Listen Now!

Business Talk 24-7

Curated Collection Of The Best Interviews From Our Sandy Springs Studio





Atlanta Business Radio

Talk Radio

Atlanta’s Most Trusted Advisors Features Donna Grindle

Posted on

Podcast: Download

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.

 

fullsizerender-2-2

 

Donna Grindle / Kardon Compliance
Founder & President

After 30 years in IT, Donna Grindle has seen a lot of changes.  As a self-professed techno-nerd, she has been thrilled to test out new tech as it has come along.  Donna started in Healthcare IT as a programmer for Atlanta based, Millard-Wayne, Inc. in 1987.  When the company was acquired in 1997, Donna was Vice President of Operations.  

In 1999, Donna formed the technology consulting firm, Kardon Group, LLC, with her now wife and business partner Karla Kreitner.   Today, doing business as Kardon Compliance, they help companies manage their HIPAA compliance programs.

Donna is also a speaker, blogger, and podcaster on topics concerning HIPAA compliance as well as technology and cybersecurity for small business.  Donna and Karla are active in a variety of community organizations such as For The Kid, Health Initiative, Atlanta Independent Women’s Network, and more.  They live in the Tucker area with their sheltie, Chantz.

 

 

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 017

Posted on

Podcast: Download

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

VETLANTA logo-with-bg2

 

fullsizerender-1

Matt Gob, Damon Gabriel, Clayton Still

 

 

Matthew A. Grob / United States Department of Labor
Veterans’ Employment and Training Service Office of Strategic Outreach
Atlanta, Georgia / Veterans.Gov

VETLANTA / Director of Stategic Planning

Matthew Grob entered on duty as the Atlanta Regional Veterans’ Employment Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) on June 29th, 2015.  As the Regional Veterans’ Employment Coordinator Matthew provides employment resources and expertise, through outreach to businesses, employer groups, Veterans’ organizations, state workforce partners and government agencies to promote Veterans’ employment opportunities and coordinate veterans employment initiatives with the DOL VETS and state workforce agencies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Matthew enlisted in the US Army in 1989 and served as an Intelligence Specialist in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and tours in Germany and Italy from 1990 through 1996.  He then separated from active duty and enrolled in the Simultaneous Membership Program in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and the Army ROTC program.  He was a Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in July, 1999.  Matthew’s recent assignments include directing a Human Resources department of a transportation agency and commanding a regional Human Resources unit in Germany and Kuwait.  He culminated his military career managing Army-wide transformation programs over a 6-year period as the Senior Program Manager and Force Development Officer for Headquarters, US Army Europe. 

Upon retirement, Matthew and his family relocated from Heidelberg, Germany to the Atlanta, Georgia area and found most meaning and purpose in serving his fellow Veterans, their families and the military community.  He is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the Atlanta Chapter of Team Red, White and Blue, and is actively involved in numerous local veterans’ organizations.  In September 2015, Matthew was elected to the position of Executive Secretary and Executive Committee Member of VETLANTA, and in August 2016 he assumed the new role of Director of Strategy.  He most recently served as a Veteran Transition Specialist with Hire Heroes USA, a nationwide non-profit organization providing personalized transition and career coaching to US military Veterans, service members and their spouses. 

Matthew is currently in the Executive MBA Program at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.  He has a background in Program and Project Management with Lean Six Sigma training and experience.  His career is supported by a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management & Communication from Concordia University – Wisconsin, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Webster University. 

 

 

 

Clayton Still / Power Home Remodeling
Marekting Mentor

Clayton Still, I am currently a Marketing Mentor for Power Home Remodeling Group. I was born and raised in Snellville, Georgia where I attended South Gwinnett High School. After graduating with a 3.8 GPA from South Gwinnett High School I attended Middle Georgia College in Cochran GA on a full academic scholarship. I received an associates degree from Middle Georgia College in 2008 and I transferred to Georgia State University. Upon transferring I enlisted into the Georgia Army National Guard where I served 6 years as a 31B or Military Police. I graduated from Basic and AIT from Fort Leonardwood Missouri. After graduating basic I served in the 178th MP Co, 190th MP Co, 179th MP Co. In 2011-2012 I deployed to Bagram Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I also deployed in 2013-2014 with the 179th MP Co to Kabul Afghanistan doing Security Escorts and Quick Reaction Forces also in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I was honorably discharged from the  Georgia Army National Guard in 2015 as a SGT. I am currently a Marketing Mentor in the Atlanta office for Power Home Remodeling Group. I have been with Power Home Remodeling for two years and I’m excited to not only continue to grow as a professional but also to be able to help veterans find a place where they can truly accomplish their american dream utilizing Power’s Veteran Initiative.

