Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Archives - Page 9 of 13

Resources and Planning for North Fulton Regional Recovery: Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

August 13, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Resources and Planning for North Fulton Regional Recovery: Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

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

Resources and Planning for North Fulton Regional Recovery: Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 47)

Five months into a pandemic, Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, joined the “GNFCC 400 Insider” to share what she’s learned about leadership through a pandemic, uncertain times for chambers generally, GNFCC task force committees formed to gather resources for a North Fulton regional recovery, and much more. The show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

The “GNFCC 400 Insider” (formerly “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”) 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 North Fulton regional 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 the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray in the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Legislative Update with Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan

July 28, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Legislative Update with Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan

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WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Legislative Update with Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan

Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan joined this month’s Wellstar Chamber Luncheon as the keynote speaker, offering a 2020 legislative review and more. 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.

Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan

A former professional baseball player and successful entrepreneur, Geoff Duncan was elected Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor in November of 2018.

Geoff graduated from Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta where he met his wife, Brooke. Geoff and Brooke both attended the Georgia Institute of Technology where Geoff was a scholarship pitcher. After a successful career at Georgia Tech, Geoff was drafted by the Florida Marlins’ organization. Geoff spent six seasons playing baseball in the minor leagues, advancing as high as AAA before a shoulder injury forced his retirement in the early 2000s.

After retiring from baseball, Geoff and his wife Brooke started a small marketing firm in their living room. The company experienced tremendous success which allowed Geoff and Brooke to sell the business and move on to multiple other entrepreneurial ventures. Geoff most recently served as the CEO of a health technology startup.

Geoff’s faith inspired him to a life of leadership and prompted his upstart run for political office. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2012. During his time in office he authored several important pieces of legislation. These include HB 749-The Cargo Theft Act, HB152-Michael’s Law and most recently SB258- the Rural Hospital Tax Credit.

Geoff and Brooke are married and have three sons: Parker (17), Bayler (13), and Ryder (9). Geoff has coached 23 different youth sports teams, and also leads a weekly bible study with his wife Brooke. The Duncans attend Browns Bridge Community Church, an affiliate of North Point Community Church.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

“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.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

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®.

WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Recognizing the 2020 Leadership North Fulton Class, Keynote Speaker Kevin Scott, ADDO

June 30, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Recognizing the 2020 Leadership North Fulton Class, Keynote Speaker Kevin Scott, ADDO

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WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Recognizing the 2020 Leadership North Fulton Class, Keynote Speaker Kevin Scott, ADDO (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 45)

Kevin Scott, Co-Founder of ADDO, is the keynote speaker as the Chamber recognizes the 2020 graduating class of Leadership North Fulton. 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 Business RadioX was the media sponsor for this event.

Leadership North Fulton Class of 2020

Kimberly	Allred	Business Development, Retail and Events Specialist	Roswell Inc
Don	Barbour	Regional Director – External Affairs	AT&T Georgia
Jason	Binder	Councilman	City of Alpharetta
Tonya	Byrd	Director of Operations	WellStar Health System
Jasmine	Cockfield	Manager, Internal Communications & Special Projects	Rheem Manufacturing Company
Linda	Coyle	Business Development Officer	LGE Community Credit Union
Misty	Fernandez	Area Manager	Georgia Power Company
Kyle	Fox	Tax Senior Associate	Frazier & Deeter
Mike	Fuller	Director Digital Experience/CX/UX	State Farm
Alex	Girrbach	Director of Accounting & Operations	Greater North Fulton Chamber
Karim	Godamunne	Hospital Chief Medical Officer	Wellstar North Fulton
Brenda	Hall	Director of Admissions	The Cottage School
Kay	Howell	President	Patsy’s Closet Foundation
Staci	Hutto	Area Coordinator	Troy University
Victor	Jones	Underwriting Team Manager	State Farm Insurance Companies
Gloria	Mattei	Owner	Nothing Bundt Cakes- Alpharetta
Darwin	Newton	Head of Operations, Electrical Services	Siemens Smart Infrastructure
Frank	O’Brien	Business Development Officer	Iberiabank
Juli	Paladino	Accounting Manager	Blazej Accounting and Bookkeeping
Robyn	Rotunda
Garrett	Rowland	Assistant Branch Manager	Renasant Bank
Anne	Simpson	Financial Planner	Odyssey Personal Financial Advisors
Pabel	Troche	Battalion Chief of Special Operations and Training	City of Roswell
Darlene	Turk	Director of Volunteer Services	North Fulton Community Charities
Andrew	Walker	Manager, CPA	Brady Ware and Company
Andy	Williams	Executive Director	Visit Roswell

