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Scott Cannon with Skanska, Jeremy Sharp with Rocket Software and Dr. Dionne Colbert with Great Expressions Dental Centers,

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Scott Cannon / Skanska
Executive Vice President/General Manager Georgia & South Carolina

Scott has 19 years’ experience in construction with Skanska in various leadership roles. As General Manager of Georgia and South Carolina, Scott oversees all office functions, with specific emphasis on implementation of all management control systems, overseeing the preparation of value management studies and cost estimates, as well as field activities, and for the continued development of project management responsibilities. While Scott has most recently served as Account Manager in San Antonio, TX, he is originally from Georgia and has thorough understanding of the market as well as a diverse market background in healthcare, corporate commercial, higher education, K-12, government, and light industrial.

Scott’s project experience includes the $168 million, 600,000-SF replacement hospital Ambulatory Care Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio; the $70 million, 181,200-SF Tri-Service Research Laboratory in San Antonio; the $51.9 million, new 215,000-SF building for Alamo Colleges in San Antonio; the $41.3 million 144,000-SF HCA Pearland Medical Center in Houston; and the $40 million, 142,000-SF HCA Alliance Alliance Medical Center in Ft. Worth, TX. Scott has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

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Jeremy Sharp / Rocket Software

With more than 16 years of Software Sales and Management experience, I am a skilled sales, marketing, business development, and information technology executive with extensive experience in solution selling, channel sales experience, divisional management, program management, systems planning, strategic planning, and services delivery. I have managed sales organizations, as well as regional consulting teams, closed a variety of major software transactions and software service agreements, created personnel training programs, and developed strategic marketing plans.
Throughout my career, I have consistently overachieved quota, increased revenues, enhanced customer relations, and developed valuable staff members.

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Dr. Dionne Colbert / Great Expressions Dental Centers

Dr. Dionne Colbert has been a practicing dentist for 23 years and has been at the Eagles Landing location for the past 6. She is a graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville. She also is one of the clinical partners for Great Expressions Dental Centers, overseeing GEDC dental practices in Atlanta.

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KSU Shrimp Tank with Cliff Oxford from The Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs

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Cliff Oxford / The Oxford Center
CEO

W. Cliff Oxford marked his initial entrepreneurial success as the founder and CEO of STI Knowledge, Inc. – a pioneering first market mover in developing knowledge-based systems and services for the Fortune 1000. STI Knowledge was considered a cultural phenomenon with worldwide organic growth. In 2000, the company was recognized as the 13th fastest growing company in America and was listed on the prestigious Inc. 500 for 3 consecutive years.

While attending the University of West Georgia, Oxford worked part-time loading trucks at UPS. After graduation, UPS hired Oxford full-time and he became its youngest district manager at age 23. While at UPS, Oxford developed a technologically advanced help desk system for the corporate enterprise. In the first year, UPS recognized Oxford for saving the company over 250 million dollars. In 1995, he left UPS to start STI Knowledge. Oxford shaped STI Knowledge into a global technology leader with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Hong Kong and the Philippines. The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce recognized the company’s accomplishments by naming Oxford “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2000. In 2003, he sold STI Knowledge to Mellon Bank Ventures and a group of global investors.

Oxford obtained his MBA from Emory in 1994. Following his vision for entrepreneurism and giving back, Oxford endowed the Emory Executive MBA in 2004.

Today, Oxford channels his Entrepreneurial passion and knowledge into the Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs, the premiere education, commerce, and media platform for fast growth entrepreneurs who are expanding and emerging as the market leaders in their category. Oxford is also a paid columnist for Forbes.com (http://www.forbes.com/sites/cliffoxford/) NYTimes.com (http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/author/cliff-oxford/), Host of the Television series DoctorPreneur, and founder of the Oxford at Brenau MBA program the first fully accredited entrepreneur MBA program.

Atlanta’s Most Trusted Advisors Features Sarah Assalti

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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.

