John Ray Archives - Page 60 of 68

Kayla Curry, Organization Impact

September 28, 2021 by John Ray

Nashville Business Radio

Kayla Curry, Organization Impact

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Kayla Curry, Organization Impact (Nashville Business Radio, Episode 32)

Organization Impact CEO Kayla Curry joined host John Ray to discuss some of the challenges small and midsize businesses are facing now with turnover, hybrid work, and onboarding new employees. Kayla also discussed ways Organization Impact addresses these issues for clients, success stories, and much more. Nashville Business Radio is produced virtually from the Nashville studio of Business RadioX®.

Organization Impact

Regardless of your product or service, your employees are the deciding factor in whether customers choose you or your competitor. At Organization Impact, they help you identify the talent, skills and strategies that define your competitive advantage and drive success.

Their learning experiences use an interactive teaching model that engages participants in a way that is fun and energetic yet also enables real learning and application to the workplace.

Workplace life can be hard. Regardless of your role, their team is the sounding board & guide to help you move forward in your goals. They provide coaching services to professionals in a variety of roles.

Their consulting services offer solutions when you need the benefit of best practices and expert insight into your business strategy.

Company website | LinkedIn

Kayla Curry, President/CEO, Organization Impact

Light bulbs are one of Kayla’s favorite things. More specifically, light bulbs coming on in people’s heads. Kayla is a thinker and practitioner in today’s marketplace. She helps organizations drive growth by creating and sustaining their competitive advantage. Through strategies that develop the critical talent, skills and capabilities, employee and customer engagement grow resulting in bottom-line results. Her industry experience spans 20+ years in both the corporate sector and non-profit world where she has worn hats such as Director of Organizational Strategy, Director of Human Resources and Director of Staff Development.

Kayla’s experience allows her to walk alongside your team to identify your people development needs then helps you discover a hands-on approach that advances your organization’s vision and profitability. She is president of Organization Impact, LLC and a member of the Society of Human Resources Management, Association of Talent Development, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Donelson/Hermitage Chamber of Commerce, L’Evate – a leadership community, and the Workforce Magazine Business Intelligence Board. Kayla holds a BS and MS in Organizational Communication from Murray State University. She is a DiSC Trainer, a certified StrengthsGenius facilitator, Registered Corporate CoachTM, and a certified John Maxwell Trainer and Coach.

She is the author of three books: “Leadership Shorts: Practical Tips When You Are at Wit’s End”; and the #1 Amazon bestsellers “The Complete Experience: Unlocking the secrets of online reviews that drive customer loyalty”; and “Unstuck: 10 Proven Strategies for Breaking Through the Barriers to Small Business Growth.” Organization Impact is a member of the Better Business Bureau.

Questions and Topics

What are some of the biggest challenges facing employers right now?
What skills are critical for leaders in today’s marketplace?
What are some best practices companies are utilizing to retain staff?
What are some of the biggest issues facing teams today?
How is the nature of the workplace shifting?

Nashville Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the Nashville studio of Business RadioX®. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Alan Rosenbaum, Dream Vacations

September 24, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Alan Rosenbaum, Dream Vacations

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Alan Rosenbaum, Dream Vacations (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 392)

What’s happening with cruises and cruise travel right now? Are cruises safe? Are resorts a desirable alternative? Veteran travel authority Alan Rosenbaum has the experience needed in an unpredictable travel environment, and he joined host John Ray to answer these questions and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Dream Vacations

Alan Rosenbaum has been planning vacations since 2003. In 2003, Dream Vacations was known as CruiseOne because virtually all bookings were cruises. However, over the years they added almost everything related to vacations, so in April of 2016, they re-branded to Dream Vacations. In the past, Alan served on the CruiseOne Advisory Board. He has been quoted numerous times in trade publications and he frequently mentors new franchise owners.

Dream Vacations is a travel agency specializing in vacation destinations. This can range from a simple 3-day cruise to a custom tour of the world. Agents book destination weddings, honeymoons, and anniversaries. They also plan for groups of all kinds including celebrations, reunions, and fundraising cruises. Dream Vacations offers company incentive travel for organizations that seek to reward their best performers. Knowing clients can buy a vacation from hundreds of places, the most important aspect of the travel agency is its excellent service.

Company website

Alan Rosenbaum, Vacation Specialist, Dream Vacations

Originally from New York, Alan is now a resident of Johns Creek, GA after first having established a CruiseOne/Dream Vacation franchise in San Jose, CA.

He is a husband and the father of two grown daughters. He has enjoyed cruising for over 25 years and I have over 13 years of experience as a Vacation Specialist.

