Chunghee Park/Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta
The Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta helps lay the foundation for a Korean American society that continues to develop by creating a solid foundation with a long-term perspective.
Dr. Fun Fong/Georgia Korean American Republicans
To learn more about this organization: Georgia Korean American Republicans
Demetria Young/Purple Lily Events & Decor
Purple Lily Events & Decor is an event design and home decor company located in the metro Atlanta area. They design and decorate most any type and sized event with dessert tables, tabletop décor, personalized décor, balloon garlands, backdrops and many other beautiful elements of your event.
Freda Kalina/eXp Realty
Freda Kalina has been a full-time Realtor and mentor for over 20 years specializing in helping buyers find their dream homes and getting sellers homes sold fast – for the most money and with the least hassles. She recently became president of the Buford Business Alliance and they meet twice a month to network with different businesses.
Jane Bishop/Take the Next Step
Jane Bishop, is CEO of Take the Next Step which emerged out of her passion to help others “go for their It.” She helps small business owners and entrepreneurs strengthen and align with their inner core for success by using her coaching and training skills. When you work with Jane you will experience accomplishing your “it” and be a greater influence to those around you. Jane uses her E4U system to help clients get to the core faster to create and execute a plan for effectiveness. Jane is also a professional speaker and published author. Curious? Reach out and book a complimentary session and see where that leads.
Ryan Sauers/President of Sauers Consulting Strategies
Ryan T. Sauers has spent 25 years leading and/or consulting with visual communications and marketing related organizations. Ryan is President/Owner of the consulting firm, Sauers Consulting Strategies; Our Town Gwinnett Magazine (2 monthly magazines); and its parent company End Resultz Media.
Key areas of focus of the consulting firm include: sales training, marketing strategy, personal branding, leadership development, and organizational change.
Sauers is a frequent national speaker and columnist. He has been recognized as one of the top 80 CMO’s in the world and achieved the top designation of Certified Marketing Executive through Sales and Marketing Executives International.
Sauers is an adjunct university professor teaching leadership, marketing, and communication courses to current and aspiring leaders. Ryan is a Certified Myers Briggs, DiSC, and Emotional Intelligence Practitioner.
Ryan is working on his Doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership and is host of the radio show Marketing Matters. Sauers is author of the best-selling books Everyone is in Sales and Would You Buy from You? More info at: RyanSauers.com or OurTownGwinnett.com.
Show Overview
Marketing Matters with Ryan Sauers is a radio show presented the Gwinnett Woman’s Small Business Collective. The show discusses topics as they relate to marketing, communications, sales, customer service, leadership and more. Host Ryan Sauers, a best-selling author and national speaker, discusses how these topics play a role in every aspect of our lives. Each episode shares tangible nuggets of information that listeners can easily understand and apply to their everyday life, whether personal or business. The show challenges listeners’ current state of thinking so they can grow to new heights and see new opportunities in business or life: which is rapidly changing, multi-generational, and noisy in nature.
Lou Solis/Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office
Lou Solis grew up in Brownsville, TX, the son of Luis Manuel Solis Sr. and Graciela Zepeda Solis. His father mentored him in the importance of public service and embracing our country’s diversity. Lou has lived in areas of low and high crime and understands the impact of professional law enforcement personnel in making communities safe.
A life filled with unique experiences has taught Lou to respect the rule of law, protect members of the community, and embrace diversity. The Sheriff’s Office is a Constitutional Office, Lou understands the need to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.
Johnny Crist/Candidate for State House of Representatives
Johnny Crist is a Conservative Republican candidate for Georgia House District 108.
Johnny married his college sweetheart Anne and together they have been blessed with eight children and many grandchildren. As the former Senior Pastor and founder of Atlanta Vineyard Church, he has spent his career in pastoral ministry. He holds a Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Seminary, serves on the board of Providence Christian Academy, and is also a graduate of Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2018. Johnny and Anne attend Gwinnett Church.
Johnny’s love of people and community led him to get involved in the Lilburn City Council where he has served as the Mayor for the last eight years.
Police Chief Brett West/Gwinnett County Police Department
The Gwinnett County Police Department is an agency with a long history of excellence, integrity, and fairness. The department enjoys a strong relationship with the diverse community it serves and continues to build that reputation by constantly engaging and interacting with the residents. Due to their reputation, high standards, and commitment to excellence, they only recruit and hire the best and most qualified applicants.
The Gwinnett County Police Department is the second largest police agency in Georgia with an authorized strength of 877 sworn officers, supported by 276 civilian employees. The department is CALEA accredited, originally attaining that designation in 1993. Gwinnett is located in the northeast part of metro Atlanta, serving a population of more than 800,000 residents with an area of 437 square miles.
