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Andy Wickman and Andrew Hurst with Warrior Outdoors Inc.

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Andy Wickman and Andrew Hurst

 

www.WarriorOutdoors.org

Andy Wickman is one of the founding members of Warrior Outdoors. He has owned and operated several business’, including a transmission shop, a full motorcycle shop and a dating service. Andy has always had a service heart. He has worked with Habitat for Humanity, the Lions Club and is very accomplished in the Masonic fraternity.

 

 

Andrew Hurst- 12 year army veteran, served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, father, husband, and avid outdoorsman when at all possible. He got into helping other veterans with the VFW and found that Warrior Outdoors would allow him the ability to help even more by taking the State Director position.

 

 

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WIT Atlanta Features Sugra Naqvi with Stellar Consulting Solutions

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Sandy Welfare, Vic and Sugra Naqvi

 

 

Sugra Naqvi / Stellar Consulting Solutions 
Co Founder

Sugra Naqvi is the co-founder of Stellar Consulting Solutions. She has over 10 years of experience in sales and being a successful entrepreneur. In her role, she serves as a primary hunter of new businesses and client relationships. Sugra has been in sales under the retail vertical prior to starting her current venture. She brings deep understanding of operations, culture and relationships. Sugra has earned her dual bachelors from Georgia State University, in Sociology and Business. She currently enjoys volunteering her time to WIT, enjoys reading and traveling with her two sons.

STELLAR CONSULTING SOLUTIONS is among the fastest growing boutique technology consulting and staffing firms globally. Stellar is a minority business enterprise (MBE), that fosters diversity workforce. We deliver high quality and experienced consultants for niche technology project on any scale. Providing, end-to-end recruiting and staffing solutions and maintaining a successful track record using a robust recruiting process. We also bring the right talent at the right time. From our humble beginning, delivering resources for IT projects, we’ve stayed true to our mission and core values – and do our best every day to deliver happiness to our clients.

www.stellarconsulting.com

678-925-9466
2475 NORTHWIND PARKWAY, SUITE 200

ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA 30009
INFO@STELLARCONSULTING.COM

 

 

 

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Sandy Welfare / WIT

Sandy Welfare is the Executive Director of Women In Technology (WIT). Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of Cool Girls Inc, an award-winning early intervention after-school program dedicated to the empowerment of girls (2009-2015).

Sandy’s career began in 1989 in Greenwich, Connecticut where she joined Rand Insurance as the Controller. Six years later, she accepted a position with Lucent Technologies, an international telecommunications leader, holding a number of positions including serving as Accounting and Treasury Manager in Singapore (1999-2000) and then as Senior Manager in Australia and New Zealand (2000-2002). Sandy returned to Atlanta in 2002 as Senior Manager of Global Financial Services.

In 2003, Sandy accepted a position as Director of Operations for Xchanging, a business processing outsourcing company. In 2006, her career took her to London, England as Managing Director for professional services, where she managed global business processing services for bank financial transactions, insurance and retail.

Sandy received her undergraduate degree from St. John’s University in New York, and a Master of Business Administration from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. She serves on the board of several non-profits, including Kiwanis Club of Atlanta. Sandy resides in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, Cliff and son, Soloman.

Twitter     Twitter(Sandy)      LinkedIn

 

 

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Veterans Connect Radio Episode 08

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Veterans Connect Radio

A spotlight episode of Atlanta Business Radio and powered by Business RadioX. Co-Hosted by Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson and Brandon Skolnick with Gathering Of Angels. Featuring veteran entrepreneurs, support organizations, outreach groups and more in the Atlanta area continuing to serve our families, our communities and our country. 

#VetsConnect
@VetConnectRadio

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Roger Roley, Forrest Woodland, Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson , John Phillips and Lloyd Knight

 

 

Forrest Woodland/JDog Lawrenceville
Owner/Operator

 

 

Roger Roley CSM (Retired) / Four Block
Atlanta Program Director

Roger joined the Army where he served for 24 years; during his tenure Roger had several positions of Leadership and responsibility and was awarded the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit and numerous other awards. Roger achieved the highest non-commissioned rank of Command Sergeants Major.

After retiring from the Army Roger joined Ferrellgas as a District Manager where he took a District ranked at #123 to #1. In 2 years Roger grew the District’s customer base 78%, doubled top line earnings, received the Donald Trump Award for the highest margins over projections while reducing expenses by 18% under projections.

