of malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses across the world.

Awards and Recognition

Invited to be part of Leadership Epstein.
Member of LEAD class 2005
Graduate of Dale Carnegie sales class where he was recently invited back as a keynote speaker.

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KSU Entrepreneurship Center The Shrimp Tank Featuring Ashley Daniele Carestia

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin.

KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin.

KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin.

KSU Entrepreneurship Center Presents The Shrimp Tank

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin.