eSports Archives - Business RadioX ®

Randy Winfield, Winfield Realty Group, and Todd Harris, Skillshot Media

October 18, 2021 by John Ray

Family Business Radio

Randy Winfield, Winfield Realty Group, and Todd Harris, Skillshot Media

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Randy Winfield, Winfield Realty Group, and Todd Harris, Skillshot Media (Family Business Radio, Episode 25)

Anthony Chen hosts two guests on this episode, each in industries undergoing rapid change. Randy Winfield of Winfield Realty Group discussed the hot residential real estate market and where he thinks it may be headed. Todd Harris of Skillshot Media offered an overview of the local and global esports event market, events Skillshot hosts, scholastic opportunities in gaming and esports, and much more. Anthony wrapped up this episode with thoughts on how personal values because of the pandemic and how those shifts affect retirement plans. Family Business Radio is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network.

Randy Winfield, President & Broker, Winfield Realty Group

Winfield Realty Group is a boutique real estate firm, and they consistently provide a “concierge” and “best-in-class” personal level of service to their clients. They work with honesty, integrity and have a conscientious attention to detail.

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer, relocating, selling your present home or estate, searching for that perfect home, perhaps on the golf course or in that exclusive subdivision, for your “retirement” home, your next business location or commercial property, land or customized marketing for your subdivision, Randy is ready to assist you.

Randal’s attention to detail and his concierge level of service bring him repeat clients, many referrals and have helped to build the company to its respected position in the community.

He has been an Atlanta area resident since the late 70’s and has lived in Gwinnett County since 1986. The firm has been voted “Best of Gwinnett” Realtors in 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008 & 2005 by Gwinnett Magazine.

Randal has received the Five Star Professional Award in 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2014 – awarded to the top 2% of agents for customer service.

Company website | LinkedIn

Todd Harris, Founder and CEO, Skillshot Media

Skillshot Media is in the business of connecting leading brands to engaged esports fans. The company has hosted thousands of esports tournaments, paid out over $10M in prizing to players in competitive video games and delivered over 1 billion views of esports content.

Todd Harris (@toddalanharris) is an accomplished entrepreneur who has been leading video game and esports businesses for 15 years and involved with technology product startups for 25 years. Todd co-founded Hi-Rez Studios, one of the largest video game studios in the Southeast and is currently Founder & CEO of Skillshot Media, a leading esports infrastructure and production company, President of the North American Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF), and co-owner of esports professional team Ghost Gaming.

Ghost Gaming is an Atlanta-based professional esports team and gaming lifestyle brand that has won 13 tournament championships and cultivated a fan base of over 5 million.

NASEF is the leading scholastic esports solution for high school students, providing opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to acquire critical communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Throughout his career, Todd has garnered industry recognition including “2019 Most Admired CEO” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as he works with partners toward advancing the esports industry.

Company website | LinkedIn

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

family owned craft breweries — **Anthony Chen**

This show is sponsored and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. Securities and advisory services offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. (RAA), member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of RAA. The main office address is 575 Broadhollow Rd. Melville, NY 11747. You can reach Anthony at 631-465-9090 ext 5075 or by email at anthonychen@lfnllc.com.

Anthony Chen started his career in financial services with MetLife in Buffalo, NY in 2008. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, he considers himself a full-blooded New Yorker while now enjoying his Atlanta, GA home. Specializing in family businesses and their owners, Anthony works to protect what is most important to them. From preserving to creating wealth, Anthony partners with CPAs and attorneys to help address all of the concerns and help clients achieve their goals. By using a combination of financial products ranging from life, disability, and long term care insurance to many investment options through Royal Alliance. Anthony looks to be the eyes and ears for his client’s financial foundation. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid long-distance runner.

The complete show archive of “Family Business Radio” can be found at familybusinessradioshow.com.

Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: Esports Industry Impact, with Todd Harris, Skillshot Media and Brennen Dicker, Creative Media Industries Institute at GSU

February 23, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: Esports Industry Impact, with Todd Harris, Skillshot Media and Brennen Dicker, Creative Media Industries Institute at GSU

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Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: Esports Industry Impact, with Todd Harris, Skillshot Media and Brennen Dicker, Creative Media Industries Institute at GSU (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 57)

Metro Atlanta–and North Fulton specifically–are home to a thriving esports industry, and all the necessary ingredients are in place for continued growth, according to panelists speaking at this GNFCC Wellstar Chamber Luncheon series. Todd Harris, founder of Skillshot Media, and Brennen Dicker of Creative Media Industries Institute, joined moderator Asante Bradford, Georgia Department of Economic Development, to discuss the dynamics of the region’s esports industry and why its future is bright.