Whether you’re considering a short 3-day getaway or a world tour, Alan looks forward to sharing his excitement and enthusiasm for cruising while providing valuable information and advice.

LinkedIn | Facebook

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray, and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

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 over $13 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 every day.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven ready, cooked from scratch meals to go they call “Let us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Jim Barnish, Orchid Black

September 22, 2021 by John Ray

Business Leaders Radio

Jim Barnish, Orchid Black

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Jim Barnish, Orchid Black

High-growth technology firms often experience a plateau in their growth, and that’s where Jim Barnish and the Orchid Black team come in. As Jim discussed with host John Ray, Orchid Black helps technology companies get “unstuck.” Their work turns high-level strategic objectives into actionable plans which produce demonstrable and significant increases in company valuations, examples of which Jim shared. Business Leaders Radio is produced virtually from the Business RadioX® studios in Atlanta.

Orchid Black

Orchid Black partners with tech-forward companies to build smarter, better, game-changing businesses. Orchid Black ensures clients hit bigger milestones and see greater returns faster. You could say we’ve cracked the code.

Human capital is their greatest asset.

Their differentiator is their team. Behind Orchid Black’s customized assessments, strategy and effective execution is its people. They are skilled problem solvers, operators, and entrepreneurs. They get it.

They use their collective business intellect, insights, and experience to interpret client company data and give it insight. Then, with this knowledge, their operators clear a path to alignment, healthy growth, and results-driven success.

Orchid Black’s formula for success starts with their Team who combines Data and Insights in their Value Creation Assessment. Learn more at www.orchid.black.

Company website | LinkedIn

Jim Barnish, Co-founding Managing Partner, Orchid Black

Jim is a strategic change leader with over 15 years of leadership experience in global and integrated operations, M&A, and strategic go-to-market planning. Drawing on deep operational and investment experience at startup and scale-up businesses, he has created and curated a collection of proven, data-driven processes and methodologies to help companies build scalable and fundable VC-ready solutions—accelerating organic growth.

Business Leaders Radio is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. The show can be found on all the major podcast apps and a full archive can be found here.

Kathy French, Ameris Bank

September 16, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Kathy French, Ameris Bank

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Kathy French, Ameris Bank (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 391)

Kathy French, Vice President of Ameris Bank at the Hembree Road branch, is a long-standing presence both at the bank and in Roswell. She and host John Ray discussed her banking career, what makes Ameris different, the personal service she and her team deliver, her community work as well as that of the bank itself, her passion for visiting U.S. National Parks, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Ameris Bank

Ameris Bank manages more than $22 billion in assets and more than 200 financial centers across the Southeast. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ameris Bank is fiercely committed to bringing financial peace of mind to the communities it serves.

A subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp (NASDAQ: ABCB), Ameris Bank offers a full range of financial services, including traditional banking and lending products, treasury and cash management, wealth management, insurance premium financing, and mortgage and refinancing solutions. Learn more about Ameris Bank and its full range of financial services at www.amerisbank.com.

Company website | LinkedIn

Kathy French, Vice President, Ameris Bank

Kathy French started in banking over 39 years ago, took one detour, and went right back. She enjoys banking and building relationships. She started in 1984 with Fidelity Bank (now Ameris Bank) as a teller and worked her way up. She is currently the Branch Manager and has been in this position for the past 20 years. She is an experienced business development officer, consumer lender, and small business lender. She listens to her customer’s needs and finds the best solution to help them achieve their financial goals. Kathy is dedicated to working in her3 community where she volunteers with our local chamber and Kiwanis Club.

Kathy loves to be outdoors and enjoys nature and our national parks.

Lionheart Radio

September 7, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Lionheart Radio

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Lionheart Radio (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 390)

As one piece of the Lionheart Works program of The Lionheart School, Lionheart Radio is a 24/7 internet radio station staffed by Lionheart’s students and young adults who are interested in radio as a vocation. Several members of the Lionheart Radio team, along with their mentor, Jimmy Moore, joined host John Ray in the studio to talk about their work. Lionheart’s Abigail Patel also gave an overview of the Lionheart academic program. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The Lionheart School

The Lionheart School is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in the year 2000 by a group of parents and professionals who created a supportive and nurturing environment for children with challenges of relating and communicating.

Lionheart started in a small cottage on the grounds of the Alpharetta Presbyterian Church and worked diligently to create a model program that focused on each child’s individual differences.