 

 

Sarah Assalti / Sage

Sarah Assalti has been a member of the marketing services community for almost 20 years. Her experience has run the gamut from nonprofit giants like American Cancer Society, to small startups, to Fortune 500 companies such as Sage. After leaving the nonprofit arena in 2008, Sarah dove into the world of marketing automation, exploring how technology can be a friend, not a foe, to marketing and sales teams. As the Manager for Marketing Automation at Sage, she has enjoyed creating processes where none existed and removing roadblocks so strategies can move forward effectively.

Outside of the marketing world, Sarah enjoys traveling, writing, and spending time with her husband, her young son and their three dogs. Sarah volunteers and raises money for several nonprofits throughout the year including Relay For Life and various humane charities. She hopes that someday soon she will finally understand string theory and master the Rubik’s cube.

 

 

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.

 

 

Veterans Connect Radio Episode 016

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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

 

Veterans Rally in the Woods
Dec. 09-11 2016

 

 

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.

 

 

Patrick Haddock / VETLANTA
Director of Administration

Patrick Haddock is a Project Manager, User Experience and Digital Services for The Coca-Cola Company. In this role, he manages global initiatives to improve digital platforms across the company, including the internal intranet site and associated content. He joined The Cola-Cola Company in 2006, initially serving as Agency Sales Manager.  In this role, he managed sales and distribution of bottle/can products to independent bottlers. Patrick has held several managerial positions within the Coca-Cola system with experience in supply chain, equipment services, sales support, and project management. He concurrently serves as President of the company’s Military Veterans Business Resource Group, which he co-founded in 2012.

Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Patrick served as an officer in the United States Army, where he led military organizations from 12 to 157 personnel responsible for multiple aspects of logistics and supply chain.  His service has included three combat tours in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.

He earned his undergraduate degree in economics and business from the Virginia Military Institute, where he now serves on the board of directors of the VMI Alumni Association. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, where he continues to support student-veterans.  Full Bio Here 

LinkedIn

 

 

Patrick Griffith / Team Red, White and Blue
Southeast Regional Program Manager

Patrick Griffith is a Program Manager for the Southeast Region. Prior to joining Team RWB, Patrick was an Operations and Logistics Manager for Target’s Food Distribution Center in Lake City, FL where he managed a team responsible for production flow. Patrick served as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician with the US Army, including a tour in Afghanistan. Patrick earned his Bachelor of Science from Bethel University where he also served as an assistant coach in Bethel’s football program. He now resides in Atlanta with his wife, Brittany, and their two dogs. He enjoys functional fitness, being outdoors, and all sports.

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Lornett Vestal / Sierra Club
Southeastern Military & Veterans Coordinator

Lornett Vestal was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He joined the United States Navy at the age of seventeen. He served four years honorably and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He’s traveled to over ten different countries including; Mexico, Brazil, Estonia. He has BA in Sociology from Northern Illinois University and Master’s Degree in Social Work from University of Chicago. He spent several years working in education and social work at Chicago Public Schools and non-profit organizations.

LinkedIn

 

 

Jorge Valentin-Stone / U.S. Small Business Administration
Georgia District Officer

Jorge is a native of the USA Island Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

Graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU)/Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration and a major in International Trade / Economic Development, Spent more than 30 years in the economic development / industrial promotion business in Puerto Rico, Atlanta and Chicago USA. 

Veterans Help with SBA

 

 

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Jeffrey Keppen with CBRE, Dyron Dinsmore with Bank of America Plaza, Kevin Bray with Deputy and Bryan Stillwagon with Sherman and Howard

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Jeffrey Keppen / CBRE
Senior VP

As a Senior Vice President for CBRE’s Atlanta Brokerage Group, Jeff Keppen, oversees the marketing and leasing for a number of office projects located throughout the metro area including Piedmont Center 5-8, Wildwood Center, University Office Park, 201 17th Street, 271 17th Street, Royal Ridge and Peachtree Center.

Since joining Asset Services in 2005, he and his team have completed more than 3.5 million rentable square feet of office leasing consisting of more than 600 transactions. Clients include CBRE Global Investors – Strategic Partners (CBREGI), Parkway Properties, KBS Realty Advisors, Granite Properties and DRA Advisors.

