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Curated Collection Of The Best Interviews From Our Sandy Springs Studio





Special Edition: PRSA Georgia Chapter

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PRSA’s Georgia Chapter , the second-largest local chapter in the national society, consists of some 850 professionals throughout Georgia. Its mission is to enhance the profession, provide continuing education and offer networking opportunities for its members.

The Chapter has monthly meetings as well as eight Special Interest Groups (Corporate & Employee Communications, Healthcare, Independent Counselors, Leader Board, Nonprofit, Technology, Travel & Tourism, and Young Professionals) that meet at various times.

The Chapter supports nine PRSSA (student society) groups at the following colleges: Berry College, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, Savannah State University, University of Georgia (largest PRSSA chapter in the world), and University of West Georgia.

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Jason Anthoine, APR/GE Energy Management

Jason Anthoine is global communications leader for GE Energy Management, a $7.5 billion electrification and automation business with 30,000 employees worldwide. He is responsible for global external and internal communications, culture change and alignment, and crisis communications.

Previously, Jason co-founded the public relations firm, Albright Group, where he served as a Managing Partner. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president at the global public relations firm Manning Selvage and Lee (MSL), where he led a team of communications professionals in developing employee communications strategies, plans and tactics for clients including Mars Chocolate North America, Sealed Air, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, and The Coca-Cola Company.

He has also served in employee communications roles for Siemens Energy & Automation, Southwire Company, Stockholder Systems and Georgia Federal Bank.

Jason has more than 25 years of experience in corporate communications, employee communications, change management and employee engagement.

He is Accredited in Public Relations by the Public Relations Society of America, serves on the board of the PRSA Georgia chapter, serves on the board of trust for the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at The University of Georgia, and is a frequent speaker at communications industry conferences on the subjects of internal communications, employee engagement, change management and enterprise social media.

He earned his bachelor of arts in journalism degree with a major in public relations from The University of Georgia.

Jason Rollins, APR/Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.

Jason Rollins serves as Communications and PR Manager for Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc., where he manages all external communications and media relations on behalf of the global brand.

Rollins has a diverse background of agency, healthcare, not-for-profit, and consumer marketing and PR. Prior to joining Arby’s, Rollins worked at MSL Atlanta on the internal communications & employee engagement team, serving clients such as: Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Time Warner Cable , The Coca-Cola Company and Sealed Air. He also spent nearly six years in various marketing and PR roles at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Rollins also currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Marketing at Mercer University in Atlanta, teaching classes in marketing, PR and social media to undergrad business and MBA students. Rollins earned a BA in Communication Studies from UNC-Wilmington and a MBA in Marketing from Mercer University.

Jasmine Hoffman, APR/Emory University

Jasmine Hoffman is the Director of Communications at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, where she is responsible for internal and external communications, marketing, public relations, and digital engagement. In this position, Hoffman manages the development of websites, publications, videos, direct mail campaigns, media relations, email marketing campaigns, and social media campaigns.

Hoffman has received numerous awards for her work from the Public Relations Society of America, the International Association of Business Communicators, and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. In 2011, she received the Public Media Award from Sigma Theta Tau International for the media relations campaign, “The Gulf Coast Oil Spill: A Nurse’s Perspective.” In 2013, she received the Award of Distinction from Emory University, which is the highest honor given to University staff whose work has had a transformational impact on the institution.

Prior to joining Emory, Hoffman served as the public relations manager for the University of Pittsburgh’s $2 billion fundraising campaign.

Hoffman earned an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Alabama. In 2010, she received her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America.

 

Todd Goade with Orkin, Jason Prater with Sulky of America and Yasmine Jandali with Starwood Business Group

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Todd Goade/Orkin TwitterFacebook

Jason Prater/Sulky of America, Inc. LinkedinTwitterFacebookyoutube

Jason Prater is the President of Sulky of America, a leader in the home sewing industry. Now in his 20th year with the company, he has been an integral part of the company’s growth and rise to prominence within the industry. Having started with the company as a warehouse associate, he has stepped through the ranks to take over for the founder, Fred Drexler, who is widely recognized as a pioneer within the industry.

Jason is a graduate of Kennesaw State University, with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Management and a minor in Information Technology. He resides in Cartersville, GA with his wife and two young daughters.

Yasmine Jandali/Starwood Business Group LinkedinTwitterFacebook

Yasmine Jandali is Managing Broker with Starwood Business Group. Yasmine began her business career in the 1990’s working for one of the largest investment banking firms in the country. Helping clients succeed in their own businesses gave Yasmine the drive to build and sell her own company. She is a business owner, entrepreneur and business intermediary who brings more than 10 years of experience to the task of structuring winning deals for the sellers and buyers of businesses.

