Intro: Broadcasting live from Fintech South 2025 at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio. Now. Here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, broadcasting live from Fintech South 2025. Talking to Larry Williams with Tag and Fintech South. Larry, how’s it going?

Larry Williams: It’s going great.

Lee Kantor: Uh, we’re kicking off the event here, uh, today. Uh, can you let us know a little bit about a sneak peek of what’s ahead?

Larry Williams: Sure. Well, this is day two, actually. So we kicked off yesterday. We had a wonderful, wonderful agenda. Um, everything from, um, Sean Nale talking about the future of payments, the future of the rails, how things are going to really, um, be fueled transforms the effect of AI. Um, we had a great guy. We had, um, um, Alicia Abate, A futurist come in and talk to us about not only the future of payments, but how the world is changing and how technology is transforming. And we got to kick the morning off with our own mayor, Andre Dickens, that came in and really set the tone for the day. Um, so now we’re rolling into day two. As you can see, there’s already a lot of energy in the room. There’s a lot of noise. People are getting excited about the day. We’ve got some great breakouts, and we’re going to be talking about everything from payments, uh, how our transaction processors are continuing to do a great job and dominate that industry here in Atlanta. You know, 70% of all debit credit reward card transactions or processed right here in Georgia. And that’s exciting for us. But we’re also going to be talking about the future. So everything from cryptocurrencies, we’re going to be talking about stablecoins. We’re going to be talking about what the future is, um, and how Georgia is going to continue to lead.

Lee Kantor: Now, how is kind of the Atlanta fintech Community is. How have you seen it growing over the years? Like you mentioned, there’s all the payments and stuff. But now with the advent of all these crypto and all these other alternative investment opportunities, how are you seeing Atlanta embrace that change?

Larry Williams: You know, one great thing about Atlanta is we didn’t become number one or dominate in the fintech industry by accident. It’s because that we’ve helped. We helped digitize the whole check processing system. So remember checks. Remember every one of those? Yeah.

Lee Kantor: So it’s with my rotary phone.

Larry Williams: Yeah. Exactly, exactly. So, um, we help actually create the technology that, that, that allowed that to go digital. So that’s very important. And why that’s important is because we’ve always stayed ahead of the curve of innovation we’ve helped develop. We’ve helped build every layer of the onion when it comes to what fintech looks like today and how Georgia has really led the way. So as we go into new technologies and new processes, whether it be in cryptocurrency with great companies like BitPay, who’s been a leader in that for a decade, um, uh, or other areas. And what we do in our, you know, at DC, our advanced technology development centers. Um, in other areas, we have people that are continuously thinking about what’s next. Um, not only in the usages but also the technologies that’s going to support it. You know, yesterday we also did our innovation challenge. We had nine, uh, startups that really, uh, went through a process and we ended up with one on stage yesterday and we awarded them a $25,000 non dilutive prize to help them get on their way, get a leg up and put them on the road to success. That’s why it’s important for us because we’re always thinking about what is that next generation of ingenuity when it comes to fintech.

Lee Kantor: Now are you seeing that the leaders of the enterprise level organizations, are they investing back into the community, or is this a situation where they are just kind of dominating like you mentioned, but they’re not like kind of looking to help kind of the startup or the the young firm emerge and launch.

Larry Williams: Oh I think that you’ll see that they’re very, very engaged. Uh, it’s very important for them to be able to think about, you know, what are the you know, they need solutions. They have problems that they they want help. They need fresh ideas. Um, they need people that are creative and that can be nimble and stand things up. And they’re always looking to, you know, you know, one hand, perhaps, you know, be a customer of these of these companies. And, you know, a customer is all important and a great way for these companies to get revenue to go ahead and build their business. But they’re also looking to invest or even pull them in for the knowledge exchange. Hey, what are these? Here’s your your product, here’s your service, here’s what we need, and here’s how it can help us.

Lee Kantor: So how is tagging Fintech South helping, uh, create that ecosystem of collaboration rather than looking at this as kind of a zero sum game where there’s winners and losers?

