Marc Zionts

Marc Zionts, a telecom executive and entrepreneur for almost three decades, focuses on developing emerging technologies and services in high growth markets. Currently, Zionts is the President & CEO of Aicent, Inc. Aicent’s innovative mobile data services build a bridge between the IP world and the wireless world, delivering powerful wireless communications services to mobile operators around the world. Previously, Zionts was the VP, Strategic Mobile Service Providers at Allot Communications. Zionts came to Allot after they acquired Ortiva Wireless where he was the President & CEO. Prior to Ortiva, Marc was the CEO of FastMobile (sold to RIM), CEO of Cantata Technology (sold to Dialogic), CEO of Westell Technologies (Nasdaq: WSTL), and Founder and EVP of Communicate Direct, Inc., (sold to Softnet). Zionts began his career with GTE and Fujitsu/GTE Business Systems, serving in various sales and marketing capacities. Zionts earned his undergraduate degree and MBA from Georgia Institute of Technology and remains active at Georgia Tech as an Alumni Mentor. Zionts is also an Independent Director for Pivot 3 based in Austin, TX and, an advisor to Allot Communications and Sckipio, both in Israel and to Vobi, also based in Austin, TX. Find Marc at www.aicent.com.

James Ball

James Ball co-founded TrustWorkz® after more than a decade of experience helping small business owners to integrate better tactics and strategy into their marketing efforts. As the World Wide Web became a more predominant vehicle for marketers to drive a better bottom line, his focus shifted toward leveraging the incredible power and connectivity of the internet to better meet the objectives of business through Inbound Marketing.

In early 2008 James co-founded an internet directory that was designed to help the businesses of North Georgia obtain a more visual presence online. The company was acquired in less than two years by a local media company. Of interest to many was the fact that the company marketed itself by using social media exclusively.

James is known for his expertise and success with hyper-local marketing tactics and his skill with search engine optimization (SEO).  He has achieved widespread respect and notoriety among his peers and clients as a skilled, if not counter-cultural marketing practitioner. James is always ready to speak professionally in an effort to teach others, quite candidly, the things that he has learned while pursuing his passion to help small businesses succeed.

James enjoys living in the North Georgia Mountains with his wife and daughter and a pair of beloved Boston Terriers.

Find James at trustworkz.com.

John Kirk

A recognized international executive with over 30 years experience in CEO Coaching, Corporate Strategy, Process Improvement, and Outsourcing, John Kirk is a leading authority in Global Business Management. He honed his results-oriented approach in leadership roles as a Covansys Vice President, a KPMG Partner, an IBM Corporation Principal, and a Dun & Bradstreet Software Senior Manager. Mr. Kirk has an established reputation in the field of Global Management Advisory.

John Kirk’s international background makes him uniquely qualified in his field. In his early years he lived and was educated in Europe and this experience continues to shape a deep appreciation for international cultures and the nuances of international business. His career began in HR for several manufacturing companies, where he educated himself through deep immersion into the details of business operations and developing a real-world approach to managing by walking around. Through positions as a KPMG Global Partner, IBM Global Principal, Covansys VP and Dun & Bradstreet Manager he acquired extensive experience in developing global operations, outsourcing/offshore and launching global products. In his current role as CEO and Managing Partner of J Phillip Partners he consults and provides CEO coaching for primarily Fortune 100 to Fortune 500 companies.

Find John at jppllc.com.

Samantha Bennett

Samantha Bennett is the creator of www.TheOrganizedArtistCompany.com, dedicated to helping creative people get unstuck from whatever way they’re stuck, especially by helping them focus and move forward on their goals.

She is delighted to announce the publication of her new book, “Get It Done: From Procrastination to Creative Genius in 15 Minutes a Day” from New World Library.

Originally from Chicago and now based in a tiny beach town outside of Los Angeles, Bennett offers her revolutionary “Start Right Where You Are,” “Get It Done” and “Creative Genius, CEO” Workshops, teleclasses as well as public speaking engagements and private consulting to overwhelmed procrastinators, frustrated overachievers and recovering perfectionists everywhere.

Find Samantha at theorganizedartistcompany.com.