 

 

Damon Gabriel / Power Home Remodeling
Quality Assurance Manager
Originally From Seattle Washington, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps when I was 17. Shortly after graduation from High School I shipped out for boot camp in San Diego California.
After a full work up with my unit I deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2010. While on deployment I was struck by IEDs twice which ultimately lead to the end of my unfortunately short Marine Corps career. I sustained severe spinal injuries due to the strikes and was not able to re-enlist in 2012 as the Marine Corps felt I was no longer fit for duty in my occupation.
After transitioning out of the Marine Corps in 2012, my girlfriend at the time who is now my wife and I decided to move to Atlanta to start our new lives. She is originally from Atlanta so it was nice to have her family here to help us out while we got on our feet.
I had a job prior to working for Power for about a year but I never really got that sense of purpose that I had while in the Corps. I was laid off in the end because of industry regulation that destroyed the small company I was working for at that time and within two weeks I had found Power.
When I started with Power I was in the entry level marketing position which served me really well while I was getting immersed in the culture and figuring my life out. Right from the start I knew I was going to love working here because of the commradarie you could feel in the office. It felt very similar to the Marine Corps and I really liked that.
As time went on I found myself in a management position in the marketing department and then was able to be promoted and transferred into the sales department where within a year I was mentoring our new consultants and helping to develop our leadership/and office.
Now adays I’m married to my beautiful wife Samantha and we have a home in Brookhaven that we share with our son Theo… I say share because it has quickly become his house and we just live there, clean it and pay the bills!.. As for my Career with Power I’m in the Quality Assurance department as a manager where I go out to our active installs and ensure that our customers are having the five star experience that we talk about during our initial consultation and make sure that all our products are going in per spec.

 

 

 

IMG_9305

Clint Brewer with U.S. Commercial Service, Bettina Gardner with The City Of Atlanta, Angelica F. White with ZIPPYAR LLC,

Posted on

Podcast: Download

fullsizerender

Clint Brewer / U.S. Commercial Service
U.S. Commercial Officer

After graduating from Syracuse University in May 2003 with a degree in International Relations
and Spanish, Clint Brewer moved to New York City where he started his career in international
business working with the second largest insurance broker in the world, Aon Risk Solutions. Soon after completing a two
year training program with Aon, Clint was selected to participate in a foreign exchange program that placed him in Madrid, Spain for a period of three years, where he acquired professional language proficiency in Spanish and obtained experience advising multinational clients on their commercial insurance needs in Spain.

 

 

 

Bettina Gardner / City Of Atlanta
Deputy Director Of International Affairs

A native of Stone Mountain, GA, Ms. Bettina Gardner is a proud alumna of Florida State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Multinational Business and Spanish. Shortly after undergrad, Ms. Gardner completed her MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.

Ms. Gardner has taught English abroad in both Spain and Chile, as well as worked at the US Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal. She spent 6 months in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil studying Portuguese as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar.

Ms. Gardner has worked at the Georgia Department of Agriculture in the International Trade office,  managing inbound buyer delegations and planning trade missions for Georgia and southeastern agricultural companies. Her role included assisting Georgia food businesses in their exporting endeavors.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Gardner worked as a Global Business Meeting Consultant for the largest educational travel company in the US, WorldStrides Capstone. There she organized high level business meetings across the globe for top MBA programs and universities, serving as the liason to C-suite executives at companies such as Maersk, Coca-Cola, Port of Valparaiso, Gulfstream Aerospace, Bank of England, the London Stock Exchange, the Intercontinetal Exchange and many more.

As Deputy Director of International Affairs for Mayor Kasim Reed, Ms. Gardner organizes meetings with inbound/outbound delegations, coordinates overseas trips and interacts with the City of Atlanta’s global community, including the over 70 Consular offices located in the metro area. A few of the  key programs she has organized include: the  2014 Inaugural Americas Competitiveness Exchange, Mayor Reed’s trade mission to Brazil, FinTech Trade Mission to London, Mayor Reed’s Mission to the Inauguration of President Varela of Panama, Young African Leaders Initiative in Atlanta, and the annual export seminar. Ms. Gardner holds an MS in International Affairs from Georgia Tech. She has over ten years of experience in government, educational and corporate foreign exchange programs, speaks Spanish and Portuguese and has lived in both Europe and Latin America. She currently serves as Interim Director of International Affairs.