Larry Williams: Well, by all means. So one is it’s staying ahead. So the content we’ve got over 20 hours of world class content that’s on our stages throughout these two days. Um, we have over 100 speakers that are all world class. You know, the one thing that is a great advantage for us here in Atlanta is our friends and neighbor that are in fintech, are global leaders in fintech. They’re not just thinking about this from just their companies point of view. They know they’re running global businesses and they know what the global trends are, and they bring that to us. So the content that’s here, the knowledge that’s here, the exchange of ideas, you know, so whether it be in a smaller breakout session where people can actually engage more in the conversation or what’s on the main stage, it’s all very, very important. I mentioned the, um, innovation challenge yesterday, the fintech innovation challenge. That process was throughout the year. Those nine went through mentoring. They were helped, uh, had helped building their pitches, uh, how they should present themselves and then also interacted with with the industry leaders to be able to understand what they’re doing and how they can be effective. So it’s really about building that collaboration, building that community, and it’s just super exciting for everybody.

Lee Kantor: Now when tags started, what was it 2530? How long has tag been around? 26, 26 years have been around. Uh, the region wasn’t as robust as it is today. How are you finding the southeast when it comes to kind of growing the whole market for everybody? I know there’s a lot of growth in other cities around the southeast that maybe weren’t around 26 years ago when tags started.

Larry Williams: You know. Lee, I think, you know, I’ve worked all over the country and all over the world. I don’t see anything going on anywhere, like right here in Atlanta. Um, the amount of expansion that we’ve been seeing in our economy is all driven by technology. A lot of that is fintech. So you can drive down I-85 right now and you know that our skyline has changed. You know, we now have Cisco, Microsoft, Google, uh, NCR are all big names on that skyline, and it’s continuing to evolve. Um, people are finding us. Uh, people are moving here. They, uh, they really see us as really a global hub of innovation, because that’s what our companies do. We we have local solutions, but with touches the world. We also have world class talent. So, you know, li yesteryear in economic development, people used to move to where the jobs are today. And age companies are moving to where the talent is. And that’s what’s bringing them here. Fueled by Georgia Tech, fueled by Georgia State University. Emory. All of the the the Atlanta names. But our universities across the state are world class. And the talent that we’re creating through the universities or our technical schools or other apprenticeships and training is world class, and that’s what people need to be successful.

Lee Kantor: And then how does tag and fintechs out specifically help in that manner? I know you’re working with a lot of the universities and you’re creating curriculum and and courses along that way, but how do you all work arm in arm to make sure and ensure that pipeline of talent stays there?

Larry Williams: You know, um, that’s a great question and something that we’re highlighting this year. We have a room that’s sponsored by Prime Revenue this year. That’s for mentors. And so we’re getting people in the room students to talk about what the careers are in fintech. You know, whenever I was growing up we all wanted to be, you know, you know, star athletes or rock stars, you know, but we find out there, uh, other avenues to, to actually build careers and have a great, um, a great job and a great career. So we’re mentoring people about what these options are. And we’re also partnered with the Fintech Academy that we help start probably about a, you know, eight years, maybe going on a decade where Fintech Academy really focuses with our university system of Georgia and many of the campuses around the state to actually train and develop people and give them the skills they need to be successful in a fintech career.

Lee Kantor: Now, what trends are you seeing? What are people talking about here at this event that you’re most looking forward to? Moving ahead.

Larry Williams: You know, again it’s what is the future. It’s one how do we continue to maintain, um, this dominant area that we need to be in as far as transactions as they are today, but what are the future options that people are going to be able to utilize? So it’s still a lot around frictionless payments. How do we reduce the amount of steps for for our for our consumers and our users? Um, but also what is the effect that AI is going to have a lot of these, uh, on a lot of these current processes as well as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins? All of this is extremely important. We also have to pay attention to the cybersecurity side of things, privacy, um, so that we make sure that we continue to protect the rights and the privacy of our consumers, um, going forward. The other big opportunity for us. Lee is really around B2B transactions. So that is still, you know, a lot of businesses still pay with checks. And so this evolution of how people are going to be able to utilize, uh, financial technologies to actually be able to complete, uh, financial transactions at a B2B level is really going to be a big transformation, a big opportunity for our for our companies.

