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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.
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Wes Jones
Wes Jones / Honeysuckle Gelato
Founder & CEO
Wes Jones is an alumnus of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson Graduate School of Business. After receiving his undergraduate degree in business administration, Wes began teaching in New Orleans, La., as part of the Teach For America program. Following his time as a teacher, Wes worked in commercial real estate with CB Richard Ellis’s corporate services division while earning his MBA.
In 2011, Wes co-founded Honeysuckle Gelato in Atlanta, Ga. As CEO of Honeysuckle Gelato, Wes manages the company’s day-to-day operations with a focus on marketing, strategic planning, business development and overall growth.
Honeysuckle Gelato is a manufacturer and wholesaler of gelato and sorbet. As a wholesaler, Honeysuckle Gelato supplies caterers, restaurants, specialty food stores, big box retailers and select Delta Air Lines flights. In 2015, Honeysuckle Gelato opened its first retail location at Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Ga.
In addition to an impressive customer list, Honeysuckle Gelato boasts a number of product and business awards, including DailyCandy’s national “Start Small, Go Big” contest, and was runner-up for Garden & Gun magazine’s “Made in the South” food award.
Wes serves on the United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia Board of Directors and, along with his brother, Bryan, is co-chair for the Culbreth Cup Golf Tournament. The tournament is hosted in memory of their grandparents, Roy and Floy Culbreth, and raises awareness and funds for UCP of Georgia.
Wes and his wife, Caitlin, were married in October 2013, and reside in Atlanta, Ga. Caitlin is very active in the community and is director of communications at Pace Academy.
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.