Twitter      Facebook

 

 

 

Angelica Figueiredo White / ZIPPYAR LLC
Founder and CEO

“Angelica White is the founder and chief executive officer of ZIPPYAR, which enables products to directly stream unique video messages to consumers. We also allow consumers to respond in a crowdsourcing like platform using mobile devices. We believe customers are one of a kind and so is the message we empower brands to deliver. ZIPPYAR patent pending technology is at the intersection of Near Field Communication, QRCode, CLOUD, Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) augmenting the relationship of brands and consumers.

Angelica likes to identify herself as an inventor, entrepreneur, business consultant and mother.  She holds a bachelor of science in Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Executive MBA from Goizueta Business School. She is the 2010 class Entrepreneurship Award recipient and LaunchPad2X 2015 program graduate. Angelica has extensive experience delivering innovative solutions to companies such as Titleist, PepsiCo Brazil and Fidelity Investments. She is visionary, strategist, personable and determined.  Angelica relocated from Brazil to the US to immerse herself in an English program with final objective of attaining an MBA to starting her own business. She was awarded her first patent acting as her own patent lawyer, and is passionate about delivering social good while developing profitable businesses.

In September of this year,  ZIPPYAR was accepted into the Amazon AWS Activate Portfolio Program joining notable startups, including Airbnb, Lyft and Spotify, to name a few. Participation in this program will allow ZIPPYAR to accelerate its product development, and provide the infrastructure to quickly scale.”

Twitter     Facebook     LinkedIn

 

Independent We Stand Special Episode

Posted on

Podcast: Download

fullsizerender-2

Andy Darnell / Howard Brothers Hardware
Director of Marketing and Communications

I am the Director of Marketing for Howard Brothers, a locally owned and independently run True Value Hardware store and Outdoor Power Equipment company with several locations in the Atlanta area. I’ve also had the opportunity to help develop and implement web content strategy with some of the largest hospitals and healthcare systems in the country.

On a personal level, I help small businesses develop and implement best practice web presence strategy. This involves architecture, design, content creation, web development, SEO, SEM, social media integration… Basically tell the story of who they are and why they are passionate about their business.

I live in Peachtree Corners, Georgia with my incredible wife and two amazing daughters.

 

Twitter     Facebook      YouTube

 

 

independent-we-stand-610x370

 

 

 

Atlanta’s Most Trusted Advisors Features Sarah Assalti

Posted on

Podcast: Download

20161004_105059

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.

 

 

Craig Apatov with Ascension and Donna Peeples with Pypestream

Posted on

Podcast: Download

img_2771

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

 

 

 

 

 

UHY Advisors

Posted on

Podcast: Download

img_2541

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.

 

 

David Barton / UHY Advisors
Managing Director

David Barton is a Managing Director with the firm in the Southeast and serves as leader in the Internal Audit, Risk & Compliance and Management & Technology Consulting groups. He has more than 25 years of practical experience in information systems and technology risk and controls.

 

 

Brad Baer / UHY Advisors
Managing Director

Brad Baer is a Managing Director in the Management & Technology Consulting group of the firm in the Southeast, which provides high-value consultative services to help clients meet their business, accounting and finance objectives. He is responsible for client service, client management, solution creation and delivering process improvement expertise to help clients enhance and sustain gains in their businesses. Brad has more than 20 years of experience in all facets of finance and accounting, management, client service and operations.

 

 

Cindy Hannafey / UHY Advisors
Managing Director

Cynthia Hannafey is a Managing Director with UHY Advisors’ Management & Technology Consulting group, providing portfolio, program, and project management; software selection services; and operational and financial process optimization services to client companies. She is a results focused executive with more than 20 years’ experience in analyzing existing operations and implementing the strategies, processes and technologies to address enterprise-wide challenges. Cynthia provides management consulting excelling in the aggressive execution of projects that impact a client’s internal operations.

 

 

Amy Gallagher / UHY Advisors
Principal

Amy Gallagher is a Principal with the firm’s Resource Solutions Group in the Southeast, which provides high-value custom project services to help clients meet their business, accounting and finance objectives. Amy brings over 14 years of experience in recruitment leadership and talent management for national and international professional services firms.

 

 

Atlanta’s Most Trusted Advisors Features Jerry Jones and Kelvin Moy

Posted on

Podcast: Download

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.

 

img_2485

Kelvin Moy and Jerry Jones

 

Jerry Jones / Ad Information Technology (“AdIT”) / Baseology

Jerry Jones helps manage AdIT’s advisory and IT consulting services as well as Baseology’s custom SaaS development. Jerry has over eighteen years of experience in accounting, audit and information technology consulting including eight years of public accounting experience. Audit and advisory service industry experience includes distribution, financial services, health care, high-tech, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, not-for- profit, real estate service and transportation. Jerry’s certifications include CPA, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC.

