Join 200 Peachtree for an evening of live entertainment, complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, and networking with some of the brightest stars in Atlanta’s small business community! September’s event happens on Thursday the 20th from 6pm-8pm. Click the link to register! http://200-office.eventbrite.com/
Join co-hosts Micah Porter, Stone Payton and Lee Kantor on Fridays at 11am EST.
Today’s show is a DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Special Edition highlighting their Small Business Capacity Building Series for entrepreneurs.
John R. Hill/Citizens Trust Bank
John Hill, Business Banking Relationship Manager & Portfolio Specialist with the Commercial Banking Division of Citizens Trust Bank, is a 1996 graduate of Morehouse College with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Finance concentration). He has more than 15 years in commercial banking experience and has held management roles for major banking firms such as Merrill Lynch, Wachovia and Lehman Brothers.
John is currently a commercial lender at Citizens Trust Bank (CTB) in Atlanta. CTB is one of the largest minority-owned banks in the country with close $400 million in assets.
Lee R. Jordan, CPA/Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan, CPA’s
Lee Jordan is a CPA and a Partner in the local accounting firm of Robins, Eskew, Smith & Jordan. His firm is a full service accounting firm here in Atlanta with 4 offices, 8 partners and 40 staff professionals. They specialize in meeting the needs of small businesses and individuals in the area of tax, accounting and consulting.
Larry White/The Ritz Group
Larry White, President and CEO of The Ritz Group, tells his background story: “My father was a WW-II veteran who was a 1950 entrepreneur starting his own appliance store growing it to be one of the largest in the state. Part of the Greatest Generation – he worked non-stop. His vision was that I NOT follow in the family business….get a degree and work for a major corporation. I did that..working for Firestone Tire and Rubber, Served as an officer in the Army, IBM, Amdahl and Equifax.
My wife also worked for Majors in Retail (Neimans) and when we moved to Atlanta she couldn’t get a job and opened her own store. She was the first Entrepreneur in our family. She was the founder of Bonnie White women’s specialty stores in Park Place, Perimeter, Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza and 87 West Paces road. I was the bedroom CFO gainfully employed before turning my entrepreneurial hobby into a business. I launched multiple companies – some successful…some not and in each case found myself torn between running my company, running out of funds and then trying the impossible task of raising funds while my companies went to H___ in a hand basket.
Not sure I mastered the drill, but eventually I fell in love with both the Entrepreneurial business aspects and the fund raising. Now I am attacking the problem from the Fund Raising side.”
Dale Sizemore/FLIPSFilm
Dale Sizemore with Information System Integrators, Inc. (FLIPSFilm) has had a long career in high technology, selling and deploying “first to market” applications and projects. The common denominator has been “getting information from multiple places and in the form they need into the hands of people so they can make timely, important business decisions”. Dale discovered his 30+ years in high technology sales, marketing and executive leadership was about to open the door for a new chapter in his life.
After his last employer was acquired, Dale took the entrepreneurial route and had his “AHA” moment December 8, 2010 while reading an article about how challenging it was for communities to facilitate filming and TV production in their communities. After a deep dive into the issue, Dale said “I can fix this problem” and FLIPSFilm was born.
Christian Kotscher/MetroTech Net, Inc.
Christian Kotscher with MetroTech Net started his career as an assistant financial controller in Frankfurt Germany after graduating from the University of Iowa with a double major in Finance and International Business. After three years in Europe and another in Florida, he and his wife Micki settled in the Atlanta metro in 1995 where they are raising their three girls. During a stint at MetLife, Christian moved into the IT field when he developed an accounting application for large financial systems. After that he joined GE Capital ITS, where he focused on custom application development and project management.
Christian’s first company was an IT development practice that he sold to Romac International/ kforce Consulting. In 2001 Christian joined IBM where he held national and international positions in mobile and wireless computing. It was there that he developed his passion for the Intelligent Transportation Systems Industry (ITS). Christian left IBM in 2007 to develop a video sensor system that would provide real time traffic information for use across many ITS areas. They have deployed their video analytics in California at 100 intersections and are working in other regions on emerging deployments. MetroTech is looking forward to providing you better traffic information for your daily commute and to give you more quality time for the important things in life.