Twitter     Facebook     LinkedIn

 

 

Dyron Dinsmore / Shorenstein Properties
General Manager Bank of America Plaza

Dyron’s career in the real estate industry spans almost three decades. He began his career just out of College in 1985, with Noble Properties-Aplomb; the firm that developed Lenox Square Mall in 1956. Shortly thereafter, Dyron joined Cadillac Fairview – now Prentiss Properties – in the development and opening of what was then referred to as the IBM Tower; known officially as One Atlantic Center. Still with Prentiss, he relocated to Irvine-Newport Beach, CA to join the Prentiss team in fee management for a portfolio of office properties run by The Irvine Co. Dyron’s next move brought him to Dallas, TX where he joined the management team for what was then First City Center, now 1700 Pacific. In 1990, he returned to Atlanta and joined Cousins Properties in the opening of 191 Peachtree Tower and what was then called C&S Plaza, now Bank of America Plaza. After a few years’ hiatus working in land brokerage, Dyron has returned to his former profession at Bank of America Plaza, some 20 years after having opened the project in 1992.

Twitter     Facebook     LinkedIn

 

 

Kevin Bray / Deputy
Director of Customer Success

Talented sales professional with a strong background in mobile Internet, telecommunications and information systems. Proven track record in developing high profile customer relationships and delivering creative solutions to complex business problems that result in positive ROI. Strong problem-solving, project management, communication, and negotiation skills.

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Bryan Stillwagon / Sherman & Howard
Labor & Employment Partner

Bryan Stillwagon is a partner in the Labor and Employment Department at Sherman & Howard. He is based in Atlanta. His experience covers a broad spectrum of issues affecting the employer-employee relationship. In addition to defending against numerous claims brought by plaintiffs and the EEOC under Title VII, the ADEA, and the ADA, Bryan has spent significant time advising and defending clients in exempt status and independent contractor matters under the FLSA on both an individual and collective action basis. His litigation experience also includes representation of companies and high-level executives in lawsuits involving the enforcement of employment agreements and restrictive covenants.

Twitter     LinkedIn

 

KSU Shrimp Tank with Jim McCarter from DocuTeam

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Jim McCarter / DocuTeam
President

Jim is a 32 year veteran of the industry. Before the creation of Docuteam in 1997, Jim was the president of two different Atlanta branch offices of major conglomerates in the office machine industry. These were big, successful operations with a huge turnover, lots of employees and, of course, lots of customers. But in the “Bigness” of it all, there seemed to be something missing… at least from Jim’s Perspective.

It is after having worked in this capacity for over 15 years that he came to realize – together with his partner, Ed Greco, who had worked as his Vice President of Sales through all this time – just how important independence is in keeping all of one’s customers happy and productive. This is something that was nearly impossible to do in the context of a large corporate structure. Docuteam was born from this desire for independence together with the entrepreneurial spirit that says… “We can get this right!”

Craig Apatov with Ascension and Donna Peeples with Pypestream

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Craig Apatov / Ascension Growth & Innovation Strategies
Managing Partner

As founder of Ascension and leader of the firm’s strategic marketing and consultative sales practice Craig plays a hands-on role on many of Ascension’s major client engagements. His firm Ascension boasts 27 consultants and helps companies drive revenue growth, market share improvement, new product impact, and profitable geographic expansion. A three time Chief Marketing Officer Apatov possesses 20+ years of accomplishment in a variety of strategic marketing, general management, and consultative business development roles for multiple Fortune 100 companies. At Ascension he is often responsible for the development and implementation of game changing strategies for the firm’s clients around the world which range across industries including healthcare, financial services, industrial manufacturing + distribution, media entertainment, and retail. Craig’s professional experience includes executive roles with multi-national companies including Con Agra Foods, Citibank, GM, Mattel Toys, Time Warner, and The Walt Disney Company where he helped develop and grow some of the world’s largest and most iconic brands. In total Apatov has developed and managed strategic alliances valued at over $350 million. Apatov led major digital initiatives for Citibank in the e-commerce area, the development of AutoTrader.com, and the creation/growth of one of the nation’s largest and most successful pure play online banks — The GMAC Bank (later renamed the Ally Bank).