The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright, and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. John Ray and North Fulton Business RadioX served as the media sponsor for this event.

Asante Bradford, Moderator

**Asante Bradford, Georgia Department of Economic Development**

Asante Bradford is Project Manager for Digital Entertainment and Emerging Media for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the sales, and marketing arm for the State of Georgia.

The Global Commerce Division conducts extensive business development, sales, marketing, and promotional activities in order to attract entertainment projects and businesses to the state. The division’s team also assists the local, national and international entertainment industries with information, expertise, and resources.

Asante helps promote the growth of the digital media industry as well as identify initiatives that will help grow businesses for the state of Georgia in interactive entertainment and eSports. He also helps educate potential prospects and provides clients with information about the Georgia Entertainment Industry Incentives Act.

His area of concentration with the Global Commerce office is to increase the impact of interactive entertainment for the State of Georgia as well as being a dedicated liaison to assist with promotions, logistics, and business development for attracting digital media companies outside the state to relocate in Georgia.

Esports is becoming an economic driver for Atlanta with Fortune 500 companies, a thriving tech center, film, TV, and videogame tax incentives all play into the mix. Georgia esports is also a sanctioned activity at the local high school level with a focus on STEM exposure.

Company website

Todd Harris, Founder and CEO of Skillshot Media

Skillshot connects leading brands to engaged esports fans. The company has hosted thousands of esports tournaments, paid out over $10M in prizing for competitive video games, and delivered over 1 billion views of esports content. Skillshot also powers the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) competition with member universities awarding over $16M in esports scholarships.

Ghost Gaming is an Atlanta-based professional esports team and gaming lifestyle brand that has won 13 tournament championships and cultivated a fan base of over 5 million.

Throughout his career, Todd has garnered industry recognition including “2019 Most Admired CEO” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as he works with partners toward advancing the esports industry.

Company website

Brennen Dicker, Executive Director, Creative Media Industries Institute

**Brennen Dicker, Creative Media Industries Institute**

Brennen Dicker, a film and television professional with 25 years of experience, is Executive Director of the Creative Media Industries Institute at Georgia State University. Before joining Georgia State, Brennen was the General Manager for SIM International (Post) Atlanta. SIM provides production and post-production services for many episodic television series and feature film productions, including; “Stranger Things”, “Watchmen”, “The Gifted”, “Dynasty”, “Good Girls”, “True Detective” S3, as well as the blockbuster “Get Out”.

Brennen previously served as Director of Post Production Sales at Crawford Media Services, has broad experience in all aspects of film and television production, and deep ties to Atlanta’s production community. He worked with networks – National Geographic, HGTV, and Discovery and also with series “The Walking Dead” and “Vampire Diaries” while at Crawford. Earlier in his career, he was executive producer and principal of American Mongrel Productions (Chicago). He was the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship Recipient in 2001, and 2018 inaugural Women in Film and Television ( WIFTA – Atlanta) Gallantry Award winner.

Brennen is a current member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Screen Coalition Committee and is on the board for the Atlanta Esports Association (AEA). He chairs the CMII Working Group which is comprised of leaders in film, television, gaming, and music for the state of Georgia. He also serves on the Board of Directors for The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival.

He has served as Chair of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Atlanta Advisory Council, and as Chair of Gov. Relations with the Georgia Production Partnership (GPP) board, and was the Chair for the 2018 and 2019 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. He has also served on the board as Vice Chair for The Frazer Center and served on the Executive Board for the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

Institute website

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events such as this North Fulton Mayors Appreciation Lunch, follow this link.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Andrew Smoltz and Taylor McDermott, United in Gaming

October 21, 2020 by John Ray

Business Beat

Frazier & Deeter's Business Beat: Andrew Smoltz and Taylor McDermott, United in Gaming

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Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Andrew Smoltz and Taylor McDermott, United in Gaming

United in Gaming Co-Founders Andrew Smoltz and Taylor McDermott join this edition of Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat to discuss their community-centered gaming platform, how the pandemic has accelerated the growth of the gaming industry, and their goal of becoming the social network of choice for gamers. Roger Lusby, CPA is the host of “Business Beat” and the series is presented by Alpharetta CPA firm Frazier & Deeter.

