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Curated Collection Of The Best Interviews From Our Sandy Springs Studio





Frank Fenello with UHY Advisors, Jason Walker with Deputy, Mike Popowski with Dagger and Charlie Whitfield with Whitty Apps

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Jason Walker, Mike Popowski, Ryan Redhawk, Charlie Whitfield, Frank Fenello

 

 

 

Frank Fenello / UHY Advisors
Managing Director

Frank Fenello is managing director of the UHY Atlanta office, and leads the national management consulting practice. He has more than 20 years of experience in management and professional consulting in the finance, audit and accounting professional services industries.
UHY Advisors, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest professional services firms in the U.S., delivering financial, tax and business consulting services to companies ranging from mid-sized to the Fortune 500. The firm’s innovative Management & Technology Consulting practice provides a one-stop solution for a company’s financial and operational functions, with a full suite of services to transform a company’s performance and profitability.

 

 

 

Jason Walker / Deputy
President, Americas

I’m a dreamer of “the way things can be,” and have a passion for finding simple and elegant solutions to complex problems by utilizing innovative technology.

A thought leader within the SaaS and retail industries, I’ve worked with some of the biggest brands you know, including Home Depot, HP, Best Buy, Target, Apple, and Nokia. With over 20 years of experience, my team has driven sales quotas exceeding $10 billion, reduced turnover by 54% and increased top line revenues by over 300% YoY through leading large scale business transformational efforts throughout North America. Behind it all was a focus on delivering phenomenal customer experiences.

Currently, I serve as President, Americas of Deputy, a leading cloud technology equally loved by managers and employees who want to take charge of work and life in the hourly economy. In this role, I lead Deputy’s North and South America service areas, overseeing marketing, business development, strategic partnerships and customer experience, to ensure Deputy can spread its awesome workforce management solution with the entire world.

When I’m not helping businesses transform the experience of hourly employment for the 21st century, you can find me somewhere in the outdoors fishing, biking and hiking or asking someone “why” for the hundred-bajillionth time.

Twitter     Facebook     LinkedIn

 

 

 

Mike Popowski / Dagger
CEO

Mike took the helm at Dagger last year to drive the companys vision, culture and growth. He brings 15 years of digital, social and brand-building experience. A proven client service and team leader, Mikes had success in building campaigns and activations for the worlds biggest brands across a variety of industries. Since joining Dagger, the agency has created work for some of the worlds biggest brands, including: Interface, Aflac, Carters and Mizuno.

Mike joined Dagger from TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, where he led the global repositioning for GSKs global smokers health business, Nicoderm CQ (US). For GSK, TBWA deployed TV and digital content assets through a centralized model that disseminates content to Australia, UK, Brazil and Europe.

Mike was previously SVP, Client Partner at Moxie, where he architected the agencys early content marketing practices for Cisco Systems, UPS and Wells Fargo. He led a fast-growing, interdisciplinary team of over 40 FTE account directors, account managers, project managers, social media strategists and community managers, creative, producers analysts and technologists.

He was one of the early pioneers of social marketing as a consultant for AARP from 2008 to 2011, and implemented early digital content practices for AARPs renowned Travel Ambassador, Peter Greenberg, and Health Ambassador, Martina Navratilova. Mikes previous stints include AOL and SureClick, an Inc. 5000 digital agency based in Washington, D.C.

Mikes a native Vermonter and now resides in Atlanta.

 

 

Charlie Whitfield / Whitty Apps
CEO

Charlie Whitfield is the CEO of Whitty Apps LLC, a SBA certified 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WBE, Woman Owned and Operated Company. We are an emerging Software Engineering & Integration Company, specializing in mobile and device technology. We provide architecture, design, development, and project management expertise for our clients. Our innovative mobile software solutions focus on solving unique challenges, productivity, customer experience, and marketing strategies that have an impact on your success. Charlie’s leadership skills honed in the military and corporate world enabled her to develop a business model and entrepreneurial vision that encourages and fosters leadership skills focused on empowering other Veterans and Woman business owners to continue to make meaningful contributions to our nations defense as well as local communities.

Twitter     Facebook

 

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Atlanta’s Most Trusted Advisors Features Timothy J. Jones

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.

