Atlanta’s Most Trusted Advisors interviews industry experts from in and around the Metro Atlanta Area. Our goal is to provide valuable information that all business owners and managers can use in their day-to-day work to help them succeed.
Keely Herrick and Stephanie Everett
Keely Herrick / KHerrick LLC
Keely Herrick focuses her practice on intellectual property law, including domestic and global trademark prosecution, clearance, opposition and cancellation actions, enforcement, and licensing as well as domain name disputes and copyright matters. Prior to founding KHerrick LLC, she worked at a large firm in New York and a boutique firm in Atlanta. She has continued her passion for pro bono work in Atlanta as an active participant at Georgia Lawyers for the Arts. She regularly provides seminars at museums, schools, and other venues on intellectual property matters. She is also a freelance entertainment writer, contributing regularly to Creative Loafing Atlanta and other websites, and she is a board member of the Actor’s Express theater company.
Stephanie Everett / Stephanie Everett consulting
I don’t know when my love affair with budgets first began. It was a love that grew quickly and deeply. Soon, it wasn’t enough to just do my own budget. I was proclaiming the joys of budgeting to my family, friends, work colleagues…anyone who would listen.
I didn’t stop there. Soon, I was immersed in studying leadership, time management, and business development skills. At the beach, my friends read the latest gossip magazine, while I learned how to motivate employees or organize my work day.
In March of 2008, I put all those skills to the test when my law partner and I launched our law firm. I remember the initial fear and felt overwhelmed at times, but also excited for the opportunities and possibilities. Like most attorneys, we learned how to run the business the hard way–through trial and error. We eventually figured out what worked and grew the firm from 2 lawyers and an assistant to 20 people in less than 8 years.
Today, I’ve turned my passion for and experience in creating, running and growing a law business into a business benefiting lawyers who may feel stuck in their own practice. I know exactly what it feels like–the frustrations, anxieties, hopes, and possibilities–because I’ve been there. I help attorneys avoid the “hard way.” Instead, let’s chart a bold course for a life and career that turns the attorney’s vision into practice.
To do this, I created B-School For Lawyers. This 10-month program is designed to give attorneys the tools to create and implement a successful law business. Meeting in small groups one Friday a month, attorneys accepted to the program will learn how to create a law business that excels, grows and moves consistently toward your ultimate goals. In between class sessions, participants begin implementing these systems into their practice, assisted by one-on-one coaching sessions to address specific concerns.
Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk (Co-Host) / bbr Marketing
President
Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk has been a member of the creative and marketing services community for over 20 years and does not appear to be leaving it anytime soon. As president of bbr marketing, she has relished the challenges of entrepreneurship as she worked to grow and nurture a new business. Since the firm’s inception in 2009, Bonnie has led the young company to become widely recognized and respected within the professional services marketing niche, with award-winning client websites and an outstanding history of business success having worked with clients in 23 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