Van Baird

Owner & Chief Thank You Economist at Relational Equity

Van Baird is a small business entrepreneur that loves helping other entrepreneur’s. He’s been in the Financial Services world since 1999 with companies like Northwestern Mutual and State Farm. After dumping “traditional” marketing efforts in his State Farm office for 100% Social Media and referral driven marketing, his revenue increased 60% and his closing ratio went from 25% to 80%.

Based on that success, while maintaining his State Farm office, he created Relational Equity. Believing that advocacy for your clients is the ultimate form of engagement online, they teach small business’ and churches how to leverage what their people are posting online in order to drive retention at a relational level. Their company’s clients include Leadercast, Hive Atlanta, Connexus Church, Keller Williams Realtors and the SoCon14 Social Media Conference. Find Van at http://relatioanleq.com.

Follow Van: @vanbaird

Find more information about SoCon14 at  socon14.com/.

Eric Holtzclaw

Eric V. Holtzclaw is a serial entrepreneur having founded multiple start-up companies, including one of the first profitable Internet enterprises. His last company appeared on the Inc. 5000 list three years in a row.  Eric advises clients on the “whys” of business:

• Why customers buy,
• Why teams work and
• The all-important “entrepreneurial why”.

He is the Founder/CEO of Laddering Works, a marketing strategy firm. He has spent 20+ years creating opportunity by identifying and capitalizing on emerging trends and disruptions to business. His professional experience includes: founding multiple successful start-up companies, including one of the first profitable Internet enterprises, and serving as the strategic lead in the implementation of dozens of products and services worldwide.

A sought after speaker on consumer behavior and entrepreneurship, he is co-host of the weekly radio show The “Better You” Project which highlights the stories of individuals that start companies.  The show runs on The Better You Network that provides support to owners through the different stages of company growth. His weekly column, Lean Forward, about the future of business and technology appears on Inc.com.  Eric’s book Laddering:Unlocking the Potential of Consumer Behavior is available in bookstores and on Amazon. Find at Eric at www.ladderingworks.com.

Michael Carrane

Michael Carrane is the owner of Listen, Inc based in Chicago Illinois. His firm has been successful for over 18 years by helping clients around the country leverage technology to grow existing business and capture new markets.  Mike takes a novel approach to servicing his customers. He listens to their needs and provides technology to solve their business problems.  Mike is a career entrepreneur, thought leader and salesman and knows what it takes to run a successful business in a competitive environment. Find Michael at listeninc.com/us/index.html.

Mark Little, CEO:

Mark Little is the CEO and founder of Diversified Funding Services, Inc. a company dedicated to excellence for 15 plus years. Diversified Funding Services, Inc. is a highly successful commercial finance business founded and managed by Mark.

Mark is a shining example of what can happen through the power of a solid residual income based business model. Today Marks focus is to create residual income and opportunities that surrounds today’s youth, his goal is to teach his time tested success principles to others and make a sizeable mark on today’s economy through innovation perseverance and desire.  This has led to the Creation of a 501c-(3) that guides each individual through a structured course of proven success.

As the President and Founder of The Society of Young Entrepreneurs (SOYE) Mark proudly represents this new age Non-Profit Created to empower young adults and show there is a better way and the future is full of opportunity. SOYE is taking qualified students through an intense internship of the skills necessary to become an entrepreneur and successfully equip them with the mindset, philosophy and disciplines required to become an entrepreneur and build a legacy business.

The curriculum will include but not limited to: The philosophies for Success through self-employment. Happiness comes before success, thought patterns for high performers and disciplines for high performance, business development, attraction marketing and laws of success.

Mark truly is a lifelong entrepreneur who started out as a child in his father’s family owned business.  After several failed and successful business ventures Mark has mastered the balance of valuable business lessons as all successful entrepreneurs do.

Mark has experienced the lows of failure and the highs of success that comes with being an entrepreneur. From these experiences Mark has a passion for sharing his experiences and a desire to help others enjoy the freedom of self-employment. Find Mark at www.societyofyoungentrepreneurs.org.

Obom Bowen, CEO:

Obom Bowen is a retired, decorated Marine who, as an Infantry Commander, received the Purple Heart for his service and wounds sustained in combat. Obom hails from very humble beginnings, he elevated as a Master Career Strategist and a consummate entrepreneur who has a passion for studying human behavior, personal development, psychology, philosophy, and creating strategies that work.