Roger joined Cintas in 2001 as an Advance Management Candidate; during the next 11 years Roger held the positions of; Market Manager where he developed the top Location in the Corporation for internal growth, Top Sales Manager of 22 Location generating $160,000 in weekly volume over a 3 year period, as a Director of Facility Services (Group Level) Roger developed over $200,000 in weekly volume in new business services; Roger’s last position was as Atlanta’s Market Manager for the Deep Clean Division where he developed the top Location in the Corporation for 2 straight years.

Roger joined Osprey Biotechnics Inc. in January 2012 as Vice President of Business Development Growing sales 30% ($1.4M) creating the company’s first growth year in 3 years.

In August 2013 Roger joined Corporate Leads Inc., as Senior Partner. Corporate Leads Inc. is a Veterans placement organization with an outstanding record with both Veterans and corporations.

Roger joined Building Global Leaders Team in December 2014 as Vice President of Operations and Partner. Building Global Leaders (BGL) mission is to develop future business leaders utilizing business training, leadership training and mentorship.

In continuing to support our veteran Roger joined Four Block in November 2015 as the Atlanta Program Director: Four Block Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that prepares transitioning veterans for careers in corporate America. We teach a semester long, university accredited course that assists student-veterans with obtaining competitive internships and full-time positions.

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Lloyd Knight / VETLANTA
Co-Founder

Lloyd Knight is Director, Government, Aerospace & Project Cargo Operations at UPS.  He oversees multiple freight forwarding programs supporting a wide range of clients including the Department of Defense, defense contractors, humanitarian and aerospace customers. He develops operational strategies to meet business objectives and ensures UPS remains compliant with government regulations.  Lloyd has been employed at UPS since 2007 and in addition to his current assignment has served in several different roles including Government Tender Manager, Global Government Operations Manager and a special assignment with corporate HR focusing on veteran hiring initiatives.

Lloyd retired from the Air Force in 2007 after 20 years of service.  During this time, Lloyd logged over 3,000 flight hours as a Loadmaster on several operational and flight test aircraft including the C-141 Starlifter, C-5 Galaxy, and C-23 Sherpa.  He also served assignments as a Tanker Airlift Control Lift Element (TALCE) Loadmaster, HQ Air Mobility Command Functional Manager and First Sergeant.

Lloyd founded the UPS Veterans Business Resource Group in Atlanta and co-founded and the Chairman of VETLANTA, an industry collaboration of Veteran friendly/ affiliated organizations in the Atlanta region.  VETLANTA mission is to make Atlanta a top destination for veterans. He is an active volunteer for multiple veteran non-profits including American Corporate Partners and Hire Heroes USA.

Lloyd has associate degrees in Aircrew Operations and Human Resources Management from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor Degree in Transportation & Logistics Management from American Military University and a Master’s Degree in Logistics & Transportation Management from American Military University.

He has been married to Suzan for 28 years and has two sons (James & Brandon).  Brandon is a college sophomore and James is a soon to be transitioning solider assigned to the 82nd Airborne.

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John Philips LTC, U.S. Army Retired / Boots To Loafers
Author, Speaker, Leader / Vice Chairman VETLANTA

John has had a distinguished career in both military and civilian service. John is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army where he served in the Field Artillery as well as a Financial Comptroller.  With more than 20 years of service, he served  in Corps Artillery, Division Artillery, Army Headquarters and Forces Command, the largest command and the generating force provider for combatant commanders – at home and abroad. He has served in Europe, throughout the Middle East and the United States. Among his awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Assault Badge.

John is the Author of Boots to Loafers, Finding Your New True North which outlines a proven process of transitioning out of the military and into the private sector.  He is also a contributing author to Paddling Guide to the Sunshine State and An American Crisis, Veteran Unemployment, Stand by Them/How You can Help/Solution.  He has been featured on The Mike Huckabee Show, the Dennis Miller Show as well as a number of radio appearances across the country.

John is a finance executive at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia. In his spare time, John spends his time travelling with his wife, Sailing in the British Virgin Islands, remote wilderness trips in the western United States, and helping our nation’s military and veterans make the transition into society and finding a job in the private sector.