Bob Hastings/Southeast Transportation Security Council
The Southeast Transportation Security Council (SETSC) is a Cargo Theft Intelligence Council formed in 2002. Members are from the transportation, logistics, insurance industry and local state and federal law enforcement working or investigating cargo thefts. The council meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month (either virtually or in person) with a focus on cargo theft trends and intelligence in Georgia and the Southeastern U.S. The Council has a strong emphasis on information sharing and training for law enforcement on cargo theft and the Council holds regional training classes 2 to 3 times a year in hot spot areas for theft.
Erica McCurdy/Candidate for State House District 95
State House Candidate Erica McCurdy is a second-generation American and Atlanta native who grew up in this area with her family. While she started her career as an executive in the telecom industry, she found her passion in entrepreneurism and in helping others explore their passion. She has built several companies across multiple industries including her favorite, Georgia Sanitation. After taking time to work on staff at North Point Church, she opened her own practice helping others in career and life transition, including our senior Navy SEALs in partnership with the SEAL Future Foundation. In the last few years alone, her expert advice and insights in the area of transition can be seen in over 100 publications such as US News, Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, AARP, Recruiter.com, Business News Daily and more.
Erica attended the Westminster Schools, University of Georgia, and Mercer University. She is passionate about her family and community and makes an annual commitment to give a minimum of 100 hours to those in need. As a Rotarian, she serves on the local board, Rotary Means Business committee, and is a Paul Harris Fellow. She is also a board member of the PCBA and serves on the National Board of National Charity League, the nation’s oldest mother-daughter service organization as part of their National Nominating Committee.
Dr. Rich McCormick/McCormick for Congress
Candidate for Congress Dr. Rich McCormick grew up in a single-parent household with humble beginnings. Rich spent his youth picking berries in fields next to migrant workers, ran a news-paper route, and eventually became a bus boy and a short order cook in a neighborhood restaurant. Rich put himself through College after being inspired to become a Naval Aviator by the blockbuster film Top Gun. His life was forever changed when he became involved in the Marines – the people who embodied the commitment, loyalty, and perseverance he aspired to.
He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Oregon State University and was commissioned an Officer of Marines. Then, 2Lt. McCormick was selected to serve as the face of the Marines in a commercial that aired almost half a decade. Impressively, 2Lt McCormick was selected to represent the Marines once again as a participant in the then-famous American Gladiators series where he made it all the way to the Grand Championships. Rich served 16 years as a Helicopter Pilot with deployments to combat zones in North Africa to the Persian Gulf. He also has served tours of duty with the Republic of Korea Marines in an Airborne unit, and 1st Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. Rich received a Master’s of Business Administration from National University in California.
Then Major McCormick received orders to the Atlanta Region Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps as the Marine Officer Instructor and Associate Professor of Naval Science at Morehouse College and the Georgia Institute of Technology where he also completed his pre-med course of instruction. Upon completion of his tour, Major McCormick resigned his active duty commission and attended the Morehouse School of Medicine. During his final year at Morehouse, Rich was voted amongst his peers to serve as Student Body President at a Historically Black school the same year President Obama was elected President of The United States. Rich always had the unusual ability to break through barriers few would ever deign to try. Rich petitioned the leadership at Morehouse to allow him to participate in the Disaster Relief Operations in Haiti following the devastating tsunami that all-but obliterated the island nation in 2010 providing life-saving aid to distressed and displaced survivors.
Rich Graduated in 2010 whereupon he received his Doctor of Medicine and acceptance into Residency Training in Emergency Medicine at Emory University / Grady Hospital. Upon Completion of Residency Training, Dr. McCormick served four years at the Naval Hospital at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC and as the Head of the Emergency Medicine Department at the NATO Role 3 Hospital in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Dr. McCormick retired as a Commander in the United States Navy in 2017 with over 20 years of active service.
U.S. Senate Candidate Kandiss Taylor
Dr. Kandiss Taylor is a lifelong resident of Appling County, GA. She is a 3-time graduate of Georgia Southern University with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education; a Master’s in School Counseling; and a specialist in School Counseling. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA.
Dr. Taylor currently serves as the Student Services Coordinator for the Appling County Board of Education. She began her career in public education 17 years ago as a 3rd grade teacher. She has served as a school counselor for over a decade.
Dr Taylor was the county representative for Dr. Ben Carson’s Presidential Campaign and was inspired by his speech at her PhD commencement that charged graduates to get involved in government to protect the Constitution. Kandiss wants term limits and fair tax.