She is an experienced business owner who founded her own chain of upscale tanning salons and played a key role in making the company a success. Under her leadership, the company consistently grew revenues and profits, and built a dedicated customer base which resulted in a profitable sale to a private investor in North Carolina. Prior to her success in the service industry, Yasmine held numerous positions in the financial service industry such as Wachovia Securities where she specialized in Currency Risk Management and Foreign Currency Exchange; managing the currency needs of Wachovia’s Latin American bank market.

In addition to well-honed business skills, Yasmine brings a strong educational background to the task of transferring businesses. She has pursued post graduate studies in Business Administration at the University of North Carolina, and holds a B.A. in Marketing from Queens University. She speaks Spanish, French and Arabic and is well versed in international business issues. Her focus on detail and in-depth understanding of the essential workings of small and large businesses provide both buyers and sellers confidence that transactions will run smoothly.

 

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

NSA Georgia

NSA Georgia is the leading source in Georgia for community, education and entrepreneurial business knowledge needed to be successful in the speaking profession. Our members include professional speakers, aspiring speakers, authors, consultants, salespeople, trainers and vendors for the speaking industry. We meet in the Atlanta area the third Saturday morning each month. You can learn more at www.nsageorgia.org.

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

Our Co-Hosts:

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

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

Our Guest:

ABRLt. Col. (ret.) Rob ‘Waldo’ Waldman – The Wingman – is a professional leadership speaker and author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Never Fly Solo. He teaches organizations how to build trusting, revenue producing relationships with their employees, partners, and customers while sharing his experiences as a combat decorated F-16 fighter pilot and businessman.

Waldo overcame massive claustrophobia and a fear of heights to become a highly experienced fighter pilot with over sixty-five combat missions in Iraq and Serbia. He believes the key to building a culture of trust lies with your wingmen – those in your life who help you to overcome obstacles, adapt to change, and achieve success. In business & life, you should never fly solo!

Waldo is a graduate of the U.S Air Force Academy and also holds an MBA with a focus on Organizational Behavior. An inductee into the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame, he is also a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) with real world sales experience. His clients include Hewlett Packard, Verizon Wireless, New York Life, Siemens, Home Depot, Aflac, and Johnson & Johnson.

In addition to his speaking business, Waldo is the founder and President of The Wingman Foundation, a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to build funds and awareness for soldiers, veterans and their families in need. He was voted one of the “Top 40 under 40” business leaders in Georgia and has been featured on Fox & Friends, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, The Harvard Business Review, Investor’s Business Daily, INC. Magazine, and Business Week.

For more info about Waldo’s programs or his bestseller Never Fly Solo, visit www.yourwingman.com, e-mail info@yourwingman.com, or call 866-925-3616.

Special Edition: TiE Atlanta

Today’s show features guest host Michelle Matthews with Matthews Consulting Group.

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Raj Rajan/TiEAtlanta 

Palaniswamy “Raj” Rajan is currently the co-founder, Chairman & CEO of Virima Technologies, Inc., an IT Operations and Datacenter software developer serving the fortune 5000 companies. He brings more than 15 years experience in the technology industry and combines a deep understanding of current technologies with the ability to articulate the application of these technologies in various business contexts and models. A highly versatile and proven entrepreneur, he has co-founded several ventures including, Vigilar, Inc, a leading network security technology firm; eLaunchpad, LLC, an early stage venture capital firm/incubator focusing on Internet infrastructure and network security technologies; and Resourcis, an executive recruiting firm. During his tenure at Vigilar, he conceived the company’s business plan and methodology, raised venture capital funding, recruited a talented management team and grew annual revenues from $0 in 2000 to $32M in 2005 in probably the most difficult technology industry climate. Another previous success, VerticalOne, a financial aggregator; was sold to S1 in 1999 in a deal valued at $166 million.

Mr. Rajan serves on the Board of Directors of the above companies and as well on the advisory boards of several early stage technology firms around the country. A leader in the business community, he is also involved in several professional and community related organizations. Mr. Rajan was instrumental in establishing the Atlanta CEO Council, a non-profit networking group of more than 1000 CEOs, CxOs, and investors in the Southeast. Mr. Rajan served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CEO council from 1999 through 2011 and is currently one of its Board members. Mr. Rajan also co-founded and is the current President of the Atlanta Chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE), a national mentoring organization for entrepreneurs.