In 2010, with the support of families, friends, foundations and the community, Lionheart moved into a new building that was designed specifically for the population it serves. The Lionheart School emphasizes relationships, emotional intelligence, abstract critical thinking, problem-solving, and social cognition. The academic program integrates the principles of evidence-based practices for students with learning differences while always considering their individual profiles. Each student has an individual learning plan that considers interests, strengths, and preferences, as well as strategies to address targeted challenge areas.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Lionheart Works

Lionheart WORKS is a vocational training program for young adults ages 18 and up with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences who desire an individualized, person-centered program that prepares and supports them in the workforce.

The goal of Lionheart WORKS is to secure meaningful and sustainable employment by matching participants with their ideal work site while maximizing independence and natural supports on the job. Participants entering the WORKS program begin with a discovery process to identify affinities, abilities, and work readiness. Individualized vocational instruction, social thinking, and self-advocacy skill building, as related to the work environment, occur in the training center and at work sites. The program assigns trained job coaches who are specifically paired to individual participants based on their interests and needs.

Their worksites are businesses, organizations, schools, and churches in the north metro Atlanta area that want to train and employ our participants. Each worksite makes a commitment to the growth and vocational success of participants they employ with the goal of sustainable employment. Participants’ families, Lionheart WORKS staff, vocational counselors, and worksite supervisors form a team to encourage participants to attain their highest level of independence and happiness.

Lionheart Works staff comes from a variety of backgrounds including social work, speech and language pathology, psychology, education, recreation, and political science. They are ACRE (Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators) trained and members of TASH and APSE on the national level. Our staff participates in continuing education opportunities yearly.

Interested businesses can contact the school through the website and Instagram. Heather Wagner is the Director of Lionheart Works.

Website | Instagram

Lionheart Radio

Offering a variety of music and sports, Lionheart Radio is on 24/7 and is staffed by students at Lionheart Works and is led by Jimmy Moore. Mr. Moore is a retired YMCA director who is now the volunteer and radio mentor for Lionheart Radio.

Lionheart Radio

Abigail Patel, B.S., Teacher, The Lionheart School

Abigail joined Lionheart in 2012 after graduating from Lee University with a degree in Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (K-12) and is a certified Special Education Teacher. She is the Lead Teacher for Lionheart’s middle and high school students. Abigail also serves as our Pre-Vocational Coordinator in partnership with Lionheart WORKS. She cares deeply about these teenagers and young adults and is honored to be a part of each of their stories. She is passionate about their social and emotional journeys, their academics and life skills, and about building enriching and interactive environments that develop students into their best selves.

Leticia and Harry Hutchins, Alma Coffee

September 3, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Leticia and Harry Hutchins, Alma Coffee

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Leticia and Harry Hutchins, Alma Coffee (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 389)

Leticia and Harry Hutchins can trace their coffee heritage back at least five generations, and they have extended the family legacy with Alma Coffee. They source their beans from Leticia’s family’s farm and nearby farms in Honduras, delivering freshly roasted-to-order coffee from their Cherokee County roastery. Joining host John Ray, Leticia and Harry discussed the roasting process, sustainability, their cafe, custom gift options, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Alma Coffee

Veteran & Women-Owned, Alma Coffee is a coffee roastery and retailer that focuses on specialty coffee from our farm and surrounding farms in Copan, Honduras! They focus on sustainability, fair trade, ethical sourcing, and highest quality. Their vision is to source ethically & sustainably, empower farmers, and roast amazing coffee! Their slogan, ‘for those who care’ defines our vision perfectly. As farmers and roasters, they care about the coffee industry and are actively working to make it better throughout every step of the supply chain. They believe their customers will also live by this slogan, choosing to buy Alma coffee because they know the positive impact their purchase makes.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

**Leticia and Harry Hutchins, Co-Owners, Alma Coffee**

Leticia Hutchins

With a passion for coffee and making a difference, Leticia co-founded Alma Coffee, a specialty coffee roastery and retailer that focuses on direct trade coffee from her family’s farm and surrounding farms in Copan, Honduras. Leticia’s goals include empowering farmers in coffee and bringing recognition to women’s crucial and impactful role in the coffee industry.

With a diverse, multi-cultural background, Leticia graduated in 2016 from DePaul University with dual majors in Accounting (concentration in Internal Audit) and Management Information Systems. Leticia previously had a career in risk advisory at KPMG in Chicago.

Harry Hutchins

Passionate about coffee and changing lives, Harry left his corporate career to pursue one in the specialty coffee industry. Along with his wife, Leticia, Harry founded Alma Coffee, a specialty coffee retailer that aims to bring the highest quality coffee from his family’s farm as well as neighboring farms in Honduras to customers who desire sustainable and ethically sourced coffee.

