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Claudia Aguas, Director of Catering & Convention Services at W Atlanta Downtown hotel, talks about environmental sustainability with a twist of Southern hospitality!

December 14, 2011 by insidethewinnerscircle

Inside the Winner's Circle

Claudia Aguas, Director of Catering & Convention Services at W Atlanta Downtown hotel, talks about environmental sustainability with a twist of Southern hospitality!

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Amid the excitement of downtown Atlanta nightlife and the wonder of spots like the Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Dome, you’ll find the W Atlanta Downtown hotel. More than a boutique downtown Atlanta hotel, the W is a lush hideaway infused throughout with natural elements that beckons you to come revitalize, refresh and rejuvenate.

W Atlanta – Downtown is an urban sanctuary for tie-loosening and kicking back after you’ve hustled and bustled your way through the extremities of everyday endeavors. With a luxuriously hip spa to rejuvenate those chakras, a trendy lounge for some unwind action, global gastronomy brimming with Southern hospitality and nightlife to put the cherry on top of your day, W Atlanta Downtown puts the upscale in downtown.

Claudia Aguas is the Director of Catering & Convention Services at W Atlanta Downtown hotel. She opened the hotel in January 2009. Claudia has worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts since 2005 with 12 years of hospitality experience. She is also the Sustainability Champion for W Atlanta Downtown.

In this Inside the Winners’ Circle episode, Claudia talks about the sustainability concept in W Atlanta Downtown, the green initiatives in terms of client events, conferences & meetings at the hotel & its overall impact on the community.

The X Factor: “Honesty, integrity & trust is most important.” – George McKerrow

December 7, 2011 by insidethewinnerscircle

Inside the Winner's Circle

The X Factor: “Honesty, integrity & trust is most important.” – George McKerrow

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George McKerrow, co-founder of Ted’s Montana Grill, believes that honesty and integrity and building real trust in all of your relationships goes a long way. In business, you have to stand up and be heard and it’s time for businesses in America to make their voices heard so we can find a way out of these tough times. You can’t be on the sidelines. Changing behavior, finding success, and driving our country back to prosperity isn’t a spectator sport. You have to participate every day. So, be 100 percent honest and trustworthy in everything you do. Get involved and be heard.

George McKerrow, co-founder of Ted’s Montana Grill joins Inside The Winners’ Circle

December 7, 2011 by insidethewinnerscircle

Inside the Winner's Circle

George McKerrow, co-founder of Ted's Montana Grill joins Inside The Winners' Circle

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George McKerrow Jr. is a 40-year veteran of the restaurant business with a history of success in both fine dining and casual concepts. Nation’s Restaurant News has called him a “dinner-house legend” and credits him with giving “birth to an entire casual-dining segment” more than 20 years ago when he founded LongHorn Steakhouse Inc.

McKerrow entered the restaurant business as a teenager. After graduating from Ohio State University with a B.S. in political science, he bought the Log Cabin Supper Club in West Virginia. He joined the Victoria’s Station restaurant chain in 1974 and was a Southeast regional manager when he left the company in 1980.

He opened the first LongHorn Steakhouse as a neighborhood restaurant in 1981, a time when Atlanta had few choices in casual dining. He successfully evolved that single location into RARE Hospitality International, which owns LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille and was sold to Darden Restaurants in October 2007. McKerrow retired from RARE Hospitality in 2000. He co-founded We’re Cookin’ Inc. in 1996 with Atlanta chef Gerry Klaskala and Ron San Martin, the former CFO of LongHorn. The restaurant group now has two award-winning, fine dining restaurants in Atlanta: Aria and Canoe. In addition to serving on the board of directors for the National Restaurant Association (1997-2003) and the Culinary Institute of America (1996-2002) McKerrow received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Restaurant Association in 2007 for his years of service to Georgia’s restaurant industry. In October 2008, he was inducted into The Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame by the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Along with his partner, media entrepreneur, philanthropist and environmentalist Ted Turner, McKerrow founded Ted’s Montana Grill (www.tedsmontanagrill.com) in January 2002, and serves as chief executive officer of the restaurant company. Based in Atlanta, Ted’s Montana Grill is a classic American grill serving made-from-scratch dishes in an eco-friendly environment. The company currently has 46 locations in 16 states.

In this episode of Inside the Winners’ Circle, George talks about Ted’s Montana Grill and the company’s commitment to Mother Earth.

The X Factor: “Pay attention.” – Ron Pecora

December 1, 2011 by insidethewinnerscircle

Inside the Winner's Circle

The X Factor: “Pay attention.” – Ron Pecora

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Ron Pecora, Senior VP Marketing of Waste Pro USA, encourages us to surround ourselves with people smarter than us and pay close attention. Be persistent, versatile & meticulous. It’s easy to come up with plans and ideas. What makes the difference is the ability to execute them.

Ron Pecora, Senior VP Marketing of Waste Pro USA, shares the secrets behind Waste Pro’s success

December 1, 2011 by insidethewinnerscircle

Inside the Winner's Circle

Ron Pecora, Senior VP Marketing of Waste Pro USA, shares the secrets behind Waste Pro's success

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Ron Pecora has more than 35 years of professional experience in marketing management, relationship marketing, public relations, advertising, and community engagement. At Waste Pro, he manages corporate-wide internal and external communications, advertising, sponsorships, internet sales, collateral literature development, and business development programs.

Prior to joining Waste Pro, Ron owned a marketing communications (advertising and public relations) company for twenty years and, early in his career was the marketing director for a consulting engineering firm with fifty offices throughout the Southeast. He has been active in the Central Florida community chairing the boards of many social service organizations and served as a Commissioner of the Orlando Housing Authority.

