PNC Financial Services Group Archives

Special Edition: WISE Speed Coaching

November 3, 2014 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

Special Edition: WISE Speed Coaching

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Karen Curry Davis / ACE

Karen Davis currently serves as Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs’ (ACE) Strategic Initiatives Director. In this role, she directs ACE’s Women Investing in Successful Entrepreneurs (WISE) Initiative which is a $2.5 million revolving loan fund specifically for women entrepreneurs wanting to expand or start a business within Metro Atlanta and the North Georgia region. In addition to the loan funds, WISE offers business advisory support through individualized business consultations, business development seminars, speed coaching, and mentoring from high net-worth business owners. Karen is also the Principal Consultant of Curry Davis Consulting Group, LLC. Karen has more than 13 years of program management and community development experience and has made strides in her efforts to assist families with moving towards economic self-sufficiency, health and wellness.

Nancy Chorpenning / C-Suite Advisors

Nancy Chorpenning is Founder & Managing Director of Atlanta-based C-Suite Advisors, a business advisory practice. C-Suite Advisors specialty is advising women entrepreneurs whose businesses have emerged successfully from the startup phase and who are growing their firms into profitable, professionally-managed businesses prepared for selling in the future.

Nancy also leads peer-mentoring for women business owners, and offers webinars on planning, leadership, profitability and strategy among other business topics. In 2014, she launched two new program series exclusively for women entrepreneurs: CEO School for Women, an Annual Business Growth Program, and Taming Technology Workshops: Today’s Technology for Women Entrepreneurs.

From strategic discovery to organization structure and operations, Nancy’s mentoring of business owners is informed by her +20-year tenure as an executive in Professional Information and Education with Fortune 500 companies (Time Warner’s Little, Brown & Company Publishers) as well as high profile start-ups (WebMD). Combined with a superb graduate Marketing education from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, she participates actively in local and national business organizations.

After serving on the Small Business Council for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Nancy served on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) for 6 years, including as Chapter President. She was appointed to the NAWBO Presidents Assembly Steering Committee (PASC) in 2012 with responsibility for 18 Southern Tier NAWBO Chapters, inaugurating a Leadership Bootcamp for NAWBO, and in 2014, became its Chair. Additionally, she was elected to the National Board of Directors of NAWBO where she presently serves. She was recently added to the Advisory Boards of the international company, “The Sellability Score” and Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) in Atlanta.

LeeAnn Maxwell / Vixen Vodka

Vixen Vodka was conceived after a girls’ trip to St. Simons Island in Georgia. It was an idea that came to fruition after a few slightly dirty martinis and several sun-soaked hours lying by the pool. An idea that took root and took hold of friends who wanted to make a difference in their lives; it was their why not moment. After all, women like to hang out, chill out and drink vodka just like the boys. But research and focus groups showed that no vodka brand currently on the market tapped into targeting women. In fact, it was a boys’ club waiting for a revolution. So they decided to raise their glasses to toast an idea that eventually became Vixen Vodka. This award winning company is poised for national expansion and is the perfect marriage of a sexy flirty brand and the smoothest gluten-free vodka you’ll ever taste.

LeeAnn spent over 28 years in the financial industry and about as long in a marriage. Once both those chapters were over, she realized she wanted more out of life; to rediscover the woman she used to be and the one she wanted to become. Her varied experiences have contributed to an extremely detail-oriented work ethic along with a very savvy business acumen.

When LeeAnn sat down with a business consultant to review her initial business plan, he closed the document, told her how well written it was and then said, “You’ll never make it”. When asked why, he replied, “Because it’s the liquor industry, it’s all men, and they will eat you up and spit you out.” LeeAnn looked right back at him and said in her sweet Southern syrupy way, “Sugar, this could be a pair of pantyhose or a tube of lipstick, we’re creating a brand and we know what women want.” Intrigued? Learn how she took a brand from beach to shelf and disrupted a male dominated category along the way.

