Larry Hipp with Brightwell Payments and Tapan Patel with Trextel
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Larry Hipp is an accomplished executive who brings more than 20 years of experience in the technology and product development field. Currently, he is the CEO of Brightwell Payments, a FinTech company that helps global workers get paid, as well as send and spend money safely and easily worldwide.
Larry has a proven track record of creating expertly crafted digital products that deliver comprehensive value to the business and end-user. Unlike many technologists, however, Larry is uniquely able to connect all the critical elements of digital strategy and performance expertise to develop a product that excels in user experience, functional software, and digital marketing combined.
Tapan Patel joined the Trextel leadership team in 2020 as CTO, bringing over 10 years of technology experience developing a wide range of business software from complex financial systems to distributed databases, and everything in between.
Most recently, Tapan led and built a 60 person global engineering team at Revel Systems, a POS provider primarily serving the hospitality industry. In 2016 he launched his first startup in Atlanta, growing it to $5M in ARR in just two years, and was sold in late 2018. In recent years Tapan has primarily focused on product and venture capital strategy exclusively.
When not working, Tapan enjoys running on trails in Suburban Atlanta where he lives with his wife and newborn baby.
About Your Host
Joey Kline is a Vice President at JLL, specializing in office brokerage and tenant representation. As an Atlanta native, he has a deep passion for promoting the economic growth and continued competitiveness of communities in and around Atlanta, as well as the Southeast as a whole.
He has completed transactions in every major submarket of metro Atlanta, and works primarily with start-ups, advertising/marketing agencies, and publicly-traded companies. With a healthy mix of tenacious drive and analytical insights, Joey is a skilled negotiator who advises clients on a myriad of complex real estate matters.
With a strategy and business development background, Joey is first and foremost a pragmatic advisor to his clients. Most recently, he was the Director of Business Development for American Fueling Systems, an Atlanta-based alternative energy company. 
While at JLL, he has become a member of the Million Dollar Club, and has built a reputation as an expert on the intersection of transit-accessibility and urban real estate. With intimate involvement in site selection and planning/zoning concerns, Joey approaches real estate from the perspective of the end user, and thus possesses a unique lens through which to serve his clients.
Joey holds a Master of Business Administration from Emory University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis. He is a founder, board member, and the treasurer of Advance Atlanta, and also sits on the Selection Committee for the Association for Corporate Growth’s Fast 40 event. In addition, he is a member of CoreNet and the Urban Land Institute. Finally, he is part of LEAD Atlanta’s Class of 2019.
Connect with Joey on LinkedIn.
Kristin Hull with Nia Impact Capital
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Kristin Hull is founder and CEO of Nia Impact Capital, a women-led Registered Investment Advisor leading the charge to change the face of finance by hiring and training women and people of color in sustainable and transformative investing. Kristin founded Nia Global Solutions, a gender-lens portfolio of solutions-focused companies, in her efforts to bring impact investing into the public markets.
An impact Investor since 2007, Kristin oversaw the investment process for the first family foundations as they moved their endowment assets into 100% alignment with their philanthropic mission. In 2010 Kristin went on to found Nia Community, a 100% mission-aligned impact investment fund focused on social change and environmental sustainability in her home town of Oakland, California.
Kristin is a co-founder of Impact Hub Oakland and of the North Oakland Community Charter School, and served on the founding board of George Mark Children’s House. Prior to devoting her career to transforming our financial system, Kristin was a full-time educator, teaching bilingual classes in Oakland and San Francisco. She earned her PhD in Education at University of California, Berkeley, her Masters in Research in Bilingual Education from Stanford University and her BA and teaching credentials from Tufts University.
Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn and follow Nia Impact Capital on Twitter.
Michelle Berlin with Mindbody
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Michelle Berlin is Senior Vice President, People & Culture with Mindbody. Michelle leads our international People & Culture Team, focused on people strategies and organization effectiveness in support of Mindbody’s vision.
After joining Mindbody in 2016, she developed the consultative P&C Business Partner and Program Management Teams. The People & Culture Team she directs is responsible for finding the best talent for Mindbody and engaging, developing, and inspiring team members to live our core values in all aspects of their roles.
Michelle’s passion for creating environments for people to thrive and grow began during her careers at Patagonia and Amgen. There, her roles in human resources fostered a belief in the power of company culture and need to develop strong alignment as a partner with the business.