 

Timothy J Jones and Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk

Timothy J Jones and Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk

 

Timothy J. Jones / The Timothy Jones Companies
CEO & Founder

TJ is an expert leadership speaker, coach, and consultant with a new book to be launched in September. He began his professional life as a teacher, then spent 20 years in the biopharmaceutical industry leading sales teams and as head of Training and Leadership Development. With practical wisdom learned in the trenches, TJ helps individuals, teams, and companies enhance their engagement and effectiveness. He delivers highly interactive and transformative learning experiences. He is President/Owner of the Timothy Jones Companies. LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyjjones1

 

 

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.

 

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Timothy j Jones and Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson

Dave Norton Creator of InContextNow conference in Atlanta

 

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David Norton, PhD is founder and principal of Stone Mantel, which has guided hundreds of brand leaders in creating meaningful brand experiences. Norton founded the Digital Collaborative in 2013 to help companies collaborate in conducting research about consumers and the impact of digital in their lives. He is the author of the new book DIGITAL CONTEXT 2.0: Seven Lessons In Business Strategy, Consumer Behavior And The Internet Of Things. Norton is also the person behind InContextNow: The Conference On The Internet Of Things For Marketers, Business Strategists And Research Leaders which is taking place in Atlanta on June 2 & 3, 2016.

Stone Mantel     InContextNow

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Dick Aracich from Delta Dental Insurance and Manish Shah CEO of Kanga

Your Most Trusted and Respected Source For Pro Business Talk in Atlanta. Tune in LIVE Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10am and always on at AtlantaBusinessRadio.com

 

Kanga

Manish Shah and Dick Aracich

 

 

 

Dick Aracich /Delta Dental Insurance
Vice President of Sales Eastern Region

 Dick Aracich is vice president of sales for the Eastern Region of Delta Dental Insurance Company. Based in Alpharetta, he oversees all sales and marketing activities in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. He has more than 30 years of experience in the health care marketplace, including 26 years with Delta Dental.

www.deltadentalins.com

www.twitter.com/deltadentalins

www.facebook.com/deltadentalins

Elizabeth Risberg: 415-613-5983 (c) or 415-972-8423

 

 

 

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Manish Shah and Dick Aracich

 

Manish A. Shay / Kanga
CEO

Manish A. Shah – Grew up in Toronto, Canada and went to IVEY at Western Ontario for undergrad – Started career as a road warrior consultant with Accenture, E&Y, and Cap Gemini – Left consulting to join the Delta Air Lines Strategy team and then after a few years ran Analytics for the Americas with IHG – InterContinental Hotels Group – Hired Decision Street, a startup, to do some work at IHG and then the startup hired away Manish – The company built a hotel group analytics platform which Manish helped market to Hotels – Decision Street was then acquired by Cvent where Manish ended up as a VP – After 5 months Manish left to join his next startup where he is CEO now, Kanga Technology

www.kangatechnology.com

www.getkanga.com

https://www.facebook.com/getkanga/

Phone 678-777-7424

 

 

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Veterans Connect Radio Episode 07

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. 

#VeteransConnectRadio
@VetConnectRadio

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Brandon Skolnick, Dr. Anthony Cooper, Rocky McKay. Sandy Sanders, Bill Duelge and Ryan Redhawk

 

Dr. Anthony Cooper / Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center 
Chief, Voluntary Service

Dr Cooper is a retired Army First Sergeant and work with the Atlanta community who want to help volunteer for programs at the VA.
anthony.cooper@va.gov, 404-321-6111 ext. 7728

 

 

Rocky McKay / Operation Reset 
CEO & Founder

Rocky McKay aka “Rocky The Roofer” is the Founder and President of The Operation Organization Inc. (TOO) a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose program Operation Reset gives a “hand-up and not a hand-out” to returning citizens – U.S. Veterans who’ve returned home jobless, non violent ex-offenders, and homeless people in need of a second chance.

Facebook    Twitter    YouTube

 

 

Bill Duelge / Hearts For Heroes
Founder

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Accepted an appointment to West Point from Senator William Proxmire to join the class of 1980.  Having turned down a number of football scholarships, I decided to play at West Point.  I played in 10 varsity games on special teams and at defensive tackle my freshman year.  I had the chance to play against household names like Joe Montana, Tony Dorsett, Hugh Green, Mike Singletary, Howie Long, Fred Smerlas and many others.  I graduated in 1980 with an engineering degree with a concentration in Chemistry, became Airborne qualified and brought my shiny new butter bar to 1st Armored Division in Germany.  After 3 years in Germany I came back to 1st Cav Division at Ft Hood as a Captain.

