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Curated Collection Of The Best Interviews From Our Sandy Springs Studio





Atlanta Business Radio

Month: May 2012

Jennifer Scully: Clinical Resources, Howard Hsu: Atlanta Food Truck Park & Market, Clayton Hiatt: The Accountant, and Brandy Nagel: Digitally Famous

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Jennifer Scully/Clinical Resources LLC

Jennifer L. Scully has dedicated over 30 years to the delivery of quality care to geriatric patients and seniors across the nation throughout the healthcare continuum; including acute, subacute care, assisted living, and long-term care.

Jennifer launched Clinical Resources LLC in 2007 to address the critical shortage of talent management and qualified personnel to meet the personnel needs in healthcare settings nationwide. She is committed to recognizing and supporting nurses and the nursing profession through her efforts to encourage “back to work” opportunities for nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Jennifer is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and is also a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and a Paralegal. She holds Certifications in Healthcare Risk Management, Case Management, Legal Nurse Consulting, and Nursing Assessment. Jennifer has dedicated her career to Quality Improvement of care and services to thousands of patients and residents, nationwide.

Jennifer is active in many organizations such as the Women President Organization (WPO), the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), the Women Business Enterprise Council (WBENC), the Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) as well as the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce (USWCC).

Jennifer continues to share her philosophy and proactive approach to Quality Improvement through her membership and work with national organizations including the American Health Care Association (AHCA), National Association of Directors of Nursing in Long Term Care (NADONA/LTC), American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators (AANAC), National Geriatric Nurse Association (NGNA), the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA), National Student Nurse Association (NSNA) and the Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and serves as a Board Member for the Coalition of Women in Long Term Care (COWL).

Jennifer has published numerous articles related to elder and senior care including a guidebook published in conjunction with the American Health Care Association, Continuous Quality Improvement Using the Regulatory Framework, in 2005. Additionally, she co-edited the American Nurse Associations “Core Curriculum for Subacute Care” published spring 1997. Jennifer continues to present at national and local conventions and seminars on subjects related to elder care. In addition, she continues to serve as a Senior Examiner for AHCA’s Quality Reward Program.

Through Clinical Resources LLC, Jennifer is able to combine her comprehensive experience with a broad network of contacts, to assist providers with their staffing and personnel needs.

Howard Hsu/Atlanta Food Truck Park & Market

The growing Atlanta food truck movement welcomed its first street food park as the Atlanta Food Truck Park & Market on Thursday, April 26. Located at 1850 Howell Mill Road, the Atlanta Food Truck Park & Market is the seven-day-a-week go-to destination for Atlantans craving the best in street food fare, local products and artists, entertainment and more.

The premier park was conceptualized by Howard Hsu, co-owner of Sweet Auburn BBQ, who then partnered with Brian Harvin and Anita Hsu seeking to fulfill their mission of developing a community site to foster the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of start-up businesses, artists, musicians and local industry. Together they created the sprawling three-acre space that hosts up to 15 food trucks at one time, perfect for picnicking and enjoying the city’s best street food fare for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night noshing. The park also features al fresco seating areas along with several outdoor attractions including bocce ball, horseshoes and a playground all located in a shady green space along with exciting weekly programming. Ample complimentary parking is available both on- site and at dedicated adjacent properties.

Clayton Hiatt/The Accountant

An accomplished management and accounting professional, Clayton leverages his more than 20 years of experience in executive management and corporate accounting, toward his current role at The Accountant as its Principal. Based in Marietta Georgia, Clayton is adept at managing a variety of complex financial initiatives and is now playing a critical role in establishing The Accountant as one of Marietta’s leaders in providing small businesses a trusted advisor in management and control of their monthly financials, payroll processing and tax preparation.

Prior to The Accountant, Clayton served as a Senior Manager and Controller at Casablanca Group, LLC also based in Marietta. In this position, he worked closely with the company’s CFO and President overseeing fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities and enhancing processes across functions. Focused on creating highly motivated teams, he worked on developing staff through corporate training, as well as advanced mentoring.