Lee Kantor: Now, if somebody wants to learn more about what’s happening in the fintech world or what tag, what is the best way to connect Lee?

Larry Williams: The best way is through tag online. I’d love to see you. Um, you can also follow us on LinkedIn and then, you know, Fintech South Comm. We’ve got some content there. And you know, we still have a day. Come on by. Come see. Come check us out today.

Lee Kantor: All right. Larry, thank you so much for sharing your story. You’re doing important work and we appreciate you.

Larry Williams: Thank you. Lee.

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studio in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio, brought to you by Kennesaw State University’s Executive MBA program, the accelerated degree program for working professionals looking to advance their career and enhance their leadership skills. And now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, another episode of Atlanta Business Radio. So excited to be broadcasting live from the Woodruff Arts Center because we are here for Georgia Fintech South. And I’ve got with me today Larry Williams. He is the grand poobah of TAG Technology Association of Georgia. Welcome, Larry.

Larry Williams: Good morning Lee.

Lee Kantor: Well, Larry, do you mind sharing a little bit about TAG first and then we’ll get into Fintech South and why this event is so critical to the Atlanta ecosystem.

Larry Williams: Certainly TAG is the Technology Association of Georgia. We are 30,000 members strong, and we are really the place that nexus that brings together everything that is technology and innovation. So everybody that wants to be a part of this great prosperity that we’re experiencing in this state, that’s all driven by technology. They want to be a part of TAG.

Lee Kantor: And this is TAG’s 25th anniversary?

Larry Williams: This is our 25th anniversary. And we are super excited about what’s going on this year. And we’re also excited about the next 25.

Lee Kantor: So how has it you’ve been around for a minute? Tell us about kind of how you’ve seen the evolution of the technology ecosystem here in Atlanta, maybe from the early days to where it is now.

Larry Williams: You know, one thing that’s interesting, and Lee, you’ve heard me say this before, is I really do believe that Georgia is where technology meets the real world. So if we think about some of the things and, you know, historically that helped build this, you know, we got to go back to the Hayes Modem, Scientific Atlanta. All of these great companies that help build and really build a reputation, and a lot have been fueled by these great educational institutions that we have research institutions that help develop products and services that people have been able to commercialize and really affect the landscape of the technology globally. So that’s if we go back to the beginnings of it. But if we go through sort of a timeline, then we can look to things like cybersecurity, great innovations that came out that helped create great companies like ES, that’s now a part of IBM. And those functions still stay here in Georgia. Secureworks with became part of Dell, still still here, and then even Airwatch. Airwatch was the first mobile security application that the iPhone led onto its platform. With that and the partnership with AT&T mobility here in Atlanta, it’s the business.

Larry Williams: It’s the company that really put the BlackBerry out of business. If you remember the BlackBerry leaf. I know. And so there’s great stories. And I tell this because it’s like fintech. And while we’re here today, fintech, you know, we used to do the check processing here. And then we were part of the industry and the ecosystem that digitized that process that created this great transaction in fintech community that we have here today. And what’s important about this, Lee, and the way I tell it this way is because when it comes to the change in what I’ve seen over the last 25 years, Georgia has been a part of this evolution of technology and innovation every step of the way, and we’re going to continue to be a part of that for the next 25. But we didn’t just stand up and say, hey, we’re a fintech capital. We actually built every, um, every part of this industry. And as I say, you know, and with cybersecurity as well, we help build every layer of the onion. So we know how it’s built. And so we’re in a position to build the next phase as well.