Harry’s goals are to disrupt the coffee industry for the better, and empowering farmers in the communities Alma Coffee sources from.

Hon. Gail Tusan, JAMS and The Pave Foundation

September 2, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Hon. Gail Tusan, JAMS and The Pave Foundation

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Hon. Gail Tusan, JAMS and The Pave Foundation (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 388)

Formerly a Senior Superior Court Judge in Fulton County, Judge Gail Tusan is quite active both professionally, with her mediation/arbitrator practice, and in the community. She joined host John Ray to break down the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process, how it serves to resolve legal disputes at a lower cost, and more. Judge Tusan also shared her passion for enriching the lives of African American girls, particularly by fostering STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education and mentoring through The Pave Foundation. She also offered details on her upcoming “Tee Off with Team Tusan” fundraiser. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The Honorable Gail Tusan, JAMS Inc.

The Pave Foundation — **The Honorable Gail Tusan Washington, Senior Judge, JAMS Inc.**

Gail S. Tusan, Senior Judge, brings more than 30 years of judicial service in various Georgia jurisdictions to her practice as an Arbitrator/Mediator/Special Master at JAMS. In April 2019, Judge Tusan retired from her sixth elected term as a Superior Court Judge in Fulton County. During her time on the superior court, Judge Tusan served two successful terms as Chief Judge and played an active role in the design and launch of the Family Division, where she also served for over a decade.

Prior to joining the bench, Gail practiced civil litigation in a variety of areas, including intellectual property, unfair competition, franchise law, family law and other general business matters. Her trial experience includes presiding over health care matters, business disputes, tort and contract disputes, family law and criminal law cases, petitions for injunctive relief and much more.

Gail’s multi-faceted career and extensive legal and community service have garnered her a reputation for building consensus during disputes and forging partnerships among the legal community, government, and the public they serve.

Gail regularly presents educational programs to the judiciary, attorneys, and law students on a variety of legal issues, especially those in the family law sector. She is a media contributor for Court TV, ALM and Attorney at Law Magazine where she hosts the podcast, Behind the Case with Judge Tusan. Gail is a Distinguished Visiting Instructor at Spelman College and an Adjunct Law Professor at Emory University School of Law. She currently serves as a member of the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement and is a Past President of Buckhead/Cascade City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Gail serves as President of The Pave Foundation, Inc., which provides STEAM enrichment opportunities and mentoring to African American girls.

Among many other awards, Judge Tusan has received the Atlanta Bar Association Litigation Section’s coveted honor, The Logan E. Bleckley Award for Judicial Excellence, Distinguished Public Service in the Judiciary, Community Leader of Faith Award, Day1 and the MLK Center for Nonviolent Social Change’s Peace and Justice Award. Finally, Gail is a published author of two novels, Misjudged and Riley, The Judge’s Son (written under the pen name, Susan Washington), and a contributing author to the anthology Loving Wisdom by the Wisdom Whisperers (October 2020 Release).

Jams Website

The Pave Foundation

The Pave Foundation, Inc. is committed to “paving the way” for African American girls to achieve success in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) careers by providing them with academic and enrichment opportunities that ignite their intellectual curiosity, develop self-confidence and instill a passion for protecting the planet by equitably distributing its resources.

Pave Foundation website

Chris Yadon and Tukker Penrod, The Younique Foundation

August 30, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Chris Yadon and Tukker Penrod, The Younique Foundation

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Chris Yadon and Tukker Penrod, The Younique Foundation (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 386)

The Younique Foundation helps adult survivors of child sexual abuse navigate their healing journeys. Chris Yadon, Executive Director, and Tukker Penrod, Outreach Fundraising Coordinator in Georgia, joined host John Ray to discuss the valuable work they do in healing services for adults and, through Defend Innocence, prevention services for children and families. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The Younique Foundation

We inspire hope in women who were sexually abused as children or adolescents by providing healing services through educational retreats, support groups, and online resources.

We educate and empower parents and caregivers to protect children from sexual abuse through community and online resources.

We advocate for open discussions about sexual abuse through community dialogue and social awareness.