Kevin Paul Scott, Co-Founder, ADDO

Kevin Paul Scott has traveled to six continents and spoken to leaders from more than 100 countries. Kevin co-founded the leadership consultancy ADDO, which is Latin for “Inspire.” In addition to working with businesses and brands, ADDO has developed the national Chick-fil-A Leader Academy program, the Atlanta Braves Leadership Institute, and other leadership programs from cradle-through-career.

Kevin is the author of three books, including his latest The Lens of Leadership. In consecutive years, Kevin was named to the “40 under 40′ lists for Georgia Trend and then the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Kevin is a frequent guest on numerous media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC. He lives with his wife and son in Marietta, Georgia.

Find out more about ADDO at their website.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

North Fulton Mayor's Roundtable — **Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

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®.

GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: “Pandemic: Changing People, Changing Places”

June 18, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: "Pandemic: Changing People, Changing Places"

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GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum – Pandemic: Changing People, Changing Places (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 43)

How should human resources professionals re-engage their workforce as the economy reopens? What’s the current pool of available talent look like? Those question and more were addressed in this Forum. The PowerPoint deck associated with this webinar can be found here. This Economic Recovery Forum was jointly presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Roswell Inc.. The PowerPoint deck associated with this webinar can be found here.

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®. Business RadioX is the Media Sponsor for this series of Economic Recovery Forums.

Felton Anderson, Southern Company

Felton Anderson is a coordinator for labor relations for Georgia Power Company, headquartered in Atlanta. In this position, Felton provides strategic consulting and effective solutions to senior management of Georgia Power and leadership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 84 concerning labor and employment issues and plays an integral role in negotiations between the parties.

Felton joined Southern Company in 1994. Felton started her career with Alabama Power Company where her positions in corporate marketing included her Alabama Power United Way campaign roles of chair for marketing and co-chair for Alabama Power’s leadership giving. After leaving Birmingham in 1999, she led the implementation of a Southern Company system-wide uniform program on behalf of human resources for Southern Company Services in Atlanta.

Since 2002, Felton has held various positions of increasing responsibility at Georgia Power in corporate services, marketing, customer service, distribution, and human resources. Felton has been active in leadership development and mentoring programs for Southern Company and in the community. As an alumna of Leadership North Fulton, Felton is currently serving as a 2019-2020 program co-chair for Leadership North Fulton, a program of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Felton also serves on the board of directors for the Children’s Development Academy in Roswell.

Felton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama. Felton and her husband, Johnny Herbert, have four sons and live in Milton, Georgia.

Forum Panelists

Matthew S. Harrison, Ph.D., VP of HR, Jackson Healthcare

Matthew S. Harrison, Ph.D. currently works at Jackson Healthcare as Vice President, Human Resources. In this role he is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing all human resources and administrative service functions for various Jackson Healthcare companies, and leads delivery in the areas of: talent management/acquisition, learning & development, employee relations, performance management, organizational development, change management, job & compensation analysis, HR metrics & reporting, and diversity & inclusion.

Previously, Dr. Harrison served in leadership roles at Mannheim, McKesson, The Weather Channel, and Comcast focusing on talent management/acquisition, learning & development, organizational effectiveness, diversity & inclusion, and HR business partner work.

Dr. Harrison also currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology at The University of Georgia. He is a published diversity researcher, and is renowned for his research on the topic of colorism. His master’s thesis received wide publicity–being featured on websites such as CNN, CNBC, ABC News, was reported in various newspapers and media outlets across the US (and United Kingdom), and received an initial inquiry from an executive producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Dr. Harrison is a graduate of Emory University (B.A.) and The University of Georgia (M.S. & Ph.D.).

