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Georgia Logistics Special

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Jannine Miller and Robb Dillon

 

Jannine Miller / Georgia Department of Economic Development
Director of the Center of Innovation for Logistics

Jannine Miller is the Director of the Center of Innovation for Logistics, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the states leading resource for fueling logistics industry growth and global competitiveness. The Center provides technical industry expertise, collaborative research and partnerships to help the states logistics industry connect, compete and grow. The Center also hosts the annual Georgia Logistics Summit, which had over 1,000 attendees in 2016.

Previously, Ms. Miller served as the Senior Manager of Finance for The Home Depot; the Executive Director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA), Transportation Policy Advisor to Governor Purdue, Policy and Programs Consultant for the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority, and as Senior Transportation Planner with the Atlanta Regional Commission.

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Robb Dillon / 2017 Georgia Logistics Summit
Executive Committee Chairman

Robb Dillon is the Business Development Manager of Champion Logistics Group and the Executive Committee Chairman for the 2017 Georgia Logistics Summit.

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Biz Radio U Featuring Thad Oviatt with ParkENT Cycles

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KSUEntrepreneurship
Biz Radio U

 

Hosted by Adam Wozniak and Darren Parkinson

 

 

Thad Oviatt / ParkENT Cycles
Founder and CEO

Thad OviattThad Oviatt got the idea for ParkENT Cycles back in college when a friend had two bicycles stolen in one week. The idea was his college senior design project and paid for two masters degrees. For the past four years, Thad has bootstrapped the product development, working out of his parent’s garage.

Thad now has a commercial ready, publicly tested product and is currently looking to move his work space to another location.

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KSU Entrepreneurship Center The Shrimp Tank Featuring Suprit Patel with The Bestige Group

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Suprit Patel
KSUEntrepreneurship

Where can a young entrepreneur figure out how to turn their dreams into reality? Just take a step into the Shrimp Tank. 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.

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks, Ted Jenkin and Lee Heisman

 

Suprit Patel / The Bestige Group
CEO

Suprit Patel Headshot

Suprit Patel: As CEO, Suprit drives The Bestige Group’s Strategy, Vision, and Growth. Formerly a Management Consultant for leading companies such as Ernst & Young and The Advisory Board Company, Suprit helped Healthcare Providers improve processes, deliver better patient experiences, and sustain improvements through the use of Analytics. He brings deep experience in the Healthcare Industry to our clients and is passionate about helping Providers develop effective strategies to grow in the evolving Healthcare landscape. Suprit received his BS in Economics from Duke University.

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Skye Estroff with Taste of Atlanta and John Smith with Rize Artisan Pizza

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Skye Estroff and John Smith
Taste of Atlanta Food that Rocks

 

Skye Estroff / Taste of Atlanta / Food that Rocks
Marketing and Media Manager

Skye Estroff is the marketing and media manager for Atlanta’s largest food festival, Taste of Atlanta. Skye manages all TV, radio and print media relationships, as well as strategizing and planning all social media. She is an Atlanta native, a University of Georgia graduate and an expert in Atlanta’s best food.

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Food that Rocks: For one night only, more than 20 of Sandy Springs’ favorite restaurants will be rocking the big tent in Hammond Park, in the heart of Sandy Springs. This all-inclusive event will provide you with food, wine, beer and cocktail tastes from local mixologists, local musicians and will benefit Sandy Springs-based charities Second Helpings, Ian’s Friends Foundation and the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

 

John Smith / Rize Artisan Pizza
Founder and CEO

The idea for the Rize concept was born from John Smith’s passion for pizza and a desire to build a great company. Smith was used to moving frequently during a nomadic childhood. “My father was in the Air Force, and I lived overseas as a kid and in 15 different states as an adult,” he says. “Everywhere I’ve moved, I would look for a great pizza place. Although it was frustrating to have to find a new favorite every few years, it made me realize there was an opportunity nationally to create the Rize concept.”

This desire to find a little slice of home no matter where he traveled stuck with Smith as he went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Temple University, catapulting him into an extraordinary professional progression.