Before joining the management team at Casablanca, Clayton was the Corporate Controller of Mallory & Evans Contractors and Engineers, LLC, based in Atlanta, GA. During his time with M&E, Clayton partnered with the COO and spearheaded the integration of a finer tuned phase code system improving analysis of revenue by job type. He joined M&E after serving in a variety of progressive financial roles at his start-up firm Upright Properties & Construction, at Zales Corporation, Triton International and The Gap, Inc. Combining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Utah with earlier experience as the Office & Credit Manager for Pearson Tire Distributing Company in Salt Lake, Clayton has advanced his management and leadership skills throughout his tenure.

Brandy Nagel/Digitally Famous

As a Social Media Coach, Brandy Nagel has traveled the Southeast speaking and teaching high-profile executives how to use social media for business and career development. She holds an MBA from Mercer University and volunteers with MicroMentor, helping entrepreneurs develop social media marketing plans to grow their business. Previous clients include Pennzoil, Quaker State, Tony Roma’s Restaurants, Simmons Bedding Company and more. Most recently, Nagel worked at Georgia Tech’s Innovation Institute as a Marketing Catalyst. Her book,Digitally Famous: Visibility Campaigns for Job Seekers is available on Amazon and Kindle.

 

 

 

Blackberry PlayBook Review Plus Interviews with Rosie Falconi: Falconi Designs and Ron Rizzi: Drive for Research Foundation, Inc.

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We opened the show with a quick  Blackberry PlayBook review, the new tablet from the folks at RIM (Research in Motion). It is a great tablet for the money – excellent value for all the features you get and you don’t have to be a Blackberry phone user to get the PlayBook (but it helps). This device has a camera and a video camera. It also has HDMI ports so you can hook it up and watch movies on your HD TV. The video quality is top notch. It seems faster than my Kindle Fire and the video quality is definitely better plus you get a camera so if those are the features that are most important for you then the PlayBook is a no brainer.

Rosie Falconi/Falconi Designs/Whimsical Wascals

Rosie Falconi is a local artist who started her business “Falconi Designs” 10 years ago here in the Atlanta area. Her focus is on custom murals for the home, business, school or any other area that needs a splash of color. Last year she created another division called, “Whimsical Wascals” which specializes in original and whimsical hand-painted pet portraits. Her most recent project however, was when she illustrated her 1st book, “I CAN Fix America” by David Duley. It is a coffee table book with 52 common sense ways YOU can make the United States great again.

Ron Rizzi/Drive For Research Foundation, Inc.

Ron Rizzi is the founder of Drive For Research Foundation. He created this new organization in the last quarter of 2011 in response to the many challenges and obstacles that prevented success in attaining the goals that were set to raise awareness and prevent brain tumors.

As an Acoustic Neuroma brain tumor survivor he understands the financial, emotional and physical challenges as well as the hardship that invades the life of a brain tumor patient and their family.

The programs Daily Drive To Survive® and Pledge The Miles You Drive® were  created and designed by Ron for the purpose of raising awareness and most importantly to raise funds for the cause. He felt that many other causes captured all of the media’s attention to the detriment of others, especially brain cancer, brain tumors and brain tumor research.

His idea of reaching out to all of us as we drive our car or ride a bus or train to work each morning is a universal theme. One that would allow more people to get involved and support this important effort.

Their “mission is to supply the ‘Drive’ to support high performance accelerated clinical brain tumor research, find the key to unlock brain cancer and prevent all types of brain tumors in our lifetime.”

Funds raised throughout the United States will initially provide research grants that will support:  Duke Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Raleigh, NC., Emory Brain Tumor Center, Atlanta, GA., and Swedish Neuroscience Center, Seattle, WA. Long range research grant plans include expansion across the country adding additional accelerated brain tumor research organizations and institutions.

With the support from contributors’ personal daily drive, riding commute and pledge of the miles they drive or ride the Foundation will make the road to finding a cure for brain cancer and brain tumors a short ride. Other Cause InnovatorsTM – Created Specifically For Accelerated Brain Tumor Research are Grey Matters More Than You Think!TM, Daily Drive to Survive® and Pledge The Miles You Drive®, Daily Ride to Survive® and Pledge The Miles You Ride®, and Daily Commute To SurviveTM and Pledge The Miles You Ride®

Peter Pasternack’s Real Estate Connections Special Edition with Shane Jarmin, Glynn Lockaby, and Thomas Cardone

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The Real Estate Connections event for this month will be on Thursday, June 7, and it will be held at Aja, a modern Asian kitchen, located in the Alliance Center on Lenox Road. If you are in Real Estate in Atlanta this is a must go to networking event.