 

 

Donna Peeples / Pypestream
Chief Customer Officer

Donna Peeples is chief customer officer at Pypestream, which enables companies to deliver exceptional customer service using real-time mobile chatbot technology. She was previously chief customer experience officer at AIG.
She is an accomplished senior executive with extensive P&L responsibility and verifiable results in a variety of industries and global markets. Peeples is a versatile strategist who combines her keen market sense and strong orientation in top-line growth and negotiations with her experience, entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen to transform innovative ideas into profits. A master communicator, Peeples works to define business objectives and articulate the corporate vision in a way that inspires imagination and compels action throughout the organization. Whether managing cost, influencing the top line or creating vibrant and productive partnerships, her focus is on blending business strategy with creativity – touching the heart and moving the mind. The result is: true paradigm shifts, sustainable change and the achievement of overall business objectives.
What sets Peeples apart is that she has charted her path by rising through a variety of leadership, operational and revenue-generating roles in highly regulated and uniquely challenging industries. Time and again, in financial services, energy as well as original equipment manufacturing, she has introduced category-changing thinking while guiding purposeful and adaptable practices with positive results.

 

Twitter(PypeStream)      Twitter(Donna)     LinkedIn

 

 

 

 

 

Special Edition: Georgia Society of CPA’s

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Lynne T. Riley / Georgia Department Of Revenue
State Revenue Commissioner

Lynne Riley was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to serve as the State Revenue Commissioner in January, 2015. Lynne comes to the Department of Revenue most recently from the Georgia General Assembly, where she served four years in office as the House District 50 (Johns Creek) Representative. She served as one of Governor Deal’s floor leaders in 2014, and as a member of the Ways and Means, Natural Resources and Environment, Retirement and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Oversight committees.lynneriley

Commissioner Riley previously served as the Fulton County Commissioner for District 3 from July 2004 to December 2010. Riley served on the Fulton County Employees Retirement Board and the Fulton County Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Committee. She was a Board Member of the Atlanta/Fulton County Water Resources Commission, and the Chair of the Fulton County Building Authority. In 2008, she was appointed by Governor Perdue to the Georgia Public Defender Supervisory Council for the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Lynne worked with the North Fulton Legislative Delegation in the creation of the new cities of Sandy Springs, Johns Creek and Milton.

Commissioner Riley has long been involved with an extensive group of community and civic organizations. Riley is a member of the Class of 2005 of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute and an alumnus of the Coverdell Leadership Institute.  Riley is a Board member of the Johns Creek Economic Development Corporation, and is currently participating in the “Johns Creek Advantage” economic development initiative. Riley also serves on the Board of the Great Promise Partnership in Georgia.

Lynne Riley is a professional accountant and was Principal of Riley Accounting Services for over 30 years. Lynne is married to Mike Riley, Equipment Innovation Manager for The Coca-Cola Company. They have three adult children and one grand-daughter. The Riley family has lived in the Johns Creek community for 27 years.

 

 

 

Joel Pascaner/Jones and Kolb Linkedin

Joel L. Pascaner is a tax principal 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, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

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 the Board of Trustees of Georgia Shakespeare. He is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Finance Committee of the Atlanta Film Festival.

Prior to joining Jones and Kolb, Joel practiced as a tax professional with Stephen M. Berman & Associates, L.L.C, 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.

Veterans Connect Radio Episode 015

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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

 

 

 

Gretchen G. Evans Command Sergeant Major (R)  / U.S. Army
Veterans Outreach, Marketing and Communications Lead
Emory Healthcare Veterans Program

Emory’s Veterans Program offers post-9/11 veterans expert and collaborative care to help heal the invisible wounds of war. Our comprehensive approach combines behavioral health care, including psychiatry and neurology, rehabilitative medicine, wellness, and family support to help you reintegrate and reclaim your life.