John’s career experience began with companies such as General Electric, IBM and McKinsey & Co. After heading up another private equity-backed retail venture, Smith went on to be a senior principal for Diamond Cluster International and executive vice president of marketing and sales at HealthAxis Corporation.  He then became the director of corporate strategy and store operations for Target Corporation. After four years with Target, he joined Collective Brands, Inc., the $4 billion parent company for Payless Shoesource, Striderite, Saucony and Sperry Topsider brands, where he progressed rapidly from heading corporate strategy to leading the global store development and procurement organization with over 5,000 locations across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.  He eventually was tasked to run all retail operations for one of the key divisions, leading the turnaround of a critical $250 million retail business that encompassed 400 stores across multiple brands, e-commerce and 2,200 team members. Smith’s next leadership role would take him into the hospitality industry, beginning a six-year career at Caesars Entertainment Corporation as regional president.

Smith’s skill set lies in his ability to relate to everyone at every level of the organization.  When joining Caesars, Smith decided to work in every aspect of the business and beside his team so he could hear their frustrations firsthand.  He then set out to address those frustrations. This is precisely how he was able to turn Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, which was the second largest Caesars casino outside of Vegas, improving profitability in a declining market while achieving the highest customer service scores in the company’s 30-year history.

Now, he finds inspiration for the culture he hopes to build at Rize by reflecting on these past career experiences. As the entrepreneurial spark that started the concept, Smith has always been the one to ask “why not?” Although he is leading the effort to build the brand and company from soup to nuts, his vision for Rize begins with his perspective on how to build a great service-based company.  To his mind, it starts with the culture and how team members should be treated. “Hospitality comes from the heart,” he says. “We are selective in who we extend an offer to join the Rize Nation to ensure each team member sincerely cares for and wants to serve others. That sincerity gives our staff a different energy and spirit than someone who is simply going through the motions of preparing or delivering food.”

John currently lives in the Sandy Springs area of Atlanta with his wife and four children, and dedicates his spare time to the Muhammad Ali Center and the Boys and Girls Club of America. As a past devoted board member for both organizations, Smith infuses Ali’s humility and desire to serve others into his business acumen at Rize and sees local involvement as a way to give back to the community.

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Adam Rabinowitz with Maven, Author David Nour and Nick Friedrich with Instacart

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Nick Friedrich David Nour Adam Rabinowitz

 

Adam Rabinowitz / Maven
Maven City General Manager – Atlanta

Adam is a fifth generation Atlantan, who closely monitors the time difference between his biking commute and his driving commute to work (he typically saves at least a minute riding his bike). After living in Atlanta for most of his life, Adam is aware of the city’s heavy car culture and he doesn’t expect to change that with Maven. However, he is also very aware of the city’s renaissance over the last decade and the progress that may allow residents to rely a bit less on personally owned vehicles. That’s where he thinks Maven can fill a great need.

Adam manages GM’s Maven brand in Atlanta, which includes the public car sharing offering: Maven City and Lyft Express Drive, which provides prospective Lyft drivers with GM vehicles allowing them to earn extra income through the ridesharing service.

While his responsibilities change every day, Adam’s tasks range from establishing new Maven locations to negotiating with city officials to analyzing what vehicle mix will best meet his customers’ needs. He oversees a small team, all of whom manage all facets of the on-the-ground operations no matter what time of day or night.

Adam fully embraces the sharing economy. He uses an internet-based grocery delivery service, stays at shared residential properties when traveling and uses ridesharing apps like Lyft. He’s purposefully positioned Maven’s Atlanta offices in Industrious, a co-working space in Atlanta that fosters community and collaboration in the rejuvenated Ponce City Market development.

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David Nour / CO-CREATE: How Your Business Will Profit from Innovative and Strategic Collaboration
Relationship Economics Expert and Autho

David Nour has spent the past two decades being a student of business relationships. In the process, he has developed Relationship Economics® – the art and science of becoming more intentional and strategic in the relationships one chooses to invest in. In a global economy that is becoming increasingly disconnected, The Nour Group, Inc. has worked with clients such as Hilton, ThyssenKrupp, Disney, KPMG and over 100 other marquee organizations in driving profitable growth through unique return on their strategic relationships.