Jay Litton, RUMC Job Networking

Jay Litton is an Enterprise Account Executive for Sumo Logic (www.sumologic.com) which is headquartered in Redwood City, CA. Sumo Logic helps large companies proactively find problems in real time with their IT applications, operations and security. The solution is a SaaS, Cloud Native service which helps prevent customer facing mission critical issues and data breaches via machine learning.

Jay has over 35 years of sales/sales management experience working at both start-up and multi-billion dollar companies primarily in the software IT industry.

Jay began his leadership 23 years ago at RUMC Job Networking (www.RUMCjobnetworking.com) in 1997 which was 9 years after the founding of the ministry. Since this time RUMC Job Networking has grown to become one of the largest ministries of its kind in the United States. Hundreds of people are typically on-site and now job seekers attend virtually every second and fourth Mondays through their 11-hour virtual workshop and one-on-one sessions. Jay is also the creator of the WoW! Interview (www.WowInterview.com) and has presented his method in person to over 10,000 people in career transition. RUMC Job Networking has been showcased by ABC’s World News Tonight by Diane Sawyer, The Economist, Atlanta Journal Constitution, WSB-TV, The Wall Street Journal and many other media sources.

Jay has been married to his wife Donna for 37 years and they have three adult children. Jay and Donna have lived in Roswell for 26 years.

Jenny Taylor, VP Career Services, Goodwill of North Georgia

Jenny Taylor is a sought after public speaker on the topics of successful large-scale public/private partnerships, employer engagement, workforce development, and employment outcomes for people with significant barriers. She is Vice President of Career Services at the second largest Goodwill in the nation, leading evidence-based programs with outcomes in the top 10% of the industry, as measured by the National Benchmarking Project.

Her agency has a $175 million dollar budget and operates programs that placed 25,688 people in competitive employment last year.

She holds a Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She is a member of the National and Georgia Rehabilitation Associations, and Mensa.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

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

GNFCC North Fulton Legal Forum: Losses, Leases and Litigation

June 11, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

GNFCC North Fulton Legal Forum: Losses, Leases and Litigation

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GNFCC North Fulton Legal Forum: “Losses, Leases and Litigation” (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 42)

The pandemic environment has created a number of legal issues, touching everything from commercial leases to employees to legal liability. This GNFCC North Fulton Legal Forum, with three accomplished legal experts as panelists, addressed many of these issues. The PowerPoint deck associated with this webinar can be found here. This webinar was jointly presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Roswell Inc..

Steve Stroud, Roswell, Inc., Moderator

Steve Stroud is a community leader, currently serving as the Executive Director of Roswell Inc, which promotes economic development through a public-private partnership with the City of Roswell. Roswell Inc, under Stroud’s leadership, has marketed an expanded Opportunity Zone, increasing the number of certified businesses, and launched networking/educational/informative programs to assist and retain local businesses. Stroud and his staff continue to forge an open line of communication between business owners, developers, citizens, corporations, non-profits and various entities. Roswell Inc continues to foster these relationships to enhance the quality of the community.

Previously, Stroud owned and operated Stroud’s Printing and Design for 30 years in Roswell, Georgia. Stroud has actively participated in community and nonprofits throughout Roswell for over 20 years. Stroud attended Georgia State University, with a focus in political science. A Roswell native, Stroud remains residing in Roswell, Georgia with his wife and three daughters.

Forum Panelists

Heather Brown, Brown Law LLC

For 18 years, Roswell-area and Georgia businesses in a variety of industries have turned to attorney Heather Brown, Brown Law LLC, for help litigating cases. Her track record of success has earned her a loyal and ever-growing client base. Specific areas of her business law practice include creditor’s rights (both in and out of bankruptcy courts), contract disputes and commercial real estate disputes.