Courtney Smith / PNC Financial Services Group

Courtney I. Smith PNC Financial Services Group Vice President, Market Manager Community Development Banking, Greater Georgia Courtney I. Smith leads PNC’s community development efforts for the Greater Georgia market. In this role, Smith works with community organizations to develop programs and partnerships to support affordable housing, economic development and neighborhood revitalization. Smith joined PNC Financial in 2013. He brings many years of experience in creating community reinvestment opportunities, leading self-sufficiency programs, generating small business and micro-lending activities, and managing retail and commercial banking initiatives.

Prior to joining PNC, Smith served as vice president, community affairs with Regions Financial and as vice president, community development manager for SunTrust Bank. He is passionate about asset development initiatives and enjoys promoting financial literacy activities. Certified in the FDIC’s Money Smart curriculum, Smith regularly teaches financial literacy courses throughout the community. He is experienced in designing, implementing and monitoring Individual Development Account (IDA) Programs, including Youth and First-Time Homebuyers Programs. He previously managed a youth-based savings program with more than 1,100 participants and annual savings of over $65,000. Actively involved in the community, Smith currently serves on the board of directors for several local organizations including the United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Regional Community Investment and Community Engagement Committees (Chair); Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (Board Secretary); the Community Achievement Center; the KAPSI Foundation, and as Kappa Alpha Psi, Decatur Alumni Chapter, President.

Smith graduated from University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN, with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He received a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Memphis.

Edward Meyers with PNC Financial Services Group, Jordan Rose with Atlanta Science Festival and Jay McCann with J. Christophers

March 12, 2014 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

Edward Meyers with PNC Financial Services Group, Jordan Rose with Atlanta Science Festival and Jay McCann with J. Christophers

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Edward Meyers/PNC Financial Services Group

Eddie Meyers is regional president of Georgia for PNC Bank. PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services companies in the United States, providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; investment banking; corporate and commercial financing; specialized services for government entities; wealth management and asset management. Meyers joined PNC in 1999 as vice president and senior business development officer for the Business Credit Group. Meyers started his career as an auditor and portfolio manager with Continental Bank in Chicago.

While a Midshipman at the Naval Academy, Meyers was an All-American in football, wrestling and ran track as well. In the 1980s, he played football for the Atlanta Falcons and is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of NFL Players Association. Meyers serves as an Executive board member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Board member for the Central Atlanta Progress and a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club. Meyers also serves as part of the Executive Leadership team for the NCAA Final Four and is on the Board of Directors of the Carter Center. A Graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Meyers also holds an MBA in finance from National University. Atlanta has been his primary home for the past 24 years.

Jordan Rose/Atlanta Science Festival

As the Associate Director for Outreach at the Emory College Center for Science Education, Jordan Rose leads several programs that support K-12 teachers and students and facilitate Emory University’s engagement with the community. Mr. Rose has managed the outreach programs for the National Science Foundation Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, and Emory University’s PRISM, an NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education program, which awarded 90 fellowships to graduate students in the sciences to partner with 98 teachers in 43 local middle and high schools. As co-founder of the Atlanta Science Festival, he is leading a citywide effort of more than 80 educational institutions, museums, corporations, and community groups to celebrate our region’s achievements in science and technology. The Atlanta Science Festival, March 22-29, 2014, includes over 100 events – most of them free – at venues across the metro area for adults, children, families, and curious folk of all ages. The Festival concludes with the Exploration Expo, the city’s biggest interactive science event on March 29 at Centennial Olympic Park.

Jay McCann/J. Christophers

Jeff “Jay” McCann, General Manager of J. Christopher’s, graduated from the University of Notre Dame and has worked in the restaurant industry since he was 13-years-old. He learned about the industry from the inside out while working at popular restaurant chains, including Steak n’ Ale, Chili’s, Hooters, and Malone’s. He has grown J. Christopher’s from a single store to 24 locations in 17 years. J. Christopher’s is celebrating its 17th year in business this year.

