

One of the connectors in the Atlanta ecosystem, Brandy Nagel works at Georgia Tech’s Economic Development Lab. She helps universities and communities grow with innovation-led economic development programs. She teaches Lean Startup and other topics to support entrepreneurship and economic development.
Brandy’s background includes marketing communications and trademark licensing. From strategy to execution, she’s developed and launched marketing plans at startups, corporations, non-profits, small businesses and agencies. She wrote two books on social media, and is working on a new book now.
Connect with Brandy on LinkedIn.
Joy Hymel connects ATDC Companies with GT talent, faculty & resources. She also connects GT with world-wide strategic partners.
Connect with Joy on LinkedIn.








Stacy Watson serves Director, Economic & Industrial Development at the Georgia Ports Authority. He’s been a part of the GPA team for over 26 years. Since 1945, Georgia’s ports have served as magnets for international trade and investment, enriching the state’s economy to benefit all Georgians.
Bill Stankiewicz has 20+ years’ experience in Industrial Facility Operations, Business Development and Food Grade Distribution, and is the co-host of our Savannah Business Leadership Series. Bill has helped countless companies with their operations via Savannah Supply Chain as a consultant in Savannah, Georgia.
Scott W. Luton is the founder & host of Supply Chain Now Radio, which spotlights the best in all things Supply Chain. He has worked extensively in the end-to-end Supply Chain industry for more than 15 years, appearing in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Dice and Quality Progress Magazine.

Geoff LeRoy serves as President of APICS Savannah and has been specializing in supply chain management for the manufacturing, service and distribution industries for more than thirty (30) years. He has worked in areas of international procurement, global logistics, production planning, inventory management, engineering, distribution and customer service. He has incorporated Continuous Improvement and Lean practices in his professional positions since early in his career.

Sean Conrad serves as Business Development Manager with Platinum Cargo Logistics. He has a strong operations management background, and he’s now supporting the logistics and supply chain industry directly.



Jordan Giroud serves as Supply Chain Manager with Lohr North America, a leading manufacturer of automotive transport trailers. Originally from France, Jordan graduated with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from ECAM Lyon in 2016 and has been hired by Lohr Industries to take part in the restructuring of the American subsidiary of the group.
Mark Brown is the vice president of business retention and expansion for the Birmingham Business Alliance. He is responsible for implementing business retention and growth strategies for companies in the Birmingham seven-county region. He has extensive economic development experience and has been with the BBA since August 2011.
Doug Duvall serves in outside sales for Hydra Power Systems. He has been married for 25 years to his wife, Monica, and is the father of six girls. Doug attended Portland State University in Portland, OR, where he majored in English Literature.
Barika McNeal Hamilton is a Productivity Engineer with the University of Alabama Productivity Center. The APC is a non-profit organization, housed within the Culverhouse School of Business, that enhances economic and workforce development. Barika has 17 years of logistics and business leadership experience, mostly in the automotive industry. Barika is a proud Alabama A&M University graduate and has an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Greg White is a supply chain technology entrepreneur. In his 20-year career, Greg has guided companies dedicated to improving the operational performance for professionals both in the office and the field. Prior to his most recent role as CEO at Curo, Greg founded supply chain planning company Blue Ridge and served as President & CEO for the Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader, which helps companies balance inventory with customer demand.
Scott W. Luton is the founder of Supply Chain Now Radio and also serves as Managing Partner for TalentStream. He has worked extensively in the end-to-end Supply Chain industry for more than 15 years, appearing in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Dice and Quality Progress Magazine.

LaVada Varner serves as Center Director for the Birmingham and Sumiton Centers Region with Alabama Technology Network (ATN). These two centers are hosted by Jefferson State Community College (Birmingham), Lawson State Community College (Birmingham), Bevill State Community College (Sumiton), and Shelton State Community College (Sumiton) respectively.
Desland Robinson is a seasoned career professional serving as the UAB School of Engineering Career Center Director who believes in training our students like an engineer! ‘Train Like an Engineer’ has become her motto in every touch point Desland has with students at UAB School of Engineering.
Alan Hill is the Executive Director for the Alabama Productivity Center, a part of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and the University of Alabama. Alan earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters of Engineering Degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.