 

Peter Pasternack/Foundations Designs 

Peter Pasternack, from Foundation Designs, is one of our hosts and is also one of the stars of Flip This House, on one of television’s most recognized real estate investment and home renovation. His company designs, builds, and renovates residential and commercial property.

Peter is in charge of the largest real estate networking event, Real Estate Connections, in town that is held every month.

Shane Jarmin/Jarmin & Jones Real Estate Group @ Ian Marshall Realty

Shane has been consulting buyers and sellers in the Atlanta real estate market since graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2008.  His expertise includes but is not limited to, helping both buyers and sellers in the condo, loft, and townhome markets. He personally invests in residential single family homes and helps other investors purchase income producing properties as a source of residual income.  Shane began his career at Coldwell Banker The Condo Store while attending graduate school at Georgia Tech.  He made the switch to Ian Marshall REALTY in August of 2010 after interviewing with several top real estate companies in the Atlanta area.  He is the youngest brother of an Atlanta business attorney and United States Marine.

Thomas Cardone/Winter Capriola Zenner, LLC

Tom Cardone is an attorney with the firm Winter Capriola Zenner, LLC, which is located in Atlanta, Georgia. He focuses his law practice in the areas of construction, real estate, and business law. Within these practice areas, Tom assists clients with a variety of deals and disputes.

As a litigator, Tom has experience handling disputes involving, among other matters, breach of contract, property rights, construction liens & construction defects, residential landlord-tenant & commercial leasing issues, homeowners’ & condominium association covenant enforcement and assessment collections, business collections, and general business and commercial disputes. Although disputes often result in litigation, Tom recognizes the value of alternative dispute resolution and assists his clients with pre-trial negotiation, mediation, and arbitration when appropriate.

Tom counsels his clients through a variety of transactions. He has experience assisting clients with choosing the appropriate corporate form and setting up companies, as well as negotiating and drafting business agreements. Tom also assists clients with construction agreements, real estate purchase and sale agreements, residential & commercial leasing, and drafting subdivision & condominium covenants.

Tom received his Juris Doctor, with honors, from Emory University School of Law and is admitted to practice law throughout the state of Georgia. Tom attended Auburn University for his undergraduate education.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Tom served honorably as a United States Marine.

Glynn Lockaby/Lockaby State Farm Agency

The Lockaby State Farm Agency’s mission is to assist their clients with their insurance and financial service needs including auto, home, renters, life, health, and even retirement planning. Their team is dedicated to offering the finest products while providing personal service that is unsurpassed.

 

Sahil Patel with ER Express, Brett Compton and Rich Fabritius with Brunner, and Mavian Arocha-Rowe with Strategy Magazine

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Sahil Patel/ER Express

Sahil Patel is the executive vice president of ER Express, overseeing sales, client relationships, product development, and company strategy. An Emory University alumnus, he also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Prior to ER Express, he worked at CodeRyte and MedAssets. Sahil lives in midtown Atlanta with wife, Katie, and their two year old daughter, Lark. Find him on LinkedIn.

ER Express lets patients choose their preferred time and location when going to the emergency room. It puts power and information in the patient’s hand.

Brett Compton/Brunner

Brett Crompton is VP and Atlanta Creative Director for Brunner and is among a handful of creative directors in the business who actually worked in account management long before he ever created his first word of ad copy. For our clients, that means he has a real appreciation for the business of brand strategy and generating work that makes a difference in sales, market share, and mind share. He also has a strong appreciation for the power of great ideas in making client budgets go further and work harder. Brett’s work has been recognized internationally by The One Show, Communication Arts, Cannes, The National Addy Awards, as well as many more. He joined Brunner in 2005 when the agency acquired Sawyer Riley Compton in Atlanta.