John holds a BS in Finance from University of Central Florida and an MBA from Syracuse University. He lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Georgia with his wife, the former Melissa K. Smith and their Australian Shepherd, Bear.

Boots To Loafers The Book      VETLANTA     Twitter    LinkedIn     Facebook 

 

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Spotlight Interview with Peter Vekselman

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Ryan Redhawk and Peter Vekselman

Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson and Peter Vekselman

 

 

Peter Vekselman / RVP, LLC, Coaching by Peter, Yates Reality
Owner

Peter Vekselman is an established real estate investor and leader who has developed a new and synergistic approach to home selling and real estate investing.

By offering sellers the security and convenience of a cash purchase or the benefits of listing their property through a conventional realtor, clients of Peter are provided with a wider range of options and the flexibility needed to adjust to situational demands. Not only has this model proven valuable those on the sell side, it has also created tremendous investment opportunities for those looking to build wealth through real estate acquisition.

Because of his new Trifecta business model, his team is closing 8-10 investment deals per week and are currently overseeing over 200 properties listed in the Atlanta area.

Having grown his Atlanta-based operation to a national network of affiliates, Peter is excited about the opportunity to spread his message and create opportunities for real estate sellers, investors, and professionals alike. To that end, he would be appreciative of any opportunity to be interviewed on one of your podcasts to help create wealth generation opportunities for your listeners.

 

“TEXT” Peter Directly the following..Trifecta and tell him about your current business model 

404-915-9685

 

www.CoachingByPeter.com     Facebook

 

 

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Tamika Morrison and Tramell Smith with Kamp Kiles World and Patrick Pittaluga and Sean Warner with Grubbly Farms

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Patrick Pittaluga and Sean Warner are Georgia Tech graduates who started Grubbly Farms in early 2015. Patrick graduated with a degree in business and Sean a degree in building construction so insects and biology was an entirely new field.

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Kile’s World Foundation offers comprehensive art education to children ranging from ages 8‐17; focusing on music, performance, fine and applied arts. The foundation offers art-based camps with multiple workshops including general instruction in the areas of acting, singing, dance, painting, illustration, music production and digital media.

Kile’s World wishes to cultivate an environment where developing artists can explore their artistic interests with the guidance and support of our mentors. Kile’s World Foundation is poised to eventually open an academic school with an emphasis on music, drama and the arts.

 

 

 

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Atlanta’s Most Trusted Advisors Features Timothy J. Jones

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Atlanta’s Most Trusted Advisors interviews industry experts from in and around the Metro Atlanta Area. Our goal is to provide valuable information that all business owners and managers can use in their day-to-day work to help them succeed.

 

Timothy J Jones and Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk

Timothy J Jones and Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk

 

Timothy J. Jones / The Timothy Jones Companies
CEO & Founder

TJ is an expert leadership speaker, coach, and consultant with a new book to be launched in September. He began his professional life as a teacher, then spent 20 years in the biopharmaceutical industry leading sales teams and as head of Training and Leadership Development. With practical wisdom learned in the trenches, TJ helps individuals, teams, and companies enhance their engagement and effectiveness. He delivers highly interactive and transformative learning experiences. He is President/Owner of the Timothy Jones Companies. LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyjjones1

 

 

Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk (Host)/ bbr Marketing
President

Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk has been a member of the creative and marketing services community for over 20 years and does not appear to be leaving it anytime soon. As president of bbr marketing, she has relished the challenges of entrepreneurship as she worked to grow and nurture a new business. Since the firm’s inception in 2009, Bonnie has led the young company to become widely recognized and respected within the professional services marketing niche, with award-winning client websites and an outstanding history of business success having worked with clients in 23 states and 2 Canadian provinces.

 

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Timothy j Jones and Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson

Dave Norton Creator of InContextNow conference in Atlanta

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David Norton, PhD is founder and principal of Stone Mantel, which has guided hundreds of brand leaders in creating meaningful brand experiences. Norton founded the Digital Collaborative in 2013 to help companies collaborate in conducting research about consumers and the impact of digital in their lives. He is the author of the new book DIGITAL CONTEXT 2.0: Seven Lessons In Business Strategy, Consumer Behavior And The Internet Of Things. Norton is also the person behind InContextNow: The Conference On The Internet Of Things For Marketers, Business Strategists And Research Leaders which is taking place in Atlanta on June 2 & 3, 2016.

