Jeff Hilimire / Dragon Army
CEO
Currently Jeff is the CEO of Dragon Army, a mobile agency and game studio. I’m fascinated with entrepreneurship, startups, technology, and specifically mobile apps and gaming.
by ryanredhawk
Jeff Hilimire / Dragon Army
CEO
Currently Jeff is the CEO of Dragon Army, a mobile agency and game studio. I’m fascinated with entrepreneurship, startups, technology, and specifically mobile apps and gaming.
by ryanredhawk
A spotlight episode of Atlanta Business Radio and powered by Business RadioX. Co-Hosted by Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson and Brandon Skolnick with Gathering Of Angels. Featuring veteran entrepreneurs, support organizations, outreach groups and more in the Atlanta area continuing to serve our families, our communities and our country.
Everett was named one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40” in 2015, graduated from LEAD Atlanta in 2014, and is an active participant and board member of several non-profits. Everett is a Veteran of the United States Army, where he earned awards for his participation in combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Everett is a proud native Atlantan, a graduate of the University of Georgia, and a diehard Atlanta sports fan. When he isn’t at the office, Everett enjoys spending time exploring the city, dining out, and writing music.
by ryanredhawk
Atlanta Business Radio is the Most Trusted Pro-Business Voice in Atlanta. Listen LIVE every Mon. Wed and Fri. 10:00am
David Felfoldi / NPressive
Founder
A serial entrepreneur, David has founded and grown three technology services companies — an Inc5000 “Fastest Growing” custom web software development firm, an award-winning “Best Search Engine and Social” digital marketing agency in Atlanta, and most recently a SaaS CRM for nonprofit member associations called NPressive.
David started as the self-taught senior web designer for Siemens USA at the age of 16. Since, he has guided the digital strategy behind ADP, Spanx, Racetrac Petroleum, Rinnai America, Gables Residential, and the National Center of Civil & Human Rights. When not tinkering with technology or musing on marketing David enjoys traveling, hiking, running, and cycling with his wife, daughter, and dogs.
Ryan Blanck / Deviate, LLC
CEO & Founder
It only takes a minute with Deviate Founder and CEO Ryan Blanck to experience the infectious authenticity, enthusiasm, and positive attitude that help make his partnerships with clients so successful. He has a gift for bringing out the best in people and he feels a powerful responsibility to use it as he works with c-suite leaders, high-performing teams, and world-class athletes and entertainers. Since 1999 Ryan has led over 450 inPersonSM experiences meetings, retreats, and workshops for small groups to national conferences. Hes the world’s only dual Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF) and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). Blending his unique background in Leadership and well-being, he specializes in performance improvement to lead his clients to achieve their champion within (mind and body).
Ryan is a guest leadership educator at Penn State University and Stanford University’s Business Leadership Program. Hes been interviewed about leadership and training in The Huffington Post, The Desert News, Esquire, YFS, and Vim and Vigor Magazines. And CNNs story of his client Marlon Gibsons life-altering transformation is one of the networks most popular online health articles of all time.
He has advised and coached leaders within organizations such as the The Color Run, Joe’s Black Book, Human Movement Management, World Bank, Google, Nike, CRC Insurance, Penn State University, lululemon athletica, and United Way.
Ryan is a well-respected member of the Society for Human Resource Management, International Association of Facilitators, IDEA Health and Fitness Association, and the American Council on Exercise (ACE), for whom he also serves as national spokesman. He also has sat on the boards of national non-profits Freestyle Foundation and Loa Scholarship Fund and currently serves on Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business board.
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by ryanredhawk
March 29th, 2016
Topic: Dare to Reach Your Full Potential
Tune into Change Leaders Exclusive as we talk with Becky Blalock, Speaker and Best Selling Author of DARE, and Yvonne Bryant-Johnson, President and CEO of Bryant & Associates. They will give their expertise on today’s topic of “Dare to Reach Your Full Potential”. Listen in on what it has taken both Becky and Yvonne to become successful in their careers as well as the risks they took as “women” in the c-suite.
by ryanredhawk
Mary Ellen McClanahan / Georgia Department of Economic Development
Director, Entrepreneur & Small Business
As Director of Entrepreneur & Small Business Development for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Mary Ellen McClanahan helps find solutions and effective ways to build an entrepreneurial environment to support small business through mentoring, professional development, strategic planning and resource awareness. She also connects with Georgias business and community associations so that thousands of businesses, local leaders and practitioners are aware of resources and opportunities. She also directs any size businesses to the specific resources they need. Mary Ellen is also an Existing Industry Project Manager within the Metro Atlanta region. She calls on growing companies making them aware of state resources and incentives and provides assistance with their growth plans and decision-making process. She also works closely with the local economic developers with their existing industry support efforts.
