Rome Floyd Chamber Small Business Spotlight – Cassandra Wheeler with Southern Company Gas, Brian McDaniel with Blood Assurance, and Steve Dennis with Motivation Unlimited
/
RSS Feed
GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: “Pandemic: Changing People, Changing Places”
/
RSS Feed
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”
“The GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.
The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.
For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.
For 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®.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: 2019 IMPACT Regional Business Award Winners (Part 3 of 3)
/
RSS Feed
Designed to be reflective of Gwinnett and metro Atlanta area, the Gwinnett Chamber IMPACT Regional Business Awards recognize leading organizations in top industries that are driving economic development and job creation, while enhancing our quality of life. This event is truly one of a kind as it brings together leaders from the AEC, higher education, healthcare, hospitality, information technology, international business, nonprofit, service, and small business industries.
This is the third of 3 special episodes featuring the 2019 IMPACT Regional Business Award winners and sponsors.
Doug Jenkins/Georgia Power – Service winner
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company’s promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction.
Bob Rodgers/Street Grace – Nonprofit winner
Street Grace is a faith-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to end demand for the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) through prevention/protection, policy and pursuit.
Defined as a commercial transaction that involves the sexual exploitation of a child, such as a commercial sex act or child pornography, CSEC is the fastest growing criminal industry today. Research shows that the Underground Commercial Sex Economy (UCSE) is estimated to be a $290 million illegal industry in Georgia alone. The cost on a personal and societal level is staggering.
Street Grace’s vision is a world where all children are free from sexual exploitation. Since 2009, Street Grace has mobilized leaders of business, community, and faith to end the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children across the United States. Their purpose is to intervene before a child can be victimized by predatory practices. The ultimate goal is to prevent the devastating effects of CSEC in communities and bring transformation for all involved.
Maureen Paige/Winton Machine – Small Business winner
Established in 1997, Winton Machine Company has designed and manufactured over 100 different machines which bend, cut and shape metal tubing and semi-rigid coax cable. Over the past 22 years, Winton has remained true to its core value to continuously improve. Winton continues to innovate and improve their product line of automated solutions. By improving the speed, accuracy, and flexibility of its existing machines, our machinery adds value to our customers’ bottom line.
Winton’s machinery is installed at production plants throughout the United States and globally. Their customers use their Winton machines to make parts for their larger equipment and systems. Most notably, parts from Winton machines are used on the NASA Mars Exploration Rover with collaborative plans underway for the next generation rover project dubbed Mars 2020; the Raytheon Iron Dome Weapon System which is currently in use to help protect over 8 million people in Israel from incoming missiles and artillery; and in mass production of refrigerators being built on General Electric assembly lines.
Jeff Petrea with Georgia Power, Thomas Heaton with the Small Business Development Center at Georgia State, and Bob Woosley with Frazier & Deeter
/
RSS Feed
Jeff Petrea/Georgia Power
Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, GA. It was established as the Georgia Railway and Power Company and began operations in 1902 running streetcars in Atlanta as a successor to the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company.
Georgia Power is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company. Georgia Power is an investor-owned, tax-paying public utility that serves more than 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. It employs approximately 7,500 workers throughout the state.
Thomas Heaton/Small Business Development Center at Georgia State
With 17 locations across the state of Georgia, the SBDC’s goal is to enhance the economic well-being of Georgians by providing a wide range of educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The SBDC offers one-on-one consultation on a wide variety of subjects to address the needs of Georgia’s small business community.
Bob Woosley/Frazier & Deeter
After beginning his professional service career at Price Waterhouse, Bob Woosley became the first professional employee of Frazier & Deeter shortly after the firm was founded in 1981. In 1985, Bob became a partner and over the next 18 years he served the firm as head of the Audit and Strategic Consulting services departments. In 2000, Bob founded iLumen, Inc., the CPA profession’s leading business intelligence and analytical platform which is today used by leading CPA firms and financial institutions across the country. Bob served as CEO of iLumen through 2010 and is currently an active board member and advisor to the company. In 2010, Bob spearheaded the creation of the FD Alliance, a strategic collaborative of non-merged CPA firms located in several metropolitan areas. In 2011, Bob returned to Frazier & Deeter where he serves as the National Practice Leader of the firm’s private equity practice which includes the firm’s fund administration business, FD Fund Administration.
Special Edition: Georgia CIO Leadership Association
/
RSS Feed
Kelly Harris / Georgia CIO Leadership Association
The GCLA is Georgia’s preeminent professional association for senior technology leaders. The GCLA exists to provide a forum to share ideas, best practices and experiences relevant to CIOs. It is committed to creating opportunities for Georgia CIOs to engage in substantive, issues-based discussion related to their industries and profession. The organization promotes industry growth and professional development by hosting luncheons, round tables and executive events that facilitate valuable interaction among senior-level experts as well as the Georgia CIO of the Year® Awards community-wide annual event.