My business career started at Mobil Chemical in the Plastic packaging business.  On my 30th birthday I became the manager of Mobil’s International Films group.  I worked as a senior executive for 4 different companies before starting my first company in January 2004.  I have been part of 14 small company startups since that time, centered around general business leadership and new startup technology.  Currently 3 of those 15 companies are operating.

 

 

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JoAnn Holmes with HOLMES@LAW, Kevin Geraghty with Revenue Research and Thad Oviatt with ParkENT Cycles

 

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Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson, Kevin Geraghty, JoAnn Holmes and Thad Oviatt

 

 

JoAnn Holmes, Esq. / HOLMES@LAW, LLC
Attorney and Founder

JoAnn Jo Holmes is the founder of HOLMES@LAW, LLC(www.holmesatlaw.com), where her practice focus is Business Law & Contracts, Trademark & Copyright, Software & Tech. She works with a broad array of clients, including professional service providers, consultants, software and creative content developers, and manufacturers. Having practiced law for nearly 17 years, her goal is to live the firms slogan Your Business Ally™.

A graduate of Stanford University and Emory School of Law, her career began in the Technology & Intellectual Property (IP) practice group of Troutman Sanders, a prominent Atlanta based law firm. There, she successfully represented a gamut of diverse clients, from startups to multi-billion dollar companies like Chick-fil-A, Microsoft and WalMart.

Moving in-house, Jo served on business management and legal teams in senior leadership roles for both public and private manufacturing companies. For more than a decade, she was the go-to lawyer for her business units with presence in North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Pacific Rim. She has overseen IP portfolios in more than 130 countries, is well accomplished in negotiating sophisticated domestic and international commercial contracts, and in resolving high dollar disputes.

Jo has spoken extensively about business law, technology, and intellectual property. Currently, she writes the business law section for the Gwinnett Citizen newspaper, and speaks for SCORE, a longstanding resource partner of the Small Business Administration. Likewise, Jo volunteers with Leadership Gwinnett, Discovery High Schools Entrepreneurship Academy, the SE Gwinnett Coop food pantry, and the Stanford Alumni Association.

Facebook     Twitter

 

 

 

Kevin Geraghty / Revenue Research, Inc.
President

Kevin is responsible for the creation of $3 billion in documented corporate value. He has built successful analytic departments and profitable business models for Fortune 500 clients. Kevin received the Edelman Laureate Award in 1996 and 2016 for outstanding Operations Research practice and received the DM News Martech Award for Data Science in 2015. He is the author of machine learning patents for Dynamic Pricing and Paid Search marketing.

 

 

Thad Oviatt / ParkENT Cycles
Founder & CEO

ParkENT Cycles just wants to HUG your bicycle and keep it safe. We produce an electronic bike rack. The rack is a bicycle locking system built into a custom bike rack. To use the rack a person just needs to push their bike into the rack, activate it with the paired phone app (or key card, or attached kiosk), and the bike rack locks up the bicycle. The electronic bike rack locks the wheel and frame of the bicycle. The rack is safer than any other bicycle lock on the market.

Facebook      Twitter

 

 

Special Edition: Georgia Society of CPAs

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Rep. Howard Mosby / Georgia House of Representatives

State Representative Howard Mosby (D-Atlanta) represents the 83rd District of the Georgia House of Representatives. Rep. Mosby was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2002. Born on June 20, 1961 in Atlanta, Rep. Mosby is a life-long native and community leader. First attending East Atlanta High School, he continued his education at Georgia State University receiving a Bachelors of Business Administration. It was this education that led Howard to become the Assistant Vice President of the Grady Health System. A board member of the Oakhurst Health Centers and Chairman of the Finance Committee, as well as being a Board Member and Treasurer of the Dekalb NAACP, Rep. Mosby continues to fight for healthcare and rights of all people in the Atlanta Metro region. Rep. Mosby is also a member of the Georgia Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, which gives him great insight to the healthcare and financial issues of the state’s healthcare system. Representative Mosby will be serving the General Assembly as a member of the Governmental Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Ways and Means Committees.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Clay M. Westbrook with Ascent and Mike Robbins with Robbins Media Group

 

Your Most Trusted and Respected Source For Pro Business Talk in Atlanta. Tune in LIVE Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10am and always on at AtlantaBusinessRadio.com

 