Rich Fabritius/Brunner

Rich is VP and Atlanta Managing Director for Brunner. He has developed a reputation as a team player who is well respected by his clients and colleagues for his ability to apply market research findings to establishing effective strategies that lead to truly integrated marketing plans. Rich also has worked with clients, such as Dow Great Stuff, Golf Pride, and Goody Hair Care, to develop innovative merchandising and POS programs to improve their performance within leading retail chains, including Wal-Mart and Target. Rich became a member of Brunner in 2005 when Sawyer Riley Compton became Brunner’s Atlanta office and has been instrumental in its explosive growth.

Mavian Arocha-Rowe/Strategy Magazine & The IHC

Mavian Arocha-Rowe is an asset to the publishing industry, allocating her strengths in writing and research to developing thought-provoking profiles and informational editorial which have been published in a variety of media outlets. She is currently the editor-in-chief of Strategy Magazine, a national business lifestyle publication, where she has received accolades from FOLIO Magazine and the Library Journal. Her hands-on experience in the ever- changing business world has ignited her passion and perseverance to creatively fuse Strategy’s “Business Learning & Life.” She provides business tips to the ambitious professionals who are thirsty to reinvent themselves within the present economy, as well as business leaders who are striving to build a legacy.

Arocha-Rowe is also a Speaker and Advocate for WellSpring Living, spokesperson for Ambassadors for Kids Club, on-air contributor for CNN NotiMujer, and Director of Content and Education for The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism.


Corporate Relocation Trends with Kathy Connelly: Prudential Georgia Realty

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Kathy Connelly/Prudential Georgia Realty

Kathy Connelly, SCRP is Senior Vice President,Corporate Services. She has over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry. Prior to joining Prudential Georgia Realty in 1994, she gained experience in a management capacity for two different third party relocation management companies and achieved success in business development and relocation management with another national residential real estate franchised company.

Under her leadership and with support of a skilled team of 25 real estate service professionals, Prudential Georgia Realty has been the recipient of numerous performance awards including the coveted 2010 Prudential Relocation Spirit of Partnership Award.

Areas of responsibilities include corporate business development, REO disposition services, relocation service, corporate inventory management, property management, short sales marketing, e-business management.

Ms. Connelly has earned her SCRP designation, was awarded both the Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Service awards by the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council, served as the past president and chairman of the board for the Relocation Directors Council as well as two-term president of the Metro Atlanta Relocation Council and she was previously honored with national recognition as the Relocation Director of the Year for Prudential Relocation. With her leadership and support from a wonderful relocation team of 20, her company has been the recipient of numerous performance awards.

 

 


Technology and the Information Economy with Keith Herndon with Internet Decisions

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Keith Herndon/ Internet Decisions, LLC

Keith L. Herndon, Ph.D. is a strategic research consultant specializing in media, technology and the information economy. His firm is Internet Decisions, LLC. Dr. Herndon’s extensive career includes experience as a reporter, editor and new media executive. He was Administrative Editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution where he chaired the company’s technology committee. Later, he was Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Planning and Product Development for Cox Enterprises’ Internet Division. Dr. Herndon has also taught research methods, ethics, leadership and media management at Kennesaw State University and the University of Georgia. He will be a visiting professor at UGA during the upcoming academic year. He completed his doctorate work in media and information at Curtin University in Perth, Australia and earned his master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. He has an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and also completed the Davenport Fellowship in business and economic reporting at the University of Missouri. Dr. Herndon’s third book will be out this summer: The Decline of the Daily Newspaper: How an American Institution Lost the Online Revolution by Peter Lang Publishing. His two previous books were based on expert interviews regarding innovation and entrepreneurship.


ASTD Workplace Learning Special Today’s Focus is on Mobile Learning with Laurie Genevish and Larry Brambrut

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Today we had a special ASTD Workplace Learning Edition of Atlanta Business Radio  with a focus on mobile learning. Our guests today are leaders in the mobile learning space.

Laurie Genevish/The Performance Difference

Laurie serves as CEO of The Performance Difference. The Performance Difference is an organization that assists companies in achieving their business goals by building employee growth in specific skills based on the company’s business drivers. By providing a holistic approach that encompasses – determining skill gaps, comprehensive instructional objectives and analysis and selection of the best delivery modality, a learning environment is created that ensures the knowledge is implemented and carried forward. They have provided solutions for clients in various industries including – financial, healthcare, telecommunications, automotive, restaurant, software and services.