During her 18 years with the department, she helped develop and grow its regional economic development program, the Entrepreneur Friendly Initiative and acted as legislative liaison. Prior to that, Mary Ellen was the economic developer and president of two rural South Georgia chambers of commerce in Dodge and Sumter Counties.
Originally from Erie, PA and in Georgia since 1973, Mary Ellen serves on the boards of GEDA (Georgia Economic Developers Association), GACCE (GA Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives), Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, Adv
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Zaheer Faruqi / Aventure Aviation
Founder and President
Zaheer Faruqi has been president of Aventure Aviation since he co-founded the company in 2001. He has more than 35 years of aviation experience, having worked in the engineering and maintenance departments of several major international airlines for more than 20 years before co-founding Aventure. Zaheer is responsible for the success and strategic direction of the company. He oversees the company’s operations, taking great interest in ensuring that the right staff are hired, and that they are provided with the proper training and facilities needed to make their jobs challenging and fun. His favorite part about working at Aventure is forming relationships with customers, to ensure that he understands their specific parts requirements. He also takes great satisfaction in training the Aventure staff to better serve their customers. Zaheer was first attracted to the aviation field by his childhood love of airplanes.
When not working, he enjoys reading business books, volunteering in the community, and helping those in need improve their daily lives. Zaheer holds a Masters in Administrative Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Technology. He has FAA airframe and power plant licenses, and has completed multiple courses from Airbus and Boeing.
Spencer Nix / Reformation Brewery
Founder
Reformation Brewery out of Woodstock, Ga. employs 10 people and is redefining what local beer should be. “We built our entire business model on this concept of enjoying well made beer as a gift and sharing that gift with others,” said Spencer Nix, CEO of Reformation Brewery. And Nix wanted to enjoy the process. Many breweries obtain a lot of capital and skip to the largest equipment they can afford, but Reformation did the opposite and started with a few investors and opened a production brewery on a 1-Barrel Brewhouse. They’ve since scaled that equipment to a 3-Barrel Brewhouse, a 7-Barrel Brewhouse, and recently installed the first High Efficiency Brewing System (HEBS) in the State of Georgia.
Since starting in 2014, the company has gone from zero paid employees to ten and saw $700,000 in sales in 2015. But its impact on people and the community is what fuels their business and has launched them into the new phenomenon of “beer tourism.” The brewery has drawn visitors from as far away as Michigan, and theKeeping Room welcomed 12,000 visitors to its downtown Woodstock location in its first year.
So why start a brewery in Georgia? “Because it’s home,” Nix says. “Home to a growing population relocating from other parts of the country. Home to great small communities where small business thrives. Home to world-class resources the city of Atlanta attracts. And home to where I’m from, and all meaningful adventures start at home.”
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by ryanredhawk
Atlanta Business Radio is the Most Trusted Pro-Business Voice in Atlanta. Listen LIVE every Mon. Wed and Fri. 10:00am
Today’s Special Episode “A Hemp and Medical Cannabis Conversation”
Correction regarding the content on this episode: “The venue for HEMP NY CITY is Cooper Union, not Copper Union. The most famous speech there was Lincoln’s speech against slavery to the Western Territories. Charlotte’s oil is called Charlotte’s Web, named after Charlotte Figi who suffered as many as 400 seizures a week.
Terry L. Hester / HempXpress
Founder & CEO
Grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., raised on a farm in North Carolina during her summers. Spent over 30 years in Houston, TX, and recently relocated to the East coast. Business Entrepreneur and owner of several successful businesses during the last 38 years, with focus on Business Development and Marketing.
As a National & Global Community Coordinator, in 2010 she is listed on record at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. for developing and proposing plans for the City of Atlanta/College Park, GA, to obtain NASA space shuttle ATLANTIS for the building of an international Peace Museum. In September 2004, she coordinated community events on bio-terrorism which led to Houstons former Mayor, Bill White, recognizing and proclaiming Houston as the first city in the United States to proclaim September 11th as 9-1-1 Unity In The Community Day.
Collaborated with Houston’s former Mayor, Annise Parker to raise awareness and promote usage of electric vehicles, campaigned to have electric car charging stations installed in front of Houston’s City Hall, which contributed to Houston being named the Renewable Energy Capital in the Country.
An Holistic Healer- with focus on Mind, Body & Spirit who received her degrees as a Practitioner and Ordained Minister of Metaphysics from the University of Metaphysics, located in Sedona, Arizona.