Nour has pioneered the phenomenon that relationships are the greatest off balance sheet asset any organization possesses, large and small, public and private. He is the author of ten books translated in eight languages, including the best selling Relationship Economics – Revised (Wiley), ConnectAbility (McGraw-Hill), The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Raising Capital (Praeger), Return on Impact (Jossey-Bass), and the forthcoming CO-CREATE: (St. Martin’s Press), an essential guide showing C-level leaders how to optimize relationships, create market gravity, and greatly increase revenue.

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Nick Friedrich / Instacart
General Manager

Nick has been with Instacart since May 2015 and is working with the company to grow and launch new territories. He resides in Atlanta and covers the Southeast region and the New York market for Instacart.

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Biz Radio U Featuring Bryan Keller with Keller Guitars

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Bryan Keller

KSUEntrepreneurship

Biz Radio U

Hosted by Adam Wozniak and Darren Parkinson

 

Bryan Keller / Keller Guitars
Owner

Bryan Keller is a Senior at Kennesaw State University and will be graduating in May with a degree in Business Management. Bryan’s passion is music, specifically guitar, and he enjoys utilizing that passion for worship. Because of this passion, Bryan started Keller Guitars, which sells acoustic and electric guitars that have bible verses burned, or foil pressed, onto the face of the guitar.

Bryan recently began the venture, and will be launching the first line of acoustic guitars, called The Carpenter Series, in March, 2017. The line will display Psalms 95 on the guitar.

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KSU Entrepreneurship Center The Shrimp Tank Featuring Al Meyers with TiE Atlanta

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Al-Meyers-Shrimptank1

KSUEntrepreneurship

Where can a young entrepreneur figure out how to turn their dreams into reality? Just take a step into the Shrimp Tank. 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.

Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks, Ted Jenkin and Lee Heisman

 

Al Meyers / TiE Atlanta
Executive Director

Al Meyers Al Meyers, the Executive Director of TiE Atlanta, is an entrepreneur and media executive with more than 25 years of experience across Fortune 500 companies, for-profit and nonprofit startups.  Meyers has launched two award-winning, sustainable, Atlanta-based nonprofit organizations: TEDxPeachtree and the Atlanta Music Project.  Both are successful community assets that have made a significant social impact in Metro Atlanta.  TEDxPeachtree has become the premier TEDx event in Georgia and one of the leading TEDx events in the world, with several talks garnering millions of views.  The Atlanta Music Project is the first music program in the state of Georgia inspired by the globally acclaimed Venezuelan youth music program, El Sistema. AMP is an intensive music program for at-risk youth right in their neighborhood, and now serves hundreds of at-risk youth across several locations in Metro Atlanta who are now on a path to college and career.

Previously, Meyers ran his own boutique consulting practice, Saisei Consulting, a provider of strategy and corporate development advisory services to early-stage, growth-stage and mature digital media companies around the world. Al has advised several startups in the areas of digital media, 3D technology, online games and games for K-12 education.  Al has spoken to external audiences on such topics as disruptive innovation in education, and the role of online games outside of the “purely entertainment” arena.

Meyers accumulated more than two decades of experience in the media and entertainment industry with several Fortune 100 companies.  Meyers served as Vice President of Strategic Planning at Turner Broadcasting  where he was a founding member of GameTap, and facilitated the sale of GameTap to a French company in 2008.  Meyers spent nearly 13 years at the company (1995-2008), and spent considerable time on M&A transactions and strategy development for Turner (and across Time Warner) and its portfolio of businesses, with an emphasis on Cartoon Network.

Al received his Bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and his Masters in Business Administration from the Leonard Stern School of Business at New York University.

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Women in Technology (WIT) Special Edition

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Mona Charif

The work of Women in Technology has an incredible impact.
Since 1992, Women in Technology has had a mission dedicated to promoting the advancement of women in Georgia’s technology community. Through the WIT COMMUNITY, WIT Also educates and encourages girls and young women to pursue careers in STEM.

