Sanjay Parekh/Startup Riot
Sanjay Parekh is the Founder of Startup Riot, an all-day event which highlights 30 startups through three minute, four slide presentations given by the startups. The startups subsequently answer questions from a judging panel for three minutes. This year’s event will be February 20, 2013 at The Tabernacle and features keynote speakers T.A. McCann and Adam Rich.
Jessica Park/JPark Events
Jessica Park, Director of JPark Events, is a certified event planner and entrepreneur here in Atlanta, as well, she is a native Atlantan. Jessica’s near 20 year tenure in the restaurant and service industry has given her the skills to organize peers and charges to get things done in a high volume environment. A demeanor perfectly suited for event planning, proving to unusually skilled in multitasking and troubleshooting. Jpark Events has catered an afternoon tea and dessert for the Dalai Lama, has been featured in Martha’s Circle, and on Style Me Pretty, and Ruffled Blog. Her work has also been seen in Occasions Magazine, The Atlantan Brides, and Pretty Pear Bride featuring her custom dessert tables. Recently she was voted best caterer in Atlanta by Wedding Industry Experts.
Drew Voyles/Young Life Africa Expeditions
Drew Voyles is a Regional Coordinator with Young Life Africa Expeditions. YLXA is a division of the non-profit global organization, Young Life, passionate about sending students, young adults, and families on Trips to Africa that go beyond comfort zones through full-immersion experiences. Partnering with more than 20 different Young Life Africa communities across 13 Countries, YLXA has taken over 1,200 people on 91 Trips over the past 7 years to serve and experience the heart of Africa through a different lens. Countless people both in Africa and the U.S. have come home from these Trips with their lives forever changed.”
Michael Muldoon/La Tagliatella
As President of Polish-owned AmRest Holding’s La Tagliatella, LLC in the US, Michael Muldoon is responsible for developing the strategy and executing day-to-day operations of the European-based Italian restaurant concept. With more than 130 La Tagliatella restaurants across Europe, Asia and India, Michael opened the brand’s first U.S. flagship location at the Shops at Metropolis in Midtown Atlanta, Ga., in December 2012, followed by a second location at Emory Point in Atlanta in January 2013. A third location is slated to open in Arlington, Va., in March 2013. With Michael leading the way, AmRest plans to open more than 100 La Tagliatella locations nationwide in the next few years.
Prior to introducing La Tagliatella to the U.S., Michael was president of the $240 million Applebee’s division of AmRest and led the turn-around and eventual sale of the Applebee’s division. He spent time as vice president of human resources of AppleGrove which was acquired by AmRest in July 2008. Michael has spent his entire career in the restaurant industry beginning as an hourly employee and working his way through various leadership positions in operations and support functions.
Michael holds an MBA from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Eastern Michigan University. He lives in Roswell, Georgia with his wife Charity and their two sons, Michael and Declan.