James Bell / Georgia C.A.R.E. Project
Director
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Joshua Littrell/ Veterans For Cannabis
Founder and CEO
by ryanredhawk
Dr. Hughan Frederick / NILE Women’s Healthcare
Founder & CEO
A board-certified OB/GYN practicing for nearly 20 years, Dr. Frederick has had the experience of helping thousands of women with childbirth through menopause and everything in between. Trained in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, bio-identical hormones and bariatrics, he has the unique expertise to help women through lifes many stages.
While he manages several high-risk pregnancies, Dr. Frederick maintains a low c-section rate compared to the national average. He has performed hundreds of gynecological surgeries including hysterectomies, laparoscopies, and routine OB/GYN examinations.
Since establishing Nile in 2006, Dr. Fredericks practice has grown to be among the largest women’s care practices serving the North Fulton area. The reason women choose Nile is not its size, however, but rather the personal attention and emphasis on patient participation in their own holistic care. Known for his friendly beside manner, Dr. Frederick is most popular for his naturalistic approach to women’s health. Pills and surgery are given as final options not the first suggestion. His philosophy has garnered him many accolades including being voted one of the best doctors in Roswell, GA, best on Kudzu.com and Atlanta Parent Magazine.
In addition to Nile Womens Health Care, he serves as the medical director for Glow Anti-Aging Center and Medical Spa. For the privacy and convenience of several clients, he offers his bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, novel therapies for vaginal atrophy, urinary leakage and vaginal dryness in this full-service, luxury space.
Dr. Frederick currently serves as Chairman of Womens and Childrens Services at North Fulton Hospital. He is board certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG), a member of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the National Medical Association (NMA). He is also active in the community, a supporter of the March of Dimes and is a member of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. He is married, has two sons and one daughter.
Jordan Livosky / Atlanta Parent Magazine
Special Events Coordinator
Jordan Lisvosky started her journey with Atlanta Parent 4 years prior to her officially joining the AP family as a a volunteer at their annual Family Festival. After college, she made her way back to Atlanta Parent as an intern in special events and was quickly hired on full time. From there, she became Special Events Coordinator and now runs the annual Family Festival with the help of great volunteers and loves getting students from her alma mater, Chamblee High School. In her spare time (if there is any!) she loves volunteering with local animal rescue groups, helping with the Young Professionals of Dunwoody and watching Shark Tank. She loves getting out into the community and hearing about how parents use Atlanta Parent to plan their birthday parties, summers and weekends year round.
David B. Wright / W3 Marketing Group
President & Chief Marketing Officer
David B. Wright is a bestselling author and is President & Chief Marketing Officer of W3 Group Marketing, a marketing firm that helps growth-oriented businesses get more customers, clients or patients. David provides marketing services ranging from high-level strategic direction down to the tactical implementation including SEO, video marketing, mobile, local, social, online PR, and more. Video SEO is a particular sweet spot – David has gotten to Page One of Google in as fast as two minutes!
David is an international speaker, has lived in Tokyo, Japan, done business around the world and has been quoted in numerous publications including Inc., The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, AMEX Open Forum, About.com, CEO.com, and Business Insider. He has climbed Mt. Fuji and dozens of other mountains, loves SCUBA diving, kayaking, music and all sorts of adventures. He is a champion fish taco chef, learned to surf in Bali, shot archery in the crater of a Japanese volcano, was a radio DJ in Atlanta, rode an elephant through the jungle in Thailand, and is ready for his next adventure. He lives in Tucker, GA with his wife and stepdaughter.
by ryanredhawk
Chau Nguyen / Hirewire
Founder & CEO
Chau Nguyen has been an entrepreneur for over 10 years. In 2005, Chau co-founded Campus Special, which was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in the US for four consecutive years. Campus Special reached millions of college students at over 500 universities through mobile apps, ecommerce, and print media. Nearly 4,000 college students launched their career in sales and marketing through his award winning internship program. In 2014, Campus Special was acquired by Chegg, Inc. and rebranded as Chegg Deals.
While searching for his next venture, Chau identified an opportunity to leverage his background in hiring to empower an underserved workforce and disrupt the traditional hiring process. In 2015, Hirewire, the first on-demand hiring marketplace connecting hourly job seekers and employers was launched (available for iOS and Android @ hirewire.com/app)
Chau has been named one of the Highest Rated CEOs of 2014 among small to mid sized companies by Glassdoor and voted to the annual list of Most Loved CEOs in America 2014 by Inc. Magazine. Chau has a passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing people.
Andy Powell / Alchemy Polymers
Technical Consultant
Andy Powell is a Technical Consultant at Alchemy Polymers, a manufacturer of polyurethane leak seal, soil stabilization and slab lifting resins. He is an expert on both the products and their applications, with many years of infrastructure repair work and on-site consulting under his belt. He attended Auburn University.
by ryanredhawk
John Torres / Rollins, Inc.
Managing Director, Learning & Development
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