Lee Kantor: And because and I don’t think you can really separate TAGs efforts in connecting everybody and having kind of this cohesive, uh, mosaic of different companies and different verticals within technology. Um, but you’ve fostered such a collaborative environment where people aren’t necessarily, you know, learning here at the great universities and leaving. We’re keeping a lot of the talent here, and then the talent wants to give back, and then they keep reinvesting in here. So it’s really kudos to you for creating that kind of environment that people want to stay after they’ve exited, and they want to help kind of build this and keep the momentum going for the next 25 years.

Larry Williams: Lee, it’s a great point. And, you know, one, our skyline has transformed. You drive through Midtown today. You really do see you know, it’s a technology skyline today. Um, and it is a great thing now people see opportunities here so they can stay here. The other part of that Lee, is there are so many people that have moved out of market that want to come home, and they want to come home. They, they they miss Atlanta. They miss Georgia. There are so many opportunities for them here now. And so even if they left and had to, you know, be young and be adventurous, they’re ready to come back home and be a part of this great community.

Lee Kantor: So now let’s talk a little bit about this conference. Um, how many years has it been since we’ve been doing fintech? I know we’ve been around since the beginning.

Larry Williams: Seventh. This is our seventh year.

Lee Kantor: Seventh year. Um, how have you seen kind of the fintech community evolve over this seven years? And, you know, with the pandemic mixed in the middle of that.

Larry Williams: You know, we’re 260 fintech companies in the community today. Um, it continues to grow. We are the place where people are, you know, moving their companies. They’re building their companies. The entrepreneurial community is is very strong. We’re also seeing there’s a lot more private equity venture capital that looks to our companies here that are growing up in Georgia as places to invest. So it’s the whole ecosystem about what makes it work. So there are large companies here. You know, we have the largest, uh, transaction processors in the world are based here. Um, we have a lot of the banks that are connected to it as well. And then we have the capital that are fueling the entrepreneurs. Um, and then also the education that’s so important for us, so proud that we helped create the Fintech Academy, uh, several years ago and that skyrocketing as well. But fintech continues to be strong. And it continues. You know, it’s a global industry for us here. And it touches everything. Trillions, trillions of dollars are processed through Georgia every day.

Lee Kantor: Yeah, it’s it’s mind boggling the amount of transactions that occur. Right. You know, right where we’re standing pretty much. That’s right. Now, um, for people who haven’t been to Fintech South. Can you share a little bit about what they can expect from an event like this?

Larry Williams: You know you can. It’s really about bringing people together. So there’s a lot of learning. The content that we have on the sTAGe is world class people talking about everything, about what’s now and what’s next in fintech. It’s about, you know, how that connection with cybersecurity privacy and making sure that we’re securing our transactions all the way up to the opportunities to have frictionless payments and make that process much more, um, much easier. Um, so you’re going to learn about all of that. You’re going to you’re going to see one of the most connected marketplaces that you can see, people that can come here and do business with each other. I love seeing people sit down and make deals. I was able to make some introductions last night. Uh, people that are really, uh, are excited about getting together and do business with each other, uh, mutually beneficial. And then you see great things. We. I had the honor of doing a fireside chat with Barry McCarthy. Yesterday we inducted him into the Georgia Fintech Hall of Fame. Such a great leader, someone. He’s the CEO of deluxe, but he has been a part of this ecosystem and has helped build every part and help really be a convener to really be to coalesce this fintech industry here. So there are all things like that, you know. Another highlight yesterday, Lee, is we did our innovation challenge and there was a great company that actually got a $25,000 award. And that’s cash and that’s a young company. And they’ll be able to grow fast because of that. You know, you talked about seven years. We’ve given almost half $1 million away on sTAGe at the Innovation Challenge now over the last seven years. So that’s really meaningful. One of the former recipients, I saw him yesterday and he said, Larry, we’re not for that $25,000. I wouldn’t be where we are today.

Lee Kantor: Yeah, the impact is real. Um. So what do you need more of? How can we help?