Kenny Coleman / Southern Company
A 15-year veteran of Southern Company, Kenny has held leadership positions of increasing importance in Wholesale and Retail Marketing, External Affairs, Customer Operations and IT. He has been CIO for the past 3.5 years and leads a team of more than 1,100 employees across the Southern Company footprint that develops and supports more than 800 applications; manages more than 4 zetabytes of data; leads our efforts on cyber security; and manages a telecom network that spans more than 120,000 square miles.
Kenny has been very involved in his community serving in leadership capacities for the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, University of New Haven Business School advisory board; Georgia CIO Leadership Association; and YearUp.
Carrie Bates Hastings, TechBridge Director of Development discusses 2013 Digital Ball
/
RSS Feed
Very special Booth 61 on 5/22/2013:
Carrie Bates Hastings visited to discuss the 2013 Digital Ball. Carrie shared impressive statistics including over 1.2 Million dollars raised on May 11th, 2013. 840+ technologists and over 50 volunteers joined the TechBridge staff to make this tremendous event a great success and the results are nothing short of fantastic. In addition we learned that last year TechBridge donated to organizations that impacted over FIVE Million people. That is mighty high cotton where I come from for sure. Carrie also broke the news that Mr. Jay Ferro, CIO of the American Cancer Society will become the TechBridge Chairman in July of 2013. Jay is an institution in our community and this is great news for TechBridge and our industry.
We also played 8 interviews that were recorded during the opening reception of the 2013 Digital Ball at the Marriott Marquis. Interviews shared during our time together today included Charles Brain Quinn, CEO of Big Nerd Ranch///Walt Carter, CIO of Generation Mortgage///Scott Hall, CEO of HUNTER Technical Resources///Jay Ferro, CIO of the American Cancer Society///Jean Holley, CIO of Brambles///Mike Neumeier, Principle and Co-Founder of Arketi///Carrie Wheeler, CIO of Cbeyond///Becky Blalock, Author and former Global CIO of the Southern Company///and Sandy Hofmann, Gadfly and Community Cheerleader. These interviews are a powerful testimony of the Atlanta technology communities commitment to our brothers and sisters in Atlanta who need a helping hand. Although this is the longest Booth 61 so far at a little over an hour, we still were not able to include additional interviews that are available on the Booth 61/Business RadioX site.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed my time with Carrie. TechBridge is doing tremendous work in our community. You do not have to be a huge company or a wealthy philanthropist to get involved. Their is room in the tent for anyone willing to help. Contact TechBridge to learn more about how you too can help improve a life in our community.
Becky Blalock, Global CIO, Author, Community Activist
/
RSS Feed
The 2013 Digital Ball is in the history books. Everyone had a great time and a lot of money was raised for TechBridge. Congratulations to James Franklin, Carrie Bates Hastings and the entire team at TechBridge along with a huge team of volunteers. This was a special night and you made it so.
Booth 61 had the privilege of broadcasting live during the opening reception. We interviewed leading technologists who have been at every Digital Ball and those who were attending for the very first time.
I was thrilled my long term friend, mentor, and coach Becky Blalock visited Booth 61 during TechBridge’s 2013 Digital Ball. What can I possibly say about Becky Blalock that has not already been said many times. Becky is the former Global CIO of The Southern Company and has held more volunteer leadership positions than anyone I know. I have had the privilege to serve under Becky when she was the Chairman of the Board for Leadership Atlanta and the IT Initiative for United Way. An advocate for women and children, Blalock was recognized as a Power Woman by Atlanta Woman Magazine and received the Shining Star Award from the Atlanta Women’s Foundation. Blalock was also honored with the 2011 Legacy Award from Women in Technology and the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia CIO Leadership Association. A graduate of Leadership Atlanta and Leadership Georgia, she was named a Fellow of the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation in 2001.
I know you will enjoy hearing Becky share her thoughts on TechBridge, The Digital Ball and her new book, DARE. You can pre-order DARE on Amazon now. You do not want to miss this book: Dare: Straight Talk on Confidence, Courage, and Career for Women in Charge
Transformational Women Highlights Becky Blalock, CIO Southern Company
/
RSS Feed
Becky Blalock is SVP and CIO of the Southern Company. She directs information technology strategy and operations across the 120,000 square miles and all subsidiaries of the company. She leads more than 1,100 employees in information technology delivery to one of America’s most respected companies. In this segment she talks about what it takes to be successful as a CIO and her mentoring advice for others.
In her 33 years at Southern Company, Blalock has held 12 different positions ranging from financial analyst to her current role as SVP and CIO.
Under her leadership, Southern Company has been consistently recognized as one of the 100 Most Innovative Companies by CIO Magazine and one of the 100 Best Places to Work in IT by Computerworld Magazine. Over the years she has been named CIO of the Year by various organizations including Energy Biz Magazine, Computers or Youth, the Georgia CIO Leadership Association.
Blalock’s leadership in the corporate world includes serving on the advisory board for Oracle and AT&T.
Here are Becky’s tips for being a transformational leader:
1) Believe in communication – in the absence of communication, there will be miscommunication
2) Build the best team. Surround yourself with talent and motivate them.
3) Being a leader begins and ends with integrity.