Rob Scanlon and Sarah Stovall/Century 21 Results Realty Services
CENTURY 21 Results Realty Services is like no other real estate company and that is their promise to clients and customers. Their associates are the experts in the North Atlanta area from Buckhead to Lake Lanier. Service areas include but are not exclusive to the Atlanta Metro area, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, John’s Creek, Duluth, Suwanee, Cumming, Canton, Dawsonville, Lawrenceville and Gainesville; as well as the counties of North Fulton, Gwinnett, Forsyth, Cherokee, and Dawson.
They also have a large New Home Community division that can assist you in finding the absolute best new home community that fits your lifestyle.
CENTURY 21 Results Realty Services is a Member of the CARTUS Broker Network and has the ability to assist with relocation both locally, nationally, and globally. Their website is designed to make your Atlanta Area Home Search as simple as possible. The office is conveniently located in Forsyth County – the heart of the North Atlanta area. Associates can assist you with a condo in Buckhead, an estate in Milton or a vacation cabin or second home in North GA or on Lake Lanier.
On May 8, 2012, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed into law Georgia House Bill 868 expanding Georgia’s new research and development tax credit available to Georgia businesses. Find out how this change affects current Georgia businesses and why this may attract more businesses to Georgia.
Edward H. Brown/Burr & Forman
Based in the Atlanta office, Ed Brown is Vice-Chair of Burr & Forman’s Business section and a Partner in the firm’s Corporate law practice group focusing on taxation and estate planning. He has over twenty-four years of experience in franchise law, mergers and acquisitions and personal planning, specifically with federal estate and gift taxation.
Ed’s corporate and tax law practice includes assisting clients who are involved in the formation and development of business ventures and representing both companies and individuals seeking venture capital financing. He represents venture capital companies and investors in funding early-stage and start-up companies and also represents both buyers and sellers in the purchase or sale of businesses, through tax-free mergers, stock purchase arrangements, and asset acquisitions. Ed regularly works with real estate developers and investors in developing effective structures for the acquisition, development and ultimate disposition of property. His experience also includes representing public and private companies in connection with access to capital securities and markets.
Ed is licensed to practice in Georgia and Illinois, Georgia Superior Courts, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the U.S. Tax Court. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, and the State Bar of Georgia. In 2012, Ed was named as a “Leader in their Field” in Coporate & M&A Law by the highly regarded Chambers USA, a legal directory featuring client-led intelligence on America’s leading lawyers. Ed recently co-hosted a webinar with Steve Ennen of SocialStrategy1 entitled Corporate Policies in Social Media, where they discussed how companies can create proper social media policies and how to approach social media with the compliance of corporate policies. Ed received his LL.M. in Taxation in 1984 from Emory University. In addition, Ed has spoken before a variety of business and accounting groups, has written on business and tax law issues, and has appeared as a guest analyst on CNBC. Ed serves on the Board of Directors and as President of the Atlanta Junior Golf Foundation. He earned his J.D. in 1980 from Washington and Lee University School of Law and his B.A., with distinction, from the University of Virginia in 1977.
Melissa L. Horne/Smith & Howard, PC
Melissa L. Horne, CPA, is a Senior Manager in the Tax Group of Smith & Howard, a nationally-ranked “Best of the Best” CPA firm. Melissa’s expertise involves tax planning, compliance and consulting services for high net-worth individuals and businesses. She has worked extensively with manufacturing, distribution, insurance, construction, professional services, and trucking businesses throughout the Southeast. Melissa seeks to help her clients minimize taxes and take advantage of the significant R&D and other tax credits available to them in Georgia.
Melissa received a BBA in Accounting and a BBA in Finance from Valdosta State University, and a Master of Taxation from Georgia State University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and in the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, where she is a member of the taxation section, an alumnus of the GSCPA Leadership Academy and has served on the Financial Literacy Task Force. Melissa is a CPA Professional Mentor and a member of the Atlanta Tax Forum.