When not practicing law, Heather also finds time in her busy schedule to volunteer. She is passionate about helping others with a particular focus on disadvantaged women and children. She has also served in a variety of roles with several organizations that include:

Chair of multiple committees for Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Atlanta where she also completed the 2016 CREW leadership program
Member of the Advisory Council for the Drake House in Roswell
Member and past board member of the National Charity League
Supporter of Atlanta Women’s Foundation and part of the Inspire Atlanta Program

John Herbert, Herbert Legal Group

John Herbert is the managing partner at Herbert Legal Group and has been providing flat fee legal and advisory services in North Fulton since 2013. John’s primary practice area is concentrated in commercial practice for small- to medium-sized businesses but also includes some real estate services and commercial litigation. In addition to North Fulton, the HLG’s client base spans six continents with a heavy concentration in Africa. John has been practicing law since 1994. John has a B.S. in Polymer & Textile Chemistry from Georgia Tech and a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University.

Kurt Hilbert, Hilbert Law Firm

Kurt R. Hilbert is the Managing Member and Founder of The Hilbert Law Firm, LLC. He is a seasoned litigator, an AV Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell, and repeatedly honored by his peers as an America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, Georgia Rising Star Super Lawyer, ALM Legal Leader as featured in the Wall Street Journal, and Best Attorney in North Fulton County, Georgia 2014-2020. Mr. Hilbert can handle your matter all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

He has crafted a practice that provides a wide array of services to clients ranging from banking institutions and large corporations to small businesses. Hilbert is also a Certified Civil Mediator in the State of Georgia and has been certified as an expert witness in several GA cases involving real estate. Hilbert’s primary areas of expertise involve real estate, construction, banking, employment, and corporate matters. Hilbert oversees all litigation matters and cases at the firm to provide comprehensive customer service.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

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

GNFCC North Fulton Economic Recovery Series: Zoom Pro Tips from the Source

June 4, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

GNFCC North Fulton Economic Recovery Series: Zoom Pro Tips from the Source

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GNFCC North Fulton Economic Recovery Series: Zoom Pro Tips from the Source (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 41)

Nicole Gray, Customer Success Manager Lead, Zoom Video Communications offered a host of Zoom pro tips in this webinar which are valuable for both beginners and advanced users of Zoom. The PowerPoint deck associated with this webinar can be found here. This webinar was jointly presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Roswell Inc..

Nicole Gray, Customer Success Manager Lead, Zoom Video Communications

Nicole Gray is a veteran of the Sass industry. She spent a bulk of her career at ADP before moving to startups. She was the first Customer Success Manager hired in the Zoom Atlanta office. Currently she is the office’s Happy Crew manager and the team lead for her Customer Success team. Outside of Zoom Nicole enjoys her family (her 4 year old keeps her on her toes) reading, writing and podcasting.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” (formerly “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”) 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.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

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

WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Education with Dr. Mike Looney, Fulton County Schools

May 26, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Education with Dr. Mike Looney, Fulton County Schools

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WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Education with Dr. Mike Looney, Fulton County Schools (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 39)

Dr. Mike Looney, Superintendent of Fulton County Schools, briefed attendees of the WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series on fall school reopening scenarios, lessons learned this past spring, and much more. It’s must listen for parents, students, businesses, and all stakeholders in Fulton County Schools. 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 Business RadioX was the media sponsor for this event.

Dr. Mike Looney, Fulton County Schools Superintendent

Dr. Mike Looney joined Fulton County Schools after serving as Superintendent of Williamson County Schools in Tennessee, where he was named 2015 Superintendent of the year by Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS).

He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Master’s degree in Education from Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Dr. Looney earned his Educational Specialist Degree and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Looney’s work has been presented for regional and national audiences on a wide range of educational and leadership topics.

He has served on several distinguished panels including President George W. Bush’s National Reading Leadership Panel in Washington D.C.

Dr. Looney also served as Superintendent of the Butler County School District in Alabama. Under his leadership the school district realized significant student achievement gains, improved the graduation rate, and established the district’s first magnet school. In recognition of his work there, he was selected as Greenville, Alabama’s Citizen of the Year in 2008.