 

 

Kelvin Moy / Ad Information Technology (“AdIT”) / Baseology

Kelvin Moy has over sixteen years of experience in information technology risk management, strategic planning, governance, operations and consulting. His information technology services portfolio includes manufacturing, financial institutions, high-tech, marketing, real-estate, construction, transportation and logistics, education, government, and not-for- profits. In addition to assisting with the firm’s compliance services, he also manages AdIT’s IT consulting projects and outsourced CIO services. Kelvin specializes in working with executive teams and decision makers to remediate business gaps with practical and scalable enterprise information technology solutions.

 

Additional Resources:

See AdIT Baseology Firm Presentation and Baseology Baseline Builder Flyer

 

Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk (Host)/ bbr Marketing   

Bonnie Boul ruscyzkBonnie 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.

She is excited about the publication of her first book earlier this year, Take Your Marketing Online! Proven Ways to Grow Your Firm in the Digital Age. She was recognized in 2012 and 2013 as one of AccountingToday’s Top 100 Most Influential People and is in great demand as a consultant, speaker and leader at various industry events. She is a founding member of the Atlanta Independent Women’s Network and is the Atlanta chapter president of the Association for Accounting Marketing. She is also a regular contributor to a variety of websites, including Social Media Today, Accounting Today and other industry-related publications and has been quoted in Entrepreneur, U.S. News & World Report, CPA Practice Advisor, and others. She was recently invited to join the CPA Consultants’ Alliance and is excited about being a part of this influential group.

 

 

 

 

 

KSU Shrimp Tank with John Barber with SpeedPro Imaging

Posted on

Podcast: Download

Feeding Young Entrepreneurial Minds & Businesses Plans Entrepreneurs come to the Shrimp Tank to compete for funding to grow their dreams.

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

img_2320

Ted Jenkin, John Barber, Chris Hanks

John Barber / SpeedPro Imaging 

John T. Barber Biography  Franchise Development, General Management Executive, Entrepreneur  A proven executive, Mr. Barber has a diverse background in strategic management, sales and  franchise development, acquisitions, and organizational leadership. He began his career with The  Procter and Gamble Distributing Company, gaining a solid foundation in disciplined sales  techniques, execution of existing and new product management, managing key accounts, and  motivating sales teams. He quickly advanced to Unit Sales Manager in one of the largest retail  markets in the United States. (1982-1985)

Recruited by the Pepsi-Cola Company, he progressed on a fast-track progression through  increasingly responsible sales, business development, and leadership roles in both the retail and  food service industries over a fourteen year period. As a Market Unit General Manager, Mr.  Barber managed all aspects of sales and operations in union and non union facilities, where he  positioned the organization as a gold standard operation in the U.S. While at Pepsi Cola’s North  American headquarters in New York, as Vice President of Marketing Equipment Management for  the United States and Canada, he led an organization of 3000 employees, improving productivity  by double digits, with annual cash flow responsibility of $1.5 Billion USD. (1985-1998)

Mr. Barber was recruited by the Manitowoc Company to form a new operating division created  through acquisition. As Executive Vice President and General Manager, with full financial  responsibility for Manitowoc Beverage Systems, Inc, he was challenged with completing the  acquisition, assimilation and roll-up of formerly entrepreneurial organizations into a common  corporate sales/technology/distribution platform, while maintaining full customer service and  product distribution integrity. The Company exceeded $100 million in year 1 revenue (1998-  2000)

He then joined a technology start up company with a suite of POS-based wireless transaction  payment solutions for the food service, vending, and retail segments. As Chief Operating Officer  of Wirca Inc, the scope of responsibilities included establishment of operating infrastructure,  business development, partnership opportunities, recruiting, and active participation in the capital  raise process. He was challenged with gaining market share for technically advanced products in  development with high commercialization costs, during capital market decline. (2001-2003)

As the capital markets declined, Mr. Barber was hired as the Vice President of Member  Development and Member Services for Foodbuy LLC, a Foodservice Group Purchasing  Organization and operating division of the Compass Group PLC in London. His responsibilities  included leading the team in all aspects of member management including business development,  staffing, member relations, opportunity analysis, and negotiating member agreements. During his  tenure with Foodbuy, the represented purchasing volume doubled to $1.4 Billion USD by adding  new members and organically growing the existing client base. (2003-2006)

