

On this CEO Exclusive we talk with Chris Smith and Chris Patterson with CB Smith and Associates about trends in accounting, including changes in tax law and it’s implications on business owners.
Chris Smith is a CPA and owner of CB Smith & Associates. He and his staff of nine employees offer accounting and tax services along with business management guidance to small and midsize businesses. With more than 22 years of financial experience, he is passionate about his work.
He founded his accounting firm in 2003 and has provided service to businesses in various industries, including hospitality. He enjoys sharing his expertise and has published articles in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle and Appen Newspapers and has been featured as an expert on Fox 5’s “Good Day Atlanta” and 11Alive News.
Prior to starting his own firm, Chris was a corporate controller. He earned a degree in accounting from Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, is active in local community groups such as the Rotary Club and numerous CPA groups.
Chris Peterson, CPA, MTX – Chris joined CB Smith & Associates in July 2017 as Tax Manager. He has more than 20 years’ experience in tax planning and compliance for businesses and business owners. Chris helps to achieve results for clients by improving cash flow and income, lowering tax burdens through proactive planning and reducing debt.
Chris received a Master of Taxation with specialization in corporate and partnership taxation and a Master of Professional Accountancy with specialization in accounting information systems from Georgia State University, as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration in public accounting and finance from Georgia Southern University.








Amari Ruff is CEO, Co-Founder and Board Member at Sudu. Amari started Sudu Logistics in 2015 after realizing the challenges diverse (minority, women, and veteran owned) carriers had competing and obtaining large contract opportunities from large corporations. Amari most recently was CEO and founder of Global Optic Telco, a residential and commercial telecommunications services provider for Comcast, Charter, Time Warner, Cox, and Southern Link among other large corporations. Amari started Global Optic with one technician truck and scaled it to 200+ trucks and five offices across the US in 3.5 years at which point it was acquired. Amari articulates the Sudu vision and leads business development as he excels at acquiring large contract opportunities and providing high service standards. An avid sports fan, Amari brings a competitive and positive attitude always finding win-win solutions for everyone. Connect with Amari on
Sean Henry is Founder and CEO of STORD, an integrated warehousing & logistics network helping companies distribute products globally. He was featured in the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, in INC.com as one of the Global Top 50 Emerging Entrepreneurs of 2017, and America’s Top 30 Emerging Startups of 2017. Connect with Sean on
Will Haraway is Founder & CEO of Backbeat Marketing. Will has 20 years of executive experience in B2B Technology Marketing. Will is a certified analyst relations practitioner by the Knowledge Capital Group and has helped companies including Manhattan Associates, Aptos, Atlantix Global Systems, American Software and Rubicon Global improve their brand reputations with marketing results that help increase sales. The Backbeat team includes lead generation, digital marketing, media relations and content marketing specialists with a combined 50 years of experience in their chosen disciplines. Connect with Will on
Ben Harris is Director of Supply Chain Ecosystem Expansion for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Ben comes to the Metro Atlanta Chamber after serving as Senior Manager, Market Development for Manhattan Associates. There, Ben was responsible for developing Manhattan’s sales pipeline and overall Americas supply chain marketing strategy. Ben oversaw market positioning, messaging and campaign execution to build awareness and drive new pipeline growth. Prior to joining Manhattan, Ben spent four years with the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Center of Innovation for Logistics where he played a key role in establishing the Center as a go-to industry resource for information, support, partnership building, and investment development. Additionally, he became a key SME for all logistics and supply chain-focused projects. Ben began his career at Page International, Inc. where he drove continuous improvement in complex global supply chain operations for a wide variety of businesses and Fortune 500 companies. An APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Ben holds an Executive Master’s degree in Business Administration (EMBA) and bachelor’s degree in International Business (BBA) from the Terry College at the University of Georgia. Connect with Ben on
Scott W. Luton is founder of Supply Chain Now Radio and also serves as Managing Partner for 