Clay Westbrook, Mike Robbins and Alex Gosset Shifflet

Clay Westbrook, Mike Robbins and Alex Gosset Shifflet

 

 

 

 

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Clay M. Westbrook

 

 

Clay M. Westbrook / Ascent
Owner

After graduating with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law, Clay Westbrook moved to Atlanta with a car load of belongings, a Labrador Retriever, and dreams of wealth and success. After the real world swiftly crushed those dreams, he spent 15 years practicing corporate transactions and real estate law, working with, and learning from, many of the most talented and/or insufferable lawyers this country has ever produced. Clay and the practice of law parted ways for good in 2009. The breakup was amicable, with both Clay and the legal profession drastically improved as a result. Clay now works in corporate finance and financial restructuring and was actively involved in settling over $450 Million in problem loans for clients across the country. He also developed expertise in negotiating business breakups, litigation and bankruptcy strategy consulting, and settling accounts with taxing authorities and disputes with governmental entities. His consulting firm, Ascent, helps business owners, attorneys, CPAs and other professionals, providing seminars, training, and consulting on negotiation, litigation, bankruptcy, and dispute resolution. He most enjoys helping people in complicated situations that require original thought, and working with talented professionals who wish to better serve their clients. Clay also enjoys writing, history, sports, and the outdoors. Ideally, he would hike in the mountains all day, and then stay in a nice hotel. He resides in Atlanta with his wife, two sons, and two cats with whom he maintains a fragile truce.

To contact Clay for speaking engagements and seminars email info@ascentstrategygroup.com. To arrange a confidential client consultation email Clay directly at cwestbrook@ascentstrategygroup.com.

Debt & Circuses: Protecting Business Owners From Their Enemies, Their Allies, and Themselves by Clay M. Westbrook

 

 

 

 

 

Robbins

Mike Robbins

 

 

 

Mike Robbins / Robbins Media Group
President and CEO

President/CEO Robbins, an Atlanta native who still has family in the area, started as a commissioned sales representative in the industry twenty-five years ago in The Big Peach, and was transferred to Charlotte twenty-four years ago as a regional sales manager for the company he left after reaching the level of Regional Vice President, to open Robbins Media Group (RMG). RMG is headquartered in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte, NC, and is committed to providing unlimited opportunity for sales professionals to reach their financial and professional goals by supporting their effort to provide local business owners effective and affordable advertising solutions designed to increase name recognition of their business in the community they serve. For more information, please call 800-368-6841 ext. 702, or visit http://www.robbinsmediagroup.com.

 

 

 

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Brandy Duncan with Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber, Shane Foster with TAG and Adrian Marshall with JCI – Atlanta

Your Most Trusted and Respected Source For Pro Business Talk in Atlanta. Tune in LIVE Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10am and always on at AtlantaBusinessRadio.com

 

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Adrian Marshall, Shane Foster and Brandy Duncan

 

 

 

 

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Brandy Duncan

 

 

Brandy DuncanSandy Springs Perimeter Chamber
Marketing & Events Manager

Brandy Duncan is the Marketing and Events Manager for the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber. Graduating from the University of West Georgia in 2014 with a BS in Public Relations and Minor in Marketing. She started her first job directly after graduation with Georgia-Pacific, LLC as their Corporate Events Assistant for Corporate Communications and Marketing. After being with Georgia-Pacific for one year she accepted a job with the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber.

The SSPC’s mission is to build connections and business in the local community. The chamber hosts several networking events monthly for members and non-members to participate in to further their business and community relations. Brandy is responsible for marketing and planning all events for the chamber including: Monthly Chamber Luncheons, Networking at Noon, Coffee & Contacts and Young Professionals.

For more information regarding the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber or events please contact Brandy at: (404) 476-4805or brandy@sandysprings.org.

 

 

 

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Brandy Duncan

 

 

 

 

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Shane Duncan

Shane Foster / Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
Director of Corporate Relations

Shane Foster is originally from Tampa, FL, and a graduate of Florida State University. He then received his master’s degree in non-profit administration from Georgia State University. Currently, Shane is a Director of Corporate Relations for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). For any questions regarding TAG, or if you want to get involved in any way, please contact him at: shane@tagonline.org

 

 

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Shane Foster and Brandy Duncan

 

 

 

 

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Adrian Marshall

Adrian Marshall / JCI – Junior Chamber International – Atlanta
Executive Vice President

AdrianMarshall-Bio

 

 

Adrian

Adrian Marshall