Laurie Genevish is a skilled performance improvement professional with more than 15 years of assessment and learning experience. Her extensive expertise encompasses strategic development, design, implementation and facilitation of technical, employee and management development programs.

Laurie served as Instructional Content Manager at InfoMentis. She was responsible for overseeing the design, development and project management of sales focused performance improvement materials. Designed and developed on premise and web based client programs, customized to individual business needs, based on client consultation. Consulted directly with clients on learning needs and objectives, ensuring the business need was satisfied.

As a manager of Global Professional Development at Manhattan Associates Laurie was responsible for strategy, design, implementation, and evaluation of all global training programs for over 1,700 employees. In addition, Laurie partnered with the CEO to develop and implement an Executive Leadership program. She also designed and implemented several programs focused on management development to coach and build the skills of front line and middle management and on-boarding to help integrate new employees into the company culture.

Laurie’s background includes extensive experience in developing and managing corporate training programs for large organizations such as Transamerica Insurance & Investments and Kinko’s. She began her career working for North Carolina State University as the Assistant Director of Parents Association/Annual Fund Development Coordinator and with the March of Dimes as a Community Director credited with improving fundraising goals by 200%.

Laurie is a member of the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) both nationally and in Atlanta. With the Atlanta ASTD chapter she has served as Chair for the Corporate Training Special Interest Group and Project Manager for Community Involvement.

Laurie is a certified Harrison Assessment (HA) distributor and coach. Laurie earned a bachelors degree in Speech Communications and Marketing.

Larry Brambrut/VeryMobileApps

Larry is the 2012 Vice President of Technology at Greater Atlanta ASTD and has over 30 years experience in manufacturing, and the implementation and training of software applications. Applications include iOS applications and development (iPhone, iPad), ERP, Knowledge Management, Collaboration and Search. Larry is also the Founder and Creative Leader of VeryMobileApps.

Larry is an iOS developer with eight apps in the app store and has several mobile learning prototypes, one of which is being readied for sale. Mobile Learning is now a focus of his business. He is an excellent instructional designer developer, technical writer and trainer.

Larry volunteers to teach basic computer skills to seniors as part of Cobb County Computers4Seniors, Habitat for Humanity and other non-profits. He also helps develop the training materials.

 

 

B2B Sales Intelligence Software: SalesLoft with Kyle Porter. Hugh Malkin and Adam Wilson with HUGEcity Share How to Discover What’s Happening Around You

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Kyle Porter/SalesLoft

Kyle is the founder of SalesLoft and a lifelong salesman. He believes that the next generation of successful professionals will use data to qualify and earn the trust of their buyers. You can learn more about him and the company at www.salesloft.com/management. A great way to check out their service is at Job Change Alerts

Hugh Malkin/HugeCity

Hugh’s natural curiosity leads him to constantly question how the things around him work and if they can be better. Hugh has worked in several exciting industries from Formula 1 to LED lighting in Europe and North America. HugeCity is Hugh’s first venture into social media. Hugh is responsible for HugeCity’s overall direction, financing and business development.

Adam Wilson/HugeCity

Fueled by coffee, Adam has an incredible ability to bring ideas into reality. He can solve complex problems that have never been faced before and teach himself new technologies as he goes. Adam has experience from user interfaces for Mars missions to public health alert messaging systems. He’s responsible for bringing HugeCity to life on your computer and on your phone.

HugeCity finds the events important to you and happening around you. It connects you to what your friends are doing on facebook. You see what you like and where it is. The site syncs up with facebook to map out all of your friends’ events around the world.

Like them on  Facebook and follow us on Twitter for ongoing updates on new products, announcements and stories.

Their mission at HugeCity is to get people involved, locally and globally, enjoying the world around us.

 

Every Woman Works Founder Tillie O’Neal-Kyles. Casey Smith and Ben Blumenthal with JCS Sports

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Today’s show opened with Tillie O’Neal-Kyles who came to tell us all about her organization, Every Woman Works, Inc., that helps women who have barriers against employment become self-sufficient. We then closed with a great conversation with Casey Smith and Ben Blumenthal telling us about JCS Sports, a facility with the aim to help their players go to the next level in their careers by helping them to develop both physically and mentally.

