BRX National

Mary Ellen McClanahan - Georgia Department of Economic Development

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Alan and Dana speak with Mary Ellen McClanahan, Director of Entrepreneur and Small Business Development at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In her position, Mary Ellen helps find solutions and effective ways to build an entrepreneur environment and support small business. She served as President of two chambers of commerce in rural Georgia. Mary Ellen talks about the importance of Hartsfield-Jackson airport to business in Georgia, state tax breaks for small businesses, and her role in attracting companies to the Peach State from around the country. She also details the Mentor/Protege program in which large corporations will mentor small companies for one year at no cost.

Find out more at georgia.org/smallbusiness or contact Mary Ellen at 404-962-4820.

Darren Horvath, is a member of the Employment, Labor and Immigration Group at Taylor English. He is dedicated to counseling and defending both private and public employers in labor and employment matters. Mr. Horvath has successfully litigated cases for employers in state and federal courts and administrative agencies throughout the country. These cases have included discrimination, retaliation and harassment claims under state and federal employment laws, federal and state leave laws, overtime, minimum wage, and exempt classification claims under the FLSA and state wage and hour statutes, FLSA collective actions, state law tort claims, whistleblower claims, breach of contract claims, and equal protection, due process, first amendment, excessive force, and other constitutional claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Mr. Horvath also has successfully represented litigants in cases involving trade secrets and restrictive covenants, including seeking and defending against requests for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions

In addition to a successful track record of defending employers in litigation, Mr. Horvath also assists clients with avoiding potential legal claims by providing thoughtful advice on employment-related issues, such as employment contracts, severance agreements, employee policies, handbooks and procedural manuals, restrictive covenants, FMLA, ADA and FLSA compliance, drug testing, background checks, termination and other personnel decisions, and handling complaints of harassment, discrimination or other allegations of misconduct. When providing such advice, Mr. Horvath focuses on developing practical solutions that minimize legal risks without losing sight of the client’s business and operational considerations.

Before joining Taylor English in 2009, Mr. Horvath practiced labor and employment law as an associate and equity partner with Fisher & Phillips LLP, from 1996 through 2009

Scott Porter, is a member of the Employment, Labor & Immigration practice group at Taylor English. He primarily focuses his practice on labor and employment counseling and the negotiating and drafting of employment and severance agreements. Mr. Porter has particular experience representing clients in media, entertainment, sports, and higher education.  Mr. Porter also represents executives with respect to the negotiation of employment-related agreements.

Mr. Porter has extensive experience counseling clients concerning day-to-day employment issues such as hiring, discipline, firing, reductions-in-force, disability accommodations, and requests for leave; preparing employment agreements, restrictive covenants, separation agreements, employee handbooks, supervisors’ manuals, and various employment policies; conducting sexual harassment investigations; and conducting equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment training seminars.

Mr. Porter has also represented employers successfully in a wide variety of employment and other litigation matters in both state and federal courts as well as before administrative agencies in Georgia and throughout the country. These matters have included cases involving state and federal discrimination statutes (including harassment and retaliation claims), employment related state law torts, breach of contract, tortious interference with contractual and business relationships, and unfair labor practice claims.

Prior to joining Taylor English in 2007, Mr. Porter served in-house for eight years as a Senior Employment Counsel for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Prior to joining Turner, Mr. Porter was an associate with the labor & employment group of Powell Goldstein, LLP.

At Turner, Mr. Porter negotiated and drafted executive and on-air talent agreements; provided advice with respect to contracts, policies, procedures, personnel decisions and internal investigations. He ensured compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements created and revised company-wide policies and procedures; and conducted training for supervisors and human resources employees, including helping to create and implement a company-wide harassment and respectful behavior training program. Mr. Porter was the primary employment counsel for CNN for much of his tenure at Turner.

Mr. Porter has twice spoken to the Georgia Bar Association about the ADA Amendments Act and has been a guest lecturer at Georgia State’s Executive MBA Program.

Mr. Porter and his partner have a wonderful daughter and are active at All Saints Episcopal Church.