Gordon Rogers with Edevate, Kevin Green with Midtown Alliance, Karen Kelly with The Childrens Museum of Atlanta and Cherie Fuzzell with Parkmobile USA

November 12, 2013 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Gordon Rogers with Edevate, Kevin Green with Midtown Alliance, Karen Kelly with The Childrens Museum of Atlanta and Cherie Fuzzell with Parkmobile USA

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Gordon Rogers/Edevate

Gordon is a 25 year veteran of start-ups in the field of digital education and learning management, having founded an e-learning software company (Meliora Systems) in 1988. He took the start-up from the bootstrapped stage to an IPO in 1998, through a merger with Paul Allen’s company, Asymetrix Learning, now part of SumTotal Systems, a leading LMS provider. He has spent the last decade working with early stage ventures in the ed-tech sector, including both K-12 and higher-ed markets, as well as start-ups developing innovative offerings in the digital publishing, virtual worlds/MMO games for kids, and mobile learning areas.

He is co-founder and President of Edevate, which creates and operates innovative platforms that facilitate the origination, curation, promotion and credentialing of highly effective outcome-based online education and training programs.

He also mentors at Georgia Tech’s ATDC and Flashpoint programs as well as Managing Director of Vernon Bridge Ventures, an early stage capital/advisory firm. He serves on the advisory boards of Excelegrade, Evirx, and Rapid LD. He is also Past President of Atlanta Technology Angels. He sits on the selection committees for Venture Atlanta and TAG Top 40. He also serves as a guest lecturer and business plan competition judge at Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Emory and University of Georgia business schools.

He has extensive experience as a non-profit board member (YMCA of Greater Atlanta, Interfaith Outreach Home, Teacher Support Network, The Lionheart School).

Blog: http://startupangel.wordpress.com/

Newsfeed https://www.rebelmouse.com/gordonrogers/

Gordon has a BA in Economics, and an MSc in Engineering Economics from the University of New Brunswick, and an MBA in International Finance from the University of British Columbia.

Kevin Green/Midtown Alliance

Kevin Green joined Midtown Alliance in July 2011. Kevin has been a resident of the City of Atlanta for 25 years and has been working for much of that time to advance livability and economic opportunity in the Atlanta region.

Kevin was previously Executive Director of The Clean Air Campaign, a Georgia non-profit working in partnership with transportation management associations and more than 2,000 public and private employers, schools and universities to implement programs to improve air quality and reduce traffic. Prior to that, Kevin was Vice President of Environmental Affairs with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, where he worked to implement initiatives to improve water resource stewardship, air quality, transportation and land use and development. During his tenure with the Chamber, Kevin managed public-private initiatives that resulted in the creation of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District – now managing water resources for a region of more than 5 million, and the Livable Communities Coalition – where more than 50 organizations work collaboratively to advance smart growth in metro Atlanta. Kevin also practiced law in Atlanta for 10 years, most recently as a partner with Andre, Blaustein & Green, LLP. His litigation experience includes state and federal trial and appellate courts across the Southeast.

Karen Kelly/The Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Karen Kelly discusses The Children’s Museum of Atlanta and its feature exhibit, Moneyville. Chelsea Peterson from PNC Financial Services Group and Robert Parker from Ford Motor Company discuss their role as official presenters for the exhibit, and explain why they support The Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s mission to spark imagination and inspire discovery and learning for all children through the power of play.

Karen has been at The Children’s Museum for six years. She launched the Connected Learning, Connected Communities Outreach Programming and organized a major exhibition, Under the Big Top: You’re the Ringmaster! Serving as the team leader for all exhibition, educational and artistic programming at The Museum, Karen works with advisory committees to enhance and strategize the museum’s programming with an emphasis on literacy.