Tillie O’Neal-Kyles/Every Woman Works

Every Woman Works is a nominee for Atlanta’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For™

Tillie O’Neal-Kyles is making it her life’s mission to overcome the impossible by making a difference in the lives of women and children in our community, but she inspires others near and far to take up the cause as well Her sound leadership and infectious personality can only be described as miraculous; she has become an unstoppable force of change. As the founder and CEO of Every Woman Works, Inc. (EWW), she has used her deep spiritual commitment to ensure women are equipped with the skills necessary to work and improve their situation. Her mission is to “Help Women Move from Dependency to Self-sufficiency” and she does this through Every Woman Works, Inc.

In 2004, Tillie formed Every Woman Works, Inc. (EWW) in order to meet this need. In addition to providing job training and business attire for each graduate, she assists women with mentorship, health screenings, and life skills management. Since the first group of women successfully completed EWW’s eight-week program, over 800 women have participated in the program and the lives of 2,400 children have been positively impacted. Statistics and the many congratulatory letters evidence of Tillie’s success; 90% graduates from the program and 85% of the students eventually find employment and more than 73% of then maintain employment.

EWW Learning Center is a therapeutic and supportive environment where women who are homeless, recovering from alcohol and drug dependency, in transition from the penal system, recovering from domestic violence, surviving the storms of life or  in poverty have the opportunity to develop solid, transferable work skills. This strengthens their sense of self-confidence and helps them to achieve financial independency. Miss. Tillie is a proponent of “give a woman a fish you feed her for a day; teach a woman to fish you feed her for a lifetime”.

Tillie received her Masters Certificates in: Creating High Performance Teams, Quality Improvement Teams, EEOC/AA, Executive Coaching, and Leadership from the AT&T School of Business. She received her BA in Business Administration from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA. She encompasses more than 35 years in the corporate realm, 15 in engineering and over 20 years in adult education/training. In 1996, Tillie formed her own training and consulting firm—Learning Options. Over the next six years, she continued to enhance the effectiveness of multiple national and international workers. Among her many clients include KSKOM Power  and Light Company in South Africa, a microcosm of the desired transformation in the country. Tillie’s international work includes Executive Atlanta Business Radio  Coaching, Leadership, teaching “Active Communication” to hundreds in Cape Town, South Africa, and the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” to over 2,000 people at a sales conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. Tillie has also shared her skills and knowledge with adult learners in Tanzania and England.

Casey Smith/JCS Sports

Casey Smith is the owner and head instructor at JCS Sports. Casey grew up in the Marietta area and played high school ball at McEachern where he graduated in 2002. He then went on to play college ball at Erskine College. In his 3 years at Erskine Casey set numerous single season and career offensive records including RBI’s, Home Runs, and Doubles and was named the 2005 CVAC, South Atlantic Region, and NCAA DII National Player of the Year. After a record setting junior year, in which he hit .448 with 18 hr, 28 2b, and 83 rbi, Casey was selected in the 9th round of the 2005 major league draft by the San Diego Padres. He spent 2 1/2 years with the Padres and 2 years in the Frontier League with several different teams. He also returned to Erskine and finished his last year of school, graduating with a degree in Sports Management. Casey has been instructing for 6 years and works with players of all ages. He is available for hitting, pitching, and defensive instruction.

Ben Blumenthal/JCS Sports

Ben Blumenthal is a catching and hitting instructor at JCS Sports. Ben finished his college career at Erskine College where he was a First Team All Conference Catcher hitting .400 with 13 home runs and driving in 55 runs. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 21st round out of Erskine College in 2005. Ben played with the Reds for two years and then signed with the New York Yankees. In 2007 he led the Gulf Coast Yankees to a League Championship hitting .361 and handling a very young pitching staff. He was called up to Major League Spring Training in 2008 and 2009 where he played on the same field as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Ben also worked with Hall of Famers such as Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson. He also had the privilege of catching superstars such as Roger Clemens, C.C. Sabathia, and Andy Pettite. Ben has been instructing for 5 years and is available for hitting, pitching, and catching instruction