Larry Williams: What do we need more of? Hey, listen, it’s just if you’re not part of this great community, then come be a part of it. Come be a part of TAG. We do fintech, we do cybersecurity. We do all the industries and we do all the functions data governance, AI, quantum, all of this is part of our ecosystem. We need people to be plugged in. Let’s let’s get together. Let’s be a part of it. Let’s get involved with the things that we have now, or think of something creative that we can do in the future. And from you, Lee, just keep telling the great news and keep, uh, um, broadcasting what we’re doing, as well as what a lot of our members and partners are doing.

Lee Kantor: Well, Larry, thank you so much for sharing your story today, doing such important work. We appreciate you. Thank you. Lee. All right. This is Lee Kantor will be back in a few. At Fintech South.

Intro: [00:00:07] Broadcasting live from the Georgia World Congress Center for Fintech South 2022, it’s time for Atlanta Business Radio. Brought to you by Atlanta Blockchain Center. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:27] Lee Kantor here back at Fintech South 2022, right in the heart of Innovation Alley. So excited to be talking to Larry Williams, the president, CEO of TAG. Welcome, Larry.

Larry Williams: [00:00:39] Great. It’s great to be here. Thank you all for having me.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:41] So, what do you think? Fintech South back, live in person.

Larry Williams: [00:00:46] You know —

Lee Kantor: [00:00:46] People, humans everywhere.

Larry Williams: [00:00:47] You know, I get to see people’s teeth again. And I’m just delighted to see that everybody’s got the energy here. You can just feel it. It’s palpable. It’s just people are excited. The interactions, the businesses happening here. It’s really what this is all about. You know, in TAG, whenever we started producing Fintech South five years ago, this is our fifth annual, this is what we envisioned it would be. We did a great job with a virtual platform for the last two years, but it’s great to be back in person and great to make those human connections.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:18] So, when you’re planning around an event like Fintech South, it’s a combination, obviously, education, there’s panels, there’s networking. We also have the whole Innovation Challenge, folks. You got the startups and the matching with the enterprise. How do you even, kind of, begin an event like this to make sure that all of those constituents are getting what they need?

Larry Williams: [00:01:42] Well, if you think about it, this really does bring together all of the elements of the ecosystem. So, everything, as you mentioned, from the startup. So, we really work through our Fintech society at TAG. And so, they really help start us at a very early stage. And really it’s an all year — it’s a year-round process. So, if we start to think about the Innovation Challenge, getting those startups because there’s a whole mentorship program that goes along with this. It’s not just the award on stage that we see here.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:12] Right, that we see the end result.

Larry Williams: [00:02:14] Right, so this has been going —

Lee Kantor: [00:02:14] There has been weeks or months ahead of time

Larry Williams: [00:02:17] Yes, months ahead. Same with the Advanced Awards and thinking about who are those companies that have really been accelerating and moving the ecosystem. These are all important parts of what we’re doing. And then it’s the professional development, the trends, the knowledge, news you can use that people can really go back and say, hey, this is what the trends of Fintech are. This is what I can apply back to my business. Even the thought sharing and the thought leadership that goes into it.

Larry Williams: [00:02:44] Now, one thing you did mention is also the workforce. You know, we’ve had lots of students here. We’ve had over 30 students here that have really — that are going through the FinTech Academy and other things to prepare that next generation of leaders in our Fintech community.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:58] And that’s a big innovation to have an academy that is just has a curriculum around Fintech. There’s probably not a lot of those in other places in the country, right? That are so specific to fintech and to grow your own talent, because the need is so great. We have to do something. You can’t sit here and wait and hope that this solves itself.

Larry Williams: [00:03:18] You know, we were really pioneers in this and led the way. There’s a lot that has popped up around the country that like to say they — I’d like to say me too. But I can really say that we really started it here. Our companies, our University System of Georgia really got behind it. We move fast. We stood it up and it’s doing a great job.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:36] Right. And so, can you share a little bit about how that works? Like how did — you know, how does a student get involved with that to take their career to a new level?