Gretchen G. Evans is a A native of Texas, CSM (R) Gretchen G. Evans entered the United States Army in September 1979. Shortly after completing Basic Training at Fort Leonardwood, MO and Intelligence Analysis School at Fort Huachuca, AZ she reported to Heidelberg, German where she was assigned an Intelligence Analysis for the Command in Chief, Europe. She was a lead analyst in the Peacetime Aerial Reconnaissance Program responsible for directing aerial reconnaissance for multiple platforms to include the SR-71 aircraft.

CSM Evans was then selected to attend the Counterintelligence Program at Fort Huachuca to become a Counterintelligence Agent. Following this came her assignment to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA where she studied German and Italian. Following graduation from language school she was assigned to the 66th Military Intelligence Group, Field Office Vicenza, Italy. She was directly involved in the pursuit and subsequent release of General Dozier from his kidnappers.

CSM Evans was then selected to become a member of a black operations unit. She attended Basic Airborne and Advance Airborne (High Altitude Low Opening) training at Fort Benning, GA. There were numerous other training requirements to include Bill Street’s Driving School, Sniper training, Demolition training and covert operations training before CSM Evans began her black operations career. During this time she also deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division on many occasions.

After her black operations CSM Evans then reentered the “Green Army” with an assignment to the 313th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. and the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.

CSM Evans then was assigned to the National Guard for a number of years. She served with the Arizona and Texas National Guard. During her tenue with the Arkansas National Guard she mobilized units on 11 September 2001, and was the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of securing all airports and military installations for the state of Arkansas. She later became the personal security officer for Governor Mike Huckabee. She deployed as the First Sergeant of the 216thMilitary Police Company to Guantanamo Bay. Her company was responsible to set up and receive the incoming detainees from Afghanistan. Also, while in Arkansas she was selected by Governor Huckabee to head up his drug interdiction program to help rid the state of Arkansas of meth labs.

CSM Evans was then transferred to the Texas National Guard with the 136th Signal Battalion. She was pulled from this Battalion to go with the 111th Area Support Group to Afghanistan. She was the Command Sergeant Major of Commander, Combined Forces Command, and Afghanistan. She was responsible for the security and personnel on all bases and forwarding operation bases in Afghanistan.

CSM Evans sustained combat injuries while serving in Afghanistan.

CSM Evans awards include: the Bronze Star, six Meritorious Service Medals, campaign medals from Grenada, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and numerous other citations and medals for action.

CSM Evans currently works for Emory Healthcare Veterans Program as the Lead, Veterans Outreach Coordinator and serves as a member of the Executive Board for America’s VETDOGS. She has a hearing service dog named Aura.

CSM Evans retired with 27 years of total service and currently resides with her husband, Robert in Decatur, GA.

 

 

Kenneth Morton / Elekta
Product Support Specialist

Born and raised in St. Thomas, USVI Kenneth Morton graduated from high school in 1990 and, following in the footsteps of an older brother, he joined the Navy and set off to see the world.

Over the course of twenty years and multiple tours of duty, Kenneth was stationed in California and Washington State, where he was deployed on aircraft carriers in the Gulf and honed his skills as an aviation electronics technician. Rising through the ranks he held the positions of Work Center Supervisor, Instructor and Training Petty Officer. His last rank before retirement was Petty First Class Officer.

“When I left the Navy in 2010, I knew I wanted a job that made a difference but I wasn’t sure what that would be. Of course I knew about cancer but I wasn’t familiar with radiation oncology. Today I have a job that matters. I make sure that the patient on the table gets the treatment they need, when they need it.”

Throughout his naval career, Kenneth learned to maintain, troubleshoot and repair sophisticated equipment and also managed the software systems that support the machines. The skills he developed in the Navy prepared him for his second career in the medical device industry, but the military gave Kenneth much more than a technical education.

“In the military, you’re exposed to diverse cultures and people. You learn to understand and respect where people are coming from and how to emphasize their strengths. Being in the military taught me to stay calm in high-pressure situations and get the issue resolved.”

Kenneth joined Elekta in 2011 and after four years as a Field Service Engineer, he moved to Atlanta and became a Product Support Specialist, with a principle role of providing real-time virtual technical support to leading medical institutions across the country.

“My military career gave me an education in life and I am proud to have served our country for twenty years. Building a career in medical technology has also given a chance to serve people in need. It’s an overwhelmingly satisfying job.”