 

Sandy Welfare /  WIT 

Sandy D. Welfare is the Executive Director of Women In Technology (WIT). Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of Cool Girls Inc, an award-winning early intervention after-school program dedicated to the empowerment of girls (2009-2015).

Sandy’s career began in 1989 in Greenwich, Connecticut where she joined Rand Insurance as the Controller. Six years later, she accepted a position with Lucent Technologies, an international telecommunications leader, holding a number of positions including serving as Accounting and Treasury Manager in Singapore (1999-2000) and then as Senior Manager in Australia and New Zealand (2000-2002). Sandy returned to Atlanta in 2002 as Senior Manager of Global Financial Services.

In 2003, Sandy accepted a position as Director of Operations for Xchanging, a business processing outsourcing company. In 2006, her career took her to London, England as Managing Director for professional services, where she managed global business processing services for bank financial transactions, insurance and retail.

Sandy received her undergraduate degree from St. John’s University in New York, and a Master of Business Administration from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. She serves on the board of several non-profits, including Kiwanis Club of Atlanta. Sandy resides in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, Cliff and son, Soloman.

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Mona Charif / NTT Data, Inc.
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

Mona Charif is an award-winning marketing and communications professional with a proven track record of over-achievement. She is Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Office for NTT Data, Inc., a world-class IT services firm and systems integrator. Her focus is on programs and campaigns that increase client understanding of how NTT DATA helps them achieve their business goals.

Mona is dedicated to fostering awareness on diversity in the workplace, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) training for girls and young women. She is the proud mother of two exceptional teenagers, the wife of an extraordinarily patient man, and a devoted daughter and sister. Mona also enjoys tennis, gardening, travel, movies and award shows.

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Georgia Department of Economic Development Small Business Rock Stars

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Small Business Rockstars

 

Mary Ellen McClanahan / Georgia Department of Economic Development
Director, Entrepreneur & Small Business Project Manager, Global Commerce

As Director of Entrepreneur & Small Business Development for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Mary Ellen helps find solutions and effective ways to build an enabling environment and support small business through mentoring, professional development, strategic planning, processes and resource awareness.  She connects with Georgia’s business and community associations so that thousands of businesses, local leaders and practitioners are aware of resources and opportunities.  She also directs any sized businesses to the specific resources they need.

Mary Ellen is an Existing Industry Project Manager within the Metro Atlanta region.  She calls on growing companies, making them aware of state resources and incentives, and provides assistance with their growth plans and decision-making process.  Mary Ellen also works closely with the local economic developers with their economic development efforts.

During her 19 years with the department, she helped develop and grow its regional economic development program, the “Entrepreneur Friendly” Initiative, and acted as legislative liaison.  Prior to that, Mary Ellen was the economic developer and president of two rural South Georgia chambers of commerce in Dodge and Sumter Counties.

Originally from Erie, PA, and in Georgia since 1973, Mary Ellen serves on the boards of GEDA (Georgia Economic Developers Association), GACCE (GA Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives), Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, and the DeKalb Workforce Investment Board.

She is a 1997 graduate of Institute for Organization Management and Leadership Georgia, and a 2000 graduate of EDI (Economic Development Institute).

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Carrie Burns / Atlanta Movie Tours
Founder /CEO and Chief Movie Buff

The film industry is booming in Georgia, with over 700 movies and 20 television shows filmed here since 1972. Atlanta has been fortunate to play a key role in many, including Ant-Man, Driving Miss Daisy, The Vampire Diaries, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Ride Along, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2 and The Walking Dead. Since 2012, Atlanta Movie Tours has been providing a whole new way to see the city for visitors and locals alike. Atlanta Movie Tours tour guides are experienced actors who have worked on set, giving you fascinating behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

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Mallory Sofferin / Sweet Grass Dairy
Communications Coordinator

Sweet Grass Dairy currently manufactures six different artisan cow’s milk cheeses. Sweet Grass Dairy also has a small cheese shop and a full service restaurant in historic downtown Thomasville. Sweet Grass Dairy is dedicated to producing high quality, flavorful cow’s milk cheeses that are a true expression of their unique terroir.  They purchase milk from the family’s dairy farm located 30 miles from the cheese plant. The Little family is dedicated to farming sustainably in a New Zealand rotational grazing method, and to upholding the highest level of humane animal husbandry.