Before arriving at Butler, he was Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Montgomery Public Schools. Under his leadership, the district of 61 schools and 31,000 students received national notoriety for its improvement in reading achievement scores.

Dr. Looney, a public educator since 1994, has also served in the roles of classroom teacher, assistant principal and principal. During his tenure as principal, his school was recognized for closing the achievement gap for underprivileged and minority students. His school was highlighted at both the state and national levels and was named a National Title I Distinguished School.

Prior to entering the field of education, he served as finance manager for a privately-held corporation with fifty employees in Anniston, Alabama. His responsibilities included corporate finance, marketing, and human resource management.

Dr. Looney is a military veteran having served for seven years in the United States Marine Corps before being honorably discharged with a service-related injury. His military service was distinguished by four meritorious promotions which included his being selected as the Marine of the Year for MCRS Montgomery serving Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. In addition to other medals and ribbons, Dr. Looney was the recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. His military duties took him all over the world and included a six-month tour on the USS Raleigh with the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Amphibious Force. He is the father of four grown children.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

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®.

GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: Re-engaging Employees

May 21, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: Re-engaging Employees

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GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: Re-engaging Employees (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 38)

The pandemic-induced business environment has created a host of unique HR challenges, including managing work at home employees, interviewing and hiring virtually, and providing a safe environment for employees returning to the workplace. Five leading North Fulton-based HR professionals contributed to a GNFCC HR Forum panel discussion on these topics and much more. 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®. Business RadioX is the Media Sponsor for this series of Economic Recovery Forums.

Moderator:

Misty Fernandez, Georgia Power

HR Professionals Featured in this Forum:

Michael Young
HR Site Head – JCM/JCD, R&D Quality & AVS
Alcon

Michael Young’s passion has been to connect with people by connecting to the hearts and minds of all those that he encounters. As a child Michael always knew he wanted to be an Educator, he chose the corporate route where he finds fulfillment in Human Resources by connecting people with opportunity. From his days in High School to now he has directed camp programs for Inner City Youth, served on boards for institutions that focus on education, and taught at Vacation Bible School.

In the corporate world, after developing talent in support of several departments across several industries, Michael began working with Alcon in 2016. Today Michael is the HR Site Head for John’s Creek where he continues to connect opportunity to Alcon’s vast talent pool to serve our patients to See Brilliantly.

Julie Weith Smith, MBA-HRM, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
President and CEO
Custom Human Resource Solutions (CHRS)

Custom Human Resource Solutions (CHRS) was founded in 2007 and provides HR strategy and practitioner services to small and medium sized business across the country. Julie Smith is the President and CEO of CHRS and has been practicing human resources for more than 30 years. She has earned a bachelor’s of science degree in business management and an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources Management, and holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR-practitioner) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR-strategist) designation which identifies depth and breadth of HR knowledge on a national level. Julie’s high-level HR competence is credited through the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) through her achievement of the SHRM-SCP designation (Senior Certified Professional).

Julie has been recognized for industry achievements throughout her career including such honors as being named Top HR Professional and recognized as a Business Rising Star and top Women in Business – San Fernando Valley Business Journal. She also provides industry commentary on multiple media channels such as CNN Online, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) and NPR. Julie was featured in Voyage Atlanta Magazine in their Trending category for 2017 and in the Atlanta Journal Constitution for Best of Atlanta 2018.

Jim Cichanski
President and CEO
Flex HR, Inc.

Jim’s experience includes operational HR management knowledge globally in 32 countries and has merged or transitioned well over 350 companies.

Jim also spent 26 years in the Army National Guard achieving the rank of Colonel, was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, and received numerous awards including the Legion of Merit. Jim has served or is serving on several boards, was an inside board member of 17 companies and is an angel investor is start-up in several Atlanta firms.

Jim was recognized by the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce as the Small Businessperson of the year and was also listed in Catalyst Magazine as 1 of 18 Companies, CEO’s in Atlanta would like to own. Outsourcing Gazette magazine listed Flex HR as the “Top Most Promising HR & Staffing Service Vendors of 2015”. Inc. Magazine in September 2008, 2012 and 2013 recognized Flex HR, Inc. as an Inc 5000 “Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in America”. Jim is married to his wife for 47 years, has two daughters and 4 grandchildren.