Larry Williams: [00:03:47] Yes, it’s really about getting the main doorways through the University System of Georgia. So, any of the schools, although it’s based at Georgia State University, other students at other universities can access it. So, it’s really just, you know, look for the FinTech Academy, you know, and go to the website and it will direct you on how to get engaged.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:07] Now, you mentioned five years ago the event began, and even in the short period of time of five years, the Fintech kind of brand has expanded, right? And Fintech is touching so many more things than it did five years ago.

Larry Williams: [00:04:21] You know, Fintech touches everything. As I like to say, everybody likes to get paid on time, every time. And as we go more and more to a digital platform, Fintech is really at the center of it. And it really does touch every industry because there’s no industry that there’s not some type of financial transaction happening.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:41] Right.

Larry Williams: [00:04:42] So it’s been great because we’ve been talking about everything here at Fintech South on our breakouts and on main stage. We’ve been talking about diversity and inclusion, financial literacy. We’ve been talking about the fan experience and you know, what’s going on whenever you have a large event at Brave Stadium or over at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with MLS. All of these things and this financial transaction, this intersection with the point of sale all affects that fan experience or the customer experience if we’re talking about retail or others.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:15] Right.

Larry Williams: [00:05:15] So, all of this has been part of it. And so, what we’ve been seeing, especially, which was accelerated over the last two years, is this idea of frictionless payments.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:24] Right.

Larry Williams: [00:05:24] You know, how do you start to make it even easier? So, you know, Amazon makes it pretty easy, you know, hit the, you know, one click button. But you’ve got to think about now where we’re going with wearables, with your digital wallet. The adoption of these types of tools have accelerated greatly, and that’s what we’re going to consider — continue to see happen. And just more adoption. You know, the younger generation, they’re not carrying cash anymore.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:48] Right.

Larry Williams: [00:05:48] You know, they’re not doing it at all. They don’t want to.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:52] Yes, they don’t walk into banks.

Larry Williams: [00:05:53] They don’t walk into banks and they don’t want to. And, you know, and part of it is when you think of the brick and mortar side of it, a lot of people say that people don’t need banks, they need services. And so, you’ll see the banking models starting to evolve that it really is service focused about what is it that we can do and how people can access them in a very easy and convenient way.

Larry Williams: [00:06:19] Now, the big pond, the big opening right now, and the big opportunity is really we’ve done a lot with consumer payments, but it’s really moving to business to business. So business to business is still predominantly done by checks. So, remember a check? When was the last time you wrote a check?

Lee Kantor: [00:06:36] Right.

Larry Williams: [00:06:36] You know, but business is still done that way. And so, if we think about the evolution of where payments are going, Fintech is going to be able to facilitate more business-to-business interactions.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:47] So, now as the leader of TAG, TAG touches all these kind of technology special interests. How are you seeing that evolve over the years of your leadership in terms of there’s many more things that are falling under the umbrella of technology? Like at one point — like you just said, everybody’s a Fintech company now whether they want it or not. Everybody’s been a technology company, whether they want to be or not.

Larry Williams: [00:07:11] Yes, you know, that’s been an evolution that’s happened. You know, every company is a technology company even if it’s not something that’s, you know, a recognized brand. But, you know, Home Depot, UPS, Coca-Cola, all technology companies, because that’s how we do business and that’s how we connect with our customers and that’s how we grow our businesses in many, many different ways.

Larry Williams: [00:07:32] So, you know, I’m just proud of, you know, TAG of really being able to think about the things and the next, you know, what’s the next generation of innovation? What is the next thing that’s coming around, you know, whether it be blockchain or whether it be evolution in things about sales leadership? Because people we sell differently in the technical cells. The marketing of how you market and go to market’s very, very important now.

Larry Williams: [00:07:56] And you know — and so these things, marketing technology is a big core competency here in Georgia. If you think about what David Cummings has done, you know, with Pardot. What’s going on with Salesloft and lots of other companies that are really driving that, that’s an important part of it.