Sweet Grass Dairy is located in the only area of the United States where cattle can graze 365 days a year due to mild winters and unlimited water from the Floridian aquifer. Sweet Grass Dairy does not even have a barn to house their cows. The company’s goal as cheese makers is to make cheeses in an old world style to let the true flavors of the grass based milk shine through to the final product. Sweet Grass Dairy is trying to change the American perspective on food, and is dedicated to educating the American public on the importance of knowing how our foodstuffs are grown, raised or made.

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Brandon Pelissero / Ecolink
Chief Value Officer

Ecolink is a 25-year industrial chemical manufacturer and distributor with an environmental mission of less and safer chemicals for workers and their communities. Ecolink is among the earliest pioneers in formulating with citrus terpene oil (citrus fruit skins) as alternatives to toxic and hazardous chemicals which are being banned, or phased out, due to environmental (ozone depleting potential, SMOG) and health & safety reasons (carcinogenicity).

100% of Ecolink’s branded solutions were developed in collaboration with customers. Often times the customer will determine the packaging and labeling, even naming the product in some instances. Ecolink leverages digital marketing in very big ways (Ex: 10 clicks have converted into more than $10M of lifetime revenue). Ecolink is committed to educating the next generation. Starting in 1999, Ecolink funded environmental education with leading national programs and currently invests in high schools, businesses and marketing programs throughout Georgia. Ecolink ships the same/next day. This is very uncommon for the industrial chemical industry, especially for under $500 or 55 gallons. Ecolink recently (10/3/16) celebrated its 25th anniversary and is very pleased to report minimal losses. Ecolink is thankful for doing good while delivering good.

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Samrat Sharma with PwC Strategy, Chris Godfrey with Buckhead Business Association and Author Chris Butsch

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Samrat Sharma and Chris Butsch

 

Samrat Sharma / PwC Strategy&
Principal

Samrat Sharma is an advisor to executives in the consumer and retail sectors for Strategy&, PwC’s strategy consulting business.

Mr. Sharma is a recognized thought leader and has several publications to his credit, including “Creating an Organic Growth Machine,” which appeared in the Harvard Business Review, “Escaping the Consolidation Mentality in CPG” and “Shaping Category Dynamics to Win in CPG” in strategy+business magazine. He has also written and contributed to many other s+b articles and viewpoints.

Prior to joining Strategy&, Mr. Sharma spent six years in marketing, business development, and strategy with Honeywell International and General Electric, and in executive search with Korn/Ferry International.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce, with Honors, from the University of Delhi, and an MBA in Strategy, Marketing, Finance and International Business from Carnegie Mellon University.

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Chris Butsch / The Millenial’s Guide to Making Happiness
Author

Chris Butsch is Atlanta Business Radio’s “Millennial Correspondent.” Author of The Millennial’s Guide to Making Happiness, Chris educates other generations on how to decrypt and connect with his unique generation.

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Chris Godfrey / Buckhead Business Association
President-Elect

Chris Godfrey joined Avison Young’s Office Advisory Team as an Associate in the fall of 2015. He is a Metro-Atlanta native, and a graduate of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. Chris focuses on creating relationships with clients and learning about their culture so he can provide innovative solutions to positively impact organizations and grow talent retention. Chris has served as president of the Buckhead Business Association’s young professional group where the pillars focus on leadership, philanthropy and connecting others. He is involved with the Metro Atlanta Chamber and has served on several committees, helping provide insight into the commercial real estate needs of the city and how it aligns with the talent pool.

As Atlanta continues to be an international beacon where hospitality meets hustle, Chris is at the forefront of helping organizations with their real estate strategies to meet the needs of what will soon be the largest group of employed talent, the Millennials. His unique background provides an advantage to clients as he can focus on their needs, bridging their real estate and people.

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