Ron is a 1968 graduate of the University of Florida, College of Journalism and served as an information spokesperson in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War era.

Waste Pro is a corporation headquartered in Longwood, Florida. It is one of this country’s fastest growing solid waste collection, recycling, processing, and disposal companies, managed by the southeastern United States’ most experienced team of waste professionals.

In the summer of 2008 Waste Pro acquired American Recycling with operations in Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama. Contingent with this acquisition Waste Pro was awarded a long term contract for the Atlanta Hartsfield airport for all of its recycling and waste collection. As Waste Pro has grown and evolved, it has pro-actively entered the GREEN age by purchasing environmentally conscious vehicles to help reduce the carbon footprint, creating LEED certified pick up for our customers, and powering our facilities with solar collectors. In 2011, Waste Pro announced the transition of our diesel powered fleet to natural gas with and investment of $100 million.

Today, Waste Pro offers services from 75 locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Louisiana and Mississippi. Waste Pro holds 115 exclusive City and County franchises and is currently contracted to provide solid waste and recycling services to over 1.5 million residential customers and over 35,000 businesses.

Join Ron Pecora on Inside the Winner’s Circle as he discusses Waste Pro’s humble beginnings & its commitment to giving the best people, the best equipment & the best service.

The X Factor: “Network people together. Exchange weaknesses & strengths.” – Isha Edwards

December 1, 2011 by insidethewinnerscircle

Inside the Winner's Circle

The X Factor: “Network people together. Exchange weaknesses & strengths.” – Isha Edwards

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Isha Edwards, founder of EPiC Measures LLC, talks about empowerment. Effectively analyze your strengths and weaknesses and surround yourself with people who can help you overcome your weaknesses at the same time learn from your strengths.

The Business of Branding with Isha Edwards, founder of EPiC Measures LLC

December 1, 2011 by insidethewinnerscircle

Inside the Winner's Circle

The Business of Branding with Isha Edwards, founder of EPiC Measures LLC

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Isha Edwards is an idea catalyst for individuals and organizations across 12 industries including music, media, fashion, film, academia, professional services, nonprofit, and small business administration. Through EPiC Measures, Isha provides brand-driven marketing consulting and business development services. Her skills and experience in business management, business education, and marketing communications enables her to implement a practical, comprehensive approach to establishing, operating, and growing a business.

Branding is an essential part of marketing a good or service and even a person. Long before becoming a household name was the “in” thing to aspire to, companies took pride in their products, stellar customer service was a vital part of the brand experience and so were value-added incentives. Today’s economic malaise has led to a series of shortcuts for product brands—all in the name of savings and continued profits. People brands are now more popular than product brands yet struggle to maintain the key ingredient required to market effectively. What is the business of branding? Join Isha on Inside the Winner’s Circle to find out!

The X Factor: “The only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves.” – Elizabeth “BJ” Mathis

December 1, 2011 by insidethewinnerscircle

Inside the Winner's Circle

The X Factor: “The only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves.” – Elizabeth "BJ" Mathis

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Elizabeth “BJ” Mathis, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Commissioners, urges everyone to be tenacious. Do not be limited by what others say you can or cannot do. Do not be afraid to take risks and reach for your dreams. Rise up to your potential and accomplish everything you set your mind to.

All things Henry County with Chairman Elizabeth “BJ” Mathis

December 1, 2011 by insidethewinnerscircle

Inside the Winner's Circle

All things Henry County with Chairman Elizabeth "BJ" Mathis

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Now in her third year as Chairman, Elizabeth “BJ” Mathis began her service as Henry County District Two Commissioner in January of 2005. After serving in various ministry positions for 14 years, and working with numerous faith-based agencies, she felt politics was simply another way to serve the people in the community.

Under her leadership, an Economic Development Plan has been completed for Henry County that will help guide economic development decisions for years to come. Acknowledging the link between education and economic development, Chairman Mathis is now working to assist the school system in raising the graduation rate, encourage higher education, and make Henry County a Work-Ready Certified Community.

Henry County Commission Chairman Elizabeth ‘B.J.’ Mathis is one of the five elected officials selected to serve on the Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable Executive Committee for the proposed regional SPLOST program. The Executive Committee will be responsible for creating a draft investment list of projects that is both fiscally constrained by the projected revenue of the ten-year sales tax and deliverable within that ten year time frame. Her service on this committee will ensure Henry County and the entire south metro has a strong voice in the process.

With her strong focus on families and conservation, Chairman Mathis more than doubled the park land in District 2 while preserving an historic civil war battlefield that had been slated for a large development. Her desire to provide unique places for citizens to gather led one of District 2’s parks, North Mt. Carmel Park, to be ranked #5 among all parks in metro Atlanta by accessatlanta.com. In fact, the oversized playground surrounded by a kid-sized “highway” for bikes and trikes coupled with the only dog park in the County has made that park one of the most popular destinations for Henry County’s families. She has also led the fight against gang involvement among Henry County’s youth.

For all these reasons and more, Chairman Mathis was one of 45 women from Clayton and Henry counties to receive Senator Gail Buckner’s Legacy of Leadership Award for their contributions to their communities.

She and her husband John, a retired police Lieutenant with the City of Atlanta, have been married 28 years and have three children and three grandchildren.

In this episode, BJ Mathis joins Inside the Winner’s Circle to talk about Henry County’s economic development, green initiatives & how it’s poised on the brink of greatness.