More recently, as the senior director of human resources at REC Solar, Michelle developed relationships across the organization that supported its expansion and was instrumental in the company’s successful acquisition by Sunrun.
Outside of work, Michelle volunteers with Destination Imagination to provide opportunities for kids to collaborate, work as a team, and use their creativity to solve problems. As a Cal Poly graduate, her roots run deep on the Central Coast of California, but she and her family still find time for annual travel trips around the world.
Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn and follow Mindbody on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Training Pros
Since TrainingPros was founded in 1997, they have been dedicated to helping their clients find the right consultant for their projects.
23 years later, they are proud to have helped hundreds of clients complete their projects and thousands of consultants find great assignments. Training Pros continues to focus on helping their clients and consultants as well as their community.
Christopher Brazelton with Elm Street Cultural Arts Village
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Broadcasting live from The Innovation Spot in the Heart of Woodstock
Elm Street started as a local non-profit theater in 2002. Elm Street (then Towne Lake Arts Center) provides performing arts productions, classes, and camps to and with the surrounding community. 
Elm Street Cultural Arts Village was formed to provide not only theatrical arts but visual arts, music, dance, and culinary arts.
To do so, Elm Street and the City of Woodstock collaborated on acquiring a 4-acre property and green space to grow this vision.
Christopher Brazelton has been with Elm Street Cultural Arts Village since April 2013.
Hired as the Operations Director, Christopher has been helping transform the theatre into a full Arts Center, focusing on community engagement.
Being promoted to Executive Director in 2016, the organization has grown significantly and looks forward to more positive growth in the coming years!
Follow Elm Street Cultural Arts Village on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
TMB E53: David Fruchtman, The Walden Group LLC
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David A. Fruchtman, Ph.D., Director
The Walden GroupLLC.com
3131 N. Country Club Rd. Suite 111
Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 848-2040
director@waldengroupllc.com
The Walden GroupLLC.com
SOCIAL MEDIA: LinkedIn |
Born and raised in a small village suburb of Toledo Ohio. Came to Arizona for college after working for the local police dept. Worked in forensics / Investigations for over 38 years handling felony cases to include over 100 first-degree murder cases. Polygraph examiner for over 35 years. Testified as an expert in polygraph, DNA evidence, and forensic photography. After years of investigations, I focused more on teaching and worked as Chair of a Criminal Justice program. After leaving teaching full-time, I have moved back to the private sector offering a unique combination of professional services.
Married to Wen Fruchtman, 2 Sons (Tyler and Matt)
- Bachelors in Psychology – University of Arizona
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice – University of Alabama
- Masters in Forensic Science – National University
- Master of Science in Psychology – Walden University
- PhD. in Psychology – Walden University
Teach Forensics, Criminal Justice, and psychology at Colorado State University, American Intercontinental University, Southern New Hampshire University, and South University.
About your business:
The Walden Group LLC is a multidisciplinary group of professional investigators and forensic specialists offering a unique variety of services. We perform investigative and forensic services for individuals, businesses, attorneys, and government agencies. Our investigative services include, but are not limited to background investigations, criminal defense investigations, fraud and theft investigations, investigation of sex crimes and violent crimes, and civil matters to include employment discrimination, sexual harassment, personal injury cases, and professional malpractice. We can collect, process, and analyze evidence. We perform forensic consultation to include polygraph services, latent fingerprint processing, DNA collection and processing, trace evidence analysis, and full autopsy services.
Many of the services we provide have traditionally only been available to government agencies and law enforcement. We provide the power of professional investigative and forensic consultation in the hands of private individuals and businesses. Additionally, we provide surveillance equipment for those people who may desire to conduct their own investigations.
Forty-Niner Golf & CC – Tucson’s Hidden Jewel
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CAW E11: Perimeter Bicycle / El Tour De Tucson
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TJ Juskiewicz, Executive Director
Perimeter Bicycle / El Tour De Tucson
2609 E BROADWAY BLVD.
Tucson, AZ 85716
Phone: 515-505-5567
Email:tj@eltourdetucson.org
URL: https://eltourdetucson.org/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | Instagram| LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
TJ Juskiewicz is the Executive Director of Perimeter Bicycling Association and El Tour de Tucson. Juskiewicz has over 30 years of event experience serving as director of some of the country’s top cycling events including RAGBRAI and Bike Florida. He also served several terms as the National President of the Bicycle Tour Network. Prior experience includes serving as director of Florida’s Sunshine State Games, the state’s Olympic-style multi-sport festival, the marketing department of the University of Florida athletic department, and at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. He is a proud graduate of the University of Florida. He and his wife, Jodi, have been married for 21 years and have one son (Chase, 19) and a daughter (Cami, 17). He was born in Jersey City, NJ but grew up in Sunrise, Florida.