Sean Mabey/Wells Fargo
Sean Mabey is Senior Vice President and the Director of Small Business Strategy for Wells Fargo in Atlanta and across Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. He helps lead a team of hundreds of trained small business bankers based in almost every Wells Fargo banking store in the Atlanta area. A banker with the company for 14 years, Sean has spent the last seven years in Atlanta. His previous position was Community Bank President in the North Atlanta metro area. Wells Fargo offers a full library of videos, podcasts and articles to help small businesses at www.wellsfargobusinessinsights.com.
Jeff Hannah/Nuance International
Jeff Hannah is the President of Nuance International. He is also a leader, lecturer, consultant, and writer in the fields of international project management, budgeting, design, and cultures. With an accomplished track record of more than 20 years, Jeff has led large, multicultural teams in the strategic development, design, and management of complex projects in over 50 countries. He has managed companies in London, Abu Dhabi and Atlanta. Jeff specializes in understanding the various cultural nuances and the distinct challenges to working in each region of the world and has developed methodologies and processes for mitigating those risks to deliver world-class solutions. Jeff earned his B.S. Degree in Industrial Design from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Rob Tate/PossibleNOW
Rob Tate is the Preference Management Evangelist for PossibleNOW and has extensive expertise in direct marketing compliance and consumer privacy. He helps enterprise clients architect appropriate multi-channel preference management strategies by leveraging professional services and cloud-based technology. Rob has spoken in a number of industry and association forums and focuses on the high tech, communications, and financial services verticals. Rob also highlights the upcoming Customer Experience Marketing Summit 2012, happening in Atlanta September 19-20. For listeners of today’s show, Rob is offering a $300 discount off registration for the event – use promo code 300CEMSUMMIT2012.
Winners & Finalists from the Atlanta Business Chronicle | Association of Corporate Counsel “ACC-GA” Atlanta Corporate In House Counsel Awards were recently guests in the studio.
Dorian S. Denburg/AT&T
Dorian Denburg, Finalist – Diversity Champion, is the Past President of the National Association of Women Lawyers (its 111th President), founded in 1899 to advance women in the legal profession. She is a General Attorney for AT&T with responsibility for wireless and wired Network Operations, counseling clients, federal and state litigation, legislation and regulation. Previously she held numerous positions within the AT&T (previously BellSouth) Legal Department. During that time, the company avoided $600 million in expenses due to numerous federal and state cases of first impression and first-of-its-kind legislation for which Dorian was responsible.
Dorian has spoken extensively before legal, national legislative, municipal government, trade, federal and state associations. Her involvement with the community is wide, including service in many charitable, civic, educational and professional organizations. During her presidency, The National Association of Women Lawyers increased its membership by 32%.
The National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) is a national voluntary legal professional organization devoted to promoting the interests and progress of women lawyers and women’s legal rights.
Kali Wilson Beyah/Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Kali Wilson Beyah, Winner – Rising Star, is in-house counsel at Delta Air Lines, Inc. She joined the company in 2010 and has responsibility for a wide range of litigation matters, including class actions, complex commercial disputes, and patent infringement. Kali is also responsible for regulatory compliance counseling, aspects of ethics and compliance, and privacy matters.
Prior to joining Delta, she was a partner in the Litigation Group at Kilpatrick Townsend, formerly Kilpatrick Stockton. Kali is a graduate of Vanderbilt Law School and Florida A&M University. Kali’s community involvement includes co-chairing GABWA’s in-house section, and serving on the Go Red Executive Women’s Leadership Team and the Parent Advisory Board for Atlanta Parent Magazine. She is married to Dr. Raheem Beyah, and they have a daughter, Brie.
H. Eric Hilton/H.J. Russell & Company
Eric Hilton, Winner – Outstanding General Counsel, Solo, is Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel of H. J. Russell & Company, recognized as the nation’s largest and oldest MBE construction management firm. Eric oversees legal affairs for the Company and its affiliates. Other responsibilities include oversight of Russell’s Human Resources and Risk Management functions. He is a member of the Company’s Senior Executive Team and its Employee Benefits & Investment Committee. In addition to working closely with outside counsel on a wide range of legal matters, Eric remains actively engaged in administrative matters before the EEOC and other agencies, construction dispute resolution, insurance coverage issues, commercial lease administration, contract negotiation and various transactional matters. He also serves as Company’s Chief Labor Negotiator.