The Younique Foundation exists for the purpose of helping adult, female survivors of child sexual abuse navigate their healing journeys. We provide a range of free services, including:

Depression
Anxiety
Eating disorders
Suicidal thoughts
Insomnia
Panic attacks
Addictions and addictive behaviors
Unhealthy relationships
Chronic pain
Learning difficulties

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Chris Yadon, Executive Director, The Younique Foundation

Chris Yadon joined The Younique Foundation as Executive Director in 2015. Chris is responsible for executive leadership, effective stewardship of financial resources, planning, fundraising, and reporting at The Younique Foundation. He has previously held leadership positions in the start-up, tech, and nonprofit industries. He brings a valuable skillset to the organization and is deeply committed to addressing the epidemic of child sexual abuse. Chris plays an important role as a spokesperson for The Younique Foundation. He is a sought-after local speaker and has also been invited to present nationally and internationally. His expertise centers on heightening awareness to the epidemic of child sexual abuse, as well as educating the public on best practices for prevention and the healing services available to survivors. Chris has been featured across several media platforms where he is often requested to contribute as an industry thought leader and expert. Chris considers his family as his greatest accomplishment. He is the grateful father of six children: three boys and three girls. He and his wife, Christy, have been married for 22 years.

Tukker Penrod, Outreach Fundraising Coordinator in Georgia, The Younique Foundation

**Tukker Penrod, Outreach Fundraising Coordinator, The Younique Foundation**

A longtime friend of and advocate for The Younique Foundation, Tukker Penrod joined the staff when The Younique Foundation expanded to Georgia for its East Coast presence.

Questions and Topics in This Interview

Tell us about the purpose of The Younique Foundation?
How long have you been in Alpharetta, Georgia?
Why did you select your second office here in GA?
We understanding you have opened a retreat here for adult female survivors of child sexual abuse. Tell us more about what happens at the retreat?
How prevalent is child sexual abuse nationally, and here in GA?
Does The Younique Foundation offer preventative services as well? Do they cost?
Where can we find more information?
How can we help, be it donations, or volunteering?

Andrew Traub, A&S Culinary Concepts

August 30, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Andrew Traub, A&S Culinary Concepts

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Andrew Traub, A&S Culinary Concepts (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 385)

Executive Chef and Owner of A&S Culinary Concepts Andrew Traub joined host John Ray to share the mouth-watering array of programs his culinary studio offers. In addition to take-home meals and private catering, A&S Culinary also offer corporate team building and learning events like the Big Green Egg Bootcamp. Andrew’s priority is making sure everyone is having fun while learning something new in the kitchen or at the grill. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

A&S Culinary Concepts

A&S Culinary Concepts is an award-winning culinary studio celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events.

Company website | Facebook | Instagram

Andrew Traub, Chef/Owner, A&S Culinary Concepts

When Andrew was 15, his mother requested he go out and find a job. So he went down the block to the local Italian steakhouse and asked if they needed help. Luckily they did, and he was hooked into the world of food and beverage. That experience cemented his desire to become a chef and led him to choose a culinary school in the Catskill Mountains of New York for his college education. Andrew gained invaluable experience working in the enormous kitchens in the Catskill resort hotels while earning his degree. Recruited right out of school by Marriott Hotels and Resorts, Andrew was asked to be a member of the opening management team of the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square. After moving his way up the culinary ladder and winning several culinary awards along the way, from culinary shows to corporate events, he left Marriott.

Andrew partnered with his college friend and opened Love at First Bite Catering in Manhattan. Clients included Radio City Music Hall, the Luxembourg Consulate, the Pace Collection and Fordham University. After selling Love at First Bite, Andrew and his wife, Sue, followed a dream and traveled around the United States for six months, sampling the cuisines of the various regions of our great country along the way.

Upon returning to New York after their travels, Andrew was offered a position as Executive Chef at a corporate catering company in Manhattan. Ten months later, Marriott came calling again and Andrew was offered a position as Executive Sous Chef at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Georgia. He accepted the position at the Marquis, which was the host hotel for the 1996 Olympic Headquarters.

After three years, Andrew was offered the opportunity to become Executive Chef of the Memphis Marriott Downtown Hotel and Convention Center. After a couple of years, Atlanta once again beckoned, and his next promotion was the position of Executive Chef of the Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Andrew was at Evergreen for 14 years. During that period, he served on several Advisory Boards, notably Avendra (the purchasing company for Marriott, Hyatt, and several other hotel companies); Lakeview High School in DeKalb County; and Grayson Technical Culinary Arts Program. The board position he is most honored to hold for thirteen years is on the Advisory Board of the Atlanta Community Food Bank and he is proud to continue to serve.

With his extensive professional contacts–many who have become friends–and his knowledge of the local culinary scene, he is ready to share his experience with you through his food studio, A&S Culinary Concepts.