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, 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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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 / 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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James Lloyd / TITLE Boxing Club
Franchise Development Manager

James Lloyd started his career at TITLE Boxing Club back in 2009, working on the front lines of the franchise business as a trainer, assistant manager and eventual general manager of the original, and first, TITLE Boxing Club in the country in Overland Park, KS.  Working every position in the business allowed James to see the real needs of the business through multiple channels, and in 2011 he became a franchise owner himself.   His career path shifted when current CEO John Rotche purchased part of the company in 2012 and asked James to move to Ann Arbor, MI in order to build out a new corporate location.  Over the last 5 years James has served in various roles for the company, from a regional director of franchise operations, to his current position as a franchise development manager.   Today James uses his in-depth knowledge of the TITLE Boxing Club franchise system to help individuals achieve lifelong goals and embark on the path of franchise ownership.

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