Stone Mantel     InContextNow

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JoAnn Holmes with HOLMES@LAW, Kevin Geraghty with Revenue Research and Thad Oviatt with ParkENT Cycles

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Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson, Kevin Geraghty, JoAnn Holmes and Thad Oviatt

 

 

JoAnn Holmes, Esq. / HOLMES@LAW, LLC
Attorney and Founder

JoAnn Jo Holmes is the founder of HOLMES@LAW, LLC(www.holmesatlaw.com), where her practice focus is Business Law & Contracts, Trademark & Copyright, Software & Tech. She works with a broad array of clients, including professional service providers, consultants, software and creative content developers, and manufacturers. Having practiced law for nearly 17 years, her goal is to live the firms slogan Your Business Ally™.

A graduate of Stanford University and Emory School of Law, her career began in the Technology & Intellectual Property (IP) practice group of Troutman Sanders, a prominent Atlanta based law firm. There, she successfully represented a gamut of diverse clients, from startups to multi-billion dollar companies like Chick-fil-A, Microsoft and WalMart.

Moving in-house, Jo served on business management and legal teams in senior leadership roles for both public and private manufacturing companies. For more than a decade, she was the go-to lawyer for her business units with presence in North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Pacific Rim. She has overseen IP portfolios in more than 130 countries, is well accomplished in negotiating sophisticated domestic and international commercial contracts, and in resolving high dollar disputes.

Jo has spoken extensively about business law, technology, and intellectual property. Currently, she writes the business law section for the Gwinnett Citizen newspaper, and speaks for SCORE, a longstanding resource partner of the Small Business Administration. Likewise, Jo volunteers with Leadership Gwinnett, Discovery High Schools Entrepreneurship Academy, the SE Gwinnett Coop food pantry, and the Stanford Alumni Association.

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Kevin Geraghty / Revenue Research, Inc.
President

Kevin is responsible for the creation of $3 billion in documented corporate value. He has built successful analytic departments and profitable business models for Fortune 500 clients. Kevin received the Edelman Laureate Award in 1996 and 2016 for outstanding Operations Research practice and received the DM News Martech Award for Data Science in 2015. He is the author of machine learning patents for Dynamic Pricing and Paid Search marketing.

 

 

Thad Oviatt / ParkENT Cycles
Founder & CEO

ParkENT Cycles just wants to HUG your bicycle and keep it safe. We produce an electronic bike rack. The rack is a bicycle locking system built into a custom bike rack. To use the rack a person just needs to push their bike into the rack, activate it with the paired phone app (or key card, or attached kiosk), and the bike rack locks up the bicycle. The electronic bike rack locks the wheel and frame of the bicycle. The rack is safer than any other bicycle lock on the market.

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G. Martinez with Strateegus

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G. Martinez and Ryan McPherson

G. Martinez and Ryan McPherson

 

 

G. Martinez / Strateegus 
CEO

I’m an Industrial Designer (major: Product Design), graduate of the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. I’m currently CEO of Strateegus, a full service “design to retail shelf” firm focused on getting customers products or services into retail and online channels. During my 28 year career, I have held positions of high visibility and increased importance, ranging from Founder, to Director, General Manager, to V.P. of Product Development for both design firms and major corporations such as Catalyst Strategic Design, Herbst/ LaZar/Bell, The Art Institutes, TOTO USA, and now Strateegus. I have led teams of designers, researchers, and R & D pros for the Design/Development and Launch of products in the Appliance (small), Bath (luxury), Consumer, Fitness & Sporting Goods, Hardware (powered and mechanical), Lawn & Garden (powered; watering; equipment), Medical Devices, Outdoor (hearth; structures), and other sectors, for start-ups and F-1000 sized companies with sales ranging up to $90B+! In addition to my background in Design, I’ve also amassed a wealth of knowledge and have led efforts in Brand-Building (ground up to re-branding), Market & Consumer Research (market sectors; competitive; focus groups; ethnographic research), Retail Strategy, QC/QA, Sourcing, and Global Project Management. Additionally, I am a:
– Strategic & Rare combination of “Right & Left Brain” Thinking
– Innovator/Inventor–Always looking for a better solution
– Exceptional & Passionate Collaborator and Team Leader
– Looking for opportunities of mutual benefit to all parties!

 

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