Eric is active in a number of professional organizations. He is an At-Large Director for the Association of Corporate Counsel, Georgia Chapter and has served as an Advisory Board Member for the National Symposium on Diversity in the Legal Profession presented by the Philadelphia Bar Association. He is a past Advisory Board Member for the Pathways to Diversity Conference of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. Eric has also held leadership roles in a number of service-based organizations to include the 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc. where he previously served as chairman of its Collegiate 100 Program. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Radio Reading Service, which provides radio programming for the visually impaired and continues to serve as an on-air broadcaster for the organization. Eric also serves on the Fernbank Museum’s Corporate Leadership Council and is an alumnus of Leadership Atlanta.
Ashby L. Kent/Burr & Forman
Ashby L. Kent has practiced in Burr & Forman’s Litigation section since 2003 where she specializes in general commercial litigation. She has handled a wide variety of business disputes (tort and contract) for both plaintiffs and defendants, and her clients range from individuals and small businesses to large national financial institutions, including banks, lenders, mortgage companies and insurance companies.
Ashby represents her financial services clients in a variety of consumer finance and real estate matters, including actions for wrongful foreclosure, predatory lending, consumer protection law claims and other state and federal lender liability claims. In representing her title insurance clients, Ashby has handled numerous matters which involve evaluating and litigating bad faith claims, boundary line and easement disputes, one-half interest defects, lost or unrecorded security instruments issues, disputes over damages and loss valuations and other issues that frequently arise in the title insurance industry.
Ashby has nearly 10 years of experience litigating in Georgia’s state and federal courts, and has tried cases (bench and jury trials) in both. Additionally, she has successfully, efficiently and cost-effectively resolved numerous disputes through effective settlement negotiation and/or participation in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation and arbitration.
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L. Ronco Johnson/LR Johnson and Associates, Inc.
L. Ronco Johnson, LUTCF is the President/CEO of LR Johnson and Associates, Inc., an independently owned insurance and financial service consulting firm located in Marietta, Georgia that specializes in using the tax advantages of life insurance products to assist in minimizing possible tax issues for affluent individuals, athletes, entertainers, and business owners.
Ronco is a Kennesaw State University Alumni (former NCAA Basketball collegiate athlete) and former Atlanta Jazz radio personality who has built a strong professional practice in the field of insurance and financial services. Â For nearly fifteen years his firm has been dedicated to helping its clients build wealth and protect their hard-earned assets by introducing a variety of concepts and strategies to their clientele.
Ronco was most recently named in the upcoming September/October 2012 edition of NAIFA’s Advisor Today Magazine “Four Under Forty†Award winner, TOP 100 Magazine September 2012 edition, “Business Person of Week†by The American Chronicle and recognized amongst “Who’s Who of Professionals and Executives†for 2011-2012.
Joey Sommerville/Jay Vox, Inc.
Trumpeteer and producer Joey Sommerville has performed and recorded with artists from mega-rock group Phish to hip-hop producer, Jazze Pha. He was featured on The Cirque de Soleil’s Grammy-nominated album, “Alegria”, has 4 solo albums and appears on Hidden Beach Recordings “Unwrapped Volume 4â€. Joey produced Rhonda Smith’s “RS2†featuring Prince, Sheila E. and Fred Hammond which was selected for “10 Best Albums of the Year” by Music Magazine (Japan). He is also the producer of violinist Ken Ford’s album, “Right Now”. In 2007, Joey started the Thursday night jazz series at Atlanta’s Sambuca Jazz Cafe, performing with the a host of musical guests including Wayman Tisdale, Alex Bugnon, Peabo Bryson, Ann Nesby, Ronnie Laws and more. His latest release entitled “The Get Down Club” is currently receiving rave reviews and international airplay. The album features guest performances from Najee, Jeff Lorber, Marion Meadows, Bob Baldwin and more. Joey is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including The 2009 American Society of Young Musicians All That Jazz Award.