In 2006, he joined Hot Stuff Foods, a prior business partner, who had just completed a  management led buyout in partnership with business development corporation Allied Capital.  Mr. Barber’s first assignment as Executive Vice President of Development was to build a high  performing franchise development team. In 2007 and 2008, the team signed and opened twice as  many franchise convenience store locations as in any of the previous four years. Mr. Barber was  then promoted in October 2008 to Executive Vice President Sales and Development for a wholly  owned operating division, Lettieri’s Inc, while maintaining his current responsibilities at Hot  Stuff Foods. Effective January 2009, Mr. Barber was promoted to Chief Customer Officer and  Executive Vice President for Hot Stuff Foods Lettieri’s, adding the functional departments of  R&D, Innovation, Brand Marketing & Advertising, and Franchise Store Operations for 1100  locations in six countries, Equipment Installation & Service, and all Sales functions for the  consolidated company. In 2009, Hot Stuff Foods Lettieri’s doubled EBITDA. Allied Capital sold  the portfolio of companies in 2010. (2006 to 2010)

John T Barber Bio, continued page 2  In 2010, Mr. Barber focused his efforts on delivering rapid growth for numerous Quick  Serve/Quick Casual restaurant brands in the franchising industry. He was the Senior Vice  President for Focus Brands in Atlanta, owned by Private Equity firm Roark Capital. The Focus  portfolio included Moe’s Southwest Grill, Schlotzky’s, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, and  Carvel Ice Cream. Mr. Barber was on the executive committee with the Brand President’s and  reported directly to the CEO of the 3300 unit franchise parent.

In late 2011, Mr. Barber was recruited to the position of Chief Development Officer Worldwide  for Global Franchise Group based in Norcross Georgia. His responsibilities included franchisee  acquisition and contract negotiation, real estate development, store construction, project  management & build out, and franchisee relations. Under Mr. Barber’s leadership, the portfolio  of brands (3000 plus store locations in 36 countries) including Great American Cookies,  PretzelMaker, Maggie Moo’s Treatery, Marble Slab Creamery, and The Athlete’s Foot Shoe  Stores grew franchise deals signed by 300% and store openings worldwide by over 250%.

In 2013, the founder of Paratus Health Systems contracted Mr. Barber to assist in reacquiring the  company and to build operational capabilities and profitability. 2014 was a record sales year for  Paratus increasing net profit by over 800%. He currently serves as a Board Member and Advisor  to Paratus Health Systems.  In 2014, Mr. Barber, after several years of requests, joined privately held Chester’s International  as Senior Vice President of Franchise Development. On behalf of ownership, he resurrected and  completed negotiations for International Master Franchise agreements in Europe and the GCC  countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE/Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman).  Since 2015, Mr. Barber founded Rapid Growth Partners, a growth consultancy firm to the Food &  Beverage Industries (currently serves as the President and CDO), he is the President, Treasurer,  and Director of H&J Resources Inc. in Midland Texas, and he is a Partner/Owner and the CCO of  SpeedPro Imaging of NorCross Georgia.

Mr. Barber is a current Board Member of The United Intentions Foundation, a Board member of  Hedgehog Lacrosse, a Board member of Paratus Health Systems, a past Board member of Studio  RG Technologies, and a Committee Member of the 2016 Azalea Festival to benefit the  Endowment Fund of The Cottage School in Roswell Georgia. He has held licenses in Real Estate  since 2003 and is a 2011 graduate of the Alpharetta Public Safety Citizens Academy.  Mr. Barber has also been a past member of The International Franchise Association, The  Association of Healthcare Foodservice Management, The International Council of Shopping  Centers, The National Association of Convenience Stores Hunter’s Club, The National  Association of College & University Food Service, and the National Association of College and  Auxiliary Services. He is a recent inductee (2016) in the Southeast Chapter of BNI.

John Barber graduated from the University of Minnesota and holds a Bachelor of Science degree  in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management and an Associate in Liberal  Arts degree.

Contact information:  John T Barber  Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
Domestic: 770.712.7708
International: 001 770.712.7708
Email: rapidgrowthpartners@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https:www.linkedin.com/in/johntbarber
Skype:john.barber9090

 

WIT Atlanta features David Rodriguez with Fiserv

Posted on

Podcast: Download

img_2315

David Rodriguez / Fiserv
VP of Quality and Release Management, Electronic Payments

David Rodriguez is Vice President, Quality and Release Management, Electronic Payments at Fiserv. He has almost 30 years of experience in software quality assurance, systems analysis and software development.  David graduated from California State Polytechnic University with a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems & Business Administration.

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) is a leading global provider of information management and electronic commerce systems for the financial services industry, providing integrated technology and services that create value and results for our clients. Fiserv drives innovations that transform experiences for more than 13,000 clients worldwide.

LinkedIn

 

 

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.

Twitter     Twitter(Sandy)      LinkedIn