Barry Patel/Total Therapeutic Management – Indegene TTM Linkedin

Barry Patel has a Doctorate in Pharmacy from Mercer University and started his career in clinical research with Warner Lambert, before moving to medical affairs with Merck. In 1995 Barry left Merck to found Total Therapeutic Management, a unique physician focused quality improvement and education outreach company that services the healthcare industry’s needs for data driven solutions. Under his leadership, TTM has been recognized as a leader in the healthcare industry providing a unique way of improving quality through the abstraction, analysis and dissemination of vital health information. Since 1995, TTM has worked with hundreds of health systems and managed care organizations. As President, Barry maintains many client relationships and is hands-on as it relates to strategy development and implementation among various facets of the organization. The company has been recognized by various business publications for its entrepreneurial approach to solving problems within healthcare. TTM was acquired on December 31st, 2013 by Indegene, a leading global provider of solutions to pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations.

Shelley Saxena/Sevamob LinkedinTwitterFacebook

Shelley has managed several multi-million dollar products for IBM and co-founded a cash-flow positive mobile technology startup, Saasmob. He has an MBA from Cornell and B.E. from IIT Roorkee. He has extensive experience in all aspects of a business including product management, R&D, marketing, channels, sales, support and financials.

 

Special Edition: Georgia Society of CPAs

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

ABRJoel Pascaner/Stephen M. Berman & Associates Linkedin

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Masters, CPA, PC Linkedin

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

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

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

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

 

Armistead Whitney with Preparis, Martina Stellmaszek with GACC South and Kip Caffey with Cary Street Partners

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Armistead Whitney/Preparis TwitterFacebook

Armistead Whitney is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Preparis. As CEO, Armistead leads the strategic direction for Preparis with a passion for implementing innovative sales, marketing and partnership models in industries ripe for change. He has over 20 years of experience leading software, web services and digital media companies, including raising more than $50 million in venture capital and a successful IPO.

Armistead was inspired to start Preparis following his experiences in New York City during 9/11 where he saw firsthand the inability for companies to protect their people, operations, revenue and brand during a crisis event. Today, Preparis helps companies such as investment managers, banks, credit unions, law firms, and commercial real estate property managers prepare for the worst case scenario.

Preparis offers a unique, web-based platform which includes an emergency notification system (to send emergency messages via text, email and voice to your whole company in a matter of seconds), as well as online crisis team training, document storage for essential emergency plans and critical files, plus a professional consulting team to help create and implement actionable business continuity and life safety programs for your organization.

Martina Stellmaszek/GACC South

Martina Stellmaszek is originally from Munich, Germany. She has a double degree in Business Administration from the European School of Business in Reutlingen, Germany and the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain, and earned her MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, GA in 2011.

Since joining the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US (GACC South) in 2004, Martina has held various roles. She became Director of Consulting Services in 2008 and Vice President in 2010. She was appointed President & CEO by the Board of Directors effective March 1, 2012.

Martina also serves as the Chapter Director of the Atlanta Warburg Chapter of the American Council on Germany.

Kip Caffey/Cary Street Partners Linkedin

Kip Caffey is the Managing Partner of Cary Street Partners where he is responsible for developing and executing the firm’s overall business strategy. He has worked in wealth management and investment banking firms in the Southeast for over 30 years. As the Managing Partner, Kip Caffey defines his job very simply, “It is my responsibility to marshal the firm’s resources in support of our number one goal; to always produce a great result for our clients. I also believe that how you play the game determines whether you win or lose. That’s why you’ll find Cary Street Partners’ core values and beliefs framed and hung in every associate’s office.”

Despite what many on Wall Street might think, Kip understands Cary Street Partners is really in the relationship business. “In wealth management or investment banking, the objective of the advisor is to help the client define and achieve his goals”, he says. “That doesn’t happen in a single transaction that happens as a relationship is built over time.”

Personally, Kip has played a role in financing or advising some of the Southeast’s best companies. That list of organizations includes; Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, First Financial Management, Total System Services, Longhorn Steakhouse, O’Charley’s, Logan’s Roadhouse, Landry’s Seafood, J. Alexander’s, Advanced Telecommunications, Resurgens Communications, MindSpring Enterprises, Medifax, Education Networks of America and others.

Kip began his career in 1981 in the Corporate Finance Department of J. C. Bradford & Co. and became a partner there in 1990. In 1996, he opened the firm’s first satellite investment banking office in Atlanta. From 1999 to early 2004, Kip was a Senior Managing Director with The Robinson Humphrey Company and its successor, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, where he served as co-head of Investment Banking. In addition, he was a driving force behind the creation of that firm’s high-end wealth management business, Alexander Key, now part of SunTrust Securities.

Kip is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the Harvard Business School.