Sarah Tourville/Media Frenzy Global
Sarah is a highly driven communications professional with over 17 years experience in the Telecommunications and wireless industry in Europe, Middle East and North America. She has led strategic PR and Marketing campaigns for major Fortune 500 companies including Motorola, Nokia (Symbian), Convergys, Ingenico as well as high growth technology players Destiny, Esri, Ingenico, Stratix, Zmags and the industry association, The GSMA. Sarah has extensive knowledge of mobile platforms, applications, devices, network infrastructure, VoIP, mobile email, moble video, mobile TV, ecommerce, mcommerce and mobile payments.
Sarah founded and managed an independent communications technology company for 7 years, as well as held senior marketing and PR positions accountable for hitting revenue targets. She is a personable and tenacious individual with excellent communication skills and a result’s driven approach to business, who consistently works to the highest possible standards. Lastly, she is the co founder of the Greater Alpharetta Tech Network (GATN), supporting 900+ technology companies in the Greater Alpharetta region.
Karen Cashion/Greater Alpharetta Tech Network
Karen Cashion is a law partner at Hipes & Belle Isle, LLC in Alpharetta, Georgia. Karen has over 16 years of legal experience representing businesses. Karen’s practice focuses on providing corporate and technology law services to her business clients, including corporate formation; corporate start-up and business law advice; dispute resolution; and negotiating and drafting software licensing and development agreements; managed services agreements; vendor and reseller contracts; employment agreements; nondisclosure and noncompetition agreements; and other complex commercial and technology agreements. Karen previously served as Assistant General Counsel for EarthLink, Inc.
Karen received her Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Emory University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Karen received her J.D. with high honors from Duke University School of Law, where she served as Senior Editor of the Law & Contemporary Problems Journal. She is the author of “Starting a New Business in 2013?” in the Fulton County Women’s Journal, May/June 2013 edition, and she is a frequent CPE and CLE speaker on managing corporate litigation risks and costs. Karen currently serves as Secretary of the North Fulton Bar Association, President and Founder of the new Greater Alpharetta Tech Network, and as a Commissioner on the City of Alpharetta Planning Commission. Karen also serves on the board of the Alpharetta Technology Commission. Karen and her husband Richard and two children are longtime residents of the city of Alpharetta.
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Benjamin Yin/Generations Financial, LLC
My father passed away in 1985 with no life insurance and left my mother with a struggling restaurant and 2 small children. 2 days later, my mother decided to join New York Life so that what happened to her wouldn’t happen to anyone else; 29 years later, she is still using her story to convey the importance of proper planning.
From our sweat and tears, my mother and I formed Generations Financial, where your success is our mission. We provide individuals and families with estate planning, financial planning, retirement solutions, and risk management strategies. We provide businesses with succession planning and insurance solutions for their employees. In each and every case, we seek to build an enduring relationship where we fully understand your vision, custom design strategies and solutions that are suited for your circumstances, and then implement those plans with impeccable service and integrity.
Generations Financial springs from a family legacy making us exceptionally attuned to the importance of good planning and the lifelong benefits it can bring. We are not after a quick ride on the rapids. We will work with you to lay the groundwork for increasing success that can be passed down the stream of generations. Like you, we are committed to our families. Like you, we care about our community. With Generations Financial, you will never be treated like another number in the system or another product on the assembly line. Our commitment to our clients is paramount. If you thrive, we will thrive. We want for you, your family, and your business to have the highest possible degree of security and growth so that we can all live balanced & abundant lives. Plan for today. Plan for tomorrow. Plan for GENERATIONS
Corina Chou and Benjamin Yin are agents of New York Life Insurance Company. Generations Financial is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Company or its affiliates. Corina Chou is not affiliated as an investment adviser with a registered investment advisor.
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Ford Fry/Rocket Farm Restaurants
Ford Fry’s culinary inspirations cover many years and much of the country: from eating out with his family as a child in Texas, to studying at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, to spending time as a fine dining chef in Florida, Colorado and California—and eventually as a corporate chef in Atlanta. Although the corporate chef position didn’t stick, Fry’s love for Atlanta stuck with him and it has proved a recipe for success. Fry and his restaurants have been included in numerous national and local publications, such as Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Chicago Tribune, Cooking Light, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Esquire, Food & Wine, Garden & Gun, Sky, Southern Living and the Washington Post. Accolades for Fry and his restaurants include: • October 2012 – The Optimist named the Best New Restaurant of the Year by Esquire magazine • 2013 – Fry named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation Awards for Outstanding Restaurateur • June 2013 – The Optimist named one of the 70 Best Restaurants in the World by Condé Nast Traveler magazine • September 2013 – The Optimist was on the cover of Bon Appétit and named the seventh Best New Restaurant in the country by the magazine • October 2013 – King + Duke selected as one of the Best New Restaurants of 2013 by Esquire magazine • November 2013 – Fry wins seventh annual Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Award for Restaurateur of the Year • November 2013 – Fry named Empire Builder of the Year by Eater Atlanta • Invited to cook at the Beard House on multiple occasions.