Larry Williams: [00:08:12] Blockchain, and really thinking about what Blockchain is doing, inclusive of but not exclusive to cryptocurrency. You know, right now, I think you’ve heard us say a million times, the 70% of all debit, credit, and reward card transactions are processed through Georgia. Today, we can say that 80% of global commercial cryptocurrency transactions are processed through Georgia.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:35] Wow.

Larry Williams: [00:08:36] And so, that’s us staying at the head of innovation. Now, the other thing that’s similar to this is cybersecurity. You know, cybersecurity, we’ve been in cybersecurity for decades and I’m going back to mainframes, to network, and to internet security. Things that we’ve done through Georgia Tech with the Department of Defense. And now we’ve been at the forefront.

Larry Williams: [00:08:59] We’ve been able to create great, great companies like ISS that became part of IBM. Secureworks that have been part of Dell. AirWatch, you know, that grew up and is now part of VMware, but is the company that — it was the first mobile security application that Apple led onto the iPhone platform that enabled people to choose an iPhone. And if you remember the BlackBerry.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:26] Right.

Larry Williams: [00:09:27] Blackberry didn’t make it. And that was all, you know, generated out of here. But that — it’s really to illustrate that we were able to go from, you know, the enterprise type of security all the way up to mobile phones and build it here. Because we built — we knew every iteration of the evolution of the technology.

Larry Williams: [00:09:48] And so, we’re seeing that with Fintech digital health. You know, we’ve got a broad portfolio here and that’s good for our economy.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:55] Right, that’s why I think that the Georgia economy is always so strong because of the diversity of the industries that allow us if there’s a downturn somewhere or something, there’s an upturn somewhere else. And a lot of times it’s here still in the State of Georgia.

Larry Williams: [00:10:08] You always want a balanced portfolio, right?

Lee Kantor: [00:10:11] Exactly.

Larry Williams: [00:10:11] You know, so that’s more resilient. And so, we’ve got a great portfolio here that makes us resilient. And so, it’s a great time to be here.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:18] And it’s important that folks like you that are leading a community of people in technology, that you’re a part of it. And we have the public and the private intersection where everybody is being so collaborative and everybody’s helping each other. This environment is what allows Georgia to be as successful as it is.

Larry Williams: [00:10:37] You know, it’s hard for new people to believe that this is true. But as people get into this market, they really do start to learn that people here want you to be successful.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:48] Right.

Larry Williams: [00:10:48] And people will help you. And many times —

Lee Kantor: [00:10:50] It’s collaborative.

Larry Williams: [00:10:50] It’s collaborative. And many times those are competitors. But they say — they know that your success is our success.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:57] Right.

Larry Williams: [00:10:57] And so, I think that’s a great community. And people are always amazed that there’s something like TAG. You mean, I can just, you know, get plugged in immediately? Yes, you can.

Lee Kantor: [00:11:07] Right, and it’s — and it doesn’t matter what niche you’re in, in technology. There’s a space for you.

Larry Williams: [00:11:13] That’s exactly right. And it opens the doors to many, many other organizations and other ways to get networked or get support.

Lee Kantor: [00:11:19] Well, Larry, thank you so much for sharing your story today. If somebody wants to connect on — at TAG, what’s a website?

Speaker3: [00:11:27] At tagonline.org.

Lee Kantor: [00:11:29] Good stuff. Well, Larry, thank you again for sharing your story. You’re doing important work and we appreciate you.

Larry Williams: [00:11:33] Appreciate all you all doing. Thanks for being here.

Lee Kantor: [00:11:35] All right. This is Lee Kantor. We’ll be back in a few at Fintech South 2022.

Outro: [00:11:47] This episode has been brought to you by Atlanta Blockchain Center, the catalyst for Atlanta’s emergence as the Premier Blockchain Innovation hub globally, through cultivating entrepreneurship, inclusivity, and education. To learn more, go to atlblockchaincenter.com.