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Leonardo McClarty/Dekalb Chamber of Commerce
Leonardo McClarty is the President/CEO of the Dekalb Chamber of Commerce . A career Economic and Business Development professional, McClarty is astute at dealing with various community, small business, and political challenges. His experiences include business recruitment, community redevelopment, planning, public policy analysis, and small business development. Responsible for the day to day operations of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, McClarty interacts daily with civic leaders, education professionals, business leaders, and elected officials to make sure that DeKalb County is the premier place to do business in Metro Atlanta. Since his arrival in September 2004, this Atlanta native has more than doubled the DeKalb Chamber’s membership, increased its annual operating budget, and increased its status in the Atlanta business community.
Prior to taking the helm of the DeKalb Chamber, McClarty served as Economic Development Director for the City of Roswell and was a Senior Project Manager in DeKalb County’s Office of Economic Development. McClarty has also worked for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Georgia Institute for Community Business Development.
McClarty holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Furman University. He is certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance Professional and has a certificate in non-profit management from the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organizational Management program. McClarty is the past Chairman of the United Way in DeKalb Campaign and sits on the Grady Health System Board of Visitors. He is also sits on the boards of the DeKalb Workforce Investment Board (WIB), DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau, Communities in Schools of Atlanta, CDC Federal Credit Union, and participates in various ad hoc committees and councils. He is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Atlanta and a 2008 graduate of Leadership DeKalb. In 2008, he was named one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Top 40 under 40.
Mavian Arocha-Rowe/Strategy Magazine
Mavian Arocha-Rowe is the Editor-in-Chief at Strategy Magazine. She is also the Senior Editor at The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism, Senior Editor for Field Media, LLC, and a Freelance Writer/Editor and Spanish Educator.
Mavian promoted Strategy Magazine’s launch of an additional magazine that will be entirely in Spanish. It will be out this May and the cover will feature CNN en Espanol’s fashion expert.
Dennis Zakas/Zakas & Leonard, Group Office Buys
Dennis Zakas is a partner with the law firm of Zakas & Leonard. He focuses his law practice on mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, corporate governance, joint ventures and complex commercial transactions. While most of his clients are in the technology and medical device industries, he has significant experience in telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, logistics and real estate. During his career, Zakas has played a major role in transactions exceeding $100 billion. His unique perspective results from representing a wide range of clients – from Fortune 50 to early stage – in a wide variety of industries, in a broad range of transactions. On many occasions Zakas has been listed in Best Lawyers in America, as well as a Mergers & Acquisitions Super Lawyer.
Zakas is also the Chair and CEO of Group Office Buys, LLC, an online provider of over 40,000 office supply, janitorial/sanitary and breakroom products and is the primary inventor named in two patent applications covering a number of Internet business processes.
Dennis Zakas is a member of the Board of Directors of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). In 2005 he was named TAG Volunteer of the Year for his role in founding and chairing the Georgia Technology Summit. He also founded TAG’s Top 40/10 Innovative Companies Award and continues to chair the Top 40/10 Committee. Additionally, Zakas writes the Technology Leadership blog for the Saporta Report, as well as is the Georgia Co-chair of the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF).