His expertise has helped Fortune 500 companies, including Chevron, Wal-Mart stores, Walgreens, Intel, and others.

Obom’s expertise in helping individuals achieve business and life success has landed him in collaborations with: Success From Home magazine 2012, Brian Tracy, The Psychology of Achievement, Knightscove Media Corp: A multi-national social media company, and Heidi Lerner, author of Grey Matters.

Obom has also been seen on Fox News, KUSN, SIGN ON San Diego, featured in Top Coastal news, Union Tribune and has spoken and taught as a facilitator for NVTSI, Reboot and at a number of colleges and universities (i.e. UCLA, UCSD, Central Texas College).

Today, Obom is CEO and co-founder of Society of Young Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit company committed to helping Teens to College Graduates and Job Seekers learn solid strategies that will impact their jobs for their entire careers, while realizing their dreams. Obom’s strategies to date have helped thousands of people across the globe. Obom has been working with many prominent and influential leaders with a purpose and passion for bringing positive change to the planet. Helping individuals break through psychological barriers that hold them back.

Obom is a published author with his book The Philosophy of Success- A Journey through Idioms, Obom’s next book, The Journey Home, will describe the journey that began from within. It will show how self-reliance and the reliance on community must work together. It details his recovery and return from life-threatening injuries sustained in the Iraqi-war. Obom shares from personal experience the hard life-lessons that finally carried him back home. Find Obom at www.obombowen.com

Rob Woomer, President:

Rob is the president of Stonehill Investors and in that role is responsible for developing and executing the company’s growth capital strategy and serves as the primary contact with the investor community.  Prior to joining Peachtree Hotel Group, Rob spent 14 years as a real estate investment banker, focused on mergers and acquisitions, and private equity placement for public and private real estate entities and asset portfolios.

Most recently he was Director and Head of Private Equity of KeyBank’s real estate team, and prior to that held similar positions at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a boutique investment banking firm based in New York and Wachovia Securities (now Eastdil Secured).   Rob has an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and BS from the College of William and Mary.  He also spent the first part of his career as a CPA.

Find Rob at  www.stonehillinvestors.com.

Kathy Drewien

Kathy teaches people how to successfully use their WordPress website which is her passion! Her eyes light up, her voice is strong, and she can’t stop sharing what she knows.

She launched her business in 1994 and has been helping people use the Internet to achieve their business goals for almost 20 years! Find Kathy at AtlantaWPcoach.com

Kristina McInerny

Kris brings over 20 years of IT experience plus a team of smart folks just like her to your project.

She enjoys digging into a project and learning about your company’s business needs.

Her MBA in Management and Certification in Project Management help organize a larger project into smaller manageable chunks.

Find Kris at websitesbykris.com

Tom Clark

Creative, Professional & Affordable Video Production Services: With over 25 In front of the Camera and more than 15 behind the camera, Actorboy brings a unique perspective to each Project creating a Unique Video Production for your Business, Web, Ad Campaign and more. Winner of the Addy, Telly, Emmy, AIR Award, been in an Oscar Winning Movie. Find Tom at Actorboy.Biz.

John Webb

John has earned the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation from the Professional Photography Certification Commission.

Webb earned this designation after meeting rigorous requirements measuring his artistic and technical competence. The Professional Photographic Certification Commission currently recognizes less than 2,000 Certified Professional Photographers.

John indicates he sought certification because he holds himself to a higher standard and believes that just as doctors and other professionals seek certification in their industries, he wanted to show his clients his qualifications and his commitment to continuing education to be the best photographer possible for them.

When asked to describe his style and approach to wedding and portrait photography, John Webb calls himself a “storyteller.”  You can find John at www.adayinthelifephotography.net .

Tyler Garns

Tyler Garns is a long time Infusionsoft expert.  He was an integral part of the Infusionsoft team in the “early days” and has continued to be an asset to the broader community for the last couple of years since he branched out on his own.  His unique combination of marketing expertise and technical skills makes him one of the key resources for solving difficult problems and creating campaigns that actually work. Find Tyler at http://www.tylergarns.com.

For more information about Questionmine, click here https://stepsto1.infusionsoft.com/go/quemine/dscales.