Karen has served as the chair and founder of the Georgia Museum Educators and the chair for the Southeastern Education Committee. She has also served on the national board of the Education Committee for the American Association of Museums and the programming committee for the Southeastern Museums Conference. In 2000, she was awarded Georgia Museum Professional of the Year. She was also a part-time instructor in the graduate history program at Georgia State University from 2001-2011.

She currently serves on several community advisory groups as well as the Atlanta Partners for Education Board. She is also an active volunteer, both through her church, through her children’s schools and through her neighborhood association. She is married to an attorney and has two children, Claire (aged 14) and Adam (aged 12).

Chelsea Peterson/PNC Financial Services Group

Chelsea oversees grants and sponsorships for PNC in Georgia. She is also the local charitable financial manager. Her team leads the brand alignment during the conversion of RBC and Flagstar to PNC in this market, and she was also the lead on PNC “Grow Up Great” launch in Greater Atlanta; A $1.2MM early education initiative. Chelsea was a key member in transitioning the National City conversion to PNC in Detroit in 2010.

She has a degree from Western Michigan University in Finance and Commercial Law, and she currently resides in West Midtown with her husband, Kent Peterson (and triplet boys on the way!).

Robert Parker/Ford Motor Company

Robert Parker is currently the general manager, southeast market area Ford Motor Company. Named to this position in December 2011, Parker oversees the sales and marketing teams responsible for selling and servicing the Ford and Lincoln brands in the Southeast Market Area.

Prior to joining Ford, Parker earned a bachelor degree from the Northern Arizona University. He started his career with Ford in 1989 and held a variety of positions in the Ford Customer Service Division before joining the Product Marketing group in Germany as the Mondeo Product Marketing Manager in 1998. After launching the Mondeo in 2000, Parker moved to the U.S. where he spent three years in Advanced Product Strategy followed by a year as the large car product marketing manager. In 2006 Parker assumed the role of car marketing manager responsible for collaborating with the Ford North American team to market Ford cars and crossovers. During his tenure, Parker worked on the launch teams of products like the Ford Fusion, Mustang Shelby GT, Shelby GT500 and Shelby GT500KR. In 2008 Parker was named the director of product communications where he was responsible for launching new products and technology for the Ford and Lincoln brands to the media. In 2010 he became group marketing manager leading the consumer and product marketing teams on the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Escape product lines.

Parker is a life-long car enthusiast who enjoys buying and selling classic Ford products from the 60’s and 70’s. He has owned and restored several Mustangs and Broncos and devotes his spare time to tracking down new projects. Robert is a member of the board of World Missionary Press and Northern Arizona University’s Franke School of Business. Robert and his wife Terri have three children and live in Milton, Georgia.

Cherie Fuzzell/Parkmobile USA

Parkmobile is the leading global provider of seamlessly integrated end-to-end solutions for mobile payments, parking guidance using business analytics and parking. Its offerings include mobile payments for on and off-street parking, digital parking permits, real-time enforcement and a seamless transit experience. Their services are used in 500 cities around the world by millions of registered users. Parkmobile USA was founded in Atlanta, Georgia and its call center, engineering team and corporate headquarters are located in the U.S. Parkmobile’s investors include BCD Holdings and Fontinalis Partners. With annual global revenues of $22.8 billion, BCD Holdings is an international market leader in the corporate and online travel, and off-airport and mobile parking industry. Fontinalis Partners invests in and partners with innovative technology companies that modernize and improve transportation. Fontinalis is led by Bill Ford, a lifelong environmentalist and the executive chairman of Ford Motor Company.

Cherie Fuzzell has over 17 years of executive experience in the payments and healthcare industries as well as 7 years of mergers & acquisitions experience with the international law firm Jones Day. Cherie was most recently President and CEO of FirstView and has held senior positions with USBancorp, NOVA Information Systems, Inc. (now Elavon) and Magellan Health Services. Cherie earned a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama and a juris doctorate from the Vanderbilt University School of Law where she served as Associate Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. She is a member of the Bar Associations of the States of Texas, Ohio and Georgia.