United in Gaming

At United in Gaming, they believe in the power of one gaming community that welcomes casual and elite gamers to the same turf. No matter the skill level, they provide an inclusive platform for gamers to play and compete on their terms, creating an experience unique to each gamer.

Andrew Smoltz

Andrew launched UIG to tie together his experience and passion in esports and entertainment. Andrew has 10+ years of experience in the space with a focus in eSports and celebrity entertainment. The visionary behind COV-AID, Andrew has also helped jumpstart the debut league for ELEAGUE on TBS while working at IMG Live/WME. Andrew was also in charge of eSports research and recruitment for CSE Talent. In addition to agency background, Andrew brings relevant event planning and event management experience from his time with ETA.

Taylor McDermott

Taylor’s 10+ years of experience brings unique attributes that drive the eSports industry. Combining a high level of traditional sports marketing and sponsorship knowledge, experience in client facing representation with professional athletes, to strategic revenue growth and analysis for Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Following his entrepreneurial aspirations, Taylor founded UIG with longtime partner Andrew Smoltz, creating a strategic force with the goal of empowering a global gaming community through the power of opportunity.

Connect with United in Gaming

Company Website

Facebook

Instagram

Frazier & Deeter

The Alpharetta office of Frazier & Deeter is home to a thriving CPA tax practice, a growing advisory practice and an Employee Benefit Plan Services group. CPAs and advisors in the Frazier & Deeter Alpharetta office serve clients across North Georgia and around the country with services such as personal tax planning, estate planning, business tax planning, business tax compliance, state and local tax planning, financial statement reviews, financial statement audits, employee benefit plan audits, internal audit outsourcing, cyber security, data privacy, SOX and other regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions and more. Alpharetta CPAs serve clients ranging from business owners and executives to large corporations.

Roger Lusby, host of Frazier & Deeter’s “Business Beat,” is an Alpharetta CPA and Alpharetta Office Managing Partner for Frazier & Deeter. He is also a member of the Tax Department in charge of coordinating tax and accounting services for our clientele. His responsibilities include a review of a variety of tax returns with an emphasis in the individual, estate, and corporate areas. Client assistance is also provided in the areas of financial planning, executive compensation and stock option planning, estate and succession planning, international planning (FBAR, SFOP), health care, real estate, manufacturing, technology and service companies.

You can find Frazier & Deeter on social media:

LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter

An episode archive of Frazier & Deeter’s “Business Beat” can be found here.

Alpharetta Tech Talk: Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta

November 16, 2019 by John Ray

Alpharetta Tech Talk

Alpharetta Tech Talk: Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta

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**“Alpharetta Tech Talk” Host John Ray and City of Alpharetta Economic Development Manager Matthew Thoma**s

“Alpharetta Tech Talk,” Episode 3: Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta

Matthew Thomas, Economic Development Manager of the City of Alpharetta, joins “Alpharetta Tech Talk” to discuss the roots of Alpharetta’s thriving technology sector. “Alpharetta Tech Talk” is hosted by John Ray and broadcast from the North Fulton Business RadioX® studio inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta Economic Development

Matthew Thomas is the Economic Development Manager for the City of Alpharetta.

There’s a reason why more than 640 technology-based businesses have made their home in Alpharetta, and it’s not just the nice houses and great weather. The city’s fiber-optic network is the most extensive and redundant in the Southeast, and they work closely with state and local economic development agencies to provide tax credits and incentives to complement any brand of business. Some of the biggest and most recognized names in the tech industry are thriving in Alpharetta. With more than 20 million square feet of office space, there’s plenty of room in the neighborhood for you next expansion.

The City of Alpharetta has been recognized nationally in a variety of awards and rankings, including Best Small City to Start Business (Entrepreneur.com), Best Atlanta Suburb (Movoto), Top 25 Best Places to Move (Forbes), 7th Friendliest City (Forbes), and 6th Fastest Growing City (U.S. Census, 2012).

For more information, go to GrowAlpharetta.com, or call 678-297-6024.

About “Alpharetta Tech Talk”

“Alpharetta Tech Talk” is the radio show/podcast home of the burgeoning technology sector in Alpharetta and the surrounding GA 400, North Fulton, Roswell, Johns Creek, and South Forsyth area. We feature startup entrepreneurs, executives of larger enterprise companies, and other key technology players from a region with over 900 technology companies. “Alpharetta Tech Talk” is hosted by John Ray and originates from the North Fulton Business RadioX® studio inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

“Alpharetta Tech Talk” is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®, located inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with approximately $12.9 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you.