Cristiana Benson, Director, Business Development
Perimeter Bicycle / El Tour De Tucson
2609 E BROADWAY BLVD.
Tucson, AZ 85716
Phone: 520.745.2033
CBenson015@gmail.com
Christiana Benson is the Director of Business Development at PBAA for El Tour de Tucson and El Tour de Mesa. Christiana’s entrance into sports marketing began in the early 1990s as a Creative Director for a marketing firm responsible for bringing the Senior Olympics to Tucson. Her 20 years of Sales and Marketing experience prepared her for roles as a consultant for companies like Carma-Labs, Guthy-Renker, and QVC. She has worked on exhibits with UCSB, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Museum, and the Makeup Museum in NYC. Christiana has brought a product to market called Carmex Moisture Plus and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded to her family in 2008, and is currently working on a documentary for Netflix. Outside of work, she is a Hollywood memorabilia collector, coffee aficionado, Tucson Community Cares Board Member, and novice cyclist. She is a mom to 3 children; Sophia, 24, Sydney, 19, and Steven, 16. This Air Force Brat was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and was raised in England and Germany where she studied classical and jazz piano.
Damion Alexander moved to Tucson Arizona from Telluride Colorado when he was in high school and went on to attend the University of Arizona. Upon graduating from the University of Arizona 25 years ago Damion joined Long Realty company where he has been a residential real estate agent ever since. Damion grew up on a bicycle exploring the mountains around Telluride and continued to ride and commute While attending the U of A. After graduating he dove headfirst into real estate and the road very little until the real estate market meltdown in 2007. At that time, he became obsessed with bikes and has been riding pretty much every day since. Damion’s passion for cycling is only matched by his interest in giving back to the community. He had raised funds through multiple events and donates considerable time to many local charities as well as sitting on the Board of Directors for El tour de Tucson, beyond Tucson, and the rose petal foundation.
About Perimeter Bicycle
Perimeter Bicycling is the nonprofit organization that coordinates and hosts El Tour de Tucson, the organization’s flagship event and one of the largest bicycling events in America. Since its first event in 1983 with fewer than 200 cyclists, El Tour has grown to attract over 6,000 cyclists per year of all ages and abilities, from all around the world. Cumulatively, more than 270,000 riders have championed the event’s message of charity, community, health, and wellness alongside a strong and committed group of nonprofits and volunteers. As a result of that teamwork, the event has raised more than $101 million for area charities and non-profits.
Beyond the event itself, El Tour’s finish line/annual Downtown Fiesta brings together cyclists and members of the greater Tucson community for a celebration of charities, community, health, and fitness, and helped further Perimeter Bicycling’s goal of making Tucson/Pima County the nation’s best bicycling region. In 2008, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) awarded the Tucson/Pima Eastern Region its Gold-Level “Bicycle Friendly” designation for its commitment to providing safe facilities for bicyclists and its support of bicycling for recreation, fitness, and transportation. The LAB renewed the region’s Gold level in 2012. Perimeter Bicycling is actively working with volunteers and staff from the City of Tucson and Pima County to continue a concerted effort to achieve top honors.
Host
Matt Nelson: Senior Vice President, Crest Insurance Group
Matt is a Senior Vice President at Crest Insurance Group in Tucson, consulting with companies to identify and implement insurance, risk management, and employee benefits solutions. With more than a 15 years of industry experience, he has served as a keynote speaker on the healthcare industry, leadership, workplace culture and risk management for professional organizations throughout Southern Arizona, including the City of Tucson, Greater Tucson Leadership, the Financial Executives and Affiliates of Tucson, and the CEO Roundtable of Tucson.