January 2007 Fry put down roots in Atlanta with the opening of his first restaurant – JCT. Kitchen & Bar – a place that’s as warm and friendly as its owner. The menu is reminiscent of traditional family favorites and features ingredients from regional fields and farms. Regulars love JCT.’s refined comfort food, from fried chicken with bacon mac and cheese to deviled eggs with country ham to the restaurant’s famous “angry” mussels. The upstairs bar serves up small plates, cocktails and amazing views of the Atlanta skyline for a more casual dining experience. JCT. Kitchen & Bar is the kind of place locals take their out-of-town guests for a classy Southern experience. “I want to create restaurants that strike a timeless emotional chord – restaurants that don’t pander to trend, but draw generations of families together,” says Fry. Fry’s culinary vision always begins with ingredients and dishes that are central to the Atlanta community and Southeastern region. He sources local ingredients not only because they taste better but because it allows him to partner closely with suppliers and honor local harvests. He then utilizes classical European techniques in his preparation resulting in dishes that are approachable and uncomplicated yet entirely new to his guests.
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Mark Shaver/Buckhead Paws
I had a long career as a corporate executive, working with Coca-Cola, Baskin Robbins, and RJ Reynolds. An interesting twist to that career is that I spent 15 years of it living and working overseas, including general management assignments in Seoul, Korea; Lahore, Pakistan; and Moscow, Russia. I returned to the States in 2004, settling here in Atlanta. The reason I chose Atlanta was pretty much the Chamber of Commerce reasons: cost of living; climate; good people; great airport; opportunity.
In my last corporate role, as General Manager of Country Operations for Reynolds, I was in charge of a business unit doing $500 million in annual revenue and oversaw about 800 people in 22 different offices across Russia. It was a big job, demanding and exciting. And that afforded me the opportunity to travel the breadth of Russia. But what I’m doing now with Buckhead Paws is so much more personally rewarding: we get to take care of critters; we’re able to be of service to our clients; and we help 11 people earn a living. We get to be outdoors and taking care of pets is a great way to meet new people.
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Co-Host: Michael Crandal/Crandal Hospitality
25+ years of successfully building and maintaining exemplarily management teams by identifying talent, mentoring — and monitoring accountability for terrific results with a style of leadership based upon positive support and empowerment, rather than fear or micro-management.
A compelling speaking style before large audiences. Ability to communicate, lead, and gain confidence from reporting at regular Board of Director meetings, annual shareholders / membership meetings, presenting staff training / leadership / business ethics seminars – to offering the keynote address at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management MBA Conference.
Engaging, upbeat and sincere personality in interacting on a personal level throughout every day with every person encountered, while consistently bringing sound business savvy & financial acumen to the table. Expertise in creating, presenting, gaining ultimate approval — and then monitoring unwavering adherence to both Operating and Capital budgets. An experienced strategic planner who has developed and successfully implemented meaningful 5+ year Capital Reserve Plans and ongoing Cash Management Programs.
BY THE WAY: Just in case you were wondering, the letters after Michael Crandal, CNG stand for: Certified Nice Guy. Self-certified, by the way. But, a nice guy nonetheless. He and his wife, Kim, have recently moved to the Buckhead area of Atlanta, GA.
I PRESENT CUSTOM DESIGNED LEADERSHIP / ETHICS / MOTIVATIONAL WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND KEYNOTE SPEECHES. I’ve proudly completed my book, LIFE’S 10-POINT MUST SYSTEM (available NOW on amazon.com) — I continue to author management / leadership magazine articles — accept speaking engagements, and present custom designed Leadership / Ethics workshops to clients around the country. My wife has recently accepted the position of Town Club Manager with the Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta, GA and we have moved from our home in Palm Desert, CA.
I now consider meaningful relationships (Atlanta based) where my proven Executive Committee level leadership expertise is best utilized. I EFFECTIVELY ENHANCE MANAGEMENT TEAM PRODUCTIVITY & ENTHUSIASM THAT PROVES CONTAGIOUS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION RIGHT DOWN TO THE ULTIMATE CONSUMER OF SERVICES.
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