In the past 2 months Jim conducted over 30 COVID-19 Zoom Webinars touching more then 5,000 small companies in helping direct the Human Capital aspects of this epidemic.

Sonya Buckley
Chief People Officer
Hire Dynamics

Sonya is a Staffing Industry Professional with over 20 years of experience in the Atlanta market. She brings a wealth of knowledge in Senior Executive leading Talent Acquisition, Leadership Development,Human Resources, retention strategies and building a best place to work culture. Sonya has a proven track record in professional recruitment, management, leadership development and succession planning.

Sonya specializes in “Top Grading” methodologies. She has built and transformed a talent acquisition organization resulting in an industry leading retention rate. She has built several innovative initiatives to build leadership depth and entry level apprentice programs. Sonya’s top human capital metric is attracting, engaging and retaining top talent.She has led leadership development and spearheadedEmerging, Growing and Transformation leadership programs to support the growth of Hire Dynamics.

With Hire Dynamics tripling in size over the past three years, she has been instrumental in building a best place to work culture in all the markets they serve.In addition, she works with clients to develop their leaders and culture.At Hire Dynamics, our believe is that “Every Experience Matters”. Her greatest success is building a workforce that delivers consistently a great experience for over 62,000 talent placed in 2019 and over1500 clients served. For the past 10 years, Hire Dynamics has been ranked in the top 2% in the staffing industry clearly rated net promoter program.

Sonya is active in the American Staffing Association (ASA) taking leadership roles inWomen in leadership and Staffing as a career. She served as President of the Georgia Staffing Association and was on the board for 5 years. She is a Penn State graduate.

Mark Bryan
Director, Field and Segment Marketing
Verizon

Mark Bryan is director – Field and Segment Marketing – Verizon Business Group for Verizon, the largest wireless provider with the nation’s largest 4G LTE network. In his role, Bryan is responsible for Marketing activities supporting the $12B Business Markets organization.

During his 14 years with Verizon, Bryan has held positions in the company’s Indirect Sales, Business Sales and Marketing channels as well as its Business Transformation organization. Bryan is a member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors and is the Chairman of the Board for Haiti Outreach. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Mercer University and is a certified Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

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

GNFCC North Fulton Real Estate Forum: Real Estate Market Outlook

May 14, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

GNFCC North Fulton Real Estate Forum: Real Estate Market Outlook

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North Fulton Real Estate Forum: Real Estate Market Outlook (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 37)

The outlook for North Fulton real estate, both commercial and residential, is much more uncertain today as the local economy absorbs the effect of the pandemic. As part of a series of GNFCC Economic Recovery Forums, Gregg Logan, Managing Director of RCLCO Real Estate Advisors, offered his view of North Fulton real estate as well as the broader economic environment. 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®. Business RadioX is the Media Sponsor for this series of Economic Recovery Forums.

Gregg Logan, Managing Director, RCLCO Real Estate Advisors

Gregg Logan is an RCLCO Managing Director based out of the Orlando, Florida office. With over 35 years development and consulting experience, Gregg has worked with real estate developers, land owners, cities and counties, private investors, builders, and legal and accounting firms. Gregg’s consulting work has included market and financial evaluations, fiscal impact assessment, economic impact evaluations, economic development strategies, valuations, and litigation support for a wide range of real estate product types.Gregg has conducted and supervised real estate consulting assignments throughout the U.S. and abroad, including projects throughout Florida. His international work includes projects for clients in the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as Europe and the Middle East.

Gregg is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and a past Chairman of the Central Florida District Council. He has chaired several ULI district and product councils. He is a contributing author of several ULI books, including Transforming Business Districts and Housing for Niche Markets. He published a white paper for the U.S. EPA titled The Market for Smart Growth. Gregg participated as a market specialist to help create ULI’s Ten Principles for Developing Successful Town Centers. He served as a chair for the ULI Advisory Services Panel, Regional Cooperation for Florida’s Future.

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