Matt is an active member in the Tucson community, having served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Arizona Army National Guard and volunteering with multiple local organizations, including as Treasurer and a Big Brother with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southern Arizona, a volunteer with the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Chair of the Pima County JTED’s Business and Industry Council, a builder with Habitat for Humanity and many other local youth charities.
Email: mnelson@crestins.com
Phone: 520.784.7636
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mattrnelson2
Small Business Fuel: Strategic Partnerships Help Win Contracts with State of Georgia
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Jonathan Miller, Principal at Whitehead Industrial, represents the fourth generation of the Miller Hardware Company, a proud Georgia resident small business, located in Valdosta, Georgia, serving the people and communities of South Georgia since 1908.
The company currently operates under three distinct divisions: Whitehead Industrial Hardware, Miller Hardware and Seasons Garden Center. On the foundation of wholesale and retail hardware experience, Whitehead has grown to its present status of being a complete supply house serving industry, construction, and municipalities.
We provide access to over 35,000 sku’s stocked in 64,000+ square feet of warehouse space. We nurture and maintain direct relationships with over 400 different manufacturers to ensure the proper depth to any solution you may need.
Jeff Hughes, Vice President of Sales, Lowe Electric and Safety Supply Sales is a management professional with over twenty years in sales, marketing, operations and logistical management. Along the way building a broad knowledge base in electrical, communications, industrial, lighting and safety product applications working in distribution, manufacturing and manufacturer representation roles.
Starting in the warehouse in 1997 to leading half the sales force of the most respected independent distributor in Georgia. Lowe Electric Supply Company began in Macon Georgia as an electrical contractor in 1903. I am living my dream of mentoring the next generation of the Lowe Electric family with my incredible peers in leadership.
Kelly Kuppersmith, Government Account Manager with Lowe Electric and Safety Supply, has over two decades of experience in the Industrial Supply industry. He has held a wide range of sales, marketing, operations and entrepreneurial positions, from Fortune 500 corporations to locally owned small businesses.
These positions have led him to focus and develop a in depth knowledge and expertise with government and public sector customers and contracts. Kelly also has a passion for sustainability. He has rolled out nationwide battery recycling programs as well as helping customers create and implement award winning energy, water and green cleaning programs.
About Your Hosts
Paul Wilson, Area Director with SBDC, has extensive industry experience that spans leadership roles in supply chain management, procurement, marketing, supplier diversity, and small business development. His expertise includes strategic analysis, operational planning, leadership development, contract writing, video marketing, video production, training and curriculum development.
Having worked with Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and educational institutions, Paul brings a diverse wealth of knowledge, perspective, and skills to the small business community.
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn and follow SBDC on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook and Instagram.
Telisha Farrow Jackson joined serves as the Small Business Outreach Specialist for the Department of Administrative Services. She interacts with small businesses and advocates on their behalf with government contracting officers, contract specialists, and end-users. She has an extensive and varied career in multiple industries, including lending and underwriting; small business development; project management; compliance and controls.
Telisha performed cost analysis for businesses in her former role as an underwriter and a branch manager. She has also managed outreach initiatives and negotiated corporate partnerships; developed curriculum, and led multiple process improvement and best practice initiatives. Her expertise dwells in analyzing and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations to ensure that strategies can be successfully executed.
Telisha has used her people skills to build community involvement and awareness by participating in various community outreach events and professionally moderating conferences.
Connect with Telisha on LinkedIn.
About Our Sponsor
OnPay’s
payroll services and HR software give you more time to focus on what’s most important. Rated “Excellent” by PC Magazine, we make it easy to pay employees fast, we automate all payroll taxes, and we even keep all your HR and benefits organized and compliant.
Our award-winning customer service includes an accuracy guarantee, deep integrations with popular accounting software, and we’ll even enter all your employee information for you — whether you have five employees or 500. Take a closer look to see all the ways we can save you time and money in the back office.
Dianne Grote Adams with Safex
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Dianne Grote Adams has more than 40 years of experience in the industrial hygiene, safety and environmental field.
She has an undergraduate in Life Sciences, MS in Environmental Health/Occupational Safety and is a CIH, CSP, CPEA and FAIHA. (Certified Industrial Hygienist, Certified Safety Professional, Certified Professional Environmental Auditor and Fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association). After a start in government and private manufacturing, she has been consulting for nearly 30 years.
Connect with Dianne on LinkedIn and follow Safex on Facebook.