 

 

Glenn “GG” Dale Gordon / We Gotcha Back
Founder, President, CEO

“We Gotcha Back” is the latest invention brought to you by Gordon G Enterprizes Inc. 

Gordon G Enterprize inc has built a reputation synonymous with relief and support. This redesigned invention is a customized compression support belt that relieves the back, lumbar and total body. The belt induces improved blood circulation, which directly reduces pain and inflammation.

 With We Gotcha Back , total body relief goes much further. Paired with two cold 8″ by 12″ gel packs and two hot 8″ by 12″ gel packs, this compression support back belt kit answers the call for total body relief from Sciatic Nerve problems and arthritis.

 The direct benefits of using this product include: Weight loss and decreased dependancy on medication to manage pain.  The inventor of  “We Gotcha Back”, suffers from sciatic nerve problems and arthritis in the lower back, he has experienced back problems for over 25 years. After using the “We Gotcha Back” belt he no loger needs medication to manage the pain. “We Gotcha Back” is all you need.

GG”s Music     LinkedIn

 

 

 

 

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Andrea Oppman with UPS, Samantha Holowka with Northwestern Mutual, Levi G. Meeske with Atlanta Chapter of American Payroll Association and Walter Woods with Hyatt Regency Atlanta

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Andrea Oppman / United Parcel Service
Director of the South Atlantic District

UPS X-Port Challenge 2016

UPS Resource Center: Real Stories, Real Solutions

 

 

Samantha Holowka / Northwestern Mutual
Financial Advisor

With 16 years of experience serving Northwestern Mutual clients in various marketing and leadership roles around the country, Samantha answered the call to help deliver the gift of financial security to individuals and businesses. What does that mean? After working with Sam, her clients have a comprehensive plan for saving strategically towards future goals while addressing their blind spots, anticipating opportunities and preserving wealth when life happens. Sam and her team of experienced specialists can bring the most value to business owners, career-family oriented business professionals and medical professionals.

LinkedIn

 

 

 

Levi G. Meeske / Atlanta Chapter of the American Payroll Association
CPP

In September 2001, Levi Meeske was hired into the world of payroll. Equipped with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics & Computer Science from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska and a desire to learn, he was now being asked paycheck questions that he had previously inquired about himself. However, now he needed to be able to intelligently and accurately respond with answers. In time, he joined that APA Atlanta Chapter where he has held offices of President, Government Liaison Office, chair of the Georgia Statewide conference, and has taught multiple yearsat the CPP/FPC Study Groups after receiving his CPP in 2007.Moving up through the ranks of payroll from clerk to administrator to supervisor to manager, Levi has worked in varying industries such as manufacturing, hospitality and healthcare industries. Also, he works on increasing and bringing compliance, process efficiency, technology utilization and documentation up to standards. Currently, he is the Payroll Manager for PSA Healthcare.

Finally, Levi is also part of the APA’s National Speaker’s Bureau, PAYTECH’s Board of ContributingWriters, and past regional Board of Advisors. Additionally, he is a member of the EmergingTechnologies Subcommittee & Best Practices of the Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force (SPLTF),the MyRA Subcommittee of the Government Relations Task Force (GRTF) the Social Networking Committee, and the Hotline Referral Service. He has also taught PayTrain Mastery at Kennesaw StateUniversity in Georgia. Personally, he enjoys puzzles, coin collecting, cruising the Caribbean on vacations and spending time with his loving family.

American Payroll Association     National Payroll Week      Money Matters National Education Day

 

 

 

Walter Woods / Hyatt Hotels Corp
Area Director of Marketing

Hyatt Regency Atlanta has been Atlanta’s premier hotel since opening on Peachtree Street in 1967. The 22-story hotel is located in the heart of Atlanta, just blocks from the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and Atlanta’s major attractions. Hyatt Regency Atlanta features 1,260 guestrooms and 180,000 square feet of ballroom, meeting and hospitality space. It was the world’s first contemporary atrium hotel, and today is a preferred destination for business and leisure travelers from around the world.

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